Dearests Friends and Family,
2013 was a monumental year for the Bridges family. We have been kept extremely busy since our last update as life in a new country seems to take up every ounce of physical and mental energy. It has been so wonderful for us to keep in touch with most of you through all of our different social networking channels. For those of you who have been following our blog posts, you will not be surprised that our highlights of 2013 pretty much revolved around our move to Paris.
We are now well ensconced in our new life here and continue to enjoy this beautiful and dynamic city. Jemma and Pippa having entered the American School of Paris (ASP) in Grades 9 and 4, are adjusting well, making new friends, studying hard and enjoying the exciting culture of an international school. Along with a rigorous high school curriculum, Jemma is swimming for the junior varsity team at ASP. Practices are a lot less intense than when swimming for a competitive club, but she's having a great time with her team mates and travelling to other countries for weekend meets like Holland, Belgium and the UK.
Pippa has made a host of new friends at school and has resumed her piano lessons with a new teacher. She also attends a musical theatre class which allows Mark and I to hang around the Champs-Elysées each week. She has happily taken on some of the fun French customs and food but so much so that she is actually tired of pains aux chocolates. Unbelievable, but true.
Mark is starting to meet some regular triathlon training buddies and thoroughly loves his long bike rides that take him out to the beautiful French countryside. Having more free time here in Paris, he has also been volunteering at the girls' school, where he has presented to the Entrepreneurs Club and will be speaking in front of the Upper School assembly on how to improve their presentation skills. He will also be starting a part-time job as a consultant with English Booster - training personnel of French multi-nationals to improve their English business communication skills.
I have been kept extremely busy also volunteering in various roles for the Parent-Faculty at the American School. That's a very official title for "class parent" and "holiday boutique decorating coordinator". My french is improving, thanks to my lovely tutor who I have the pleasure of meeting with each week. I'm also starting to improve my tennis game, now only on a singles court and learning to slide through the red clay without injuring myself. Between meeting other foreigners from the school, joining a walking tour group and playing tennis with ladies from the club, I am happily making some nice friends. However, my favourite social outings are our "date days" when Mark and I explore museums, sights and lunch in our favourite bistros, which this city is famous for.
We have so enjoyed being close to Mark's family in England (2 trips so far) and having family and friends visit us. We have also enjoyed all the fun events that Paris has to offer like Paris Plages (turning the walk along the Seine river into a long beach), Nuit Blanche (installation art and all night partying around the city) and Christmas festivals and decorations.
You can see an overdose of photos from 2013 here: 2013, the Album
On behalf of Shirley, Mark, Jemma and Pippa, we wish you all:
1 an d'Allégresse,
12 mois de Plaisir,
52 semaines de Bien-être,
365 jours de Chance,
8760 heures de Succès
525 000 minutes de Joie
pour un total de 31 536 000 secondes de Bonheur
Excellente année 2014!!!
