Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween and as I write I think how I should be in Georgia right now catching up with family and friends and working on filling boxes of things to ship back here that I need; things like children’s books for each holiday that I can use in English classes or a few of my warmer sweaters and clothing……and then meeting my neighbors as they ring the bell tonight with their kiddos……..but instead here I am in France sitting at the table writing.

Monday I took Sophie to the kennel and Ross and I took a taxi to the train station.  We were taking the train to Paris, spending the night in the hotel and flying out Tuesday morning.  We’d both fly into Philadelphia where he would work for three days while I took another flight to Atlanta.  He was to join me for the weekend to celebrate Liam’s first birthday. On our way, he got an email saying our flights had been cancelled due to hurricane Sandy.  He immediately got on the phone to try and re-book flights.  For him, the soonest they had an open flight into Philly was next Monday  and for me they could get me as direct flight into Atlanta but not until Thursday. So, we took another taxi home after switching my train ticket ( for a fee of course).  I called yesterday and picked Sophie up after 24 hours at the kennel.  So, it’s been an expensive week of going nowhere!

Ross ended up having to cancel his meetings so for him, there was no reason he could pop over to Atlanta for the weekend now.  That is a bummer especially when Thursday and Friday here are work holidays so he won’t even be able to go into the office. So, while we are disappointed, we are very thankful for those we know and love who had to deal with the storms.  You know at the end of the day, if your family is okay, the rest really isn’t as important. Now I am trying to re-arrange things and cram my visit into less days.  It’s a bit of a mess, but I am really pleased I still get to go.

So, since I last write, nothing much new except that it is mushroom season here and we have been enjoying trying the different varieties.  The black ones in the photo don’t look very nice, but they sure were tasty.  They were also 19 euro a kilo which everyone tells me is super cheap! Around Christmas they will be up nearer 30 euro a kilo.  I just got a small sampling so it was worth 2 euro to try them. We eat so seasonally here that it is fun to see what comes out next. 

Over the weekend  we took a field trip to my school to show Ross the crazy back roads I take and we went back to the hotel de chateau in Chaumont.  We had been thinking about the lovely meal we’d had there this summer and wanted another try to see if the food was as good or just the memory of it. Silly I know, but it had been a gorgeous day and we ate out on the terrace, etc.  Now, it’s much colder and we ate in the dining room.  The food didn’t disappoint, the chef there really has a way with flavors.  The only thing I couldn’t do was the pre-starter liver pate mousse.  I had one spoonful and had to pass it on to Ross.  Nice restaurants here give you something pureed or mousse like in these tiny glasses before your meals and it’s fun to try them.  This one however for me was too much.  It was cold, but nice and clear, so we enjoyed the drive and seeing the sights along the river.  Seems all our outings here revolve around exploring good food…..hmmmm.

There was this silly cat though that kept following Ross. If he slowed down and stopped, so would the cat.  It would run along next to him and try and rub his leg, too funny.  any of you that know Ross, you know how much he LOVES cats!!!

Food here is such a part of the culture and dining is more of an experience, so we’ve had fun adapting to that cultural difference.  So, here are some random food photos of our mushrooms and meals Saturday.  Hopefully, if all goes well tomorrow, I will write again when I return in mid-November!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Well, it’s time to recap the last week…..things have been busy for me lately with less time to write….I think that’s a good thing though because it means I’m more settled with friends in town and things to do.

Saturday Ross and I went downtown Tours to walk around and have lunch.  Ross picked a new restaurant La Famille and we went to celebrate my birthday.  As we entered the restaurant, the owner’s bulldog, George greeted us at the door.  He decided to lay next to us and several times during the meal he would grunt and moan bulldog style; everyone in the restaurant just would burst into laughter.  I asked the owner if it was a problem having him there and she said he is allowed to be anywhere in the restaurant except the kitchen (thank goodness).  Our meal was very tasty and we enjoyed the three courses. 

After lunch we walked around “Les Halles” which is an indoor market with fresh cheeses, produce, breads and meats.  I’m not sure of exactly what each item is, but it’s fun to look around and see the different offerings.   The butcher had some interesting offerings, the funniest being the rabbits with the fur still on and the blood which was obviously fresh.  All the birds still had heads and feet….now I understand the theory behind it and the obvious freshness of them all, but I still prefer buying my meats already skinned and de-headed!

