tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40818828539907094542024-02-20T11:20:25.503+01:00"un(e)-americain(e)" in francea seattleite's un-american adventures while living it up in lille, francekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-69719351988203871292011-07-26T18:33:00.000+02:002011-07-26T18:33:18.978+02:00To be continued...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I've been putting this off since I got home because I'm not ready to admit that it's done. After a fantastic two week vacation with my mom, I've been back in the USA for nearly two weeks now. While I normally posted pictures throughout my previous vacations, this time I wanted to maximize the last of my European adventure. Reuniting with my mom at London Heathrow after ten long months was just like the scene from Love Actually. Introducing her to her family in Estonia was a unique and unforgettable opportunity. Capping our trip off with Paris was the perfect way to end my French experience. Though I wouldn't say it's the end... </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-asay0Ed9tRY/ThIXJDSttkI/AAAAAAAAGQU/pIcJz7KUkJo/s1600/P1040143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-asay0Ed9tRY/ThIXJDSttkI/AAAAAAAAGQU/pIcJz7KUkJo/s640/P1040143.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">That song is all wrong... London Bridge is still there! And isn't my mom beautiful?</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsB4ASbZ_CK3dywuQzJBiWaIiVx-2wa4cT4WVgN_XVDaZWhdk69iKm9eiANvd_79qiHFLd6g8bIKVYg1_CKBSIajqs5zqXS9hJOrtAadIoNlVGviWAriZjG7aieTWmf6hv5dUXmA37CQ/s1600/P1040050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsB4ASbZ_CK3dywuQzJBiWaIiVx-2wa4cT4WVgN_XVDaZWhdk69iKm9eiANvd_79qiHFLd6g8bIKVYg1_CKBSIajqs5zqXS9hJOrtAadIoNlVGviWAriZjG7aieTWmf6hv5dUXmA37CQ/s640/P1040050.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">At Buckingham Palace after the Changing of the Guard</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGEiNFecEUz22R2jHkeVGzE8mEZs0hc0ixgBvocAfSAP0UrryCugzeJwxT3dLwz0KPnCFr-7qtIHCgCW-eYGt72VACH9eWE8CcGOzAdFvYYDvjP8y6t93Y7Rc1vyCykC9lHL2zZnv0ME/s1600/P1040017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGEiNFecEUz22R2jHkeVGzE8mEZs0hc0ixgBvocAfSAP0UrryCugzeJwxT3dLwz0KPnCFr-7qtIHCgCW-eYGt72VACH9eWE8CcGOzAdFvYYDvjP8y6t93Y7Rc1vyCykC9lHL2zZnv0ME/s640/P1040017.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We had an awesome spot right by the gate to watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKj6tMPdJCU/ThlBZhS4ZPI/AAAAAAAAIZI/UnlTIPQcGtk/s1600/P1040090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKj6tMPdJCU/ThlBZhS4ZPI/AAAAAAAAIZI/UnlTIPQcGtk/s640/P1040090.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Big Ben</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I am adjusting to life in Seattle. At this point, I understand the saying "you can't go home again." Life here doesn't quite feel the same here but it's mostly because I am different. Though it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what has changed (maybe you could tell me?), I am not the same girl I was last year. I've grown in ways that life in Seattle couldn't offer. I've endured the sting of homesickness, made a home for myself on the other side of the world, and figured out how to do a lot of things on my own. It wasn't always easy or fun but it was <i>always</i> worth it. I learned that the American way is not the only way and while I like teaching, I do not want to be a teacher. The last weeks of teaching were really tough; I was ready to pack my bags at the beginning of June. And then I met someone really special who had me backpedalling and dreading my return flight. Leaving was insanely difficult when I realized that I'd felt at home in northern France and had made connections that I wasn't prepared to leave. I'll be back some day... I'll figure it all out; I've gotten good at that. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4imD74Xwwgo/ThIYmffmecI/AAAAAAAAGVw/cjY2MOiFCKY/s1600/P1040172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4imD74Xwwgo/ThIYmffmecI/AAAAAAAAGVw/cjY2MOiFCKY/s640/P1040172.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Me, Aunt Aino, and Mom... Three generations of Salu women. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcARh5sipIRdi4-gU-_QMY-QLYX8j36MXWB_q1TswRFU1kAiwn_DetqyIACf6C1k8RkmCURm6-V1J4EJztwHRLSnRrFNC2-5yHRifFTqzkEUiXwLFSy8OZKtTfZ5Qrm9aNaHgBURanrWQ/s1600/P1040173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcARh5sipIRdi4-gU-_QMY-QLYX8j36MXWB_q1TswRFU1kAiwn_DetqyIACf6C1k8RkmCURm6-V1J4EJztwHRLSnRrFNC2-5yHRifFTqzkEUiXwLFSy8OZKtTfZ5Qrm9aNaHgBURanrWQ/s640/P1040173.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">There's a whole lot of love between these two!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKbSdDcMUEY/ThVuAbWyrOI/AAAAAAAAGnc/k7hVI3ifcj4/s1600/P1040303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKbSdDcMUEY/ThVuAbWyrOI/AAAAAAAAGnc/k7hVI3ifcj4/s640/P1040303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mom, Jane, and Tiina at the youth song festival in Tallinn</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UkN8s6Orax98oF4YWFgJhQ1Uj5XQ9UPVb4UyU54mZC5gBMrNkXKmQlLj2EBx2JPT6FHBl3_yXbGJG_3CGDgRX_tFg3PAdNKfhnIVtRkj3_h2X6ySpLLXCXTTG8iLkneWh0WB8lCSAPQ/s1600/P1040283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UkN8s6Orax98oF4YWFgJhQ1Uj5XQ9UPVb4UyU54mZC5gBMrNkXKmQlLj2EBx2JPT6FHBl3_yXbGJG_3CGDgRX_tFg3PAdNKfhnIVtRkj3_h2X6ySpLLXCXTTG8iLkneWh0WB8lCSAPQ/s640/P1040283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>There were only about 80,000 people there... </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ngC2xumZeVhRRCFFL8Csr0uakvkOs8FdIEC-XRNkCoEbASGkOrD5BD0n4wFoBCVt6gDdsA1GT5MK2LzMiGi7MlB7gSydaLoXzfFyYAcf513H0pqLLdBdi6-zKQMA7h-f3vRWR7qE37w/s1600/P1040396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ngC2xumZeVhRRCFFL8Csr0uakvkOs8FdIEC-XRNkCoEbASGkOrD5BD0n4wFoBCVt6gDdsA1GT5MK2LzMiGi7MlB7gSydaLoXzfFyYAcf513H0pqLLdBdi6-zKQMA7h-f3vRWR7qE37w/s640/P1040396.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Papa's oak tree! I love that there was an oak planted for each of the boys but what about the girls!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yfvdQOlNQMc/ThINV46B-bI/AAAAAAAAKyM/keF60fHMyyM/s1600/P1040363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yfvdQOlNQMc/ThINV46B-bI/AAAAAAAAKyM/keF60fHMyyM/s640/P1040363.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I already miss randomly passing castle ruins!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu4JS0ihTHceqHpaxjvlqw83z_dKNaBL0vV9Hqyw4WbVJCxXjmEZdGDxvk12y2uJ18l5H2RmJYwKzjm7jiHi5K4q6Kj44oO5p1qOL1Fq1-mgPJiyZJqCF0UT-rF9cSZvJ4_X_zbpwHfQ/s1600/P1040410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu4JS0ihTHceqHpaxjvlqw83z_dKNaBL0vV9Hqyw4WbVJCxXjmEZdGDxvk12y2uJ18l5H2RmJYwKzjm7jiHi5K4q6Kj44oO5p1qOL1Fq1-mgPJiyZJqCF0UT-rF9cSZvJ4_X_zbpwHfQ/s640/P1040410.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mom and here cousins; Tiina singing for the camera, Elmo, and Eino</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQydSfA_9ln4FcAKXqm6htec1S99o4gw9lqnpGcS-4N0U3e1KhFavsBXy0OKsU_0it042OQJuULQsoyf6OA0uHRspm4dF0qWfWMTJLjk3udIu8fhVEK8NMNpBp5ydBmUCvMAB8Oir1t0/s1600/P1040436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQydSfA_9ln4FcAKXqm6htec1S99o4gw9lqnpGcS-4N0U3e1KhFavsBXy0OKsU_0it042OQJuULQsoyf6OA0uHRspm4dF0qWfWMTJLjk3udIu8fhVEK8NMNpBp5ydBmUCvMAB8Oir1t0/s640/P1040436.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Our family stone. Surprisingly, our family has detailed history recorded that starts with Kubja Hans in1684.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmpjd6PjwVIoZftfq3osd6loLH63474rjjKkJXwRgyfY3nhJxd58rHeAjR85zMLdUWUEkCC-2eBMYgS7xdTfK0Z4Rf-7pin_8lQ4BgHQ_xZXrSR3Qj5vmoNvhPxNe8dwftqizXtddB8c/s1600/P1040450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmpjd6PjwVIoZftfq3osd6loLH63474rjjKkJXwRgyfY3nhJxd58rHeAjR85zMLdUWUEkCC-2eBMYgS7xdTfK0Z4Rf-7pin_8lQ4BgHQ_xZXrSR3Qj5vmoNvhPxNe8dwftqizXtddB8c/s640/P1040450.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I thought I could get away with just smelling it.... but I took a bite, too!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byco75XqU2A/Thk8ljULg2I/AAAAAAAAKBQ/N7ZYhiUYUvs/s1600/P1040517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byco75XqU2A/Thk8ljULg2I/AAAAAAAAKBQ/N7ZYhiUYUvs/s640/P1040517.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We couldn't be related... </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyl39P9Vq1ZA71ffDVE7Nn2h0T4ZmqHktNZv2csnO_YZo-2fhj-vCGWo61pxk886WqHVa6EeRtwAk6vDoERzKFN5KM7l1ioY3YzsAcSIeOMGTzhxLry5LKxIIDs6ZezGvPU0fHf_hy04/s1600/P1040544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyl39P9Vq1ZA71ffDVE7Nn2h0T4ZmqHktNZv2csnO_YZo-2fhj-vCGWo61pxk886WqHVa6EeRtwAk6vDoERzKFN5KM7l1ioY3YzsAcSIeOMGTzhxLry5LKxIIDs6ZezGvPU0fHf_hy04/s640/P1040544.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Third time's a charm! But it stings with slightly burnt skin!! Mom, you're a true Estonian now!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ1q_zsbAeY/Thk94W8CbVI/AAAAAAAAKNw/GgXux-MeQpI/s1600/P1040630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ1q_zsbAeY/Thk94W8CbVI/AAAAAAAAKNw/GgXux-MeQpI/s640/P1040630.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Don't mess with her... </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy7_ezucKHVU2gXbTTuT6XwJP-43XwIyX_P7Sw4u8ZocKsTGHhwUsmaZ9Rt4Gv9dnaYYSZnTxOBC-7M-q6l1OHmUrxVwHaWpwTjgOvn8Hrl5tj6dGwp4JPfYmMMxhLVjZLFHolXI6Pas/s1600/P1040636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy7_ezucKHVU2gXbTTuT6XwJP-43XwIyX_P7Sw4u8ZocKsTGHhwUsmaZ9Rt4Gv9dnaYYSZnTxOBC-7M-q6l1OHmUrxVwHaWpwTjgOvn8Hrl5tj6dGwp4JPfYmMMxhLVjZLFHolXI6Pas/s640/P1040636.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Watchout, Pagans! Mom made a cross with the blacksmith (his first). </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRngHiga9rsoMdGiAdTWOpA_4jAIdfynaTNDUN58G_CEggM-rSnJh0cKVDjM4gXETByNJU9iVpNgdgpqmoFtnK9ebsrzVtwPSlL6za3Hka02af5TXpQ9TS6VkzGwnFluyH9tL2Y88FM8/s1600/P1040685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRngHiga9rsoMdGiAdTWOpA_4jAIdfynaTNDUN58G_CEggM-rSnJh0cKVDjM4gXETByNJU9iVpNgdgpqmoFtnK9ebsrzVtwPSlL6za3Hka02af5TXpQ9TS6VkzGwnFluyH9tL2Y88FM8/s640/P1040685.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Had to leave this one in Tartu.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGNfpDClkgxjzait3Z7q5GkyhJn5dujvFQSzQ4SMuUwVQ3Qjs49tzXc3DVRjlXuxz2Sb03X60g7y_NbKHbM-C9ZlFQOFrqcQw75qexce2VP61h0PVLBXblWom9LTBarKKfFzWGHMrDwE/s1600/P1040694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGNfpDClkgxjzait3Z7q5GkyhJn5dujvFQSzQ4SMuUwVQ3Qjs49tzXc3DVRjlXuxz2Sb03X60g7y_NbKHbM-C9ZlFQOFrqcQw75qexce2VP61h0PVLBXblWom9LTBarKKfFzWGHMrDwE/s640/P1040694.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Peekaboo! I see you! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjego2fw3iZ3uYcY3PbhHZUc0QJNCSEoe1MkaadhW0xiqAhhNrKWKxYN-NsdSDqKGz1vJbr1rzPW0qKHG8WFxu19Q3lyeHQ8zwnWZ3aZPb7cbn1mPqzBiaYqarQsDOioTLRKOqeZFBDRws/s1600/P1040649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjego2fw3iZ3uYcY3PbhHZUc0QJNCSEoe1MkaadhW0xiqAhhNrKWKxYN-NsdSDqKGz1vJbr1rzPW0qKHG8WFxu19Q3lyeHQ8zwnWZ3aZPb7cbn1mPqzBiaYqarQsDOioTLRKOqeZFBDRws/s640/P1040649.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Kissing Students Statue in Tartu</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Qwn7n53wSDamtt9Bun35WHz9Od_xN6WRCl5P9Gj-mlINYhqiwyUVFIPA0-BOVde5fD1xuXmMR9GA8IyoWEBziJim-w5Pvm9IcDKHmJGsbMq0RXfOmcoxVzmWu0Qx2Yey-mkRKnkdv8/s1600/P1040697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Qwn7n53wSDamtt9Bun35WHz9Od_xN6WRCl5P9Gj-mlINYhqiwyUVFIPA0-BOVde5fD1xuXmMR9GA8IyoWEBziJim-w5Pvm9IcDKHmJGsbMq0RXfOmcoxVzmWu0Qx2Yey-mkRKnkdv8/s640/P1040697.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Bon appétit!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-I8VrQwniAfrSFVj2TyW3GIdVG6jU2dWDUxXDoOAnV2q81_JfvqZBHfD-k2aoMACFYeFzFUk44LzUeGDyzhQUW0-TzmQJDs9sumSMx96g_taRaJ_dt6pOv1UtpiU2_-Ni-Kk0La4wBU/s1600/P1040709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-I8VrQwniAfrSFVj2TyW3GIdVG6jU2dWDUxXDoOAnV2q81_JfvqZBHfD-k2aoMACFYeFzFUk44LzUeGDyzhQUW0-TzmQJDs9sumSMx96g_taRaJ_dt6pOv1UtpiU2_-Ni-Kk0La4wBU/s640/P1040709.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">There's no doubt we're related. Miss you Aunt Aino, can't wait to come back to Estonia some day!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">My teaching contract is over, I'm back in Seattle, but I haven't closed the book on this chapter of my life. It's something I'll carry with me for years to come. It's renewed my love for French language, inspired a world traveler, connected me to family in Estonia, and introduced me to who I think I really am. I followed my dream and it's shaped me in ways that won't be undone. Now it's time for you to pursue your own dreams. You'll be thankful for it! Just don't thank me, thank yourself. But I do thank you for following me along the way. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWnLQSFOoBxQLKQtVVxYaWV7RMwsF_4gMc6wSM9Np-x9yPnJozJqJyqY20mAbmVJtFQQ0JYGKy-nyDKiJKagPxztub1g_ZzwGLSQu2uRc8JpkOsJbVMmBQoVJWFxs-6ThBagD57slLJo/s1600/P1040725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWnLQSFOoBxQLKQtVVxYaWV7RMwsF_4gMc6wSM9Np-x9yPnJozJqJyqY20mAbmVJtFQQ0JYGKy-nyDKiJKagPxztub1g_ZzwGLSQu2uRc8JpkOsJbVMmBQoVJWFxs-6ThBagD57slLJo/s640/P1040725.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mom would move to Paris in a heartbeat. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkVZY9qjSyL9Re8WNOkMbPaBw4y1Ke3rUBBLr7NlJMdjTGlkoLS63evpFbscbP6vbmKoN408KdyXEHlnPXDAyKnEMWmVc8eyF5GZY6fxFDPmbJhS4s7nvv8rTEN5RjKj0ZzG_6lbZF30/s1600/P1040973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkVZY9qjSyL9Re8WNOkMbPaBw4y1Ke3rUBBLr7NlJMdjTGlkoLS63evpFbscbP6vbmKoN408KdyXEHlnPXDAyKnEMWmVc8eyF5GZY6fxFDPmbJhS4s7nvv8rTEN5RjKj0ZzG_6lbZF30/s640/P1040973.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Paris, je t'aime! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmncH9QxARTm2bgCXtKHEiLl-CzT7e-6cveOIGVZ2r5UXIAioYoY0wtL7ysP0KrKZiEhdlFe0nHZTn8cHH4iuXz5Ez8xf9TSuX3vusS4fdAJJygIWF7PgwgCrjYq-X7jJVfA3m_b95Ag/s1600/P1040885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmncH9QxARTm2bgCXtKHEiLl-CzT7e-6cveOIGVZ2r5UXIAioYoY0wtL7ysP0KrKZiEhdlFe0nHZTn8cHH4iuXz5Ez8xf9TSuX3vusS4fdAJJygIWF7PgwgCrjYq-X7jJVfA3m_b95Ag/s640/P1040885.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-style: italic;">My favorite place in Paris... spent an afternoon there with one of my favorite people! <3</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi3udEmrg-1ddWRDi3bUz8lxLvvAPD0zX5SIt6wr3W7kEb7SyBXA3XFger8QhilisQkz2nFJYF6dPNCbUItryRTNc3C17d4k9uARCV6S5_w1iff9ZQSUIOKMcZr48-t9E00zO80oHpvo/s1600/P1040815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi3udEmrg-1ddWRDi3bUz8lxLvvAPD0zX5SIt6wr3W7kEb7SyBXA3XFger8QhilisQkz2nFJYF6dPNCbUItryRTNc3C17d4k9uARCV6S5_w1iff9ZQSUIOKMcZr48-t9E00zO80oHpvo/s640/P1040815.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0dDzFcORlyLk07C_VbEspTyOXP0rF87HpnckApfgMlGUpxtWsLzJZwxnPY90wohKwJQIYcDYkVkGGvLZHBkTq40hZvN9wLACbqv08j2BRQeND_bP0lyb8nhQtnHOJekNnF8wBGYmmtc/s1600/P1040990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0dDzFcORlyLk07C_VbEspTyOXP0rF87HpnckApfgMlGUpxtWsLzJZwxnPY90wohKwJQIYcDYkVkGGvLZHBkTq40hZvN9wLACbqv08j2BRQeND_bP0lyb8nhQtnHOJekNnF8wBGYmmtc/s640/P1040990.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Our last morning was seen from beneath this umbrella...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjG68f6XzQL_8Uz1ZCSYnUQB7y2tC8_eaCeVqlU10RI4aBsQLwwiO2dC0ATHFZxjb3bFX4_7Ec-pXTmcLr60dSKWjrV3HZuOWlOOzpcuXgD_60w1Y6QX_HChs73s-3k1P1nbQSAY1u9M/s1600/P1040984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjG68f6XzQL_8Uz1ZCSYnUQB7y2tC8_eaCeVqlU10RI4aBsQLwwiO2dC0ATHFZxjb3bFX4_7Ec-pXTmcLr60dSKWjrV3HZuOWlOOzpcuXgD_60w1Y6QX_HChs73s-3k1P1nbQSAY1u9M/s640/P1040984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Cheers to a fabulous life in France, vacation with mom, and here's to my next adventure! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that I've fulfilled my dream to live in Europe, I'm working on pursuing my next dream... Wonder what adventures it'll bring along the way? I'll never know until I try. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gros bisous, </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-kelse </div><br />
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</div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-86874848033360897722011-06-22T21:28:00.001+02:002011-06-23T21:24:47.398+02:00Winding down<div style="text-align: justify;">I can't believe it's here... my last week in Lille/Marcq-en-Baroeul/Lys-Lez-Lannoy. A week from today I'll be reunited with my mom in London and three weeks from today I'll be back home in Seattle! It's awfully bittersweet. The past month I've been so ready to go home that I was wishing time would pick up the pace. Now that it's so close to the end, I'm hoping it'll go by slowly so I can savor each moment. I did a bang up job preparing myself to leave Seattle to come here... but I didn't realize until today that I also need to prepare myself to leave France behind. I'm going to miss having a roommate who sings along to Beyoncé in the shower, Monday grocery shopping trips with Silvia, checking in with Françoise every morning before class, and Raphaël's adorable grin. Mostly I'm just going to miss being around them. Luckily, my circle of friends in France is more quality than quantity-based, so I don't have that many people to learn to miss. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As predicted, any remaining authority over the students has been lost after Kermesse. Monday was the absolute worst day I've had at work all year. My least favorite class, Anne's CE1 (1st grade), was out of control. Last week she'd told me she'd be gone and I wouldn't have her class. I was quite excited - until some students came to tell me she was waiting for me to do English. She was wrong about the date... I was going to play Hot or Cold with them but that never happened. The hellions were ten times as agitated as normal and I lasted only ten minutes. Nine minutes was spent yelling at the same students who were purposely acting out. I'd yell, take a breath, and then the same damned kid would be doing exactly what I'd ordered them to stop doing. After 10 minutes, I walked into Anne's office and told her I was done and that I couldn't support their behavior any longer. Except I couldn't make it across the classroom without breaking into tears. Then Anne firmly told me not to cry in front of them - of course I knew that but I couldn't hold it in. It wasn't even that I took it personally. My motivation is shot and my energy for dealing with their behavior ran out months ago; I just hit my breaking point. I really feel bad for the small handful of students that want to learn anything in that class. Tomorrow I will explain to Anne that I refuse to teach her class on Monday. I'm putting my foot down and insisting on it. Those kids don't deserve another 45 minutes with me and I deserve to end this on a good note.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have three days of work left but only two days of teaching. On my last day, Silvia's class is going on a field trip and I am accompanying them! Silvia's working it all out and I'm excited because this way, I'll get to spend my whole last day with her and Raphaël (and not teaching)! Silvia and I are also having lunch at Françoise's house tomorrow, which will be fun. Not to mention that I get to see them both this weekend! (And Fréd, too!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoOZaxqOJR32DZC9XTM8v_4Ry8E4qkYwLy-5uszqLhCh6A8S8W12AeO1hDcxQQDwjkYJfPJyuF_QSsZ7aQgLUdaZeiemPmQk-ynJfzxb-f7d_R3pzFmXznpOVrb0GIE5wwCrcmIFOPc0/s1600/P1030668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoOZaxqOJR32DZC9XTM8v_4Ry8E4qkYwLy-5uszqLhCh6A8S8W12AeO1hDcxQQDwjkYJfPJyuF_QSsZ7aQgLUdaZeiemPmQk-ynJfzxb-f7d_R3pzFmXznpOVrb0GIE5wwCrcmIFOPc0/s640/P1030668.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-kelse </div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-22345462073949579472011-06-19T21:07:00.001+02:002011-06-23T21:25:16.699+02:00Bowling in Belgium<div style="text-align: justify;">When Kermesse was finished, my day was far from over! Françoise La Blonde is one of the cleaning ladies at our school and has done a great job taking me in. (There's also Françoise La Brune, who's another of the cleaning ladies!) Her nephew Fred's 31st birthday is next weekend but she wanted to surprise him with a night out before hand. Though I'd never met him she invited me along to celebrate with her family. Before Fred came over, Françoise, Nadia, Marine and I headed to a retirement home to visit with Marine's ailing <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">mamie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">, where I was introduced to more of her family as "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">mon amie américaine</span></i>". Once back at Françoise's place, Fred picked us up and we headed out to Belgium for the night! </span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went to Thémis Friterie in Mouscron for fries and sandwiches/burgers, where they're regulars. Being so close to Belgium, there are some Frenchies over here who won't order fries unless they're in Belgium. I really don't like french fries but I decided that I was in Belgium and was starving, so I ordered them alongside my chicken burger. I will admit that they're maybe the best I've ever had (and are delicious with sauce Andalouse). Dominique, another co-worker was supposed to meet us at 8:00pm... but didn't show up until after 9:30 when we had just been served our food. Until he arrived, Fred had no clue that we were there to celebrate his birthday. The second Dominique strolled in, he ruined the surprise! Fred was touched that Françoise had arranged it for him. