Sigh.
Today there is a grève générale in France. This is the second general strike in France since Molly and I arrived in France and the 8th strike that We have witnessed in any number of ways since arriving (this includes a strike we read about where life drawing models protested nude in Paris in the dead of winter... idiots).
Normally this strike business is kind of laughable. It seems to be the only tool that the French populous has to tell the government that they are unhappy about an issue. When you discuss other tool, e.g. boycotts or letter writing campaigns, they look at you as though you have enormous eyes, green skin and antennae. The strike in France is an institution. In Paris, and some other cities, the place in front of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) is called the Place de la Grève. This is just an example of the way the strike penetrates the lives of the French.
Also, I need to explain that a French strike has very little in common with its' American counterpart. That is unless a specific factory strikes. That is the only time you see a picket line in France. The general strike is more of a come-if-you-want-to kind of situation. It is not uncommon for people who cannot afford to strike to work for the day. Trade unions are not unique to specific trades necessarily, but instead are tied to, leftist mostly, political parties.
I mention the strike today not because of how effective it is in getting anyone in the government's attention (it doesn't really), but by how inconvenient the French make the day simply because they can! Follow me as I take you on four different journeys to the train station.
Molly and I have some friends coming to visit us in Paris for a week. In general, the best, easiest and usually the cheapest way to travel in France is with the trains run by the SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français) which is run by the French State. We bought our tickets online in advance to get the best prices and Molly and I walked to the train station to print the tickets out. This was on Tuesday morning. Upon returning home I swung by our mailbox at the school to discover that there was a flyer advertising the strike. We immediately walked back to the train station to ask someone about how this would affect Molly's traveling (as she left this morning ahead of me). On our second trip we were told that the postings of what trains would be running would be posted the following day.
Wednesday Molly and I woke up and headed down to the train station with our fingers crossed that Molly's train would not be effected. Sure enough, Molly train was cancelled and that flash of worry filled her eyes! We went to the ticket window and asked about what trains would be running Thursday morning and whether we could exchange Molly's ticket. There was a train running! The trouble is that it left from another train station nearby and Molly would have to take a bus there. We double checked that all the buses would, in fact, be running. We were assured that, yes, all of the buses would be running. Can you guess where I'm going here?
Well, relieved, Molly and I went home and began packing her bags for her trip, and then may bags for the train on Friday. Everything was fine and we emailed our friends before they went to the airport to explain that Molly would be running behind schedule . It was hard to sleep last night for all the excitement of seeing people from back home as well as getting away from Valence for a little while and see some art, beggars, tourists and monuments... and a store or restaurant that stays open later than 7:30!
6:00: Molly woke up.
6:05: I woke up.
6:20: Molly and I left for the train station (#4)
Molly and I wanted to get her to the train station early in case there should be any funny business with this here strike. Every thing seemed in order and we waited at the "gate" for her bus to arrive. 7:00 bus to the train station, 7:36 TGV to Paris. Things were gonna be fine.
6:50: The bus had not yet arrived.
6:55: The bus had not yet arrived.
7:00: The bus had not yet arrived.
7:05: Molly's eyes went from quiet anxiety and wishful thinking to that look she gives me when, well when that bus you were promised would take you to the train station so that you could meet your friends in Paris and get to the rented apartment on time so that you have a place to stay, where you already put 200 euros down, and no one has cell phones like in the States because cell phones are an over-priced joke over here and there's the fear that even though you planned everything so carefully it may all go down the expensive tubes, well when that bus doesn't arrive... that's the look she gave me.
We waited another moment, debated running to the house of someone we know who has a car and would not be going to work that day to ask them for a ride. There was, of course, no one working at the train station to ask questions. Finally we flagged a passing taxi and put Molly in the back. Hopefully she would make it to the train station in time and hopefully that train would in fact be running today.
That train was scheduled to leave the station at 7:36 this morning. I haven't heard that it was cancelled, so I am expecting that Molly has made it to Paris. I am expecting that Molly has met with our friends and is now taking photos of Parisians in the Place de la Grève where she is showing our friends that real slice of France that so many tourists miss!
