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!