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Nadia, Marine, and myself </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Françoise and Fred, the birthday boy!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVEbCIBPbxSPyPhFpTcnFO40dhptnnmGY6QXlwtOF4FCv3P2PuC0K9GzdWFNM1gLkTfuQyDg-4WHuho32wBDVaC4QB5yZBkxfW-UCPwZI0lKlMoiZ9CuTYoS5UtlXyptMaJufNYOXIRs/s1600/P1030669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVEbCIBPbxSPyPhFpTcnFO40dhptnnmGY6QXlwtOF4FCv3P2PuC0K9GzdWFNM1gLkTfuQyDg-4WHuho32wBDVaC4QB5yZBkxfW-UCPwZI0lKlMoiZ9CuTYoS5UtlXyptMaJufNYOXIRs/s640/P1030669.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">As much as I don't like fries, I did order them in Belgium since they're rumored to be the best. Some rumors are true! With sauce Andalouse, yum! </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_y9TiDLk94dsdcgnqdi08rAMjzfzOSakJswiNmVCQAqtQH7GMHOqyfZXXl7EYzptuDC0avQiAaipg2dLNue7WKyQgphgHlpkpDgRJbDzH8FY1DSWzYlVoS8pMJm5GbUlGB756BtY0Y/s1600/P1030671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_y9TiDLk94dsdcgnqdi08rAMjzfzOSakJswiNmVCQAqtQH7GMHOqyfZXXl7EYzptuDC0avQiAaipg2dLNue7WKyQgphgHlpkpDgRJbDzH8FY1DSWzYlVoS8pMJm5GbUlGB756BtY0Y/s640/P1030671.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Dominique thinks he's pretty suave... except he showed up an hour and a half late and ruined the birthday surprise! And then he left before we started bowling...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSnlnlfASCKBYASgm-Pzt37vBklJxXWdT8SoKlIWLjEM_u6kW66v4Mit4rTcFoObO8B9YhcUsy9bQYiU57-5amweru2UGR1nEwSESWKWRATIdO7lbetaFpx9z0J74Wy5P6f31tgizeQQ/s1600/P1030673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSnlnlfASCKBYASgm-Pzt37vBklJxXWdT8SoKlIWLjEM_u6kW66v4Mit4rTcFoObO8B9YhcUsy9bQYiU57-5amweru2UGR1nEwSESWKWRATIdO7lbetaFpx9z0J74Wy5P6f31tgizeQQ/s640/P1030673.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Then he wanted a picture with everyone...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We had our lane reserved for 10:30 but had to wait a little while for it to free up. When it came time to bowl, I was a little embarrassed that I had no idea what my shoe size was. Four pairs later, I'm a size 37. And if you're wondering, in French it's called <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">bowling</span></i>, a strike is <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">un strike</span></i>, a spare is <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">un spare</span></i>... <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">des quilles</span></i> and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">une boule</span></i> are pretty important, too. I was first up in the game... well, <i><b>Kaci</b></i> was. I normally am terrible at bowling, as shown by my first frame score of 3 pins. But then somehow the American pulled it together and only lost by one. Fred joked that it wasn't fair to beat the birthday boy so he changed the rules for me. According to new regulations, I was only to roll the ball down the gutters and not down the lane. I sucked at following this rule. We joked that it was my scarf giving me the luck, so I shared it with him since I was breaking all the rules. My luck rubbed off. When I got hot and took my scarf off, my talent slipped down the gutter. </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-1q3n4aND7tzfA0Kx5-KfNpy_Pyv2negQykjhkyKsRfX5nCKbqUc6PCAQARkY0EfeB0swu-l7KGoDMfJhyphenhyphenQ2SuGHwNmx2-5Acb9xbxOz9E_iclOB_ciLj4Jy4dxVyhA1q7vNgGpL4Jk/s1600/P1030674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-1q3n4aND7tzfA0Kx5-KfNpy_Pyv2negQykjhkyKsRfX5nCKbqUc6PCAQARkY0EfeB0swu-l7KGoDMfJhyphenhyphenQ2SuGHwNmx2-5Acb9xbxOz9E_iclOB_ciLj4Jy4dxVyhA1q7vNgGpL4Jk/s640/P1030674.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>I'm going to miss Françoise! She's such a great presence at school and always wants to know that I'm doing well. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLigOzpg9Cc/Tf3CDVg44HI/AAAAAAAAFu4/WYaUYhVWV1k/s1600/P1030675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLigOzpg9Cc/Tf3CDVg44HI/AAAAAAAAFu4/WYaUYhVWV1k/s640/P1030675.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Right before my first strike of the night!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5jcKUyVLq8/Tf3CD3ExzdI/AAAAAAAAFvA/Lyhw5yVRUAg/s1600/P1030676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5jcKUyVLq8/Tf3CD3ExzdI/AAAAAAAAFvA/Lyhw5yVRUAg/s640/P1030676.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">What's it gonna be?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0Ms-pzvB46ZSUvvgrWOQuzEgz65e4BAKPwDhbcc4g_y5NhoXURnBmHerO3j0-Au1_GYKIA16IhIVKo0flPEPEqMoi2BUrRqCcRDEBjh3csy8HKlnguXsuxxCrv8Akn_jYoY_VcoJF9A/s1600/P1030680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0Ms-pzvB46ZSUvvgrWOQuzEgz65e4BAKPwDhbcc4g_y5NhoXURnBmHerO3j0-Au1_GYKIA16IhIVKo0flPEPEqMoi2BUrRqCcRDEBjh3csy8HKlnguXsuxxCrv8Akn_jYoY_VcoJF9A/s640/P1030680.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Françoise, Fred, and I</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaCxL046Azd32kfjxDntHo2d5Aa1tnccPmdL3dvuBQIzqEXJ4U4PBrHtUGVem3zBfnaxGmq4xwfKnGQu5bXRX8M8_D8e9jx_xhr8wGbLgPPe5TAGYO_RuHftuLAfPGOsCslSAWlTf57U/s1600/P1030681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaCxL046Azd32kfjxDntHo2d5Aa1tnccPmdL3dvuBQIzqEXJ4U4PBrHtUGVem3zBfnaxGmq4xwfKnGQu5bXRX8M8_D8e9jx_xhr8wGbLgPPe5TAGYO_RuHftuLAfPGOsCslSAWlTf57U/s640/P1030681.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Fred's score needed a little boost and since I wasn't following the new rules he set for me, I gave him my scarf for added luck (it worked). </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB90iHJbIMylkTuEtzQiajs4S7KpC3mMGIMtuHMDJGjoxAnFvcMlexbrK3LmDLE-q6du_b8I1YlLX9X7BKb-XPWLfNYzLorN2oFJtar5zJW4ddkJMOFb-QlZ9adovbkROC_FnhzoVxfbw/s1600/P1030682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB90iHJbIMylkTuEtzQiajs4S7KpC3mMGIMtuHMDJGjoxAnFvcMlexbrK3LmDLE-q6du_b8I1YlLX9X7BKb-XPWLfNYzLorN2oFJtar5zJW4ddkJMOFb-QlZ9adovbkROC_FnhzoVxfbw/s640/P1030682.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I was first in the line up... and I lost by one point in the last frame! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The only non-smokers in the group, Fred and I had fun trying to take a decent picture together while we held down the lane during the between game smoke break. We had a ton of fun together; it would have been fun to meet him earlier on. His cousin Margot (Marine's younger sister) kept mentioning that he's<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> célibataire</span></i>. My luck continued to rub off on him in the second game, which he won. I topped out at 80 points but didn't mind. Didn't want him to get beat twice by the American girl! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoV9qmj7fT1DCyhxp-J07terJ9xxbIvwL1mgNgV94sL49SztK4RLcPmoFy_ZXXxeHt2MNE-6Tsv9Dn3IqYJujsm1W6fzdU9tgUJv9OXlY8UDyJVEI5TgGci-CmDcmZWgSuDVdz28hg-oQ/s1600/P1030687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoV9qmj7fT1DCyhxp-J07terJ9xxbIvwL1mgNgV94sL49SztK4RLcPmoFy_ZXXxeHt2MNE-6Tsv9Dn3IqYJujsm1W6fzdU9tgUJv9OXlY8UDyJVEI5TgGci-CmDcmZWgSuDVdz28hg-oQ/s640/P1030687.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Take 1</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw4h6E_-wD-y_9doIrhudOHKf4t0_STMweqfuNjTvNWZzX2SmdnuLYZkruHiop8uz76xYSG43PqLZKkEzuGDO5i9i2jBtxGXo5l_m-IFKQJdXmYV4iZKy3rHdGHbJdtFZBDph2gulHAM/s1600/P1030688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw4h6E_-wD-y_9doIrhudOHKf4t0_STMweqfuNjTvNWZzX2SmdnuLYZkruHiop8uz76xYSG43PqLZKkEzuGDO5i9i2jBtxGXo5l_m-IFKQJdXmYV4iZKy3rHdGHbJdtFZBDph2gulHAM/s640/P1030688.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Take 2 - not any better but I think it's a cute picture!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwTivawzGPbydDUWK-TLg1GnwnANTEAFekyZ_o4r6UVyzMXFGj2mBq-I29cGP11Vi3Fe11M9wW0ili-SdKO9C-wSKj213QXGB-iaxC05UxXwKl6jyQObNN9kBx82eUCawkmJ1Mb2yGSU/s1600/P1030689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwTivawzGPbydDUWK-TLg1GnwnANTEAFekyZ_o4r6UVyzMXFGj2mBq-I29cGP11Vi3Fe11M9wW0ili-SdKO9C-wSKj213QXGB-iaxC05UxXwKl6jyQObNN9kBx82eUCawkmJ1Mb2yGSU/s640/P1030689.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Take 3 - put your glasses back on, please!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0aOhhtEgQ/Tf3CPVfkPzI/AAAAAAAAFw0/TJVlQJL1zx8/s1600/P1030690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0aOhhtEgQ/Tf3CPVfkPzI/AAAAAAAAFw0/TJVlQJL1zx8/s640/P1030690.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Margot was an animated bowler!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the night, Françoise and Fred drove me home even though Marine lives a few blocks from me. When I walked in the door after 1:30am, I was beat! It was an insanely long day but it was great. I had so much fun with Françoise and her family. I'm really glad that she got to see a fun side of me, too. At work, I'm pretty collect and am usually reading if I'm not in the classroom. I was dancing around and totally felt myself last night. It feels good to be me! I've got just a handful of days left before I leave and this will definitely be a memory that sticks. </div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse/kaci<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une mamie</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - a grammie</span></i><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mon amie américaine</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - my American friend</span></i><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une quille</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - a bowling pin</span></i><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une boule</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - a bowling ball</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Célibataire</b> - single (not celibate) </span></i></div></div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-29583071973773837862011-06-19T16:51:00.000+02:002011-06-19T16:51:14.052+02:00Kermesse<div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday was a long, long day. As ready as I am to say good bye to my students, there was a big event at the school that they wanted me to attend. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Kermesse</span></i> is like a carnival of sorts with games they can buy tickets to play, food to eat, and prizes to be won. But the purpose for the event performing the dances each class has been preparing for a couple months. You'd think June would be able to provide decent enough weather to hold an outdoor event - wrong. The weather was a back and forth mixture of windy, downpour and warm sunshine. One minute, I'd be soaked, I'd dry off, and then the rain came back... But the show went on and each class performed their dance (twice). The event started at 11:30 and didn't get over until just before 4:00pm, to give you an idea of how long it was. I was exhausted before I even got there and was on my feet all day long.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hung around with Françoise, her sister in law Gigi, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">nièce</span></i> Marine, and Nadia. (I don't know where my head has been but Nadia works at Paul Bert and I've never seen her...) Mid-way through the event, the girls and I were starving. We realized that although Nicolas had said he would end the event around 1:30, that wasn't physically possible. We scrapped our plans to eat after the event and decided just to get lunch there. The problem was, they'd by then sold out of just about all the sandwich fixings and I don't consider fries a lunch. Surprisingly delicious, I ate half a baguette with a <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">merguez</span></i> sausage, which did nothing to sate my insanely ravenous stomach. That was it bread and meat - they were out of cheese, condiments, and I don't think they had veggies to begin with. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V17KsWM3324/Tf3AsN_8-8I/AAAAAAAAFks/jormfqctOWc/s1600/P1030599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V17KsWM3324/Tf3AsN_8-8I/AAAAAAAAFks/jormfqctOWc/s640/P1030599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">These are the innocent looking ones from one of my worst classes. The blondie with glasses is a sweetie. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUYZ23MyX0zpJ5lbeQtoDJYTX7b0cmCtUz_K9zi4iGWUIpv76vEvTMJ0ihBg2Fi5_swiYUpYNwmAt7Vtotq4x655jKW42IS4B-8p9yO9ZCXiN9MUWNjf9ndhEts1Le7kOdMEyKs9qC_k/s1600/P1030610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUYZ23MyX0zpJ5lbeQtoDJYTX7b0cmCtUz_K9zi4iGWUIpv76vEvTMJ0ihBg2Fi5_swiYUpYNwmAt7Vtotq4x655jKW42IS4B-8p9yO9ZCXiN9MUWNjf9ndhEts1Le7kOdMEyKs9qC_k/s640/P1030610.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Enzo, Quentin, et Nicolas - Love these guys! </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS3E-EVZE5p1xPWYy8gTUizj_eWx8krDEXSb7cYEe2HA-gF586X6OletZl5GMAwk8fJ33J4z-BOd0GjC8vptbmSHwuSs2BJh0oVXEAHhl_a9FAQg22ORD8H-EfEBYELECp50C4eodIJ8/s1600/P1030611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS3E-EVZE5p1xPWYy8gTUizj_eWx8krDEXSb7cYEe2HA-gF586X6OletZl5GMAwk8fJ33J4z-BOd0GjC8vptbmSHwuSs2BJh0oVXEAHhl_a9FAQg22ORD8H-EfEBYELECp50C4eodIJ8/s640/P1030611.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Rodolphe and Françoise. He loves to tell jokes to try to embarrass me but he doesn't succeed. He also loves blondes. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV7sHa4prCgi1hDR8W3ZA5Wsi8urgoq6WJPTXIDANO1xKaavErC1qIDdebOKQ3GZUJ1biUTZmIDmOq1EHvFrlE4LXjYgCeon4J4LcpR-_PUsMDtHDRwgcTmcXz1BZPesf7l1LWtyzC0I/s1600/P1030612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV7sHa4prCgi1hDR8W3ZA5Wsi8urgoq6WJPTXIDANO1xKaavErC1qIDdebOKQ3GZUJ1biUTZmIDmOq1EHvFrlE4LXjYgCeon4J4LcpR-_PUsMDtHDRwgcTmcXz1BZPesf7l1LWtyzC0I/s640/P1030612.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Silvia's class. I love these guys. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6npRUBnisv5mNM7x_lWgYaCfyKmFQcq4XCdU4Gl4vpnS111WkYqYzLZBhL1cqY2pLXXhbYnz5bGbt9P3_x2oM1E6gtGlDA8bVDXGfh1OzKIDXRwAo5IvtMlPoqzaCjvZUplyftgEFLo/s1600/P1030632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6npRUBnisv5mNM7x_lWgYaCfyKmFQcq4XCdU4Gl4vpnS111WkYqYzLZBhL1cqY2pLXXhbYnz5bGbt9P3_x2oM1E6gtGlDA8bVDXGfh1OzKIDXRwAo5IvtMlPoqzaCjvZUplyftgEFLo/s640/P1030632.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Simon always runs clear across recess to tell me hello. He's precious.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bTUVVUI384BZK7-9v521k_EFxMuJi91TbUxB5pmZ5XmW9cQ58o75iokDDxLN8D70Ez_bWac-ARoojDdq5sCnKoEAbVPumUWLg5FuFQMNQXaiterp0Gn9XAkOaJVznPUNvBXbEANvApY/s1600/P1030636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bTUVVUI384BZK7-9v521k_EFxMuJi91TbUxB5pmZ5XmW9cQ58o75iokDDxLN8D70Ez_bWac-ARoojDdq5sCnKoEAbVPumUWLg5FuFQMNQXaiterp0Gn9XAkOaJVznPUNvBXbEANvApY/s640/P1030636.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Noah and Hugo make me smile from the inside. And they're super tiny, too!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dWWLcfVNxL4ugpsh4VFcLxccgWbO_iDbhySdu9npxj23zWYSOS1KBA0ito-7xnXZjW8gl80otYzwl1MhSX2dzm6bE9d1zBFCgpThjcrUUdHg0dKhMR-F8HJu5Aaa292z4MYq0dURP1I/s1600/P1030646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dWWLcfVNxL4ugpsh4VFcLxccgWbO_iDbhySdu9npxj23zWYSOS1KBA0ito-7xnXZjW8gl80otYzwl1MhSX2dzm6bE9d1zBFCgpThjcrUUdHg0dKhMR-F8HJu5Aaa292z4MYq0dURP1I/s640/P1030646.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Maxime and Axèl. Maxime may look innocent but he randomly shouts out random syllables all throughout class and can't easily be contained. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8dW66f40MueyDJS02R2QSLwX-_r8GOZ3uNGckwOeUaFp7I5JAh_sGU3y9jw44xsTluANBBlD1JelGbzapsB7JJlWLgtIYL0uFaY_KiF4x8enUaUuyQSMVl_WKZeY0a3HQan15y6dyNo/s1600/P1030608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8dW66f40MueyDJS02R2QSLwX-_r8GOZ3uNGckwOeUaFp7I5JAh_sGU3y9jw44xsTluANBBlD1JelGbzapsB7JJlWLgtIYL0uFaY_KiF4x8enUaUuyQSMVl_WKZeY0a3HQan15y6dyNo/s640/P1030608.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Fanny's class danced to Waka Waka. I don't even have her students but they're probably the most polite students to me. They always call me by name and respect me as they do other profs. Other classes show their "respect" much differently.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUSyxJ6DwRnEsoTtcN1GHR3VuSBmDPWLWGiB3B-gMucVa6wEAzBHDHE9eSj6EM29VzL3jx4P3do-a8zliZeeNeTL6B4_178RDm21f8-WvbTexBiPMoRlZ590Lk79qIGi2q6hwLTmveCw/s1600/P1030644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUSyxJ6DwRnEsoTtcN1GHR3VuSBmDPWLWGiB3B-gMucVa6wEAzBHDHE9eSj6EM29VzL3jx4P3do-a8zliZeeNeTL6B4_178RDm21f8-WvbTexBiPMoRlZ590Lk79qIGi2q6hwLTmveCw/s640/P1030644.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Laurence's class. Simon and Matthieu are on the far right and I love 'em to pieces. Matthieu is maybe the tiniest kid I have but he doesn't act like it. He and Simon are two of my best CE1 students. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bY7pe9lNqg8Cg4OfE01cZ_Xwg3k-fTfsyB1WBsYAa9fNYQyTbEBcb4YOkMvU5GKyc2ccOqtPCWOuhh_WrfWMrbVC7ExyBL3qapW5YU-2EzLtlClNQFIRQRG0cM4KbFV38Fe0MoTPZO0/s1600/P1030645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bY7pe9lNqg8Cg4OfE01cZ_Xwg3k-fTfsyB1WBsYAa9fNYQyTbEBcb4YOkMvU5GKyc2ccOqtPCWOuhh_WrfWMrbVC7ExyBL3qapW5YU-2EzLtlClNQFIRQRG0cM4KbFV38Fe0MoTPZO0/s640/P1030645.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Céline's class had the best dance overall - Mamma Mia. They're smart kids but I they have no energy at all in class. They're almost boring but that doesn't mean it takes less energy to teach 'em! They're kind of just too cool for school.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgVp7gqinvUShY5l5DSH8DGV6l8_d1RSHGPhIIDkfcoQPq5Yj_Xo4VvTaR7RQUGO3_WHRBzg9xX5MfEovFSVqtSWIa1dnzhyphenhyphenMZWZyWYoPFOWVXQDrtpmC6EOSS5-HZee7C8fLkPv19RE/s1600/P1030666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgVp7gqinvUShY5l5DSH8DGV6l8_d1RSHGPhIIDkfcoQPq5Yj_Xo4VvTaR7RQUGO3_WHRBzg9xX5MfEovFSVqtSWIa1dnzhyphenhyphenMZWZyWYoPFOWVXQDrtpmC6EOSS5-HZee7C8fLkPv19RE/s640/P1030666.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Michel's class... I've got three sessions left with them and the idea of it makes me want to gouge my eyes out. I think I lose a little of my integrity each time I step foot in this class. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>When Kermesse was over, my day was only beginning!<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>La kermesse</b> - the fête</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une nièce</b> - a niece</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une merguez</b> - a spicy sausage </span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-33733469055203507822011-06-13T11:34:00.000+02:002011-06-13T11:34:00.463+02:00Missing things<div style="text-align: justify;">I've been in Europe exactly nine months now. Being June 13th, that also means that <i><b>I've got exactly one month left until I arrive back home</b></i>. One month sounds like so long to me, despite the fact that I've already endured (and enjoyed) nine months here. In that time, I've missed some pretty big events in the lives of my favorite people. Rosie got married, Erica had a baby, Stephanie met the man of her dreams, Maddox hit all the milestones of a healthy, growing baby, Bree planned her wedding, Taylor got engaged. New jobs were started and old ones lost, birthdays passed, family crises were dealt with and this all happened <i><b>without me</b></i>. Today, my little sister (technically Brooke's my cousin) graduates from high school; I also missed her prom. In the month I have ahead of me, I'll miss one best friend's birthday, another best friend's bachelorette party, and my Uncle Mark's epic Fourth of July party. It's easy to feel that I've selfishly missed all of these milestones but I shouldn't. Luckily, all of these people whose milestones I've missed have been super supportive of me getting out of the US for a little while. Sorry guys, 9 months was longer than I thought. </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwv2bm-sDI-m7hp8iTP0c9yHch5y1cr1wIhOdGp5HbxLJAYvheLcaFdIq7YcYvYhHWoCS_CIb2ZFo9PSkvQQUqJ0X6PS41fjYvmmV2UoR9SsggR-nGJTvYhYzJTQHZE_KDXMWz69XnNc/s1600/P1030054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwv2bm-sDI-m7hp8iTP0c9yHch5y1cr1wIhOdGp5HbxLJAYvheLcaFdIq7YcYvYhHWoCS_CIb2ZFo9PSkvQQUqJ0X6PS41fjYvmmV2UoR9SsggR-nGJTvYhYzJTQHZE_KDXMWz69XnNc/s640/P1030054.