Sunday Ross went to church while I went downtown Luynes to help with the bike event.  I had various jobs like folding brochures and making sandwiches for the riders after the event.  We had over 120 riders so it was a busy morning getting them all checked in, numbered and off.  Each of the workers except for Jean-Pierre speak French only so it was a good day to work on my French conversational skills.  I spent a lot of time talking with the people doing sandwiches with me.  We did ham and also rillettes on fresh baked baguette rolls.   I copied this quote about rillettes  “ For those that aren’t too familiar, rillettes are a meat that has been cooked down in fat until it becomes meltingly tender and spreadable. Spiked with herbs and spices, it’s like a meaty paste”.  Basically we had pork rillettes as well as wild boar ones.  At first I was pretty skeptical, but after tasting it, I realized it was pretty good.  BUT……when unwrapped from the butcher, it kind of resembles a big plop of cow manure!!!! J

The event went well and I felt like I did okay with my French.  It was good to meet some more people in the town and introduce myself.  At one point I met two couples who live here and the husbands work together. Both wives are of Columbian descent and have been learning French since moving to France.  One has been here several years but the other just about the same amount of time I have so we had common feelings.  Both spoke English too, so that was nice.

This week while grocery shopping, I watched a guy looking at the Clementines which have just come into season.  He was squeezing them and then proceeded to peel one and eat it before deciding to make a purchase.  He filled a bag full so I trusted that they were good.  So, I got myself a few but did not sample them first!

This week was my first time running into someone I knew at the grocery store, so we did the kiss-kiss thing and chatted. I told Ross I felt very French as I see people do this a lot here!  At church now we do a lot of the kiss-kiss thing…it’s become habitual now and doesn’t seem like such an invasion of personal space.   At first it was hard to get used to, but now we don’t even think about it.

Wednesday I went again to the school in Saint Paterne; this time to meet with the teachers and go over the schedule for Thursday and what I’d be doing with the classes.  Thursday I arrived during recess and immediately was surrounded by children asking if I was the lady who speaks English.  Hamish is the one who introduced me to the school and his kids were excited to meet me and we conversed in English together.  They’re fluent in both French and English, so the English classes are funny for them hearing English words in a French accent.   

I spent 45 minutes in each class during their English lessons.  I had to introduce myself and explain why I was there; some classes were able to ask me questions and it was good for my French as we interacted.  I am looking forward to doing more with the kids as the year progresses.    They seemed to enjoy me being there and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.  The French names are a new thing for me, so I am hoping to be able to learn their names.  Not every child has a French name, but most do and they’re different, so I’m learning to hear them properly and pronounce them.  In France there is a different saint for each day of the year and at one point, you had to choose your child’s name form the list.  Now, that is no longer the law, but many still use the very traditional names.

There was one boy named Liam(obviously not a French name), but he was quite pleased when I told him it was my grandson’s name. One boy named Enzo which I know is Italian and the first name of the Ferrari guy, so that boy liked that I knew about Ferraris!  I told him I just bought a Ferrari carseat for Liam when he comes at Christmas ( I’ll be able to bring it back to the US to use with all my grandkids at some point). I’ve been looking at that carseat for a while and it went on sale this week 30% off, so it was my time to buy.

Anyway, it felt good to be in a school again and around the kids. I told Ross  the kids don’t make me nervous at all, but having to perform or be new in front of the other teachers is a bit nerve wracking.  They were nice and welcomed me, and I appreciate them getting to know me before just letting me do much and I think in time I’ll do more and more.  The classroom style is different here and everything is pretty much lecture style, even for younger students.  They do very simple English so it will be interesting to see how far they can go.  The teachers are kind to the kids and smile, but also are very tough when disciplining.  There is less worry about the kids “feelings” but rather more emphasis on them obeying and behaving. In a way, I think it’s better as in America people tend to soft coat things and treat kids as fragile and worry so much about their feelings.  But after observing the kids in the school setting, I’ve decided that kids are the same all over the world and each class seems to have the same issues……the kid who isn’t on the same page and the teacher tells them to do something, every kid does it but that one who kind of looks around thinking “oh did you mean now?” Or the boy who cannot sit still and fidgits or wiggles; it was fun to observe.

