The translation of the title to this post is: "I went snowshoeing in the Vercors." I will get to my snowshoeing experience in a second; right now I would like to gloat about my French abilities. I didn't write it in French to sound pompous, but to demonstrate my ever growing ability to butcher the French language. I missed an article and misspelled raquette, but other than that I got it correct. Yeah for me, to a point. I still feel like an idiot every time I open my mouth, not that I am not use to putting my foot in my mouth, it is just worse speaking in another language. I am more aware that I am creating, perhaps furthering, stereotypes that Americans sound like fools when speaking French.
Oh well, I can sound like a fool when I speak English so I am not going to worry about it too much. It makes for an interesting time when in a conversation with a French person and they look at me like I am speaking anything but French. I look at them wanting some sort of recognition that they understand me but all I get is a blank stare. So from now on, when I speak to non-native English speakers, I am going to be super active in my facial expressions to the point that they think I have a tick or something.
I would recommend that anyone who visits France during the winter try to partake in their winter sports. I went to the Col de Rousset, which was sunny and had amazing views of the Vercors mountain range. It is also 20 minutes from Die, France; where we had hiked earlier in our trip. I went with a group of assistants and went snowshoeing with Abi, an American, and Marie, a German. Patrick decided to stay home for the day so it was my own little adventure; although, I wish Patrick would have been there.
Abi, Marie, and I took the chair lift above timberline. We looked like an odd collection of people going out to snowshoe. Marie looked like the mountain expert, Abi looked like someone had dragged her from Paris and dropped her off, and I hiked in jeans. Yeah, I looked like a bum. From the base of the timberline we started our hike. It was great! I didn't bring my camera but I will steal photos from Abi and Marie and post them in photobucket as soon as I get them. We hiked along the edge of the mountain, which is more of a cliff, making sure not to get to close edge of the mountain as we easily could have fallen to our deaths if we got to far out. However, the views were worth the slight danger.
We hiked for an hour and then turned around and headed back. On the journey back the clouds moved in, blending the sky with the snow, only to leave just as quick as they arrived. It felt like being in a cloud, which fulfilled a childhood desire of knowing what it would be like to be in a cloud.
We made it down the mountain to catch the bus to go back to Die with time to spare to have a beer. The whole trip including rentals, getting to the resort and back, and lift ticket was under 25 euros. It was so cheap and fun.
However, we didn't make it down the mountains in time to catch our train home. There is nothing quite like watching your train leave right before your eyes. Super lame, but ca la vie! This is France where the only things that are on time, 90% of the time, are the trains and buses. Three people caught a ride with another assistant to make it home early while the rest of us stayed to take the last train home.
So after getting somethings for dinner Abi, Kelsey, Eric, Becca, Allison, Patrick (another assistant who lives in Die), and I went to Patrick from Die's place for dinner and drinks until our 11:52pm train. It was fun just to hang out and eat. We also played a couple of rounds of a great game. Everyone has a piece of paper and a pen. The first person writes a sentence on a piece of paper and then passes it to the next person, who then has to draw a picture of the sentence. The person who draws the picture folds the paper so only the picture is seen and passes it to the next person. So everyone is drawing and writing something on these sheets of paper until it makes it around the circle once, then everyone takes turns reading the story in front of them. It was hilarious to see the different stories that un-folded as the sheets were read. Too much fun!
We made it to our train and made it home after midnight. I enjoyed the train ride home to contemplate the day and focus on getting to my bed. It was a great day of being outside in the snow with great company.
A bientot,
Molly
PS I realize that there are accents in a bientot but I don't care.
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1 comment:
my brother taught me that game! he calls it: the fun game!
your version with snowshoeing and france sounds more fun though
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