On Christmas Day I was again welcomed by friends into their home. It really gave me new perspective on things to spend this family holiday with another family other than my own. I've probably said "wow" about a million times but seeing the 4 foot tall Christmas tree was another occasion to say it. What I mean is that when presents (or literally the tree) decrease, family and other good things can increase.Otherwise, this day like the 24th, was filled with lots of eating, games, and a little bit of singing. On the corner of the coffee table is the renowned "Yule Log" or bûche. By the way, Etienne is talking to his brother who is spending the holidays in Canada with his wife.
Among the things I learned this Christmas was the importance of Christmas Eve to French families. Vincent's, Etienne's and many others' families exchange gifts and enjoy a big family meal on the evening of the 24th instead of on Christmas Day. There's a New Year's Eve quality to this in that many people are staying up late and celebrating in a way that I'm not used to seeing. It was a lot of fun playing games interspersed throughout our 4-ish hours of eating with Vincent, his brother, and parents.
Among the things I learned this Christmas was the importance of Christmas Eve to French families. Vincent's, Etienne's and many others' families exchange gifts and enjoy a big family meal on the evening of the 24th instead of on Christmas Day. There's a New Year's Eve quality to this in that many people are staying up late and celebrating in a way that I'm not used to seeing. It was a lot of fun playing games interspersed throughout our 4-ish hours of eating with Vincent, his brother, and parents. Another noteworthy event was when I cut my finger with a table knife. You might be interested to know that my two thoughts were "Oh, no, we're going to have to go to the hospital" and "Oh, no, we haven't eaten the main course yet!" Thankfully, there was no hospital and my appetite returned within a few minutes.
In a creatively conceived Asian-French bakery & tea room, Rebecca tells Hamilton about a very odd relationship she has with a co-worker where she lives in eastern France. I met Rebecca in Chicago in August when we were both getting our VISA's and hadn't seen her since. She and Hamilton are both teaching English as well. Rebecca's famliy lives about 30-45 minutes from mine in KY and she took them a little something for me. Thanks, Rebecca. :)
This is Agnes and I in the same locale as below. I stayed with her family and the monk when I arrived in September. Remember?? Further info: a former Parisienne said that the lights at the Galleries Lafayette are a must see when it comes to Paris at Christmas. (Tuck that away for your own adventures.)
The lost art of window shopping - At a big shopping center in Paris there are a row of windows decked out with automated toys able to enchant kids for hours and mannequins eating dinner at the North Pole, etc. Side note: There are guys cooking and selling chesnuts on the sidewalk in busy areas like this one. Hmm.
Someone being effectively unoriginal at the Louvre. 
I very nerdily made a list of things I wanted to do in Paris. This comes from many family vacations spent in hotel rooms (a.k.a. Grandma's living room - ha ha) saying, "Well, what do you wanna do?..." So included on this list was "flâner in Paris!" This is franglais for "spend time doing nothing." Kind of ironic (I'll let you make the connection), but anyway, We "flan-ayed" in the Louvre for about 3 and 1/2 hours which is where I took this picture by the way.
As soon as Hamilton and I came out of the metro I saw what I'd been waiting for: lights on the Champs Elysees! Hamilton is from South Carolina so together we acted like a couple of hillbillies for a minute and then got on with our lives.
In a creatively conceived Asian-French bakery & tea room, Rebecca tells Hamilton about a very odd relationship she has with a co-worker where she lives in eastern France. I met Rebecca in Chicago in August when we were both getting our VISA's and hadn't seen her since. She and Hamilton are both teaching English as well. Rebecca's famliy lives about 30-45 minutes from mine in KY and she took them a little something for me. Thanks, Rebecca. :)
This is Agnes and I in the same locale as below. I stayed with her family and the monk when I arrived in September. Remember?? Further info: a former Parisienne said that the lights at the Galleries Lafayette are a must see when it comes to Paris at Christmas. (Tuck that away for your own adventures.)
The lost art of window shopping - At a big shopping center in Paris there are a row of windows decked out with automated toys able to enchant kids for hours and mannequins eating dinner at the North Pole, etc. Side note: There are guys cooking and selling chesnuts on the sidewalk in busy areas like this one. Hmm.
Someone being effectively unoriginal at the Louvre. 
I very nerdily made a list of things I wanted to do in Paris. This comes from many family vacations spent in hotel rooms (a.k.a. Grandma's living room - ha ha) saying, "Well, what do you wanna do?..." So included on this list was "flâner in Paris!" This is franglais for "spend time doing nothing." Kind of ironic (I'll let you make the connection), but anyway, We "flan-ayed" in the Louvre for about 3 and 1/2 hours which is where I took this picture by the way.
As soon as Hamilton and I came out of the metro I saw what I'd been waiting for: lights on the Champs Elysees! Hamilton is from South Carolina so together we acted like a couple of hillbillies for a minute and then got on with our lives. 
2 comments:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
you're very welcome. : )
I try to make lists of things to do, too. but it's too hard to stick to them.
and I wish I had seen the lights at Galleries Lafayette now!
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