Madame

I've realized I haven't told you much about my home stay, and there really is so much to tell, so I think my next few posts will feature some of the lovely characters with whom I cohabitate.

First up: My host mother, Madame Raynaud.

Madame Raynaud loves her 3 year old cocker spaniel, Edgar, but hates her grandkids' dog, Jedi (no, that's not a common French name--they love Star Wars). But you'll hear more about Edgar later.

Madame Raynaud runs a childcare out of her house with (I think) two other women who are sometimes here: one woman is very chatty and nice, but smokes inside (I've only seen her twice), and one who is very mean and kind of racist, and never says bonjour to me. They are usually only here when Madame goes to pick up the older kids from school (the babies are here all day) and when she goes to the grocery store. In my head, those are the only two places Madame ever goes when she leaves the house--I don't think she ever leaves the 16eme, which is basically only a residential neighborhood.

I think Madame Raynaud doesn't think I'm very smart. She is always telling Audrey, my roommate, how well she speaks and how much she understands in French, but all she ever says to me is "Where is your scarf! You are going to get sick! Go put on a scarf, why do you never wear one?!" Or "Tres Belle!" whenever I wear a skirt, or like last night, my silver shiny jeans. So Audrey is smart, and I wear pretty clothes, and not enough of them. According to Audrey, last week, Madame Raynaud said that I understood a lot and Audrey was excited for me--this of course was news to me, because I either DID NOT UNDERSTAND that she said I UNDERSTOOD THINGS, or I just wasn't listening, which is great.

Edit: I had this post up on my computer ready to post, but something has changed! I just had one of my two weekly meals with Madame, and she said I spoke much better than I used to! She didn't compliment my skirt, though. I guess I've graduated from "belle" to "intelligente."