The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. -St. Augustine

I'm sipping on coffee and savoring a pain chocolat with a view of the Mediterranean as I type this. What was once a place I lusted after on the Travel Channel is now a reality as the sun warms my body and the sounds warm my soul. The faint echo of the waves, the distant boats leaving their harbors, the polite clang of a dish from the chef in the kitchen, and the crickets just begging me to leave this covered spot and soak in some sun make me one happy nanny. We flew in to Nice and then took a helicopter to our current destination a bit away from the city of St. Tropez. One of the most fascinating things about being in this new place is that when I gaze across the water I know that Algeria is only a few hundred kilometers away, and I marvel at the places I get to see....and where I still want to go.

I squealed when I stepped off the plane just one week ago. I was back in Paris and it felt better than ever. I really think that I could call this city my home and with a newfound confidence in the French language (I've had employees in boulangeries tell me my French is really good!) could plant myself back in the most beautiful and historic city in which I've ever lived. I love when no one can guess that I'm American and it makes me even more anxious to hear about my exact location outside of Paris for when I begin teaching in the fall.

I'm going to sign off for now, but it feels good to update all of you. I hope you are able to share in my joy as I marvel each day at the blessings given to me in a summer that was uncertain just a few short months ago. If I can encourage anyone to do one thing, it would be to travel. Save your money, buy a flight to that place you've always read about, stay in a cheap hostel...and go. There is so much around us to experience, and whether it's a bustling city, a calm sea, or an indigenous tribal region, you know your life will be enriched for having gone.

A few pictures for your enjoyment: