Though Thanksgiving this year may not have included the same traditions as back home, the sentiment of enjoying the company of others and recognizing all I have to be thankful for was certainly still there. Difference #1: As the French don't celebrate Thanksgiving there obviously wasn't any break from school or the usual daily grind. Instead of lounging around in PJs all morning watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with my sibings, I was up bright and early and headed off to my teaching internship. This internship is one experience that I feel truly blessed to have. Throughout the semester I have had mixed feelings about it- It's not something I dread going to, but I just haven't been super enthusiastic about the placement. Anyways, yesterday I had the perfect combo, one group of 7 students who were very attentive and most of them eager to participate, and the next class 29 unmotivated and talkative guys. Feeling slightly defeated afterwards, I was surprised when the teacher told me that I was very patient and passionate and that I would be a great teacher. Also in talking with the main teacher I work with, I realized how thankful I am for this experience, even if it doesn't seem like I am making a huge impact or getting too much out of it (besides a more confident, firm teacher voice haha. but seriosuly)
After teaching I went for a run along a creek, though the forest that's not far from my house. It is lovely and very peaceful. I haven't been able to run as much as I would have liked to because of lots of work, but a test and a bunch of papers were turned in earlier in the week so I have a bit more free time! (Complete tangent... a highlight from my translationn exam.. Lots of words I didn't know in one section where it was describing a city, but I thought I recognized the word "goffre" = waffle but in fact it was the word "gouffre" = abyss. So I'm certain that my prof got a good laugh out of me making comparisons of the layout of the city and waffle squares...)
Anyways, continuing with Thanksgiving, my school IES put on a thanksgiving dinner for us students, the professors, and our host parents. It was at a nice restaurant. Very classy with hors d'oeuvres, aperatifs, the whole deal. It was really fun to see everyone really dressed up and the ambiance of the whole soirée was really great. The food was not too bad, but not like back home. The most disappointing was the pumpkin pie (which doesn't typically exist here so I'm not sure what they used to try and replicate it) but luckily there was also a delicious chocolate cake to make up for it : ) During dessrt, there was a petit animation and some friends and I sang and played 2 songs for some entertainment. I played piano and sang. It may not have been perfect, but we had a ball. During the second piece, "Aux champs Elysées" we got everyone singing along with us during the chorus. It was super! So in conclusion: Soiréé in general= very classy and nice. Food- pretty good, just not thanksgiving. Performing- so fun.
My Thanksgiving didn't end there! I headed up to Brest in Bretagne to visit Sarah and Pete, 2 friends from Luther. Sarah and I made a full on Thanksgiving Dinner to serve to 14 of her friends. Terry the Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato purée, veggies, pumpkin and apple pie. In between cooking, Sarah took me to the coast (a 20 minute drive) to see the ocean and take a crèpe. It was incredible beautiful and cold, but sunny. : ) Saturday night it snowed! which is not to common around here. and even more crazy it was thundering and lightninging while snowing- something I have never withnessed before. Our dinner was a grand succès. The food turned out. We somehow weren't too stressed for time to get everything done. The French people enjoyed learning about the holiday and bravely trying everything we served them. Met lots of fun people and got to speak a LOT of French.
Though I am back to work again this week, I thoroughly enjoyed the various ways that I got to celebrate Thanksgiving. Yes, some of the traditions weren't present, but the sentiment and realisation of all I am thankful for is definitly still there.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A quick update
Hello hello hello! I'm sorry it has been quite a long time since I've written. My excuses: midterms and lots of papers, traveling around Europe, and as of 3 weeks ago a broken computer. Unfortunatley, because of the computer deal I am unable to post any more fabulous pictures (which are piling up on my camera!) until I get back to the States and with limited computer use at school and my host home I am not able to update this too ofthen.
But anyways, here are a few highlights of the past month:
Music: I was missing listening and making music that is not at all hard to find in Jenson back at Luther. Luckily, some other music-deprived students in my program and I have gotten together at least once a week to jam. We will be playing a few songs for our Thanksgiving Dinner Soirée that my program is putting on. I also was invited by some French friends to a concert at a local bar a few weeks ago. It was really great! They're called Pushka- describe themeselves as punk, ska, jazz. It was your basic bass/ guitar/ drums/ vocals/ plus a trumpet and an accordian. Unique combo. VERY talented musicians. My friends assured me that they will be famous someday : )
London: Spent 5 days (over Halloween weekend) in London. It was a beautiful city. I see now why my sister Rene loves it so much! Some highlights: A free walking tour of the city centre area, Wimbeldon, a stroll through Hyde Park (my hostel was less than a block away!), an elaborate Indian dinner, and a day in Salisbury exploring the cathedral, Stonehenge, and Old Sarum.
Switzerland: I did a quick weekend trip to Geneva. Frist because we found a cheap filght and secondly, because my good friend from my program has some family friends there who we stayed with. The weather was incredible! Upper 60s and sunny, I was wearing a t-shirt in switwerland in November. It was a very peaceful relaxing weekend. We visited the cathedral, walked along the lake and through several parks, attempted to visit the UN office, found out that they aren't open on Saturdays, and decided to do a boat tour of Lake Geneva instead. Staying with the family was particularily nice. They made us fondue the first dinner, a classic swiss meal. Geneva is not the most hopping city, lots of banks, very expensive shops (in fact everything there is expensive,) international folks, and workers. After dinner each night, we talked with the family and then had time to read, catch up on homework, etc.
Well, it's time to go so I make it home in time for dinner. Though I won't be able to write to you often, know that I think of you often and hope you are all doing well as this fall is flying by§
Much love,
Hannah
But anyways, here are a few highlights of the past month:
Music: I was missing listening and making music that is not at all hard to find in Jenson back at Luther. Luckily, some other music-deprived students in my program and I have gotten together at least once a week to jam. We will be playing a few songs for our Thanksgiving Dinner Soirée that my program is putting on. I also was invited by some French friends to a concert at a local bar a few weeks ago. It was really great! They're called Pushka- describe themeselves as punk, ska, jazz. It was your basic bass/ guitar/ drums/ vocals/ plus a trumpet and an accordian. Unique combo. VERY talented musicians. My friends assured me that they will be famous someday : )
London: Spent 5 days (over Halloween weekend) in London. It was a beautiful city. I see now why my sister Rene loves it so much! Some highlights: A free walking tour of the city centre area, Wimbeldon, a stroll through Hyde Park (my hostel was less than a block away!), an elaborate Indian dinner, and a day in Salisbury exploring the cathedral, Stonehenge, and Old Sarum.
Switzerland: I did a quick weekend trip to Geneva. Frist because we found a cheap filght and secondly, because my good friend from my program has some family friends there who we stayed with. The weather was incredible! Upper 60s and sunny, I was wearing a t-shirt in switwerland in November. It was a very peaceful relaxing weekend. We visited the cathedral, walked along the lake and through several parks, attempted to visit the UN office, found out that they aren't open on Saturdays, and decided to do a boat tour of Lake Geneva instead. Staying with the family was particularily nice. They made us fondue the first dinner, a classic swiss meal. Geneva is not the most hopping city, lots of banks, very expensive shops (in fact everything there is expensive,) international folks, and workers. After dinner each night, we talked with the family and then had time to read, catch up on homework, etc.
Well, it's time to go so I make it home in time for dinner. Though I won't be able to write to you often, know that I think of you often and hope you are all doing well as this fall is flying by§
Much love,
Hannah
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