Day 16: Church and Lounging

It was a bright and early morning today. We had to leave the house at 9:15am, and for those of you who don't think that is too early, we just moved our clocks ahead one hour last night so Kezia and I have had two spring aheads this month.

Church was nice, quite the drive, but still really nice. The sermon was in French, although the Pastor was kind enough to read some things in English although the accent was slightly hard to understand. We also sang hymms in French and I had to try really hard not to laugh. Kez and I have agreed that William (my uncle) speaks French but with a very English accent; he just says the French words without the pronounciation - it's quite cool. Anyways, I had him singing with an English accent beside me, a man behind me singing extremely low, then the lady beside him was singing high-pitch opera all the while Kezia and I were trying to keep in tune with the organ. Quite the sight to see. A lot of singing, then a lot of talking and they would start praying and you of course wouldn't know until half way through. It was over soon enough where we all packed back into the car to head home.

Oh, I forgot to mention that on the way we toured past those "Bûcher"s which are still in the process of being built. You can see it here on the right: the little base of it is that log thing on the left, and the little house is a watch house because a few years ago, people would burn them early to ruin the hard work and celebration. So now they are guarded so as to not be detroyed before the official night of burning or what not. They basically are just criss-crossed log towers filled with tree branches that will be lit on fire the first Saturday before St. John's day or something like that. Then on the 30th of June it's the town's birthday party and there is more excitement and the like. We also passed some firefighters practicing down by the river which was cool to see, and then we headed home. Since today is a Sunday everything is closed and all there is to do is lounge around. I have been thinking about taking a mid-day shower, but Marilyn ALWAYS finds something to do or somewhere to take us, and I know that if I take one, I won't have enough time to get ready.

Another good thing though about Sunday (if I have listed a good thing already) is that for lunch we get a huge feast! I am very excited, but I have also mentioned to William that tomorrow, if possible, Kez and I would love to have soup since it's been quite some time since I have had any.

That's all for now, hope to talk to some of you later but it seems that this even greater time change is making it impossible to phone you guys. I guess you'll just have to enjoy the silence. =b

Gros Bisous

Day 15: Shopping, Delphine and Parades

Hello All,
The plan today is that we are taking the train and going back to Mulhouse (which is where we were yesterday, pronounced "Mool_oose" or something. I got in trouble for pronouncing it "Mul-house") and Delphine is taking us. Thus she has told me that she can get me boots, a pea coat, pants and a tshirt for about 150 euro. I think she is crazy because that deal is unthinkable in Canada, but I am excited to see what she can do. She is basically our own personal translator but very cute and funny. I'm starting to have the urge to leave Kez behind, but I wouldn't do that since it could damage our friendship.

Delphine has to go later because her class at school is building this giant fort that looks like a skinny cabin. In June they burn it and create large bonfires which I think is a symbol of the finished school year. These things are called "bûcher"s. And they brûler which means to burn. A bûche is a log, so that only makes sense... ahaha.

We were going to go the Parade but it was too late so we ended up going for dinner instead. It looked like this family restaurant more-so, and it seemed to be very italian. I got this steak and a HUGE plate of french fries. It was sooo amazing. Basically they had it in creme of mushroom sauce, which I hate, but it was actually amazing. The plate the whole thing was served on was probably about twice the size of a regular dinner plate - just huge. I was SO full when I finished, but I didn't let the meal defeat me (James, you would be so proud of me). Then, Marilyn asked if I wanted dessert and then added that "you always have room for dessert" due to a comment I had made on a previous night where I said I was full after eating, but jumped at the offer of dessert. She had asked " but I thought you said you were too full to eat more dinner?" where I replied, "You ALWAYS have room for dessert." So at Marilyn's comment when we were out for dinner, I gladly accepted her offer and had a large bowl of icecream. Basically my bowels were not impressed, but I was with myself and that is all that matters.

That's definitely all that happened that night, including a massive sugar-high and a spree of quoting flight of the conchords. Later my gators, et
Gros Bisous

Day 14: Delphine and Adventures

Bonjour à Tous Mes Amis qui n'ont pas une vie!

Today Marilyn took Kezia and I into Mulhouse where we walked around by ourselves until 1pm. I bought some children's books in French and then decided to keep almost all of them because I am just that cool. Anyways, we did find ourselves in this sketchy part of town so turned around and headed back to the train station where we met up with Marilyn.


