Life In an Art Castle

   I'm not quite sure how, but I definitely claimed the throne of vacation this year. To the point of what amounted to what is likely an equal amount of holiday than school days, okay well maybe not quite that much. But I definitely did exhaust the joy that should be taken in days with nothing to do! Which is why I was very happy with my host dad's idea to find me an internship to occupy one of these last weeks of vacation in France. 
    He works at the town hall and organized for me to help out at an art museum in the town where I went to school. I had no idea what I had agreed to or what I would be doing, but was excited nonetheless. I wouldn't say that I'm not particularly interested in art or museums but we all know how I love playing these different roles and getting glimpses of different lives. So this week was round "life in an art museum!" (sorry for the unoriginal title...) 
   I think it's only fair to specify that this art museum is actually in a castle that belonged to Louis 16th brother, and has a tour that dates even further back, to the middle ages.  

Beautiful setting : check!
(I got these pics from ze internetz!)

   So I only worked there for one week, but I had quite the routine. I left to work every morning with my host dad. We listened to the news, and I nodded my head and laughed or smiled or frowned on cue as I tried to understand whatever the reporter was talking about and as my host dad half shared his opinion and half explained what was going on. If you ask me eight am is a little early for French political radio... 

   We left at that time for my host dad's work at the town hall, next to the castle. Otherwise, I wouldn't necessarily have to go in so early. Often, I was the first to arrive and was locked outside the gates. But it was never long before someone with a key to the castle arrived! Those keys are in the hands of three women who were my bosses for the week. 
Here are some of my own pictures of the museum: 

My favorite room of the museum, a mix between Versailles and English (IMHO)

A bench borrowed from the castle of Versailles 

Canons looking over Gray

   The first day was pretty awkward. When I walked in, I presented myself, and the three of them obviously had the impression that I didn't understand French. They started by talking to me incredibly slowly, and I tried very hard not to let a laugh out. Luckily, they quickly caught on that they could speak normally! 
   The first example of this was over morning coffee, which we would continue to take every morning at ten. We all stopped whatever work we were in the middle of and gathered upstairs. Through a narrow hallway, in a tiny attic room with creaking hard wood floor (possibly the original) we sat on our designated stool and drank a coffee, gossiping about the artists who were scheduled to come in that day to drop off their artwork. 
   Throughout the week, we had many artists come by as we were preparing for a big exhibit that would open on Friday. In other words, I arrived just in time for four days of total chaos! 
   I felt very useful and productive some days, doing legitimately helpful tasks (i.e, hanging up paintings, painting sculture stands, carrying artwork upstairs, applying text to the walls, making flyers...). While other hours went by more slowly, as I made photocopies, answered the phone and used the paper cutter for hours on end to cut said flyers. These tasks were occasionally interrupted by museum visitors. In the first few days we saw tourists from Switzerland, Germany, France and England! I was very keen on the English couple and even though they came by on my first day and I had only seen the museum once myself, I accompanied them on their visit and managed to give a pretty complete and entertaining tour. :)


   Friday day was spent between setting up tables outside and laying out napkins and plastic wine cups and unpacking the 400 catalogs that we had had delivered. The exhibit doors opened at six pm. And while there wasn't exactly a line of people waiting outside the door, we did get a decent amount of visitors. I took on the job of cashier for those buying the catalog and souvenirs, bartender for those in need of a drink, informed person, for those interested in the art, and photographer, for the press of Gray who were unable to make it to the event themselves. 

The mayor made a nice speech (he hosted an American from Colorado a few years back!) 

My friend, Adeline, pretending to be serious behind the counter!

   I discussed with many lovely people, and thoroughly enjoyed the night. (Not to mention the week as a whole!) It was an excellent idea on my host dad's part and he deserves a big fat thank you for arranging this for me! Art museum/castle added to my resume ;) 

Longings and anticipation

Things that I am going to miss terribly from France (other than the obvious family&friends!)

• La bouffe! (food!) : les croissants et les baguettes, les princes, les tartes, quiche, le fromage! 
• Having an accent, and being a foreigner, it makes for such easy conversation starters!
• Having a mental countdown in my head, even if I'm not always aware of it. Knowing that I'm getting on a plane in x days means going out on a limb and taking risks that I otherwise wouldn't. Kindof like in those movies where the person finds out they are going to die and have x weeks left to do everything they've always wanted to...
• Public transportation and trains!
• Being independent and able to make every decision myself 
• Speaking and hearing and dreaming in French
• Having sisters
• Being able to order alcohol and excuse my absences at school myself

Things that I am impatient to return to (other than the obvious family&friends!)

