Just got back from a fabuleux weekend in Allemagne! Or for you anglophones, Germany :)
C'était vraiment super, et je voudrais bien de s'installer là-bas.
Really though I had a blast in Germany and I would almost go back in a heart beat. It was strange being in a country where I didn't understand a single thing people were saying. Initially coming to France I was lost..ok, for about a month and a half I was struggling with the language. In Germany, j'ai compris rien!
I was invited to go with my friends Sigolène and Srdjan in Sigo's parents' car with Sigo's parents. Break it down: five people people in a car resembling a hatchback...A bit cramped but efficace au meme temps. From Villefranche, where Sigo's parents live, the car ride to Karlsrhoue was approximately five hours. Because of the absence of a speed limit on the autobohn, we made it in four. I was praying fervently while Sigo's papa, Paul, leaned back and put the medal to the pedal, and Srdjan laughed his face off each time Paul acclerated.
Sigo, Srdjan and I stayed at a hotel while Bernadette, Sigo's mom, and Paul stayed with the Ungers. The wife, Brigitte, is French and her husband, Pit (for Peter), is German. They're both professors of language, she of French and he of English..So I was in good hands. They fed us delicious German food, took us to three (yes three) "marchés de noel", Christmas markets (of which one was Medieval themed), and then a tour of the Black Forest. It was time well spent among extremely hospitable people..they bought me a souvenir and paid for every meal, save breakfast, that I ate. Fan-tas-tic!
This instant marks my first day of vacation for Christmas!! I am in extremely good spirits and I can't wait to get to Montpellier for the rest of the holidays. It's absolutely true that I miss Christmas festivities at home: the French just don't celebrate it right, haha. No but truly Sigo and I both noticed how much more the Germans celebrate Christmas than the French. It's quite sad, actually. With my ordinateur toujours en panne, I have resorted to listening to english Christmas songs through the internet. It's really nice to sing along with something familiar and at the same it makes me miss home :( Gosh I love Christmas in the United States of America. You should see me now, the patriotism beaming from my face.
There were a few times this weekend that I regretted not having studied more vigilantly in French how to defend my country. My country. Oh Lord... But really I had a hard time sitting around with the euros listening to them bash the states. But i digress.
Right now I'm searching for the perfect fajita recipe. My delightful and lovely mama sent me a care package full of black beans, enchilada sauce, and tortillas straight from Tejas. Sidenote: hearing a Bosnian ask me what i'm gonna buy my "pops" for Christmas is quite possibly one of the funniest things EvEr. So, tomorrow I'm making the tex-mex for the friends still left in town.
the "chapeau" of this blog ('profite') signifies something a bit more profound than gluttony (translation: "respirez...j'ai pris plus que 10 kilos" = take a breath, i've gained more than 10 kilos in weight). I finally had the chance to take Ruth Ann out for tea a week ago, just to kind of say thanks and catch up with her. The Sunday before, however I spent practically the entire day at the Gorrell's house after church. That Sunday and the following tea with Ruth Ann were quite possibly two of the most regrettable days of my visit.
I'd been feeling kind of spiritually dry for the two weeks previous to this most regrettable Sunday, and I couldn't quite figure out why. Well, I hadn't been spending time in scripture and my prayer life was a smattering of hurried prayers as I ran out the door each morning for class. That will do it for you. So the Sunday at the Gorrells and the tea that following Wednesday were full of awkward conversations as I uneloquently searched for words to reassure them that I was spiritually on par all the while knowing that I wasn't. They were expecting a more cheerful report about how I would now like to be a missionary in France. oh lala
Everywhere I've turned, people have told me to "take advantage of my time here", "enjoy myself", and the ever simple french version "profite". Unfortunately in "profiting", I have been enjoying myself in a less than Godly fashion. Please don't be afraid; all that's to say that I've shared too many glasses of wine 'round the dinner table and my "non-croyant" friends here have noticed...
There were two purposes in coming to France; well three really: live my life in a manner worthy of the Lord so that those around me would come to know Jesus Christ, travel to cultivate a cultural perspective, and form long-lasting relationships with people I met here. So far, I've accomplished two of those goals and, in all fairness to myself, I think most of my friends here are aware of Christ being a significant part of my life.
I happened onto II Corinthians 5 & 6 and 1 John the other day and I was rebuked and encouraged at the same time to be an ambassador for Christ. The Lord has an excellent way of knowing what scriptures will be most poignant at certain points in our lives. I have not always led the most pleasing life to the Lord during my stay here and that is regrettable. However, I have hope in Jesus and I know that His purposes will be accomplished in my friendships with people here and the "legacy" I'm leaving behind.
My final day of class was bittersweet as I rejoiced in starting the holidays and grieved in leaving so many new friends behind. Three months is not long enough to cultivate friendships...well, I require a bit more time and opportunity to deepen friendships. Thankfully we have the internet today and more possibility for people to move around. I'll certainly miss my mismatched, international class in Saint-Etienne. I cherish each of them.
Saying goodbye to my church was unfortunately awkward and rushed because we were just finishing our evening Christmas program and I wouldn't be at church the following Sunday (I went to Germany!). Some people didn't know that I would be leaving indefinitely, thereby expressing their regret in not having had me over for dinner, etc. That was really uncomfortable, haha. I tried to reassure them in awful French and thank them for their kindness anyway, but I still lack those necessary French nuances. For the most part people were really sweet and wished me a happy return to the "Etats-Unis". I'll really miss them and the intimacy they have being such a small church.
The process of getting ready to come home has begun. Stay tuned for Christmas highlights :)
Joyeux Noel
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