Kez and I walked back up the long hill to the house and waited here until Mariyln returned with Delphine who was coming by train. Her English is much better than our french but she speaks mostly french with us because I feel bad making her speak english. We walked around this small town and the one and basically only clothing store I had been dying to go in had nothing I wanted and thus I am extremely sad that I might not buy any clothes from Europe this time. =(

Delphine took Kez and I to this little cafe where if you go along the side and to the back there is a seating area. It's cute because it's a little bakery yet there is this whole little cafe side to it, it was really cute. From there we walked back and are currently awaiting supper while Delphine looks at the photos on my camera which happen to be awkward and embarassing. I find it harder to talk to Delphine in French because I am more nervous about talking to her in French, thus the words come out very strange and not at all how I want them to or how I would usually say them. Although according to Delphine, Kezia and I speak better French than the kids in their school speak English, but I also think that those students don't learn English so maybe we aren't as good as I think. ahaha


Pictures to come (although very few) and I will write more when the day is more so over. I think tonight we will watch "Good Will Hunting" or possibly "Ocean's Eleven." I am not entirely sure.

For now, Gros Bisous!

Night Time Write

Still the 27th and I have declared that I have gone to bed. The rest of the fam-jam is watching Swan Lake and I decided to quickly put up some pictures and have consumed myself in blogging and adding pictures.

I thought because there are multiple days in which I had no access to a computer of any sort and thus there are quite a few days where there is no explanation and no pictures, I would add a few and explain them in any random order I feel suits me because truly, you guys have no real say - ahaha...

Megan being quite the model while we had some free time in Dresden. Dresden is a small town on the outskirts of Germany where I DID speak German in a small cafe and ordered hot chocolate (go figure). Alex, Megan and I walked around and I made them model for me as I took many candid looking shots - which I love but they may not. Also, Dresden is where the "Zwinger Museum" is located. It's a famous art museum that has a lot of wall paintings that could easily appear to be the size of a basic wall in a house. Our guide was quite creepy and showed us only nude photos before exploring the topic of having two wives = one for show (the skinny one) and the other for the bedroom (the one with the lesser anorexic appeal). A cool thing about the museum is that the background colour of the walls in the building are coloured to show you what country they come from, ie: red is Italian, Gray is French, etc etc.



So in this next photo you can see me and Gregg and I'm not sure exactly what I am doing. I do know however that this is the same day and the same walking tour as the picture of me inticing the birds. I am almost positive this is in Poland, but I can't say for sure since all the places and all the countries started to blend half way in. We were actually walking to a church and it ended up being closed since it was the one church to be selected for the Easter ceremony, oh well. Instead we walked to a Jewish Synagogue and then proceeded to Schindler's Factory which is under constructed since it is being turned into a museum. Ahh, so that makes this photo in Krakow - you can see that I basically have to remember the whole day just to figure out where we are, lol.

Kezia being eaten by a spraypainted bug in Krakow, Poland.

Me eating sushi in Poland. A very weird feeling to be eating sushi made by Polish people in a Polish, yet very Korean looking restaurant. Definitely the grossest Miso soup I've ever had, it was authentic with real seaweed and gross-ness... never again. The rest of the food was good, although very small portioned. I am actually eating ginger in that picture, notice how it isn't pink? That's because in Canada we dye our ginger to look pink, crazy, hey?

Buahahaha, I grafitied the Berlin wall. That was probably one of my favourite days although the camera settings were not on properly and thus the photos aren't looking too good, oh well. But yes, extremely windy, but SO good. I'll give you a few more without explanations.






















Anything that you guys want pictures of, just let me know and I will put them up. I have over 500 so it is hard to pick out a few, and I am guessing you want to see pictures of us rather than the same old-same old scenery; but I could be wrong. More to come upon request.

Day 13: Places in France We Don't Know the Names Of:

Today was an adventure. We attempted to go to an old concentration camp but the road was too snowy so we turned around and went somewhere else. We ended up going to this old village that is surrounded by these huge walls in some giant star like shape that looks sort of like the star of David. Anyways, the walls are very high so that when people tresspassed they could use the Rhine river to flood and drown anyone in the moat (since they would keep the moat dry for that very reason). The bells from the church inside the village went off and it sounded sooo gorgeous, it was just so amazing.


We then went to some town where we walked around and went through a "Little Venice" and then some. Marilyn bought Kezia and I (unknown to us at the time) these GORGEOUS necklaces. They are wonderful and we are just so unbelievably greatful for her genorousity.

