French keyboards SUCK

I will first start by apologizing for my poor typing... this keyboard is WEIRD. VERY weird.

Alright, so Helen and I made it to work... it was hard, as Italian trains were involved, but we managed to get here with only minor incident. Our trip was amazing... we met rad people and had some pretty ridiculous experiences.

Work thus far is challenging and I think its going to be a crazy summer. There are only 12 of us staff members here so far, and everyone seems really awesome, even though theyre English [sorry Pete and Claude I had to throw that in there]. Its sweet because everyone is really active, so I already found a running partner and a climbing partner who just happens to have an extra harness... sweet. I dont know how much climbing there is around here, but apparently there are a few sport routes around.

Anyway, right now were doing staff training and setting up the centre, so there are no children here yet, but our first group arrives on Saturday: I am terrified. Basically Im going to be responsible for teaching either biking, archery, climbing [theres a little bouldering hut], fencing, rifle shooting, or orienteering... I think maybe some other activities as well. I dont know if youve noticed... but half of those I dont know how to do. Good.

Here is a typical day here at the centre, Im using yesterday as an example:

Get up at 7 and go for a short run.. [we dont have to do this... i just like to], have breakfast at 8:15ish... then do site work until lunch, like painting or raking grass or something. Anyway, after lunch we did fencing {which was really cool because we were taught by one of the best female fencers in France]. Then we went on the bike route to practice, i got lost twice, then some more random stuff until dinner. After dinner we usually have some free time to do chores or whatnot... but yesterday we got to go fencing at the fencing club; and it was the coolest thing ever. You get plugged in so when you get a point it beeps!!! yay!! [i JUST found the exclamation point]. Anyway fencing is cool... but she made us go against people who actually KNEW what they were doing... lets just say my loss was comical. By this time it was about midnight and i was EXHAUSTED.

When the centre actually opens; Ill be teaching three activities per day... so basically its scary.

Anyways, the centre doesnt have internet, and its hard to come into town to use it; so I probably wont be emailing much for the rest of the summer. Please continue to send me emails, but if im slow to reply youll know why.

If you want, you can send me letters instead!!! Mail is my favourite thing in the world, and if you write me Ill write back promptly, so please send me mail!!

The Address is

Club Correze
Les Gardes
19250 Meymac, France