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Won't find this in Seattle... Burg Lichtenberg, Germany </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">As excited as I am to get back, there are things that I know I will miss about living in Europe. So distract myself from thinking of all the people and places I can soon see and the things I can finally incorporate back into my life (cars, gym, quality ethnic food), here's a list of what I'll be missing out on:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Sébastien, Silvia, Raphaël, Laureline, Jean-Michel, and Françoise. No explanation necessary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-French. I still love the language and am continually learning new words and improving. (Most recent word: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">kinder: brune à l'extérieur mais blonde à l'intérieur</span></i>. The name comes from Kinder chocolates, which are filled with white chocolate.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-La bise. Once I got into the habit, I grew to love it. Don't be weirded out if I kiss you on both cheeks when I get home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Being able to travel Europe quickly and more cheaply than if I departed from the US! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Being surrounded by history. I love turning the corner to find a building that's older than Seattle. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-The scent of walking past <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>pâtisseries</i></span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>boulangeries</i></span> is heavenly. I wish I could bottle it up. (I'll leave the scent of <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">poissonneries</span></i> and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">fromageries</span></i> in France... I little too pungent for me!)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E-X8dIp3jzy4yZkymdPwrrUf1fK8KE1bUtHsz9qJgJJvTUH3pI_2GJeV_G4A1apt2jlhaVvH7ZdSHKW0FjIPEf28yPgNrCGaj0IQIf-y_nMHq0ihGYIv73d3gS9p7POKX4lRHrSx8Bo/s1600/P1030288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E-X8dIp3jzy4yZkymdPwrrUf1fK8KE1bUtHsz9qJgJJvTUH3pI_2GJeV_G4A1apt2jlhaVvH7ZdSHKW0FjIPEf28yPgNrCGaj0IQIf-y_nMHq0ihGYIv73d3gS9p7POKX4lRHrSx8Bo/s640/P1030288.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Hard to compare with Pike Place... Le marché in Le Mans</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">And for a few things that I will <i><b>not</b></i> be missing: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Smokers everywhere. It always seems to be that I was something because it smells like smoke and then the first time I rewear it again, I instantly reek of smoke again. You can't avoid smokers here, no matter how hard you try. It's disgusting and it's worse here in Lille than anywhere else I've been. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Not having a car. You'd think I'd have all the freedom in the world living over here in Europe. That's true, no one really cares what I do... but I'm limited by where I can get to by foot, bus, or train, which also kills my motivation. I'm sick of public transportation!! Give me a car and a full tank of gas!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Everything shutting down on Sundays. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-The fact that nothing happens instantly or without a ton of pointless paperwork or extra steps. If the French ever discovered instant gratification, I don't know what they'd do. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-Working only three days a week. It sounds great but it actually sucks. I have all this free time but no one to spend it with. It leaves a lot of time to start missing people, things, and places.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-I will not miss missing my friends, family, or my real life. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2imTO4x9pil4cTPq7bIbdn_7T2zyL5-Eor5P0XAYYANY0ORaFeVJcDYoUnUQdck3_HaC-P_ci5CukiSNSt8yyc1hzHnguiX3DGiN7rvRf2avcsimzjxNE2t7espAjFZvg0EZ0qeTrkOU/s1600/P1010778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2imTO4x9pil4cTPq7bIbdn_7T2zyL5-Eor5P0XAYYANY0ORaFeVJcDYoUnUQdck3_HaC-P_ci5CukiSNSt8yyc1hzHnguiX3DGiN7rvRf2avcsimzjxNE2t7espAjFZvg0EZ0qeTrkOU/s640/P1010778.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I love this place.... Sacré Coeur, Paris... one of my favorite sites, hands down</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">This experience has been life changing. It's been amazing, frustrating, and difficult over the past nine months. The next month will be tough. I'm so ready to go that it's all I can think about. But I don't want to miss out on what I have left, either... </div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>kinder: brune à l'extérieur mais blonde à l'intérieur</b> - A brunette who's blond on the inside</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Une pâtisserie</b> - a pastry shop </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Une boulangerie </b>- a bakery </i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une poissonnerie</b> - a fishmonger, fish shop </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une fromagerie </b>- a cheesemonger, cheese shop</span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-17360549204193810932011-06-12T16:25:00.000+02:002011-06-12T16:25:40.516+02:00Scaredy catHave you seen this commercial?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMVMzzWPDSk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It creeps me out. Goosebumps? Check! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, this morning I picked up my lunch bag and there was a spider scrambling around the bottom of it. I threw the bag on the ground and the spider came running out of it like a bat out of hell. I didn't know what to do so I grabbed the empty salt shaker on the counter. When I picked it up to see if the spider was smushed, it wasn't. The bottom must not be flat! So now there's a spider sitting under a salt shaker on the floor in the kitchen. I should probably tell Séb. I'm already terrified of spiders and this commercial makes it worse. Maybe the spider will suffocate under there? Do <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">araignées</span></i> breathe? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of creatures with eight legs... There was a spider on a student's desk the other day. The girl, Rachel, sits in the second row and I was the first to notice it. I was in the middle of teaching something and just froze. Mouth shut, I stood there pointing at the spider until Manon picked it up and put it on the floor. Not that it made it better but at least I couldn't see it. Eew. </div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une araignée</b> - a spider</span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-28915543242527264952011-06-09T20:38:00.000+02:002011-06-09T20:38:02.374+02:00It continues...<div style="text-align: justify;">If you read my last post, you'll remember my back and forth discussion with Océane on whether or not my name was Kelsey or Cassis. I had two similar conversations today... one of them was with Océane. I was helping another student and from across the room, she kept yelling "Cassis! Cassis!" (This really gets on my nerves, they don't understand that I can only answer one question at a time and I can't even answer one question if they won't all shut up!) Anyways, I looked up at her and said <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">"Je suis occupée! Et rappelle-toi que c'est 'Kelsey'."</span></i> She shook her head and repeated Cassis. I give up. (Honestly, I don't care but I find it funny!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In another class, I couldn't get Cassandra to stop talking, worrying about what others are doing, and drawing on the desktop and just do her work (and she wonders why I don't let her erase the board). She was trying to complain about another student saying my name incorrectly. I told her to worry about her own business and do her work, which she still hadn't started. The second I turned around, she was back to correcting Rémy on my name, telling him my name was Cassis. I looked at her and said <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">"Non, en fait, je m'appelle Kelsey. Kel-sey." </span></i>With a dead-serious stare, she corrected me "In English, your name is Kelsey. But in French, your name is Cassis." Oh really? I didn't know.<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> "Bah, non. Kelsey n'existe pas en français. Je m'appelle Kelsey."</span></i> I can't stand her. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On another note, I taught them today how to conjugate the French words <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">avoir</span></i> and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">être</span></i> in English, which are two of the the most important verbs in the French language. I gave them a few examples of phrases and then asked them to invent a few phrases using each. To get started, I had a few students raise their hand and say a sentence they planned to write. Quinten raised his hand and said "We are white." I thought that's what I heard but wasn't sure. He repeated it but I didn't want to embarrass him by having him say it over and over. I asked him to write it on the board, so he wrote "We are white." I didn't really know how to react, since a huge percentage of the class is not white... I just kind of skipped over it and went onto the next... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also had my youngest class literally undress me. Elyas grabbed my purse again and Caroline unwrapped my scarf and tied it around her neck. I will have to say that she looked adorable in it! Oh what a day... Only 7 class days left! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-kelse </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Je suis occupée! Et rappelle-toi que c'est 'Kelsey'</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">. - I'm busy! And remember that it's 'Kelsey'. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Non, en fait, je m'appelle Kelsey. Kel-sey. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">- No. In fact, my name is Kelsey.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Bah, non. Kelsey n'existe pas en français. Je m'appelle Kelsey. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">- Umm, no. Kelsey doesn't exist in French. My name is Kelsey.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>avoir</b> - to have</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>être</b> - to be </span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-67045689744914447952011-06-08T08:48:00.000+02:002011-06-08T08:48:32.282+02:00I stand corrected - by my students<div style="text-align: justify;">Despite appearances, I am generally a smart girl. That being said, I'm definitely not perfect and would never want to be. In the last week, I've been corrected several times by my students with very firm beliefs that they are right. I can't help but laugh...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Writing in English, speaking in French, and doing both without getting chalk all over me is tough. Yesterday I noticed I had chalk on my boob and a handprint on my ass... Enzo caught me trying to get it off and couldn't stop laughing. Anyways, back to the writing thing! I've been going over adjectives and had a list going on the board. "Big, little, old, young, long, short..." Everything was going fine until Selyan raised his hand, "Miss Kelsey, is it 'little' or 'litte'? You wrote l-i-t-t-e. I think you forgot the other 'l'." Double-tasking got the best of me. <b>Students: 1 - Kelsey: 0</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there's Ali; he tries so hard to speak English well but it doesn't always work out. This time, I was asking for a few extra adjectives that they use commonly to add to my list. I figure they'll pay a little more attention if they're interested... Ali raised his hand and said "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">une planète</span></i>." After making him repeat it a few times to make sure I heard him correctly, I told him it wasn't an adjective. "Yes it is! Because it's '<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">UNE planète</span></i>'. You see? '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>UNE planète</i></span>' is an adjective, I know it is." I was dumbfounded. "Ali... '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>une</i></span>' is the determinant and '<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">planète</span></i>' is the object..." He opened his mouth for a rebuttal but then his eyes quickly widened with embarrassment. <b>Students: 1 - Kelsey: 1</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saving the best for last, Océane can be a little brat. She wouldn't start participating in English until the middle of the year and now she thinks she knows everything. She also thinks the best way to learn is with her back turned to the blackboard. Yesterday, I walked into recess with a gaggle of kids shouting butchered versions of my name at rapid fire. "Keece! Cassie! Cassis! Keetzie!" I looked back at them with a blank face and firmly said "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Je m'appelle KELSEY</span></i>. KEL. SEY. K-E-L-S-E-Y." Océane shook her head and said "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Non, tu t'appelles Cassis. Ton prénom est Cassis</span></i>. Cuh-sis! (heavy emphasis on the second 's') Cassissssss!" About thirty seconds passed of me saying 'kel-sey' and her defending 'cassis' before I pulled out my driver's license to show her my name. The silly girl still wasn't convinced and I was now stuck in a crowd of kids staring at my wallet. <b>Students: 1 - Kelsey 2?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were a few things that I got to correct this week... Perfectionist Clara was disappointed when I pointed out that her sentence 'I am ten fish red' was a little jumbled. I got a little scared when Selyan asked how to say <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">un pistolet</span></i>; I calmed down when he wrote 'My gun Nerf is funny.' But I totally loved it when students wrote (correctly) "Kelsey is pretty. Kelsey is nice and intelligent...." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">No amount of sweet sentences will diminish my excitement that I only have <b>eight days left of work</b>! Not to mention that I see my mom<b> three weeks from today</b> and get back to Seattle <b>five weeks from today</b>! </div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<br />
<b><i>Une planète </i></b><i>- a planet</i><br />
<b><i>Je m'appelle Kelsey.</i></b><i> - My name is Kelsey. (Technically, 'I call myself Kelsey.")</i><br />
<b><i>Non, tu t'appelles Cassis. Ton prénom est Cassis. </i></b><i>- No, your name is Cassis. Your first name is Cassis.</i><br />
<b><i>Un pistolet</i></b><i> - a gun </i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-49796416902493118492011-06-05T18:13:00.001+02:002011-06-05T21:47:49.001+02:00Sausages and feathers<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My fabulous roommate's birthday is on Tuesday, so last night we went out to celebrate! We started with an <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">apéro</span></i> at a friend of a friend's. I haven't had a screwdriver in so long and now I remember why. And while we're at it, the little sticks of imitation crab sticks aren't my thing either. We arrived fashionably late to Aude's apartment (the other birthday honoree) for more snacks and finally dinner. I was dying in the sweltering heat - which to me is anything higher than 70°F and yesterday was well above that. I sipped a Leffe (a Belgian beer) and snacked on some cheeto-like things that tasted like peanut butter to me, though I know that wasn't the intended flavor. I definitely didn't find the Leffe refreshing, which is funny... In Berlin, Pierre told me that I was stupid because I don't find a cold <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">bière</span></i> refreshing on a warm afternoon. Different strokes... that doesn't make me stupid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Anyways, on to dinner. Before taking off to the bar, we dined on a pasta salad. I may be a pasta salad novice but the mix was good, if not interesting. Pasta, beets (!), corn, carrots, chicken, and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">saucisses</span></i>, mixed with a dijon mayo. Séb loved the hot dogs and picked a few extras out... and then this happened! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31THKrI0zA0/Tevb0NTn5RI/AAAAAAAAFiI/Kl2L74xhx00/s1600/P1030577-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31THKrI0zA0/Tevb0NTn5RI/AAAAAAAAFiI/Kl2L74xhx00/s640/P1030577-1.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Yankee Doodle</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZZwPM4tf0A/Tetj-juHdAI/AAAAAAAAFgo/pNHBt3zvaeU/s1600/P1030578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZZwPM4tf0A/Tetj-juHdAI/AAAAAAAAFgo/pNHBt3zvaeU/s640/P1030578.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Muffins, hot dog bits, and dijon mayo...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFpdh4ImguuZlp8cqrIqyzWDmw2KZ9J6CnCmlRoYT7bz5sjK47Bh29RLxQApwuI282dTsdiqwiC0Z6DNfkAqKMGi489Qz4VAYNLh7ZoTObc0unNmBwV3C8Qug2X8noK7DlbtwYGvV9PE/s1600/P1030579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFpdh4ImguuZlp8cqrIqyzWDmw2KZ9J6CnCmlRoYT7bz5sjK47Bh29RLxQApwuI282dTsdiqwiC0Z6DNfkAqKMGi489Qz4VAYNLh7ZoTObc0unNmBwV3C8Qug2X8noK7DlbtwYGvV9PE/s640/P1030579.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">No words...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">We eventually made it to L'Appart Café to continue the night. Séb had a great night! I had fun but was exhausted from the heat and only having two drinks kind of put me to sleep. I can definitely hold my own with my French but when I'm not completely sober and there's English music blasting in the background, my mind definitely doesn't appreciate the extra effort required. By closing time, I definitely didn't have the energy to move on to another bar nor did I dance to songs I'd normally dance to. Luckily, I caught a ride home and passed out at 3:00am. All in all, it was a great night and was already daylight when Séb and friends returned to the apartment. From their sluggishness this morning, I'd say it was a successful celebration for Séb's 27th birthday! </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVI2FhXhDAC0dtbu-RlW5DNdXKHXfex-nuClSJJ1v2hCuPJ1qntbCCkvcZJLviNR_PUPSE7CRP26yEn77nx6iowcIRGVKo5feo0mOPTdrbaCXTGkcJtVSxxrwpeWD0bpJxx5bXs3Ppc8/s1600/P1030580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVI2FhXhDAC0dtbu-RlW5DNdXKHXfex-nuClSJJ1v2hCuPJ1qntbCCkvcZJLviNR_PUPSE7CRP26yEn77nx6iowcIRGVKo5feo0mOPTdrbaCXTGkcJtVSxxrwpeWD0bpJxx5bXs3Ppc8/s640/P1030580.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I rocked the headdress!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQBL3rRQ7CdO_1n25suqSlOfaQi72Cwl_Mw-qqozC4s30j-TskyvOcGw-xmxfzwUhugUdLkWQeqSPZhJLmBziUb-paR2GCe-SYhtpvabrlSDAeOZ_1saaMoAEvmeP9RmYmYdrxya325M/s1600/P1030581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQBL3rRQ7CdO_1n25suqSlOfaQi72Cwl_Mw-qqozC4s30j-TskyvOcGw-xmxfzwUhugUdLkWQeqSPZhJLmBziUb-paR2GCe-SYhtpvabrlSDAeOZ_1saaMoAEvmeP9RmYmYdrxya325M/s640/P1030581.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aude, Angel, et Jonathon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ugh, I don't want to work tomorrow!! But only 10 class days left for me!<br />
<div>Bisous, </div><div>-kelse </div><div><br />
</div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Un apéro</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - an aperitif, cocktail hour</span></i></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une bière</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - a beer</span></i></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une saucisse</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - a sausage, hot dog</span></i><br />
<br />
