mes amis

old friends. they are a comfort to me. a safety. it is an irreplaceable occasion to sit down with someone and catch up on the time spent apart and reminisce about past shared experiences. relationships with others are what really enrich my life. i am beginning to appreciate this more as i get older. so here's to the people i am lucky enough to consider friends, both old and new.

This Christmas has gone in a different direction than expected and due to a series of unfortunate events, our family is celebrating Christmas on the first day we will all be home together: January 3rd. I was a little angry at first, but am trying to roll with the punches that life unavoidably throws.

To salvage some of the actual Christmas Eve spirit, I am baking. Currently, I've got 2 batches of sugar cookies done, snickerdoodles in the oven, and peanut butter cookie dough chilling in the fridge. Kathleen Battle and Frederica Von Stade are blasting out of the computer their interpretation of "Deck the Halls!" I am happy.

Joyeux Noel!!!!

My Christmas Wish

Linda Cohn, how I wish I had your job....

Anyone have a contact at ESPN who could hook me up with a job?

Happiness = Bookstores

I heart bookstores. I fell in love with them in Paris and as a result, my suitcases coming home were quite a bit heavier. It was one of my favorite things to do on my study abroad. So tonight, when I really needed to get out of the house, I escaped to Borders-- not the coziest bookstore evs, but it will do. I spent a few hours there and read the entirety of The Tales of Beedle the Bard while sitting at a miniature table in the little kids section and exited with The Bread and Bread Machine Bible which I can't wait to crack open and try any/all of the recipes. Bookstores make me happy.

I came across this nugget of wisdom in Albus Dumbledore's commentary on The Warlock's Hairy Heart in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Dumbledore says: "To hurt is as human as to breathe." Who knew a mythical wizard could pack so much punch and give such an insight on human existence. But really, I think this is an interesting point. Pain, whether spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical, is part of mortality and despite the obvious difficulties of this fact, this pain should not be avoided. Somewhat counterintuitive, but an attitude that I need to do a better job of accepting. Thanks Dumbledore.

Completely unrelated (courtesy of Fo):

Read this article from The Onion.

When the Schwestis Write a Family Christmas Letter.

This is produced. Enjoy.

Siebach Skedaddles 2009

Die ganze Familie:

Ralph and Muriel! Seneca Lake, NY. Peppy’s Ice Cream. Dock. Peppy’s. Dock. Redux. Tahannock Falls. Cayuga Lake Creamery. Dance party. Palmyra, NY. Chill and Grill Ice Cream. Brookville, PA. Frosty Freeze Ice Cream.

Diggs (the prime of his life):

Plow. Deere. Farmall. Massey. Ford. Garden. Teach. Harvest. Mater sauce. Peach butter. Charlie Weis. St. Bonaventure. Harvard. Audit. Charlie Weis.

Chuls (the prime of her life):

Williamsburg. Boston. Lexington. Concord. DC. Girls Camp. Time at home. Classroom. Applesauce. Jam. Mater soup. Apple butter. Students. Time at home.

Sars (28):

Libes. Bryce Canyon. Indiana. Corn. Soy. Yard sale. Nirvana. Mennonites. Larry Yoder. Larry Yoder. Horse. Plow. Blubes. Toodle toot. Yellow Square.

Ferik (27,29):

Touchdown. Jesus. Ph.D. Ph.D. New house. Bemidji. Wall Drug. Utah. Mr. Finnegan. Salmon River. Hagiography. Kafka. Paleography. Derrida. Latin. German. Gummies. Pizza. Caffeine. Constantine. Reign of Fire. Sunbeams. Rigdonites. Mr. Finnegan. Christmas Tree Farm. Bliss.

Chiggy (24):

Boston. Schoolies. Kirkegaard. Chicago. Utah. Chuls’ kitchen. Apple pie. Strawberry pie. Blueberry pie. Peach pie. Berry tart. Chuls’ kitchen. Quincy House Cafeteria.

