It’s day 9 in France and I’m really enjoying Toulouse.

I ran out of clean clothes at the half-way point of this adventure and so I went to the nearby laverie this afternoon to wash and dry.

My primary host Jacques has been pretty busy with both his real, every-day job – and – La Chatte a la Voisine’s commitment to staff a buvette at a multi-day arts/music festival at the big art school in Toulouse. The drawings of Scottish artist David Shrigley make up the cornerstone of the art exhibit. Shrigley’s pencil art pieces (a couple hundred of them perhaps) are stitched together on three big walls.

They’re really funny observations about problems/situations in everyday life.

Shrigley has been omnipresent during the weekend; super-accessible and enthusiastic about the event and associated musical gigs. Dubbed “Problem in Toulouse,” Shrigley’s is one of many free exhibitions that comprise the city-wide Le Printemps de Septembre.

When the crowd reached its peak Friday evening, I tried to lend a hand at the buvette. I took drink orders and was reasonably successful at both comprehension and delivery. When the beer tap malfunctioned (too foamy) at the height of the audience’s demand, I had to step away. It was taking too much time to pour a full cup of beer. I could see the patrons starting to lose patience and I didn’t know well how to face the pressure given the additional layer of insecurity with my lack of fluency. It was funny. It was actually a cool feeling when the five or six of us were scrambling simultaneously to successfully handle the rush.

I’m usually on the other side of the bar. It was interesting to see the perspective of the other side.

On Monday, I explore the countryside a bit by car with Jean.

Tuesday is my last day here. I’ve been invited to dinner that evening by new friends Fabian and Sonia. On the menu is a very special dish comprised of a part of the stomach from a local cow. Not just any cow, says Sonia. It’s a special French cow.

Un peu plus tard.