We planned a team activity for January 9th. I was responsible for planning a good ol' fashioned Polaroid Party (or, in this case, a digital camera party). We've had snow maybe 3 or 4 days this winter, and wouldn't you know...it snowed the morning of our Polaroid Party! In spite of the cold and snow, though, we had a great time. Here are a few photos of the gang out-and-about taking photos.
...with a mail bicycle (50 points). (This is how they deliver the mail here.)
...with French people walking a really big dog. (100 points) (Note: this dog IS big for France.)
...under a Charcutier sign (this is a shop that sells pork products). (50 points)
...in a pharmacy (50 points) ...with a smiling pharmacien. (100 points)
...with green grass (a rarity here these days). (50 points)
...next to a fresh pile of dog doodoo. (100 points)
...with our friend at the bank - a super nice guy - who has helped us set up all of our bank accounts. (200 points)
...on the 10th floor of a building with proof that you are on the 10th floor. This is a tricky one here because not many buildings have that many floors, and most have security to keep you from getting in, but team "A" managed to get in! (75 points)
...one member of your team on a garbage can (50 points). I just love this photo of Keenan!
It was a super fun day. In the end, we decided we would like to do it again in warm weather. :-)
NEXT SURPRISE:
We had heard of the Epiphany before, but really didn't understand what a big deal the holiday is in France. Let's just say, if you want to start a diet after the holidays in France, you need to wait until the end of Epiphany...not just the end of Christmas... in this country.
Here's how it works. On the 6th of January, the Epiphany is celebrated. This is the day to commemorate the Wise Men arriving to worship the baby Jesus. In France, the 3 men are called "Kings" and they have names and physical descriptions:
Gaspard (represents the African people in his looks) wears blue,
Balthazar (represents Arab people in his looks) wears red, and
Melchior (represents European people in his looks) wears green.
There's a specific cake that is eaten on the Epiphany, and it is called the Galette de Roi (the Cake of the King). It's a flaky pastry with a creamy center and you can get a small individual-sized one, one that feeds 6-8 people, or a super-sized one that feeds 10. As of the 1st of January, the bakeries and grocery stores are full of these Galette de Roi cakes. With each cake, you get 1 crown. Inside each Galette de Roi, there is a treasure hidden. It's some sort of little porcelain or plastic trinket, and the person who gets the piece of cake that has the treasure, becomes King for the day and wears the crown. It seems like EVERYBODY does this here!
And, they don't just do it once. They do it again and again and again...just for fun it would seem! We have now had 3 Galette de Roi cakes. They make the cakes throughout the entire month of January. Here's a couple of photos of a Galette de Roi that we enjoyed with our teammates:
Carissa is carefully cutting (you don't want to hit that treasure!):
Bravo! Matthew gets to be King for the day! (He looks thrilled, doesn't he! He got a little plastic cow with his piece of cake.)
Next year, we'll know what is coming!
NEXT SURPRISE:
Another new thing for us to experience is "Les Soldes." The sales! Who knew! Well, we had been told about this, but honestly, I didn't believe it.
Sure enough, the signs go up in all the stores around January 5th and the sales begin. Apparently, there are 2 times a year when the government allows the stores to mark down their prices - once in January, and once in July. Otherwise, you rarely ever find sale racks in the stores. The sales last for about 3 or 4 weeks and then they are over. During these sales, goods are marked down 50%, 60% and 70%. It's amazing! It's been great to watch and observe this phenomenon.
The last big surprise. Lena's face says it all...
Why so surprised? Lena needed to do her homework, but Mark had left for his self-defense club. (He's in the club because he's trying to meet French guys.) Lena was worried sick because she hadn't done her homework and she had questions for Dad. I offered to help her, and .... here's the big shocker... I was able to help her with her homework! We were both totally shocked! It would seem the 21 hours per week of full-time language school is paying off. :-) Feels good.
It's hard to believe that January is almost done. It's hard to believe that my first semester of language school ends this coming Friday. But, it is good. We are excited to see what surprises February holds for this crew! :-)
P.S. Carrie and Steve - thanks so much for your note on the last blog entry! We wrote back in the comments and just want to make sure that you see it. (We're not sure if you would ever know to look if we didn't tell you!)
3 comments:
So fun, Jill! I also love the floor in your apartment that Lena is sitting on. So pretty. Congrats on being able to help her. I think Leah has a similar look on her face when I'm able to help her with her math and Daddy's not at home. Sometimes, though, I just say, "Honey, I'm busy (not incapable, of course) right now so you can ask Daddy when he gets home." :)
Yes ... way to go on YOUR french studies! Also, I had never heard about the Epiphany celebration ... and the cakes with the crowns and trinkets. Thanks for sharing!
We pray for your family every Wednesday and today we spent time reading your blog page. "It's so amazing that you help Lena with her homework" Gabby "Thanks for letting us read that note you put on the computer" Rachel "Did you buy anything during the sales?" Bethany "Hi Todd" from Ben. We love you!!!
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