August in France. Or, Why my brain is not yet back from holiday.

august in france is weird. the government must have socialized vacation as well as health care, because it seems like it's interdit to work during the month of august in france. the inhabitants of aix have fled the city and been replaced by hoards of tourists. i can't walk down the cours mirabeau without dodging a pack of japanese tourists trailing behind a woman holding an umbrella high in the air. so even though aix is crowded with people, the city has gone on vacation mode, so it feels like a ghost town. one of those ghost towns where tourists flock to take pictures of old buildings and imagine what the town was like in the days of yore, and vendors sell overpriced souvenirs and bottles of water marked up 300%.

i had a wonderful summer. it was exciting and action-packed, relaxing and refreshing, encouraging and inspiring. after two incredible weeks of camp, an iccp staff retreat to the alps, staff conference in hungary, and a vacation with friends in madrid, summer is winding down, and i'm ready. i'm ready to start planning and dreaming for the upcoming year. i'm ready for people to be around and things to be going on. i'm ready to embrace my new roles and job responsibilities. i'm ready to connect with people and be a part of their lives. i'm ready to grow and be stretched. i'm ready to see God work in big ways this year.

the only problem is that france is not ready. france will not be ready until september 1, the official date of "la rentrée" when everyone will return to work and school and normal life. and my brain, it seems, is so culturally adapted that it will not return to work mode until august is over. i'm ready to reengage, but my brain is still on vacation. so i'm not sure what to do: somehow trick my brain into thinking it's september and time to get movin', or just give in and let my brain have it's way with lazy mornings and afternoon naps?