The schools here are on holiday for the next two weeks so that worked perfectly with the time I’m away.  When I return I’m going to teach them about American thanksgiving since that is something they hear about but don’t understand.   

This weekend is for packing and getting ready for the trip home.  I feel like the time will fly by as there are so many things I have planned.  So, it will be a quick trip ; I’m excited to go but also will be ready to come home again afterwards and get back into my routine here.  The time between now and Christmas when the kids arrive will go quickly. So, I’m off again!    

Thursday, October 18, 2012

 

Is it a good sign that I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to update my blog? I think so!  It means that I am making friends, having plans and activities and finding my place in the area. 

So, we had our lunch with Jean-Pierre and Helene and met Esther and Nicolas.  We hit it off right away and I think we will become good friends here in France.  They are going through many of the same things we did as we moved here and it will be fun to have other English speaking people to visit with.  Esther has met two ladies who are learning English so we are thinking maybe we’ll help them with English and they’ll help us with French. We spent the entire afternoon around the table laughing and talking, it was great.

Helene had lovely food for us and we enjoyed the day very much.  Sadly, my tried and true apple dessert did not turn out as it ALWAYS does, but oh well, I am getting used to the different ingredients and nothing is turning out exactly as it has before.  So, I am learning some new techniques and ways to cook.

Then Sunday we met a young couple, Phil and Martine at church.  They are in Tours for three months studying French.  Since they were American, we chatted them up and introduced ourselves.  Turns out they’re learning French to go in December to Niger as a short term missionary trip. As I mentioned that we have a good friend who is a missionary in Niger, it turns out they are actually going to work with him. Talk about a small world.  We had Phil and Marti for lunch this week after church and had a nice time getting to know them and visiting. I tied “duck confite” for the first time and was relieved it was a success.  I also did a café gourmand which is a selection of small bites of dessert rather than one dessert.  It turned out nicely as well and I was pleased with my experiment.  Of course, it meant getting a few new dishes at the stores to serve on since I was going for a new look; so that was fun to shop for.

I also had a mani pedi day in Tours, but it is so different from what I am used to.  I will continue to go but be looking around to see if I find anything more “American”.  The gel on my hands only lasted a week which is unacceptable.  I have the things to do it myself at home, so this week I went back to doing my own gel.  As I do it, I get better, but was hoping a professional job would look better and last longer…..it was a nice day to walk around the town and look in a few shops.  I didn’t buy, but had a nice time looking.

I volunteered to help Jean-Pierre with a bike ride event this weekend.  He is the chairman and has involved several business owners here in Luynes.  The event will be a ride up one side of the Loire and down the other.  It looks to be the best weather day of the month, so I am glad.  We have had soooo much rain and it’s been chilly….so not my favorite weather!  Anyway, I went to a planning meeting at the hotel last week.  I figure it’s a good way to work on my French as well as get to know people in the town.  I loved my time in the Hollidaysburg Women’s Club and doing activities and service around the town; so this should be a bit the same.  I am helping the food guy make sandwiches to distribute.  The local baker is providing the baguettes, so the sandwiches will be yummy!!  The guy I am working with speaks no English, so this will be a real test for me.  The meeting was a challenge because it was all in French and several little conversations were going on during the evening. However, once I figured out each person was in charge of something, it was easier to follow their talking.  One is in charge of registration, one traffic control, etc.  I actually knew one couple from our neighborhood, we met at the Fete de Rue.  I remember her because her name is Sophie (the same as my little dog), so all the neighbors had a chuckle at that.  One other couple I knew from the Night of Music in tours back in June, they were with someone elsewe knew at the restaurant and we recognized each other. Okay, so not super friends, but at least I’m recognizing people and putting some names with faces.

We went to our first small group meeting with a group from church.  They break into groups based on where you live and have a weekly get together.  One week it’s for Bible Study, the next prayer.  Our group is super nice and a few speak English, so they took turns translating from French to English and visa versa.  Johann, the young guy from Holland that is here as an intern at SKF is in our group and he knows no French yet, so it helped him too. I understand more and more, but it is nice to be able to get the whole gist of it with a little help.