</div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-71543401984515683022011-06-01T17:53:00.000+02:002011-06-01T17:53:27.123+02:00Murals, postcards, and chocolate fountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last up on my day trip to Brussels my recap of the random sites I saw around the city. I bet you didn't know that BD's are hugely popular in France and Belgium and that <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Schtroumpfs </span></i>were Belgian, did you? Confused? BD is short for <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">bande dessinée</span></i> or what we call comic strips and Schtroumpfs are the "kiddie cocaine" of the 80's that we lovingly know as The Smurfs. My kids are always stealing away peeks at their BD's, which are often used in class as part of their curriculum. It's <u>nothing</u> like comic books in the US. The most iconic of characters is <a href="http://www.tintin.com/en/">Tintin</a>, a cross between Indiana Jones and a journalist, who will soon be featured in a Spielberg trilogy along with his canine sidekick, Snowy. France has a theme park dedicated to <a href="http://www.asterix.com/">Astérix</a>, a Gaulish gladiator fighting off Romans; their most loved comic series. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But what does this have to do with Brussels? Well, as part of the Comic Book Route, there are over 30 murals of famous Belgian comic characters scattered around town. If I'd have known before my trip, I'd have found a map online! But I kept an eye out throughout my wanderings and snapped several pictures! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuOV3NrjkT_4C99r3aP0jmSQfnWcILEfn9M5iA3w3Zjc4zzOV-2Fvs4GHG5BoBeKGaOtKoBiFwOxuNelAH6r5jBQEgfJckiFrEJxKdUWTN_sKpX4-yZd3JmLwV8Tm8iIqQEQot81qbhc/s1600/P1030378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuOV3NrjkT_4C99r3aP0jmSQfnWcILEfn9M5iA3w3Zjc4zzOV-2Fvs4GHG5BoBeKGaOtKoBiFwOxuNelAH6r5jBQEgfJckiFrEJxKdUWTN_sKpX4-yZd3JmLwV8Tm8iIqQEQot81qbhc/s640/P1030378.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Tintin nearby to Mannekin Pis</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8N9crgJdKbWTGChDWWulHYJdy0cZqidF7Cm9bOag5kphswDNdga4S2cVITchdrM7QL90tI51sgr8w0LFmKtac-kRZHpv4Po3wD5cyY2upqg_jBD-ZUeqoQM1yGnnQTG2R6vghiEKHoc/s1600/P1030511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8N9crgJdKbWTGChDWWulHYJdy0cZqidF7Cm9bOag5kphswDNdga4S2cVITchdrM7QL90tI51sgr8w0LFmKtac-kRZHpv4Po3wD5cyY2upqg_jBD-ZUeqoQM1yGnnQTG2R6vghiEKHoc/s640/P1030511.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHX-8LdgF_Q/TdzNTsL9WoI/AAAAAAAAFaM/NVez5COMg0I/s1600/P1030521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHX-8LdgF_Q/TdzNTsL9WoI/AAAAAAAAFaM/NVez5COMg0I/s640/P1030521.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWTyCCImkBJqL2OrKPBvTY1Gj1NdjQAEKo8nIrVbJg3l81pnnSISfIEjLN0HsZ9FKfS3d2CmDrwqZ6rKq1d7pMX6eDsPPx7nb8HqT982iBW-ytQbJhyQAgMzOAQr8Q_udVMDERid6iK0/s1600/P1030502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWTyCCImkBJqL2OrKPBvTY1Gj1NdjQAEKo8nIrVbJg3l81pnnSISfIEjLN0HsZ9FKfS3d2CmDrwqZ6rKq1d7pMX6eDsPPx7nb8HqT982iBW-ytQbJhyQAgMzOAQr8Q_udVMDERid6iK0/s640/P1030502.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZfbQlZNvs8tjX3G15IWFvSi0ThZtw-LDXKTAl_Ss6JaVTrcW9syyYnCaT0XawAIozye_OSJL1H6xCiBxZ41_fa4MedCO1ocPyIQX78rlMpGM0EMtiffIVLcA42JqRAp9foBSpspSqOs/s1600/P1030524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZfbQlZNvs8tjX3G15IWFvSi0ThZtw-LDXKTAl_Ss6JaVTrcW9syyYnCaT0XawAIozye_OSJL1H6xCiBxZ41_fa4MedCO1ocPyIQX78rlMpGM0EMtiffIVLcA42JqRAp9foBSpspSqOs/s640/P1030524.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry for the terrible picture, it's tough to photograph a window in the sunlight... But if you look closely, you'll notice that Mannekin Pis is peeing chocolate. Not that appetizing, if you ask me. And the picture that follows is his lesser-known counterpart, <a href="http://toilet-guru.com/statues.php">Jeanneke Pis</a>. Yep, a fountain of a little girl squatting. Classy! Then I spotted these lovely postcards... even better how they're juxtaposed!</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpBOwoKuVO4Q76S2rECpRU7QTCkj1sAUF6AWaCafGKBIa5GqYp8KGQzkFQtLfRrEkJn9vTejvpZbUQB8UzsJxXFp9WcdtfJKAD4jjgE9VFcfpxvBfLf-mJmkfL5KZMfW57KSG55P1FX4/s640/P1030439.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We could have had this chocolate fountain at our Senior Ball instead... </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>tant pis</b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cFpwfwQA8EI/TdzLZL0oDhI/AAAAAAAAFNM/6A0g1Xpc9Gg/s1600/P1030387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cFpwfwQA8EI/TdzLZL0oDhI/AAAAAAAAFNM/6A0g1Xpc9Gg/s640/P1030387.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Right outside Delirium Café behind lock and key... Jeanneke Pis.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGc3lINPHcooJharU9CfVeA_64lUnn6Tfps3FnaEYTQfcVtJTzVujRp29K6iR4HpzN-923FhmfxraT6LB73h2Ai_cJJTRZGEgXa89ISHxU68f_i3BSvMk1t4gU9eRw-097sYb_tFfZ58/s1600/P1030486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGc3lINPHcooJharU9CfVeA_64lUnn6Tfps3FnaEYTQfcVtJTzVujRp29K6iR4HpzN-923FhmfxraT6LB73h2Ai_cJJTRZGEgXa89ISHxU68f_i3BSvMk1t4gU9eRw-097sYb_tFfZ58/s640/P1030486.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Same time, same place... bitch! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And for a few more random things... I saw several areas around town actually designated for you to have your dog do his business. Much cuter than the sign telling you <i>not</i> to leave your dog poop at Burg Nanstein in Germany! Then, can you please tell me what these animals are supposed to be because I want one. And finally, to all my Chi Omegas, every owl I see makes me think of you guys - even in the form of graffiti! </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxGqFxGL_fo/TdzNHA4zOSI/AAAAAAAAEzg/MRi3rklNpcs/s1600/P1030509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxGqFxGL_fo/TdzNHA4zOSI/AAAAAAAAEzg/MRi3rklNpcs/s640/P1030509.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Insert your own caption here... Just do it. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM5I3cgqvec/TdzMlQ3XhwI/AAAAAAAAFV4/ReCpOuxTkws/s1600/P1030470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM5I3cgqvec/TdzMlQ3XhwI/AAAAAAAAFV4/ReCpOuxTkws/s640/P1030470.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmgayYsFgIF1DUHeXcFQjASDMl-6dNelPqvxOFZQWCJjMRc29-Y9Qsj9pcF1VT9JDtjPmrIscKR3vcV9L-mU1ZAEyu51u-mKpNYZprbXsIXvvkAv7XUa4roCb91bp2uwHUyA0UDNRYJU/s1600/P1030522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmgayYsFgIF1DUHeXcFQjASDMl-6dNelPqvxOFZQWCJjMRc29-Y9Qsj9pcF1VT9JDtjPmrIscKR3vcV9L-mU1ZAEyu51u-mKpNYZprbXsIXvvkAv7XUa4roCb91bp2uwHUyA0UDNRYJU/s640/P1030522.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Chi O love in Brussels.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have no idea what this window front was for. Who killed Miss Rose? I say it was the creeper clocking in at over 7'6". Don't they use the metric system?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIfVEc9qGZH9k39xKFDWd4bTI7-1YuLNfZO__hNoucxfJT2gSq-RMavkiol3P32q2N-OClMo-w0pXE7FH9rOEru8pOO76ZAK6q125xHx4qugL40Ng5oavwaK2bz8K1knVP0Q5TcuN7NM/s1600/P1030530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIfVEc9qGZH9k39xKFDWd4bTI7-1YuLNfZO__hNoucxfJT2gSq-RMavkiol3P32q2N-OClMo-w0pXE7FH9rOEru8pOO76ZAK6q125xHx4qugL40Ng5oavwaK2bz8K1knVP0Q5TcuN7NM/s640/P1030530.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">How many behemoths do you know over 7 feet? And I thought Pierre was too damn tall! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, that's it. And guess what? Now that it's June, I can officially say that I come home next month!! Even better, I get to see my mom <i>this</i> month!<br />
<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une bande dessinée </b>- A comic strip </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Tant pis!</b> - Too bad! </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Rendez-vous ici, demain, même heure.</b> - Meet me tomorrow, same time, same place. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une salope</b> - a bitch, whore </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Qui a tué Mlle Rose?</b> - Who killed Miss Rose? </span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-38365239538087746272011-05-29T09:16:00.000+02:002011-05-29T09:16:10.916+02:00Bites in Brussels<div style="text-align: justify;">Normally I eat a really healthy and balanced diet, heavy on fruits and vegetables and light on sweets. I don't like beer and rarely drink, except for when I really feel like it. Both those general rules flew out the door when I hopped off the train in Brussels. At least I had a healthy breakfast? ; )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TkCtQiY6-TOIpXGywHjRKOmn0MsHzhyphenhyphenh_cXscfl4l3bf9ScRvhx_Oq65C699eHkPs_TfF7ZsPcRy9D1PR3rf32RY4dHhlDkETB0v1Yd_7Ty4JLW3oyp5UyVwB4VuojAs1h29YPYHaY4/s1600/P1030384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TkCtQiY6-TOIpXGywHjRKOmn0MsHzhyphenhyphenh_cXscfl4l3bf9ScRvhx_Oq65C699eHkPs_TfF7ZsPcRy9D1PR3rf32RY4dHhlDkETB0v1Yd_7Ty4JLW3oyp5UyVwB4VuojAs1h29YPYHaY4/s640/P1030384.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After some shopping and siteseeing, Riina and I tucked into <a href="http://www.deliriumcafe.be/">Delirium Café </a>for a beer. Let me note that this was at 12:00pm. Delirium Café hold a Guinness Record for offering 2000+ beers from all around the world and also has a really cool ambiance. Like I said, I don't like beer but I knew that my dad would practically disown me if I didn't have a Belgian beer in Belgium so I asked for a white beer and was given a Watou's Wit. Riina and I toasted to Christmas in May and spent an hour chatting before she had to meet with her co-worker. Before she left, I asked the guys sitting at the barrel next to us to take our photo. Two of them said yes and then there were crickets... After thirty seconds of no movement, we started laughing and I joked with them that usually this was the point where one of them would take my camera. Once Riina left, I finished my beer and figured out my game plan. When I got up to leave, I noticed one of the guys in the group had Greek letters on his jacket so I asked them where they'd gone to school. I ended up sitting with them for over an hour chatting about traveling Europe and comparing Greek systems at UW and UC Berkeley. Finally, I declared that I needed food at 2:30pm and they said they were impressed that I'd had a beer before lunch. Actually, that beer <i>was</i> my lunch... For the record, I kind of enjoyed it (the beer, not the fact that it was my lunch). </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIPrk9bG4ND59Dg35rv2NoyZGQgt_F4uq794vlo08Nc9jJVN28QfrDaVVYKNXZO_hnPenm5ieoD2ljm_ocTDDAQ5KhnNgomPMNiBe9j27G2IdOWCfINgpVcCUUC_xI4cxfrYKqtJfqqc/s1600/P1030396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIPrk9bG4ND59Dg35rv2NoyZGQgt_F4uq794vlo08Nc9jJVN28QfrDaVVYKNXZO_hnPenm5ieoD2ljm_ocTDDAQ5KhnNgomPMNiBe9j27G2IdOWCfINgpVcCUUC_xI4cxfrYKqtJfqqc/s640/P1030396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Riina and I - Truffles in Tartu and beers in Brussels, let's continue our world food tour!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVcv-Uh3c7c/TdzLepu6FpI/AAAAAAAAFOE/BJFJ5gUnvFk/s1600/P1030394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVcv-Uh3c7c/TdzLepu6FpI/AAAAAAAAFOE/BJFJ5gUnvFk/s640/P1030394.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJo2EnQLVqalgJNh-wUNBeLwOyG7IQyLSTlilOh6qzsyFwd3v8KU4ms7OwAlJQcV7YDG2hyphenhyphenmtc5-X8fPFsDmXBQohqxPtQqTmTeWilA4ZWK5BSnf6JMUOVE1oJEh4Gko6oJ9Mi2XVrrc/s1600/P1030398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJo2EnQLVqalgJNh-wUNBeLwOyG7IQyLSTlilOh6qzsyFwd3v8KU4ms7OwAlJQcV7YDG2hyphenhyphenmtc5-X8fPFsDmXBQohqxPtQqTmTeWilA4ZWK5BSnf6JMUOVE1oJEh4Gko6oJ9Mi2XVrrc/s640/P1030398.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cxjyi_gkoycTgQc0VJTBUGX9yZcnWvs5NkrsmTjzfHfkQDuV8vz59nTqjaJhXHmUVctNh5yOKjG3xyI29aYbHgvKE4SH0S-3FkoPKfnPYAZiJW2_DbQHgGaa8pe04PkxOuHZOO55DWU/s1600/P1030395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cxjyi_gkoycTgQc0VJTBUGX9yZcnWvs5NkrsmTjzfHfkQDuV8vz59nTqjaJhXHmUVctNh5yOKjG3xyI29aYbHgvKE4SH0S-3FkoPKfnPYAZiJW2_DbQHgGaa8pe04PkxOuHZOO55DWU/s640/P1030395.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">My lunch: Watou's Wit </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2okd1fNDWM5HfsQ-CYbvVwIUpQlzZX58bbGug2AGl67jYGNGVXG7cIqUa83HvvLY3eoPMe3RGzQ034ohHBvC2Sw1sY-rFjS1MML0KF2NBQkIMlG2yGZTzMO8YMZzCP3uur7_f-8gML4/s1600/P1030401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2okd1fNDWM5HfsQ-CYbvVwIUpQlzZX58bbGug2AGl67jYGNGVXG7cIqUa83HvvLY3eoPMe3RGzQ034ohHBvC2Sw1sY-rFjS1MML0KF2NBQkIMlG2yGZTzMO8YMZzCP3uur7_f-8gML4/s640/P1030401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">AEPi's from Berkeley Jeremy, Yoni, Ben, and David</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The guys and I parted ways and I decided that I could indulge on a Belgian waffle as a snack. What was wrong with me? Usually I am very good at talking myself out of these ideas. Luckily I didn't, because this was the best waffle I've ever had. Well, normally I don't like waffles so that might not be saying much, but it's safe to say that I'll probably never have a waffle in the US again. Belgians know their waffles! The little crystals of sugar imbedded in the waffle are the best part! I can't believe I'm going to say this... I didn't have any chocolate while in Brussels because <i>I'm over chocolate</i>. Belgian chocolate is, however, very tasty! </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1ElHsSZuec/TdzLvXsJRPI/AAAAAAAAFPs/28yrcMaZk24/s1600/P1030413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1ElHsSZuec/TdzLvXsJRPI/AAAAAAAAFPs/28yrcMaZk24/s640/P1030413.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I had plenty of decadent options for toppings... </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTXXkiiBJdI/TdzLyL3zSkI/AAAAAAAAFQE/uEpUKCrUZ6o/s1600/P1030416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTXXkiiBJdI/TdzLyL3zSkI/AAAAAAAAFQE/uEpUKCrUZ6o/s640/P1030416.JPG" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">But I kept it simple with just powdered sugar. Miam Miam!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO33WPjomkZj_CjQgEO6cVwOTHjvxV5Ez8nrYwizZyDOQi6eTjUSYmhsGOzi-g8-3WNwql7bs1_r01loKfGFDyZr8kI8cUfb_NHUH_pMcNDj5Fd2EH1qVeawsWlUlcytGb_0c9s9L-EI/s1600/P1030440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO33WPjomkZj_CjQgEO6cVwOTHjvxV5Ez8nrYwizZyDOQi6eTjUSYmhsGOzi-g8-3WNwql7bs1_r01loKfGFDyZr8kI8cUfb_NHUH_pMcNDj5Fd2EH1qVeawsWlUlcytGb_0c9s9L-EI/s640/P1030440.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aC3Y7z_5YGU/TdzMLWfWPjI/AAAAAAAAEqg/pnlBx0i2yqY/s1600/P1030441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aC3Y7z_5YGU/TdzMLWfWPjI/AAAAAAAAEqg/pnlBx0i2yqY/s640/P1030441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">For dinner, I went back to an Indian restaurant that I'd been to in October and enjoyed a delicious Tandoori Chicken Tikka plate with naan. This makes me excited to get back to the US where I don't have to go to another country to get good ethnic food!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCxmkGY1Kxs/TdzNmiUJXII/AAAAAAAAFbs/slbE9_M78fo/s1600/P1030544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCxmkGY1Kxs/TdzNmiUJXII/AAAAAAAAFbs/slbE9_M78fo/s640/P1030544.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Well, at least I did a ton of walking that day! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">-kelse</div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-36474522164162286342011-05-27T18:29:00.000+02:002011-05-27T18:29:17.877+02:00Seeing the Sites - Brussels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I took nearly 200 pictures in just a day in Brussels... So, instead of jam-packing it all in I'll spread it out into three categories: sites, bites, and random things I saw. Got it? Okay, let's get to it. I've traveled <i>through</i> Brussels multiple times but just haven't gotten around to seeing the city. The one time that we had a little bit of time to explore around the Brussels-Midi station, we got really confused. I think that train station just hates me. Even though I'd written down how to get to Brussels-Nord to meet Riina, I couldn't figure it out and wound up twenty minutes late. Nevermind that all signs were in the two languages I speak (plus Flemish). But I got where I needed to be... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, on your left we have La Place des Martyrs, where my Christmas gifts were delivered to me. (And to think Santa told me he had a hard time finding me in Tartu!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xbjKvGAeoQUjIJdQPgG9RkYR58K-V_n6kzvPwVVeM6OZ3UpEEzGNejXCGmX-XFO3rGz9-urmwcYAtUlaarB5YuZPekRBy8f0XfNvaY46HRyTVaWbPk8snDLPTPTSuFIMJYC6kItVSF0/s1600/P1030359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xbjKvGAeoQUjIJdQPgG9RkYR58K-V_n6kzvPwVVeM6OZ3UpEEzGNejXCGmX-XFO3rGz9-urmwcYAtUlaarB5YuZPekRBy8f0XfNvaY46HRyTVaWbPk8snDLPTPTSuFIMJYC6kItVSF0/s640/P1030359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">La Place des Martyrs </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">La Grand-Place in Brussels is said to be one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe and it definitely didn't disappoint. It's bordered by the gorgeous Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), a museum, guild houses, cafés, restaurants, and chocolate shops.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdQWr4tpkn3UtGGg9igf_M1BkyRZqqGuhBFlRaPh59gAKAOJz_3LIubBnd_2R4TYG3oREXiRLZRIOPjvpw3hwzLLQ7Sl2-ZTPiSJm4ihnpL_1DUd1hGbWdI_cvCWJykrXpSGIWPUBFbw/s1600/P1030408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdQWr4tpkn3UtGGg9igf_M1BkyRZqqGuhBFlRaPh59gAKAOJz_3LIubBnd_2R4TYG3oREXiRLZRIOPjvpw3hwzLLQ7Sl2-ZTPiSJm4ihnpL_1DUd1hGbWdI_cvCWJykrXpSGIWPUBFbw/s640/P1030408.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Hotêl de Ville de Bruxelles</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi5gp9eoONr6af0keniRPk7orzgYnlxE-nCsi-Lef57NWmant9MAdDqaKvOz8glf-ZRrtIGJcZ0J18vvyaFisejbQNN2kpRiX8BZd3nN8KEGksT0FLht-yU7U4_EgL3jyUCteNqMVNKA/s1600/P1030375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi5gp9eoONr6af0keniRPk7orzgYnlxE-nCsi-Lef57NWmant9MAdDqaKvOz8glf-ZRrtIGJcZ0J18vvyaFisejbQNN2kpRiX8BZd3nN8KEGksT0FLht-yU7U4_EgL3jyUCteNqMVNKA/s640/P1030375.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Town Hall of Brussels</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HhN93iN4fBMVEFkHFabkyExlS-xsjoa1ehyjJUgEkeKBAd2Q6jnVZ6tcCUG9DF7YvM85f9zXxdAk_MwxkBH3LVPo2DGZFVXclMtK8aL24mZxA5ovNGhrYwaX9S4GJ45WmHGBvyOTfbs/s1600/P1030425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HhN93iN4fBMVEFkHFabkyExlS-xsjoa1ehyjJUgEkeKBAd2Q6jnVZ6tcCUG9DF7YvM85f9zXxdAk_MwxkBH3LVPo2DGZFVXclMtK8aL24mZxA5ovNGhrYwaX9S4GJ45WmHGBvyOTfbs/s640/P1030425.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohIpYuJ72sRnQGsEDKjmBrtcFk_7gV0gEgDn-0x-XWvABfGZ9EHWMYa4rT7bNiqSPs2HEWW6Rdh6xIRjFzO33PfHsy6TdqgWE4Fk0OAVZRfUNBD8XyTnwoz6mZ-SaMPOXVpYIEsCbsKE/s1600/P1030371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohIpYuJ72sRnQGsEDKjmBrtcFk_7gV0gEgDn-0x-XWvABfGZ9EHWMYa4rT7bNiqSPs2HEWW6Rdh6xIRjFzO33PfHsy6TdqgWE4Fk0OAVZRfUNBD8XyTnwoz6mZ-SaMPOXVpYIEsCbsKE/s640/P1030371.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A museum in La Grand-Place</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_HREqEKRYg/TdzLK7p9hzI/AAAAAAAAFLc/EnVQlPt0ouw/s1600/P1030372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_HREqEKRYg/TdzLK7p9hzI/AAAAAAAAFLc/EnVQlPt0ouw/s640/P1030372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Guild houses in the Grote Markt (Flemish for Grand-Place)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezYnHkhxj4A/TdzLQuYsgMI/AAAAAAAAEh4/LatkgeIncto/s1600/P1030377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezYnHkhxj4A/TdzLQuYsgMI/AAAAAAAAEh4/LatkgeIncto/s640/P1030377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">If you touch this, it makes your wish come true! Won't tell you what mine was... </span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If the Grand-Place is the number one tourist attraction in Brussels, Mannekin Pis is a close second. The name means "little man pee" in Flemish and is a statuette of a little boy peeing into a fountain. He often gets dressed up but was nude when I saw him. There are several legends behind it's importance, one of them is that in the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">14th century when Brussels was under siege, their attackers planned to place explosives at the city walls. After uncovering their plan through a little spying, a little boy named </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span lang="nl" xml:lang="nl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Julianske</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> peed on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. Funny, huh? Well, if you've seen the Mona Lisa than you'd understand the let down when you see how tiny he is! </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oTO5_tGJgiaWWNGYhsBjZvEszMp-MLYg8PYs6_zUKNyCkSVdYjOrl5Q3YhaRUvnT_8QajQtaNAt2hqMtQ0fktTsellufKlH-2MK_vsZdTH9WHL9N8AgBr4-eWhRWR0PE8MaDo646TU4/s1600/P1030381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oTO5_tGJgiaWWNGYhsBjZvEszMp-MLYg8PYs6_zUKNyCkSVdYjOrl5Q3YhaRUvnT_8QajQtaNAt2hqMtQ0fktTsellufKlH-2MK_vsZdTH9WHL9N8AgBr4-eWhRWR0PE8MaDo646TU4/s640/P1030381.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mannekin Pis</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0cwUoUR8yz4L823zNsFYLpd2JQUa58f6h_sF0vZh-kWlxBjaBgnuidE7dr4tVKiIW0trB11tSPeqcwThCO9L6ke3qm3DI_MVloffzYZ1KG9hL-3vwxrf8N1HJu7rrs_hyageKX3fq6w/s1600/P1030382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0cwUoUR8yz4L823zNsFYLpd2JQUa58f6h_sF0vZh-kWlxBjaBgnuidE7dr4tVKiIW0trB11tSPeqcwThCO9L6ke3qm3DI_MVloffzYZ1KG9hL-3vwxrf8N1HJu7rrs_hyageKX3fq6w/s640/P1030382.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mannekin Pis</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lnoecMhpFh8/TdzMS4aKVsI/AAAAAAAAFTY/e71aikSySqM/s1600/P1030450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lnoecMhpFh8/TdzMS4aKVsI/AAAAAAAAFTY/e71aikSySqM/s640/P1030450.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal;">Built in 1381, Porte de Hal is one of the medieval city gates that guarded the besieged Brussels. It used to have a drawbridge and a moat! When I was walking around it, these guys sitting on canons shouted "Hey pretty girl, why don't you take our picture?" I kept walking but sassed back saying "Oh really? I should take your picture?" Then they switched their approach and started calling out to me in French... Let's just say I was catcalled at all day long, in both English and French... It really caught me off guard. </span></div></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQsNiibBe-nUTQ_2_wLoXgzvWWQsUxJhdC0jWvVURpayhoMmKDOapKcWtjsXhKLgqj8x8Izjxqb8TeCQVCZ20ZD7AkV0LIGML0dd_xJSRItzJNMbK7ULRUd21U15nTElEf3BzjheXtKw/s1600/P1030512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQsNiibBe-nUTQ_2_wLoXgzvWWQsUxJhdC0jWvVURpayhoMmKDOapKcWtjsXhKLgqj8x8Izjxqb8TeCQVCZ20ZD7AkV0LIGML0dd_xJSRItzJNMbK7ULRUd21U15nTElEf3BzjheXtKw/s640/P1030512.