because I'm not needed and just the regular
meetings are really not too exciting, all business, and I already have a problem understanding. My club here is smaller than in Wausau. This club only usually has about 20-30 people attend, but it is nice because we then sit at one large table with everyone. We have a four-five course dinner, which is typical French. They discuss news and events going on like the fund raisers and for example the Toulouse marathon this weekend. I get a chance to get to know the Rotarians and practice my French. A few of the Rotarians know some English and even some have been to the United States, many for business. At the first meeting I
gave a short introduction in French, and struggled throughout the rest of the night with my poor French especially since I had only been there for less than a week. I also exchanged my Rotary banner for the banner of the club with the president, who is the nicest guy ever. We had a meal that was common for Toulouse. It included some very strange tasted, like duck liver, which I ate happily, haha. It was just very different from what I am used to, but change is good and keeps life exciting. The club even auctions me off, no not for my awesome humor, but to host me for a weekend. I already spent one weekend with a Rotarian and his family. He had a daughter and three boys, so it was nice to be in a bigger family for a weekend. We went into the city, and went to the St. Michel festival that went on all over France for almost a month. This festival brings activites and a carnival which of course means rides. I am not one who like roller coasters at all; I avoid them at all costs. But I thought to myself "Hey, I'm in France. Why not do something I would never do back home?" So I got on one of the scariest rides there with their daughter, and definitely had a new experience. I thought I was going to die!!! It was the scariest thing I have ever been on! It was fast and spun and put us upside down. It was so much fun though, and I'm glad I forced myself. That night we attended a concert with African music. It is very popular in France and very much in Toulouse. It was really cool, and even involved some dancing. Sunday we then went and visited a castle outside of Toulouse. It was the castle of the man who had created the plans for the canal that runs through Toulouse. He is know for being a genius because it connects the Atlantic Ocean, Bordeaux, to the Mediterranean Sea all in the 1600's. He was able to find a source that no one had had success with in the past. His castle wasn't as grand as those throughout France and Europe, but was very interesting, and it was another beautiful day so the it was a great adventure. It even had a moat! Any castle is so intriguing to me, because I don't see many back in Wisconsin, haha. It was a great weekend with them, though it felt almost like I had started all over with being in a new home. Now for the next three weekends I am booked with different Rotarians. Every time is different and always exciting in some way. You never know what the weekend will bring, but they usually plan something fun.
