The Riviera Rhythm
My daily “To-do” list is as rhythmic and sure as the crystal splashing of the water against the proud Cote d’Azure beach pebbles. On the beach here in Nice, you will often see someone come down to the beach wearing khakis, a button-up shirt, and a briefcase and strip down to their underwear. The business man in question is literally stripping his work day off of himself. He jumps into the water, splashing, swimming, forgetting the day’s hard list of “to-do’s”.
This is a way of living on the French Rivera. No matter how much you have to do during any one day, there she is, the beautiful Mediterranean, leveling her beautiful blue eyes on your tense shoulders, whispering with her waves ‘just a short dip can’t hurt anything’.
It has been almost two month since I arrived here in Nice, and since my life has changed a lot. Sometimes, I think the whole of my life is like a child, looking into this crystal prism of beautiful color. The coast here has a hypnotic quality, that can leave you stunned. You have to pinch yourself to realize that you are indeed a responsible human being “hey, I think, I have things to do, I can’t just sit here and gaze into all this color… okay, maybe a little longer.”
That certainly isn’t to say that I have been lounging around the Promenade des Anglais peering into the endless azure. Like the business man at the beach, I have learned to pull up my trousers and get “back to business” after my quick hypnotic vacation into the sea.
First, I’m happy to say that after completion of my “English Language Program” I found a job at a local private institution. It is a small position at the moment, but I’m happy to have found something at this time of year. I have also made over 600 advertisements for private lessons that I will be soon distributing into mailboxes. I hope to develop a healthy amount of private clients, as these pay more, and are easier to schedule into my life, according to how I would like.
Now, the rhythm begins, life on the French Rivera progresses at a slower Mediterranean style pace that I’m adapting to. Everyday I see new things that amaze me, meet new people that intrigue me, smell, touch and feel a world completely separate from that at home. The texture of life is different here. Smoother at first, with the lingering effect of the salt water baking on your skin during a lazy afternoon on the beach.
Of course, I have been running a lot lately, the views afforded from the beach front are amazing. Thinking of the artist, philosophers, and world leaders that have been inspired by the same sites my eyes feast upon daily is quite invigorating.
Hope to keep up on the blog more.
Much Love, A bientot!
James
Pourquoi pas | Why not ? 