Crunchwrapped

Last year, Erin and I were talking and I created a really ridiculous metaphor where time was represented by a TacoBell Crunchwrap Supreme. I wont deny the absurdity of the statement but I cannot contest its truth. Even in TacoBell-less France, the Crunchwrap Supreme metaphor rears is crispity crunchety head as I am reminded of how much time I have left here. You see, there comes a time in the Crunchwrap consumption process when one realizes that there is indeed an end to the magical pocket of flavor being held in ones hands. You try to slow down and really take in every tasty bite but, without fail, the Crunchwrap always seems to end too early. Last year, living at 2282 E15th, was like this and this year, living in France, seems to be shaping up the exact same way. I can almost see the end and now I’m slowing down to savor every last bit.

I think that when there is a definite end in sight, we are able to finally see all of the things we have taken for granted. It’s very unfortunate that we need to see an end to notice the now. A few lucky, enlightened people can revel in daily wonder and I hope that I can someday be that kind of person. All I know is that at the moment, I can just make out the end of my Crunchwrap Supreme and I realize that its time to slow down.

This probably sounds absolutely ridiculous but listen up; next time you’re in the mood for some fake Mexican food that is incredibly bad for you (come on, it happens to everyone. At least admit it to yourself.) go grab a Crunchwrap and see if you don’t reach the end too soon.
In other news, I am at school, the one I teach at, right now. Today I gave a small lesson on American History, mainly the Declaration of Independence and then ensuing war. Let me tell you, it’s not easy to explain history, in a foreign language, to 8 year olds, but I did my best! We’ll be talking about school vocabulary through next week, but we’ll soon move on to food and eating, something the French (and most people I suppose, but especially the French) love very much. So, that’s school.

This weekend was just filled with good days. Friday, Meg, our Scottish friend Sarah and our British friend Paul, and I all went to get milkshakes and to see a movie. We saw “Be Kind, Rewind” and I HIGHLY recommend it! It was made by the same director as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. I highly recommend the milkshakes we had as well, although that’s probably a bit more difficult. I made salade Lyonnaise for dinner and we watched The Royal Tennenbaums. Might sound rather uneventful but we all remarked what an awesome day it had been. It was like a great first date between 4 people. The next day, Meg and I went to Julia’s family’s house for lunch and it was so good…the lunch and being there. My French is getting so much better. I remember the first time I went to the Passot’s house. I could barely make a cohesive sentence and talking to Didier, Julia’s dad, was extremely difficult because I A) understood next to nothing and B) could say only a little more than that. THIS time, however, I held a full conversation with him lasting aver 15 minutes. I was quite proud of myself. After lunch, we met Sarah and Paul at a bar to watch some Rugby. It was shaping up to be another great day. Until that night when Meg and I couldn’t open our wine at dinner. You see, our corkscrew broke. That’s when I turned to Google and discovered the best alternative method to opening a wine bottle. Get a larger sized screw and screw it into the cork about ¾ of the way down. Then get some pliers and pull up gently. It worked like a charm and was much more fun than using the actual opener. But in the words of a good childhood friend of mine, Lamar Burton of Reading Rainbow…

…Don’t take MY word for it, try it yourself!