Not a typical Sunday

I stay home most of the day today only go to the dance studio with my daughter. She want to look for classes and gain more experience in driving. Actually today she should be doing the appointment for driving test. I don't want to be the one who drive her to dance class and have to stay there waiting for her to finish like when they were little. Now she should be able to drive herself tehre betetr still she should be able to pay for her own classes. Like most of her friends do.Anyway, she went with me to writing class just to check it out. It was nice to hear she read soem of her writing. Going to Africa with the school and the past 4 years travellinga dn boarding school really good for her. This time coming home she did not go out as much as before and more careful about calling friends. Off course all the interest and college life will be different . Teh friend who still here is Leila. She will be going for a break to South Africa from October to March 2008 before coming back to go to community college. My husband is also feel more relaxed and catch up with most thing he need to do. I feel a little bit settled into this house finally after 3-4 years of emptying the boxes.

Back in 560 Rolling Hills

I am now in Danville for summer sitting at my rosewood dinning table. So many things have settled now. Benjamin is still in Leysin working with Tim Sloman supervising summer camp. Isabelle is now home from 6 weeks in Africa. Finally she is settled about university. She is going to Northampton U.K. and Valerie is working on her U.S. history credit in NMH prep school in Boston. All of teh trio seems to have their summer well spent this year and we will re unite for a brief catch up mid August before all of the go each their way again till Christmas. I am glad to practice teh light body meditation almost finished teh volume one. SO much has happened in my life. Franklin will have to move now September 1st. We will have to go to Brazzaville by then. I have been watching so many movie from blockbuster and Global DVD in Oakland. I need to watch everything now because when I go back to Africa will not be able to watch any more.I notice so many new habit I adopted from living in Pointe Noire the past 4 years. For example shopping for food. I slow down a lot more than before and choosing everything with care. Also I don't like to get too many things at a time and loose interest to shop at Costco even for our shipment to Africa.I enjoycooking from scratch more and more and don't mind doing that while I am in Danville. may be because I know that this is temporary. Tomorrow I will go to farmer market with Izzy in the morning and will join writing class with Selene for the first time.I was a little bit annoyed by the remark of Eva , participant in Clive's Thursday workshop about reading newspaper but that was a mild comment. It is my personal view that reading newspaper in this country or even watching CNN american version is a waste of time. People are not well informed here at all, But I am not interested to be well informed about where Britney Spear spend vacation or what's going on in the home of Brad Pitt andAngelina Jolie.Realisticly, I ahve no time for that.Luckily my kids' eyes are opened now about this junk people here don't mind to consume on a daily basis.

At the college counselling office in TASIS

I finally obtained an appointe with Mrs Duke who is Isabelle's college counsellor. I almost miss teh appointment while I was in town to buy a few new summer cloth and went into teh chruch to pray for my daughter's college entrance. With Mrs Duke ,we found out about the letter from the U.K. unversities sent to my daughter way back when. She did not act on it and did not show it to her counsellor. Mrs Duke ask for some minimum organisation on her part and we did teh step for her to take. She need to produce the dance tape within this Friday and DHL them out to the colleges. I did call my husband and report teh progress to him. But I also ask for personal appointment with Miss Brokel to report to her what happening with Izzy's application. How I felt that Saint Mary of teh Abondio church ahd help us. Had I not been in Mrs Duke office today thing would get late and the UCAS system will be frozen forever for my daughter. How it was so important that parents meet teachers and counsellor from time to time to hear first hand about teh progress of teh kids and les etate des chose. I also find out about two otehr schools in cacana that were great also.

