Yesterday, chez les Barans, there was a party that was held and here are the details...
In the morning of Saturday, August 30th, two thousand and eight, I arose out of my pink bed and silently got ready. When I reached the bottom of the baby blue stairs, I realized that everyone had awaken before me and was already preparing the feast. The night before, I had helped in the kitchen to prepare the batter for the crèpes. For the duration of the afternoon, Marie and I worked in the kitchen and in the yard to help prepare ourselves for the party. We helped get the quiches (all 4 of them) ready, I prepared all of the sauces for the the meats and spread them over them all ( the porc, the chicken, the bacon like strips and red sausage and white,), rinsed and cut the potatoes for the scalloped potaotes, helped make two pear and raspberry cakes, rearranged everything outside three times, placed cushions on all of the chairs and table cloths on the tables, and cubed mozzerella for a salad. In the midst of it all, I also managed to explode a sink. The whole faucet fell into the sink while the water went everywhere except in the sink. It was not a lovely sight.
After, six hours of non stop work, I found a chance to take a break and get ready for the party. After washing, rinsing, applying, and drying, I got into my dress and went downstairs to wait for the guests.
Surprisingly, there wre a lot of people here for our garden-party, barbeque, surprise party. That's right, they threw me a surprise party and I didnt even know it. There were around 22 people here to help us celebrate. After appetizers and a champagne toast (my first alcoholic drink in La France), we sat down to eat our dinner. After dinner, we lit a fire in the handmade fire pit (that i constructed) and Prune pulled out some presents and everyone started to sing Happy Birthday. After opening my gifts, 2 scarfs, 6 cds, a book, a jewelery box, a sewing kit, some jelly, and a notebook, we had some cake and crèpes with nutella. Also throughout the whole night, there was foozball (babyfoot in french) and wine. I only had a sip of the wine though. Also, later in the evening, I participated in a few games of Uno with some of the guests.
So ended our party.
Then the clean up started. Us four girls, Claire, Marie, Amélia, et moi helped arrange everything back into an order where everything was inside or put away.
All in all, it was a great party.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
photos of La France
While I have a thousand things that I could talk about, I think that I am going to post a few pictures to please my screaming, demanding fans lol.
the view from the Plane from DC to Paris
my friend Nina that I met on the airplane
Griotte, the fat cat. A griotte is a type of cherry.
A french cow to satisfy the needs of one, special lady who likes cows lol.
The beginning of the set up of our party.More to come when I go into Nancy tomorrow. The cords are all in my bedroom lol.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Swimming Trunks are illegal!
Today I had my first real culture shock. I didn't realize that it was culture shock at the time but looking back, it was definately culture shock. Allow me to elaborate...
So, today started like any other normal day. Well as normal as staying in France could be. Except that there was a slight problem with my alarm clock. Claire, my host sister, set it last night but she didnt change the time. She only changed the time of the alarm and not the actual time lol. I got up thinking that it was 9:30 when in reality it was 6:30or 7 lol. So , I got up and got ready, went downstairs, and realized that it was very early in the morning. I sat around and wrote in my journal and read some of my book . Then, Griotte, le chat, came ovr and wanted me to pet her. I was very excited because she isn't a very friendly cat and she wanted me to pet her. So I pet her. Then, since she is very fat, she waddled away and walked around the table and walked up to me and bit my calf. It was one of the funniest things that happenned to me all day lol.
Then, Claire and I helped Prune set up for our party tomorrow. I am very excited about it because I get to meet many people and experience a french barbeque which is very cool. I had to move rocks around for Prune and then we got all the tables out and set them up. It took us almost all morning to do this. After we went to the pool which is where our story of the culture shock takes place.
After going in and using changing rooms that didn't have any locks and had 2 doors, we went into the pool area which had 2 pool areas, a few hot tubs that weren't hot, a water slide, and a lazy river, and got in the pool. I looked around and realized that all of the men and boys looked a bit odd. Then it hit me; none of them were wearing swimming trunks. I made a comment of this to my host sister and she said " O yea. That's not allowed. It's against the rules. All guys have to wear tight bottoms." All of this of course is in french. The whole time, I'm looking around at all of the guys in speedos trying to not look at them at the same time.
While all of this is funny, the best art is that the french word for tight, bathing suit bottom for a male is the word slip. lol.
