"Oh say can you seeeeee, By the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming...."
A request for me to sing my national anthem came a lot earlier than expected by a French gal I've known for awhile now. I relented without much begging from her, as I am very patriotic, and was able to sing the song in its entirety with only a smidgen of doubt about the lyrics.
So things are going well for me here in la belle France. Ruth Ann and Ray have been 'impeccable' hosts to me this week, stuffing me full at every meal and providing me with a very cushy bed. I also stayed Friday night chez les Cordier with Marie and Thomas after a delightful meal with my old CILEC friends, Srdan, Françoise, Marie-Claude and Sigolène. It really has been wonderful seeing all of these people again so soon. The following Saturday, I had the supreme satisfaction of hanging out with the Blaise family. Their newest addition, Elisa, is a doll! I would keep her if her parents would let me. For those of you who know me, you may not know that I do not usually have an inclination towards babies. I know, I know...start throwing your stones. However, my redemption lies in the fact that i think this baby, Elisa, is a real gem.
Today we had church at the Gorrell's house and shortly after we had 'agape'. Ray explained to me that Agape is a time when the church family can get together for a meal every six weeks and just chat about goings-on in their lives. I really enjoyed the meal as well as the people. So much French chatter...you wouldn't believe it.
Tuesday I leave for St. Pourçain with a tear in my eye. I really love my family here in Saint Etienne, but I know the Lord has express purposes for me elsewhere. With that in mind I look forward to what's in store for me in Saint Pourçain and I hope that I will be an excellent assistant and teacher to those I meet at my juior high and high school.
I miss my family and friends very much and I couldn't help thinking on the way to the airport that the greatest cost in coming to France is leaving them behind. Though, be assured that I have a support system here and that the Lord is always with me.
France is groovy for the moment, but winter is quickly approaching. Think of me when you're sitting out in 75-80 degree weather, knowing I'm somewhere in the middle of France shuffling around in the cold... :) Marmot will keep me warm this year. Seriously it's like wearing a sleeping bag (credit to my mom for making that connection first).
Love, Peace and Crabs
Amour, Paix et Crabes
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
decision
Well, three months later the thinking cap has come off my head. I've decided to return to France for a seventh month contract assisting in the learning of my native language. In short, I'll be an English tutor for some french kiddies. This summer I'll be saving up and waiting for my arrête de nomination (or position and city).
Check back in the coming months!
http://www.ielanguages.com/assistant3.html#arriving
http://www.assistantsinfrance.com/forums/index.php?sid=83f04525ba082a53700d17397b89b359
Thursday, February 5, 2009
hmm
well. i've decided to join a blogging community and i don't know if that means that i actually am required to blog. as much as i enjoy writing, i'm not sure what in my life could be more interesting than my trip to france.
in short i fear i will lose your undivided attention if i don't think of clever or interesting things.
over the course of the next few weeks i'm gonna put on my thinking cap and try to come up with engaging material. please, be patient.
in short i fear i will lose your undivided attention if i don't think of clever or interesting things.
over the course of the next few weeks i'm gonna put on my thinking cap and try to come up with engaging material. please, be patient.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bonne Année
"Je suis bien rentrée"
After a grueling round of finals (ha), I managed to enjoy my last few weeks in France in excellent company. I tearfully said goodbye to one of my dearest amis, Julian, the day before I left for Germany. He was so exhausted that I couldn't tell if he was bleary-eyed because I was crying, or because he was about to pass out. All the same, it was an emotional moment for the both of us, and I will truly miss that crazy Albanian.
The glorious weekend in Germany started off my holiday and a few dinner parties followed. I probably said goodbye to the same five people more than twice; I'm really terrible with goodbyes. The tex-mex meal, by the way, was not incredible, but passable. My guests were very kind in overlooking my garlic mistakes with the salsa; for some reason I thought one clove of garlic was equal to one bunch of garlic. My hands smelled for days.
I finally left Saint-Etienne for Agde (near Montpellier) on Christmas eve. It was kind of surreal to be traveling somewhere the day before Christmas, all by myself, in a foreign country, only to be welcomed into the home of a strange family. Strange in the sense that I'd never met them, haha!
