So I've been missing home a lot recently. Why? I don't really know, but maybe because I've been sick for two weeks now, literally on the couch sleeping eight hours each day. It's not fun. So I guess I've been thinking about all the comforts of home, things that you wish you had to make you feel better when you're sick, that just aren't available here, or aren't available in the form you're used to. Here is a list of things that I've come up with that may be surprising that we can't find here:
- Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (with sliced hot dogs added!)
- Hot Dogs
- Dole Canned Mandarin Oranges
- Tylenol
- Muffin Mixes
- Cake Mixes
- Frozen biscuits
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Baskin Robbins
- Cilantro
- Old movies in English (Blockbuster!)
- The Today Show
- Yummy, Non-Expensive Restaurants with Greasy Food (Chili's, Chevy's, Red Robbins, El Torito, El Pollo Loco, Subway, Blimpies, BJ's, Chipotle, etc.)
- In-N-Out
- Frozen Chicken
- Hot-N-Spicy Cheez-It's
- Wheat Thins
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Cheddar Cheese
- SUN and WARMTH!!!
- the Beach
- Having a Car and not having to walk 30 minutes in 10 degree weather to get to your doctor's appointment
- Having a Car and not having to get back on your bike in 10 degree weather on your way home from your Friday night date
- Pepperoni
- Canned Frosting
- Hot Pockets
- Russett Potatoes
- Pretzels
- Ranch Dressing
- Having a choice of a million different cereals
- Instant Oatmeal
- Familiar English Radio Stations
- Palm Trees
- Did I say SUN?
- Barnes and Noble
- TARGET!
- J.Crew
- Church in English
- Zatarran's Jambalaya and Cheese Rice Mix (mmm!)
- Gatorade
- Saltine Crackers
- Malls
- Freeways
- Friends
- Real Peanut Butter (not the sticky French kind)
- College Ruled Lined Notebooks
- Mom's Home Cooking
- Chocolate Chips (except mom brought me a 6lb. bag at Christmas!)
- Reality Television
- Bagels and Cream Cheese
- Trail Mix
- Mom, Dad, Kevin and Abby (our cute little English Cocker)
- Cellphones
- Superbowl, Basketball, other American sports on TV
- English
- Home!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Reasons You Wished You Live in France
So, here in France, they have this thing called "The Pause." The pause is a not very short lunch break. At around 12 noon until about 2pm (although it can fluctuate depending on the store or office) everyone goes home to have lunch. What else people do at this time, I have no idea. I mean, I like to sit for a long time over a nice sandwich, but 2 hours!
But today when we were walking home from school, we decided to stop and pick up a baguette for lunch. We stopped in at a Boulangerie (pronounced: "Boolangairee") and bought two small baguettes famous for their crunchy, bites-you-back outside, and their soft, I-want-to-get-inside-the-baguette inside. On the way back we passed 5 friends, all heading to some sort of lunch engagement with friends. A nice way to spend the middle two hours of your day in sunny Chambery today. As we walked up to our apartment, I realized that the parking lot was full, and there was a mass retreat into the buildings, all the people having left behind their stressful work days to take a nice lunch with their loved ones, or simply read the paper and take a nap.
The pause hours here are sacred. You don't call someone during the pause. You wouldn't dare bother them. And don't try getting anything done during the pause, since all the stores and offices will be closed, except for a few boulangeries who have the ominous task of feeding all the hungry people. It's kind of like forced rest. Seriously, even if you wanted to be productive during this time, it would be pretty difficult! So do as the French!!
Oh, and don't forget about the "Goutee". That little practice happens around 5 o'clock (work ends around 6). The goutee is a short break in which people eat a snack, which should consist of something chocolate. This could include a chocolate truffle or candy, but more commonly consists of croissants with little bits of chocolate in it (called pain au chocolat), buttery wafers with chocolate chips, or a piece of toast with "Nutella" spread on it. You may have seen Nutella in the states. It's the European peanut butter, but instead of peanuts, it is a chocolate-hazelnut spread. Mmmmm! Don't you wish you lived in France?
But today when we were walking home from school, we decided to stop and pick up a baguette for lunch. We stopped in at a Boulangerie (pronounced: "Boolangairee") and bought two small baguettes famous for their crunchy, bites-you-back outside, and their soft, I-want-to-get-inside-the-baguette inside. On the way back we passed 5 friends, all heading to some sort of lunch engagement with friends. A nice way to spend the middle two hours of your day in sunny Chambery today. As we walked up to our apartment, I realized that the parking lot was full, and there was a mass retreat into the buildings, all the people having left behind their stressful work days to take a nice lunch with their loved ones, or simply read the paper and take a nap.
The pause hours here are sacred. You don't call someone during the pause. You wouldn't dare bother them. And don't try getting anything done during the pause, since all the stores and offices will be closed, except for a few boulangeries who have the ominous task of feeding all the hungry people. It's kind of like forced rest. Seriously, even if you wanted to be productive during this time, it would be pretty difficult! So do as the French!!
