Le Gateau (Cake)

I haven't forsaken my blog; I just haven't had too much interesting information to write about. It has rained pretty much this whole week. And apparently this region hasn't seen this much rain in 50 years. Many of the coastal towns are flooded, and several streets have been closed. I think it will start clearing up tomorrow though. I have enjoyed the rain.

This week nothing spectacular happened. Just school. My free afternoon Wednesday was spent primarily hanging out with Cara and Paul. I feel like I have known them for my whole life, but it's only been a little over three weeks. The three of us just clicked from the very first time we met. I'm so glad to have them. This is truly a bonding experience for us.

Thursday night my host dad commenced with baking a cake for someone's birthday. He showed me all the steps for the actual cake part, and I watched him like a hawk, repeating the motions continuously in my head. Friday morning he made the cream for the cake and a syrup for a blend of fruit to go in. Friday night he cut the cake into two parts. Then he familiarly chopped kiwi, banana, peach, grapes, strawberries, and raspberries. The motions were so quick and graceful. He blended the fruits into the syrup and then took a pastry brush and painted the fruit blend onto the inside of each piece of cake. Next was the delicious cream. He globbed heaps of it onto cake and swiftly spread it out. I watched as he chopped more fruit, and the juices stained his hands. He blanketed the cream with the multicolored fruits and then laid the other half of the cake on top. Off went the cake to sit in the refrigerator for a night. He said the cake is better after waiting because the fruits have time to soak into the cream. This morning I woke up rather early, and mid-way through my breakfast my host dad came home for just a little bit to finish the cake. I watched as he made whipped cream and toasted almond slivers. Then he cut off the end of the cake and made two little cakes (one for me; one for my host mom). He spread the whipped cream on the top and sides of the cakes and then pressed the almonds around the edges. Following, he took the same fruits from the filling and made decorative slivers of each kind for the top. He cut slices of kiwi and peach so thin I thought they weren't there. He splayed out the strawberries and pressed them into the corners. What delicate craftsmanship! Did I mention my host dad used to be a pastry chef?? He finished the two little cakes and the big one. After wrapping up the big cake he took it with him and returned to work for the day. At lunch my host mom and I ate our pieces. Mmmm! C'etait parfait! Absolutely wonderful...

It rained some more this afternoon. This weekend is the world jet ski tournament in my town, but the rain has prevented me from watching the majority of it. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get to see some of the water sport action. I went into town this afternoon to meet up with some friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. After hanging out for a little bit in town, we went to a friend's (Clare) apartment. A few of us stayed and ended up playing Wii with each other and Clare's little sister. It was so much fun! Clare is British. So hearing her dad and little sister screaming words of encouragement in British and also translating the Wii instructions for the French friend playing was quite entertaining.

Now I just finished dinner. Oh one thing I need to mention.... the rain creates a lot of mist here that is incredibly beautiful when it's rising over the hills. It is breathtaking when the thin layers are seeping up into the tree line. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow that does it some justice if I can. Tomorrow night I think I'm meeting up with the same group of friends to go see "Final Destination 4" in the movie theater. Haha, that should be interesting in French!