cis, herouville-st.clair
tues. 24 september, 1996
22h20

i'm now in my bed at a centre where foreign students can find lodging. it costs 95 francs per night (very expensive, i was told) but it is necessary for the first night. it's been a very tiring day. after 5 hours of travel from paris to caen by car (the friend of mme bourdeau again)! mme bourdeau told me it was easier by car than by train and moreover, a train doesn't provide a lovingly prepared picnic of 'sandwich au jambon ou fromage' etc.

earlier i visited the room that she offered to rent me. it costs 1800 francs per month plus i have to travel a bit to get to school because the apartment was at quite a distance - more than an hour by bus. but it was a lovely crib, that's for sure. she said i could decide after i met with mme legrand who also has a room to rent in her house. she is a contact that the school at which i was going to teach gave me. she usually hosts foreign students. i saw mme legrand later. i found the house without getting lost - i got help from 'une blacke'. i noticed at the time that there were quite a few africans in the area, which was both heartwarming and surprising for me. on my little exploratory tour back to the centre i also have the brilliant idea to invite my man in jamaica to visit me the next year.

mme legrand introduces me to her family. m. legrand and benjamin legrand. very nice folks. the room costs 900 francs and it is near to the school plus the family has a car and m. legrand is offering to take me to school in the mornings depending on my schedule. and i have a family! i decide to take this room and they offer to come get my stuff at the cis.

when i get back to the cis for the night i make a plan for the next morning. i spend the next hour or so trying to decipher how to use the pay phone. but it's difficult. i already have a 'telecarte' but i just can't figure it out. everyone in the foyer is chatting and having a grand time so i don't want to ask. tomorrow i will ask someone else. i go back to my room. after half an hour i take the elevator back downstairs to try again. yes! i finally figure out how to use the phone (all by my lonesome!) and guess what i was doing wrong? i was trying to push the card all the way into the slot like we do in jamaica. it was only supposed to go half way if that much! lol. amazing!

more peace. more love.