• Food: peanut butter, bagels, pop tarts, reese's peanut butter cups, cookie dough... and restaurants: Panera, Dunkin' Donuts, The Nordstrom Cafe, Chipotle, Fudruckers...
• My own bed and house full of memories 
• Using the $$$ and no longer adding to the cost of everything!
• Cheap clothes (they're so much less expensive in the U.S!) and shopping at Nordstrom, Free People, and Forever 21!
• Being able to make last minute plans 
• Driving! 

The Five

1. Today was the ideal summer day: hot and sunny and with me by the pool. Some people don't like lying out in the sun doing nothing for hours on end, not me. I love it! After lunch today, I put on my bathing suit, got through that terrible moment when you see yourself in a suit after all those months and all those French meals, applied Sunscreen and joined my host mom by the pool. We painted our toe nails until we couldn't stand the heat any longer and jumped in the pool. First swim of 2012: success ! 


2. Fathers day in France was last weekend. My host sisters bought Asterix comic books and I redeemed myself for all of the cookies I've made since I got here. My host dad is allergic to eggs and everything I make seems call for at least one egg! I feel guilty for indulging everyone except him in American cuisine. So I found a eggless chocolate cake recipe and for the first time, he was able to eat my cooking!


3. Two weeks after I get home, one of my best friends from France is taking a plane for the first time and coming to visit me! I'm super excited and talk with her on the phone or on skype often, making plans for the three weeks that she'll be in the U.S. I think it will make the transition between countries easier for me, and I won't be in complete withdrawal from speaking French. 


4. It's that time of the year: BAC time. Well not for me, but for my class back in Tournon, for my host sister, and for a lot of other French teenagers! It's on the news every night, which seems weird to me since schools are not all cohesive in the U.S and therefore the national news can't report on them. My host sister is taking it for the second time and is stressed. Reasonably so, since in France, the Bac really is the key to the door to your futur, and without it that door will pretty much remain shut.


5. My host mom came into my room last night and saw that I had taken my clothes off of my closet rack. The look on her face was so sad when she said "you've already started packing?" I don't think I'll be the only one in tears at the train station, in two weeks.

I hope you don't get car sick!

I ran some errands with my host sister the other day and decided to video some of the trip there. 

And yes, this video does serve a purpose. I love driving in the car with the windows down. The wind blowing and landscape sprawled out on both sides of the road, for what you can only imagine goes on for miles. So I wanted to capture a moment like that on video for me to watch when I'm Francesick later on! 

And a video that might appear more interesting to you, the drive into my village: 

a failed movie night

I settled into this big comfy chair. I figured out how to work the DVD player. I changed the preferences to French, and I pressed play. A few minutes into 2 days in Paris, I'm restless. Nothing against the movie, I love this movie, but I'm restless nonetheless. So I open my computer and read other exchange student blogs. Reading these words of other AFS kids around the world, each facing the end of their own year abroad got me thinking, and well, now I need to write. My movie night is officially doomed.
I pressed pause and my fingers are flying.


I've received a big envelope from AFS; or rather, my host family received it. Inside was a letter addressing them and thanking them for their generosity and for hosting a student this year. A letter explaining how my departure is going to unroll, with dates and times, etc. And a letter with "practical information" concerning the last AFS orientation in Paris. I got similar papers ten months ago, mailed to my home and in english. I started reading right away, and I don't know if it was my concentration or the emotions, but it didn't occur to me until I turned the second letter over that these were in French.
Scanning them over, I was hit pretty hard with the real, and quickly approaching take-off of my flight back home. Depending on the day, this reality brings different emotions. The first time I read these papers, my throat got all tight and I wanted to cry. I wanted to shred them up to little pieces and ignore the fact that my visa has an expiration date. But on another given day, I look to these papers with a smile on my face. Instead of a tightness in my throat, my stomach kind of leaps with joy. The thought of seeing my family again, of sleeping in my own bed, of getting my face licked by my big Labrador Retriever (who was only a small puppy when I left), of being behind the wheel, bref - the thought of going home brings a sense of excitement, of accomplishment. In this scenario, it has nothing to do with having a bad day in France or even of my mood. It has to do with being away from home for ten months, and is completely normal, if you ask me.


I remember back in September, hugging my framed pictures of my family close to me, with tears streaming down my face. I remember sitting in philosophy class and saying to myself "imagine someone from home walking in to this classroom right this very instant." It was a torturous game I played with myself. I would look at the door and play the scene in my head, jumping up in the middle of class and running to them.
The homesickness faded, I became used to not seeing my family, to going to sleep without a goodnight kiss. I've become strong and independent, but boy will I be happy to be back in my family's arms.