I also went for tea at a house right at the entrance to Luynes.  I met Angelique at language school and we realized we both lived in Luynes.  She works at SKF but Ross didn’t meet her until last week. She invited me over for a visit and I got to meet her new husband of three weeks. They were too cute!  Her English is about the same level as my French and he speaks no English, so we had a good chat getting to know each other.  I looked at wedding pictures and learned some new vocabulary while looking at her flowers etc.    I like learning new vocabulary when it relates to something I’m doing.  It helps it stick.

So, you can see I am meeting people and getting settled.  It’s funny, we’ve moved several times and I’ve experienced some of the exact same emotions each time.  Yes, this move presented with some extra challenges and I didn’t have kids to help me meet people, but now I know my way around, feel comfortable with my language, and have established places I need like doctor, dentist and vet; which makes everything easier.  It’s still all my “firsts” that are the most difficult and some of that is just me….anticipation, worry, etc. But, then once I’ve done it, I’m good to go again.  

I took Sophie to the vet in Fondette that my neighbor recommended.  I made the appointment on the phone (which is an accomplishment). I arrived and of course the receptionist laughed at the dog’s name and so did a guy in the waiting room.  I just never realized a people name here for a dog would be such a conversation piece!  Anyway, as I was doing the appointment all in French, the vet said to me “I went to school in New York and speak English”….too funny!  So, I was able to explain Sophie’s “birth issues” and surgeries ion a much easier manner.  She was just there for a yearly vaccination visit and exam, but he was pleased to see her and how she functions.  I guess Atresia Ani, is something all vets learn about in school, but rarely see. So, he was really impressed that she is a normal dog and has full bladder/bowel control. She has gained a few ounces since we’ve gotten to France, it’s the extra carbs in her diet as she gets the end of the baguette each day!  In US measurements, she was 5lbs when we arrived and is now 5lbs 6 oz. She got her shots and I was able to order her flea/heartworm medicine for another year.  They don’t treat heartworms here as it is only a problem farther south; but since she has always been treated and will one day return to the US, he kept her on it. He also did some paperwork for me, so now, not only does she have her American Pet Passport , she has a European Passport inn case we travel with her here.  Unlike the US though, it was only 15 euro to get!

This week Eric was here working in the yard and knocked on my door.  In his hand he had a rolled up hedgehog.  We had a baby earlier in the year but it was dead and Ross just used a shovel to flick it into the woods.  This one was big and very alive.  I’ve never actually seen one in person and was fascinated.  Eric helped explain away my worries; I thought they shot their quills like a porcupine but they don’t.  He had a glove on and you can’t just grab at them or you’ll get pricked; but he used his bare hand to brush along the quills.  They eat the snails in the yard- yes we have tons of snails that crawl around and stick to our windows or trash can, etc. Anyway, I was fascinated and watched it for ages, eventually it uncurled and scurried away, but Eric caught it again and he took it home to his garden.  I was afraid Sophie would try to tangle with it.  Ross’ brother’s dog Molly got pricked in the eye with one in England and she ended up with an infection, eye graft and eventually lost the eye. So, I have always been a bit afraid of them thinking they were not good. But here, they are a common garden visitor. Sophie will need to just leave them alone! Eric did say this was the biggest one he’s seen.  He then told me how this summer his wife was mowing the lawn and screamed for him to come.  Turns out she didn’t know there was a hedgehog and accidently mowed over it….thump and then gross!!

