My Thanksgiving started off like no other I have ever had: I woke up and went to work! Not fun! But it actually was not that bad because I told my teachers that I would teach the students about Thanksgiving on that day. I started in the morning with one of my best classes. The teacher sat in the back while I taught the kids about the first Thanksgiving and what we do now on Thanksgiving. Then I gave them a worksheet where they had to math words and descriptions. When we came to "Sound a turkey makes", I made the entire class of 12 and 13 year olds gobble like turkeys. It was absolutely hilarious and just what everyone needed at 8:30 in the morning. I had two more classes that day and in the middle of my second class, it started snowing! They were excited to look out the windows and I taught them to say it's snowing in English so it was fun! We were having a fun class anyway, playing hangman and having races to see who could guess a word first. After that class, I was officially free for the weekend! And since the trams weren't running because of the snow, I got to walk home! I was one happy California girl, that's for sure!
Walking home in the first snow of the season
Trees at the university
Once I got home, after trying to get warm again, I managed to call everyone in my family and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. I called Stephen first, who spent the holiday in New Jersey with a friend. After that I called Mom and Dad who went up to Oregon for the weekend and also talked to Uncle Gary, Aunt Steph, Spencer and Claire. And after that, I surprised Aunt Teresa and Grannie in San Francisco with a call. I might not have celebrated with any members of my immediate family but I felt that I was there from talking to everyone! I also was very lucky to receive photo updates throughout the day from my family in Oregon. Here are my favorites:
My parents in Oregon
My Dad in front of the Library at U of O
Uncle Gary, Aunt Steph, Spencer, and Claire
I was feeling a little nostalgic after talking to everyone but my blues were quickly cured when I went outside to take a picture with a few of my roommates...and ended up getting into two huge snowball fights. Running around and laughing with the roomies was a great thanksgiving gift.
Marthe, Nadege and Me in the snow
The next morning I woke up to go catch a train to Angers for the Thanksgiving dinner. I got in by 1:30, perfect time to go get lunch with Valerie. We walked around for a bit and then sat in a really nice coffee shop for a couple of hours to sit and chat and stay out of the cold! Did I mention how cold it has been lately? It's been really really cold. We walked back to the school to start setting up for the dinner that night. The room looked really nice and Sue worked really hard to make everything perfect. It was so fun once the families started to arrive! I got to sit next to Valerie and her host parents and my own host parents were sitting a little ways down the table. It was so fun to watch all of these students go from speaking English with each other to switching to French and introducing each other to their host families. I saw Jean and Therese again, and Therese wasted no time in showing me off to her friends that were also at the dinner. It was nice to be included in everything.
Sue and Me
Valerie Sue and Me
Valerie and Me
Dinner was phenomenal! I was a little worried at having Thanksgiving dinner in France but it all turned out great. But of course, since we are in France, this was going to be Thanksgiving dinner French-ified, and so there were courses. We received an aperitif of champagne along with crackers and little pieces of bread with cheese or salmon flavored spread. Next, was the pumpkin soup. Phillipe, Valerie's host dad, was very hesitant to try anything with pumpkins but he actually liked the soup and took a second helping. After the soup, came the main meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and a vegetable mix. Complete with cranberry sauce. And it was delicious. The mashed potatoes were surprisingly well done and although they did not have gravy, the cranberry sauce was very good. The turkey was very very good and even the vegetable mix was tasty. I am never one to eat until I drop on Thanksgiving; I would rather eat a little here and there than have a giant plate of food. Not this year. This year I ate when I really did not think I could eat anymore. But it was all just too good to stop!
During the dinner, Sue had all of the U of O kids sing the fight song for the host families. Luckily, the words were projected on a screen and the tuned was played. I got up with all of the students and we clumsily sang the fight song, no one really knowing the whole thing. The main thing was that the families enjoyed it. Or they just enjoyed laughing at us. Phillipe joked that he was going to throw tomatoes at Valerie when we were up there. But it turned out great in the end and it was a fun thing to do.
Sue had the students volunteer to make apple and pumpkin pies the night before and Valerie made two. Phillipe said that he would only try the one that Valerie made because of his ambiguity towards pumpkins. Luckily, we found the one she made so we could all have some of that one. And, no surprise, it was delicious! Phillipe even liked it and ate a whole piece! Good work Valerie. During dessert there was a slide show with pictures from the students over the course of their time here. Valerie even added a picture of the two of us so I got to be in it! Sue also mentioned me and the other assistants that were at the dinner during her speech when she thanked everyone.
It was so wonderful seeing everyone, even though it was for so short a time. My host parents have invited me back sometime in March or April to stay with them. They are so cute! And I told Valerie's host family that when I came back I would definitely come see them as well. I have become really close with them too from staying with them two weeks ago and celebrating Thanksgiving dinner with them.
Muriel and Phillipe, my other set of host parents
I only stayed in Angers for one night and then it was back to Caen. I got up on Sunday to go to the market. I honestly love Sundays because the only things I do are going to mass in the morning, go to the market, and hang out for the rest of the day in my room or in the house. Today, was a little different because after the market I decided to see if the Christmas market was open...and it was! I walked around all of the little stands and it just made my day to hear Christmas carols. When I came back last night, all of the Christmas lights had been turned on too! It's officially Christmas season and I couldn't be more excited! I only have three more weeks of class before I head home for the holidays! I'm going to enjoy these next three weeks, because I have heard that Europe at Christmas time is amazing and I am definitely beginning to experience that. I will make sure to get some pictures of the Christmas market for next time! Until then, I leave you with this beautiful photo from the weekend.
View from my window on a snowy morning
Cest la bonne vie pour moi! :)
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