Sunday 20 May in San Gottardo

Last night I came back so late. It was past mid night when I got on the internet trying find out about Concordia university and I got teh idea of having Izzy do french translationa nd music as teh way to open the door into college. Anyway, we did have a good time. I went to teh schol's library and check out teh book Ladies detective agency. It was so great and I enjoy it so much that I finished it in one day. Today I will bring it back to teh library. Then I stay at school the whole day. I arranged with Edward Hashke about family portrait and went out to wait for Elana and CArolina at the parking. WIth the Gala festivities going on for fund raising for teh school performing arts building that need to go on through the night. We finally left the school at seven thirty to go to Villa d'erst on the lake Como. We all took our passport with us to be wure that we can come back in case we can not pass the Italian border. I did try the cocktain in the villa d'erst called cosmopolitan and we walk around the beautiful hotel and I promise myself that I show it to Franklin and Michel and Roseline before they leave.
We took some pictures and went down to Lagio to see the front gate of George Clooney house, Then we go down the narrow road to the crotini Platino with teh full parking lot. We ahve to park by the street and there is no walkway so we have to walk very carefully down the narrow tiny highway to get to teh grotto rstaurant. It was not that great especially teh food but I like teh fish from lake and the salad. CArolina like champagne and I make a note to myself to chill at least two bottles of California champagne beforehand when tehy coem visit us in Brazzaville.We have a nice meal and nice converstion and Isabelle still worry about her future after the graduation. We didscussed about some liberal arts option taht she can do come September but it still not sound right to all of us. And all of a sudden we discovered that both of us had fogotten Dad's birthday almost two days ago on MAy 17. We feel so embarrassed and immediately call him. Dad want to have his BD dinner in August during summer holidays. He did not feel liek doing anything in Africa far from teh family. And , as usual teh one who never forget family occassion like this is our little Valerie.
I need to work on myself to just let go of control and anything about my daughter. I wonder if I can ever do that. Last night , I still find myself calling Isabelle at 2 am in teh morning.While I was on the computer. It is going to be 11 am now may be I can make a call or go to the school to return the book and rent another one. I'd already finish this two books during the trip may be I can check out one more or read the book written by the wife of the new headmaster. And right now I need to check my laundry that I sent down to wash this morning.

Saturday 19 MAy in Agra

This morning I went out to take a walk on teh small hill in front of the hotel. A lot of wild strawberries on teh path and the Lugano lake is very close by. But I don't know the name of the village we can see from the high hill. Actually there are 4 paths around teh hill and I will walk them all because I ahve time now. I saw Charlene and Charlie on teh way and they came over to ahve coffee at teh Pension after the walk. I really liek this area more than Bella Vista because Bella Vista ahs more houses. But teh view is still teh same. Yesterday I wet to San Salvadore on the Feniculaire. ANd this morning I look at the web site for the book Bloomability. I will get this book and the series of Ladies detectiv agency of Alexander McCall Smith.
ay be I can call Isabelle's teacher right now to see if she has a copy of that book. How about having teh book mailed to me here.

In Lugano at San Gottardo

I came to this pension by mistakes. I ask Euay to reserve this for me but to my surprise it is very nice and we decided to have the graduation party here on June 2nd. We went to get the car this morning. I am not too please with teh school but it was not too bad. I think its time I take teh reign about Isabelle's university's application. The teacher feel that what she has so far is the best to go to Richmond. It is not bad but not what she need now. I am glad to discover the Les Airelles and know about the books written by the scottish writer. I will look for it in the internet.
The more I see it I prefer to be in the french part of switzerland. Anyway, soon it will be the graduation and I know that it is going to be nice. I found the book return from Africa in french version at the Geneva airport. I am reading it right now. I will ask Euay about the other book about the flying kite boy. Soon , I will order the meditation class about light body from Orin Daben soon.May be this is a good break for me.

The Monday before the last Monday of April

I need to keep track of how many days this week I practice yoga. I am at the point wher the body came up with millions excusees not to do it. Pararel God I fogot how to spell it. I watch the movie angles in America last night. it was a play . i jot down quite a lot of new words. thsi morning I call my daughter. I feel rather sluggish today. o.K. still need to email a few people. Last night I got mesge from MAnuela and a call from Jessica. O.K. on Saturday ,I did watch teh french movie Fauteuil d'Orchestre . Was a nice movie. The firat time I see ValerieLemercier on screen. This week is really french as we listen to N.Sarkozy speech. We don't know who will be the next french president as they will vote again in two weeks. I will know it before I leave for Leysin. Valerie is more clear than Isabelle about what she want. Does Isabelle need to undergo all teh ceremony to find out what she really want. Actally we can get her to spend one more year to explore her options. She is not really firmon what she wants to do. It is not easy for her to make a choic eright now anyway I hope she get an intern position in Chiang Mai. I think that will be the best bet for her. My husband want her to be in Leysin for one more year. It was quite a big decision. I still await the reply from Mr Sloman. I hope hw knows the SIS people by now.
I am also in suspense about the next location I will be with my husband 's next assignment. I now that we'd finished here. It is just a matter of months before we move from here. I wonder why did I buy so much meat. I won't be able to finish all of it but my husband probably wll.
Well will eep everything on suspense for a while.