Yesterday I went to the elementary school in St. Paterne-Racan which is about a half hour from here.  I went with Hamish, one of my language instructors.  It’s his kid’s school.  I met with the director and three teachers. No kids on Wednesdays since elementary kids don’t go on Wednesday (although they said next year the government wants to go to a five day school week).  It’s a small school with one class each for 1^st-5^th grade aged kids.  It’s a whole different system here, so I tried to figure it by age and grade equivalent for my own mind.  Next week,  I am going for another meeting and then to shadow the teachers. The plan is that I will go volunteer once a week for three hours and assist with their English classes.  Every child here has English class weekly and they do simple themes like the alphabet, vowels, colors, months, days, numbers, farm, weather, etc. School here is a bit more formal and reserved, so I asked if it will bother them if I get the kids up to sing a song and dance.  I think they are excited about me coming and I commented that perhaps I can help the teachers more than the students.  Currently the one teacher uses Hamish’s daughter ( who is completely bilingual) for help with  how to pronounce certain words. The school has only five teachers with one of them being the director, so it’s a small village school.  One teacher speaks decent English and one a little, so I think I will be able to really help them add to their curriculum.  I must bring some of my songs and things back with me next time from the US.  Every theme they showed me, I told them I have a song for.  Then I explained I have songs for the continents and oceans too. As we talked and toured the classrooms, I think they saw the value in singing to learn. I really think the kids will remember more….wonder if I’ll be able to teach them the Tooty-Ta, just for fun.  Well it does have body vocabulary and direction following skills involved!!  I wonder if they realize what they’ve gotten themselves into J

Tonight it’s the theatre with my neighbor Christine.  It’s a play with music by Mozart called “Cosi fan tutte”  I read about it on the internet so in advance I’d get the overview of the play.  I know it’s normally done in Italian, but I think it may be in French tonight.  We’ll see, if it’s another language I may have my brain explode form overload!

This weekend Ross is taking me out for lunch to celebrate my birthday.  Lindsay and Calum have re-done my living room as a gift ( which I cannot wait to see in person) and yesterday in the mail  I got a super fun card from Tristan and Katie along with a photo of Liam in his little French shirt.  She drew a moustache and goatee on him so it is hysterical.  I then got a Skype date in with Katie and Liam, he is too funny.  I love when he sees me on the screen and gets excited.  Sure, he mostly just wants to grab at the computer, but he does see us and responds some now.  She was asking him where his nose, ears, hair, etc. were and he was pointing…..I loved that for his nose, he stuck his finger right up it every time!  I cannot wait to see my kids in a couple weeks for Liam’s first birthday. It will be a whirlwind trip and almost all just family, but I am so ready for that.  I just want to spend time with each of the kids and catch up.  Ross has business in Philly the week before and will be able to fly through Atlanta just for the birthday weekend before returning to France; he will be exhausted, but it will be worth it.  I will stay on a bit after his birthday and I am going to Birmingham to spend some one on one time.  I know people will be upset that I just don’t have time for friend visits, but this trip really is about family and especially Liam!!   And I’ve been craving some Liam time!!!  I cannot even believe it was a year ago and I was waiting each day for the call that he was arriving.  I was so sure he’d make an appearance on my birthday, but the little stinker waited so long, he ended up in November! It’s also a year ago this week I left my job and friends at Maranatha Christian Academy.  It’s crazy how quickly this past year has flown by.  I’m glad I started writing about it as so much of the little things you forget.  

Then I will be getting ready for the kids to come at Christmas.  I can’t wait!  I’m hoping for an unusually dry and warm December so they don’t freeze.

We went this week to dinner with a business visitor at the” Le XII” restaurant in Luynes.  Ross had the guy stay at the hotel which he enjoyed.  It’s the restaurant/hotel that Jean-Pierre and Helen own. This guy says he stays in so many chain hotels, it was fun to be in a renovated, very old, historic place.  The meal was fabulous and the chef did some amazing things with flavor.  I was able to be helpful with explaining the food off the menu and the ordering process so I was pleased that my French did what I needed.  I was able to explain some things to the waitress and ask questions. When I see myself in a situation like that, I am pleased with my progress and enjoy the ability to converse past very simple conversation.  

One photo is of a mystery meat body part I saw at the store. Just caught my fancy. One is a chateau I passed on my way to school and it was so pretty I stopped on the way home for a photo. One other is the circus set up at the entrance of Luynes.

I’m off, busy few days ahead…never thought I’d be saying that here, for a while I felt like a bit of a hermit!  That is so not the case now……which is good.  I so enjoyed those quiet days at first after many years of being so busy, but you reach a point where it must end and you need to be a part again.

