Today was a good day. The rain tapped on my window throughout the night, but ceased by morning. The humidity remained, but the temperature was perfect. No gloomy darkness was present, but neither were rays of sun.
After classes, we visited a restaurant named Black & White. We've been intrigued by it ever since we saw that they sell burritos. But, we always go searching for them only to find that it has already closed, or never even opened that day. Today, however, as I said, was a good day. We walked into the tiny place, having no idea what to expect. In Nantes, there are hardly any places that claim to have Mexican food or even something that resembles it. So, apprehensive but excited, we walked in and heard English! The two ladies, the owners, were speaking English to a French man and a quirky woman with an English accent. They greeted us with huge smiles and much conversation. That, along with the comfy, artsy atmosphere already had us hooked and we hadn't yet ordered. The burritos were not exactly American or Mexican, but were welcoming all the same. While bread and cheese are enough to live on, monotony can set in, at times. The prices were definitely not bad (especially for France), and comparable to Chipotle's prices (and the food was definitely better quality.) We ate and drank while watching a cheesecake being made. Everyone in the place was sharing and talking alike, though none of us had met before.
We questioned why they spoke English, and not French, to customers. They said that while it scared some away, it also kept more people coming back. As much as I detest being the typical, pompous American, English truly is universal. Everyone here wants to better theirs. They speak when they can, listen to the music, and wear the language on their clothing. This also has to do with the fact that many here worship Obama, but that is besides the point.
The difficulty being here lies not in the possibility of homesickness, but the tendency to compare and contrast. They're skinny, we're fat. They have little water glasses, we have huge glasses of pop. The list is endless, with pros and cons on each side. But, I've realized, it's perfectly fine to miss things and people from back home. American pride is not a sin. Upon returning home, I know I will also miss much from here. The goal, however, is to see and drink in the most good that I possibly can, from both places. Life is not about exclusions, but explorations. And somehow, I think I can love it all at the same time.