Apart from seeing several couples making out in the train station as they told each other goodbye for the holidays, my train ride to Agde was rather uneventful. I think I slept for three-quarters of the ride there and got up to use the bathroom once in four hours.
Françoise was waiting for me at the 'sortie' and alerted me of her presence by asking me what Christmas presents I was throwing away. She'd caught me hovering over a garbage can, trying to eliminate the evidence that i'd indulged in a pre-Christmas dinner snack. I don't think she was upset with the fact that I had snacked, but I noticed her pained look when she saw I was throwing away a Coca-Light (aka Diet Coke). She has quite an aversion towards anything Cola.
Eliate, her older sister, had stayed in the car and seemed to be happy to meet me. I wanted to make a good impression, after all, because it was at her house that we would be celebrating Noël for the next few days. And, a week before I'd met her, she'd called me to ask what kind and how many pillows I would be needing. I thought that was thoughtful and worthy of my best behavior :)
Christmas Eve is the day with the most activity. Because France was part of the Roman Catholic empire for a number of years, most people attend midnight mass. However, midnight mass has slowly become "before-dinner-and-parties-mass". So, that was the first thing we did: "midnight" mass. I enjoyed the old people crooning strange hymns in French, and I marveled at the fact that in a few hours, my friends who are Catholic Texans would be singing similar variations of the songs we were singing right then, in St. Thibery, France. The Catholic church is a fascinating organism, really. We left the church and were lost in town for ten minutes. We eventually asked for directions from a funny little man in a suit that reminded me of Bette Midler in Big Business (thank you Rebekah). He chatted with us about nothing important and led us home safely, wishing us a Joyeux Noël. Once we arrived we sat down for a traditional French Christmas meal: Foie Gras, white wine, bread, duck, and some kind of delicious ice cream dessert. The kids (Tom, Solène, and Ilona) were anxious to open the presents once we finished the meal. Their grandmother, Eliate, didn't wait long to let them descend on the gifts scattered around the living room. I don't know if all French families follow this format, but the family I stayed with didn't have the gifts under the tree. Instead the gifts were collected and place by each person's house shoes. I thought that was weird. I received some wonderful and unexpected gifts like two books in French, a bottle of perfume aptly named Sultane (because everyone knows I'm a queen), and a CD of Portuguese salsa music.
And that was it. No caroling, no stockings, no cookies for Santa.
At that moment I felt supremely alien and a little too homesick. Too homesick because there was nothing I could do to leave and be with my family right then and that bothered me. Don't get me wrong, though. I enjoyed the festivities and was utterly captivated by another family's way of doing Christmas...it was just different and not my family. Christmas (for me) is supposed to be spent with family. Votre propre famille.
The next few days were spent relaxing at the house, which, by the way, was incredible. It would definitely be considered museum material in the states as it was constructed in the late 1800s. Three stories-high, built for making wine...so deliciously French. I loved it. Sadly the family is hoping to sell it within the next year. Anyone interested in buying a monstrously beautiful house in the south of France, 25 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea?? I would buy it in a heartbeat. Speaking of the sea, I went there. Sat on the beach. Pondered life. It was great.
Once my time was up in Agde, I traveled to Annecy with Françoise's niece and nephew. I spent the weekend in this beautiful touristy town right on the border of Switzerland. I'll post pictures one day, but in the meantime, imagine the clearest lake you've ever seen at the base of a snowy-topped mountain range surrounded by a bustling little village. That's where I was, and I lapped up every second of it.
And I arrive finally at the end of my sojourn in France. Saint-Etienne was the last place I went, and that was only to retrieve my things. Once I packed several bottles of liquor, sausage, cheese, and cookies into my impossibly overweight suitcases, I boarded my plane and cried as I waved goodbye to Françoise.
Going to France has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I believe fully that the Lord provided the means and the opportunity for me to go; it's been mind-boggling to look back at all of the ways I've seen Him move to allow for this trip. But to what end? Why did He provide this opportunity?
I'm not exactly sure why He allowed me to embark on this adventure, but I know He was there with me. Knowing that He was there the whole time, has made going even more worth the while. Maybe His sole purpose in allowing me to go was so that I would look for Him and find Him in the midst of my journeying.
