Bruay-La-Buissiere

I awoke even earlier than yesterday; today I thuded my way out of bed downstairs to breakfast at six! Normally, I would have slept in at least for another half hour, but I still needed time to take a shower since I hope never to know what the mix of greasy hair and bangs looks like on me. So, at 7h40 I hopped in the car with Sabine and headed off to school. No, my winter break has not yet finished! Rather, I attended Sabine's school in Bruay for Les Travaux Publics. All that means is that Sabine's students go on after school to work in the technical and or construction world. So, I gave my mini-presentation on the USofA and answered questions like whether or not I am a cheerleader. After the two hour class finished, two of the students (One of whom resembled a Backstreet Boy!) showed me around the campus including the six-person dorm rooms and the room with all of the heavy machinery. Once the tour had finished, I went and presented my same powerpoint to a group of a-little-bit-older guys. Note: all of these students are BTS, or post BAC (post-grad) and are spending their vacation in school because they are in alternance, meaning that they spend three months studying and the following three months working and doing internships.

For lunch, Sabine and I went to Saed and Lizette's home to eat Yugoslavian cuisine! Sabine thought that four more hours of school would be too long and monotonous for me, so I stayed with Lizette. She and I rode bikes over to the pool, swam for an hour or so, and returned on the bikes.

Les Boves

This morning I woke up at seven to go over to the Pecqueurs. I originally thought that I was going to accompany Heloise to a horse competition. I quickly learned that instead we were going to Christophe's soccer game in Vermelles. I enjoyed meeting all of his soccer friends, but Christophe ended up driving me back at half-time around eleven because he thought it was too cold for me.
This afternoon, we all went to Arras. First, we decided to go up to the top of the Beffroi. Mathilde, Pierre, and I decided to climb the steps. We soon realized that the steps only went up half way up the tower, so we had to redescend and take the elevator. Then we visited the Boves of Arras. The etymology of the word bove has been lost over time, but the boves were originally used as chalk mines, then they turned into underground food cellars. Now, the tunnels are open for guided visits. After our tour, we tasted two specialties of Arras: des Coeurs d'Arras (a gingerbread, heart-shaped cookie) and chocolate rats.
Tonight, I saw, for the second time, the movie Rien a Declarer. It's the tipe of movie that I would most likely dislike if it were in English, but because it is in French, I love it. Everything (if I understand it) is funnier in French.

The 7 Year-Old Godfather

This past evening, Nadine's godfather, who is seven years her elder, came over with his wife and two daughters to dine with us. As a French teacher, I guess that he assumed that six months does not suffice for me to comprehend the language, so he talked especially slowly just so I could understand. Other than that, he was super nice. When he arrived, he came with a book about the region for me. I have not yet had much time to read it, but after briefly flipping the pages, I'm excited to start it!
The low point of the evening happened for me at the beginning. My obsession with drinking water has been an ongoing joke for all of my host families. Tonight, though, when I reached for the bottle, I accidentally knocked over and broke a glass of champagne, spilling the alcohol all over Mathilde's new tights.
Apparently, children are not required to stay at the table during the meal once they have finished eating, so Marie, Sophie, Mathilde, Pierre, and I hung out upstairs most of the night until they left at around two this morning.
'Gotta love those French meals!

Une Demie-Annee

Happy Six Monthiversary, France!

I Think I've Lost Count...

The stomache-bug has once again found its way back in my life. Joy.

Bethune

Today I went to Bethune for the first time! Vermelles is conveniently situated smack dab in the middle of Bethune and Lens. I don't know why I have never been before, but there really is no great difference between the two towns. Plus, according to Philippe, it takes at least twice as long to reach Bethune due to traffic. Everyone did his or her own thing while in Bethune. Mathilde and I walked around in the shops and made fun of oddly-dressed passer-bys.

Stellaaaaaa!

This morning we all went to the Marche du Touquet. I love going to markets! I did not buy anything, but Mathilde got a new pair of boots since she recently discovered via wet socks that her others have holes in them. Walking around, we happened upon some neighbors of the Ghysels who have a ten year old chubby son who was so obviously enamored with Mathilde that I could not help but laugh! He followed her around like a puppy dog, asking, "Do you want anything? I have eleven Euros!" All the while he smoked a fake cigarette that emitted just-as-stinky smoke, and I'm certain he just thought that he was the bee's knees!

After lunch and a quick spazzing outburst by Bello (the dog) on the beach, we departed from Stella. In the car ride back to Vermelles, Mathilde and I played plenty of clapping games, had a tickle fight, and finally settled down enough to watch a dance movie.