So I was scheduled to have a class today. One teacher would not be taking part in the strike and I was expected to take my half of her class. Well you know, if France is going to cause me this kind of stress at such an early hour of the morning with broken promises and assurances, I don't think I have to put up with it. I have made a sign that I plan to parade around the streets of Valence today. It says, "The French State Lies!" SNCF is, after all, run by the state.
I feel lied to! And damnit, I'm taking to the streets!
- Patrick
p.s. Yeah, I didn't make a sign.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
French Engineering
So those of you don't know but Patrick and I live at the school where Patrick teaches. It is like living in the dorms your freshmen year of college only we have a kitchen. Granted, we have to walk outside and through another door to get to our kitchen BUT it is super cheap.
So the other day some work men from Orange, which is like a Comcast, came to our residence to work on phone lines or internet lines or something, who knows what they were working on, but they are still working on it. Now I don't know that much about engineering but I am pretty sure their rigging for this new line is not safe. Let's Take a look at the photos, shall we?
This is a photo of the line running in front of the other building where the other assistants live at the school. Let's continue to follow it.
I realize it is hard to see since it is an electric line hung from the building and is hanging in the middle of the air, but what is it attached to?
It is a tree! Yes that is right folks they hung a line from a building to a tree. I don't know if this is legal, but I am pretty sure it is not safe. Maybe I am just seeing things; maybe it is something else?
Nope it is a tree alright. Well wait to be precise, they have a tiny little black plastic thing attached to the line, which is then attached to a metal hook, which is then attached to the tree. Is it is not in the tree, persay, but it is attached to something in the tree. Well, where does it go from there?
Why, I don't know? Let's get a closer look.
Why it is the transister box that holds all of the cable lines for the area! Now I wonder what would happen if the tree, or the box, or the fense that the line runs through, or the bushes that the line also runs through were to be hit by lighting?
Please let me know if I made a mistake in assuming that this "rig" is unsafe, okay?
Thank you for taking a moment to view French Engineering.
Molly
So the other day some work men from Orange, which is like a Comcast, came to our residence to work on phone lines or internet lines or something, who knows what they were working on, but they are still working on it. Now I don't know that much about engineering but I am pretty sure their rigging for this new line is not safe. Let's Take a look at the photos, shall we?
This is a photo of the line running in front of the other building where the other assistants live at the school. Let's continue to follow it.
I realize it is hard to see since it is an electric line hung from the building and is hanging in the middle of the air, but what is it attached to?
It is a tree! Yes that is right folks they hung a line from a building to a tree. I don't know if this is legal, but I am pretty sure it is not safe. Maybe I am just seeing things; maybe it is something else?
Nope it is a tree alright. Well wait to be precise, they have a tiny little black plastic thing attached to the line, which is then attached to a metal hook, which is then attached to the tree. Is it is not in the tree, persay, but it is attached to something in the tree. Well, where does it go from there?
Why, I don't know? Let's get a closer look.
Why it is the transister box that holds all of the cable lines for the area! Now I wonder what would happen if the tree, or the box, or the fense that the line runs through, or the bushes that the line also runs through were to be hit by lighting?
Please let me know if I made a mistake in assuming that this "rig" is unsafe, okay?
Thank you for taking a moment to view French Engineering.
Molly
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Vacation Part 2 plus March
All in all the second part of vacation was wonderful. I have to say I understand why so many people go to the South of France because it is beautiful and warm. I think Nice is not only really nice but an excellent city. Here are the highlights of the trip:
1. The weather. It was so nice to just sit on the beach and let the sun hit your face as you watched little waves roll up onto the rocky beach. I took so many photos of the whole coast.