I can deal with that, and if that's the case, when and where do I get to go next...? :)
Just a daily reassurance:
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
I hope that you and your families are well. I look forward to this coming year with much anticipation. Please feel free to write to me : b.cunningham00@gmail.com . Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. My experience abroad is something I'll never forget.
Et encore, je vous souhaite une bonne année!!
After a grueling round of finals (ha), I managed to enjoy my last few weeks in France in excellent company. I tearfully said goodbye to one of my dearest amis, Julian, the day before I left for Germany. He was so exhausted that I couldn't tell if he was bleary-eyed because I was crying, or because he was about to pass out. All the same, it was an emotional moment for the both of us, and I will truly miss that crazy Albanian.
The glorious weekend in Germany started off my holiday and a few dinner parties followed. I probably said goodbye to the same five people more than twice; I'm really terrible with goodbyes. The tex-mex meal, by the way, was not incredible, but passable. My guests were very kind in overlooking my garlic mistakes with the salsa; for some reason I thought one clove of garlic was equal to one bunch of garlic. My hands smelled for days.
I finally left Saint-Etienne for Agde (near Montpellier) on Christmas eve. It was kind of surreal to be traveling somewhere the day before Christmas, all by myself, in a foreign country, only to be welcomed into the home of a strange family. Strange in the sense that I'd never met them, haha!
Apart from seeing several couples making out in the train station as they told each other goodbye for the holidays, my train ride to Agde was rather uneventful. I think I slept for three-quarters of the ride there and got up to use the bathroom once in four hours.
Françoise was waiting for me at the 'sortie' and alerted me of her presence by asking me what Christmas presents I was throwing away. She'd caught me hovering over a garbage can, trying to eliminate the evidence that i'd indulged in a pre-Christmas dinner snack. I don't think she was upset with the fact that I had snacked, but I noticed her pained look when she saw I was throwing away a Coca-Light (aka Diet Coke). She has quite an aversion towards anything Cola.
Eliate, her older sister, had stayed in the car and seemed to be happy to meet me. I wanted to make a good impression, after all, because it was at her house that we would be celebrating Noël for the next few days. And, a week before I'd met her, she'd called me to ask what kind and how many pillows I would be needing. I thought that was thoughtful and worthy of my best behavior :)
Christmas Eve is the day with the most activity. Because France was part of the Roman Catholic empire for a number of years, most people attend midnight mass. However, midnight mass has slowly become "before-dinner-and-parties-mass". So, that was the first thing we did: "midnight" mass. I enjoyed the old people crooning strange hymns in French, and I marveled at the fact that in a few hours, my friends who are Catholic Texans would be singing similar variations of the songs we were singing right then, in St. Thibery, France. The Catholic church is a fascinating organism, really. We left the church and were lost in town for ten minutes. We eventually asked for directions from a funny little man in a suit that reminded me of Bette Midler in Big Business (thank you Rebekah). He chatted with us about nothing important and led us home safely, wishing us a Joyeux Noël. Once we arrived we sat down for a traditional French Christmas meal: Foie Gras, white wine, bread, duck, and some kind of delicious ice cream dessert. The kids (Tom, Solène, and Ilona) were anxious to open the presents once we finished the meal. Their grandmother, Eliate, didn't wait long to let them descend on the gifts scattered around the living room. I don't know if all French families follow this format, but the family I stayed with didn't have the gifts under the tree. Instead the gifts were collected and place by each person's house shoes. I thought that was weird. I received some wonderful and unexpected gifts like two books in French, a bottle of perfume aptly named Sultane (because everyone knows I'm a queen), and a CD of Portuguese salsa music.
And that was it. No caroling, no stockings, no cookies for Santa.
At that moment I felt supremely alien and a little too homesick. Too homesick because there was nothing I could do to leave and be with my family right then and that bothered me. Don't get me wrong, though. I enjoyed the festivities and was utterly captivated by another family's way of doing Christmas...it was just different and not my family. Christmas (for me) is supposed to be spent with family. Votre propre famille.
The next few days were spent relaxing at the house, which, by the way, was incredible. It would definitely be considered museum material in the states as it was constructed in the late 1800s. Three stories-high, built for making wine...so deliciously French. I loved it. Sadly the family is hoping to sell it within the next year. Anyone interested in buying a monstrously beautiful house in the south of France, 25 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea?? I would buy it in a heartbeat. Speaking of the sea, I went there. Sat on the beach. Pondered life. It was great.
