French Kisses, smelly cheese, and super cool pens

It has been brought to my attention that maybe I have been complaining too much about being busy. I know that this person didn't mean to put it that way, I just kinda feel bad now. I need you all to know that it's not that I am really super super busy every second of the day, it's just that writing a blog that is well written, witty, and not saying the same thing over and over again is hard. I didn't realise that keeping up with my blog would be this difficult.  It's not that I have run out of things to say, haha, to the contraire, I have sooooo many stupid little things that I want to tell you all that I can't find the right words with which to say them. 

I want you all to know that I love it here in France. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Madame Hempstead for inspiring me and putting the idea that I could actually do this (the whole survive "by myself" in France thing) into my head. Until that fateful day with those 132 boxes of markers (haha I'm sure that it was at least over 100 and don't even try to deny it!!  ask the tennis team, I had to be with them after testing all 1O markers in the 132 boxes. OVER 6 HOURS OF MARKERS!!), I had no intention of taking a year off of my "lifeplan" and go partying in Euorpe. Haha, just for the record, I do not, I repeat, do not just party here. Stop worrying mother. Seriously, this entire year has to be given credit to my wonderful french teacher from "là-bas". I am so happy that I ended up "crossing the pond" 

I love the way that the french greet each other. I don't really have any ambition of coming home and going back to wimpy old handshakes and hugs. No way josé. Just so that you all are warned, I will keep giving the double (sometimes triple. hey, you never know) cheek kisses until I am an old granny. Hugs have just kinda become second rated and awkward.

 

BLACK AND GREY. Hmm. What in the world could Jen be talking about?? It must be about the wardrobe of basically, ALL FRENCH PEOPLE. There are no colors. Nope, not at all. Meanwhile, me, "la petite américaine" has a rainbow for a closet. I keep being told that in the summer, the colors come out but, I have my doubts. So, for the time being, I will continue to be the little, bright, foreigner with the pink backpack  that everyone can see from down the road.

I think that this post of "My Favorite Things" (haha. Sound of Music Reference) in France would be inomplete if I left off the most obvious things, the baguette, cheese, and wine.  No, seriously though, I love the food here. I have already mentioned my love for the applesauce but, obviously, the above things that i come from mentioning are very reputed for being "amazingly french." 

     I think that literally, there are more cheeses than there are days in the year. I know that 

     everyone says this and it's pretty much a well known and accepted fact but, as I am nearing 

     the 5 month mark in France, I still find it incredibe all of the cheese and bread and wine that

     we eat.  Actually, in fact, the incredible part is that everyone here in France is as skinny as a 

     a toothpick. I have come to appreciate a good cheese. I really like the comté and the brie. 

     It's weird but, i have been told that in the States, it's illegal to eat cheeses that are made 

     with unpasterized milk. In the beginning of my journey, the thought of eating something

     unpasterized or eggs or fish or uncooked meat grossed me out  but now, I feel as if I can do 

     (or eat) anything.

  Roquefort taste test... result=spécial...

     The bread is amazing. enough said lol.

     I have come to be able to appreciate a good wine. Please, stop and realize that I am not an

     alcoholic. While I may have a little more experience with, hmm how to put it, culture, I am 

     not and do not and will never have a problem. haha. Actuall, just to let everyone know,

     I really like the fruit flavored champagne like drinks that we drink as an apératif.  haha. 

     I think that I am going to end this subject before I say more than you want to hear lol.

The last thing that I will tell you about is one of my favorite things about France and the french culture; my pen. So, everyone uses a fountain pen all of the time here. They are so cool. I think that while I have an obsession with ball point pens, I will always have a "stylo plume" with me at all times in life. Haha. 

As a granny, you all now know that you will be able to find me in in my little rocking chair, with a scarf wrapped around my neck, dressed all in black or grey with black pantyhose, wearing either converses or boots, eating smelly french cheese and french bread and drinking some red wine, writing with my erasable french fountain pen while kissing everyone twice (or sometimes three times) . So there, you all are warned...