the first week

Well this is my story -- the adventures of a "middle aged" woman revisiting a land she flirted with as a young "ingenue." The times are different and the reactions (mine and everyone else's) seem somewhat muted in comparison to my memories of the first visit to Europe.

Then, everyone was interested in what several young women could possibly want with such an adventure. It was not the typical situation for midwestern college girls in 1969. The adventuresome women from the East Coast were heading off to Woodstock and the rest of America was interested in sending men to the moon. We, on the other hand, decided to see what the world looked like and what people from different cultures and countries actually felt, said, did, and wanted. Not a bad research project for someone pursuing a psychology or sociology major. At that time I was unfamiliar with plane travel or independent movement. The good news was that I had studied French some in high school and college and the first four days would be spent in Paris. Not a bad way to start off a new adventure.

Now, the plan is a bit different. Instead of working as chambermaids, waitresses, and hat check girls, I am teaching a course on women and addiction to college students studying abroad. Also, I'm in a country where I have never been able to get the language to roll off my tongue. I continue to want to say "bonjour" rather than "hola" and I'm quite alone rather than with a peer. With all of this difference, however, I begin....