2. Going to Italy. Patrick and I left France and walked to Italy. It total we walked, maybe 11 miles to get the the city of Ventimigilia, which is 6 miles or so from the border. The other five miles came from walking from Menton to the border. This does not include the 2 mile walk to the bus station that morning in Nice or the 2 to 3 mile walk back into town from the wrong Menton train station. However, it was so strange to truly see how different Italy is to France on every level; including how cheap everything is in Italy, at least in Ventimigilia. As for the hike there it was all along the road, which followed the beautiful coast, but it was long. My feet were killing me by the end of the day.
3. Carnival was amazing. There is no way really to describe the energy and excitement of Carnival; it is just something that your should do in life. I look forward to planning a trip to see Carnival in Brazil. So if you want to go, start saving your money now.
4. I got to see Fireworks in Menton, France! We had gone down to the South of France to go to the Fete des Citrons, the Lemon Festival, which takes place in Menton. While the town is full of dying Brits, the fete was neat to see. Although the timing of the parade was a little off, I could let it pass because of the fireworks. As well as the tiny French lady, with the biggest glasses to eye ratio I have seen in a while, who stood behind us the whole time make little noises and singing along to the Elvis music, which accompanied the fireworks. 'Oh lala!' she would ring out.
5. How cheap it is to travel along the French Rivera. For a euro, you can take the bus all along the coast; however, get the bus at the station and sit in the back so you have a seat. It is a long bus ride if you have to stand the whole way. Did I mention we had to stand the whole way on the bus to Menton, the same day we walked 11 miles and stood for an hour to watch the parade.
As for March, we went to Romans for another Carnival. Yeah, they celebrate Carnival here after Ash Wednesday, because everyone needs a break a week into Lent! It was a cool experience to see a small town really throw quite the party. It was no Nice Carnival, but it was far more political. So well done to Romans!
In 16 days our dear friends Devon, Rosie, and Kevin are coming to visit us in Paris, which I am super excited for and cannot wait! I might go into shock once I see them but it will be fun to get to explore more of the city with them.
Interesting observations:
1. It seems that all young French children are pawned off on their grandparents, who all seem to live in the South.
2. Old British people go to the South of France to die; therefore, they take away from the area's charm.
3. Monoco is worth maybe two hours during the day and an hour at night. Other than that amount of time, it is a boring place, full of bad art and high rise buildings erected in the '70s.
4. March weather has been warmer but now that I have said something I am sure it will return to its usual awful rain.
That is all for now.
Molly
1. The weather. It was so nice to just sit on the beach and let the sun hit your face as you watched little waves roll up onto the rocky beach. I took so many photos of the whole coast.
2. Going to Italy. Patrick and I left France and walked to Italy. It total we walked, maybe 11 miles to get the the city of Ventimigilia, which is 6 miles or so from the border. The other five miles came from walking from Menton to the border. This does not include the 2 mile walk to the bus station that morning in Nice or the 2 to 3 mile walk back into town from the wrong Menton train station. However, it was so strange to truly see how different Italy is to France on every level; including how cheap everything is in Italy, at least in Ventimigilia. As for the hike there it was all along the road, which followed the beautiful coast, but it was long. My feet were killing me by the end of the day.
3. Carnival was amazing. There is no way really to describe the energy and excitement of Carnival; it is just something that your should do in life. I look forward to planning a trip to see Carnival in Brazil. So if you want to go, start saving your money now.
4. I got to see Fireworks in Menton, France! We had gone down to the South of France to go to the Fete des Citrons, the Lemon Festival, which takes place in Menton. While the town is full of dying Brits, the fete was neat to see. Although the timing of the parade was a little off, I could let it pass because of the fireworks. As well as the tiny French lady, with the biggest glasses to eye ratio I have seen in a while, who stood behind us the whole time make little noises and singing along to the Elvis music, which accompanied the fireworks. 'Oh lala!' she would ring out.
5. How cheap it is to travel along the French Rivera. For a euro, you can take the bus all along the coast; however, get the bus at the station and sit in the back so you have a seat. It is a long bus ride if you have to stand the whole way. Did I mention we had to stand the whole way on the bus to Menton, the same day we walked 11 miles and stood for an hour to watch the parade.
