Couch occupé

I have an interesting family. We are not all globed together in one city, let alone one state. I have grandmas in California, aunts and uncles in Australia, cousins in New Jersey, Alaska, Texas, and New Zealand, and even more family members in Canada, South Africa, Croatia and Switzerland. Sure we have very few family reunions, but being spread-out across the globe gives us the chance to travel, a fact I know I have made use of on more than one occasion. That said, with me living in Clermont-Ferrand, I was bound to get some visitors.

In November, my cousin Christina from Alaska came to stay. She had been staying in Europe for the 5 previous months and she finally had some time to visit me. In total she stayed with me for 3 weeks, which had the potential to be strenuous with both of us in my small apartment, but it was fantastic! It was so nice to have someone to cook for and eat with.

I introduced Christina to my many friends and my partying lifestyle. We went out quite a bit, drinking and dancing until the wee hours of the morning on many occasions. My dear friend, Brandon, and I decided to host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner party chez lui for the big day! We managed to find all of the necessary ingredients, except for cranberries which apparently don’t exist in Europe, and even a 5 kilo turkey, which is huge by European standards. Baking pies and doing some of the prep work the night before helped lighten the load for the following day. 

Christina and I were at Brandon’s by noon to start cooking! The turkey was the first order of business: luckily it was plucked and ready to go (you never know here). We buttered her up and popped her in! Then came the hard part: Brandon’s kitchen is much smaller than any kitchen back home, so preparing a meal for 13 people required some strategy and planning. But by the end, everything worked out to perfection! Yum!

What a beauty!

             Marshmallow perfection!                

Homemade pies on the window sill...

Looking good! 

Dinner! Bon appetite! 

The finished product.... SO GOOD!!

Come December, the Christmas market was in full swing at Place de la Victoire! There were booths selling all sorts of goodies: candles, chocolates, ornaments, clothes, scarves, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and everything Christmas-y. Eating a piping hot plate of Truffard—the local potato and cheese dish—while the snow fell was amazing and made it even tastier! 

One afternoon we went to Royattonic, a spa in a nearby suburb. As the delicate snow fell, each unique flake falling with grace to the snow covered ground, we plunged into the warm waters of the spa! The spa included indoor and outdoor pools of warm water, hot tubs, hammams,  saunas and an ice-cold frigidarium… it was heaven! Being warm while the snow feel around us was incredible and beautiful! We left feeling clean, warm, rejuvenated, and simply fabulous! 

As you can't take pictures inside, I borrowed this from the site. I know it's not in focus, but it gives you a rough idea... http://www.royatonic.com/galerie_photos/galerie_interieur.asp

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted…

My first month in Clermont was an interesting one. As some of you may have heard, there were debilitating, violent strikes all over the country about the retirement reform (the retirement age was moved from 60 to 62). 

Well, American media has a flare for the dramatic; there were indeed strikes here but they were in no way the dangerous, revolutionary revolts they were made out to be! Sure, buses and trains were on strike which made getting to school impossible for a few days but hey, who can complain about a free get-out-of-school pass? Yet, once the buses started functioning again the high schoolers started to strike… about retirement reform! 

The students blocking the entrance to the school. 

 So, my first official week to have my own classes was postponed because there were only about 4 students from a class of 30. This went on for the week before the fall break (no coincidence, I’m sure) which was a week of vacation (yes, a paid vacation my first month on the job… don’t ya just love France!). I packed my bags and went first to Grenoble and then to Paris. 

A quick back-story about why I was going to Grenoble— shortly after I arrived in Clermont, I received an email from Marina Fuchs saying that we were related on my paternal grandfather’s side. So, we began to chat and sure enough my family tree had exploded! My great-great grandfather’s brother is Marina’s great grandfather—distantly related, needless to say. After emailing back and forth a bit, Marina kindly invited me to come visit. Well, I’d never been to Grenoble and I was curious to meet my new family. 

I arrived in Grenoble and settled into my room for the weekend. Marina and her husband Jean-Charles have a lovely home on the mountain side, overlooking the beautiful city of Grenoble.

The next day we were invited to lunch at Marina and Jean-Charles’ daughter’s home. Well, Marina and I both share a love for cooking, so we made fresh pasta to bring along!!! I had never made pasta from scratch before; it was a lot of work, but well worth the effort! 

Marina mixing the ingredients for pasta! 

Drying pasta... 

... on a broomstick! 

We had a great lunch getting to know one another. Alexandra has three beautiful children who showed me around their farm—horses, dogs, and a goose, OH MY! We played a bit despite the rain and continued to get to know one another. 

Alexandra's home

The really cool lake-pool

Lunch! Yum Yum! 

  Later, Marina, Jean-Charles and I, accompanied by the adorable Emilie, went to a pumpkin/harvest festival. Under the safety of our umbrellas, we explored each booth selling local cheese, honey, mead, baskets, and art. Oh the cheese was divine!

Grenoble from Marina and Jean Charles' balcony! 

 After Grenoble, I was Paris bound. I was able to stay with my old roommate, Anas, in my old apartment. Nostalgia was in the air… it felt so good to walk up my old stairs, explore my old market, and visit all of my old stompin’ grounds!

My first evening in Paris was a special one… accompanied by old Parisian/American friends, Michel and Michelle, we had a lovely, albeit quick, dinner chez Michel consisting of the best cheese, bread and wine Paris had to offer! 

 Running late for the evening’s event, we inhaled the delicious treats and went off to the theater. Becoming Parisian in One Hour was a one man show in English performed by a Parisian. It was hilarious! His global message: to be Parisian, you must look like you have something better you could be doing at all times, even during sex! It was a riot!

 The rest of the week was filled with visiting the city and seeing old friends. I dined with my dear friend Tolan from Tucson (who was doing a semester abroad), lunched with my old professor and classmates from Sciences Po, and painted the town red with more old friends. It was a great week, needless to say!

Tolan and me in front of Les Deux Magots, a very famous cafe in Saint Germain des Pres! 

Then it was back to Clermont, back to work, back to this so called ‘real-life’ I’m living!