leaving on a jet plane...

Here we are again, going back to France. That is the reason why I started this blog in the first place. This time, I'm going with my parents and am anxious to show them the France I love!

For your viewing pleasure...

This year marks the 120th year anniversary for the Eiffel Tower. Originally built for the World's Fair in 1889, the tower has become a symbol of France. The tower has gotten controversial reviews and has undergone threats of tearing it down numerous times. Guy de Maupassant ate there frequently because it was the only place in Paris he could not see the unsightly monument.


At any rate, there is a new lighting display for the tower in honor of its anniversary.

Nous allons en France

chateau and gardens of Villandry


La cathédrale

The castle in Angers

So, in November, its back to my homeland for another trip filled with joy, laughter, wine and cheese. My host family has graciously offered to host me once again. This time, I'm going with my parents. My biological family meets my host family. Neither side is fluent in the other's native tongue--this should be interesting! I have my plane and TGV tickets and am ready to head out in early November for 9 days.

The highlight of the trip is going with my parents. This is my opportunity to shine. I plan to show them my love for all things French and that my language skills aren't too shabby either. Like going on a safari, they will be able to see me in my natural habitat. The land of the brie and home of the cave!

Marie-Laure and Marie-Edith sent me a proposed itinerary. We are so fortunate that Marie-Laure was able to take 2 days off to spend with us. They propose visiting the chateau of Villandry and its magnificent gardens, the Cointreau museum, the mushroom museum, eating in an underground cavern restaurant and visiting the chateau in Angers. There is plenty of time left in the itinerary for wines, cheeses, pastries, baguettes and any other delicacies that are viewed as every day in my homeland. I can almost smell the buttery goodness now.

Encore Peter from Provence

Its been a while since I've posted anything. I was beginning to wonder how long I would neglect this blog. Alas, I am back . . . with exciting news! One of my favorite authors, Peter Mayle, has a new book coming out tomorrow : The Vintage Caper. Its another work of fiction. In celebration of this new release, I'm reading an old release : Anything Considered. I am often presented with an author that is new to me and read all of their books and then am left on pins and needles for the next one. J.K. Rowling, Dan Brown and Peter Mayle have all been authors that do not have many books to choose from but are all wonderful reads. Incidentally, I'm reading Dan Brown's new book, too. I am making some effort to pace myself so I have things to read without repeating the "waiting for the new book" blues. Kudos to this new book -- I can't wait!

Home from Haiti

I just got back from Haiti and my mind is swimming! Once I get my thoughts all sorted out, I'll post news and notes about my trip.

College Missions Trips

When I was in college, I was part of a group called HOPE Fellowship which stood for His Own People Eternally. I haven't spoken of this group in a long time. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It started out as the best and after 4 years, it ended up as the worst.

During our good times, we went on missions trips instead of going home for the entire Christmas break or going home for Spring break at all. We went to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New York City and Washington DC. Our work included: soup kitchens, clothing closets, building houses, visiting churches, prayer walking, playing with kids or any number of tasks.

These trips opened my world to different cultures within our own country. I was exposed to poverty, homeless, religions and lots more. It sounds more tame than it actually was but it was the start of my need to trot the globe. Since then, I've gone more places and found that basically, people have the same needs no matter where they are. They need food, clothing, shelter, acceptance and most importantly love.

New York City soup kitchen

Our team in New Orleans

Our trips always involved a road trip!

Trip Prep

That's right, I'm trying to get my act together for Haiti. Its been a difficult adventure having to prepare lesson plans in detail of the entire program. Not so much doing the plans but having to state the obvious because Haitian teachers don't 1. do lesson plans and 2. do not consider the obvious that we consider. I even have to mention things as rudimentary as "participants will take notes as the presenter talks"--sounds rather blatant but its true these things need to be said. Its like being in undergrad education again!

I'm also waiting on a verdict from our church's Mission Commission to see if they will grant me money for this trip.

I've also been wasting my time as of late on Facebook. I started an account a long time ago with an alias but then decided to own up to my identity. Sure enough, the same day I admitted who I was, where I live and where I went to school people came out of the woodwork rather quickly. Now, I'm struggling with being known and the privacy of anonymity.

Lucie Aubrac

Lucie as a young woman

Her famous book

Teaching well past retirement age for the greater good

Movie starring Daniel Auteuil and Carole Bouquet

Her last book

During World War II, while many countries, groups and individuals were being oppressed and oppressing others, a group of French citizens decided to take action against the Nazis.  They were aptly named La Résistance.  Their acts included secret messages over the BBC radio, underground newspapers and dismantling railroads to derail trains pulling intended residents of concentration camps.  The most famous person from the Resistance was Jean Moulin, a man who organized people with the cooperation of General Charles de Gaulle.  Ultimately, he was tortured to death at the hands of Klaus Barbie, the butcher of Lyon.  

One of the unsung heroes of the Resistance is Lucie Aubrac.  Lucie and her husband Raymond stuck it out with Moulin and many others to set their country free and overturn the occupation.  Lucie Aubrac is a fairly recent discovery of mine, within the last few years.  I visited the Resistance museum in Paris and the Barracks at Chateaubriant but there was no mention of Lucie Aubrac.  She has left a legacy for her family, her country and the world.  Participating in the Resistance was not the last the world heard of her.  She spent the rest of her life giving lectures on the activities of the Resistance and the terrors they were fighting against.  Even up to her last year of life (2007) she was teaching, speaking and lecturing giving millions a first hand account of the triumphs and set backs she and her associates endured.

