Jason in Mali: It's Flying By

My time here in Paris is flying by! It is so hard to believe I've been here since Feb 11. Four months and two to go. I still find myself breaking out in a big grin sometimes as I walk down the street and realize where I am.

I've had a really fun few weeks. I've had friends from the States visit and I've gotten to see different parts of France while they were here. First my friend Kim Cadle came. Kim and I have known each other since 1997 and started our practice together in 2002. She's the best business partner you could ask for. We traveled to the center of France, the Loire Valley, and visited castles and old medieval towns. It was amazing. The trip culminated with a hot-air balloon ride that was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

The chateau from the balloon...amazing!

A few weeks later my friends Stacy and Cara came to visit and we had a great time too. We went down to the south of France to the town of Nice. It was amazing. The water was so blue and the coast so picturesque. We went to Monaco one day just so we could say we'd been. It was fun but a bit artificial but still pretty cool. The other towns on the coast were much more authentic and less crowded. We ate tons of great food. I love the seafood here but it is different then what I think of when I order seafood in the states. They tend to eat a lot more mussels, squid, along with shrimp. But I've yet to see any fried seafood platters.

Stacy, Cara and me in Nice

What's next? Well, I finish my semester next week and will have ten days off. My mom in coming for a visit and we're going to head up to Belgium to check out the town where I'll be living next semester. I want her to see it since my folks won't be able to visit me while I'm there. I'll be moving to Belgium at the end of August and starting my tropical medicine training on Sept 6. It's going to be in French and will push my ability to speak French to a whole new level. I'm a bit apprehensive but know it'll be ok. By the time it's over I'm going to be so ready to get to Mali. I'm already anxious to get there and start working.