2 More Weeks Until Vacation!

So time has just been flying by! It's been 3 weeks since we have been back from Christmas break, and now there are only 2 weeks left until another vacation. I could really get used to this schedule (wink wink).

Classes continue to go very well. The kids are awesome, and my honors Seniors are a blast. Italian is great too and Annie (the prof) really lets me take part in the class. We did our horoscopes last week and only one girl had remembered to bring one in, so she was thrilled that I found an American one for that day. It's something to look forward to and gives a little more structure to my week (otherwise on Tues. I only have class from 5-6 so this forces me to get up and going early in the morning).

I had seen posters advertising an international horse jumping competition and had asked some of my classes if they knew anything about it. When I got to school on Thurs. one of the girls had printed out the schedule, prices, and directions for me and put it in my box. Jenny, Zoe and I went on Friday afternoon since it was free that day. It was absolutely amazing, definitely one of the most enjoyable things I've done in France so far. There were riders from all over- even Venezuela. This is something I think anyone can enjoy b/c it's flashy; you don't need to know or care much about horses to appreciate the sport. The jumps were about 1.5 meters high and then with spreads. We did see several people eat it; one girl even fell of after completing the whole course! Jenny treated us to some delicious deserts from a boulangerie near one of her schools, so we had a great goute.

By the time we got back to the foyer it was ready to start thinking about going out. Mathieu had just gotten back from San Brieuc (spelling ?) which is about 2 hours North of Nantes, so we met up with him. Louise, M, and I went out to get a drink and ended up running into all sorts of people out and around centre ville. We got back around midnight (which is fairly early for France), but I was exhausted after an incredibly busy week (still surprises me how I manage to STILL be busy only working 10/12 hours to week and not even being a student anymore!!). I was about to fall asleep at the last bar we went to (thankfully it's close to home) so they were nice enough to go back with me. Mathieu has 100 gigs of music with an encridible sound system, so when we got back there was of course one of our famous dance parties. I took a lil nap and then woke back up and finally made it to bed after 5am.

Saturday was another night out: Lou and me again with Kwam (Mathieu's roommate) and a fridnd Joe. Pre-partied chez Mateo and Kwam and didn't head out until after midnight. We went to Tex Mex to go dancing, but on Saturdays, it's house music, and none of us appreciate that too much. We still managed to stay until closing; Lou and I were dancing to music that we had never heard (hello random French electronic music), but they did play a couple of decent songs.

Vegged all day yesterday watching episodes of Ally McBeal and our weekly get together for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy; gotta love iTunes. I've had a ton of energy lately, so woke up early this morning and went for a long run. I'm so lucky to have a beautiful park that seems to be endless (I've gone out for 2 hours and never seen an end). There's a lake with ducks and swans, beautiful gardens, and lots of people out walking their dogs.

I've got classes from 4-6 today, so am goanna meet up with Jesse for a coffee and then come back to school. Guess that's it for now. I imagine these next 2 weeks will just fly by. I'm starting to relize that I'll be on a plane headed home before I know it. Bisous to all of you, Eli

Buongiorno!

So, I've been keeping really busy which explains, in part, why I haven't been writing here much lately. Last week I started an entirely new schedule, so that will take some getting used to. I've got some classes that will be amazing. Some of these kids have been all over the world and are interesting, speak great English and will be a fun to work with. I have some that are at a much lower level, and it will be more of a challenge for me to work with them, I think.

I started Italian at the collège last week and think I will continue with that. I was even able to get a text book from the school library. I think I will be able to go 2 days a week. I've been swimming about 2x per week and running at the park near the foyer. Had dinner at Jesse's house (she did homemade mac and cheese with guacamole and chips as appetizers. I did a caprese salad though their basilique is not at all like the basil we have at home, so I didn't think it was as good).

Friday had been crazy b/c I have 3 hours of classes. Then I was tired and wanted to take a nap, but that didn't work. Mathieu and I left around 4:30 to go to the store and ended up spending 2.5 hours trying to get there (in traffic, then an accident we wanted to avoid and got lost in doing so, then looking for all the stuff we needed for dinner). We were on our way to Jess' to drop off the stuff for later on and got in a car accident! This is the 2nd time in 2 weeks that Mathieu has had someone back up and hit him! He just got his car back and now it happened again. The guy was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser and went to do a 3. turn down a one-way street and backed over us. We're ok, but I wish I could say the same for his car. Anyways, we had dinner and then headed back to the foyer to get ready to go out. Met back up with everyone else after midnight and went to a club called Le carasol. It was ok but we weren't crazy about the music so headed to Tex Mex. Had fun dancing and didn't get back to Jess' until 5AM.

On Saturday we had a girl's night in and watched movies. It was fun, and we haven't really done anything like that before. We also played Pitch which is kind of like 500. Slept in a little yesterday, watched another movie (we all slept at Jess' since her roommate was gone visiting her bf for the weekend). Then I met up with Rollanda (the German assistant at my school) to go over to Sophie's for the galette du roi (a tradition in January honoring the 3 kings who brought presents to Jesus). You eat these cakes and someone gets a little prize in their slice; they're the king or queen, get to wear a little crown, and choose their king/queen. It's fun. Sophie had made 2: one chocolate and pear the other with marzipan. Both were great. Left her place around 7:30 and went back to Jess' and then to an American bar to watch the NFL playoffs. Can't believe I was there but it was nice to hear English spoken even if it was only the sportscast. I think we'll go back in 2 weeks for the Superbowl. I really don't care, we moslty went to keep Jenny company since she is a fanatic.

