A Cat Gets Better Vacations Than I Do

So the other day at dinner my host mom says, "Oh did I mention I have a cat?" Now I thought this might be a joke or something. I mean I had been staying here 3 weeks, and I saw no cat. She then said, "It is on vacation in Provence."

"What???" The cat is on vacation. Now I really thought this was a joke. She saw the incredulous look on my face and pointed to hot host daughter, "Tell him we have a cat." She was slightly laughing because she knew I didn't believe but said they did. Now I was really skeptical because hot host daughter was laughing.

The Chinese exchange student (CES), who also is staying here (this apt is like a really expensive hostel), chiped in too, "yep there is a cat." Now I was still not believing this and thought maybe the CES just caught onto the game they were playing with me.

So host mom then says that she is leaving the next day to go bring it back. Now I could tell she wasn't joking. They actually had a cat, and it was actually on vacation. So I began asking questions...
Name: Mincey
Color: Mainly white, with brown, and black
Eyes: Blue
Type: I don't know cat breed names in French sorry
Age: 16 pretty old cat

I then asked the interesting questions, "What do you mean by 'vacaton'?" Thinking they dropped it off while they were on vacation or something like that. Oh no, the host did not actually go on vacation just the cat. Yes that is right the cat went on a vacation but it's owner could not. Wanting to know more about the cat I then asked, "Is it friendly, how does it act?"

She answers by saying, "Well it is going to be depressed and lay around when it comes back, it is always like that after its vacation." Yes this isn't a one-time deal; it is annual. She continued, "When it is in the country it gets to run around, hunt, climb trees, but when it returns here it has nothing to do but lay around."

I then ask, "Where is the cat at?" Thinking just outside Paris or something. Oh no, Southern France. Yes the cat vacations with Paris Hilton, Jenifer Aniston, Nicole Richey, and Mincey. Now it wasn't on the coast but still Provence is a great region in Southern France. (Largely known for its cuisine and herbs).

So yes I live with a family, who sends their cat on vacation each year to Southern France. The cat runs, climbs, hunts, and whatever else cats do in the wild until it is time to come and then it rests up until next year when it gets to go on vacation again. Until then Mincey lays around the house and eats the fish and vegetables that is cooked for her every night. Oh did I forget to mention they cook cod and green beans for the cat every night. Yes that is my host family.