"Your horse will be perfect" (September Part 3)

It was a busy but awesome "weekend". On Friday, Marie-Laure took Blanche out for a special morning, so I was left with Louis, Clotilde and Jeanne. They were super easy compared to five or even four. They were playing so nicely that I was able to make a cheesecake to leave behind for the Pourcelets as a weekend dessert. I tried to do a lot to help clean that day and left for Rennes pretty early.

That night, I hung out with Brooke-- if I didn't mention, she's an au pair living in Rennes this year. It was awesome to have someone to walk around with. She'd never had a kabab here so I insisted we have that for dinner and then we got some hot chocolate, cause it had been too long since I was at Le Haricot Rouge.

Saturday morning I made myself sleep in past 9 and then got up. Martine and I brought an armoir down two flights of steep stairs then worked in the yard for a while. I vacuumed her car and pretty much did whatever she asked for a while. I felt good doing that for her, especially since she does so much for me. I'm proud of myself. This weekend was filled with "I know I made the right choice, and I should be here right now" moments. My French gets better most every day, I learn valuable lessons every day; I just feel better most days. I feel better than ever before maybe.

I went into town after all the slave work to play some sports. Brooke and I met up again; I walked her to the old city walls and we got ice cream then headed off to work it off. We were only Americans there, so we played basebell. When I hit a strike streak, we moved on to soccer. We played some "ninja" and then the missionaries " cubed" Brooke and I. Apparently my husband will be perfect and my friends are solid. Then we all helped clean the chapel. Later we all met back at the church and Martine came for dinner. It was a good time. Elder Smith and I competed in a "flan suck" and well, I lost. We made him do it again, on video.

After church on Sunday, Brooke came back to Chateaugiron and we walked around the town; she'd never seen a castle before, and the weather was beautiful. We made apple pie and had that for dinner. Well, for second dinner I had a leftover piece of cheescake.

Today, I spent the morning with the kids minus Henri. In the afternoon, I took a long bikeride. I tried to find the paths on the map I got at the mayor's office, but was unsuccessful. I just went straight and kept going 'til I found water. I found a beautiful, peaceful, little beach; I'll upload pictures someday. It was so awesome, that I wanted to tell you all about it right away.

Qu'est-ce que tu faisais avec un âne? / What were you doing with a donkey? (September Part 2)

Last week was a crazy but good one. The kids continue to warm upto me, even taking my hand to walk up and down the stairs and sitting in my lap to read books. It all depends on their mood, of course. By the end of some days, they only want their mom to put on their bib or help scrape the plate. They repeat some of the English words I say, like "good night"; sometimes I get "peez" and "dankoo". I know a little more what's expected of them and of me, so that's good. It'm supposed to speak English to them but it's hard when I'm trying to tell them to behave. I try to say things in French and then English, but there isn't usually time. Reading books is nice cause I learn French words and tell them the English ones at the same time. I try to keep a notebook of all the words I learn each day, but usually by the end of the day when I sit down to write them, I've forgotten.

I'm still waiting for my laptop to be up and running-- the new charger is in the mail, apparently. I'll be spending a lot of time looking up words I forget and skyping ;) It'll be weird using an American keyboard again.

Some nights, the Marie-Laure and I watch movies. Usually French, sometimes American, once in English even. Usually I have a yummy herbal tea and sometimes chocolate. Life is simple at night, and nice. There's a church pretty much next door that chimes on the hour to tell the time-- ten strokes at ten, and one on the half hours. I love it and know I'll miss it. I see the church from my window and love looking out but hate when I give away the surprise of the bells. There's a good amount of down time in the afternoons when the kids are napping; I'm reading at least 3 books, slowly of course. Most nights I read Calvin and Hobbes in French, awesome right?

Anyway, last week, we went to the zoo. I love that I can see giraffes, turn the corner and see llamas, and continue on and see a castle here. It was a better zoo than I expected and a nicer day than it was looking like it would be. There were even some animals I'd never seen before-- having been to the San Diego zoo, I thought I'd seen all the possibilities of zoo animals. The habitats were nothing like San Diego's zoo's but nice. It wasn't necissarily organized so it was fun seeing monkeys next to camels next to goats. At the end of the trip, I had a bite mark from a donkey who just wanted more food. I paraded it around on Friday making people guess how I got the bruise. One person actually got close with "You were bitten by one of the kids?"

It was the "week of pleasure". Marie-Laure and I ate a bit too much chocolate, indulged in ice cream once, and even each had our own pizza one night. I'm still trying a lot of new things, like eating ray and all sorts of food. I'm learning a lot about French food and culture. There are definietly things I want to carry on to my kids, like the afternoon goûter of gateux / cookies. Well, I can't think of god examples now so I guess I should write those things down too.