As for March, we went to Romans for another Carnival. Yeah, they celebrate Carnival here after Ash Wednesday, because everyone needs a break a week into Lent! It was a cool experience to see a small town really throw quite the party. It was no Nice Carnival, but it was far more political. So well done to Romans!
In 16 days our dear friends Devon, Rosie, and Kevin are coming to visit us in Paris, which I am super excited for and cannot wait! I might go into shock once I see them but it will be fun to get to explore more of the city with them.
Interesting observations:
1. It seems that all young French children are pawned off on their grandparents, who all seem to live in the South.
2. Old British people go to the South of France to die; therefore, they take away from the area's charm.
3. Monoco is worth maybe two hours during the day and an hour at night. Other than that amount of time, it is a boring place, full of bad art and high rise buildings erected in the '70s.
4. March weather has been warmer but now that I have said something I am sure it will return to its usual awful rain.
That is all for now.
Molly
Saturday, February 14, 2009
First part of February
Since we are half way through February I thought I would catch you all up on the first part of vacation. Out of the four weeks of the month of February we have two weeks of vacation. I love France! I guess I will give the highlights and low points of our trip up North.
Highlights:
1. Dijon, France is great. I look forward to visiting that city again for the wonderful mix of architecture and people. I wish we could have walked more of the city so, back to Dijon we will go this spring. Although we did not eat mustard, or drink Creme de Cassis (a local liqueur), or visit vineyards. Most of the vineyards head south from town so we will see those this spring. Patrick and I have already figured out the backpacking trip from Dijon to Beaune through the burgundy wine region. Also the people we stayed with were wonderful. They taught us a great party trick involving your fingers moving to create a "sausage bridge". It is hard to explain so ask us to show you when we get back.
2. Couch-surfing was a great way to meet people in each of the towns we visited. For the most part it was a wonderful experience and I felt we got to meet a lot of great people. I look forward to meeting other wonderful people in our second part of our trip to Nice.
3. Traveling with Grace and Kelsey, two of our great friends here, is always a pleasure. Although we all had our moments of "I want to kill you!" they have truly become our little French family here, regardless of the fact that we are all American, and I am grateful to have met such great friends here.
4. Tasting real champagne in the champagne region. I can check that one off my list of things to do before I die. Why does champagne have to be so expensive? Maybe it is a good thing that is so expensive or I would drink it all the time. Not that it is a bad thing but probably not the best for my health.
5. Walking around all of the cities and seeing them unfold before my eyes. Strasbourg is so German from the food to the lay out of the city just feels very German. Strasbourg also has the most beautiful church; I think the most beautiful I have ever seen. Dijon is a mixture of French and German influence as well as the church but everything just fit so well together. Reims (pronounced rinse but hold your nose while you say it) was very Roman and had a lot of new buildings. I say Roman since it is built on a grid. A lot of new buildings due to the war and updating the city. Reims is under construction so I wouldn't go to visit again until after 2012, but worth the trip for the history alone.
6. The long train rides around the area allowed me to see the country side and the smaller towns of the region. I also had time to read since there was nothing else you could really do on the train.
7. The last pull-out bed that Patrick and I slept on was the most comfortable bed we have slept on in France.
Low points
1. The first group of people we stayed with in Strasbourg put a sour taste in my mouth as well as the city. They were...um...how do I put this...strange. Yeah, I will go with strange. I will never be able to look at pink elephants quite the same way since they had a collection of them in their living room. Did I mention that they were two grown men? No, yeah they were two grown men with a stuffed animal pink elephant collection. The second group of folks we stayed with saved us, to say the least, and were wonderful people.
2. It was cold, really cold. I can only hope that the warmth of Southern France will thaw the chill left over from the cold wind of the North.
3. I was really tired from having to go from one house to the next. This is the down side of couch-surfing. Every time you move to a new place it is a new set of getting-to-know-you conversations. Now add speaking in French and I get tired just thinking about it. So, the lesson has been learned that maybe weekend trips or long stays are the best for couch-surfing.
