Copper

As most of my readers probably know (because I am related to most of you), Copper died yesterday afternoon. He's been on and off sick for the past year, but he stopped eating after Christmas. I think he just wanted one last holiday meal of Ma's before he went. He was an old guy and probably the sweetest, most even-tempered dog you would ever meet.

It's just really weird to think today that I won't be sitting with him watching the ball drop on tv because everyone else has already gone to bed--that is how most of my grade school and college holidays-at-home New Years went!

I just keep thinking of him in all his usual places around the house, and the sound of him shaking his collar and walking on the wood floors with his nails tapping. It is going to be a quiet place without him. Who is going to lick the plates clean?

 

 

Copper Oschman 1998-2010

I miss you so much, Copper. You're such a good boy! Sorry I couldn't be there.

In between parties...

Bonjour, everyone!

Nothing much is going on here, but I wanted to post to let you know I'm alive. The last few days have just been gray and rainy in Rennes, so I've been sleeping in, reading, playing on the computer, cleaning, and doing a bit of yoga. New Year's Resolution: Do a little yoga every day, even if it's just downward dog for five minutes!

Pierre-Antoine and Adrien are planning a New Year's Eve Party for 25 with little toast appetizers, frozen pastry ones, rum punch, gin bucket, mousse, and cakes. Last night was a punch-making and taste-testing session, which was pretty good for having bought cheap things. It is going to be six euros per person, so I guess the boys are controlling costs just fine. And Adrien even drew a sketch of how he wants to rearrange the furniture... In the end, I think that the boys' apartment cannot be made that classy, let's be honest! Ah, well!

So you'll have pictures and stories from that after the New Year! I hope everyone has tons of fun! Skype or email me your stories ;)

<3
L

Christmas with the Levillains

I last wrote to you on Thursday before PA and I visited the Christmas market one last time and took in the sights and sounds of the Mayor's office illuminaton! Here is a phot I captured for you at the risk of freezing my fingers off! (I'll post the video once youtube uploads it.)

Friday was a great day of French Christmas activities. PA and I made a batch of date balls to bring to the party that night. At 7pm, we metroed to meet his mom to drive to his aunt Therese's house. It was the Levillain side of the family with three of PA's aunts, a cousin, her two kids, and then PA's immediate family.

We were a bit late, having gotten lost on the way to the small town outside Rennes. The kids were eating already so we just chilled. When they went to the kitchen for their desserts, Pere Noël or Father Christmas dropped off their presents! The kids scrambled back out and went crazy! PA and I then spent a good a good amount of time assembling a parking garage for little Loic.

Dinner was seafood, the preference of the hostess Therese. We started with platters of raw oysters, shrimp, whelks, and winkles, all served with mayo. The main course was salmon and rice with a yummy red sauce. Then was a huge cheese course of six or seven varieties. Dessert was a sampling of my date balls (which went over very well), pistachio cakes with white chocolate on top, and a chocolate mousse log covered in ladyfingers. All soooooo delicious! And after that was a coffee and tea course with more chocolates... Phew!

The party lasted late into the night, so PA and I were dropped off at my apartment around 2am. It was officially Christmas, so I didn't feel too weird about opening gifts at night. The family sent me warm socks, sweaters, a new dress, and crafty things like knitting to keep me occupied. PA got me a French press, an awesome black vest, and another gift that hasn't arrived yet. For PA, my parents sent a bunch of Lakers gear, and I got him personalized M&Ms, cologne, and a meerkat shirt!

No sleep for the weary--we had to get to a lunch party on Christmas day at Aunt Beatrice's house in Rennes. We took the bus at noon and were the first to arrive. There was an aperatif of champagne, bread with meat and crab spreads, nuts, different purées to try. Lunch was the same crowd as the night before minus the kids, Nathalie, and Samuel who were with the other side of the family.

On to the food: a real Christmas food tradition is fois gras, which we ate on toast with fig jam and ham and beef strips kind of like prochutto. Sweet white wine was served with that. Christmas day lunch was a chapon, a nurtured chicken the size of a turkey. This was served with farce, a delicious mix of sausage, raisins, and onion; cooked chesnuts; and potatos gratin with cream and cheese. I was so full, but we had to power through more cheeses with red wine and dessert--all of the leftovers of the night before, plus a chocolate cake! I ate so much: it was delicious!

PA and I went to his apartment for awhile so that he could check things online and I could nap. We bussed back to the same place for a dinner of leftovers, which were still good but I was still full from lunch. After some last conversation and some playing with Clémentine and Martin and their new toys, PA's immediate family and I returned to Vitré to see if Santa had passed by there too ;)

He had, in fact, and he even left some cute things for me--placemats, a bath towel, a soap dispensing girl, a French dessert cookbook, and a bracelet with a dog charm! Samuel and I put together Clé's vanity, and we all danced along with the "Jingle Bell Rock" Santa in the living room a few last times before bed.