I'll be in Italy in less than 3 weeks and can hardly wait! I'm so glad I bought my tickets when I did b/c all tickets (train and plane) seem to have gone up considerably. I don't know why. Jenny and I are trying to figure things out for the April vacation. Goanna head out of here since I have a break until 4PM. Miss you all.

Love, Elizabeth

PICTURES!

Some pics from Landéda and a night out in Nantes.

Bonne Année

Bonne Année

Oh boy, it’s been a LONG time since I’ve used an American keyboard... this should be really interesting. Hehe. Please excuse any and all typos.

I got back to Nantes this afternoon just before 4PM. The trip took almost exactly 4 hours and went by w/o a hitch. I really enjoy taking the train; it’s easy and relaxing. I listened to the MP3 player Mathieu had lent me, and that always makes the time much more enjoyable. I lucked out and had a rain-free day.

So this was definitely a Christmas unlike any other for me. I arrived into the train station in Brest on Saturday Dec. 23 and was greeted by Christine and her 3 girls: Marie (9), Claire (5) and Salomé (3). Since they live in Landéda, about 30 minutes outside of Brest in the countryside we took advantage of being in the city and did a little tour of the Marche de Noёl (Christmas Market). There were little rides for the girls to go on etc… It was getting dark by 5 when we headed towards their home.

The time spent in Landéda was very nice, reclusive, and relaxing… just what I was in need of. We took walks along the beach and in the dunes when the weather permitted and enjoyed time by the fire on rainy days. Poor Claire sprained her ankle and the doctor put her in a cast for 3 weeks, so she was significantly limited with what she was able to do. Ever the Super-Mom, Christine still came up with fun activities to keep everyone entertained. It was really funny for me to see the girls enjoying some of the same activities I played as a little girl 15 years ago (Playdough, plaster and molds to paint, Old Maid cards etc…).
Christmas dinner was wonderful; I had 30 oysters on the half shell in 2 days!!! Wonderful wine and seafood to enjoy. Unfortunately, I got pretty sick and was throwing up for 3 days and also had flu-like symptoms, so that did sort of put a damper on things. Thank goodness I wasn’t off traveling around, staying in a hostel, catching trains and busses. Instead I was in a cozy home able to rest.

I did quite a bit of reading: Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexi, The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, In America by Susan Sontag, and Et si c’etait vrai by Marc Levy (this book was made into a movie about a year or so ago; Reese Witherspoon played the lead female role). I was also able to spend a good amount of time on the internet in the evening keeping in touch with friends and family at home.

We went to the big aquarium one day, which I thoroughly enjoyed. They had 3 exhibitions: Tropical, Temperate (things you’d find right in the waters in and surrounding Brest), and Polar. There were 2 different sites with seals (which, hehe, the French pronounce as "fucks"; I’m 25 and still get a kick out of that one). They also had penguins, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen them in real life before. Of course I especially enjoyed the beautiful sea turtle and got some great shots of her.

New Year’s ended up being one of the best parties I’ve ever been to. These people definitely have it down! It was held at friends of Christine’s who live in an old farm that has been completely renovated. There was a huge area cleared out for dancing and the buffet; even with 25 guests, the house still seemed spacious. The food was amazing starting with more oysters, lobster and shrimp, smoked salmon; then followed by meats such as foie gras, magre de canard, and another type of smoked duck, I think. Then cheeses and red wines (we all started off with Champagne, then white wine with the sea food and foie gras). Then they cleared out even more space and dimmed the lights for the dancing to begin. One of the guys had all of his own official DJ equipment with HUGE speakers. The party lasted (as well as the Champagne) until after 6AM!! There was a woman from Ireland who I enjoyed talking to (I also enjoyed eating the Cheese Cake she brought made with real Philadelphia cream cheese from London) and a couple from Tuscany.

Also during my visit, I went to the movies for the first time since being in France. We saw a children’s movie called Asur et Azmar the newest animation by Michel Ocelot. I absolutely LOVED it. I can’t imagine a film like this ever being released for children in the States; actually his last one Kirikou was banned since it showed women’s breasts (it was set in Africa). Typical of what I’d expect from U.S. censorship. Here’s a film for kids that has a message and something to say, is artistic and unique and we freakin’ ban it.
Yesterday Fred picked me up to spend the day in Brest so I’d get out a little bit and be that much closer to the train station today. It was fun to get to see the area where my Dad spent his 7 months in France last year. I met his neighbors (that’s where the New Year’s party was), got to see some of his regular hiking and biking routes, and the restaurant he so enjoyed while there. I felt like I was retracing his steps. Everyone I encountered who knows him had so many nice things to say and of course they commented on how much he loves France and, above all, French wine!

Now I’m back "home" and don’t quite know what I’ll do for the rest of the week. Jenny is the first to get back (she gets in on Sat.) and Lou and Jesse get in on Monday, I think. I for sure need to clean my room and do some errands etc… lesson plans, maybe a swim one day. We’ll see. To everyone who sent me a Chrismas card, Merci beaucoup! It made me feel not so far away and alone…. always nice when you’re abroad especially during the holidays (:
I hope the new year is full of pleasant surprises, rewarded success, happy moments spent with loved ones, and santé.

Love to you all, Elizabeth

P.S. I have a TON of pics to upload and will try to get to it this week. I’m even missing some from London. This site is weird and sometimes decides it just doesn’t want to post any more pictures. Boo!