My eyes became tired during one point in the movie, so I glanced briefly out of my window. I saw a camel. Yes, a camel...

TTG

On Tuesday afternoon, the Ghysel family (except Pierre-I don't know why not) and I packed up the car and headed to the beach. We spent the majority of the car ride singing along to Britney Spear's son Sometimes.

(Yes, I'll admit that I still love Britney. I had a craving for the pop music from my lower school years back in October!)

After an hour or so, we arrived at Cap Blanc Nez. This area of the French coast, La Cote D'Opale, resembles greatly to the English coast that I have seen. Mathilde and I almost fell down from laughing at one man we saw strutting around in a leather space-man suit!

After Blanc-Nez, we went to Gris-Nez where I fed a (probably domesticated) crow Mikados (chocolate covered breadsticks).

At one point, Mathilde and I flirted with the waves, standing dangerously close, daring them to come up onto the shore and splash us.
We arrived at the appartament in Stella around dinner time, so shortly after our arrival we went to eat Chez Fred. I have actually seen many restaruants named Chez Fred, so I assumed it was a chain. Contrarily, I actually met Fred and his wife!
I already loved my host sister, but as I was falling asleep in the bunk under hers, she whispered, "Madison? TTG." I, of course, wearily asked what that meant. She replied, "T'es trop gentille." Awwww!

Wednesday began automatically as an early morning since I slept below an early riser, and I sleep relatively lightly. Disappointingly, it drizzled all day. In the morning, we went to Berck. I think we were visiting a market. As the market ended up including next to nothing, we bought fresh fish from the most stereotypical fisherman with the beard, the hat, the rainboots, and apron. I almost laughed out loud. I only wish I had taken a picture.
In the afternoon, we walked around the shops in Touquet. Touquet is the beach closest to Paris, so it automatically Paris's Beach. After promenading all afternoon, Mathilde and I rode on a carousel. It's younger than the two of us, but we still had a blast!

Une Frange

This afternoon, Nadine took me into her workplace and introduced me to everybody. She works with families in dire need of support and help. I'm assuming she's payed by the state because otherwise, I don't see how anyone who can barely pay his mortgage or feed himself could manage to cover her salary, too. Everyone that I met in her office was exceptionally nice.
Afterwords, we travelled into Lens where Mathilde and Nadine did some shopping and made some returns. I, however, went to the beauty parlor and got my hair cut. Not only that, but I got BANGS! Yes, the girl who, from the age of eight to the age of fifteen, never let her hair down, actually dared more than the fluff and brush!
Of course, I could not actually take it seriously because I went home and, after styling Mathilde's hair for an hour or so, promptly gathered all of mine onto the top of my head like a unicorn and traipsed around the house, Mathilde in-tow, modeling the same style, sans-bangs.

Tata

We had a really yummy lunch today of a tapioca soup, rice, and a Polish chicken, mushroom, and cream dish!
After lunch this afternoon, Nadine's older sister and her two children came by for coffee. Nadine had also gone early this morning to pick up Stephanie (Meme) in her wheelchair and bring her over to break bread with us.
We were lazy for dinner. The boys left early Saturday morning to Barcelona to see a soccer game for tonight, so we were all alone. We put the place settings on the coffee table in front of the television and passed a relaxing evening watching Spiderman II! Once Nadine had headed off to bed, Mathilde and I had a mini pillow fight and then followed suit.

La Dispute

Pierre did not feel well yesterday morning, so I went to school alone. First period, I normally have French. No one was in or near the classroom when I arrived. I even took out my schedule to double check that I had the correct classroom. I went and checked the library, the media center, and the front dest, but it wasn't until I asked a girl in another class who arrived late that I remembered where we were. So, I spent the first two periods that morning watching a three-man rendition of La Dispute, a play written by Marivaux. The actors did a wonderful job; I really enjoyed their performance! Afterwords, we still had another thirty minutes before break, so the actors asked for feedback. Not a single hand raised, so the sole male actor started talking about his mother and cracking jokes about our Catholic school.

Zucchini Brownies

I think that of most of the people I have met, the ten year olds are my favorite. My host sister Mathilde is as cute as a button! She almost always has something to say, and if we ever do have an awkward silence, it never lasts because one of us starts laughing! She always wears a smile! This afternoon, her grandmother, Meme (Nadine's Mom), stood up and broke her foot. It was strange because she did not exert any force out of the usual. While Nadine took her to the hospital, Mathilde and I stayed in the kitchen and baked chocolate chip cookies and zucchini brownies (I know they sound nasty, but they're delicious when done correctly!). Because neither of those desserts are commonly baked from scratch in France, Mathilde, at one point, commented, "I learn a lot from you!"
Awwww!!!!