I made blondies to bring to the party for the YSA on Friday, celebrating the beginning of the year and institute and everything. The week before that I made cookies-- if I didn't already mention that. Martine had asked me to make something for dinner on Saturday so I decided to make meatloaf. It's super nice being able to use an oven pretty much whenever I want again. Of course, I had that option over the summer; but life was pretty crazy. Also, I was trying not to make a dessert every day like I could in a perfect world. Anyway, the party was fun. I'd gotten to Rennes early and decided to take my first walk around town since my return. Oh, how I miss living in the city. I walked from the train station to the movie theatre to Place Republique to Place St Anne and settled at the Parc du Thabor for a bit of course.

On Saturday, I finally got to visit the chateau at ChateauGiron, because it was open for tours and stuff. It was a crummy day, raining and all; but I didn't really mind. I would've loved the rain if it weren't so cold. I feel like it's always cold here, even when the suns out. Maybe it's cause it's fine inside and looks crummy out, so I assume it's cold. Usually I go out with a coat and don't need it. I haven't reallt gotten out to explore my small town yet, but have only gone to the grocery store a couple times and to Henri's school. I better do that soon, before I get used to being lazy. Saturday night, we went to the movies to see La Guerre des Boutons which was very French and hard to understand; I followed but wished there were subtitles. I'm looking forward to the day when I don't wish that. It was a movie about two rival villages and the battles the kids and even adults would have. It was cute.

Sunday was a good one. My outfit was really cute. I took a nice nap, but missed the train that night. Wasn't really my fault, but I won't go into it. I took the train early Monday morning, so all was well. The kids were crazy on Monday, still cute but not wanting me to help them with anything. I was a bit distracted too because it was Sarah Dargon's birthday. I'm sorry she didn't make it to 21 but she accomplished so much in her short life; sometimes it makes me feel inadequate. Luckily I was invited to Mont Saint Michel for the afternoon and went in her honor. It was a fun time, so that was perfect. It's such a beautful place. It was my third time, and I like having the different memories. I mostly thought back to being there with my family. It made me miss them a lot, but also made me proud that I'm back here and making it without them. I feel brave sometimes. Usually I feel helpess but sometimes I feel able and adventurous-- as I think I already mentioned; I don't know.

The kids all have their moments. Overall they're cute, but they all misbehave like usual kids: They argue over toys and hit and push and all want attention. It surprisingly doesn't really but me; I just feel bad I can't alwayd control them. I think it'll get easier-- I hope. On Wednesday (oh, that was yesterday), we took another walk on the beach. It was kinda cold but nice and the kids were still a bit more willing to take my hand instead of gathering around their mom. There was one time when she had three girls holding her hands-- yes, only two hands. She managed.

Today was pizza day. There are a few food places within the square block and one of them uses our outlet or something for their fridge-- I'm not quite sure; but we get "free" pizza out of it so I'm happy. It was the second week of this. I hope and don't hope that it continues. The pizza is way goos and there are a ton of good sounding sorts to try. It was also a special treat day cause the Marie-Laure cale home with a couple crepes au chocolat for breakfast. It was my first crepe since my return. I was pretty proud to have made it that long before indulging and enjoyed myself eating that one.

Well it's a long post cause it took me a while to get back to it, but hey, I did it. Hope you enjoy.

Je suis rentrée/ I'm back (August 31- September part 1)

After an awesome summer (that I'll catch up on later), I'm back in France.  It was harder to leave my family this time, as well my new home in Novato. The trip was long but fine. It actually went by kinda fast; I think that says a lot about how much time I've spent travelling...

When I arrived at the.. we'll call it a train stop, Marie-Laure was there. It was so nice to see her again and I was reminded how lucky I was to have met the family I was going to live with before deciding to really do it. If anyone is confused: I decided that studying in France for 5 months was simply not enough. I spoke to much English and I was just not ready to leave France and my friends here. I wanted to come back and spend more time in Bretagne. After thinking long and hard about it, I decided to find a job as an au pair. So this year I'm back in France, this time as an au pair and not a student. I'm living with a French family, helping take care of the children, observing, learning.

So far it's been good. My first day, we went to the beach. That was a Friday and the day of the birthday party I'd been looking forward to for a while. I went to my friend Margaux's house to celebrate her. It was great to see her again cause she's one of the sweetest girls you'll meet. I know her because she lived two rooms down from me in Rennes last spring. She lives in a darling town not too far from Rennes. It was a bit difficult to be thrown into a social situation so soon after re-arriving. I was quite rusty in French after being gone for three months-- only three months, I know. It was fun though and I could speak and understand enough. Saturday I left for Rennes/ Chateaugiron. I had a bit of difficulty with the train that, frankly lead to a brief meltdown. I wondered what I was thinking trying to be adventurous and able. I wondered what I was doing far away and alone. It was needed, and then I was able to find a way to the Oliviers. Again, it was a bit difficult to be in a social situation and I was so tired and I just kinda sat there. I wanted to catch up with people but it was hard to understand what they were saying and the words I wanted to say just couldn't come together. Yes, they made fun of me loosing my French after a summer back in the USA.

