This is Raphael translating Christian's post. Christian spent a few days visiting them in Corning/Rochester and even helped Florian to buy his computer ( I had the chance to have an unlimited budget for it and they built it. It's a crazy machine).
While spending a few days in the states, I had a chance to spend this Sunday in Rochester with Florian and Jacques, who is my little brother. Here are my impressions with this beautiful day spent with such great people.
Even though he's been on his Xth chemo session, Florian is energetic, although he has had a bit of a diet. If he didn't have that dam catheter on wheels, which goes beep beep every time you have to change it, I wouldn't have been surprised to see him run a 100 meter dash this afternoon. He still told me though that it wouldn't be happening for a bit.
Mainly, don't ask him how he is doing! It annoys him. He thinks the Belgians are worrying for no reason, and is hoping I can pass the message not to worry about him.
Florian has been thinking about his family, cousins, friends, and everyone else. He worries about seeing the nurse on graveyard shift still there at 3pm and asks them if they aren't doing too much. He is glad to hear about Louise and Julie starting school again and is happy to see Amaury's enthusiasm for his studies at UB. Overall, he is happy to hear good news from people he cares about.
Florian is looking to diversify his activities. I had proposed a game of Risk, but he found an even better game. This afternoon, he taught us how to play 'Settlers of Catan', an amazing board game that makes you think. Florian is incredibly good, but Jacques was really lucky and beat Florian, meanwhile I was dead last (I apparently lost a few of the details about the game). The nurse who knew about the game told Florian his heart rate went up during the game! I am sure mine was as well! I think Jacques and Florian will train this winter fro a revenge match at the next Gollier meet up far away from cardiograms. Everyone else is welcome!
Nathalie, Jacques and Jill are all taking care of him as much as they can, it's a beautiful thing to see. And Raphael, Amaury, and Marie-Laure at not very far away. You are very lucky Florian. If I understand, there are hard times but they are hard to imagine after what I saw today.
Alone in Amaury's car between Rochester and Corning tonight, I feel happy for them, for us, for him. Really. It will be my pleasure to most likely come back in January. Bye, Florian, and salutations to the active readers of the blog.
Christian
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I tried my best to translate but Christian is a great writer and doubt I can do justice to it, but here is a quick translation of his post.
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