 

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Crisp, cool mornings and nippy afternoons have arrived in France.  Leaves are beginning to change and fall has officially begun.  I hated putting the heat on in mid-September, but mornings of frosty car windows and evening cold made it necessary.  I actually enjoy the crisp days although here, it lets me know the cold of winter is not far out.  They keep telling me last winter was an unusual one and extra cold, so I am hoping that is true.  My neighbor told me that her mother said the onions have an unusually thin skin this year so that means a mild winter.  I love these old wive’s tales and farmer tricks, they sound so silly sometimes, but usually they are correct.  You know like if the dog gets a thicker coat or the squirrels have bushier tails it will be a colder winter. Well, this year I am rooting for the onion and its thin skin to provide us with a mild winter.  I cannot believe I spent the first three decades of my life living in places like Buffalo, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and cold, snowy winters were a way of life.  But after so long in Georgia, my body has acclimated to the south and I have become a cold weather wimp!  I am hoping when all the kids are here for Christmas, it will be cold, but not bitter cold!

Our “Retrait de Weekend” or Church Retreat went well.  It was nice to get to know people in a casual setting where there was lots of laughter and fun.  There was a speaker and surprisingly, Ross and I understood much of what he said in his two sessions.  But, the rest of the weekend was for skits, games and fellowship.  The organizers did a great job and it was a fun time.  We slept in college dorm like rooms in a town not far from Lemans (the place has something to do with cars or racing, I just nod and pretend to understand).  Anyway, some families stayed together and then some rooms were a group of women or a group of men.  Ross and I were pleased that we had a little dorm room together with its own tiny, but functional bathroom.  There were several times of “gouter” (snacks) or “apperitifs” (appetizers), I made my banana bread recipe into muffins as well as my chocolate chip cookies made with M & M’s, all which disappeared the first snack time…..and our snack time was separate from the children.  I had thought the kids would enjoy the M & M cookies, but no, it was the adults who scarfed them down.  I think it is just that I cook a certain way which is all I know, so when they see different things here, they enjoy them.  We, on the other hand enjoy many of their traditional things which seem different to us.  I do not think any of the pate’s will ever make it into my top 100 foods, but Ross enjoys them.

Meals were provided cafeteria style.  We got in trouble the first dinner by taking salad and pizza (which we assumed was the dinner) only to find out both were the starters and you choose one or the other. In our defense, several others before us did the same and they had us near the front of the line.  About 20 people in, they made the “choose one or the other” announcement; so we were the rebel table J After that course, you went back and then they had put out the entrée of ham and beans…ooops!  Meals were okay, typical retreat or camp type food but done slowly in a French fashion where there was lots of time for talking and relaxing over the meals. 

We have noticed meals here are so much more than the food, it’s about talking and enjoying the time.  Even school kids get an hour and a half at lunch.  It reminds me of Lindsay and Calum coaxing Ross to do a “Moe’s Monday” weekly dinner.  They would always say “It’s not about the food, it’s about the fellowship!    At breakfast we looked for mugs or cups for coffee and tea but soon realized they serve it in the bowls for breakfast.  We’ve seen this before and it makes us laugh.  The rest of the day they serve these tiny coffees but at breakfast, it’s a bowl….yes the same size bowl they eat cereal out of!

One funny thing from the retreat, many people just knew us to say hello on Sunday so when actually being introduced, several had different ideas of why were are here.  One lady said, “oh I hear you are here as missionaries for four years” another  “oh you’ve retired here” or “oh both work at SKF”.  Too funny.

We were also able to finally connect families and figure out who goes with who and which kids are theirs.  One little 3 year old girl, Pearl, who we’ve never seen before (her mom had recently had a baby and they haven’t been at church in a while); anyway, she took a liking to Ross.  As he was walking by the first night, she popped him on the butt and giggled.  Then she came to sit on my lap during a group game and kept bumping his shoulder and flopping into his lap.  The whole weekend she would wink at him or poke at him, so of course, he poked back.  Her little sister Cleah (pronounced Clay-uh) was so sweet.  At one point during a meal she was fussing and the mom was trying to eat,  Ross had finished so rocked her in her seat for a bit but then when she wouldn’t settle, he just got her out and rocked her. He said it’s so funny rocking babies now because it seems like just yesterday when we were rocking our own, and it’s a skill you never get rid of. A baby comforted and asleep in your arms also gives you this feeling you can’t quite describe and it’s sooooo sweet!!