Anyway, I was happy to see people again and was happy that I was able to go to church again. People seemed happy to have me back and that felt nice. I met the two other au pairs who are new and don't speak much French and pretty much blurted out all the English I could in a short time. Things worked out and I made it back to Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes. I played with the kids and had dinner with Marie-Laure, and even had a pretty good conversation. By the end of the day, I thought: this could work. I'll be happy here.

The kids are adorable. Louis is about six months old; Blanche, Clotilde, and Jeanne are two years old-- yes, triplets-- and Henri is three and a half years old. It was tiring playing with them and helping out and trying to keep them happy, not to mention polite. However, it's not too hard. Sometimes during the week, I thought that this life will get boring and I'll be tired of doing the same thing over and over for a year; but  the week went by pretty fast looking back. I was looking forward to the weekend.

There was a party for Clement who's leaving for his mission. I made cookies. That was fun and by the end of the night, I felt much more comfortable having conversations in French than I had a week earlier. It's still not always easier but with new confidence, I know much more progress will come. Saturday was kind of lazy and fun also, it was like really being back: hanging out at the Oliviers' with Martine and Alicia, playing games. The missionaries were there for a bit, so I could even speak English when I needed a little break. The jetlag had finally worn off so I didn't feel like I'd woken up at one in the morning. Listening to French all day and forming sentences is still tiring, but it was a nice break after the week. I found myself missing them though, hearing their little voices: Moi, cest à moi. It was a bit easier to concentrate in church and focus on what people were saying and actually understanding most of it. I feel good about speaking with people and am trying more to keep conversations going; that'll not only help my language skills, but help me become closer with people I wanted to know better before but was kind of too.. well, shy.. I don't know.. to talk to.

Anyway, that's more or less my week and a half back in France. I'm really excited for what's to come.

Five senses is too many (January part 2)

24 days until I leave for San Diego, Lee's wedding, and Boston.




I'm discovering many things in Europe. I get to see many things, hear many languages, eat many great foods, and smell many... things. Oh so many things. I've decided that 5 senses is just too many in this country. I wish I could just turn one off when too many are being negatively stimulated. "I'm hearing and seeing gross things right now, so I'm going to give my poor little nose a break... Ooh, a boulangerie. You can wake up now nose."


January ended about as exciting as it began; we're just always doing something. After running around to many places, often the same places more than once, we finally finished our paperwork. Well, for now. Here's to waiting another five months for a chest x-ray that's somehow supposed to prove that we did or didn't already bring a contagious disease into the country..


We had two weeks to test out classes and decide which ones to stick with. I'm going to take Education issues and social inequalities, Institutions of the European Union, Public policies, and Political and cinematography transitions in Latin america (taught in Spanish), as well as the History and culture and French classes that foreign students take. Classes meet for two hours once a week but our two mandatory classes meet for two sessions each week. Makes for a nice empty Monday and almost empty Tuesday.


I had a productive couple days, but I couldn't really count them victorious if I didn't update the masses.


I went to IKEA yesterday and love what I did with the place. Found some nice cheap stuff, if I do say so myself. I've also done some other shopping, I'm sorry to say. Arriving to Europe during a semi annual sale at all the stores is some sort of cruel and unusual punishment. Had a relapse in clothes therapy but I think I'm ok now. Look out shoes and purses. In my defense, we walk a lot so my boots are getting pretty ravaged and won't last the semester; I better get some replacements while things are on sale, right? Yes, thank you.


School is about .75 miles away and the center of town is about 1.6, so we average a couple or so miles a day, especially when we were going into town almost every day to get more forms. We also have to walk home from the discos each Thursday, which always feels like a very, very long walk. I'm not sure why they don't run buses on the night when every youth goes out. Other than that, the buses are pretty awesome. Well, and the fact that I usually miss the second bus I take home from the church so I either wait half an hour or walk home. 


I'm at the church three times a week and sometimes I wish it were more. On Wednesdays, I go to PPP (pancakes and ping pong) and on Fridays, I go to Institute (a class for college-aged students at the church). There's usually dinner after Institute and we all just hang out and have a good time. I mostly listen but I try to speak a lot too. People are so good about correcting me in a way that makes me feel like I'm getting better and not like I'm really stupid, and they practice their English with me sometimes and ask that I correct them. Last Friday we played Loups garous or Werewolves, which I love playing and was really excited when I realized what it was. For those of you who don't know the game, it's amazing and here is a link to the rules: http://mediaplan.ovh.net/~objectif/loups-garous/base/index.htm.