Once my time was up in Agde, I traveled to Annecy with Françoise's niece and nephew. I spent the weekend in this beautiful touristy town right on the border of Switzerland. I'll post pictures one day, but in the meantime, imagine the clearest lake you've ever seen at the base of a snowy-topped mountain range surrounded by a bustling little village. That's where I was, and I lapped up every second of it.
And I arrive finally at the end of my sojourn in France. Saint-Etienne was the last place I went, and that was only to retrieve my things. Once I packed several bottles of liquor, sausage, cheese, and cookies into my impossibly overweight suitcases, I boarded my plane and cried as I waved goodbye to Françoise.
Going to France has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I believe fully that the Lord provided the means and the opportunity for me to go; it's been mind-boggling to look back at all of the ways I've seen Him move to allow for this trip. But to what end? Why did He provide this opportunity?
I'm not exactly sure why He allowed me to embark on this adventure, but I know He was there with me. Knowing that He was there the whole time, has made going even more worth the while. Maybe His sole purpose in allowing me to go was so that I would look for Him and find Him in the midst of my journeying.
I can deal with that, and if that's the case, when and where do I get to go next...? :)
Just a daily reassurance:
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
I hope that you and your families are well. I look forward to this coming year with much anticipation. Please feel free to write to me : b.cunningham00@gmail.com . Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. My experience abroad is something I'll never forget.
Et encore, je vous souhaite une bonne année!!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Respirez...J'ai pris plus que 10 kilos
"profite..??"
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
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
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment
"ça passé bien, à Paris, Lyon, et en Ecosse??"
Oui. In fact it's getting harder and harder to keep up with blogging as so much happens in a week! And I'm utterly exhausted...All the same, for my devoted readers, I will try to give you a clear and brief rundown of my recent trip to Scotland. I'll fill you in on Paris later, when I have more energy.
So Catlin arrived the 6 of November and we have been traveling up down this country (and out of this country, for that matter) every weekend. I'm so glad that she was able to come because she's been a great encouragement to me and a très awesome traveling companion.
This past weekend, Catlin and I traveled to Scotland. Vanessa is studying there and before we left the states this summer we promised each other that we would exchange weekends in each other's country while we were abroad. Suffice it to say that I love Scotland and I can't stop raving about it, despite a troublesome illness :) Ok...so I've been severely ...constipé for the past two weeks. I apologize if I have offended anyone by sharing the truth, but upon saying that I am reminded of "Nobody Loves Me" by Derek Webb: the truth is never sexy.
Well, maybe that doesn't exactly apply.
Back to l'Ecosse. I think I enjoyed Scotland so much because of two reasons: Vanessa and her friends were great and being in Scotland felt more like home than being in France. The speaking in english had a lot do with the homey feelings, but the people were all so friendly! Don't get me wrong, now, the French can be equally charming, but they are much more reserved with new acquaintances. For example, Vanessa, Catlin, and I went to a bar for lunch (the Old Bank Bar) and within five minutes of being inside the restaurant two older gentleman were making small talk with us. Certainly this happens in France, but it's much less common. Or at least, that's been my experience. It's true that the Stèphanois are much more friendly than the Parisiens, but honestly it's not so difficult to be friendlier than the Parisiens, haha !
We stayed in Dundee and went out Saturday night. We had a blast dancing to techno music and getting hit on by absurdly drunk Scottish boys. The drunkie boys were very nice and at the same time very creepy. In order to allay any of our fears about them being unsafe, they would repeatedly tell us that they were, "good guys"... It was at this point in the conversation that we explained our need for the ladies toilet.
The following day Vanessa and her delightful new friend Jason took us to Edinburgh (or Edimbourg if you prefer français) to visit the castle. Sooooooo cool. I thought specifically of a few friends from home when I was staring at this beautifully constructed fortress on the side of a hill.
The above is a photo of Catlin's; thanks g.
It's so beautiful and I've been telling everyone to go there. So, if you get a chance, please go to Scotland!!!
