Behind the Smoke Curtain

Hey all.

Last night I got to do an evening in the manner. People who normally don't qualify for constant access to the Petits Freres des Pauvres got to come to the mansion in the countryside for pizza and icecream. First we sat around outside singing old songs, mostly French obviously, but I did manage to sing the national anthem! They were impressed I think. During the "before meal drink" I fell in love with these green olives from provence bottled with herbes de provence. Best olives I have ever tasted. Anyway, we then moved to the interior where we had a delicious salad, the worst pizza ever, and some fantastic icecream (imagine a drumstick, but with vanila, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate ice cream swirls). The man next to me was obviously drunk but no one seemed to be bothered by it. Also, one volunteer went outside to smoke at least 5 cigarettes during the meal that lasted half an hour. What is she thinking?? The man on the other side of me, an Algerian knew every US state capital. I don't even know them. I noticed how little the volunteers were talking to the elderly persons invited, and it really bothered me. I try to include them. After everything, my and the Spanish princesses treked back to our hotel, dancing to Gaga on the metro because we were literally the only ones on it. I think I want to study Spanish?