We then took a long and confusing drive home because I'm assuming they were fed up with the Tom Tom or whatver they call it. I also noticed that where we are is completely surrounded by wineries = Kezia and I end up having wine every single night although we completely do not fancy it whatsoever. We drink it to be polite and to uphold this traditional dinning etiquettte although I am quite sure this will not translate back in Canada.

I plan to put some pictures up but there are so many emails and things I have yet to do while sharing one computer with Kezia and I hate to hog.

Other than that, tomorrow we meet Delphine and we plan to go into town and buy a whole bunch of things.. or at least I do (go figure).

Much love to those at home and thanks for all the prayers and love,
Gros Bisous!

Day 12: Alsace-Lorraine, France!

Bonjour Mes Amis!
For all of you who do not speak French, tough luck. ahaha

Actually, here Kez and I are allowed to speak very little English. Marilyn wants us to only speak in French - it's quite hard for me but not for Kez.

So! As of right now, I am in France and typing is very difficult because this is a French keyboard. The "." are on the other side of the keyboard, like... by the number keypad. So you can understand, the "a" and the "q" are switched, the "," has switched with the "m", the "z" switched with "w" and the "!" is no longer shift + "1". Crazzzzy.

Anyways, Kez and I are having a really good time here. It was the first good sleep in a very long time. My aunt's house is extremely amazing! Soooooo nice. We get to share this GIANT room and the bed is amazingly comfortable! I basically love it here and if it wasn't for all of you back home, I'm pretty sure I would stay here forever. ahaha

It's SOOO good to hear that you guys are reading the blog. It makes me happy to know that it's going to some good use. I should let Kez on, so much love and I will talk to you guys later! I'll try and upload some pictures as soon as possible!

This to the left is Crosby. He is an inside cat at night and outside cat during the day. He is amazingly adorable and he makes me miss Miso. He's quite the character in the sense he only likes to be pet on the head and hates it when you pick him up. He also has quite the set of lungs and vocal range, lol.

ps. Mom you must love the fact that I now type like you - staring at the keyboard and not at the screen. Doing the finger typing... yeah, all those lessons in all the right type have gone to waste.. blah.

Gros Bisous! (oh, and I've heard you guys are now starting to copy me with that. lol)

Day 5: Krakow, Poland

03.19.08/03.20.08

Hello My Loves!
Today was up bright and early - well, not-so bright, but yes-so early.
We were all on the bus at 5am for a very long and tiring 7hour trip to
Poland. It's very cold here and we're all freezing (thank GOODNESS I
bought new gloves to keep my hands warm).

After quite a few pathetic stops were poor attempts to find food, we arrived at Auschwitz, and had a very cold, very depressing experience. We got caught in what could almost be declared a snow storm, and we were outside for a huge portion of it. I won't go into detail, but there was this one room we went into, and once you turned the corner, the WHOLE wall behind the glass was filled with hair found there. It was just horrible. I defintely couldn't hold myself together. A lot of things are SO much more real when you see the actual things. You see the pictures and you go "oh wow, that sucks" then you see the ACTUAL piles and piles of shoes, glasses, clothes, bags, and you go "I can't handle this, this happened and it's not fabricated, it's real."


On a lighter note, the meeting I had to leave for was about not getting separated. Funny how the group leadlers ditched Gregg and I to wander around Czech Republic's town for 5 hours. Good thing we met up with Kezia and Alex, and then enjoyed some nice hot chocolate. I think I've had about ... hmm.. 10 cups of hot chocolate... at least. It's my escape. Not a very good one, but it'll do. I've also found that Fanta was SO much better in gr.9. I guess my tastes for things is changing.

---
It's 6:40am. I can't sleep. I've been sick since the beginning of the trip, so I went to bed RIGHT after dinner = 8pm. Or maybe it was 9pm. I can't remember. I just went out like a light. So got up at 5:30am to shower, and now I'm on the hotel's computer since Maverick requires the hairdryer on and the girls are sleeping. Other than the keyboard sucking, this internet is free and there's no line. Which is good for me.


Today I think we have shopping in Krakow - and then from there on, I'm not really sure. I never know our itinerary. I should go do my hair or such. Don't hesitate to email me. I feel so lonely with no one wanting to talk to me =b.

(<- Me attempting to feed the pigeons on a completely separate day that I forgot to blog about. These birds are definitely not interested in the lack of bread that I have to offer =/).

Gros Bisous!
-Emily