It May Have Hit 60!

Yes, you heard it right! It may have actually hit 60 degrees Farenheit today! On the way home from school, we were admiring the sunny skies, and actually stopped (yes, it was warm enough to stop moving on the way home!), and peered over the bridge to look at the rushing river below us that we cross over each day on our way home. It was very beautiful. The water was so clear that you could see the rocks on the bottom. And while we stood there, we saw a beautiful little bird with a bright yellow belly and black/grey wings swoop over the water, land on a rock and being bathing. It reminded me of spring.

By the time we got home, and made lunch (tuna sandwich for Rob, faux hot dog sandwich and mandarin oranges for Karen), we decided to try sitting on our balcony. So we pulled out some folding chairs, put them in the sun, and indulged in the warmth! We really thing it may have been nearly 80 degrees in the direct sunlight, with a nice cool breeze. Ah! So nice! Please note, the beautiful blue skies!

Us on the balcony today, in short sleeves!

Cruisin!

Well, we're gonna be cruising the streets of Chambery soon, in our very own CAR! Yes, folks, we finally decided that it would be worth the time and money to buy a car for the remainder of our time in France. The number of times that we've trudged through the rain and snow to and from school, lugged whatever groceries we could hold in our arms and on our backs, fallen over on the bus after a sudden start, missed church because no busses run on Sundays, or paid way too much money for the ridiculously priced train tickets to other cities, we decided that it would be worth it.

Rob diligently began searching in the paper for a used car in our price range. The first day, we went and saw a 1995 Peugot 306 in midnight blue. It wasn't bad. It had 240,000 km on it, had only had two previous owners, the only major cosmetic problem was some stains on the seats, worn paint and the side-view mirror which was taped on with duct tape, but it was a solid car. The lady was very nice and even said we should come over to dinner some time, and practice French with her (even if we didn't buy the car). We were tempted to buy it just because she was so nice, but we were determined to not buy the first thing that we saw.

By the evening, we hadn't been able to see any other cars. Until at 6:30 I saw an ad that we hadn't called yet, for a car 2 years newer and 200 euros cheaper! We went for a rendez-vous at 7:30pm to see this lovely 1997 Ford Escort Sport. It had no major mechanical problems, it was very well kept, had only 90,000 km on it, and came with a set of snow tires, and a brand new set of summer tires! We took it for a test drive and it ran like a champ! By 8:00pm we had made an offer, and now, we own this wonderful car! The improvements in the conditions of the car mean that we can hopefully sell it for close to what we bought it for when we leave next January!

Karen next to the new beaut!















Sweet side shot















Yes, we now have a European licsence plate!

Things I Miss From America

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!

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?

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!