Exhaustion

I have always heard that the second day after an almost sleepless night is the worst. It's true. When I awoke this morning, I knew instantly that I would not have the capacity to keep my eyes open for more than ten minutes in class. Thankfully, Nadine had no problem letting me stay home and rest, so that's what I did. Happily.

Iepre-Sleepre

When I got in the car with Philippe and Mathilde after they picked me up at the train station from Lille today around two, they immediately told me that we were spending the afternoon in Belgium. As a first reaction, I thought that they were joking! Having had very little sleep the night before due to hanging out with other Rotary exchangers, all I wanted to do was fall onto my bed and not budge until school the next day. As it turned out, they were completely serious. Pierre still had too much homework, so he stayed home.
We first went to Armentieres, a town situated half in France, half in Belgium. In my mind, Belgium is like South Carolina. One goes there for cheaper gas, cheaper tobacco, cheaper chocolate, and anything else for which one does not wish to pay income tax. In our case we crossed the border to find a party-type-favor-thing for Mathilde's first Communion. Once we found what she liked, we drove to Iepre and walked around for a spell. Apparently, the boutiques in Belgium are supposed to be open on Sunday. (I think it might be illegal for a French clothing store to be open on Sunday.) However, on this particular day, all of the shops that we saw were unfortunately closed. On the other hand, I got free samples of chocolate, and the Ghysels bought two giant Toblerone bars!

Just Like Friends

I was supposed to go to Lille yesterday afterschool with Pierre, but he decided at the last minute that he had too much homework. So, I took the train by myself and met up with Kevin (India), Martina (Argentina), Carlos (Mexico-his "grounding" from drinking too much ended two days early!), Rafael (US), Simon (France-Rotaract back from Japan), Michael (US), Maddi (Australia), Tim (Australia), and Andrea (previous host sister!) at the Bar de Voute. I feel like we exchangers are somewhat like the characters in the 90's TV show Friends in that we always meet up in the same bar every single time that we go to Lille. It's our own little hang-out spot!
We stayed there for about an hour, and then all of the guys went to a shisha bar while Andrea, Margentina, Maddi, and I went to go shopping! I was torn because I wanted to get to know Maddi better since she just arrived, but I also wanted to spend time with Andrea. Maddi speaks next to no French, and the same goes for Andrea and English. So, I spoke a little bit with Martina in Spanish! Since my Spanish teacher had been absent all week, it was good for me to practice a little!
Andrea and Michael's train was supposed to leave at 5h30, but it was late, so since everyone had gotten back together again, we hung out at the McDonalds in the train station. I love people watching in Lille! There are some of the oddest people there! I saw one guy in platform shoes, a corset, a top hat, with an upside-down question mark drawn on his forehead. I wonder if he is in a cult?

I Have A Dream

This afternoon, my classmates presented Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. I love listening to the French accent! The two girls with the best accents in the class are Romane and Pauline.
I don't know why, but for some reason, I do not like speaking in my English class. However, I made an exception today and read the intro to the part of the speech that Somaya read.

Cooking Lessons From The Dog

I made a carrot cake this afternoon with Mathilde. Sadly, I had left my measuring cups at the Helou's, so I tried to find a recepie with mesurements in grams. The cake came out well; it was a little too moise, but it was tasty nonetheless. The icing, on the other hand, was delicious!
Once we had finished making the cake, Nadine showed me where the dog food was if I ever needed to feed him. When she took me down into the basement, I looked at the cup used to scoop the kibbles in amazement. What the French have been using to measure the dog food is what we Americans use to measure everything else! Despite this fact, I believe that I will wait patiently for my own measuring cups instead of risking a chocolate cake with a kibble aftertaste!