There was one game where people dressed in costumes such as a king, queen, princess, baker, guard, horseman, etc.  We broke into groups and outside had to go from one to another interviewing them to find out who stole the princess’ jewels.  We were in groups of 6 or 7 and it took over an hour to interview them all.  Ross and I were in separate groups and mostly just followed our groups and listened.  But, it was gorgeous out and a fun day for being outside.  There were chestnut trees everywhere with their prickly pods forming, they were pretty fascinating.  Once all together again inside, the groups each accused the person they thought was the thief.  We didn’t need to understand all the words, because the body language and gestures were so comical, you knew exactly what was going on.  There is this one tiny lady at church that has befriended me and done the “kiss kiss’ thing every week with me and she was absolutely hysterical as the baker!!  I got to visit with her husband Pierre who speaks a little English and was a sweetie. He walks with arm crutches, so I helped him with his snacks and drinks. Just a really sweet older man. 

One absolutely hysterical game was one most of us watched.  They asked for volunteers so of course the kids wanted in.  They picked four little kids (maybe aged 6-10)and sent them into a nearby room and brought them out one by one to act out a car trip with several adults. They all leaned left or right or lifted off their seats following the “driver”; well at the last lift up, they would put a wet washcloth on the seat of the kid so when they sat down, squish…..it was priceless to see their faces as each came out pone by one to be in the skit.  Just silly camp games and group laughter, but that kind of thing really helps you to become a part of the group.  I’m sure now when we are at church, we will be able to chat with and be a part of the group.  

There was one young college kid about 23 who was there as he had just arrived that week to be a boarder at one of the women from churches house.  He is from Holland and spoke only Dutch and English…..and was starting this past Monday as a 6 month intern at SKF.  So, Ross and I be friended him and sat with him at first until he found young people who spoke English.  I bet he’ll speak better French in 6 months than me!!!  Ross will watch to see if he sees him at work, but it is such a big factory and there are several buildings, so they may never see each other except at church. 

I think we are going to start going to one of the home groups on Friday nights.  They meet for bi-weekly study, prayer and fellowship.  We won’t get it all but it will help our French as well as build friendships.  

Ross has been in Belgium and Holland all week, so it’s been a quiet one around the house.  I tackled all the windows as I couldn’t stand the sun shining through dirty doors and windows. Laundry is an all day event with the hanging on the line etc, and it takes longer to dry even though it’s sunny as it is cooler now.  I save the ironing for once every two weeks and I put the ironing board up in front of the tv and watch while I iron. I miss my little shop in Buford that did all of Ross’ shirts for me so cheaply.  It’s too expensive here so I am an ironing fool!

Yesterday I went with my neighbor Christine to Tours.  She showed me a free parking lot which I can use although yesterday it was slam packed and we couldn’t park there.  I was totally impressed with her parallel parking skills on the main busy road.  I do not know if I will EVER be comfortable enough for that.  I drive around and find one with space or hope I find one I can just pull into.  She drives a VW bug, so it was a fun little car to go in.  We walked around the city and she showed me many shops I didn’t know and we chatted as we went in half English half French.  She is a kindergarten teacher here and in France elementary kids only go Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, having Wednesdays free. The kids go from 9-4:30, which is the same hours as our days in America, just later start and finish.   High school kids go half day on Wednesday but also two Saturday mornings a month.    But for Christine, she enjoys the Wednesday off and she says with the little ones it just refreshes you and makes you a better teacher.  I would have LOVED a four day class……it makes sense to me!

We ate lunch in a restaurant in the old section of town where there is a big square with restaurants around it.  The center has tables from each restaurant where you can eat outside.  We started outside in the sun, but as the wind and rain came, en mass, people picked up their things and we went to tables inside to finish with coffee/tea and dessert.  It was a fun day and I enjoyed having a friend to walk around with.  I took some photos of buildings around the square as the architecture is just amazing and beautiful to me.

