home again

I've been home a week now and it's great to be home. Mom picked me up at the airport and I drove home for the first time in six months! My trip home was long, but I had no problems. During my layover in Frankfurt, I went into the city center and since it was late and everything was pretty much closed down, I went to the movie theater to watch a movie and kill time outside the airport. Lame movie, but a good change of scenery.
Dad spent the holidays with my grandma in upstate NY, so needless to say, Christmas wasn't the same...but I'm glad I got to see him just a few weeks before in France. Mom and I drove up the 24th to spend time with her family. I had a great time with them, as I usually do. The 25th we drove back to meet up with my brothers and their families. After a gift exchange, we spent the evening playing with Dave's new Wii. The most fun was watching Mom drive along. I'm adding a picture of me with my little nephew. Carson is adorable!

a great ending

I can't believe how quickly the end has come! Today was definitely a wonderful way to end the semester in France.
This morning I got to sleep-in since everyone in the house was off to work or the last day of school. After some packing, I went into town to meet up with some friends for lunch, some last minute shopping and one last hike up the Bastille. The weather was gorgeous! Perfect for a lovely hike! It was a great activity before our sad good-byes. I'm going to miss my friends, but I'm thankful for technology that allows me to stay close to people all over!
While I was heading home, I stopped to say good-bye to my neighbors who invited me to a little "aperitif." It was so nice of them to have me in on the spot!
Once I got home, I quickly prepared a Tex-Mex meal for my host-family of Taco Salad. We ate with the light of candles...ambiance and everything! I was soooo nervous that they wouldn't like it or that something would go wrong, but they loved it. My host-sister, Violain, who never takes seconds, did and she kept complementing me on it. My host-mom was excited to not have to cook and she was very pleased with the results. My host-dad was a bit skeptical, and in the end, I don't know how he felt about it...but Laure seemed to be pleasantly surprised.
We had a little gift exchange. I got a bath towel with my name stitched on it in French (by my host-mom), a Christmas ornament (made of chocolate!) and some lavender soap. That was very special and unexpected!
Well, I'm off to bed before I start my two-day trip home. Ready or not, here I come!

j'ai fini!

Today was the last of my final exams. It feels good to not have to come home to hit the books again. I'm so glad to be over and done with them. It's so weird to think that I'm leaving so soon. I think it's going to be hard to say good-bye to some of my new friends here. It helps to know that I'm going home to family, friends and the Christmas holidays, among other things (my bed, my car, Mexican food, my pup, etc.) That will help me be excited about the long journey home. I think I'll do plenty of sleeping along the way. I am so exhausted! First night on vacation, and I think I'm going to bed early. All these late nights studied have drained me! Well, good news is I get to sleep-in tomorrow.
It snowed again yesterday! Everything is pretty and white...boy, am I in for a change going back to winter in TX!
Well, it's off to start packing and then to bed for me!

each new day a new joy

The snow is melting, Christmas trees are coming up, Nativity scenes are being set up, Christmas Carols playing everyday on my playlist. As I count down the days until I am home in Texas again (6 days), God is faithful to show me the little (and big) rays of sunlight that remind me how blessed I am to be here. I'm enjoying every last moment of my semester here. Last week I was so excited to see about six inches of snow. It has stayed around, and I may see some of it again before I leave.
After babysitting Thursday and having a great time with the girls, I went to our end of the program dinner and shared a delicious French meal with the friends I've met and gotten to know this semester. I'm very blessed to have been put in this group.
Also, this weekend we had such beautiful weather, I went on a little hike with Alice and Megan. Just high enough to see the sun hitting on the white mountains and white Grenoble...BEAUTIFUL. I'm going to miss those afternoon hikes.
Saturday after four and a half hours of testing, and after the wonderful hike, my "host-grand-parents" had me and my host-family over for a traditional "aperitif" (pre-dinner drink) as a way to say good-bye. I enjoyed the time with them, and I wish I could take my "host-grandma" home with me. She is so cute. When we came home for dinner, I impersonated her at the dinner table and we were all laughing pretty hard.
I've had some pretty good family time with my host-family. We're all enjoying each other enough to have a good laugh more frequently.
Sunday, after a wonderful church service (with Christmas carols and the children's special and everything), my host-dad's brother and his family were over for lunch. Yet another enjoyable time with them.
Today I had my literature final, and I think it went well. Tomorrow I have my Translation final...can't really prepare for that one. Wednesday is History, Thursday is Art History, and then I'm done! Wow...I guess I need to get packing. That will probably get done when I'm supposed to be studying.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!

walking in a winter wonderland

This morning I woke up to a white outdoors. Everything was covered with a couple of inches of snow and it continued snowing all day. By the time I got home again from school, there were probably about 3 inches or more. I'm staying warm, but enjoying the snow!!!
The pictures are from my house and my walk to the bus stop.

Gearing up for finals. I have my last class on Friday morning and my first final on Saturday from 8-1pm. Four finals next week and I'm starting my journey home on the 20th. I have a long lay-over in Frankfurt (13 hrs), so I may have to do some more sight-seeing before I finish my travels.

my worlds collide

This week has been wonderful having Mom and Dad here. They've seemed to enjoy Grenoble quite a bit. I've had to continue to go to classes, but I've met up with them after class. They've done quite a bit of discovering on their own, but we've also gotten to see things that are still new to me. It's cool to see all the Christmas decorations finally lit up!!! Everything is so pretty. They've also opened up the Christmas market. It's been a little bizarre to have them see my life and friends here, but it's cool. I'm glad that now when I talk about things here, they have an image they can picture. Saturday, we took a train up to Lyon and spent the day there for the "Fete de Lumieres" (Festival of Lights). It originated from an improvised celebration, thanking Mary for protecting the City from the devastation of the plague (cholera) in 1832. From then on, the Catholics of Lyon celebrate the Virgin Mary and thank her with a huge festival that attracts people from all over the country and different parts of Europe.
Today, my host-parents and grandparents had us over for a delicious meal and wonderful cultural exchange. My brain's a bit drained from the interpreting, but I think we all had a good time. After dinner, my host-dad took us up near the house to an old monastery and we had an excellent view of the sun setting on Grenoble and the surrounding mountains.
Tomorrow Mom and Dad head to Paris. Tuesday they fly back to Texas. It's exciting to think that in less than two weeks I'll be home again!!! YAY!
Pray for my finals, good-byes and travels.
I'm off to bed...my brain is dead and I have class at 8.30am before I take my parents to the "gare" (train station).

holiday season in france

Mom and Dad made it safely into Paris last Wednesday. I met up with them at the hotel and began our Tour de France. We spent two nights in Paris, before taking a train to Strasbourg (near the German border). This weekend was the beginning mark of the Christmas season, and Strasbourg is known for their extravagant "Marche de Noel" (Christmas market) and lights throughout the town. It was all so beautiful. Definitely did the job for getting me in the mood for the season.
Today, it was kind of hard to go back to school after being with my parentals. I felt like I had been at home or somewhere on vacation...However, it's weird to think that I only have 3 weeks of school left, and then I go home. CRAZY!
Mixed feelings, but mostly excitement.
Pictures: I don't have the Paris ones, Mom does. But the ones I'm adding are from Strasbourg....beautiful!