So with these papers in mind and "practical information" in hand, I've found no reason to put off the thought of packing. After all, I remember the hassle that is caused for coming here!
I think the thought of leaving this life that has become my own; and knowing that soon I will have to readjust everything, from time zones to meal times to habits, plus the reverse culture shock that I'm anticipating, might all end up stressing me out a little bit. And so I'm going to control every bit of it that I can, starting with packing!
Once again, we're facing severe weight restrictions, but I actually don't think that they is going to cause a problem this time around. I did a test pack over the span of these past few days.
I started by separating the clothes and shoes that I intend to leave behind, which is already eliminating a huge portion of my belongings. Then, I went ahead and put the sweaters and coats in air-tight bags, seeing as though I am definitely done with those for a few months! The bottom of my suitcase was quickly filled up with souvenirs that I'm bringing back for my family, friends, and myself. The upper section is half full with two bags of winter clothes, leaving half the space for summer clothes. But considering the fact that I also have a smaller carry on suitcase, and a very large purse, I'm reassured that all the zippers will close, sans probleme!
And the best part is this all came out under the weight limit!
So how'd I do it? Besides the large amount of stuff that my heart is no longer attached to and is therefore being left behind, I'm mailing papers and my notebooks home. This took an XL orange box from the post office that cost me 50 euros, but worth every penny to have my French courses with me. 


Well, now that I've gotten that all off my chest, I think I'll go ahead and press play on this movie. Although, it's getting late and I already know how it ends. We learn that no matter how long you've known somebody, you may not actually know them after all.
Except what if we don't really know our own selves? And when have we really gotten to know somebody, anyway? Never, right? I mean, we're constantly growing and changing, so of course we never fully know someone.
Plus, in this movie, a huge factor in their breakup is the culture misunderstandings between the two main characters. And from personal experience, I think that people change a little bit when they are speaking a different language and living in a different country. They don't become someone else necessarily, but they are definitely altered. Their behavior adjusts to that of their country and it's culture.
Anyway, this last paragraph is completely incomprehensible if you haven't seen Two day in Paris, so I suggest you go watch it!


And for those of you who are incredibly attentive, yes this is one of the movies that I put of my list of French movies to find! I managed to check off five from the list today! I found them at a market that was in my village this afternoon. There were four tables covered with French films and I took my time sorting through them all. I started talking with the guy selling them. I explained that I wanted original French movies to bring back to the U.S with me. He gathered that they were for me to show to my French class and that I was a French teacher. I took this is a nice compliment, on both my French and the obvious error in age estimation. 
Normally, my village is too small to attract a market, but today we celebrated music at our very own fete de la musique. My friend and his band played before night fell, here's your own front row seat:

ps. I am aware that I have no singing voice!!! haha

Family Reunion

   I come from a small, tight-knit family. We're nine people in total, six of which live under the same roof. I love my family, and now I've come to love a new composition, the one that makes up my host family.  

   My favorite TV show is Parenthood which follows the life of a huge family, and my host family reminds me of that! Both parents have seven brothers and sisters, who now all have their own families. 

   I met my host dad's side of the family at a baptism in Paris a few months back. This past weekend was my host mom's family's turn. We hosted a reunion at our house for her siblings. But in addition to those brother and sisters, were their kids and wives and husbands. Needless to say, the house was bustling this weekend, full of energy, chatter and love. 

   For this one moment spent together, they traveled thousands of miles in trains and planes. They came all the way from Italy, Switzerland, New Caledonia, and from all over France.  

In preparation for the event, we set out a large umbrella by the pool, cleaned all the rooms, and made several trips to the grocery store and wine store. 

   A couple who is close with my host parents and owns the village pizzeria generously volunteered to do all the cooking for the night. With the exception of desserts, of course! Those were taken care of by me, and a few sisters who brought specialties from their corner of the world. We drank the aperitif and snacked by the pool before launching into the meal that would go on well past midnight.

I made cookies and a cheesecake for dessert!

   For weeks prior to this weekend, my host family was anxious to see everyone and eager for me to meet them all. I had heard a lot about each person, and I too was looking forward to putting a face to all the names. Even if I knew it would be hard to keep track of everyone! I was also a little awkward about it, though. I mean, these are all people that have known each other since their first moments on this earth. I suppose I felt as though I might be intruding on an important moment for them. But no one made me feel that way for one second. They welcomed me with open arms and showed an interest in me and even my own biological family.  

Four generations, different nationalities, one family

Countryside

What's new?

A few things that are happening or simply are on my mind this week! 