So, today started like any other normal day. Well as normal as staying in France could be. Except that there was a slight problem with my alarm clock. Claire, my host sister, set it last night but she didnt change the time. She only changed the time of the alarm and not the actual time lol. I got up thinking that it was 9:30 when in reality it was 6:30or 7 lol. So , I got up and got ready, went downstairs, and realized that it was very early in the morning. I sat around and wrote in my journal and read some of my book . Then, Griotte, le chat, came ovr and wanted me to pet her. I was very excited because she isn't a very friendly cat and she wanted me to pet her. So I pet her. Then, since she is very fat, she waddled away and walked around the table and walked up to me and bit my calf. It was one of the funniest things that happenned to me all day lol.
Then, Claire and I helped Prune set up for our party tomorrow. I am very excited about it because I get to meet many people and experience a french barbeque which is very cool. I had to move rocks around for Prune and then we got all the tables out and set them up. It took us almost all morning to do this. After we went to the pool which is where our story of the culture shock takes place.
After going in and using changing rooms that didn't have any locks and had 2 doors, we went into the pool area which had 2 pool areas, a few hot tubs that weren't hot, a water slide, and a lazy river, and got in the pool. I looked around and realized that all of the men and boys looked a bit odd. Then it hit me; none of them were wearing swimming trunks. I made a comment of this to my host sister and she said " O yea. That's not allowed. It's against the rules. All guys have to wear tight bottoms." All of this of course is in french. The whole time, I'm looking around at all of the guys in speedos trying to not look at them at the same time.
While all of this is funny, the best art is that the french word for tight, bathing suit bottom for a male is the word slip. lol.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Le Vélo
So. I just have one thing to say. I freaking love France. I have had such a good tilme here. Let me give you a run down of what we've done...
Yesterday le 27, I arrived in France and navigated through the airport with three other girls who were coming to district 1790. We got back on a different plane and we went to Luxembourg. There, I met Denis et François. Denis is my host father right now and François will be my next host father. They are both very nice and funny. My host mom is really cool too! Her name is Véronique but everyone calls her Prune lol. My younger host sister is 16 and very cool. Her name is Claire and she is gorgeous. I haven't met Marie yet; she is in Dinard for a vacation but if tomorrow is Friday(sorry i have no idea what day it is lol) then she will be back in town. Griotte, the cat, also resides in the house. She is very fat and funny. She doesn't really like it when people pet her and she will hit you with her paws lol.
Today, I slept in until 1 o'clock in the afternoon! It was an accident but still...
Then I took a shower this morning and ate some breakfast. Then Claire and I walked into the village (which was a whole 5 minute walk away lol) and we toured a museum that had a bunch of items and exhibits of life in France during the 18th century. It had some gardens and some old buildings. It was very neat. Then we returned home and went on a bicycle ride. I believe that it was at least 5 miles but i'm not positive. I will get back to you on that. We rode around the lake that is here in Sainte-Marie-du-Lac. It is a pretty big lake actually. It was built to lower the level of the Seine in Paris. After our bike ride, Claire and I went and I met the neighbor Yoyo. She is very cute. We didn't stay for long though. She has the cutest house with a million flowers. Note to anyone who will go to France in the future: when served a juicebox, you ar suppossed to open it and put it in a glass. It doesn't matter if there is a straw attached or not. Then we came inside and chilled out and played the Wii. Yes, we have a wii. It was a lot of fun. After playing the wii for like, 2 hours lol, I set the table and we sat down to eat. To start, we had cucumbers, chevre, some kind of cold fishy thing, and vinager in a bowl. Even though it doesn't sound like these things go together at all, it was surprisingly good. Then we had noodles with a type of ranch/dill sauce. Again, surprisingly good.
Tomorrow, we have plans to help Maman in the garden and then go swimming on the beach with a few of Claire's friends. Good thing that I packed my bathing suit btottoms. They are throwing me a party on Saturday where only a few people turned into like, 14! it will be okay. We are having a barbeque. Details to come on what a french barbeaue entails. Also, on tuesday (which just so happens to be my birthday) Denis, Marie, Marie's friend Antoine 9(a boy) and I are going to a basketball game. This basketball game isn't just a normal game either. Tony Parker is going to be there playing!!! For people like Madame who probably don't know who TP is, Tony Parker is the husband of Eva Longoria and plays for the Spurs (i think). He is a big player in the USA and I'm very excited to see them at the game.