In other news, classes are going relatively well. I'm going to miss my professors next semester when I return to the ever-competitive campus of Texas A&M. What do I mean, when I say that? Here, there is no motivation for the professor to fail you or to progress your academic career: everything that a student does at CILEC, in the professors' eyes, is of the student's own volition. Tu vois? I have no ulterior motives...no reason to feel obligated to impress or befriend my professors to improve my chances of getting a better grade. They just want us to learn the language and maybe share some life stories for an hour and half each class period... :)
I've been missing my church friends and I can't wait to see them this week. I think I may forego GBU this Wednesday in favor of attending a prayer meeting. On verra.
Tomorrow I take Catlin to the airport, and bid her farewell until New Year's. I'm already quite sad that she must depart, but we'll have a sweet reunion soon enough. Anyone else wanna come to France until December 31st?? There's lots of room in my bed for the two of us, and if you happen to be a male, there's another room in the apartment you can have all to yourself (and with three cats)!!!
I'll leave you with this: Over Fork Over.
Oui. In fact it's getting harder and harder to keep up with blogging as so much happens in a week! And I'm utterly exhausted...All the same, for my devoted readers, I will try to give you a clear and brief rundown of my recent trip to Scotland. I'll fill you in on Paris later, when I have more energy.
So Catlin arrived the 6 of November and we have been traveling up down this country (and out of this country, for that matter) every weekend. I'm so glad that she was able to come because she's been a great encouragement to me and a très awesome traveling companion.
This past weekend, Catlin and I traveled to Scotland. Vanessa is studying there and before we left the states this summer we promised each other that we would exchange weekends in each other's country while we were abroad. Suffice it to say that I love Scotland and I can't stop raving about it, despite a troublesome illness :) Ok...so I've been severely ...constipé for the past two weeks. I apologize if I have offended anyone by sharing the truth, but upon saying that I am reminded of "Nobody Loves Me" by Derek Webb: the truth is never sexy.
Well, maybe that doesn't exactly apply.
Back to l'Ecosse. I think I enjoyed Scotland so much because of two reasons: Vanessa and her friends were great and being in Scotland felt more like home than being in France. The speaking in english had a lot do with the homey feelings, but the people were all so friendly! Don't get me wrong, now, the French can be equally charming, but they are much more reserved with new acquaintances. For example, Vanessa, Catlin, and I went to a bar for lunch (the Old Bank Bar) and within five minutes of being inside the restaurant two older gentleman were making small talk with us. Certainly this happens in France, but it's much less common. Or at least, that's been my experience. It's true that the Stèphanois are much more friendly than the Parisiens, but honestly it's not so difficult to be friendlier than the Parisiens, haha !
We stayed in Dundee and went out Saturday night. We had a blast dancing to techno music and getting hit on by absurdly drunk Scottish boys. The drunkie boys were very nice and at the same time very creepy. In order to allay any of our fears about them being unsafe, they would repeatedly tell us that they were, "good guys"... It was at this point in the conversation that we explained our need for the ladies toilet.
The following day Vanessa and her delightful new friend Jason took us to Edinburgh (or Edimbourg if you prefer français) to visit the castle. Sooooooo cool. I thought specifically of a few friends from home when I was staring at this beautifully constructed fortress on the side of a hill.
The above is a photo of Catlin's; thanks g.
It's so beautiful and I've been telling everyone to go there. So, if you get a chance, please go to Scotland!!!
In other news, classes are going relatively well. I'm going to miss my professors next semester when I return to the ever-competitive campus of Texas A&M. What do I mean, when I say that? Here, there is no motivation for the professor to fail you or to progress your academic career: everything that a student does at CILEC, in the professors' eyes, is of the student's own volition. Tu vois? I have no ulterior motives...no reason to feel obligated to impress or befriend my professors to improve my chances of getting a better grade. They just want us to learn the language and maybe share some life stories for an hour and half each class period... :)
I've been missing my church friends and I can't wait to see them this week. I think I may forego GBU this Wednesday in favor of attending a prayer meeting. On verra.
Tomorrow I take Catlin to the airport, and bid her farewell until New Year's. I'm already quite sad that she must depart, but we'll have a sweet reunion soon enough. Anyone else wanna come to France until December 31st?? There's lots of room in my bed for the two of us, and if you happen to be a male, there's another room in the apartment you can have all to yourself (and with three cats)!!!