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Porte de Hal </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzLRl8Xf5Pml1KafOTpKSueMYJMsamGVmvj-h9moh7Y_HD8wNXJ7ZrEty3HTDgZMa4pb6nRYH0hGlBwept1KhWLNdkXK3Rb8v4tQraflhJNZZA9kLOVy03tQZScRx0OdNrUe-5Av2sJk/s1600/P1030518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzLRl8Xf5Pml1KafOTpKSueMYJMsamGVmvj-h9moh7Y_HD8wNXJ7ZrEty3HTDgZMa4pb6nRYH0hGlBwept1KhWLNdkXK3Rb8v4tQraflhJNZZA9kLOVy03tQZScRx0OdNrUe-5Av2sJk/s640/P1030518.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Porte de Hal </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Next up: Bites<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-79174317026127932172011-05-25T18:23:00.000+02:002011-05-25T18:23:08.488+02:00Five months later...<div style="text-align: justify;">If I told you that Christmas comes in May and December in 2011, would you believe me? If you don't, then you should start believing. My mom sent my Christmas gifts to Estonia on December 9th and they finally made it to me yesterday... Exactly five months after Christmas. It's been a big ordeal, to say the least. Here's a run-down of the timeline: </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NC3Zm_wHmImWihnYWr0V1KaooPRcd5vLO0IdestMnmLCdVaFt-H97XdBkrPU8AeUtGl1x5Sed8ClZOygMICXz2IvLmgK4xKYQ93nLhjD8S0AYk3Sx5WqffRJKgzJ_85GYUjwHgcoCJM/s1600/P1030364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NC3Zm_wHmImWihnYWr0V1KaooPRcd5vLO0IdestMnmLCdVaFt-H97XdBkrPU8AeUtGl1x5Sed8ClZOygMICXz2IvLmgK4xKYQ93nLhjD8S0AYk3Sx5WqffRJKgzJ_85GYUjwHgcoCJM/s640/P1030364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">In Place des Martyrs in Brussels, Belgium. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li style="text-align: justify;">December 9th the package is sent from Seattle to Tartu with gifts for me and my Estonian family. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Mid-January, Jane complains to the Estonian Post who refers her to customs who has questions about the contents of the shipment. Apparently they sent a letter to Jane - but to the <i>wrong</i> address. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">January 29th, Jane picks up the package and re-boxes my stuff to send it to me in France. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">February 2nd, the package leaves Estonia and falls off the radar<i> for over a month</i>. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In the beginning of March, Jane finds out that the package is back in Estonia just sitting, waiting, wishing... Complaint inquires with Estonian Post tell us that the package was deemed "undeliverable" by the French Post. According to the three people I spoke to with the French post, the package NEVER made it into their possession. Later, Estonian Post tells us that the French couldn't deliver the package because my name wasn't on our mailbox. Seriously? My name has been on the mailbox since I moved in and there were no problems receiving the first two packages shipped to me... Or all the other letters I get from my insurance company... </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">May 24th, I meet Jane's friend Riina in <b>Brussels, Belgium</b> to retrieve my gifts. Five months later but not too late. </li>
</ul><div>Lesson learned? Don't send things to France if you don't need to... </div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZIQ57IJuyidYsF9wdc2btP-rUgqHNrW0ANDkICzzWCdJVW5lwIejnqh5Bvss9DqvtXj_O-tk16FvrOgh8FufEt0nBPdyyO8nO6PQm38HIP2WBoIaWosoL_FG1IVzThlnu_a1BYHSrlY/s1600/P1030547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZIQ57IJuyidYsF9wdc2btP-rUgqHNrW0ANDkICzzWCdJVW5lwIejnqh5Bvss9DqvtXj_O-tk16FvrOgh8FufEt0nBPdyyO8nO6PQm38HIP2WBoIaWosoL_FG1IVzThlnu_a1BYHSrlY/s640/P1030547.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The goods - mom even sent my Christmas stocking!! Good thing she didn't send me homemade cookies!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">But I got to call in sick to work and site-see in Brussels on a beautiful day! Plus, when I got back to my apartment, I got to open my presents on the phone with my dad and via Skype with my mom. This wouldn't have happened had everything gone as planned and that was the best part. I'd told them not to send me presents because my favorite part of opening gifts is seeing how happy THEY are to give me the gifts and to hear the stories that correspond with each present. Let me just say that my parents are awesome gift givers and I am so excited about what I got! [Don't forget my 25th birthday is coming up... it's a milestone birthday, yah know! ;)] It might have been the end of May and warm out, there were no Christmas decorations or pumpkin pie, but it definitely felt like Christmas to me! </div><div><br />
</div><div>And coming up, I've got tons of pictures of Brussels to share! </div><div>Bisous, </div><br />
<div>-kelse</div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-46333479512811446332011-05-18T16:10:00.000+02:002011-05-18T16:10:31.107+02:00Quiche à la Keecee<div style="text-align: justify;">While I was eating and drinking my way through Le Mans (apparently I only drink while I'm on vacation...), I realized that I haven't eaten a whole lot of French food while I've been here. I certainly haven't really made anything French either. My family is going to expect that I have something to show for living in France and I have nothing... until today. Emilie gave me her recipe for Quiche Lorraine, the classic quiche that you've likely all tried. Since I got back to Marcq-en-Baroeul, I've been trying to figure out what type of quiche I wanted to make. An online search for recipes just left me confused and craving quiche! Some people use 5 eggs and others 2 eggs; certain recipes use half-and-half while others use milk, flour, and all vary in measurements. On top of that, tons of recipe commenters mentioned their quiche to be too watery or not eggy enough. For someone who only bakes vegetables, I took a chance creating a recipe from scratch - and I'm sure happy that I did! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Voici ma recette</span></i> for Quiche à la Keecee (since hardly anyone here can properly call me Kelsey). You could also call it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Quiche aux Poivrons et Piments</i></span>. Bon appétit! </div><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Ingrédients</span></i>:<br />
1 store-bought pastry shell [I used a<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> pâte brisée</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">]</span></i><br />
Dijon mustard<br />
1 each red and yellow bell peppers, sliced<br />
2 jarred chili peppers, sliced [I deseeded mine in case Séb wanted a piece]<br />
3.5 oz crumbled feta cheese [I used100 grams]<br />
3 eggs<br />
1/2 pint <i>or</i> 3/4 cup + 1.5 TBSP (low-fat) half-n-half [I used Elle & Vire <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Fluide et Légère Crème Fraîche</span></i> with only 3% fat]<br />
freshly ground pepper<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJUoQnvjCkBcF-j-5keEtW11I89UNoQeSbPlOF9XnbUaxLSQgdS0FE-ZtKTdIrvmew4sE5XyOKUX6RIQ44HvOWcPm7jxBuNgXH1ip7FLtnAC_b-_hIrw8ZKGL1Pu1rL1VZ01MnxWAWgw/s1600/Quiche+%25C3%25A0+la+Kelsey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJUoQnvjCkBcF-j-5keEtW11I89UNoQeSbPlOF9XnbUaxLSQgdS0FE-ZtKTdIrvmew4sE5XyOKUX6RIQ44HvOWcPm7jxBuNgXH1ip7FLtnAC_b-_hIrw8ZKGL1Pu1rL1VZ01MnxWAWgw/s640/Quiche+%25C3%25A0+la+Kelsey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl_z2z-4PshI7tA-ejDMkt-kZpDG-jQrZNMXDcgi4-NIHc5WYzEbm_V5d0HpqAdaAQnvQAlLt4kSczLdkH2v3AcReBNHLMOMLN_UDIbt2hyphenhypheno4PznaFhW0O001eajrKTCCLDpCLNeO0tM/s1600/Quiche+%25C3%25A0+la+Kelsey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl_z2z-4PshI7tA-ejDMkt-kZpDG-jQrZNMXDcgi4-NIHc5WYzEbm_V5d0HpqAdaAQnvQAlLt4kSczLdkH2v3AcReBNHLMOMLN_UDIbt2hyphenhypheno4PznaFhW0O001eajrKTCCLDpCLNeO0tM/s640/Quiche+%25C3%25A0+la+Kelsey1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Directions: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Slice red and yellow bell peppers and roast in oven set to 175°C/350°F for 10 minutes, until slightly tender. Place in a single layer on paper towels with sliced red peppers from jar to drain liquid. Also place feta cheese on paper towels to draw out excess liquid. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Set oven to 200°C/400°F. In a pie dish, set your pastry dough with excess edges hanging over the edges. Spread a thin layer of dijon mustard evenly over the bottom of the shell and poke several times with fork. (This prevents the pastry from rising up while you blind bake it.) Bake crust for 5 minutes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Fold over excess dough to form the crust. Layer your peppers evenly in the pie shell and top with crumbled cheese. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together eggs, crème fraîche, and a little freshly ground pepper. Pour evenly over peppers and cheese. Bake in oven at 200°C/400°F for 45 minutes or until egg is fully set and knife inserted into the center comes out clean. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I thought this was delicious; next time I might add fresh basil but would happily make it as is again! Let me know if you test it out. Miam miam! Bon appétit! </div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelse<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Voici</b> - Here is...</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Ma recette</b> - My recipe </span></i><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Quiche aux Poivrons et Piments</b> - Quiche with bell peppers and chili peppers</i></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Un poivron rouge/jaune</b> - A red/yellow bell pepper</i></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Ingrédients</b> - Ingredients</span></i></span></i></span></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une pâte brisée</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> - A pastry crust dough </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Fluide et Légère</b> - Fluid and light</span></i></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Crème Fraîche</b> - Fresh cream (<b>Note</b>: The crème fraîche you buy in the US is different than in France because by law, it has to be pasteurized in the US. There are recipes to make your own online and it can sometimes be bought in specialty stores. Or, you can substitute with half-n-half)</span></i></span></span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-72058832946299263482011-05-14T12:15:00.000+02:002011-05-14T12:15:07.967+02:00Un Mariage Années 80<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I got to spend Thursday night with some of my favorite people in France. When Silvia invited me to her daughter's choral and drama class <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">spectacle</span></i>, I excitedly accepted. Her son, Raphaël, is in her class while her daughter, Laureline, is at the nearby <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">collège</span></i>. I have <i>very</i> fond memories of my years in choir (7th grade and all four years of high school) and looked forward to seeing the performance. After work, we picked up another co-worker of mine, Françoise, who is one of <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">les dames de service</span></i> and headed to Silvia's for coffee while Laureline got into costume. Pressed for time, we went for a quick dinner at Oh Roubaignot, a "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">rôtisserie - snack - friterie</span></i>". My sandwich, La Petite Andalouse was nothing of the sort - it was huge but delicious! It was a grilled sandwich in a faluche with chicken breast, onions, red peppers, mushrooms, Mediterranean cheese, lettuce, and an andalouse sauce. I ate a little too fast and was literally stuffed. We dropped Laureline off at the theater and stopped by Françoise's for another cup of coffee. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nCfPuAIiOc/TczxFWh-HGI/AAAAAAAAEYI/mAw_wjpZJ1w/s1600/P1030312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nCfPuAIiOc/TczxFWh-HGI/AAAAAAAAEYI/mAw_wjpZJ1w/s640/P1030312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Laureline et moi</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiHOKqKQxbO4ryJXSqlQagbyzK5gaP8ofomqYKn61wf1neODyXKn4aqz4W44QW336VrqppLEmc4tYxlblBZNBJh6HZ324pZvNdmuhnYcdgP6TsaRWnRibQOYiIAu2EvKvB7gWPTA62E8/s1600/P1030313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiHOKqKQxbO4ryJXSqlQagbyzK5gaP8ofomqYKn61wf1neODyXKn4aqz4W44QW336VrqppLEmc4tYxlblBZNBJh6HZ324pZvNdmuhnYcdgP6TsaRWnRibQOYiIAu2EvKvB7gWPTA62E8/s640/P1030313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Raphaël is by far my favorite student and I think he love's that he gets to spend a little time with me outside of school! If I didn't have a pretty awesome little brother already, I'd snatch this kid up! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The title of the show was <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Un Mariage Années 80</span></i> and was a musical of sorts that the choir and theaters classes wrote. Basically it's the story of Alice and Pierre-Olivier who meet at a club in the 1980s, fall in love, and get married. Years later, when their daughters start going out to clubs and coming home at 3am, Alice recounts how she met their father. It was very creative, well done, and a ton of fun to watch. There were even a few former students now in high school who came back to join the performance. The songs were all top hits from the eighties; they sang mostly French music but did also sing an acapella version of Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics with a decent accent!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MwjMZKnXvnk/Tcz77uKGq7I/AAAAAAAAEVo/bweJLyT_hII/s1600/P1030315.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v3.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D31d0c0adc2bbfc10%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1305387555%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3DFDAE58D04529DD293E398F31C71A92D955564F.DD4AE7AB048CE1870059D884AA1CC563047FE430%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v3.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D31d0c0adc2bbfc10%26itag%3D5%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1305387555%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3DFDAE58D04529DD293E398F31C71A92D955564F.DD4AE7AB048CE1870059D884AA1CC563047FE430%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3zC1HlJcqOQHs9seW5I_GnFI1JP3U0sGisMefVHtkoBhWd34KABAkDE4bRSy1ruLjFXeXf_Ts_y3_uWpY8F9odL0_rEyIASESUSMUcTBZF7fi2MYPamksh689_zkYkI3E5zsZmn5olc/s1600/P1030315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3zC1HlJcqOQHs9seW5I_GnFI1JP3U0sGisMefVHtkoBhWd34KABAkDE4bRSy1ruLjFXeXf_Ts_y3_uWpY8F9odL0_rEyIASESUSMUcTBZF7fi2MYPamksh689_zkYkI3E5zsZmn5olc/s640/P1030315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBkZGSScJVA/Tc0AyxOWXwI/AAAAAAAAEWU/YT3dDo13BjQ/s1600/P1030317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBkZGSScJVA/Tc0AyxOWXwI/AAAAAAAAEWU/YT3dDo13BjQ/s640/P1030317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was a great night and I was really entertained by the show! I definitely miss choir performances of my own. We had an awesome choir director at my school and got to sing some amazing music; one year we even were in the musical South Pacific. Oh I miss things like this! Anyways, we had awesome seats in the balcony and could see Laureline the whole time thanks to hear headband. I love Silvia's family! Yesterday I was thinking about how cool it is that I'll be home in two months and can see all my friends and family... But then I realized that I'm going to have to say goodbye to these guys, which makes me quite sad. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcjdGQ_Ju5APgziMhgX3358XUlVRodt3ncStB_NpbxSVceuXAGsdH-c1mX0J-QZ3jjHjidWMdUOq3FxedCyMCkSJ5kh3VvapXsQJsJo88GXMBIHevzsPGzjtMigcEyCUJCMo4D4lKZBM/s1600/P1030328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcjdGQ_Ju5APgziMhgX3358XUlVRodt3ncStB_NpbxSVceuXAGsdH-c1mX0J-QZ3jjHjidWMdUOq3FxedCyMCkSJ5kh3VvapXsQJsJo88GXMBIHevzsPGzjtMigcEyCUJCMo4D4lKZBM/s640/P1030328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsey<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Un spectacle</b> - A show or performance</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Un collège </b>- A middle school / junior high school</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Les dames de service</b> - The cleaning ladies</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une rôtisserie - snack - friterie </b>- A rotisserie, snack, fry shop</span></i></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Une faluche</b> - A type of bread specific to the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. It's a white bread that's soft, dense and shaped like a deflated soccer ball. Think pita with a fluffier interior. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Un mariage années 80</b> - An 80ies wedding</span></i>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-89237179101189679242011-05-13T23:43:00.000+02:002011-05-13T23:43:24.200+02:00Wine and meat in Le Mans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to stay with in Le Mans with my friend Emilie and her husband Marc. Emilie is a friend from high school. Funny thing about our friendship... the first time we actually hung out was when she picked me up at the train station! I always thought she seemed like a really fun, outgoing girl, so I was excited to have the amazing opportunity to get to know her in Europe. I had such an amazing weekend with them both and look forward to seeing them the next time they're back stateside! On the topic of meeting people from home, she introduced me to some English assistants still in Le Mans... two of which happen to be from the Seattle area (and I even share multiple mutual friends with one of them) - small world! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I loved walking around Vieux Mans (also called La Cité Plantagenêt). It really put Vieux Lille to shame... The Cathédrale Saint-Julien was built between the 11th and 15th centuries, which explains it's diversity in architectural styles. It's one of the largest cathedrals in France. No matter how many churches and castles I see, they will never cease to amaze me. There are also a ton of Renaissance mansions and half-timber fronted houses that really show the history of the town. Why couldn't I be here instead?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8fV30Pv83Ov5eND68vNgoNiW1Vz2keVFNc7qYi0I6WTRG3hw2PM4CU82D9DK_XnD4l6pIT8ZaL9Gl3iXt6Eziws8vzVSoiTzbLwx6l-EERXaLWzgnr_dR23Ax-hNS_bGy4MMmppBZSo/s1600/P1030172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8fV30Pv83Ov5eND68vNgoNiW1Vz2keVFNc7qYi0I6WTRG3hw2PM4CU82D9DK_XnD4l6pIT8ZaL9Gl3iXt6Eziws8vzVSoiTzbLwx6l-EERXaLWzgnr_dR23Ax-hNS_bGy4MMmppBZSo/s640/P1030172.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Cathédrale Saint-Julien </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXK2ifpLA3Iz8Ouz-ZxO7p_ameAU2MfKj7WCIaE2jhB9v_-hmwaaPt62FiuO9P1oVhKTqjKPB_VDvq1Sv5Ea6U9QEmqV_AHMXsMsL442KqMHxVWqTjSMiPx48m8WpkZG8mEAMskgYZ-E/s1600/P1030238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXK2ifpLA3Iz8Ouz-ZxO7p_ameAU2MfKj7WCIaE2jhB9v_-hmwaaPt62FiuO9P1oVhKTqjKPB_VDvq1Sv5Ea6U9QEmqV_AHMXsMsL442KqMHxVWqTjSMiPx48m8WpkZG8mEAMskgYZ-E/s640/P1030238.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Can you tell that it's one of the largest in France? </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-Awz6S_HGb3iWT6qizNlgOh4tCZscTZyoetEMDAuiBubLhnPEbrrWy1X8Z8KxwDZ_ZuwnFoC-ZrLV3RK2NpKEppT2Od5rJD955f23H4rAEHKP_MUIgYQAGazux_NmqUea1TmbyxHRGc/s1600/P1030283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-Awz6S_HGb3iWT6qizNlgOh4tCZscTZyoetEMDAuiBubLhnPEbrrWy1X8Z8KxwDZ_ZuwnFoC-ZrLV3RK2NpKEppT2Od5rJD955f23H4rAEHKP_MUIgYQAGazux_NmqUea1TmbyxHRGc/s640/P1030283.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Me and Emilie</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAbUdUtmQNWC37Ai4zSavtTTgK2c_VGrwf3I9wrEXtaHpqIbpI07MxKJ5kZfzG2zwtUT84Rla8_xA8yZUTCmDluG_tIWY9iha-29BBT82W8mbwkCBRLrBlGWYMqrXyzSedwEyQ1TUQTk/s1600/P1030204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAbUdUtmQNWC37Ai4zSavtTTgK2c_VGrwf3I9wrEXtaHpqIbpI07MxKJ5kZfzG2zwtUT84Rla8_xA8yZUTCmDluG_tIWY9iha-29BBT82W8mbwkCBRLrBlGWYMqrXyzSedwEyQ1TUQTk/s1600/P1030204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAbUdUtmQNWC37Ai4zSavtTTgK2c_VGrwf3I9wrEXtaHpqIbpI07MxKJ5kZfzG2zwtUT84Rla8_xA8yZUTCmDluG_tIWY9iha-29BBT82W8mbwkCBRLrBlGWYMqrXyzSedwEyQ1TUQTk/s640/P1030204.