ma promenade préférée

I head to the beach often, and often think that the buildings there are really unattractive and it must have been a pretty coast before these buildings... Then I remember that there is a history behind the not-so beautiful architecture. Much of Boulogne, especially along by the port, was destroyed during WWII and was hastily rebuilt during the 50's. So when I think that its a shame they've made an otherwise beautiful coast so drab, it reminds me of the connection between this area and World War II.

Recently though I walked farther past the beach, and saw there's a path all the way to Wimereux (and beyond to Calais I hear) where you can see a more natural coast, la Cote D'Opale as they call it here in France. It's simply beautiful! The "bad" weather here makes it even more picturesque I've grown to believe.

Happy Thanksgiving from France

Our fellow English assistant from the U.S., Sabrina, came by last night and brought her students artwork from her class about Thanksgiving... love the one on the bottom left, they just didn't quite get the idea. We decided to celebrate Thanksgiving by doing the same, it was a first for Marieke but judging by her artwork I think she can be an honorary American.

A weekend of traditions and local specialties

Le weekend dernier, c'etait super. On Friday evening, I got to experience a French tradition of wine tastings and fetes for the Beaujolais nouveau. Everyone was quick to tell me its not a good French wine, but its a fun tradition. There was a "fete de Beaujolais nouveau" in the teachers lounge at my lycee with a lot of wine, and even more delicious spreads, meats, and bread. It seems that almost all the schools have wine tastings for the teachers. And all the restaurants serve it, you can see many signs:

Its celebrated because this wine, which comes from the Beaujolais region north of Lyon, is only good for a very, very short time. (Wikipedia [sorry Mom] tells me the region is administratively considered to be a part of Burgundy, but the climate is closer the Rhone, so therefore is considered its own region, the vice principal may have also told me this but my French is still far from perfect so I didn't catch his entire talk.) It's released the third Thursday of November, and apparently it's just a big deal all over France even though no one is that wild about the wine. One teacher told me its also really popular in Japan, besides France.

The following night I enjoyed a local specialty that I keep hearing about, called Welsh. Delicious. Its hard to describe but essentially it's bread battered in beer, toasted, and served in a cheddar cheese sauce (cheese is just one ingrediant not sure what else it has), with a fried egg. Or if you get a Welsh complet, like me, it also has ham. Fries are a really important side, so you can dip them in all that cheesey sauce. Bon appetit.

Rendez-vous with the ambassador

Yesterday I travelled through The Worst Weather Ever Known to the North of France, in order to go to Lille to meet the new American ambassador to France. Other attendees were impressed that I came from Boulogne Sur Mer in the weather, but I've realized that if you let cold, heavy rain, and strong winds keep you at home, you will very rarely ever leave home in Boulogne Sur Mer. I was not disappointed with the afternoon with the Ambassador either.



Ambassador Rivken was newly appointed and wanted to meet Americans in the area, so I had the unique opportunity to sit with him and other Americans and interested French people, about 50 in all. He has a career mainly in entertainment but he seems to play the diplomat's role really well. He wasn't a 'yes-man,' and attempted not to be partisan, and overall a very interesting speaker... He didn't prepare any words but I was still so impressed with his direction and clarity and ease. After his introduction, I was delighted with his deep responses to what I thought were stupid questions from the audience members! One girl was upset with France, the country or the government not sure, because English movies are dubbed more often than not. Of all the issues in the world, and this is what she brings up. But he responded that cultural imperialism is an interesting topic, but in fact its most likely not the French government but the movie companies that choose to have them dubbed as opposed to subtitles because they desire countries to feel that the movie is their own, made in their own country.

Another highlight came when a French woman, with a slight British accent asked to read a statement, and continued with a most eloquent little speech about what she has learned from America and why she loves this country and the pioneer spirit... I wish I had a copy but the Ambassador did get one and said he'll quote her in the future. One boy complained that American language assistants could only work 12 hours a week and not have a 2nd job, a restriction not imposed on EU language assistants. The same French lady said that as French assistants in England they were forced to work 12 hours a week and could not work less.



It was really an enlightening afternoon about international politics, diplomacy, and a nice interaction between French and Americans. But a trip to Lille has to involve some kind of sweet treat to be truly worthwhile, so on this rainy, cold afternoon I enjoyed a steaming hot gaufre au nutella, and returned home happily, though drenched, to Boulogne.
I can't tell you good these are, so I'll leave it at that.

A perfect petite boutique in the Old Town

I would have LOVED this little boutique when I was a little girl. I don't know why but everytime I walk in I think of being 3 years old and going shopping with Gigi. I've loved shopping, especially with my grandmother, since forever. And who am I kidding, I think I enjoy this little boutique today as much as I would have as a little girl!from the chandeliers to the bunnies, tres mignonne...

Mes amis, les assistants

Mi amigos! (Richard, Julia, mi, y Marieke) A Mexican restaurant in Boulogne! The food isn't very Mexican and the decor is definitely American Old West, but my fajitas had the freshest shrimp I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant (can't overcome my tendancy to order shrimp at Mexican restaurants.) And now I know where to go if I'm missing Nashville and Meaghan or craving country music, however funny to hear at a Mexican resaurant.

"Home sweet home." It looks a little like a prison from the outside, but we think of Lycee Mariette as home sweet home. Disclaimer; we said lets look serious in this picture then preceeded to smile, except for Richard who thought we meant it.

La Toussaint

La Toussaint two week holiday has come and gone, and it was a wonderful one. The first weekend I fell in love with Paris, where Mareike and I walked all over the city to see the sights. Paris can make a rainy fall afternoon stunning. People always have such opposite views of the city (friendly people/rude people, wonderful city/nothing special) that I was really looking forward to finding out which camp I'd fall in. I knew within minutes of arriving though, that the people and the city are fantastich (picking up some German hanging out with Mareike.)

The next 10 days I spent in Egypt where I saw pyramids, temples, monastaries, the Nile, the Red Sea, the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, the Sphinx and more. It was an exceptional experience... really the best way to see a new country is to stay with people from the area. I got to experience the real Egypt. It's a beautiful country, with crazy driving (lanes mean nothing, no lights at night, honking the horn for everything), lots of delicious food, and incredibly friendly people. They really know the art of talking in Egypt, to be sure. Cairo is crowded and noisy unlike anywhere I've been. Pharaonic Egypt is amazing to see in person, but it just makes it harder to believe it at the same time.

Now its back to my relatively quiet life in Boulogne Sur Mer. This morning I celebrated being back by going to the Sunday morning market by the beach and buying the most delicious strawberries I've ever tasted; I wish Suzanne could try them she'd appreciate them even more than me! The man at the strawberry stand let me taste first, probably knowing I'd have to buy them after tasting them. He picked out the smaller strawberries in my container and replaced them with the best looking ones from others. Return customer right here!

Finally the other assistants and I just returned from This is It, the movie about Michael Jackson's last concert. It was a packed house! Its part of American pop culture the French love... I find it so funny.