Oh, and don't forget about the "Goutee". That little practice happens around 5 o'clock (work ends around 6). The goutee is a short break in which people eat a snack, which should consist of something chocolate. This could include a chocolate truffle or candy, but more commonly consists of croissants with little bits of chocolate in it (called pain au chocolat), buttery wafers with chocolate chips, or a piece of toast with "Nutella" spread on it. You may have seen Nutella in the states. It's the European peanut butter, but instead of peanuts, it is a chocolate-hazelnut spread. Mmmmm! Don't you wish you lived in France?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The Beginning of Karen's Blogging
Well, I've never really blogged before, but all my friends were doing it, so I thought I'd join in! I'll just go ahead and start from this week. I'll consider it my New Year's resolution!
This week we started our 3 school session. The sessions here go by months. At the beginning of each month, you take a placement test and get placed in the appropriate level. Well, somehow, I was placed in the first level in November, the third level in December, and level six this month. I questioned the jump the first time, and this time I laughed at it. Don't misread, it's not because I've learned so much French and am excelling so far! Anyway, I tried three days of classes and decided this type of challenge (imagine taking French 4 when you only know how to say "Bonjour") is not my learning style. So tomorrow, I will move two levels down and see how that works out for me.
Last weekend, Rob and I took a fun trip to Lyon. It is the second largest city in France (second to Paris, of course), and is only about an hour and a half away from us by train. Rob and I left early in the morning to catch the train, and arrived in Lyon around 10:30am. We visited a beautiful Basilica that was at the highest point in Lyon. It had a panoramic view of the city and beautiful carvings and stained glass windows (sorry, we left our camera at home, so no pics!). We then ate our lunch that we brought from home, by the Rhone river. We walked through a Saturday market and bought some beignets (French donuts, which, contrary to popular belief, are actually not very prevalent at all around here!). Then, the sun came out and warmed us up so much that we even took off our jackets and gloves. We found a little outdoor ice skating rink, and had fun sliding all over the ice. It was nice to not have to think about school or work, or moving or anything for a little while (we even turned off our cell phone the whole day!). Then we walked around some shops and we even found a big mall where we went shopping and even found a GAP. But it was a bit pricey here.
After that we went to a movie theatre where we watched an American movie called "The Holiday" that we had found was playing in "version original" (English with French subtitles). We loved being able to see a movie in English, and it was actually a really funny movie too. After that we found a yummy Mexican restaurant (none of those in Chambery yet) and ordered guacamole, tacos and chimichangas. But right then, we realized that our last train back to Chambery was going to leave in thirty minutes and we were quite far from the train station. So, we asked for to go boxes (not common here, but they had them!), and sprinted to the bus and to the station, and made it with about 1 minute to spare. We walked home from the Chambery station in the rain, and then watched the end of a soccer match on TV. It was a nice and relaxing day that we really needed before classes started again! Pictures to come soon!
This week we started our 3 school session. The sessions here go by months. At the beginning of each month, you take a placement test and get placed in the appropriate level. Well, somehow, I was placed in the first level in November, the third level in December, and level six this month. I questioned the jump the first time, and this time I laughed at it. Don't misread, it's not because I've learned so much French and am excelling so far! Anyway, I tried three days of classes and decided this type of challenge (imagine taking French 4 when you only know how to say "Bonjour") is not my learning style. So tomorrow, I will move two levels down and see how that works out for me.
Last weekend, Rob and I took a fun trip to Lyon. It is the second largest city in France (second to Paris, of course), and is only about an hour and a half away from us by train. Rob and I left early in the morning to catch the train, and arrived in Lyon around 10:30am. We visited a beautiful Basilica that was at the highest point in Lyon. It had a panoramic view of the city and beautiful carvings and stained glass windows (sorry, we left our camera at home, so no pics!). We then ate our lunch that we brought from home, by the Rhone river. We walked through a Saturday market and bought some beignets (French donuts, which, contrary to popular belief, are actually not very prevalent at all around here!). Then, the sun came out and warmed us up so much that we even took off our jackets and gloves. We found a little outdoor ice skating rink, and had fun sliding all over the ice. It was nice to not have to think about school or work, or moving or anything for a little while (we even turned off our cell phone the whole day!). Then we walked around some shops and we even found a big mall where we went shopping and even found a GAP. But it was a bit pricey here.
After that we went to a movie theatre where we watched an American movie called "The Holiday" that we had found was playing in "version original" (English with French subtitles). We loved being able to see a movie in English, and it was actually a really funny movie too. After that we found a yummy Mexican restaurant (none of those in Chambery yet) and ordered guacamole, tacos and chimichangas. But right then, we realized that our last train back to Chambery was going to leave in thirty minutes and we were quite far from the train station. So, we asked for to go boxes (not common here, but they had them!), and sprinted to the bus and to the station, and made it with about 1 minute to spare. We walked home from the Chambery station in the rain, and then watched the end of a soccer match on TV. It was a nice and relaxing day that we really needed before classes started again! Pictures to come soon!
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