Let’s start with school. My classes are going well, and I they are a good balance of easy and difficult. We have already had tests in all of my classes, the hardest of which were in Histoire de la France and Traduction (translation). The history test consisted of three open-ended questions to respond to in 12-15 lines each, in French of course. And the translation test was to translate a passage from English into French that we had never seen before…we’ll see how that ended up. I have an exposé (presentation) today for my Langue class, and I decided to talk about the girl scouts, because I know than more than enough information to get me through a speech. It went well, thank goodness. As said before, I was worried my classes would be too easy, and the pace is indeed too slow in some of my classes and I should have been placed in a higher level, but the supplementary work I am receiving helps a lot, and I can tell my French is improving immensely.
Next, I have been getting together with my friend Isabelle every week to talk in French and English, and also to just have a good time. A couple of weeks ago, we did dictées, which is where someone reads a passage in the language you are trying to learn, and you have to write down what you hear. So, she read a page from Little House on the Prairie in French, and I wrote down everything she said. It’s more difficult than it sounds, but it works so well, because you listen and use logic at the same time. She also gave me tongue twisters with the letter “R” in them, because there are a lot of nuances with how the letter “r” is pronounced with different words. I’m continuing to help her with English, and other than that, we have gotten together for chocolat chauds (hot chocolates), and she invited me to a little soirée she is having with her friends and family in December, so I’m very excited.
I met with the Bouget family a couple of weeks ago again, which was great! Laurane, the daughter, had a gymnastics and dance gala, and I went with the family to watch her perform. It was really cool, and there are some talented girls in the group. I was also amused by the songs choices for the dance routines. They were typically American, and a little risqué considering most of the gymnasts/dancers are very young. The Bougets want me to spend a whole weekend at their house, which is such a blessing, so I am spending the weekend before my birthday with them.
Béatrice’s birthday was on Halloween, so Béatrice's friend Michelle, and us three housemates all had a wonderful lunch together. Béatrice made this meal inside a shell…I don’t know how you do that, but it was just about the coolest thing ever, and it was so delicious! Her cake was also amazing, and it would put any American cake to shame. Béatrice asked me if I would sing a song for them, because she said I have “a very lyrical voice,” and even though I hate singing when people ask me to, seeing that it was Béatrice’s birthday, I complied. Since then, I have been trying to break out of my little singing bubble, just in terms of comfort with singing in front of people without feeling insecure.
Next topic: Halloween does not exist in France. Apparently a few years ago they tried to do the American commercialized version, and it failed miserably. Instead, it’s very traditional, and the French celebrate La Toussaint and La Jour des Morts. La Toussaint commemorates all of the saints that are celebrated in France, and La Jour des Morts is a day to honor your loved ones who have passed away. For La Jour des Morts, people clean the tombstones, and flowers and plaques are placed on and around the grave. I went to two cemeteries that weekend, and it was so moving to read the little plaques and look at all the chrysanthemums.
I went to a Greek Orthodox Church with Béatrice for La Toussaint, and that was the most interesting religious service I have ever been to in my whole life. We walked in I was immediately stunned as the strong fragrances enveloped me and the music being sung was all in Latin. The temple was rather small, and the congregation not so large either, for there is not much of a Greek Orthodox following in France. I understood about half of the words when they were in French, but overall it was really different going from an upbeat Protestant church to an ultra-traditional Greek Orthodox Church. Altogether though, it felt wonderful to be in the presence of other Christians, and in talking with them and having lunch with them after the service, I felt welcomed and appreciated. It was great. I am still reading my Bible daily, and I tonight I have Psalm 40 to delve into. I also found a French pocket bible of the Psaumes et le Nouveau Testament. So wonderful.
We had a pont/vacation last week for l’Armistice (the end of the fighting in WWII), and I took a train down to Nimes to visit my friend Angelina. She is also from Grand Haven, but she is being an au pair here in France for the year. When we found out we were both in France, we knew we would have to get together to heal our homesickness. It was so so fantastic. Angelina took me to so many cool places; in Nimes we visited L’Arène , La Maison Carré, a park where Jules César used to hang out, we went to the Méditerranée a of couple times, and also to a city called Aigues-Mortes, which if I translated the name correctly, it means high-pitched or sharp death. Kind of morbid if you ask me. Angel and I talked a lot and it was so good to be able to reflect on Grand Haven and talk about people both of us know from back home. The family she is with is great too, and the kids are the cutest things when they want to be. I had such a pleasant time there.
Okay, so now I am going to talk about the alcohol and wine. Before coming to France, I had never had any wine or alcohol. But being in France, now I have had my fair share of different types of wine, and I prefer rose or white wines, the reds are a little too strong. And I have had alcohol now too. No, I am not a drunk, nor do I plan on becoming one, but I have gone out to the bars twice, and have tried alcohol both times. The first time I got a Sex on the Beach, and the second time I had a Cosmopolitan. Seeing that neither of those drinks is strong, and that someone bought me the drinks both times, I am pretty content.
As always, I have had a few realizations that really make my life amazing here. The first of which, is that being outside and just listening to the breeze does wonders for me. From time to time, I feel claustrophobic in my small apartment room, and I can go outside into the courtyard between the apartment buildings, and it is really soothing. And even better than that, my friend Lutpulla found out how much I miss Lake Michigan, and he brought me to le Lac du Maine, which is here in Angers! It is so calm, so peaceful, and the second I got there I just felt so at ease. It is a lake with a sandy shore that is surrounded by woods. There are some picnic tables and grills too, so we are going to go barbecuing there sometime soon.
Another realization that I have had is that I am indeed, in France. I was reading about the Edict of Nantes, and as I reflected on previous history classes, I thought to myself, ‘The Edict of Nantes, that was in France with Louis XIV and the Huguenots.’ Suddenly, I realized that I am living twenty minutes away from Nantes, and it was the coolest thing to re-realize how I am living in a country with so much history.
Lastly, I realized that I could call France ‘home.’ I returned to Angers from Nimes, and when I stepped out of the train station, all I could do was smile. As I headed of to my apartment in the cold rain, lugging my suitcase across town on the torn up roads for the incoming tramway, I said the word ‘home’ to myself, and I felt so at peace with life. Don’t worry, I am still coming home in June and am not planning on moving to France. But it is a really special thing when I can call this new place my home.
Heading into the holidays! Thanksgiving next week and my birthday and Christmas in December! Even though life is beautiful here, I miss you all like crazy, and I look so forward to being able to hug you all again!
Favorite thing someone said to me: In confusing ‘haven’ with ‘heaven,’ a boy said to me “If you’re from Grand Haven, does that make you an angel?” :)
Psalm 26:2-3 “Test me O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind, for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."