Marc and Prancois

This afternoon, a preacher came to school to talk to us for an hour and a half. The class split in two, and because Pierre had left school early because he wasn't feeling well, my group consisted only of girls. The first half hour bored all of us out of our minds. He had come to talk to us about the Evangilist Mark. Once Mme. Chanteloube, who had sat in the back, left, we got off track of the main subject. We asked him why he became a preacher, why preachers could not marry, if he could ever quit becoming a preacher, what happened if he fell in love, and many more complicated questions. Amazingly, he answered all of them thouroughly! I think he even convinced some of my skeptical friends to believe in God and Jesus! He was quite impressive.
After our meeting with the preacher, we still had Science class. Since we have a new teacher, due to Mme. Castelain's pregnancy, most of my classmates try to pull things over on him. It was hilarious because Francois sat in during the entire class and pretended to be Pierre. Because Francois will take the scientific BAC (my class will take the Economic-specialized one) he made the teacher think Pierre was the best science student in the class. We all knew what was going on except the teacher, and it was the funniest science class I have had all year! I cannot wait to see the teacher's reaction tomorrow in TPE when he sees the real Pierre.

Field Trip to Paris!

My Political-Science class took a field trip today to Paris! We arrived at the Pantheon around 10h30 when we took an hour and a half tour of the church turned crypt. In the center of the main floor of the Pantheon hangs Foucault's pendulum. I remember studying that in seventh grade science class with Mrs. Lee!
I love the Parisian architecture!
It was amazingly warmer outside than in the Pantheon! The sky was blue; the sun shone. It was a perfect day to be in Paris! I do not know why, but the French trust students much more than in the US, and they give them much more freedom. We had two hours for lunch during which we could go anywhere and do anything except take the Metro.
After eating, Yamina and I crossed the street to enter the Law University. I walked purposefully, not attracting any attention, climbing staircases at random and walking towards nothing in particular. I really wanted to sit in the back of a class, so I entered a random classroom, pushing Yamina in front of me to sit down in a chair. It was only after three minutes that we realized that the subject had ended and the students were leaving the room instead of entering.
When we rejoined the group, we all rode over in the bus to the National Assembly. I almost expected to sit in an open session of the French version of Congress. I was mildly disappointed when we just took a mini tour with a guide who spoke in a soft, barely audible voice. I at least had time to enjoy more of the amazing architecture and artwork that seems so abundant in Paris.
In the bus-ride back to school, Matine and Louise, sitting behind me, sang along to French and English songs, providing me with three hours of entertainment without my iPod. Beside me, Yamina decided to massage Nicolas who sat in front of her. That's not really a typical activity that takes place during American bus-rides, so maybe it's a foreign thing.

Spamming Psalms

When I arrived yesterday, the first aspect of the house I noticed was a long dining room table with at least ten table settings. Not having put on any makeup, I freaked out internally at the prospect of having to meet the entire Ghysel family. Fortunately, everyone came today, instead. The cause for the celebration was actually Mathilde's tenth birthday, which occured the twentieth of January. Guests started arriving around noonish. I consequently met Mathilde's two grandmothers, her godfather, her godmother, and some family friends. The funniest part of the day was when Mathilde asked her parrain (godfather) to read a Psalm at her upcoming first Communion. The only thing was that she did not know how to say Psaum (French for Psalm) and called it Spam and Spaum instead.
I now have an invitation to Corsica! Candide, one of the family friends, invited me to her secondary residence in Corsica if I were to stay this summer, or if I ever wanted to come over in the summer! I hope I'll be able to take her up on that!

Moving, Moms, and Miscommunications

We went out to eat this morning in an American-style restaurant after school. Surprisingly, it really did have the feel of a country, western steak-house. I liked it because I got colored pencils to fill in the games on my menu.
I finally finished packing all of my stuff into eight bags. Right before I left, Catherine gave me a makeup bag from Helen (the lady who wanted to marry me off to the son she doesn't have) and some sweet smelling Nina Ricci perfume.
It's a big joke to us that I am Hugue Polveche's favorite amongst the Rotary kids. I think Michael feels left out that Hugues accompanies me when I change families, but no one checks in on Michael. Hugues had called me earlier, telling me that he would arrive late, around 18h30. I just assumed that he meant that he would meet me at my next host family's house, but when he had not arrived an hour later, Michael announced that it was clear that Hugues no longer liked me. As it turns out, Hugues had waited for twenty minutes under the rain at the Helou's house. Oopsie daisy!
My new host family includes Nadine and Phillipe, the parents, Mathilde, my ten year-old host sister, and Pierre, who is in my class at school. All of my friends have been asking me to take a picture of him in his sleep and post in on Facebook. Harumph! Pierre is a guy, which means that he pretty much looks the same in the morning as he does in the middle of the day. I on the other hand, wear makeup and look radically different wihout it, with my hair knotted in every direction. No, in order for him not to retaliate, I will just have to disappoint my friends.
My new host sister is absolutively-posilutey adorable! Since Philippe and Pierre were at a Lens football (soccer)game when I arrived, she showed me around, helped me unpack, and gave me a super friendly welcome. It's so cute because she's so excited to have an older sister!
I love my new room! My two previous host families have both apologized for giving me boys' rooms. Of course, that does not bother me one bit! I'm just glad that I have a place to sleep. This room however is a guest room converted into my room. Nadine just recently painted it light purple, with a pretty leaf design on part of the wall. It has a full-length mirrror, a purple polka-dotted bedspread, and a small, detached office-space in front where I can do my homework! All of it just screams my name!