I'll leave you with this: Over Fork Over.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On y va?
"oui."
sooo. I apologize in the exceptionally long delay in posting. I also apologize in advance for the length of this post. Tomorrow Catlin and I are headed to Paris and it is absolutely necessary that I get in bed. I was trying to remember last night as I scrambled around who it was that was so angry with me for staying up late in the hotel room the night before we went to Boston. Was that you Rebekah? Or Catlin?
In any case, it's best not to rock the boat; or bed, really, since we're sleeping in the same one, ha!
Quick updates:
-Went to a baptism today for two young'uns from my church. The Lord has beautiful ways of fashioning our lives. I cried.
-Yesterday, Françoise took Catlin and me around Le-Puy-en -Velay, which is an old middle ages holy town that pilgrims on their way to the tomb of St. James pass through to pay homage to the Virgin, Mary.
-Catlin arrived!
-Gave an exposé on the relationships between Americans and French, and I'm still alive.
-Had lunch with two high school girls from my church. The afternoon involved taking several pictures of ourselves, them modeling their hair extensions and various purchases from shopping, and taking me to a goth store to find the perfect skirt to match a hot pink and black lace corset for New Year's... :) it was a blasty
-A weekend of debauchery... Seriously, when you drink in France, you drink in France. I'm sure I consumed at least 2.5 bottles of wine, toute seule, last weekend.
-My computer fell on the sidewalk and hasn't woken up since :(
-Watched Lord of the Rings
-Went to a friend's birthday party
-VoTeD...! Who's excited/unexcited about the outcome, and why?
-Received my debit card in the mail, finally.
Those things stick out from the millions of things that have been happening, haha. The weather is getter colder but it's been gorgeous since Catlin arrived. She thinks she brought it with her, and I have to say that I agree.
It's been a trying few weeks, but upon reflection and rereading of the list above, I think that there were more good things than bad that happened :)
I love you all and if you see my mom tell her happy birthday, please :) And continue thinking of/praying for my friends here Srdan, Julian, Juzulena, Sigolene, and the newly baptized Nancy and Ben. Love Love Love you all!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-9
sooo. I apologize in the exceptionally long delay in posting. I also apologize in advance for the length of this post. Tomorrow Catlin and I are headed to Paris and it is absolutely necessary that I get in bed. I was trying to remember last night as I scrambled around who it was that was so angry with me for staying up late in the hotel room the night before we went to Boston. Was that you Rebekah? Or Catlin?
In any case, it's best not to rock the boat; or bed, really, since we're sleeping in the same one, ha!
Quick updates:
-Went to a baptism today for two young'uns from my church. The Lord has beautiful ways of fashioning our lives. I cried.
-Yesterday, Françoise took Catlin and me around Le-Puy-en -Velay, which is an old middle ages holy town that pilgrims on their way to the tomb of St. James pass through to pay homage to the Virgin, Mary.
-Catlin arrived!
-Gave an exposé on the relationships between Americans and French, and I'm still alive.
-Had lunch with two high school girls from my church. The afternoon involved taking several pictures of ourselves, them modeling their hair extensions and various purchases from shopping, and taking me to a goth store to find the perfect skirt to match a hot pink and black lace corset for New Year's... :) it was a blasty
-A weekend of debauchery... Seriously, when you drink in France, you drink in France. I'm sure I consumed at least 2.5 bottles of wine, toute seule, last weekend.
-My computer fell on the sidewalk and hasn't woken up since :(
-Watched Lord of the Rings
-Went to a friend's birthday party
-VoTeD...! Who's excited/unexcited about the outcome, and why?
-Received my debit card in the mail, finally.
Those things stick out from the millions of things that have been happening, haha. The weather is getter colder but it's been gorgeous since Catlin arrived. She thinks she brought it with her, and I have to say that I agree.
It's been a trying few weeks, but upon reflection and rereading of the list above, I think that there were more good things than bad that happened :)
I love you all and if you see my mom tell her happy birthday, please :) And continue thinking of/praying for my friends here Srdan, Julian, Juzulena, Sigolene, and the newly baptized Nancy and Ben. Love Love Love you all!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-9
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About Me
- Brooke
- Aujourd'hui, si vous entendez la voix de Dieu, ne vous endurcissez pas