Saying Goodbye is Always Hard to Do (Adventures with MooReece con't)

My stay in the French Riviera has sadly come to an end. To say it was a cake walk would be a lie (it was more of a pain au chocolat walk). HAHA. Joking aside, there were some ups and downs and the first week was definitely harder than I ever imagined both physically and emotionally. I think that first week taught me more about myself and how to deal with whatever life throws at you than the 23 years leading up to it. That could explain my total emotional amnesia of back home. My first week in Antibes felt like YEARS and although time has sped up since, it still feels like THIS is REAL and HOME is a DREAM. My friends here, although I don't know them well, I feel like they've been in my life forever and this has always been our way of life. Several have seconded my sentiments on the subject. It's a REALLY weird vibe. Obviously I miss you all, every last one of you...but I'm not going to lie, it feels like you are all a figment of my imagination. I'm forgetting what you all look and sound like. Talk about living in the moment!

It hasn't hit me yet that I'm NOT going back to Antibes. I've said goodbye to everyone and yet it still doesn't seem real. This fantasy life that I am living is so incredible and so filled with experiences that it's hard to believe anything else is normal. Some days I want to fly home and go back to my real life (eventhough I don't really remember what that is like) and most of the rest of the time I stop and take a look around and appreciate the culture and the history and the beauty of where I am in that moment and I never want to leave.

I will miss Antibes and Sophia Antipolis so much. I will miss my bus driver who drove me from Sophia to Place de Gaulle after the gym every night. I will miss the endless stream of Gelaterias and Patisseries and Marchés but my waistline will not! I will miss the Sun and the perfect climate, the beach and the sea water in which I can freely float around (although I still sink a bit). I will miss the "Bedrock" our perfectly located little apartment in Vieille Antibes (26 rue du Haut Castelet) and I will miss the 3 minute walk to the Port school. I will miss saying "Bonjour" and "Merci, au revoir" everytime I walk into a store or by a shop/restaurant worker. But mostly I will miss the ease in which everything flows in the Riviera (except the traffic). Nothing is hectic, everyone goes with the flow and no matter how tired, cranky or homesick you get, nothing cheers you up like spending the afternoon eating wine and cheese with your friends on the rocks by the beach.

Pulled an all-nighter before dragging myself and my luggage (I will DEFINITELY need another suitcase to come home) to the train station for my 6:52 train to Verona which will be our temporary resting place until we move in in Paris.

VIVA ITALIA!

Et maintenant nous allons travailler l'hippopotame (Adventures with MooReece con't)

What better way to spend my last week in Antibes (and thus my last week in the Riviera) than by plastering my self in the Sun and lazing on the beach every afternoon? Yes my tan is FANTASTIC!! I finally made it to the beach and got to swim and bob around in the Mediterranean. Plans to go to Ste Marguerite (island with the Chateau where Louis XVs twin brother - Man in the Iron Mask anyone? was help captive) were delayed due to the USA World Cup game and then cancelled because of a day long strike across the country. Don't ask! So that just meant MORE time on the beach. Although dissapointed I never made it to the island, it's been REALLY REALLY hot here this last week and the beach is the #1 place to be. I even painted my fingers and toes :)

On the sad side, Wednesday was my last night in Sophia Antipolis and my last night at Fitlane. I REALLY wanted to get on stage for PUMP but started to worry because Joel was apparently running late (it must be a male instructor thing....) or not coming and I hadn't had a chance to ask him on Monday because I was running late. Happily he barged in and started setting up and I asked if I could accompany him and he was more than happy to oblige. I think I literally started to glow at that point I was soooo excited. So I set up my station on the stage next to him (on his left which is weird cause I'm always on the right at home) and he got me to do "la mise en place" avec mon accent canadien. I started to panic because I had NO IDEA what the heck he was talking about and he's urging me on and I'm like "THINK AMY THINK!!!" and it hit me...Set Position and Intro. Having been put on the spot like that made every giggle because I was trying to think of how to say my "shpeel" in french. Poitrine fiere? I have NO IDEA! Joel seemed to approve so it couldn't have been so bad...albeit I was nervous LOL. It was AWESOME! The class was PACKED - close to 40-45 people all cheering me on and laughing at my funny accent. I'm sure they're all thinking "She sure likes to WOOHOOO alot!" hahahaha

After PUMP was ATTACK and this week Magali let me teach Intervals and POWER track! Not only that but she complimented me on my awesome energy and great technique! AHA!!! Made my trip COMPLETE :) "Au Canada on saute plus haut et on pousse PLUS fort, AAAALLLLLLEZZZZ les francais AAAAALLLLLEEZZZ touchez le plafond!" (and I actually did during air jacks - hit the roof I mean....the stage is really high and I'm a giant in the Riviera). I said my au revoirs to my French Pat and Jaime and said I would be back one day... who knows if they ever séjourn au Canada I told them to look me up! hahaha and THEY will be the ones with the jolie accent :)

Now I'm done working out until sometime in my first week in Paris. I'm not gaining too much weight but the excess of carbs and the major lack of protein is definitely taking a toll on my tone and definition. Can we all say CARB DETOX when I get home? Nothing but chicken breast and vegetables until Xmas!

One last WOOT WOOT for my Les Mills International performances! :D