Connections

Through life one learns that adventures can take many forms. From that of their first experience drinking wine, attending a ballet or making new friends in what seems desolate circumstances. I have had an adventure of the latter, friends have come out of the woodwork! My adventure starts riding a bus across Toulouse. It was Thursday, February 5th. I was headed to Sept Deniers, a suburb of Toulouse close to the airport. I was headed there to attend a informational meeting about TWIG or Toulouse Women's International Group. Ben was unsure about me taking the bus, but I was unsure about walking all the way there, it may not have been really far away, but a bus to me seemed less vulnerable. Plus one has to learn about public transportation at one point in time! Before leaving I grabbed the rates for each ticket, I figured I'd point to the fare I wanted and the driver than would give me that fare. It worked brilliantly! But that is not the end of my journey, I had become nervous that I would miss my stop. So anxiously I got up ready to get off the bus at a stop that looked like it could be the right one, I got off confidently and stopped walking. It didn't look right. I grabbed my trusty map after looking at the road sign I realized I had gotten off at the WRONG stop. I figured out what stop I needed to be at and waited for the next bus. I knew there had to be another one coming, and sure enough one came. After a short ride I was at the correct stop. Immediately I started walking, but again it didn't look right, a little flustered I gave up and was able to call the host of the meeting. She told me which way to go and I headed in that direction hoping this time I knew what I was doing. It was a long walk but I found the correct road and luckily the host poked her head out of her gate. I was there!
The meeting had already started, I grabbed some coffee and cake and headed in, not sure what to expect, but there were several kind looking women in the room. I sat down embarrassed I was late, but happy to be in the right place. They then started the meeting quickly explaining that the group was an international group with the tying factor of speaking English. They have various sub-groups for other interests that any member could join. A slightly unfortunate fact about them was that they had members all over the Toulouse area and most meetings would not be in the city center but at the outlying homes of the members. After the introduction of the group there was a time for questions and telling why you were in Toulouse and how long you expected to stay. They all seemed kind but the transportation factor of the group was a bummer. I do not have a car and would have to rely on public transportation to places I was unfamiliar with. Despite the small disappointments it was nice to meet all of these women in similar circumstances. One woman in particular was my age. Her name is Aurele. It was nice to find that she lived very close to us on a road just off of Place Saint George. Another fascinating fact is that she had lived in a couple English speaking countries of Australia and Canada (of course Canada has French as well). We exchanged numbers and took the bus home together.
After getting off the bus and back to Place Saint George I asked her if she maybe wanted to get together the next day. She said sure, "for coffee? At 2 or 3 or 4?"
"That sounds good" I said nodding my head in reassurance.
"OK, I'll give you a call, nice meeting you, see you tomorrow" she said and headed towards her road.
The next day (Friday the 6th) I received a call at one o'clock, Aurele was wondering if 4 o'clock worked for me to drink coffee. I told her I was still free. Four rolled around quickly and I headed to our assigned meeting place of the Place Saint George. When she arrived I received my first a bis or cheek to cheek kiss. We drank our coffee and had a pleasant time. I learned that she was originally from a suburb of Paris and that she had a younger brother studying history at a University in Paris. She had just recently got a job at a school teaching history, so part of this shopping trip was to get a book for her students.
"Luckily I only have two students" she said when she spoke about her class. I was surprised she only had two, but she had mentioned something about the students having to take some sort of exam to get into the school. We parted as friends, hoping to get together soon with our "boyfriends" (as it seems that that word is interchangeable with husband). It was a good time and I hope we can get together again someday.

On Sunday we had determined it was time we find a church. I was able to find one online that was in the Toulouse area that spoke English. It is called Toulouse International Church and is in yet another suburb of Toulouse. The church service was wonderful, they sang contemporary songs and had a visiting American missionary gave the message. He spoke about learning French and how much he felt like a child again, not knowing what to do or understanding people who would start talking to him in French. He related it to how God wants us to come to him like children, trusting him through and through because he wants what is best for us, just as human parents want the best for their children. After the service we met several American families that had come to Toulouse to work for Airbus. One family is a rather new family, Lisa and Philip Snell were married they same year Ben and I were. So we immediately found things to talk about with them. Lisa is in the same position I am in, not working while her husband works for Airbus on contract. She also told me some great things about the church, that there was a women's Bible study that meets every Tuesday morning and that the ladies usually took trips on Thursdays while their husbands were at work. It all sounded great! It was even better to find out that they only live a couple of blocks from us as well. It was a glorious week for meeting new people, some who are in the exact same position as us and some who are truly friendly. I look forward to the adventure these friendships will bestow.