faux pas

Today we went to the creperie in Sceaux. From the outside it is just a window and door with a simple blue sign with “CREPERIE” above the window. It is only open from 11-2 and 7-9 everyday. How French.

It is oh-so-cute. Coline didn’t have a lot of school today because there is a strike for the public workers who want the retirement age to be changed. Or maybe they want it to stay the same. I’m not sure… Anyway, because Coline goes to a public school, some of her teachers decided to strike so we went out for lunch!

The past two days I have tried to go to the Creperie but because of their unusual hours I haven’t gone at the right time. We sit down at the table and the waitress comes over with an English menu for me and French menus for everyone else. She asked me what would like to drink. It was still morning, I hadn’t been awake for a very long time, so naturally a coffee would be nice. NOT SO. Coline burst out laughing when I ordered a coffee and I asked why, she said that in France we have coffee AFTER THE MEAL. Sacré bleu. Fortunately everyone saw it as a charming mistake not an idiot-American faux pas. But I will certainly not make THAT mistake again.

Another Fun Fact about eating crepes the "proper" way, you order two or three crepes a meal. Either two savory and one sweet, or if you are feeling good, one savory and two sweet. Of course you can just have two if you wish, which is what I did. First I had a chevre crepe which was divine and then I finished with a nutella crepe. I have never felt happier.

The man who owns the creperie was the most gracious host, allowing me to speak French with him and always responding in slow French or English. Ca c’est trés gentil. Non?

Day One.

I arrived early sunday morning. So early. I hardly slept on the plane so I was awake for nearly 24 hours. And then I was up all day. YAY JETLAG.

Jean-Yves picked me up at the airport and drove me straight home. The early morning light and mist made everything soft. Sceaux, the village where I am staying, is very close to Versaille and the man who designed the gardens of Versaille also designed a garden right here in Sceaux. (or something like that). More about the garden in a minute. The Renault’s house is just gorgeous. It is a big old house with a blue fence and a lovely backyard. The downstairs is still being renovated.

They are all very proficient in English which, honestly is very helpful, mostly because of the jetlag. I did get to hear them speak French and I spoke a little bit of French with them. They also speak English with eachother sometimes which is really very helpful. I think they will slowly move to more French in general so that I can learn more, but I will keep speaking English with the kids. Some of their friends came over and they were speaking very fast French so that was fun and also scary…

I keep singing songs in my head that are English songs but I automatically translate them to French. My favorite so far was “C’est ma vie, c’est maitenent ou jamais” ( That’s “It’s my life” by Jon Bon Jovi. Also, “pomme derriere jeans et bottes avec la POILS, AVEC LA POILS” (Apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur) WHY

a few fun facts: “wifi” is prounounced “weefee”

Coline was making fun of people with bad French accents when they speak English.

Le phrase plus importante pour moi, ça c’est “excuse-moi de vous déranger madame…” it means “I’m sorry to disturb you madame…”

some things i'm not sure about...

So I leave in 3 days. I'm sorry about the delayed posting my many followers.

I've been quite busy over the last few months. But I'm here now and that's what counts.

I just got back from two weeks camping and hanging out in Ocean Springs, Mississippi with 50 junior high kids. it was quite something I must say. The clouds there are gorgeous in the morning and at night. I wish I brought my camera.

During this trip I had a lot of time to think about France and all the will happen there and it occurred to me that there are several things I'm not sure what will happen. I made a list. I call it the "WHAT? WHAT? WHAT WILL I DO??" list

The list so far:

-Laundry? they must wash their clothes in france. but where will i wash MY clothes.

-Saying years in French? its really hard! In English we just say "nineteen blah blah blah" but they make it really confusing by saying the thousand part...

-Saying numbers above 69? "they" (I mean francophones) start doing math when they count above 69. By this I mean, instead of saying "seventy" they say "sixty and ten" and "eighty" becomes "four twenties" and to make it even MORE confusing, "ninety" is "four twenties ten" WHAT??? I can do it in English but then in FRENCH???

-What if Luna dies? that would be so sad.

-SCOTCH TAPE? love scotch tape. do french people use scotch tape??

I'll add to the list if i think of things.