PA and I then had the Lakers v. Heat game to watch (sadly lost). The next morning Nathalie's family left for Nancy and we spent a quiet day in Vitré. That was nice after a whirlwind Christmas!

Now it's time to try out some French desserts!

Gingerbread, or pain d'épice!

Despite my illness, I trekked out to Vitré Monday afternoon to hang out with Caitlin before she left for her Christmas in Norway adventure. We made good spicy chili and cookies! First, her creation of oatmeal, raisin, chocolate chip, and walnut! Mmmm! Then we found a gingerbread recipe online and tested it out. Caitlin wasn't a fan, but I was! We also had no cookie cutters, so we had to freehand a gingerbread man, horse, tree, star, heart, santa hat, present, etc. I also kept half the dough to make later.

Oatmeal, raisin, chocolate chip, and walnut cookies! Phew!

Hand cutting the gingerbread shapes!

There was also a shopping run sometime in there so I could find a a last Christmas gift. Apparently, Vitré also blasts music through speakers on every corner, so I was serenaded by Lady Gaga's "Telephone," lol! I stopped by PA's mom's house to say hi to the whole family and share cookies. PA also tried to talk me into going to the doctor the next day... :/ I took the train home to Rennes for a good night's sleep.

I did feel kind of better the next morning, so I did laundry and cleaned up... Then, I noticed my ear hurting, so I went to the doctor that afternoon. Lucky me, I had a sinus infection that had spread to my ear! Tsss... I got five medicines to cure me and felt better by that evening. PA also came back to hang out with me, so it was a cozy evening of watching ninja movies and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

That brings us to Wednesday, which was PA's mom's birthday. We stopped in Leonidas for white Belgian chocolates for her. We took a bus to Saint Gregoire to meet PA's sister Nathalie, Samuel, and the kids for a ride back to Vitré for the birthday evening. I finished off the gingerbread cookie making there using shape ideas from PA and Clémentine, so we ended up with flowers, a star, a man, a sheep, a scooter (Clé's special request), a basketball, a heart, a cat, and some others I can't remember now. Everyone liked them :) We had a lovely veal and potato dinner capped off with gingerbread, a chocolate-strawberry birthday cake, and the white chocolates I had bought! Mmm!

Now, PA and I are back in Rennes to run errands. I'm going to take him to the Mairie (Mayor's building) for the lights show tonight! I'll try to film some of it to share as well! Tomorrow night is a Christmas dinner at one of his aunt's houses in Rennes, and Friday is another at another aunt's house! Lots of presents to come too!

Let me share some of my apartment Christmas decor with you:

Christmas tree surrounded by gifts!

Stockings on the "mantle."

My ornament wall says it all!

Christmas at home

I didn't even realize what I loved about the holidays and my family before I came here:

How my dad offers to bring us slices of pie.
How my mom gives us news updates on the most random things.
Everyone in their pjs in the parents room to watch tv.
Nick's jokes.
Copper shaking so that his collar jingles and his toenails scratch the floor.
Or going to Chicago and actually having to wear boots and gloves to go outside.
Seeing snow.
Eating delicious meals at Cathy's or out.
Kids running up and down the basement stairs.
Apples to Apples and other games played around the kitchen table after dinner.
Catching up with the aunts.
Home videos being pulled out.
Family gift exchanges as people drop by.
Going downtown to a play or for shopping or for eating somewhere wonderful.
Aunt Chris's delicious food as the Oschman brothers are reunited for an afternoon-long comedy sketch.
Gretchen chatting and laughing.
Old stories told again and again and again, especially if a newcomer is present.

Christmas is almost the worst part because then the anticipation is gone, then people leave again...
Until next year!

Holidays! Starting in St Malo!

Wow, a week to catch up on now! My last classes this term went well--we played a taboo-esque game that the kids enjoyed. It was kind of sad since I won't be working with these classes anymore--I have a whole new schedule for January and February. I just hope I did some good!

Then Friday was a bit of an adventure. I had to go to the immigration office for a medical exam so I could get my official residence permit. I ended up seeing five other assistants there at the same time! The process was very quick, one of the most efficient things I've seen in France or elsewhere: chest xray, immunization record, eye exam, height/weight, brief medical history, listen to lungs, check xray, blood pressure. All of this in three rooms in a hallway in under an hour! Bravo! I got my OFII sticker in my passport and immediately had a copy sent to the office for my housing assistance money. All paperwork taken care of, I'm legal!

So Katherine joined up with my afterwards and we headed to the train station to pick up Herbert, an assistant in Quimper who was coming in for an afternoon immigration appointment. He is from Louisianna, and I had talked to him on facebook before, so he asked me to be his Rennes tour guide for the day. For the morning, we walked all around the center city, ate tartines for lunch, and let him buy a jar of Mississippi Belle peanut butter at my grocery store--apparently, I'm lucky they stock it!