And here's a picture of some of my new friends. They're all really great and I just love being with all of them. The food is usually pretty yummy and I try to be open to new things that don't look so yummy; usually that works out for me.

On Sundays, I've been going over the the Clements' (an American family) for dinner. They're just awesome and I've been inviting myself over to exchange French lessons for using their oven. Our first session is tomorrow, and I'm very excited. I made cookies the other Sunday so I'm going to try and plan a really great lesson to repay them. They've already been so nice to me, I'm not sure I ever will. And they have a kitten..

 

"Take some pictures of me with the kitten. People will know I'm happy here."

The weather here hasn't been too bad. It's pretty cold but it could be much worse. I have weather gadgets for Rennes, Boston, and San Diego and I'm usually happy looking at the Boston one, and very upset looking at the San Diego one. I'm not sure if I'm happy I don't have to put up with snow or not. I don't think I got quite enough of it this winter. Things are pretty here and I bet they would look pretty covered in snow, just for a week of few.

Silly humid Rennes, you think you can fool me into thinking this is snow.. Woke up to this frost one morning and thought it was pretty.

This is my new bedding. Super cheap but pretty cute and does the job.

Well I have an early class tomorrow so that'll have to do for now. Start nagging me to update more; it's good for me. I get to step back and realize how amazing this experience is already. 

I love you all and miss you a lot. I look forward to going home for Lee's wedding and stopping in Boston for a few days. It'll be sad to leave home again but I'm sure I'll make it back here.

A bientot,

Jennifer

Show and tell

This is my dorm room:

The blankets the give us are pretty itchy but they let us switch for clean sheets every so often. The desk is about as big as the bed and the closet takes up a lot of space. Thanks to Vanessa and the Elders for those pictures; I need some more. The window has this "screen" that can be cranked down that blocks out all the light, which is nice but a bit dangerous in the mornings.

Surprise, surprise, everything has it's own spot.

The good thing about the closet being there is the little bathroom it makes out of my sink. I've decided that having a sink in one's room is amazing, especially when the toilets and showers are shared and they are at the other end of the hall.

Pepper, we're not in San Diego anymore (Dec 30 - January part 1)

My first email update. I wasn't sure who would want it then, so here it is if you haven't already read it:


Dear all,

   I'm happy to be here.  I'm been training for and dreaming of these days all my life, and it's weird that I'm living them and will be looking back on them forever. I guess all of our days can be like that though. I was so nervous and scared to come here but wasn't going to let anything stop me; having issues the days before leaving proved that. Thanks again mom and dad for helping me change flights and trains. After having to change my flight because the consulate had my passport hostage while they were closed new years even and then until Monday, my flight was cancelled. I took off from Boston at 8:30 Tuesday morning and made it to Rennes past 10 am current time zone. 

   I knew in the taxi that I loved it in Rennes, I had a hunch before then. I found my school and my dorm pretty easily minus lugging huge suitcases around. I admit I was wondering what I was doing in a foreign country alone for six months until I ran into other foreign students before my first class. A kid I took a few classes was here last semester and I had no idea he would still be here so I was so excited to see him as well as another kid I worked on applications and forms with. I felt much better seeing familiar faces and realizing that everyone was as scared and confused as I was. 

   Since then we've all spend most of our time together. Starting this semester, there are 4 American students, 5 Mexican students, 2 Russians, 2 Scotts, a Brazilian, a Greek, and a girl from Switzerland. There are other students who started last semester that we haven't really met much of yet. French kids are still in finals now so we've mostly been hanging out amongst ourselves but we've been meeting many other kids in our dorms and at parties and at school. My French is usually fine but between understanding the people and what the heck is going on, I'm pretty confused and pretty tired most of the time. Every day is a new adventure from trying to figure out and showers and stoves to trying to find where to go to turn in important forms. 

   Classes have been pretty low key 'cause they've just been relaxed French classes, at random times and in random rooms, with a few different teachers. Sometimes they're fun and sometimes they're boring. I think the school just knew that we'd need the time to adjust before starting real classes. Well, and that Rennes is our giant classroom right now and class is always in session. I'm trying to soak in everything, but it's so much right now. 

   I need to be better about writing down detailed descriptions of what we do each day but I'll just give you the highlights: We went to the street market on Saturday and I was just in awe. We got some vegetables and bread and cheese and things. We've been going to the super market for most things but we plan to go to the market and get more things there each week. We've been exploring the city a lot most days or nights, a lot of walking. I loved church on Sunday. I felt so at home and was so touched. People were so nice and luckily dad had called ahead for me so they were expecting me and ready to welcome me. I went back for "pancakes and ping pong" tonight and brought four of my closest friends here. 

   There's so much I can say, but I wanted to finally get an update out to all of you. So you know, I'm here and I'm safe. Let me know if you'd like to keep getting updates and if there's anything else I should talk about. Love you all,

Jennifer