My renewed interest in her life has come as a result of being in France and buying her famous book Outwitting the Gestapo or the French title being "they will leave in a stooper" (Ils partirons dans l'ivresse).  There was a motion picture made of her involvement which is a wonderful depiction since it was assisted by Lucie herself and directed by Claude Bérri (also made Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources)  Her latest book, La Résistance expliquée à mes petits-enfants (The Resistance explained to my grandchildren) is a less graphic story as it is intended for younger audiences.  If anything, watch the movie to get an idea of her life, legacy and effect. 

Quiche Lorraine

Homemade pâté brisée dough ready to be rolled into the crust

Crust pre-baked and ready to join the rest

Final product!

After reading Walt's blog this morning, I was inspired to make a quiche for dinner.  I do this periodically when I'm in the mood for this succulent dish or when I'm feeling extra French.  I made it with provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon and ham.  As chic as this sounds, they were leftovers that I thought weren't enough to do anything with on their own.  Together, they make a great combinaison.  In addition to the great ingredients, it was made in my quiche pan that was gift from my favorite French teacher, Madame Shelton.  Voilà et Bon Appétit!

Castles and Cathedrals of France

 

Locations by row:

1. Saumur, La Rochelle, Chambord, Angers, Chambord, Angers
2. Chambord, Saumur, Angers, Amboise, Paris, St Germain en laye
3. Paris, Angers, Versailles, Angers, Angers, Doué la Fontaine
4. Angers, Louveciennes, Versailles, Versailles, La Rochelle, Paris
5. Guérande, St Germain en laye, La Rochelle, Rochefort en Terre, Paris, Amboise
6. Angers, Angers, Amboise, Paris, Guérande, Angers
7. La Rochelle, Chenonceaux, Paris, Chartres, Chartres, Saumur
8. Chenonceaux, La Rochelle, Guérande, St Germain en laye, Angers, Chenonceaux

La Cuisine de France

 

This is a collage of food I've had in France.  Bon Appétit!

Return to Provence

Perhaps you know already, but, the first time I went to France was to study abroad.  I went to Avignon, located in the south of France, namely Provence.  Provence has been popular generation after generation for thousands of years for various reasons.  Written by Frédéric Mistral; painted by Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne; filmed based on stories by Marcel Pagnol; inhabited by kings and popes; composed by Georges Bizet; visited by millions including Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Jefferson and Julius Caesar.  Studying in Provence, I found myself in good company.

Since then, I discovered an English writer who was seduced by Provence and abandoned his motherland to live the provençal life.  Peter Mayle has shared so much about the provincial provençal life that he learned much of the time by accident or some faux pas.  He has written books of fact and fiction that always is centered in Provence.  His non-fiction books are a fun way to learn about Provence from a foreign perspective, not necessarily the insiders view.  His first book, A Year in Provence, is a detailed adventure of moving to the rural part of Provence and being subjected to many suspicions of the natives.  

He's a favorite author of mine and I am always waiting for him to publish something new.  Some of his books I have hung onto waiting for the opportune time to revive my love of his concise and descriptive style of life, love and food of Provence.

I recently renewed my love affair with Peter Mayle's wit and accuracy of the region by picking up Chasing Cézanne, Hotel Pastis and Provence A - Z.  The first two being novels and the latter is a dictionary or manual to elements important or common in Provence.

One of the most fascinating things I have ever seen in France is the scenery. The first time I was in France, I was studying in Avignon, Provence. When my program was completed, I headed to the suburbs of Paris to meet up with my long-time friend, Delphine. She and her family were so gracious to show me around Paris and the suburbs. Our tour included the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, mass at Notre Dame and so many other sites. One of my favorite things in their home town of Louveciennes was the artists that had spent time there.  Namely, Pissarro and Sisley, impressionists that painted the buildings of Louveciennes. The fascinating thing is the sites still look very much the same plus a few modern additions. A replica of the painting is placed near the site in the perspective that is supposed to be that of the artist.

I am not a fan of impressionism, actually, but I am a fan of these postings around Paris. Its a surreal occasion when you stand at the altar in Notre Dame where Napoléon crowned himself, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed and where artists found their muse.

Mansion in Louveciennes

Baudot's impression of the same mansion

House and yard in Louveciennes

Pissarro's depiction of the same house

Back to Haiti

The girls on the left stayed close to me all week while I worked with them in Haiti.  They taught me a lot of Creole, too.  The girl in light pink (far left) had the same name as me!

Its true, I may be going back to Haiti.  I went for the first time in August 2006 and then a second time in April 2007.  This new opportunity would be in April of this year.  I have been invited to go by a non-profit organization called Pwof Ansanm.  I have been doing translation for them for the last year for educational purposes.  One of the documents I worked on was presented to the government of Haiti in order to be adopted as educational law.  Their objective is to improve the educational standards in Haiti and thereby teaching Haitian teachers methods and techniques that increase student achievement.  

In addition to translating for them, I have also contributed lesson plans of my own.  The program is a week long series of seminars from April 6 to 10.  I would present lessons, techniques and methods to increase critical thinking for students.  The great thing about me going is that I do not need a translator and can teach them directly without a middle-man (or woman).  

I'll let you know more as soon as I know it.  All preparations are being made now for the program, the participants, the location, lodging, flights, and finances.  Please pray that the finances will be provided by the grants being written or by some other means.

Can you believe I haven't been out of the country for over a year?  I'm starting to go a little stir crazy!