I think that that is about it for now. I am a little tired and I am going to bed now.
ciao
Yesterday le 27, I arrived in France and navigated through the airport with three other girls who were coming to district 1790. We got back on a different plane and we went to Luxembourg. There, I met Denis et François. Denis is my host father right now and François will be my next host father. They are both very nice and funny. My host mom is really cool too! Her name is Véronique but everyone calls her Prune lol. My younger host sister is 16 and very cool. Her name is Claire and she is gorgeous. I haven't met Marie yet; she is in Dinard for a vacation but if tomorrow is Friday(sorry i have no idea what day it is lol) then she will be back in town. Griotte, the cat, also resides in the house. She is very fat and funny. She doesn't really like it when people pet her and she will hit you with her paws lol.
Today, I slept in until 1 o'clock in the afternoon! It was an accident but still...
Then I took a shower this morning and ate some breakfast. Then Claire and I walked into the village (which was a whole 5 minute walk away lol) and we toured a museum that had a bunch of items and exhibits of life in France during the 18th century. It had some gardens and some old buildings. It was very neat. Then we returned home and went on a bicycle ride. I believe that it was at least 5 miles but i'm not positive. I will get back to you on that. We rode around the lake that is here in Sainte-Marie-du-Lac. It is a pretty big lake actually. It was built to lower the level of the Seine in Paris. After our bike ride, Claire and I went and I met the neighbor Yoyo. She is very cute. We didn't stay for long though. She has the cutest house with a million flowers. Note to anyone who will go to France in the future: when served a juicebox, you ar suppossed to open it and put it in a glass. It doesn't matter if there is a straw attached or not. Then we came inside and chilled out and played the Wii. Yes, we have a wii. It was a lot of fun. After playing the wii for like, 2 hours lol, I set the table and we sat down to eat. To start, we had cucumbers, chevre, some kind of cold fishy thing, and vinager in a bowl. Even though it doesn't sound like these things go together at all, it was surprisingly good. Then we had noodles with a type of ranch/dill sauce. Again, surprisingly good.
Tomorrow, we have plans to help Maman in the garden and then go swimming on the beach with a few of Claire's friends. Good thing that I packed my bathing suit btottoms. They are throwing me a party on Saturday where only a few people turned into like, 14! it will be okay. We are having a barbeque. Details to come on what a french barbeaue entails. Also, on tuesday (which just so happens to be my birthday) Denis, Marie, Marie's friend Antoine 9(a boy) and I are going to a basketball game. This basketball game isn't just a normal game either. Tony Parker is going to be there playing!!! For people like Madame who probably don't know who TP is, Tony Parker is the husband of Eva Longoria and plays for the Spurs (i think). He is a big player in the USA and I'm very excited to see them at the game.
I think that that is about it for now. I am a little tired and I am going to bed now.
ciao
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
à la campagne
So i have arrived in La France and have met my family. they are super nice and funny. Their house is beautiful and Nancy is amazing. My family situation is a little unique . What i mean is that i dont live in the same house all the time. I live with the Barans the whole time but we dont stay in the same house. The father Denis, Marie and I stay in Nancy throughout the week and then on the weekends, we come to the country to Sainte Marie du Lac which is like, 100 kilometers from Nancy. For this weekend, we are staying à la campagne. It is going to be sooo confusing but i will make it. Now I get the chance to learn what it is like to live in the country and the city! My host mom is so nice and so is the rest of the family.
Until more news (or sleep lol)
Until more news (or sleep lol)
Friday, August 15, 2008
one hand and 3 fingers!
So, as of today, I have a total of 8 days left here in the States. It happens to be a little weird and exciting and nerve-wracking and crazy at the same time. I realized that i need to get better at this whole blog thing since I am kinda leaving in EIGHT FREAKING DAYS!!!!!
I have started to pack. Thank the Lord! I think that i have bought/obtained all of the necessary things that i absolutely need in my life for the next 10 months. I have probably forgotten the most important things that i need though. lol.
I have started to pack. Thank the Lord! I think that i have bought/obtained all of the necessary things that i absolutely need in my life for the next 10 months. I have probably forgotten the most important things that i need though. lol.
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