4. I heard from University of California Santa Barbara and I didn't get in so that sucked. The downside I am now worried about the rest of the schools I applied to but only in those silent moments of doubt which occur either late at night or afternoon. The upside we all went dancing and had a lot of fun. Yeah both Patrick and Kelsey (two people who claim not to like dancing or say they can't dance)danced which was so much fun, so it was more of a highlight after all.
So that is a quick summary of the first part of our trip. More to come later.
Peace,
Molly
Highlights:
1. Dijon, France is great. I look forward to visiting that city again for the wonderful mix of architecture and people. I wish we could have walked more of the city so, back to Dijon we will go this spring. Although we did not eat mustard, or drink Creme de Cassis (a local liqueur), or visit vineyards. Most of the vineyards head south from town so we will see those this spring. Patrick and I have already figured out the backpacking trip from Dijon to Beaune through the burgundy wine region. Also the people we stayed with were wonderful. They taught us a great party trick involving your fingers moving to create a "sausage bridge". It is hard to explain so ask us to show you when we get back.
2. Couch-surfing was a great way to meet people in each of the towns we visited. For the most part it was a wonderful experience and I felt we got to meet a lot of great people. I look forward to meeting other wonderful people in our second part of our trip to Nice.
3. Traveling with Grace and Kelsey, two of our great friends here, is always a pleasure. Although we all had our moments of "I want to kill you!" they have truly become our little French family here, regardless of the fact that we are all American, and I am grateful to have met such great friends here.
4. Tasting real champagne in the champagne region. I can check that one off my list of things to do before I die. Why does champagne have to be so expensive? Maybe it is a good thing that is so expensive or I would drink it all the time. Not that it is a bad thing but probably not the best for my health.
5. Walking around all of the cities and seeing them unfold before my eyes. Strasbourg is so German from the food to the lay out of the city just feels very German. Strasbourg also has the most beautiful church; I think the most beautiful I have ever seen. Dijon is a mixture of French and German influence as well as the church but everything just fit so well together. Reims (pronounced rinse but hold your nose while you say it) was very Roman and had a lot of new buildings. I say Roman since it is built on a grid. A lot of new buildings due to the war and updating the city. Reims is under construction so I wouldn't go to visit again until after 2012, but worth the trip for the history alone.
6. The long train rides around the area allowed me to see the country side and the smaller towns of the region. I also had time to read since there was nothing else you could really do on the train.
7. The last pull-out bed that Patrick and I slept on was the most comfortable bed we have slept on in France.
Low points
1. The first group of people we stayed with in Strasbourg put a sour taste in my mouth as well as the city. They were...um...how do I put this...strange. Yeah, I will go with strange. I will never be able to look at pink elephants quite the same way since they had a collection of them in their living room. Did I mention that they were two grown men? No, yeah they were two grown men with a stuffed animal pink elephant collection. The second group of folks we stayed with saved us, to say the least, and were wonderful people.
2. It was cold, really cold. I can only hope that the warmth of Southern France will thaw the chill left over from the cold wind of the North.
3. I was really tired from having to go from one house to the next. This is the down side of couch-surfing. Every time you move to a new place it is a new set of getting-to-know-you conversations. Now add speaking in French and I get tired just thinking about it. So, the lesson has been learned that maybe weekend trips or long stays are the best for couch-surfing.
4. I heard from University of California Santa Barbara and I didn't get in so that sucked. The downside I am now worried about the rest of the schools I applied to but only in those silent moments of doubt which occur either late at night or afternoon. The upside we all went dancing and had a lot of fun. Yeah both Patrick and Kelsey (two people who claim not to like dancing or say they can't dance)danced which was so much fun, so it was more of a highlight after all.
So that is a quick summary of the first part of our trip. More to come later.
Peace,
Molly
Monday, January 26, 2009
J'ai fait les raquettes dans les Vercors
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.
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.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
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