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfYtdzA6x5HKUkJV3UFgqlW-UFwe-6P6jfoH8i0YLk0QZ5MnsYyTh-ZJSVtmjcmYct_8F9UqQA-lApKZyTZAl0Lytkfd89ZQ_PjMOGp8A4WpR6CpRDvygBPZJieEN-rbH8hJ7iGRgCb0/s1600/P1030187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfYtdzA6x5HKUkJV3UFgqlW-UFwe-6P6jfoH8i0YLk0QZ5MnsYyTh-ZJSVtmjcmYct_8F9UqQA-lApKZyTZAl0Lytkfd89ZQ_PjMOGp8A4WpR6CpRDvygBPZJieEN-rbH8hJ7iGRgCb0/s640/P1030187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>I love the centuries old half-timbered houses! They were all over the place! </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i> </i></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe4M2CCD8c6nyGd0AutOdVwY4LiL1ah3O7pHZnji4l-muE6qHPm3xkwinzAy8FCSQoakmhBlKClCT5EnvcXvYdsewOzwIqNjN6joFWNjdlgmfbCAbesPvlH5_7jlKC9tnBKmMjijO4_E/s1600/P1030230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe4M2CCD8c6nyGd0AutOdVwY4LiL1ah3O7pHZnji4l-muE6qHPm3xkwinzAy8FCSQoakmhBlKClCT5EnvcXvYdsewOzwIqNjN6joFWNjdlgmfbCAbesPvlH5_7jlKC9tnBKmMjijO4_E/s640/P1030230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Umm, how quaint is this? </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFeQo-GBn4sw_WQXuM3IzkIKPq_YvjJw9PNyOMRxSAU4-NqXjb7CqtKWfD_joCsLyTQ3kh2OLX9Ws_J5IigX8fyOne0X_yV4Ni_7k2pI-4Wg4MVvNK7hsP_oDmq0Hqi4E0rUVkjOsmRc/s1600/P1030234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFeQo-GBn4sw_WQXuM3IzkIKPq_YvjJw9PNyOMRxSAU4-NqXjb7CqtKWfD_joCsLyTQ3kh2OLX9Ws_J5IigX8fyOne0X_yV4Ni_7k2pI-4Wg4MVvNK7hsP_oDmq0Hqi4E0rUVkjOsmRc/s640/P1030234.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>The carved men at the bottom of the window frame are holding the columns up! </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkh3Rlaby3ez_iaSiy1E2cLKvPC8agNbduvWUhfe4q2A6Y6tz6kUuIhXjDTKVEUbcBAIh_ncLyWV_n0_NV58sKNQKpWtyk0uqvJAqTSobwre8nvhS0TlBS8sPy1E5HnOsgXRjtdhfJ6c/s1600/P1030210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkh3Rlaby3ez_iaSiy1E2cLKvPC8agNbduvWUhfe4q2A6Y6tz6kUuIhXjDTKVEUbcBAIh_ncLyWV_n0_NV58sKNQKpWtyk0uqvJAqTSobwre8nvhS0TlBS8sPy1E5HnOsgXRjtdhfJ6c/s640/P1030210.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Le Pilier Rouge</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_ECiB7TDw6Xoa_yij8gAFc9lFPWEnRCSBHJrE6Z2nW1A-LD-7wwss0E44tcWE96a6cPU9OMbdaNRsljGPziAkpcTxDHYKrI2QRRlB_4mM1-vncFHMnOfY0mUlaqyp9MQNmeqRDRygrI/s1600/P1030189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_ECiB7TDw6Xoa_yij8gAFc9lFPWEnRCSBHJrE6Z2nW1A-LD-7wwss0E44tcWE96a6cPU9OMbdaNRsljGPziAkpcTxDHYKrI2QRRlB_4mM1-vncFHMnOfY0mUlaqyp9MQNmeqRDRygrI/s640/P1030189.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Renaissance mansions (15th-16th Century) that are now private homes. How do I get a room there?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">After exploring the old town (which they literally live right next to!), we ran a few errands before heading to our afternoon activity. One of those errands was to go to <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">la boucherie</span></i>, which I'll admit I have stared through the windows of but haven't actually bought anything from (in France). You'll see in a minute some of what we picked up. One of my favorite experiences so far was the <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">dégustation</span></i> we went to Saturday afternoon. The département of Sarthe (within the Pays-de-la-Loire region), of which Le Mans is a part, is home to two delicious appellations of wine: <b>Jasnières</b> and <b>Coteaux du Loir</b>. Seventeen wineries were present at the event, which was held at the base of the cathedral. Tasting delicious wine and speaking to the winemakers in French was a great experience! Did I mention that this was my first wine tasting? I picked up a lot though I've got a lot to learn but this I know... the Jasnières Demi-Sec by Jean-Marie Renvoisé is my new favorite wine! (The 2003 we had on Friday night was probably the best wine I've ever had and in the photo below, Jean-Marie is behind me in the button-up.) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGgxtLFUQS17-V6wnqejC5u8Z6lBcemCDg3HFzBBIyd6WcXA82Hfnr-qGT7GmYd_MXTOhODt6aU-iFXYyY73oSoLD0bIa6kK6zt4pgDlVPhJbkh8heSg6OJPjvO3-xcxVXJmU6RJjZqQ/s1600/P1030254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGgxtLFUQS17-V6wnqejC5u8Z6lBcemCDg3HFzBBIyd6WcXA82Hfnr-qGT7GmYd_MXTOhODt6aU-iFXYyY73oSoLD0bIa6kK6zt4pgDlVPhJbkh8heSg6OJPjvO3-xcxVXJmU6RJjZqQ/s640/P1030254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We were told that the Coteaux du Loir was more for a developed palette but I really liked it and my taste for red wine is very recent. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We didn't stop by all the wineries since Marc knew which ones were worth avoiding (he studied wine and also worked in the industry) but they were all very generous with their pours. And they were sampling about 3-4 variations each. A solid meal was certainly in order after our afternoon of wine. Let's just say this was a weekend of wine and meat... tons of meat! The specialty of Le Mans is <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">rillettes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">, a salty pork pâté that you spread on bread, which started off our meal. Hmmm, it's okay. After a delicious salad, we had some yummy herbed sausages and blood sausage! I was so excited to have it again! Marc suggested eating it with dijon mustard and baguette - de-lish! </span></span></span></i>For dessert we made homemade Moelleux au Chocolat, like chocolate lava cakes. So easy and so delicious! If dinner wasn't enough meat, for lunch on Sunday we also had lamb kabobs and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">boudin blanc </span>(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">boudin noir<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> is better)</span></span></span></i>. Okay, we had more wine, too... that Marc's dad made! (Sidenote: Dad, you should start making wine instead of beer.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s91wVU0voYZtFkiHo7f59205oNdNarF8DG0RFPSmLSIPMYERQGys3GIGVPi34f0YPLeXM7Fjce3z9GdPtFX2wYn7W2Lqrs1zYZeiPdr6m8Ld5qUJWPv_jhIzMHKETokDLCQPZkz2FmM/s1600/P1030260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s91wVU0voYZtFkiHo7f59205oNdNarF8DG0RFPSmLSIPMYERQGys3GIGVPi34f0YPLeXM7Fjce3z9GdPtFX2wYn7W2Lqrs1zYZeiPdr6m8Ld5qUJWPv_jhIzMHKETokDLCQPZkz2FmM/s640/P1030260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Watch out! I know how to stab sausages and Marc makes a mean mojito!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTxWLAGPcxIQ5bpfU_zakaGqyLrlajBYLgaoMp3-7p3yKOSM4pcR8IK6HOjBM4d_HzSg0HZDprVL1Q4Fb4UYrw3sYj-P_i3Bgi-qg9umqjulbSHw5zP3ZvzmPKtddRsfVVuGn2jAaao/s1600/P1030261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTxWLAGPcxIQ5bpfU_zakaGqyLrlajBYLgaoMp3-7p3yKOSM4pcR8IK6HOjBM4d_HzSg0HZDprVL1Q4Fb4UYrw3sYj-P_i3Bgi-qg9umqjulbSHw5zP3ZvzmPKtddRsfVVuGn2jAaao/s640/P1030261.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Grill Master Emilie! </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ClwW2Rucqss/TcbnzP4YfjI/AAAAAAAAEBk/dtFWEbRvNz4/s1600/P1030262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ClwW2Rucqss/TcbnzP4YfjI/AAAAAAAAEBk/dtFWEbRvNz4/s640/P1030262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Eating the rillettes... I wouldn't buy a tub of it for myself but I'd eat it again. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimioo9Z7GDkf8QzG1nxFLTGOq3piY9Dq-euVq_kjf5HCkdG1u1EndRGGTDsz1B0oMZAy5jSj_GfiU3YFgjgrbfgGZ2kU8Ujqb_btxT_XAnphCo57q6fyQkp5lSKC4_XSVXNq6L-NLVfM4/s1600/P1030266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimioo9Z7GDkf8QzG1nxFLTGOq3piY9Dq-euVq_kjf5HCkdG1u1EndRGGTDsz1B0oMZAy5jSj_GfiU3YFgjgrbfgGZ2kU8Ujqb_btxT_XAnphCo57q6fyQkp5lSKC4_XSVXNq6L-NLVfM4/s640/P1030266.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Verivorst! Boudin noir! It's not weird that I know how to say "blood sausage" in three languages, is it?</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgFHnM4nQ7E/Tcbn39uZE9I/AAAAAAAAETM/BtEM5az2EyA/s1600/P1030270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgFHnM4nQ7E/Tcbn39uZE9I/AAAAAAAAETM/BtEM5az2EyA/s640/P1030270.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Moelleux au Chocolat in a human-sized oven! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">On Sunday, Le Mans has their large flowers, antique, and food market. It felt a lot less intense than the market in Wazemmes. Everywhere I looked, I thought of my mom - especially since it was Mother's Day. Since I wasn't there to spend it with her, I wanted her to feel like I wasn't so far away. So I took a TON of pictures of the gorgeous flowers and sent them to her. My brother might have one upped me with real flowers but at least mine won't die! If I haven't mentioned it on here, I have the best mom ever! Luckily for her, Ian and I are pretty good about routinely making sure she and everyone else know it too. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LqhX8fw6LRw/Tcboa8AqbTI/AAAAAAAAEGc/xSWIJvbNKTI/s1600/P1030298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LqhX8fw6LRw/Tcboa8AqbTI/AAAAAAAAEGc/xSWIJvbNKTI/s640/P1030298.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty, huh? (No, I'm not talking about my hair!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm thinking that's enough for today. Oh yeah, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>I GET HOME TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY! </b></span></i><div>Bisous, </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">-kelse </span></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une boucherie- butcher's shop</span></i></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Une</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">dégustation - tasting</span></i></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Les rillettes - "potted meat" or salty meat spread</span></i></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><i></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Un boudin blanc- white pudding (sausage only filled with pork meat, whole eggs, and milk)</i></span></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Un boudin noir - blood sausage or black pudding</i></span></span></span></i></b></span></div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-51492404037047728512011-05-05T22:31:00.000+02:002011-05-05T22:31:14.126+02:00The last castle<div style="text-align: justify;">All good trips come to an end. Sadly, all great trips do too - but not before seeing one last castle! The Burg Nanstein in Landstühl was unlike any other that I've seen. It was build in 1162 by a Holy Roman Emperor but aside from being sieged and razed, there's not a whole lot of information available on it. Well, that is, at least not in English. So I have no idea what it's made of, I just know that it's pretty cool.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVAhIKkWCAc/Tbv3_Ey8-_I/AAAAAAAADnU/uXqTH6jZVdw/s1600/P1030099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVAhIKkWCAc/Tbv3_Ey8-_I/AAAAAAAADnU/uXqTH6jZVdw/s640/P1030099.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">First off... have you ever seen a sign like this in public? At a historical site? Me neither. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4jRktMqHtcPT6JGibjaScBjyVHO5oOiiCpmhJdwbCiLXOBJ9EigjYrVxxMoClBdKSzniJNG_AGEILs-ERO2evhTdfp6M4tEwBdEPXG7mr0hSOkREogOokAxMX4hVJI3GmOA3QMjtlME/s1600/P1030101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4jRktMqHtcPT6JGibjaScBjyVHO5oOiiCpmhJdwbCiLXOBJ9EigjYrVxxMoClBdKSzniJNG_AGEILs-ERO2evhTdfp6M4tEwBdEPXG7mr0hSOkREogOokAxMX4hVJI3GmOA3QMjtlME/s640/P1030101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Secondly, how quaint is this town? In person, it's easy to see McD's Golden Arches in the distance...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KAkV3TYikT4urNnFC0drmRA5RzsH27JxaQlMYN_jDHbeJ9L8Vq7uRkBdFFVOqqgc1C_l3ODwvlibwXOM4z26r9E1CMmxnAtJPgxZofNQ7ybd0EEEa_xDh_Wca7nvcC6SJLy7u23c3xc/s1600/P1030105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KAkV3TYikT4urNnFC0drmRA5RzsH27JxaQlMYN_jDHbeJ9L8Vq7uRkBdFFVOqqgc1C_l3ODwvlibwXOM4z26r9E1CMmxnAtJPgxZofNQ7ybd0EEEa_xDh_Wca7nvcC6SJLy7u23c3xc/s640/P1030105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0JGlC1faYYPdBCZamKUJpRPvTXUENQJHwobHASbNorRAEheG9XwF_Cilon1BBFIQl_nfWHwQBEmpoppw1pQ0vzMGiUn5ts2PMTjSGmq9agnrDeCfzgDTvjAFvGKjYr0m6Sw-Ik19EXY/s1600/P1030121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0JGlC1faYYPdBCZamKUJpRPvTXUENQJHwobHASbNorRAEheG9XwF_Cilon1BBFIQl_nfWHwQBEmpoppw1pQ0vzMGiUn5ts2PMTjSGmq9agnrDeCfzgDTvjAFvGKjYr0m6Sw-Ik19EXY/s640/P1030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A cannon shooting into a brick wall? Well thought out...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzE3Q7cxAEInFEW9EBHY6G8GAg78ewf5whwBkO5Tb1asIJX5TPvzr-P0DoWzUL_xJAJFBrkphHQvIaAUR6k6dC7pCaRa3V2V75dqJ9fKqz2FFvv3WOriTtC9t0p3T4w9H_7i-v86I3jM/s1600/P1030124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzE3Q7cxAEInFEW9EBHY6G8GAg78ewf5whwBkO5Tb1asIJX5TPvzr-P0DoWzUL_xJAJFBrkphHQvIaAUR6k6dC7pCaRa3V2V75dqJ9fKqz2FFvv3WOriTtC9t0p3T4w9H_7i-v86I3jM/s640/P1030124.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A staircase that leads no where? (I'm sure at one time it did; at least I hope so!)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFCT68vAQa4/Tbv4h3GCThI/AAAAAAAADq8/eMN2FPEa38U/s1600/P1030128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFCT68vAQa4/Tbv4h3GCThI/AAAAAAAADq8/eMN2FPEa38U/s640/P1030128.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A doorway that was even too small for Rosie! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHBVnF7e3fkB7mNGw99EthO5tEwvhBujYdc55CnPeh3vZGojkuemC5D0J3RvzE2CjVmLIhyRX2ZI1ecHo7u3-TCumi-iczmIKOfNn-crPGWqJ8giP-7xn0MTVIUO0qcbCtEkDmVHQmfs/s1600/P1030129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHBVnF7e3fkB7mNGw99EthO5tEwvhBujYdc55CnPeh3vZGojkuemC5D0J3RvzE2CjVmLIhyRX2ZI1ecHo7u3-TCumi-iczmIKOfNn-crPGWqJ8giP-7xn0MTVIUO0qcbCtEkDmVHQmfs/s640/P1030129.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I'm not even that tall! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8oMhsxnNhWa-vU42ntJUWy_f1efhE79JbR5EWTBMg7icdUQ735daXQ6VKV2XevKdhSzWndPe2lcl-Lz_OgBNN0hFpeMp0i0EYsnI8NX3mO8bbMiT2jZqBC9_QWfwYOCAzRVv-M-Etic/s1600/P1030147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8oMhsxnNhWa-vU42ntJUWy_f1efhE79JbR5EWTBMg7icdUQ735daXQ6VKV2XevKdhSzWndPe2lcl-Lz_OgBNN0hFpeMp0i0EYsnI8NX3mO8bbMiT2jZqBC9_QWfwYOCAzRVv-M-Etic/s640/P1030147.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh01Mco3R34/Tbv4pOAiI3I/AAAAAAAADr0/m4hWquJYljg/s1600/P1030138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh01Mco3R34/Tbv4pOAiI3I/AAAAAAAADr0/m4hWquJYljg/s640/P1030138.JPG" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAa1fpih3Siehf0RnZUvYirSsg21JjAN5f6pVzdL6s-qf8Z9EGRWAy23zEi8sW7JljlwgI-KYkqJh11jgVwNwWZutJyyrY_O0qfZjR5H0-C38VF18MCDjO6GPR8c2C3nND0lidIgRHRU/s1600/P1030130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAa1fpih3Siehf0RnZUvYirSsg21JjAN5f6pVzdL6s-qf8Z9EGRWAy23zEi8sW7JljlwgI-KYkqJh11jgVwNwWZutJyyrY_O0qfZjR5H0-C38VF18MCDjO6GPR8c2C3nND0lidIgRHRU/s640/P1030130.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj69zYk3seMVbjmesMYrkKEFjF4wTPuZdGAISO1dZt1zaGM32i8qSVHdrLe8bcJt1gmHT-lNqCgDgw8_JS3SzXPVcFr7blNyHOg51OWsKaeaR0O71D3q1Ys7ZSAzhXozF1xK8HPRSsccQ/s1600/P1030159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj69zYk3seMVbjmesMYrkKEFjF4wTPuZdGAISO1dZt1zaGM32i8qSVHdrLe8bcJt1gmHT-lNqCgDgw8_JS3SzXPVcFr7blNyHOg51OWsKaeaR0O71D3q1Ys7ZSAzhXozF1xK8HPRSsccQ/s640/P1030159.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Look at this wall... interesting, huh? </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The last thing we did before heading to the train station to part ways was stop by The Officer's Club to congratulate Jeric's commander on his promotion. His commander was really nice and told us all to order drinks on him. I figured that I'd been in Germany for 9 days and had only had coffee, water, and diet coke.... so I should probably end the trip by at least trying a beer. Especially if someone else was picking it up! So I ordered a Hef which is one of the few beers I remember ever enjoying. I drank about half of it before we had to leave. It wasn't my least favorite thing in the world but it wasn't my favorite either. But I gave it a good effort. Be proud, Dad... baby steps! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxC0YgHdhkh0UQfVhcyW4cw2MQUE6_fm1B8s2gYJChniWUlby5LO58kcAV_u6NeZ2MliFmCzdjNwf_jW8YKwo2mcGqhbNT3HH4gk-bTilUVDn9gy1Uh5g1oP3SWXKvHrtLGDogKkCYgA/s1600/P1030162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxC0YgHdhkh0UQfVhcyW4cw2MQUE6_fm1B8s2gYJChniWUlby5LO58kcAV_u6NeZ2MliFmCzdjNwf_jW8YKwo2mcGqhbNT3HH4gk-bTilUVDn9gy1Uh5g1oP3SWXKvHrtLGDogKkCYgA/s640/P1030162.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">This one's for you, Dad! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">And with that, my trip swiftly ended. Sad but beautiful day. Prost! I'm spending this weekend in Le Mans, France with yet another friend from high school. I'm really excited to see another part of France and another familiar face. Let's be honest, I'm grateful to be here but I'm sick of Lille. Anyways, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">bon weekend</span></i>! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div>-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-14592631961031579102011-05-01T17:59:00.000+02:002011-05-01T17:59:41.944+02:00Photo shoot at Burg Lichtenberg in KuselRosie and I both love taking photos. Actually, for as much as we knew we already shared in common, we discovered many other things we share a love for... castles, sweet potatoes, banana chocolate pancakes, my genius kitchen creations, gelato... We really were made to be friends. Burg Lichtenberg is in Kusel, which was only a 20-minute back-road drive from her house. Built around 1200, most of what remains are just ruins as it was occupied by invading troops on several occasions. We had a ton of fun imagining we were retaking our senior photos... I think our pictures are worth a thousand words (or at least a thousand memories).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gp0vdKH8cBLU8DJ1LW4WvTcbss99TdodfmI-ixHpdEo3T6KuxRMhwhCSWAKd0wUk8nMgzv-T-FTJisCW_vej8U-PZu8PnZNNgWcQ0JNZffIkdmkl7u6Fz6VIEBc6KznojDLGAsalWs0/s1600/P1030026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gp0vdKH8cBLU8DJ1LW4WvTcbss99TdodfmI-ixHpdEo3T6KuxRMhwhCSWAKd0wUk8nMgzv-T-FTJisCW_vej8U-PZu8PnZNNgWcQ0JNZffIkdmkl7u6Fz6VIEBc6KznojDLGAsalWs0/s640/P1030026.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7YefxyD6IfOwSENym8PeKOAX07bR_9UhgQEnl-4i9t_4Q2TdOBt8wE4kkHPkL3LQfVciSLmubkeUzdNjXeEWz5ueq4AeOoHAk6iA1-ncl7UFRZOFb2q1Pc8W3IUmIOdL5J2-O99dSKk/s1600/P1030038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7YefxyD6IfOwSENym8PeKOAX07bR_9UhgQEnl-4i9t_4Q2TdOBt8wE4kkHPkL3LQfVciSLmubkeUzdNjXeEWz5ueq4AeOoHAk6iA1-ncl7UFRZOFb2q1Pc8W3IUmIOdL5J2-O99dSKk/s640/P1030038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjiX9BR9-caJm1f37iznWSv0pPLc1dS1bBH3EkBn2Ja80e4-eyHXKPR2Qvagh3A_qYBjWArw2bas4rvPnmWhUYPm6JD4mPYoD8Z1f-2KVCyLTEXWpMabGR3enZoG67KXQIg6pFG0XvoU/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjiX9BR9-caJm1f37iznWSv0pPLc1dS1bBH3EkBn2Ja80e4-eyHXKPR2Qvagh3A_qYBjWArw2bas4rvPnmWhUYPm6JD4mPYoD8Z1f-2KVCyLTEXWpMabGR3enZoG67KXQIg6pFG0XvoU/s640/IMG_0732.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Self-timer fail... but look at my face! I was cracking up! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Love it! There's tons more where that came from... feel free to browse through my <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/kelseymay28">picasa albums</a>!<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-10070919999687256062011-05-01T14:58:00.000+02:002011-05-01T14:58:06.610+02:00Traipsing through Trier | The oldest city in Germany<div style="text-align: justify;">After dropping Jeric off at work one day, Rosie and I set off to explore Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Remembering the days when Rosie would cautiously drive through the streets of Renton, I was so proud to see her confidently take on the autobahn and one-lane roads in small Germany towns! Trier was founded before 16 BC by the Romans under Caesar Augustus. To protect inhabitants from the threat of German tribes, in 180 AD they built a wall around the city. The Porta Nigra, one of five entrances to the city is nearly perfectly preserved. Through the centuries, Trier has seen fluctuations in religious and trading power, population and severity of destruction. It's perfect for an afternoon of sightseeing, shopping, and hanging out with a dear friend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ju9oGSVspJd_Wpb-YRKWR0ogMSFtyyCa0T69tEZpGtXoEmop8Xx44uEdx9xLAji76jB-uXEOEANUE6qq45AWESZr103pxQa4cIB88rntVr0UF0BY7rbKGytevkkKctGsK72UPdsanPk/s1600/P1020990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ju9oGSVspJd_Wpb-YRKWR0ogMSFtyyCa0T69tEZpGtXoEmop8Xx44uEdx9xLAji76jB-uXEOEANUE6qq45AWESZr103pxQa4cIB88rntVr0UF0BY7rbKGytevkkKctGsK72UPdsanPk/s640/P1020990.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlGwfpoyUnnG_saal8SaSHvIpjIhN55QMJpGvVGrp4b68ErOgK4gNuRkHFFEYfh7nVqnFIc0mCc-bU0sGEkohjFp103O5CWXVjA5Q2QscssmZri0inlN7qjs3LDp4Nk3dWq4JPJZK_nA/s1600/P1020995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlGwfpoyUnnG_saal8SaSHvIpjIhN55QMJpGvVGrp4b68ErOgK4gNuRkHFFEYfh7nVqnFIc0mCc-bU0sGEkohjFp103O5CWXVjA5Q2QscssmZri0inlN7qjs3LDp4Nk3dWq4JPJZK_nA/s640/P1020995.