L'Anniversaire de Christophe (Christophe's Birthday)

I've definitely started getting into the Christmas spirit after December rolled around. At first it was hard because Thanksgiving wasn't present this year, but now I've been listening to Christmas music, wrapping presents, and making cards. I haven't had the chance to make a Thanksgiving meal for my host parents. I don't know if we'll have time to get around to it. I converted all the recipes and made a list of ingredients in French but without a break from school for Thanksgiving I didn't really have the time. Thanksgiving week passed slowly. It was the most homesick I've been since arriving. My family in the States didn't do anything too special, but it made me miss my house, cooking with everyone, our fireplace with a fire in it (although our fireplace here is lit all the time which warms my soul). Plus I missed decorating the tree which is always something joyous to look forward to. I love all the Christmas decorations that consume much of my house the day after Thanksgiving. To say the least, I was feeling a bit blue.

However, this past weekend was the perfect antidote for my not-so-perfect mood. Saturday, the 5th, was Christophe's (my host dad) 50th birthday. In celebration of this, his mother and his sister with her daughter and the daughter's boyfriend, came down from outside of Paris, his brother came to Cavalaire from Alsace, and his other sister came from Rome with her Italian husband and their two daughters. It was so wonderful to meet them all! Everyone was extremely warmhearted and kind. His sisters told me to come stay with them anytime; definitely opportunities I will try and take advantage of in some point in my future. The weekend was spent eating a bounty of food and talking a plentiful amount as well. I spoke a good bit with Amelie (Christophe's niece) and her boyfriend Nicolas, and I also spent a good bit of time with Elisa (one of the nieces from Italy). We ate every night at a house just up the road that has a bit more room. My host parents' friend owns it and rents it out in the summer. Every night we ate at a long, lovely decorated table. It was so picturesque in the cute little French house with everyone talking and laughing, toasting, and passing around the delicious food. Saturday night for dessert we had a lavender cake with raspberries that Christophe made. It was delectable. Christophe also made Manala for Sunday morning breakfast. Manala is an Alsatian bread shaped like a little man. They look similar to gingerbread men except they're puffy and bready. It went great with my morning cup of coffee. Christophe also made a Tarte Tropezienne. It was mouthwatering as well. It was a weekend full of jubilation which made me completely lose all traces of homesickness. I truly feel like a member of this family. I'm very comfortable with my host parents, and I'm starting to realize how extremely hard it's going to be to change host families and in a few short months come back to the U.S. But, I make myself focus on living in the now and concentrate on soaking up every moment as it happens, so I'll cross those bridges when I get to them.

This weekend really boosted my confidence in language skills. I've realized that I understand basically everything now, give or take some words. Speaking remains as the more difficult task, but I've definitely progressed a substantial amount and will continue to do so. My classes at school are much easier to follow as well. And after hearing my host parents' nieces fire off rapid Italian to one another, I think I'm going to try and sit in on one of the Italian classes at school when I have a free period. It's an advanced class not for beginners, but since it's during my free period I figure why not. I can at least be exposed to it.

The town is now decorated in Christmas lights which were illuminated this past weekend. A sleigh with reindeer is down in town along with other lights on the light poles and the likes. I'll take some pictures next time I'm down in town at night. Seeing all the family and then the Christmas lights and receiving my Christmas package with all my presents from my parents has cast an air of delight over me. I've been in the blissful mood that comes this time of year. My host mom's parents have been at their little house in Cavalaire for the past two weeks but are going back to Alsace tomorrow morning. Tonight after dinner they took some of my Christmas presents for me so I wouldn't have to take them on the plane on the way over. They'll be waiting for me. The time is passing my very quickly. Just the second half of this week, next week, and then I'm leaving for Alsace for Christmas. I've signed up for a trip with the youth center in Cavalaire to go to Paris the 27th to the 31st of December. I'm extremely excited and will blog about that more as it gets closer to time and then of course after. For now bonne nuit. I have sport tomorrow morning, which equates to running in the cold. Alors, it's necessary that I get some sleep.