Catching Up

Wow, so much has happened since I last posted.

Well, I never wrote about our trip to Dijon.  It was very nice and relaxing.  We ate snails and boeuf bourguignon and bought wine for Christmas.  I consider the people of Dijon to be very French--almost more French than the people in Lorraine.  I don't know why, they just look like it.

And yes, we bought lots of mustard :)

Luckily, it was slightly warmer than it was in Luxembourg, so we went walking in some vineyards around Beaune.  We also bought some wine there.  When the proprietor of the wine shop found out we were American, he was very happy to show off his English.  He was ecstatic when we complimented him on his accent.

 When we were passing by vineyards on our way from Dijon to Beaune, I kept thinking to myself "Wow, their corn is brown and they really cut it tall!"  Then I realized I wasn't looking at corn.  Silly Illinois girl!

 I have a collection of organ pictures from around Europe that I am slowly adding to.  Organs like these really shake the church when the organist "pulls out all the stops".

  Typical Dijon

I think it's so cute when French people speak English with me.  At first, I was offended, thinking that my French wasn't good enough for them.  But then I realized that they wanted to show me how well they speak (which is a very cute, French thing to do).  Plus, it gives them the opportunity to practice.  It's not something Americans would do at all.  (Therein lies the charm of the French people--in their pride.  Not a single one of them would speak badly about their country.  To all of them, France is the greatest nation on earth.)

Then, when I got home, Laura and two other assistants, Anna and Suzie, came to visit me in Verdun.  We had a wonderful time cooking and going to see the monuments around Armistice day.

On Armistice day itself, I went to Mass at the Cathedral and was surprised to find a crowd of people carrying flags.  After Mass, we processed out of the church and to the Memorial of Victory in the center of town to get this flame out of the crypt.  I realized that they were taking the flame on foot to the Douaumont (tomb).  I ended up just going home instead.

Then classes began again.  It was nice to see my students again.  Some of them really like me, and others are afraid of me (or, afraid to speak English, rather).  I have to say, I was very proud of them for remembering as much as they did after a vacation (Although, one kid asked me how old I was instead of "how are you?".  I'm sure I did the exact same thing when I was learning French.)

Then on Monday night I went to a French dinner again.  This time we had raclette, which is a special kind of cheese melted over potatoes and charcutrie (meat?).  It's probably my favorite French meal so far because it seesm to be the kind of thing normal French people eat every day.  This time we spoke mostly in English because I was helping one of the Patricks with some vocabulary for an interview.  But, yet again, we left very late and I had to get up early the next morning.  One of the teachers told me that with Philippe, it's always like this.  I don't really mind, but I'm still tired!!

Now, to some teaching, some lesson planning, some trip reserving, and some novel writing!

Ciao,
Mary