Sweet Revanche

Like Monday, school let out for me two classes early. Nicolas came home early on Thursday evening due to sickness, so he was at the house when I arrived. Michael had told me that he wanted me to get him back for his Facebook post, but the only idea that I had was to splash him with cold salt water at 5h00AM. I have never been really big into the whole revenge-scene, but since Nicolas was there, I figured I might as well, if not just to bond a little with my host brother on one of my last days.
I did not break anything, I did not stain anything, I did not ruin anything, and I do not think I caused any harm. To quickly summarize all that I did, I put mustard in between and on five of his books, his sunglasses, his shoes, and the squirty part of his cologne bottles. I hid his guitar, and I put a glass of salt water beside his bed in case he got thirsty. On Thursday, he had stolen my glass of orange juice, so finally, I put two packets of a laxitive in an orange juice glass "for me".
Michael, however, is nineteen and not an idiot. He immediately went upstairs and asked Nicolas if I had been in his room. Nicolas innocently replied "no", to my satisfaction. Nevertheless, Michael found his guitar, cleaned the mustard, and placed the cup of OJ in my room with a note reading, "nice try". I never told him that it was a laxitive, though. He just thinks I put sugar in it.

After dinner, Catherine took us to see the movie Rien A Declarer. It's about the extreme racism felt by the citizens of Belgium for the French. It takes place mainly at a failing border patrol office in 1993 and is absolutely hilarious! I would definitely suggest it over Le Dernier des Templiers.
When we got back home, I started packing my bags for the move at around 10h30.

Madison Caca...My Left Foot!!

I made Nutella cookies this morning as a request of Michael and Andrea!
It was sunny today! Instead of walking around the shops in Lens like I usually do Thursday mornings, I went and sat in the park in front of the Universite de L'Artois and soaked in the lovely rays eminating from the small, white winter soleil.
In English, half the class was sick or absent, so we watched half of a movie about Malcom X, starring Denzel Washington.
Since last week was the final day of stepping in sport, we changed today to acro-gym! We spent the first half of the period running around in circles and doing half push-ups. The second half, we had to get in to pairs. Because so many people were absent, though, I ended up partener-less and, by default, grouped with a guy whose name I think is Valentin. It was a little awkward, but I had fun nonetheless!
After school, I hung out with Andrea and Michael downstairs. I cannot quite remember how, but Michael got a hold of my iPod. He proceeded to go on to my Facebook and put an extremely vulgar comment as my status. (In more polite terms and in English, it is: Penis in my bottom.)
Ingrid, Michael's and my counselor saw it, and when she came to pick him up for his Rotary meeting, she commented on it. Andrea did not want her parents to know exactly what he had written, so she told them that he had posted "Madison caca" (Madison poop). I would not have gotten so upset over just that...I was/am mortified!

Night of English Chez les Helous

I've missed the past two weeks of Italian. The first thing the teacher gave me when I walked in, however, was a quiz on a dialogue about pizza. I barely remembered the text, so I put whatever came to mind. I was hoping for an 11 to 13 out of 15 for the first part. The teacher took it from me before I was through reviewing what I had written. She then proceeded to grade it in front of me. I was so scared that I had bombed it! Instead, she acknowledged that I had made a few spelling errors, and I ended up receiving a 19,5!
This afternoon, Catherine deposed Michael and me in Arras where we met up with Daniel (Mexico) shortly after. Since one of the unnamed cats has peed in my duffel bag, I needed a new one. I found the perfect purple duffle with the brand name Madisson for only 35 Euros and had to buy it! I love it, but now that I'm home, I fear that it's much too big for an airplane carry-on. Michael had a good time, too, because he spent an exorbitant amount of money on a leather messenger bag. He made me promise not to tell anyone how much he spent, though, because he is ashamed, as a guy.
When we returned home this evening, Catherine told us that tonight was "English night"! Andrea then told us that it wasn't "American night", so we couldn't talk in American! I then put on my fake British accent because I'm cool like that.