One absolutely bizzare thing…..okay you know I go on about the toilets here and have posted several photos….Well, this restaurant everyone goes in to the bathroom where two stalls (with almost full doors floor to ceiling) are for men and two for women and we share the sink.  Okay, I’m actually used to that and don’t even flinch when in a bathroom with men and women anymore; but as I’m washing my hands I glance left and realize the two urinals are just to the left of the sink and NOT in a stall, but right there.  So, here I am washing my hands and doing everything I can to avert my eyes as a guy is standing there peeing next to me.  I mean his back was to me but still!!!!   I told Christine that in the US, that just would never happen and we laughed.  Yes, in Brussels there are urinals on the street open but here we were in close quarters.  At least the guy yesterday washed his hands, that was a relief as he was a restaurant employee!!  If he had walked out I would have died gagging!  Sometimes it’s just too funny for words here!  I can describe it to you, but you almost need to see it to believe it!

I had a laugh at the grocery store (Casino) this week.  They had a special display of Campbell’s Tomato and cream of Mushroom soups.  I have never seen them here before so it must be a new thing.  Nice to see the familiar read and white cans.

Today I am driving to Loches, about an hour from here to attend an English tea with a group from a few churches around the area.  Most are British and they meet once a month for a church service in English and occasionally do an activity like today.   Hopefully I’ll meet some new friends and have an “English” outing each month.

One of my language instructors has arranged for me to come to his children’s school on the 17^th to meet the principal and plan a few volunteer days for me to come in and work on English with the students.  I’m nervous, but also kind of excited.  I’ve missed my class and the working with the kids doesn’t make me nervous, give me a room of kids and I’m happy, it’s being in front of the adults that’s a little nerve wracking!  I was telling Christine about it and she would like to have me come to her class as well which is kindergarten age kids, so my favorite.  I cannot “work” here as they are cracking down on immigration.  I am officially a “spouse” on my ID card, which is hysterical; but anyway, if I can volunteer a bit that would be great (I hope).  Next time I am in the US, I am bringing back some of my class CD’s and books.  Wish I had thought to throw some on the boat at first!  I’m sure Lindsay will think I am stealing from her personal stash of books  for school (which are actually mine)!!   

Ten weeks until the kids all come for Christmas and I am excited to show them our home and town.  It will be a different Christmas for us all but I am looking forward to it.  I think once they have a visual picture of things it will be good when we Skype for them to understand and know the area.  The boys main desire is to visit Normandy, so we’re thinking a family overnight is in order.  The girls want Paris, so in between we’ll do a few chateaus and such.  There will be several grocery store trips as I can only store for a few days at a time.  Lindsay and Katie will enjoy that, it is so fun to see grocery stores in other countries.  Sometimes I still just wander around looking at everything.  Only now I have the system down and I know to weigh my own fruits and vegetables before check out and I can use the scanner that I take around with me and bag as I go.  I love that system and do not understand why the US has not gone to it.  I scan as I go, can remove items, bag them as I go, and when I get to the check out scan the scanner and pay, that’s it. They do random checks and there is an exit thing you go through that gives a buzz if you forget to scan something; so no stealing.  Just way more efficient; I bag as I want them by cold or hot, don’t need to load and unload several times…..love it.

This weekend we are going to lunch on Saturday at Jean-Pierre and Helene’s house.  They are the Franco-American couple we met that own the hotel and restaurant in Luynes.  The have met another Franco-American couple that are new to Tours, so it will be nice to meet them.   I am bringing dessert….I was jokingly thinking…hmmm, what does one make for two restaurant owners as well as a restaurant manager and his chef wife?  I’m going with my tried and true Swedish Apple Pie, it’s simple but sooo good and it always works.  She is doing an American BBQ so it will be perfect.

 I am hoping all of these activities are the start of me making some friends that I can do some things with occasionally. I am at the point where I am ready to be out and doing more.  I was fine at first and enjoyed the quiet, but now I don’t want to become some lonely hermit lady!  It’s time!  Even if I only make friends enough to do things with periodically, that will be nice.

I’m off, next week, my quest to meet and talk to a new vet and take Sophie for her yearly checkup and shots. There is a good one in Fondette ( the next village)across from my dentist, so I am going to try there.  The first of anything is the hard one, wondering if your language skills will get you through….and they do…….then after that, you manage and it’s fine!