1. I spent last weekend cleaning the pool with my host family and opening it back up after the winter. We enjoyed ice tea with slices of lemon and sat with our feet dangling in the pool. Obviously, I'm pretty disgusted by the cold wind that has blown back in these past few days! I've even had to pull some warmer clothes out of my suitcase.
2. I've met a surprising amount of tourists in town these past few weeks. Almost every time I'm at the bar with my friends, we hear english at the table next to us. I love going up and saying hi. Introducing myself and hearing about their trip and their impression of my town. We share out outside views, but instead of a conversation between two travelers, it actually feels, to me, as if I'm a local talking to tourists. Most of the groups I talk to are doing a boat trip and sailing down the Saone, stopping at towns along the way.
3. Today we're hosting a big family reunion for my host mom's siblings, at my house. She has seven brothers and sisters, and they are coming from as far as New Caledonia! I spent the morning helping my host family clean up the house and now I have a cheesecake and several dozen cookies to bake! I'm excited to see everyone, some for the first time. But I know that when it's over and it's time to say good-bye, they will be real good-byes, complete with wishes of a safe return home. 
4. I skyped with my mom for the first time in awhile the other day; prompted by some problems with my credit card. We quickly solved that issue and got to talk for awhile which was good. We started making some of our summer plans concrete and I was assured a dentist, doctor, and eye appointment the week of my return... can't wait.
5. I've started the search for souvenirs for family and friends. I really should have taken care of this when I was in Paris, but I wasn't in the mind set for that back then! Which means that I'm now looking for things that say Paris, in Gray, France! Which actually isn't too hard to come across. I'm reserving a significant amount of space in my suitcases for souvenirs, and will end up leaving a lot of clothes behind.
6. I hosted my first sleepover in my new house this past week. My host mom offered to take me and Tina to Dole, Wednesday afternoon. She spent the night and took the bus to school with me Thursday morning. We had a great afternoon, walking around the streets of Dole, shopping and talking. We got ice cream cones, which took pretty long since the vendor was a big fan of the U.S and shared with us storys from his five trips over there! I was also able to buy my train tickets to Tournon at the train station! We stayed up pretty late talking and were exhausted in class Thursday. I had gym in the morning but I got through it knowing that is was my last gym class ever, ever, ever!!!

Me and Tina by the river in Dole!

On the way home, my host mom stopped at this Abbey near my village to show us around. She's a foot doctor and treats patients who are staying here.

Some other pictures from the week:
Monday morning, I went with some friends to get croissants before class. The boulangerie is across the street from the Mairie, where my host dad works. With the rain, I thought it was picture worthy.

My friend, Tina, stepped in dog poop, inevitable in France! 

It occurred to me that I've never posted a picture of my new school, so here it is!

And the pathway that we take to go into town:

My French Itunes Library

Last night, I spent a good moment with my host sister, exploring French multimedia. We made a list of my favorite French music that I've listened to, danced to and sung to, this year in France. It was important for me to write all of them down so that I can continue to enjoy them when I get home. I have a huge job ahead with updating my itunes library! We also noted a bunch of French movies. Some I had already seen before coming here, many I saw with friends at the movie theater or at home with my host family, and some I still need to watch for a first time! I want to start a collection of them on DVD so that I can pop them in at home and hear French! I thought I'd share these listes here in case anyone else is interested or wants to get a head start before their own year abroad, discovering French culture! 

French music

Shaka Ponk – palabra mi amor

                        I’m picky

Superbus - apprends moi

BB Brunes 

Louise attack- du monde toute autour

M Pokora- si tu pars

Gerard du palmas- l’etranger

Archimede- je prends

Chinatown-bateau de querelle

Mika - take it easy

Louise Attaque -J’temmene au vent

Oilivia ruiz - J’traine des pieds

Garou - I love Paris

Francis Cabrel - Je t’aimerais je t’aime je t’aimerai

Edith piaf – la vie en rose

Noir desir – le vent l’emportera

Nino ferrer – Mirza

Gaetan roussel -  dis moi encore que tu maimes

Indochine - j'ai demande a la lune

Gregory lemarchal -  sos d’un terrien en detresse

Carla Bruni

Stromae - alors on danse

French movies

Lauberge espagnole

Les Choristes
LOL
Intouchable
Tatie Danielle
L'arnacoeur
Marie Antoinette

Le diner de con

2 days in Paris

coco before chanel

La soupe au choux

Le pere noel est une ordure

Les bronzes font du ski

Les petits  mouchoirs

Bienvenue chez les chtis

L’aile ou la cuisse

Tanguy

Oss 117