I had no photo to go along with this blog so I put the beer sign because that is what I feel like I need right now. It's cold and rainy here today and no mall to head to, no movie theatre, well there is one but the movies are in french, so I'm feeling a little stir crazy. I decide maybe slice and bake cookies are just what the doctor ordered on this drizzly day so I head to the grocery store. Slice and bake cookies do not exist here, and yes I could make them from scratch but I just don't have it in me today. So I get some other things and head to the grocery line. My total comes to 17.50 euro so I hand the lady 50.50 euro. She hands me some change and then realizes that wasn't right so she takes the whole money drawer and goes in to the back of the store. When she comes back she hands me 10 euro. Now I know I only teach second grade but I can do the math and this is not right. So here we go I'm trying to say "I gave you 50.50 and the bill was 17.50 so you owe me 33 euro." There is rapid fire french now between two cashiers and 2 lines are being held up. Just like at home some people are irritated and others are trying to help. I'm pointing to the receipt where it says 33 euro is my change, but still lots of discussion. Apparently the lady claims she already gave me 10 euro so now she wants to give me only 23 euro. I just keep saying Non, Non, and thanking the lord I don't know any bad words in french because I'm starting to get irritated. Finally they hand me the correct amount and I leave as I feel many french eyes staring at me as I go. It is so frustrating to not be able to defend yourself because you don't speak the language well!!! I'm sure as soon as I left they were saying bad things about me or Americans but what can I do? It's 5:00 here anyway. Wendy