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAPB4oPiHVSNpM55kJhNDfJ6_AcL3r0jaVhxLeMpJQ8qCE3qKM5hy4FQ242i04TRavIvwK7z1pTKQ5ZDBtDWb3SJVBnUEvAES8v8CvPdalD-wPTQNlSMuIyfQAEeRiLI7wObqQVEzVyA/s1600/P1020992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAPB4oPiHVSNpM55kJhNDfJ6_AcL3r0jaVhxLeMpJQ8qCE3qKM5hy4FQ242i04TRavIvwK7z1pTKQ5ZDBtDWb3SJVBnUEvAES8v8CvPdalD-wPTQNlSMuIyfQAEeRiLI7wObqQVEzVyA/s640/P1020992.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Cathedral of Trier is an understated beauty from the outside; it's the oldest church in Germany and another of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. The Tunic of Christ, the Holy Robe, has been at this site since the 11th century and kept in a shrine in the Holy Robe Chapel, though it is not publicly viewable. The craftsmanship inside this church is beautiful and I'm happy to have seen it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-tNx_91SLvud7MRwsMGAewZlNLzQpGnw9GbzfqH7znGVmigZA0cH28dMlrTZKkvoYQQUAu3lXg82CESOMe2bXGCgqYSSYPnQKVtdonwYhsNKL5-VC_PpMabJY3H9XWN6v0AdMsjNkhE/s1600/P1020956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-tNx_91SLvud7MRwsMGAewZlNLzQpGnw9GbzfqH7znGVmigZA0cH28dMlrTZKkvoYQQUAu3lXg82CESOMe2bXGCgqYSSYPnQKVtdonwYhsNKL5-VC_PpMabJY3H9XWN6v0AdMsjNkhE/s640/P1020956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMJuPO3XEtA53Z6fTPTtkWts3dR6PL91MBiKdeJPcUsnSTh9JVeq2QqfhC1K9NEM9qtFh_lf-gmeeTCdA9uc-AyEj3neV6nG9FYn2Xjd1ab-aM-mgBgc4kX9mDtyS1Q8wS3rATENQu1Q/s1600/P1020959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMJuPO3XEtA53Z6fTPTtkWts3dR6PL91MBiKdeJPcUsnSTh9JVeq2QqfhC1K9NEM9qtFh_lf-gmeeTCdA9uc-AyEj3neV6nG9FYn2Xjd1ab-aM-mgBgc4kX9mDtyS1Q8wS3rATENQu1Q/s640/P1020959.JPG" width="480" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTNdxfrJfR0/TbmmzpswBZI/AAAAAAAABF8/UG9B9KI9gVQ/s1600/P1020974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTNdxfrJfR0/TbmmzpswBZI/AAAAAAAABF8/UG9B9KI9gVQ/s640/P1020974.JPG" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3oYNlyR886uuWvsJVzJPEBdwskcUJ_tPVhj5C48rMz93eI9rzMx5iGvL9nYPOh4oFONy5eJVlHSp0Fl8Utb7GlHaMRMyYvs_6SJXYQKSc-Fc94cPgX0NZnReYfh17oLsUQ9RWrdPn2Q/s1600/P1020967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3oYNlyR886uuWvsJVzJPEBdwskcUJ_tPVhj5C48rMz93eI9rzMx5iGvL9nYPOh4oFONy5eJVlHSp0Fl8Utb7GlHaMRMyYvs_6SJXYQKSc-Fc94cPgX0NZnReYfh17oLsUQ9RWrdPn2Q/s640/P1020967.JPG" width="480" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8-zYyR9d34/TbmmwKgmGGI/AAAAAAAABFQ/vv9Mb73dJLg/s1600/P1020969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8-zYyR9d34/TbmmwKgmGGI/AAAAAAAABFQ/vv9Mb73dJLg/s640/P1020969.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-CS_yv9jcO7WEuGaI3vpMEONCCrW6Pdnre7TFgxLb610_Vx_7TiUeQvyK9mSZ9VwbeLTsNg8Xn2ze8q5Hm_632qhbtsBpMsGXiBoUFa9Wp9b0E6lITJSxaDtccWzD3OFT6CJ_WoCgdI/s1600/P1020971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-CS_yv9jcO7WEuGaI3vpMEONCCrW6Pdnre7TFgxLb610_Vx_7TiUeQvyK9mSZ9VwbeLTsNg8Xn2ze8q5Hm_632qhbtsBpMsGXiBoUFa9Wp9b0E6lITJSxaDtccWzD3OFT6CJ_WoCgdI/s640/P1020971.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Trier had a lively plaza with several stores and restaurants. Along with my pizza, I basically ordered Rose Ann to let me pay for lunch (ps. shrimp and asparagus are good toppings)! We joked as she called the artichokes on hers "anchovies" and sipped our sodas from wine classes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBerHmJR6x6lj7CNSix_pdUr48-_2VBFdymGlElaa5lBeIJcFYCDmHjGIhahmRd0qfj75z08F4ukRT2f5lESUq3Qk_6ayCkGHYKTsSQexvTZqub4NFSEG64G4qFXIqgC_3vOGTrcqj_LI/s1600/P1020983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBerHmJR6x6lj7CNSix_pdUr48-_2VBFdymGlElaa5lBeIJcFYCDmHjGIhahmRd0qfj75z08F4ukRT2f5lESUq3Qk_6ayCkGHYKTsSQexvTZqub4NFSEG64G4qFXIqgC_3vOGTrcqj_LI/s640/P1020983.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Euf_XT89qQTxQSlMo5w4Ij8cuHE1FdgUWNNRITiALwjUb1ZPp6z8Yr7VvV2X2EHnR9_B0MLONmwFwuQG1AF5mVOW_SDqN8mLKvygSgb_g3BtuU5OCnMO912d82Zb0XK3XjuePn_krQ/s1600/P1020952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Euf_XT89qQTxQSlMo5w4Ij8cuHE1FdgUWNNRITiALwjUb1ZPp6z8Yr7VvV2X2EHnR9_B0MLONmwFwuQG1AF5mVOW_SDqN8mLKvygSgb_g3BtuU5OCnMO912d82Zb0XK3XjuePn_krQ/s640/P1020952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are also a ton of other sites in this small town, like the Electoral Palace, Imperial Baths, and the Basilika. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-CS_yv9jcO7WEuGaI3vpMEONCCrW6Pdnre7TFgxLb610_Vx_7TiUeQvyK9mSZ9VwbeLTsNg8Xn2ze8q5Hm_632qhbtsBpMsGXiBoUFa9Wp9b0E6lITJSxaDtccWzD3OFT6CJ_WoCgdI/s1600/P1020971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrAuYSFgEWbPKKssWHMecosrnEz8caUq_wEod1DQuPU-qec1asfBKKlyDOD3G7TBJa2ysbmxskiD3pSk1gUQLI9CklMj8hDv62l4MTYPlcyXsKZl3WXvuH6QnR1shzYMQeBgbFef4RPY/s1600/P1020935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrAuYSFgEWbPKKssWHMecosrnEz8caUq_wEod1DQuPU-qec1asfBKKlyDOD3G7TBJa2ysbmxskiD3pSk1gUQLI9CklMj8hDv62l4MTYPlcyXsKZl3WXvuH6QnR1shzYMQeBgbFef4RPY/s640/P1020935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQf0D_zKpxfDM-r-T9SkpTJQPgUtfagHcn1xndFUUYPA6YRpG1uNsXXgtMFFZ7IHoz9AljmBL2Z-qMvdj1y4WDU_wr43T8Q6lnPz6LXQChFf0QJbggKLMCNqJ8ANILYJYzXEGoR4BSvM/s1600/P1030016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQf0D_zKpxfDM-r-T9SkpTJQPgUtfagHcn1xndFUUYPA6YRpG1uNsXXgtMFFZ7IHoz9AljmBL2Z-qMvdj1y4WDU_wr43T8Q6lnPz6LXQChFf0QJbggKLMCNqJ8ANILYJYzXEGoR4BSvM/s640/P1030016.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgfGt84lzEq7y5T89IHgwM1PJBV9fxBm81vu0UjV7-p-rby0OCDLJErGIcXdO0xIgRsbtpH5A0Mk09LXJKt8XEuOOHLnG8AhYb040Dx2BNEtO8ZC8D8wjfaSjFsXyD1h5nley1y0MfoA/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgfGt84lzEq7y5T89IHgwM1PJBV9fxBm81vu0UjV7-p-rby0OCDLJErGIcXdO0xIgRsbtpH5A0Mk09LXJKt8XEuOOHLnG8AhYb040Dx2BNEtO8ZC8D8wjfaSjFsXyD1h5nley1y0MfoA/s640/IMG_0631.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s46YqeakwT0/Tbmmbi-D1mI/AAAAAAAABBQ/IBdd46Naw5E/s1600/P1020938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s46YqeakwT0/Tbmmbi-D1mI/AAAAAAAABBQ/IBdd46Naw5E/s640/P1020938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I love finding such vivid history in places you aren't often told to look!<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-63628088161792954952011-05-01T08:06:00.001+02:002011-05-01T08:08:23.480+02:00Easter in Bonn and Cologne<div style="text-align: justify;">My family has never been that religious and I've never been to church for any holiday (though I was once a shepherd in a church Christmas play somehow). Though Rosie and Jeric's church doesn't recognize Easter as a holiday, we went to the Sunday service in Bonn so we could spend the afternoon sightseeing in Cologne. I won't share my views since I have no real education when it comes to this type of thing but I'll just say that it was interesting for me to attend a church service on a holiday. It was kind of cool to have it translated into German at the end. Not that I understood a word of it... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although we had sandwiches packed in the car, we went to the most amazing restaurant for lunch. <a href="http://www.vapiano.com/">Vapiano</a> is an innovative restaurant dishing up fresh, house-made-to order pasta, hand-tossed pizzas, and salads. I always forget that pasta can be good if it's served with fresh-made noodles! At each table they have basil and rosemary plants you can pick from yourself and a selection of flavored oils, too. My pasta was divine, especially since I'd been craving duck! (It's a fast growing world-wide franchise, fingers crossed it reaches Seattle soon!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16vrIUMoeQc/TbmldkmrktI/AAAAAAAAA4g/gPSUW7zRubc/s1600/P1020868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16vrIUMoeQc/TbmldkmrktI/AAAAAAAAA4g/gPSUW7zRubc/s640/P1020868.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd_T1SjoqV021RKW97lWJnW949q-hbxdqugokNtKx8Jl4_j53vNX_ako5ltyx5Gp6go4aGbGNI7nZKDpdWGHK5ND0rjS_qHAWrkArCt1Fy1Y4rYVXOYZ2lj8FG3m1gTpMgvAPP0DAa14/s1600/P1020869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd_T1SjoqV021RKW97lWJnW949q-hbxdqugokNtKx8Jl4_j53vNX_ako5ltyx5Gp6go4aGbGNI7nZKDpdWGHK5ND0rjS_qHAWrkArCt1Fy1Y4rYVXOYZ2lj8FG3m1gTpMgvAPP0DAa14/s640/P1020869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Curry All'Anatra (Roasted duck breast, fresh vegetables, curry sauce, peanuts) with freshly-made spelt pasta</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Once in Cologne (Köln in German), we were excited to see the Cologne Cathedral. With a degree in Art History, Rosie was especially anxious to see it! The largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, it began construction in 1248 and because of interruptions, wasn't completed until 1880. As Germany's most visited monument, UNESCO has deemed it one of their World Heritage sites and described it as an"exceptional work of human creative genius."Severely damaged by at least 14 times by aerial bombs in WWII but reconstructed, it's a glorious site to see. Hearing the bells ring was a pretty cool experience.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVX9WS1Ws2XbyQHlr9Tk9NUNdnE8Z3xCOo92jGxM8AnnsiC7HXI5VP8aY8ZgE1z7cIS62YX9PjPyVGxyDAG7_Ka_q2bSFp9uS1eaW77Y2niicz4OGeQyjefwKtp5bocwqW7gOxXhhSWw/s1600/P1020878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVX9WS1Ws2XbyQHlr9Tk9NUNdnE8Z3xCOo92jGxM8AnnsiC7HXI5VP8aY8ZgE1z7cIS62YX9PjPyVGxyDAG7_Ka_q2bSFp9uS1eaW77Y2niicz4OGeQyjefwKtp5bocwqW7gOxXhhSWw/s640/P1020878.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sU7ie4ws1tQ/Tbmlp3jgruI/AAAAAAAAA6g/RAEJYcrDiDE/s1600/P1020883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sU7ie4ws1tQ/Tbmlp3jgruI/AAAAAAAAA6g/RAEJYcrDiDE/s640/P1020883.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuup_hCJ5HIadBgQIqlbB4ZdLif5RVEqw2EguPGVxhHni5UjLYISxwBEX7XnmSnGKAH7dhoe9ZePiswfBBGIAYx6a0vBX1G46obX-Nkq5fFGVV4czgOc2zKU2LWMJlH5hP6C7HE7H2c/s1600/P1020897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuup_hCJ5HIadBgQIqlbB4ZdLif5RVEqw2EguPGVxhHni5UjLYISxwBEX7XnmSnGKAH7dhoe9ZePiswfBBGIAYx6a0vBX1G46obX-Nkq5fFGVV4czgOc2zKU2LWMJlH5hP6C7HE7H2c/s640/P1020897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8_skCnn4P31coAgCE1C19IkTuRCoHoYQC_vUBTEidjbYobdRVhxqjEoPhEkeJ8fcdKGCBLqn7kfv9NOigVYcn5gNiIsGf1Aln7mw6rduBuOlJDHHMUhyphenhyphenzWsboRi6X4uJa12Qy3SIf1s/s1600/P1020907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8_skCnn4P31coAgCE1C19IkTuRCoHoYQC_vUBTEidjbYobdRVhxqjEoPhEkeJ8fcdKGCBLqn7kfv9NOigVYcn5gNiIsGf1Aln7mw6rduBuOlJDHHMUhyphenhyphenzWsboRi6X4uJa12Qy3SIf1s/s640/P1020907.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmRzF0aNvW4pv-GNhFOoW9ugqBvkD6BsvCoApbUi_hGA76eXA2OgcNZux0VssUpmme0IXYOjlMFAIJ6NB5oMAahufMhYNQU1uUKKEFLa-gwIZULjyKsG4S0lRxZ5OJq8zaZSJPQDJTXY/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmRzF0aNvW4pv-GNhFOoW9ugqBvkD6BsvCoApbUi_hGA76eXA2OgcNZux0VssUpmme0IXYOjlMFAIJ6NB5oMAahufMhYNQU1uUKKEFLa-gwIZULjyKsG4S0lRxZ5OJq8zaZSJPQDJTXY/s640/IMG_0429.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYmuMLRskbKtzQs7z6SyhHLGc6h9HzUCo-juwjrPxSZa3Of4pkKYi9oF43wL_jeB7WyG6lQP9G6gRggJ7JsxYQLdQT4V2mJL0pRoVtjJ-aUiJwJkuP5LgwjfXwZJWFB7Ly5i4MpljM0Q/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYmuMLRskbKtzQs7z6SyhHLGc6h9HzUCo-juwjrPxSZa3Of4pkKYi9oF43wL_jeB7WyG6lQP9G6gRggJ7JsxYQLdQT4V2mJL0pRoVtjJ-aUiJwJkuP5LgwjfXwZJWFB7Ly5i4MpljM0Q/s640/IMG_0449.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4orib5C4Yr9O2ZygC3wc03P529G9n-0H0MLzqpJt-38QTrF6uEVPoz1FQeIh7ayyOSpnQv_fBGp6wFqwtjG_aEMNqZnnPdnM7-AwKvl1tDg8aINbyU7TAm2mbF-XhvfdjShgZqYxIz4/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4orib5C4Yr9O2ZygC3wc03P529G9n-0H0MLzqpJt-38QTrF6uEVPoz1FQeIh7ayyOSpnQv_fBGp6wFqwtjG_aEMNqZnnPdnM7-AwKvl1tDg8aINbyU7TAm2mbF-XhvfdjShgZqYxIz4/s640/IMG_0485.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tvEbh-KXupE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After strolling through and around the cathedral, we wandered through more of Cologne. Since it was Easter Sunday, most shops were closed but restaurants were still open and Cologne was swarming with people. I didn't expect to see that there'd be gelato shops all over Germany (think Starbucks in Seattle saturated). Jeric had been suggesting gelato for a few days, since Rosie and I had never had it. Holy yum, I will definitely not forget how refreshing this was! Tiramisu and straciatella are a delicious combo. (Randomly, my mom also had tiramisu on Easter while vacationing in Huntington Beach... coincidence?) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHt4TLA7SvS02GxgPW5WADDMlFL70L7JQa8R15447penrsn7cIk_wIyiGqhYoQ_SrAp5zWrMvZGtMxKRo4J7bomVT8s7DH5JmT3Vp7kmdrAxV-TlXOjd6bIKm6hd1JdQoWrg9n0nTA0o/s1600/P1020913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHt4TLA7SvS02GxgPW5WADDMlFL70L7JQa8R15447penrsn7cIk_wIyiGqhYoQ_SrAp5zWrMvZGtMxKRo4J7bomVT8s7DH5JmT3Vp7kmdrAxV-TlXOjd6bIKm6hd1JdQoWrg9n0nTA0o/s640/P1020913.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After savoring the last bites of our cones, we walked along the river and hopped back in the Beemer for the 2+ hour drive back to Brücken. I know that there's plenty more to see in both Bonn and Cologne but it'll have to wait. Until then, Vapiano, the Cathedral, and my first (and definitely not last) taste of gelato were well worth the trip!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">-kelse</div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-58036359025911502382011-04-30T21:40:00.000+02:002011-04-30T21:40:44.309+02:00Take the Autobahn to Heidelberg<div style="text-align: justify;">On the Saturday of my trip, Jeric, Rosie, and I headed out on the autobahn to Heidelberg Castle. The ruins of the Heidelberg Castle are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps; the castle was first constructed sometime before 1214. Two different lightning strikes a few centuries apart have damaged the castle and only parts have been reconstructed. The castle sits perched up in a hill that looks over the town of Heidelberg and has been a popular tourist attraction for Americans since Mark Twain wrote about it in his book <u>A Tramp Abroad</u>. There is tons of shopping in the town and plenty of little cafés, restaurants, and kebab houses. The weather was gorgeous for most of the afternoon, though it lightly rained for a quick minute while we were enjoying our lunch. Between the three of us, we took a ton of photos... this was a trend throughout the entire trip! Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZpgJko_50BnOVhI-SQWUZ2OATKoI7NFLmBWQI17jYPekTcOrVKNQmOABOGPGTuNXfhDXIA51XWkGvdWK95HFp49pFp5Fy8ofCvmi7xav8f0vL1ZlE5NMRAvXS_E2tp7j6egI2ydPpNw/s1600/P1020807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZpgJko_50BnOVhI-SQWUZ2OATKoI7NFLmBWQI17jYPekTcOrVKNQmOABOGPGTuNXfhDXIA51XWkGvdWK95HFp49pFp5Fy8ofCvmi7xav8f0vL1ZlE5NMRAvXS_E2tp7j6egI2ydPpNw/s640/P1020807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jL9qXRdK0BiCMUNWI0e5YfQDUEkn6VJqVH_91Qi_r4_YJI7P7TKFS9yYP9XpYKP_VmCwMFkXN2K_KmmPkLdlxV2dmJMPGvOnguwdESWsqyzORZ-fRmtQZ_OmKlHAfvccIIElapB16I/s1600/P1020826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jL9qXRdK0BiCMUNWI0e5YfQDUEkn6VJqVH_91Qi_r4_YJI7P7TKFS9yYP9XpYKP_VmCwMFkXN2K_KmmPkLdlxV2dmJMPGvOnguwdESWsqyzORZ-fRmtQZ_OmKlHAfvccIIElapB16I/s640/P1020826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHdPEFwwSpq41nkJKba5EXPlO5WmxlZqmcfKM7OVpP6ByRA6G4o4Hhc5E6HInNUmdhLNfX_rTdO2intq5WXDNKOUY9eVCedwAdCNddDFgfOPJy1zwtelI8TlNSabUEb_UKCN4LLBWbqo/s1600/P1020844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHdPEFwwSpq41nkJKba5EXPlO5WmxlZqmcfKM7OVpP6ByRA6G4o4Hhc5E6HInNUmdhLNfX_rTdO2intq5WXDNKOUY9eVCedwAdCNddDFgfOPJy1zwtelI8TlNSabUEb_UKCN4LLBWbqo/s640/P1020844.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Powder Turret was destroyed by a pre-1880 explosion. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWaQXWPu4M6wrPi2o0Phkh0O71yXZra4ZFabOA8dARAg_hlfNLVpUhiSu5uCuiVMVl6hkLWoRB4RG0_hraZ4qGVKUvLU8C3ndCFUIpR43QPx-t8SjlqlHpa4bOJAnOg9XKA0Zohenw_Y/s1600/P1020852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWaQXWPu4M6wrPi2o0Phkh0O71yXZra4ZFabOA8dARAg_hlfNLVpUhiSu5uCuiVMVl6hkLWoRB4RG0_hraZ4qGVKUvLU8C3ndCFUIpR43QPx-t8SjlqlHpa4bOJAnOg9XKA0Zohenw_Y/s640/P1020852.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Pucker up! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqxKVBlzakK-q8AeoRdOZnnfvnQQas96h6dZyvJaBT7dAaC1cozs6tL2t-WIFkgAK7Pww6pc8wk1V6V1nuGapPhmCbDBfaeRYJ71Rry51abhdENuR26rhvM8nkgCBZ4M6kNjNzLdlxPY/s1600/P1020837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqxKVBlzakK-q8AeoRdOZnnfvnQQas96h6dZyvJaBT7dAaC1cozs6tL2t-WIFkgAK7Pww6pc8wk1V6V1nuGapPhmCbDBfaeRYJ71Rry51abhdENuR26rhvM8nkgCBZ4M6kNjNzLdlxPY/s640/P1020837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhceRMOf3VgQoM53myfwwicDCUj0G1dV6Ia6nYduu1Ba7FCEx8-UZ8Nx7m3TyiDeTI8KE1W6yd8BvhhJf6MXGuKY_svMGfLJCHrTw91YbQQT_SUEmsVGd9X024lf0EOC4XljcN-H_VsI/s1600/P1020854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhceRMOf3VgQoM53myfwwicDCUj0G1dV6Ia6nYduu1Ba7FCEx8-UZ8Nx7m3TyiDeTI8KE1W6yd8BvhhJf6MXGuKY_svMGfLJCHrTw91YbQQT_SUEmsVGd9X024lf0EOC4XljcN-H_VsI/s640/P1020854.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJxrBvAw3qQC5NZMmukhsFDi3WhKQFsXmT0QXLnJwwdVBDKj5CYOERbhsnjR_9-POVA5RbBsDLfLWfIGz9ZqqLG0s-ndmljw-ilJKbQlMXD3FtvMEXSesC5n_b6ucmDV3InHbmpUNo8s/s1600/P1020859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJxrBvAw3qQC5NZMmukhsFDi3WhKQFsXmT0QXLnJwwdVBDKj5CYOERbhsnjR_9-POVA5RbBsDLfLWfIGz9ZqqLG0s-ndmljw-ilJKbQlMXD3FtvMEXSesC5n_b6ucmDV3InHbmpUNo8s/s640/P1020859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhvUJL81Zc1TGz3kIt3fr4WWEbKO8K2EHb6JXXccf8EAwOpbB_HnuG5ArTxvIkVdCOVdcqQwVDjjyZ9gh7LbKd3LWejTAgutCwcEtml-9XdwsrCtTvTB0PO-dAwKmArSuyqWlKlD1Myg/s1600/P1020866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhvUJL81Zc1TGz3kIt3fr4WWEbKO8K2EHb6JXXccf8EAwOpbB_HnuG5ArTxvIkVdCOVdcqQwVDjjyZ9gh7LbKd3LWejTAgutCwcEtml-9XdwsrCtTvTB0PO-dAwKmArSuyqWlKlD1Myg/s640/P1020866.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-KldYF28Bc52O2cT2yGVOV01IjhZ4aIRXLc-d7cUENVQ7ATt6d_pYUT3Jo5uMHuz62CO0pOOkod1Luxn3-j1fpd-xzrQHUeD2Bgk0Vt4hHKp3T0PEmy-dzbo500LtYV59Nku_ZMySYU/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-KldYF28Bc52O2cT2yGVOV01IjhZ4aIRXLc-d7cUENVQ7ATt6d_pYUT3Jo5uMHuz62CO0pOOkod1Luxn3-j1fpd-xzrQHUeD2Bgk0Vt4hHKp3T0PEmy-dzbo500LtYV59Nku_ZMySYU/s640/IMG_0227.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">It was a steep hike up to the castle. I can't imagine how they built this....</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfrxOtPz54NTjmywF1MVzhNffU7ag73cXoHAmppZlDRgrQ7WbiX9G7K-YTmcpC5vrxIYcEbp7BCidV-XttD03rg-GGr_gN6Hbv5EyewkaHmJnw8OFVk7PFeOpRQgtowpHm0jG8DSqaI4/s1600/IMG_0265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfrxOtPz54NTjmywF1MVzhNffU7ag73cXoHAmppZlDRgrQ7WbiX9G7K-YTmcpC5vrxIYcEbp7BCidV-XttD03rg-GGr_gN6Hbv5EyewkaHmJnw8OFVk7PFeOpRQgtowpHm0jG8DSqaI4/s640/IMG_0265.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Huge wine barrel! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr1eCbyAtEQolZJUkiNZl0RIJNUxl3t0xo6vmVikGdfHxdaW7zX-658TEDljaV26z6WuWsQpdsWuahpLMGRr4UPUDe7-lcfQ5KsUP3E_CmgJB7l6c16hVUFwIg0vg_xYzoGYa6tunuAI/s1600/IMG_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr1eCbyAtEQolZJUkiNZl0RIJNUxl3t0xo6vmVikGdfHxdaW7zX-658TEDljaV26z6WuWsQpdsWuahpLMGRr4UPUDe7-lcfQ5KsUP3E_CmgJB7l6c16hVUFwIg0vg_xYzoGYa6tunuAI/s640/IMG_0269.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGuohotsn4M/TbwjGGpYJfI/AAAAAAAACcE/GRSEbUxXeaQ/s1600/IMG_0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGuohotsn4M/TbwjGGpYJfI/AAAAAAAACcE/GRSEbUxXeaQ/s640/IMG_0310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RewHVedm2WFfU8oy7swxn77KJ5d_i6Ccb5pI2antD2AFQRcUnybqqGC9mqRfwO8Eh3w7XbydIrHL_bX16Bj2qoCY3xdtbXeJ5TuuWDPkReF1LPm_50Nbk_m5XZGMyhe1_7fhZqlfCs4/s1600/IMG_0314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RewHVedm2WFfU8oy7swxn77KJ5d_i6Ccb5pI2antD2AFQRcUnybqqGC9mqRfwO8Eh3w7XbydIrHL_bX16Bj2qoCY3xdtbXeJ5TuuWDPkReF1LPm_50Nbk_m5XZGMyhe1_7fhZqlfCs4/s640/IMG_0314.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Reunited and it feels so good! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8r7R2iwGT1UHXVaiIoJRotTt78Bn65UxDAPI8DknVGVLOCG88bGuC8YZumSQ_i2GBni1PRig0evj_r_fMRlIr4-R5LWU4XiRKhlmWW9gTY3zUmMql-cA1SQSvfCh4ZPZxLlUsdY4SeI/s1600/IMG_0317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8r7R2iwGT1UHXVaiIoJRotTt78Bn65UxDAPI8DknVGVLOCG88bGuC8YZumSQ_i2GBni1PRig0evj_r_fMRlIr4-R5LWU4XiRKhlmWW9gTY3zUmMql-cA1SQSvfCh4ZPZxLlUsdY4SeI/s640/IMG_0317.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1aAaG-6kqHs/Tbwjoimq5EI/AAAAAAAACgE/Bj3ZmJ9Eb4I/s1600/IMG_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1aAaG-6kqHs/Tbwjoimq5EI/AAAAAAAACgE/Bj3ZmJ9Eb4I/s640/IMG_0339.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I don't know how I ate this whole thing... </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUD3RzgJP4FhaYHaPsCiAy0IZuyfMJc70bpf3HCH0AKa9E__vmHisX4bvAIsE0a6QV5qldXDsOkcaX_lZJlgo4urLuZnTgXLatJW8bRf38XeLYrQB67xSyYDujyNtdFDjbcb9IkloH-c/s1600/IMG_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUD3RzgJP4FhaYHaPsCiAy0IZuyfMJc70bpf3HCH0AKa9E__vmHisX4bvAIsE0a6QV5qldXDsOkcaX_lZJlgo4urLuZnTgXLatJW8bRf38XeLYrQB67xSyYDujyNtdFDjbcb9IkloH-c/s640/IMG_0248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
