Vichy

This week, in France, schools have a week and a half off for the november 1st holiday. The only catch is they now have school on Wednesday (of next week) when normally they don't have school on Wednesdays.

So to take advantage of this time off I decided to explore some. This weekend I'm going through Germany to go to Salzburg, Austria! So excited. The beginning of this week I explored Moulins and went to Vichy on Monday, where I visited another primary school english assistant, this one is from India.

Vichy is known for it's spas, specifically the amazingly healthy, natural source waters. While you're there you can walk in the parks (which are gorgeous), enjoy a nice spa, massage, whatever you like. They also have some really interesting mineral waters which you can drink. As much as you want, for free! (Unless you don't have your own cup, then you can buy one for 0.25 euros) I tried all 4 types of water, 'cuz it's just mineral water, right? Sounds delicious. The first one caught me off guard, it had a strange taste. I didn't like it, at all. Oh well, on to the next one. Now that I know what they taste like I'll be able to handle them better.

Drink number two! It was hot!!! Wasn't expecting that, it was awful. Drink number 3 and 4 didn't fare any better. I am not sure why they are healthy, assuming it's the mineral waters. Maybe it's just getting you used to consuming bad tasting stuff? Whatever it is, older people hang out there all day, drinking the water and walking through the parks, trying to improve their health. I partially think it's due to all the walking in the fresh air, more so than the mineral waters.

After the water I had lunch with a great friend, and then went for a bike ride, through a park, around town, stop for a coffee and back to her house. Arrived only to realize she had forgotten the key and we couldn't get in, so instead I just went back to the train station to go home (I would have been leaving soon enough anyways). It all made for a lovely day in Vichy. Did I mention that I stopped at a Candy store????

My address

People have been asking me if they can mail me things so here is my mailing address.

Debbie Chute
College Charles-Peguy
2 Rue Pape-Carpentier
03000 Moulins
France


I also have a phone number, but you'll have to email me to get that (debbiechute @ gmail . com).

Life in Moulins - My Apartment

So I have been bad at updating my blogs, but that was partially due to my moving around so much and ending up without internet for a while, and partially due to my lack of pictures. Pictureless blogs just aren't as much fun.

Just letting all of you know that I am really enjoying living here, and really enjoying teaching. Over the next little while I will update on different aspects of my life, today my apartment.

Welcome to my aparment. This is the entry way. To the left is a closet and next to that the toilet, which is a small room, kind of clausterphobic... The phone that you see doesn't actually work.

If you turn right, you will reach the kitchen (and my room mate's bedroom). It's a small kitchen. No we don't have a stove/oven. Yes, that is a mini fridge. On the table just out of view are two hot plates!

Now turn left at the entryway and you will head down the hallway to find....

The washroom/laundry room on the left. Isn't that such a lovely shower? Well, really just a tub, since you definitely can't stand an shower in it. Also the washing machine. Our living room is our dryer. Yup, we are environmentally friendly and hang our clothes to dry! (well, we just don't have a dryer)

On the right side of the hall is my bedroom. I moved into the apartment (for the second time) on October 3rd. My bedroom looked like this until today, when my furniture arrived!!! :)

Now it looks like this!!!

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Isn't it so pretty?