He headed off to his appointment, and I saw PA for a bit. When Herbert was done, it was snowing like crazy, so I took him to Le Haricot Rouge for hot chocolate and a few hours of warm, cozy conversation. They were even playing a Black Eyed Peas album, so we rocked out to that. The crowning moment of the day was the lights show at the mairie; Rennes literally projects lights onto the mayor's building in an awesome Disney-esque animation show! I'll film it sometime soon because it is every night until Janurary 2. Then poor Herbert had a 40 minute train delay! Still, he picked a good day to visit Rennes!

Saturday was a real French adventure! Katherine and I took the train to St. Malo, a walled coastal city. Even though we had slush under our feet and rain coming down on our heads, we trekked into the old city and took tons of pictures of the buildings, walls, beaches, sea! At one point, we realized that music was coming from speakers on every street corner--from Christmas carols to Rhianna! Cute or creepy? The jury is still out on that one...

Marina at the approach to the city gates.

Islands and swimming area off of St. Malo.

We had a delicious three course lunch of warm goat cheese salad, lamb and mashed potatos, and chocolate crepes. In the afternoon, the weather turned around and we had blue skies and beautiful light. We returned to the walls and walked around half the city on them, admiring the adorableness of it all. We also did a fair bit of shopping at the Christmas market (where I spent about 50 euros...) and in all the shops and enjoyed some warm, spiced wine.

Drinking warm wine!

St. Malo Christmas Market.

After a coffee and warmth break at a bar/cafe, we hit the streets again and saw a ton more people out! This led us to believe that the people of St Malo are vampires... ;) So more shopping, seeing the house of the Duchess of Anne, trying the Breton specialty butter cake, and walking the other half of the walls was on the late afternoon agenda. The lighting at the snowy beach was incredible! Just admire these photos below (and all of the ones in my Rennes Winter album) to get an idea.

We had a last cup of tea/chocolate in a classy salon du thé facing the cathedral before we had to trek back to the train station through the ice. It was a gorgeous day in a cute city full of lots of good food! A nice way to start off a holiday break.

Today I'm in the apartment resting, nursing my cold, maybe even cleaning a bit! Everyone is scattering for break, so I'll be entertaining myself for the most part. Skype me!

A cute festive touch at the St Malo market^^

Reflections

So I'm currently sick in bed (just sore throat and headache, nothing serious, Ma!), and thus I have been spending a lot of time thinking... Plus, the holidays are coming up, and this is the first year I'm not in Knoxville or Chicago with my family.

Copenhagen was a nice break from my life in France. It made me realize how settled I've become here in Rennes--the apartment is set up, I have people I like, my work schedule is normal, most of my bureaucratic duties are complete. From January until June, my life is going to be a breeze! Now I have to remind myself to make the most of it.

I really need to give kudos to EBrown, who is one of those people who can just make you think. We were talking about people who make you grow as a person, and that made me start mentally listing the family members, friends, aquaintances, professors, coworkers, etc. who have inspired and/or changed me in some way.

Family can go without saying--almost--because those are the people who always have your back. My family has been so nice in sending me letters, skyping me, facebooking me, and sending me care packages (thanks again mom and dad!) while I've been away, and it keeps me from feeling forgotten or alone. Being truly apart from them for this long makes me realize how much I take for granted every crazy holiday I usually spend with them. I miss the silliness! I miss being around people who are truly interested, invested, and involved in my life.

It also makes me think of friends who are more like family because they've been in my life so long--Jean and Danielle, I miss you so much! Life is not the same without lunch/dinner dates and movie nights with lots of laughs. Also in Knoxville, Helen and Deepa, my sworn enemies, will have no movie room and interesting conversation to entertain them this holiday. How boring for us all!

And on to my college friends... I have Marguerite, who is both hilarious and intelligent--you can laugh and philosophize with her anytime. Many an afternoon at Furman was spent wandering around the lake working through my life plans with her. Why she was able to listen to me whine that much, I'll never know, but I am eternally grateful.

Then, of course, I have my Africa group of professors and students I love dearly. These people were challenging, inspiring, silly, and serious all together, and I certainly miss that constant excitement of being in a group of caring people. Dr. Ching and Dr. Maher opened my eyes to a lot of things, and the students I was with helped me talk them out and relate them to my own life. Seeing EBrown and Lily this weekend really refreshed these feelings in me.

And this post would be amiss if I didn't mention Pierre-Antoine, the best friend I've ever had. He makes me want to go out in the world and have fun, see new places, learn new things. He's my living French dictionary and we get to teach each other about our cultures everyday--from him making his favorite tartiflette dish to me making him watch Zoolander for the first time. Every day is some little adventure that keeps me from taking life too seriously. I don't know what I would do without him.

So thanks to all of you! And to all the people I couldn't mention because I really need to go to sleep now... It's just one of those "It's A Wonderful Life" moments when you see what effect one person can have on so many--and all of you have had such a powerful effect on me.

Je vous aime ! I love you!