Bloops

I may have forgotten the purpose of this blog. Of course, it's a record of my experience, and that record includes how I'm feeling...but it's also supposed to record all the things I'm learning and seeing and experiencing here, that are different from home, as well as share these experiences with all of you. And there are so many things I've seen and tasted and heard...that I haven't recorded at all. Oh no! If I don't keep this record, how am I going to remember it all? It will all fade away once I leave...I need to take more photos and write more! It will make me feel more productive too. So look forward to some more posts!

Currently eating: "Ossau Iraty Rocabret," AOC (Appelation d'Origine Protégée)

Something I don't want to forget: S (the 14-year-old) and how she talks to me and has reached out to me so many times. How could I ever forget how excited I was when, after a month or more here, I finally was able to understand a majority of her discourse (on corrupt politicians and Asian governments, on French high schools and on going to a Catholic school, or music or...who knows what's next!). Then, I could begin participating by giving feedback-something that never fails to make me feel proud of myself. I am so thankful that S is, firstly, an interesting and very intelligent person, and secondly, a high-schooler who's actually interested in talking to me. Earlier this week, she dug around and found L'Encyclopédie de Fromage in order that I might educate myself on French cheeses. Last night, she saw my iPod nano and asked to look through it (Apple products are more expensive in Europe, and everyone thinks they're cool, and thinks I'm rich because I have iPods and a MacBook), and reciprocated by guiding me through the French artists she recommends for me.

Big Blessings

I am so blessed...and I shouldn't forget. I do have a friend in France! Helen Hunter came to visit me last weekend! It was a tough week, and I got through it remembering and thanking God that I'd have a true friend to chat with when Saturday rolled around. I also am blessed with a wonderful boyfriend who is coming with his mother to visit - in a week! I can't wait to spend time with both of them--as well as have two weeks respite from school and the little French town. I will be going south to have a week in Italia, and I'll be spending my birthday in the gastronomic capital of France with my cheri! Jealous? ;)

"Heureux qui comme Ulysse"

Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage,
Ou comme cestuy-là qui conquit la toison,
Et puis est retourné, plein d'usage et raison,
Vivre entre ses parents le reste de son âge !

Quand reverrai-je, hélas, de mon petit village
Fumer la cheminée, et en quelle saison
Reverrai-je le clos de ma pauvre maison,
Qui m'est une province, et beaucoup davantage ?

Plus me plaît le séjour qu'ont bâti mes aïeux,
Que des palais Romains le front audacieux,
Plus que le marbre dur me plaît l'ardoise fine :

Plus mon Loir gaulois, que le Tibre latin,
Plus mon petit Liré, que le mont Palatin,
Et plus que l'air marin la doulceur angevine.


My own translation of Joachim du Bellay's poem (no promises to be unbiased, or perfectly literal, but I'll do my best):


Happy he, who like Odysseus, has completed a journey,
Or like that one who conquered the fleece,
And then has returned, full of knowledge gained,
to live with his kin for the rest of his life!


When will I see again, alas, from my little village
the smoke of the chimney, and in what season
will I again see the yard of my poor house,
which to me is a province, and so much more?


The abode built by my ancestors pleases me more
than the audacious brows of Roman palaces,
More pleasure slate gives me than hard marble :


More my Gallic Loire than the Tiber,
More my little Liré than the Palatine Hill,
And more than the sea air, the sweet softness of Anjou.


Of course, this guy's home was France, and more specifically Liré in the Anjou region, so that is not very applicable to me since it's France that I'm sick of. 


I feel as though I've been on vacation for way too long now (four months - but it feels like forever), and I'm burnt out. It doesn't help that I feel trapped behind a language barrier. I will never lose my American accent, and French will never come to me naturally. Some days, I am so tired of speaking like a complete fool. I just want to go home and be able to carry out day-to-day tasks on my own and feel like a semi-functional person. As I see the sights, I find it harder to be enthusiastic, even if they are magnificent (Eiffel Tower anyone? This used to be magical. Reims cathedral? It is truly a wonder, yet I'm no longer filled with awe). Of course I have gained a lot and learned a lot from my experiences here, but honestly, overall, the experience has been painful, and these months miserable. Please excuse the whine--but I've been trying to put a positive spin on it; and for the moment, I refuse.

Homemade Brownies

Now, I shall stop complaining about the people I miss. Let's not go into the people. Let's stay on the surface. Now, I shall complain about the foods I miss!

Mmmm!

Ooooh!

(Okay, I shouldn't miss the latte, because I can find plenty of coffee...but I used to spend so much time chilling out in coffee shops with those big paper cups, and there was always foam!)

However the lack of bagels & biscuits is REAL! And bacon--that is not the same here, and is never for breakfast!

But, I can't complain too much. There might be a couple of breakfast foods I miss, but I really do like the food here. It's so good. I will be even more of a food snob when I return...

Speaking of food, and missing things, the last time I baked anything was before I left for France. I've recently discovered a bunch of baking blogs (full of recipes, tips, and beautiful photos), and I've been itching to bake. Today was the day I began.

I decided that today was an appropriate day for me to make brownies, reminding me of home, and childhood, and, most of all, of Mom. 

I worked myself up to trying out the kitchen with these new & untested pots, pans, ovens, and measuring systems. Yes, I used the metric system. I weighed my ingredients instead of using measuring cups. À la française. 

It was a success. Christine hadn't planned a dessert; and when he learnt a kind of cake would result, F willingly went in search of eggs. When the batter was in the pan, the bowl & wooden spoon were shared by K & F (& others?) who'd been waiting, watching, silently lurking beyond the kitchen door. It made me happy to have someone(s) eager to lick the spoon...the way it should be! 

And now the brownies are all gone (and I didn't take any pictures). With such a full house, one pan is eaten in a flash! (No one even had the chance to be very gluttonous!) They were shared, they were enjoyed, and this went well. I am pleased and filled.