My Neighborhood....MY neighborhood....my home

I had a realization the other day that "Centre Ville" Marseille has become MY neighborhood. I was walking home from lunch and along "Rue d'Italie", my street, I was able to say hello to 4 people that I recognized on the street! Store owners, friends, and restraunt owners.

When you first move to a new place, whether it be a new neighborhood, a new state, or a new country, you can feel really lost. I know that when I moved here, knew no one, and didn't speak the language, I had moments where I felt very alone. Being a person who surrounds herself with friends and family, I was a little sad to find myself home on a friday night with nothing to do and no one to call! But how happy I am now to realize that I can walk down my street and see people that I know and who know me!

Also, the lady at the cafe where we hold English Club, which is right around the corner from my house "bisoued" me the other day. A "Bisou" is a kiss on each cheek. This is the way you greet friends or friends of friends. One day I dropped in to the cafe just to say hello and she stopped her work to come say hello and give me a bisou! It made be really excited!! The sign of acceptance was so COOL!

I am so blessed that even though God brought me here to a place where I know no one, he has brought so many people in to my life and Marseille has become my home.