What a wonderful day trip. But really, who doesn't love castles and good company?<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-55440620200325422122011-04-30T18:26:00.001+02:002011-04-30T18:58:58.633+02:00Galavanting around Germany does a girl some good!<div style="text-align: justify;">After nine days in Germany with one of my best friends and her husband, my vacation sadly ended yesterday evening. Rosie and Jeric moved to Germany in February when he got a job at Ramstein Air Force Base and generously took me in as their first house guest. Along with their two dogs, Nico and Noah, the newlyweds live in the small town of Brücken, about 30 minutes off-base. As soon as I saw Rosie walking towards me at the train station, I shouted her name and started running towards the outstretched arms of one of my best friends. Within seconds, I felt the huge weight of homesickness and loneliness disappear. Rosie and I have been extremely close friends since the day we met in a 6th grade choir rehearsal. She's one of the best kinds of friends - the kind that no matter how much time has passed since you last saw or talked to each other, it's like nothing has changed. Seeing her was just what I needed to get me out of my homesickness funk. </div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6K1KmC-8Ln2rSUAJjT7ATXCbGCCNAazzgcUUFsxXkpzlxr4ImudMwOSrwu0EtSov1poLkmXQErHJOXU3wAjthFMvukfv62MLb1-7mI16MiVyF4FSx-Qq1-dhYxXtoED6srfwJX_ZMuo/s1600/IMG_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6K1KmC-8Ln2rSUAJjT7ATXCbGCCNAazzgcUUFsxXkpzlxr4ImudMwOSrwu0EtSov1poLkmXQErHJOXU3wAjthFMvukfv62MLb1-7mI16MiVyF4FSx-Qq1-dhYxXtoED6srfwJX_ZMuo/s640/IMG_0163.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">At the Visitor's Center at Ramstein Air Force Base</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj8cFqGA_Y9pVzMuLpSWk6Qhhi6Ic3SmvYhH26q6EMqL88BUpcc1sLRp06JV-hwMJ49HItH25LQLAUXXAllzF02-L08rISChR44WyRJHPkKlzBLx1ug40fzENzlGdtIl4g4PimKUKJ0g/s1600/P1030165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj8cFqGA_Y9pVzMuLpSWk6Qhhi6Ic3SmvYhH26q6EMqL88BUpcc1sLRp06JV-hwMJ49HItH25LQLAUXXAllzF02-L08rISChR44WyRJHPkKlzBLx1ug40fzENzlGdtIl4g4PimKUKJ0g/s640/P1030165.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Outside the Officers' Club on-base to congratulate Jeric's commander on his promotion</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7Z6w0RyN9zP4kf-e9YueyK-qeaq-wyggYdTf5HtklN7h22YVJfEqF2iOyyYhz4d6vpxVAKhbQYcELToqRS3HJJGtZ1CdRBt3e0hlovuS-fwKD3ZzeXLT5a9i5fBvm0zUaNuY6Dvgya8/s1600/228008_10100363443433348_10707088_56047883_4486819_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7Z6w0RyN9zP4kf-e9YueyK-qeaq-wyggYdTf5HtklN7h22YVJfEqF2iOyyYhz4d6vpxVAKhbQYcELToqRS3HJJGtZ1CdRBt3e0hlovuS-fwKD3ZzeXLT5a9i5fBvm0zUaNuY6Dvgya8/s640/228008_10100363443433348_10707088_56047883_4486819_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Rosie is lucky to have found such a wonderful husband; a proud officer in the US Air Force</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">We headed straight to the visitor's center on base to get my visitor's access card. After a nice dinner at Deutsche Haus where we were served by German soldiers, Jeric an Rosie gave me a tour of the BX and the commissary. At the BX, I felt like I was back in America! Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, Cinnabon, Johnny Rockets, Subway, Manchu Wok, a Wal-Mart-like store and a movie theater make it feel like an American mall. At the commissary, you find all of the top American products and brands that it's like shopping at Safeway. The amenities provided on base really make it so that all they have to miss are their friends and families back home. Just walking down the aisles and seeing everything that I recognize and miss from home added to curing my homesickness. Only two and a half months until this will be my life again! : ) </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltrKofL5qo/Tbwd8uk2fVI/AAAAAAAACHE/txvUXwDLrCU/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltrKofL5qo/Tbwd8uk2fVI/AAAAAAAACHE/txvUXwDLrCU/s640/IMG_0651.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Cuddled up with Nico (left) and Noah (right)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgJRFI8E2kQTrSO73-Kqqn9J1PEP0jgxN5UNDkK781iwkpetnSVf3c6-YKqQ_jZpW7Si0YsMJAD0FFSFxdHe9G096DA1v95c3Uxvzzon7ADsPfRxJt89PWk4JwwGJuezgw9upe1dRV0k/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgJRFI8E2kQTrSO73-Kqqn9J1PEP0jgxN5UNDkK781iwkpetnSVf3c6-YKqQ_jZpW7Si0YsMJAD0FFSFxdHe9G096DA1v95c3Uxvzzon7ADsPfRxJt89PWk4JwwGJuezgw9upe1dRV0k/s640/IMG_0293.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">At Heidelberg Castle</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ilmSyjKpWs/TbwjkLT19wI/AAAAAAAACfY/pG8cUQ838EA/s1600/IMG_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ilmSyjKpWs/TbwjkLT19wI/AAAAAAAACfY/pG8cUQ838EA/s640/IMG_0334.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Waiting for lunch in Heidelberg</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8ROQ4BsiLr4Cy-HjodLMRvZzF_H_N5iha9MWMY0FJHXCNdO4ojIeWkVHn6DmU6-S3QacjtkG_5ZJDUSWbXLwoqAqmbum7unZGXvI3l_lDMEqvC15H4VoXvCHVCfCwIt2x-XFC4YbU5E/s1600/IMG_0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8ROQ4BsiLr4Cy-HjodLMRvZzF_H_N5iha9MWMY0FJHXCNdO4ojIeWkVHn6DmU6-S3QacjtkG_5ZJDUSWbXLwoqAqmbum7unZGXvI3l_lDMEqvC15H4VoXvCHVCfCwIt2x-XFC4YbU5E/s640/IMG_0365.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">She makes me THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS happy! Can't help but jump for joy!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02aGr3xWxQmkLscB6KjbPT5fkptqe5w_6xbgQDmhonDQraHjCEuPTTRcOrH-B-RRvwjM2SA5o4SQAZXhBYcb3eh9PN1LvRw1aGpIxxagCrlA_2MkhNStQNEoQUtl8PfUTFDgCAtoyNWc/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02aGr3xWxQmkLscB6KjbPT5fkptqe5w_6xbgQDmhonDQraHjCEuPTTRcOrH-B-RRvwjM2SA5o4SQAZXhBYcb3eh9PN1LvRw1aGpIxxagCrlA_2MkhNStQNEoQUtl8PfUTFDgCAtoyNWc/s640/IMG_0714.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Self-timer photo shoot at Burg Lichtenburg in Kusel</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq20JKZfIP_UC1rYe9ng520BnQkWloA4U03Eak2lIpJ-S3WZIdmHZ0vV9_2d8dbPLYihprtHaatbYc70qL53Owqh6c0KqOLyXh79HdDdnPG-86iWm9Q-O8B6_2duYf5pWiz1IGj3Ov99w/s1600/IMG_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq20JKZfIP_UC1rYe9ng520BnQkWloA4U03Eak2lIpJ-S3WZIdmHZ0vV9_2d8dbPLYihprtHaatbYc70qL53Owqh6c0KqOLyXh79HdDdnPG-86iWm9Q-O8B6_2duYf5pWiz1IGj3Ov99w/s640/IMG_0247.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Soaking up the sun at Heidelberg Castle</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoaBlWso6Z-Mdxflgkr2N_6JG8eTH5_0YSkNabxnkNJl52cO2rU14E7P04nilIbBTNcjBFcnzFeCo4ySlM3t1QmHkJLhDE2c3Rr-FTlVVrfvF3A1lvfNBcGNkFsMeAS4uniWZejTCTsE/s1600/P1020986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoaBlWso6Z-Mdxflgkr2N_6JG8eTH5_0YSkNabxnkNJl52cO2rU14E7P04nilIbBTNcjBFcnzFeCo4ySlM3t1QmHkJLhDE2c3Rr-FTlVVrfvF3A1lvfNBcGNkFsMeAS4uniWZejTCTsE/s640/P1020986.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Reading up on Trier, the oldest city in Germany. This was the only meal I managed to pay for (I swear it included food).</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MbBo8oZCFFjYTLV-JymrTgHT-SyMxrLAIU64GjDKi3isujFm8uwCVr4h3zPK_NGfZhL7rl6NuCv_VlSnxf1hZlptmqd4HrDWIho_lfqCDaQo6_LsGebTEhFC9FUee1LsTehywbhLrNw/s1600/menrosie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MbBo8oZCFFjYTLV-JymrTgHT-SyMxrLAIU64GjDKi3isujFm8uwCVr4h3zPK_NGfZhL7rl6NuCv_VlSnxf1hZlptmqd4HrDWIho_lfqCDaQo6_LsGebTEhFC9FUee1LsTehywbhLrNw/s640/menrosie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Before the tears at the train station. Didn't want to let this girl go! </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I spent nine fabulous days with the Talania's galavanting around Germany, cooking them dinner, and curled up in Rosie's Snuggie on the couch watching movies, reminiscing, and talking about boys (men?). I couldn't have asked for better hosts and travel companions. Tears were definitely shed as my train pulled away from Kaiserslautern station as a trip that I'll never forget came to a close. I'll be posting more tonight with the places we went but Rosie and Jeric were such wonderful company that they definitely deserve their own post. Thanks again, you two! I love and miss you both already! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div>-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-78882680532781358902011-04-20T00:01:00.000+02:002011-04-20T00:01:14.162+02:00Photo recap: BerlinI'm home from Berlin but head back to Germany tomorrow. Nine days with one of my closest friends from home sounds just like the cure for this homesick girl! Berlin was pretty awesome. I loved it there. Stories to follow but here are some photos. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVH4xe0sbdf7eZzp_B25x4jHHsgYnxQe-HwZDmgBm07wmxJ4QzJTF35xYNZ_JUbcmd8PDSEcfihhDecZJ4tm7473-7PAM1A1ZNMdwxGYCC7FHc_rIlQRVYzM9viTSADrILCS5M4Vhuh4/s1600/P1020668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVH4xe0sbdf7eZzp_B25x4jHHsgYnxQe-HwZDmgBm07wmxJ4QzJTF35xYNZ_JUbcmd8PDSEcfihhDecZJ4tm7473-7PAM1A1ZNMdwxGYCC7FHc_rIlQRVYzM9viTSADrILCS5M4Vhuh4/s640/P1020668.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">My favorite part of the Berlin Wall </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip16hHLpUNv2mTKi4JoU_XcZnMFFzb7YluhREZEGUXtIvlPBfyq1uNJkRUexjQ9OFYQ__1VwICBIw8g8nR36Kfoy8yNHtlDHCyxuEdZ-eNgJnlWZ2jhDPey0Dr9KC7xAFifuW23llx8zs/s1600/P1020644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip16hHLpUNv2mTKi4JoU_XcZnMFFzb7YluhREZEGUXtIvlPBfyq1uNJkRUexjQ9OFYQ__1VwICBIw8g8nR36Kfoy8yNHtlDHCyxuEdZ-eNgJnlWZ2jhDPey0Dr9KC7xAFifuW23llx8zs/s640/P1020644.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg5TPHiOFL8/Ta39vFqVQ0I/AAAAAAAAAoM/NB598XmBKU4/s1600/P1020638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg5TPHiOFL8/Ta39vFqVQ0I/AAAAAAAAAoM/NB598XmBKU4/s640/P1020638.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05QNDSp2iJs0-GJ3m7pz6lmDlBdfPigomo4gMz7IGVUmOpGKTJM70zEU2K__debTY_jtjB3tLQt4OA4xQA0Y7K2BkCCRU3aR-xgYs9xEn0DMqnsoPniQ28iMsAfSB0C2thoYgCD0Lh-A/s1600/P1020675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05QNDSp2iJs0-GJ3m7pz6lmDlBdfPigomo4gMz7IGVUmOpGKTJM70zEU2K__debTY_jtjB3tLQt4OA4xQA0Y7K2BkCCRU3aR-xgYs9xEn0DMqnsoPniQ28iMsAfSB0C2thoYgCD0Lh-A/s640/P1020675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Berlin Wall in Potsdamer Platz</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXwhs6djIzs/Ta3-jYo2ryI/AAAAAAAAApI/_rlMq9Lay1c/s1600/P1020686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXwhs6djIzs/Ta3-jYo2ryI/AAAAAAAAApI/_rlMq9Lay1c/s640/P1020686.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">They might have been two of the saddest horses at Brandenburg Tor but they were so sweet! I loved 'em!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgZK7_2g6mM/Ta3-5mYIN2I/AAAAAAAAApk/HxLgQK_m9to/s1600/P1020687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgZK7_2g6mM/Ta3-5mYIN2I/AAAAAAAAApk/HxLgQK_m9to/s640/P1020687.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Brandenburg Tor </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrURfE4ITVesxBL5GOOH_0VcX-3FNazMNKWxhBY_ONBIOFE40A9DW46L7yEvz1XYTyH7jWr190u8sqcWgiGfRRij2KrGlwm7WCjKi6TaepdAz6MUkEvJNnX-LS41e-6XAFJaM7oc5AyA/s1600/P1020691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrURfE4ITVesxBL5GOOH_0VcX-3FNazMNKWxhBY_ONBIOFE40A9DW46L7yEvz1XYTyH7jWr190u8sqcWgiGfRRij2KrGlwm7WCjKi6TaepdAz6MUkEvJNnX-LS41e-6XAFJaM7oc5AyA/s640/P1020691.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Reichstag, home of the German Parliament</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vj5AqP0-ifk/Ta3_frOzhiI/AAAAAAAAAqU/ckNOFIyzUkk/s1600/P1020715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vj5AqP0-ifk/Ta3_frOzhiI/AAAAAAAAAqU/ckNOFIyzUkk/s640/P1020715.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPN4UgtZ_9u3BlX1BiYb5ALDBFUAMh0K6YmFa8-DiO9pNXgEIU-tARhX1V94NWq3huL_GLAyPH3iIspGbOsgM4ZXs6DK1SFJxA9lGh6Lma59DN7P_MK4tSF05FhgPmoe8jtFG1PUOLvI/s1600/P1020725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPN4UgtZ_9u3BlX1BiYb5ALDBFUAMh0K6YmFa8-DiO9pNXgEIU-tARhX1V94NWq3huL_GLAyPH3iIspGbOsgM4ZXs6DK1SFJxA9lGh6Lma59DN7P_MK4tSF05FhgPmoe8jtFG1PUOLvI/s640/P1020725.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Delicious Vietnamese dinner with a grapefruit beer, delicious!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YyiisWHOdzY/Ta4ALFL96xI/AAAAAAAAAq4/S0xR4vD_z8k/s1600/P1020732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YyiisWHOdzY/Ta4ALFL96xI/AAAAAAAAAq4/S0xR4vD_z8k/s640/P1020732.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Berlin Wall</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cZvtTYtKeKI2lmiGX99gLbIuO_2RJ4riLHlI7k9HlcrEDW5B8iQGmjN7YwFjKmXeMg7tz6s_U9JSj9b34ff737HObG4hWUgVMbARpdqUcdRxvVtNCUqIYuneKA-twEszLanGOJkmGjU/s1600/P1020738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cZvtTYtKeKI2lmiGX99gLbIuO_2RJ4riLHlI7k9HlcrEDW5B8iQGmjN7YwFjKmXeMg7tz6s_U9JSj9b34ff737HObG4hWUgVMbARpdqUcdRxvVtNCUqIYuneKA-twEszLanGOJkmGjU/s640/P1020738.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Berlin Wall section by the Topography of Terror. It reads "To Astrid, Maybe someday we will be together."</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TMk_0K4PM-AncmGK4FrLvnJ536fBNmX74ec0UQ0i5lwRNEZ1zN3krF_odqPhOK4JPhoeRNE_dEJvNTJi_8evpHfpB0GdyZuwfiUjB1SK5tsXXhjE3D4bvJivUOfjbxa48KkYRl0pBk/s1600/P1020742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TMk_0K4PM-AncmGK4FrLvnJ536fBNmX74ec0UQ0i5lwRNEZ1zN3krF_odqPhOK4JPhoeRNE_dEJvNTJi_8evpHfpB0GdyZuwfiUjB1SK5tsXXhjE3D4bvJivUOfjbxa48KkYRl0pBk/s640/P1020742.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Checkpoint Charlie</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8qflbNtNk4__Yg3JM7sQiXrGjkdAJnRj5ZZjGfgyzdL5RbnOQDXvqdllMdcMOQlCZHTnUlWmfPuaDvV1Z068ZZlTM5v1BOB4xdTyQ7sTYfu2FKNh5vxkdZOs6qNYFr0ZM3vt-Di2VLs/s1600/P1020762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8qflbNtNk4__Yg3JM7sQiXrGjkdAJnRj5ZZjGfgyzdL5RbnOQDXvqdllMdcMOQlCZHTnUlWmfPuaDvV1Z068ZZlTM5v1BOB4xdTyQ7sTYfu2FKNh5vxkdZOs6qNYFr0ZM3vt-Di2VLs/s640/P1020762.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">My travel companion for the weekend</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVr0ybQYXxc/Ta4B0rCQPxI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XDU7N8f_2y8/s1600/P1020771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVr0ybQYXxc/Ta4B0rCQPxI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XDU7N8f_2y8/s640/P1020771.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A homesick Seattleite's temporary fix? Grande Pike Place Roast with nonfat and cinnamon. Love the new logo!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZQH5aQXq7c/Ta4CgvivRNI/AAAAAAAAAso/NTGbLgODRw4/s1600/P1020724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZQH5aQXq7c/Ta4CgvivRNI/AAAAAAAAAso/NTGbLgODRw4/s640/P1020724.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Quaint little park in Charlottenburg</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love traveling... Have you caught the bug?<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-79813670895251229892011-04-16T05:34:00.001+02:002011-04-16T05:47:55.489+02:00Off to Berlin<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It's 5h28 and I'm halfway out the door to Berlin with Pierre until Tuesday. We're driving there.. clear across Belgium and most of Germany. I can't wait! Nothing like a little European road trip! When I get back on Tuesday, I'll have tons of pictures to post before I take off again Wednesday morning to visit one of my close friends from home in Germany! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before I go, how cute is this little guy who insisted on carrying my purse to class for me the other day... Elyse, I love you! This picture really doesn't do justice to how freaking precious he is, nor does it play up his sweet puppy-dog eyes. He's by far one of my very favorites! (A little girl carried my coat for me, so at least I have a few students with manners! </div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROmjZucPZB35ZxyUlEk6Uh_FzG5f6EfRP2SfW5hcaJCpM-pqj4vwclTInRG4oAHd89F5BiSi8Ph9y5NCedPEWSmYfRrm0XDDQokfuQBZfl4u6ViB8du7fAw6IVhpfL_0Hdls3CGZtjuA/s1600/P1020626.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROmjZucPZB35ZxyUlEk6Uh_FzG5f6EfRP2SfW5hcaJCpM-pqj4vwclTInRG4oAHd89F5BiSi8Ph9y5NCedPEWSmYfRrm0XDDQokfuQBZfl4u6ViB8du7fAw6IVhpfL_0Hdls3CGZtjuA/s640/P1020626.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bisous, </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-kelse</div></div>kelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081882853990709454.post-31790413890963029892011-04-13T21:20:00.000+02:002011-04-13T21:20:55.376+02:00Counting the months... and an afternoon in Belgium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Last weekend, I took a little afternoon trip to Tournai, the oldest city in Belgium. It was hot (73F, which is too hot for this Seattleite), not a cloud in the sky, and only a 20 minute train ride across the border. I strolled around the town for a few hours by myself before sitting down to enjoy a delicious cone of house-made Speculoos ice cream in the La Grand-Place. Aside from the first two trains back to Lille being cancelled, it was a lovely afternoon! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvu2Mj47JSRMAKxRND8Rhg_OMnUCBiiBS08q6MSIocf0OeweAY4DaL25y38zBhCdsW-FhKqCNsGijmQWP9fzTinR_oylg3do3eBBokz-zUcrxOiNjpUmjOq7VHINKXvToZrye-lpCkGU/s1600/P1020621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvu2Mj47JSRMAKxRND8Rhg_OMnUCBiiBS08q6MSIocf0OeweAY4DaL25y38zBhCdsW-FhKqCNsGijmQWP9fzTinR_oylg3do3eBBokz-zUcrxOiNjpUmjOq7VHINKXvToZrye-lpCkGU/s640/P1020621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAmPajsFjf5unVvn1Cj8wVR_bo7N7l_HpdRTDVy3oVWiGPt9HfwDMVT4Mte6xgMXSHVUxNv2QDQczGUWgz9pwV-hi_vJ_xz1eUk_R9oQ-o7abIFO5wVY0C6Pw8JbT_mIYr7fV3xEdj8M/s1600/P1020586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAmPajsFjf5unVvn1Cj8wVR_bo7N7l_HpdRTDVy3oVWiGPt9HfwDMVT4Mte6xgMXSHVUxNv2QDQczGUWgz9pwV-hi_vJ_xz1eUk_R9oQ-o7abIFO5wVY0C6Pw8JbT_mIYr7fV3xEdj8M/s640/P1020586.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Belfry and the Grand-Place</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VxL5yL2y3cA9KJjeWO9vrZufz_AIrPBWGk_MKKJM03R6BxJK6wB4MSmRfCOYAUQPzhYxyrtoyCmwIjLpA906MSS92H2D1ZsGW7_gtaZSCaitx955bJHdOv5HHsqNMQq4EAIKljur0ZU/s1600/P1020617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VxL5yL2y3cA9KJjeWO9vrZufz_AIrPBWGk_MKKJM03R6BxJK6wB4MSmRfCOYAUQPzhYxyrtoyCmwIjLpA906MSS92H2D1ZsGW7_gtaZSCaitx955bJHdOv5HHsqNMQq4EAIKljur0ZU/s640/P1020617.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Notre Dame de Tournai Cathedral</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulKsHZsrEwL5xRG_m5vwJp_8tScgAQJVW976yVPPpcp_f_7fmXip-QHmMtHBTxJ9-ictIguChTBlnmRJ-9EYC95RmtCnwlP-OLUnze5d7j_B6TglfedK8Sr6eWqCwHgUgEw91gvEwgCs/s1600/P1020609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulKsHZsrEwL5xRG_m5vwJp_8tScgAQJVW976yVPPpcp_f_7fmXip-QHmMtHBTxJ9-ictIguChTBlnmRJ-9EYC95RmtCnwlP-OLUnze5d7j_B6TglfedK8Sr6eWqCwHgUgEw91gvEwgCs/s640/P1020609.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Flags on Cloth Hall (the red, yellow, and black one is the Belgian flag)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe4jzYZSShrLWrfW093We7P_Z59e6svt9E5okp3UaxjjQ69V0rIgtCrk1um5sJa33spm4MWG51M5TG9s6drPSJ8dYnPNtmC41ptDgzHxzWmiyCgoRcqE8PHPtyK5OLpMJXl9KzP3i3pE/s1600/P1020597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe4jzYZSShrLWrfW093We7P_Z59e6svt9E5okp3UaxjjQ69V0rIgtCrk1um5sJa33spm4MWG51M5TG9s6drPSJ8dYnPNtmC41ptDgzHxzWmiyCgoRcqE8PHPtyK5OLpMJXl9KzP3i3pE/s640/P1020597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Le Pont des Trous on the Scheldt River</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwnmSeya2mSUqLP1se5PoCif8B8YN5QEogx63nNdYg9KXN15h4dzuBCy8L6cR6l9TJ5rPWamPdvOiSFlqcsJX6NVZt7jpAdBHGg4cqyV8tb9ey7caj_ln7p8PDes9OY9MpNNlsI3xz50/s1600/P1020613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwnmSeya2mSUqLP1se5PoCif8B8YN5QEogx63nNdYg9KXN15h4dzuBCy8L6cR6l9TJ5rPWamPdvOiSFlqcsJX6NVZt7jpAdBHGg4cqyV8tb9ey7caj_ln7p8PDes9OY9MpNNlsI3xz50/s640/P1020613.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>I love anything Speculoos... of course I had to try the ice cream! </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPJkD5v87ERS9veF7SabMJraILa3TqxQkqgFfGGxh5jGguZj6j-3DctHUAEqLkOX2NOm9GsD99jLCtEfo_73J-F3-RCSvesAEbezEqnSfZG6EsfXo0k8g35zCbaev5fk1GZS7h-3XeVA/s1600/P1020614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPJkD5v87ERS9veF7SabMJraILa3TqxQkqgFfGGxh5jGguZj6j-3DctHUAEqLkOX2NOm9GsD99jLCtEfo_73J-F3-RCSvesAEbezEqnSfZG6EsfXo0k8g35zCbaev5fk1GZS7h-3XeVA/s640/P1020614.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Tons of other people had the same idea, since the Glace Speculoos was the most empty of all the flavors!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In other exciting news, I arrived in Amsterdam exactly seven months ago today. That sounds like ages ago! But even more exciting news is that I have my (stand-by) ticket booked home! And the date? July 13th. I find it kind of poetic that I'll spend exactly ten months, to the day, in Europe. Major thanks to my amazing god-dad for hooking both my mom and I up with our stand-by tickets! Milles mercis, Uncle Bruce! It's bittersweet to realize that the end is near... Luckily, as close as it seems, three months is still a long ways away. For assistants on a seven-month contract, this is their last week of teaching and many of them take off soon. I know these next few months are going to fly by... seven have already. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>One more day before vacation! I definitely need it, too!<br />
Bisous,<br />
-kelsekelsey |un(e)-américain(e) in Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218356570200227031noreply@blogger.com1