Oh hey blog heyyyyy

So much to update on before I have to "actually, really, no, seriously" start studying for finals. Because, you know, finals here are all that my grade will be based on.

Dear wonderful friend that sent me the card (you know who you are), I miss you and love you and the card is now on my wall making me very, very, very happy.

So... November. It feels as though yesterday was Halloween, but that is very much not the case. A lot happened. Good golly did a lot happen. I will pare it down for you though to: Revisiting Brittany! and THANKSGIVING for 20!!!

I'm kind of tired, though, seeing as it is 2h14 here so I'll present this in pictures:

Yay Breton coast! Mmm sea air. 

Hello Atlantic, I've missed you. Pokoù. 

Fantastically good home-cooked French meal. Nomnomnom. The family with whom I stayed knows I love duck, so they made me a classic French dish with the pork switched out for confit de canard. Holy shit, best meal ever?

Fest-Noz Quéven 2012! It was great to be back and to see everyone and to dance like a Breton. 

My dear Canadian friend and I had a photo shoot in the streets of Lorient. Guess what, it was a Sunday. That is why there was NO ONE else around. 

When I got back, I started cooking and baking. This is the apple pie I made (entirely from scratch), please note the apple shaped bit in the middle. It looks burned here, but it wasn't. It was fantastic. 

There were 20 of us total, I was the only American. I made 4 roast chickens, stuffing, cornbread, a sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce (soooo goooood), sautéed green beans with pink onions and 4 pies (1 apple, 1 pumpkin and, of course, 2 derby pies). The French adored the sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and derby pies. Proud to say that two of those things had bourbon in them. Just doing my part for the Kentucky economy by making new populations love Bourbon. 

My room (where the eating happened), during a brief moment after a few of the guests had arrived but had been moved into the kitchen. I would post pictures from when everyone was in the room, but I try not to post pictures of other people so... sorry. 

So many bags. 

Aftermath, after the guests had left. 

So much food to figure out what to do with. 

My wonderful flatmate N and I put everything away and cleaned all the dishes. This may be my favorite picture as it represents a night well finished. 

Food for WEEKS. 

I was pretty pleased with myself for defleshing the chicken the next day and using the carcasses to make stock. I had no idea how gelatinous home-made chicken stock is. Fascinating. 

I hope that you all had wonderful Thanksgivings (even if you're not American/Canadian). 

I am so thankful to be back in France, to have a wonderfully supportive family who is encouraging me to have this adventure and to have amazing friends who put up with my inability to keep in contact. 

Much love, 

MCJ

Happy Halloween!!!!

The candy bowl, post-trick or treaters. Yeah, you read that right. 

Starting a couple weeks ago, my Leclerc put out bags of candy at the front. Could it be? Bonbons for a Strasbourg Halloween? I got really excited until I remembered that I would probably not be in town for Halloween, given that Halloween naturally falls during the Toussaint vacation (when I had planned to be visiting friends elsewhere).

Well, plans get made and then plans change. Last minute, I had to change my travel schedule and that change meant I could no longer afford the Ryanair flights to take me to the UK. That sucked, but it was probably for the best because: (1) the generous, sharing child that I babysit passed on his fever/malady and it hit in full force the first day of Toussaint, (2) I saved money, (3) I got to see GORGEOUS snow in Strasbourg and (4) (probably the most important) it has given me time to work on a bunch of school things I'd been putting off. We're now past the halfway point of the semester and I'm probably quite a bit further behind on my reading than I care to admit (it doesn't help that every time I read the reading for a class on time, the professor acts under the assumption that no one has read it yet. It's confusing).

I also got to babysit today. Knowing that I'd be babysitting on Halloween, I decided I would buy some candy and a little extra, just in case there were trick or treaters. Babysitting was a lot of fun (I should write more about that at some point, but nothing is certain with me and getting things posted). Just fyi, the kid would be batman for Halloween if he ever did Halloween. And apparently he could've.

Tonight around 7:30pm, I had begun to despair that any trick or treaters would come. I knew from last year, that sometimes the trick or treaters here (and they are not a common occurrence) go into open businesses to ask for candy. I put out the bowl seen above by the front door for my flatmates when they would get back from work/Toussaint. I was a little sad, but not too sad, because on my way home I saw the great sapin de Noël (Christmas tree) of Strasbourg getting put up in Place Kléber. Screw Halloween, it's already Christmas time in la capitale de Noël (the capital of Christmas). Seriously, next to the paltry display of possible Halloween candy were a bajillion advent calendars and the start of a little Christmas toy section.

Le sapin de Noël

So, anyway, I was prepped for a lack of Halloween on my street. A little after giving up, I heard voices in the street. Children's voices. Could it be? Charlie Brown and Linus, could it BE? So when out on the street there arose such a clatter, that I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter! Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 

And what did I see? The most beautiful sight of all (okay, not really), children dressed up for Halloween. Sadly, they were down the street and walking the wrong direction. So I felt sad again, now convinced that all the children were just going to centre-ville to trick or treat there. Just in case, though, I left my window open. 

After messaging a friend that I thought I had missed my opportunity to give out candy, I heard voices anew! I looked out the window and, sure enough, there were dressed up kids leaving next door! So I ran to mine.  Opening the door, I was greeted with a "BONSOIR!" TRICK OR TREATERS! I was so pleased. After that, there was only another group. But I didn't really care, I was just so happy to help French kids have a Halloween somewhat similar to those of my childhood. 

Since it's 9:20pm now, I'm guessing the trick or treating is over. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted. Now, back to work. 

Bisous, mes amis, and a VERY happy Halloween to you all!!!

MCJ

La maison rose

And now for some pictures of my new city:

 Strasbourg is a very bike-friendly city.

Spotted: an American flag.

Alsacian folk dancing. 

A little tribute to Alsatian wines. While I was here, a man came up and tasted one of the grapes from the vine. He did not seem to care for it.  

Things can feel pretty deserted on Sundays. 

And now for pictures of the room!

Ikea chic (though my bed is actually from some similar -- undoubtedly cheaper -- German brand).  

Towels hanging everywhere because I don't yet know how to use the washing machine/dryer. Please note my excellent view of un camping, aka, an RV. Also note my Breton cuisine recipe cloths hanging on the wall. They bring a nice little pop and remind me of my wonderful time in Brittany. 

I'm feeling pretty lucky, camping and all. 

MCJ