There is not much to tell about the past few days, since we have been just doing normal life. John is gone most days and some nights, working with the students to help form them as disciples of Jesus and evangelists. Karen works on her computer a few hours a day, doing her graphic design work and sometimes meeting with other designers online. I busy myself with housework, laundry, and the oh-so-difficult (not) work of keeping Sydney happy and occupied.

Nevertheless things are interesting simply because we are living far from home. And there’s always the language barrier.

I do not like that expression. “Barrier” connotes separation and even insurmountable challenges. I have rarely felt entirely disconnected from anyone here, even though we don’t speak the same language. There are ways of getting one’s point across which usually involves a word here and there the the language of the other, and lots of gestures. Add courtesy, patience and smiles, and it works.

But I have still gotten tense when faced with conversations in French, probably because I always want to do things well. But then I spent some time with my anxiety* and realized that I was letting fear affect my interactions with people. Well, that would never do. I was in a kind of prayerful meditation at the time, and I sensed God’s promise to be with me, helping me in those conversations as always. I realized that I needed to lead with love instead of fear. To see the other person with curiosity about our shared humanity. To love them as I am loved. That has really helped me to relax and face each day with enthusiasm.

So, you got mes pensées, my thoughts, at the front end this time!

June 8 had us going to the park and shopping at Aldi, where the prices are most reasonable, especially for meat. So we stocked up for a few days. We also went to McDonald’s to check out their play place. I thought the reusable cups and other containers were interesting. In general we see a lot of environmental awareness here in terms of preserving water and other resources.

June 9…The only notable event was a visit to a crêperie, which is exactly what you think it is. Sydney enjoyed the first crêpe if her life, and it did not disappoint. You can’t go wrong when you add Nutella. (My husband and I have found that Nutella is a universal language, at least in Europe!)

I had a crêpe sucre citron, which reminded me of a flattened Dutch baby with lemon and powdered sugar. Yum!

I was on my own on June 10 since Karen had arranged a play date, so I went to the farmer’s market at Cours Julien. It is only a few blocks away, a great source of fresh produce plus seafood, olive oil, etc. I had found it online before the trip, listed as one of the top ten marchés in Marseille.

The market is a lively place, and this time there was a small combo playing what sounded to my ears like traditional French folk music.

A kilo of green beans, a bunch of carrots and one cucumber now in my backpack, I continued on my way to the Old Port. I was looking for a market of regional crafts that was on the same website, but on the way I happened along a very old, narrow street filled with petits magasins avec des produits étrangers, small stores with goods from foreign places–mostly northern Africa as far as I could tell. Which makes sense when you think about the geography.

It is pure delight to peruse the wares of many artisans, and to wonder what a particular ceramic piece is used for. My pocketbook is safe from being ravaged by the fact that I have very little room in my luggage for souvenirs. That space is reserved for items I will select for my family. And maybe something small pour moi.

I found a Moroccan store with beautiful leather shoes and slippers at the back. After finding someone nearby to help me, I discovered that I wear a men’s size one in Morocco. I chose a pair in blue–no surprise to my friends and family! They are very comfy and will serve as my indoor slippers the remainder of this trip. My interaction with the seller confirmed the wisdom of my intention to lead with love. He was so kind, and among our three broken languages, we got the deal done!

I passed a few spice shops emitting savory fragrances. More “window shopping” as I took my time in such an interesting place. I was reminded of the markets I visited in Bamako, Mali some years ago. The difference is that here there is no bargaining. The price is the price, le prix est fixe!

I spotted a store selling the famous savon de Marseille, the soap that is made to strict specifications of processing, purity, and 72% oil. I picked up a few bars that can be used at home or given away. There are so many scents, including the famous pastis or anise that is a favorite drink around here.

Moving on, I found a large store, Maison Empereur, that will have been in Marseille for two hundred years in 2027. It is a set of rambling rooms containing kitchen goods and hardware. A chef’s dream, if he has deep pockets! But it was fun to wander and look, and who knows? I might return.

Time for lunch, so I went to the Old Port, where there are dozens and dozens of places to choose from. Cruise ships stop here regularly, hence the abundant clientele. I opted for a simple sandwich, which I enjoyed with a view of Notre Dame de la Garde. Because the cathedral stands guard on the highest point of the city, it is a lovely fixture that can be seen from anywhere the buildings don’t block the view. I look forward to going inside soon and sharing its beauty with you.

Before closing this post, I’ll share a few photos of the Cours Julien neighborhood, which is known as the most “decorated” area in the city, rivaled only by Le Panier. I mentioned before that the graffiti is ubiquitous here. Some of it just looks like the tags we see in US cities and on the trains in the Midwest. But there is also a lot of talent on display. A few examples…

There are other parts of the city that are more spacious and less “colorful.” The buildings on our street are unpainted too. But walking around Cours Julien kind of feels like living in a graphic novel. Another new experience!

Thanks for reading again, coming along with me on my adventure. Jusqu’à la prochaine fois! Until next time!

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