Kee (22):

Rugby. Sweet 16. Europe. Paris. Le Vesinet. London. Dingle. Normandy. Bruges. Brussels. Bern. Guggisberg. Marseilles. Aix- en- Provence. Rome. Florence. USA. Europe. Triste. Wanderlust.

Peeps (17):

Preference. Swim. AP. Sweethearts. AP. Prom. AP. Sleep. Lifeguard. Homecoming. AP. Sadies. AP. Swim. Winter Ball. Sleep.

About a month ago, I was browsing in Shakespeare and Company, an English bookstore in Paris, and picked up this lovely book.


I read the back cover, sat down and read the first few pages, and was hooked. I finally was able to finish it tonight and in short:

This book changed my life.

I now want a garden, chickens, bees, and a dog more than ever before. AND, I am sold on buying as local as possible.

If you, like me, have always liked the idea of having your own produce and buying local but didn't know exactly how to do it, you should read this book. OR if you aren't convinced on why buying local is important and ultimately better for you and the country as a whole, you should read this book. I will be happy to lend you my copy.

Adjustments.

I have yet to blog since I've been home so here I am... because I'm sure you're all incredibly interested in how I'm adjusting. Since being home, I've decided the following:

1. The church is more true in French than in English. Okay, not REALLY, but I really missed listening to church in French on Sunday.

2. It is a good thing I don't drink alcohol because if I did, I would be drinking myself to death in order to escape the reality of my situation.

3. I really need to get over this not really liking being in Utah business and try and discover the coolies things that are around me. So I can't go to the Louvre every day... there's always the MOA. Hm... not helping.

4. I missed my friends and family a lot. I am excited to start school again, even if BYU campus happens to be in Provo.

5. I need to go back to Europe.

I know, I know. You are all probably sick of me complaining about Utah. But in all honestly, I am trying here. I've decided I'm going to discover Salt Lake in the coming months. I think that will be a good assignment for me in order to keep me occupied and appreciate the things around me. So if any of you know of coolies places to discover, let me know!

Song of the day.

I know the video is weird. Just listen to the song.

i am sitting in the seattle airport. i have found a reason to be okay with being back in america...


it finally tastes right. i'm already on my second bottle. and i'm trying to stay awake.

other glaring differences between france and the US i've noticed in the few hours i've been back in the country:
1. american toilets are amazing.
2. airport workers smile at you and ask you how you're doing. i'm thinking: "wait? i don't have to be afraid to talk to you? i'm not going to feel like an idiot?"
3. drinking fountains!
4. everyone isn't wearing BLACK.

things i already miss:
1. europe
2. france
3. paris
4. hearing french everywhere
5. boulangeries.

and i could continue.... but i shant. it's good to be home. but sad at the same time. i'm already planning a return trip. and am taking donations starting... now.

in less than 12 hours, i will be on a plane back to the USA. i don't really know how i feel about it....

A tout a l'heure

Three months ago, this night seemed an eternity away. But here it is: my last night with my homestay and my last night in Le Vesinet. Tomorrow I head into Paris to stay with Sara at a hotel until I leave for Utah on Saturday. The sun came out this afternoon, just for me. I couldn't have asked for a better place to live. Tonight at dinner, Nannick said she hoped we would come back and visit. I can't promise that I will, but I would love to. And for my emotions' sake, I'm not going to say goodbye. Just a tout a l'heure.

This lamppost was precisely in the middle of my house and the Boissy's house where Sara and Emma resided. It was the ideal meeting point for many a late nights. And as you can see, I like it very much.

Reasons why.

I finished my last final exam this afternoon and besides my final photography project that is due Saturday night, I am done with school for this semester. I have to say, this was the least stressful finals week I have EVER enjoyed and I ever will enjoy. The prospect of going back to real school scares me. Let's not think about it, shall we?

I return to the good 'ol US of A in 10 days. I am excited to go home. I honest to goodness never thought I would last the entire 3 months. I remember within the first week of the program, I was looking for plane tickets home, but the 4,000 dollar price tag made staying the only option. And praise the heavens I did. I wouldn't give up what I have discovered and learned about the world and myself during this time for anything. As my stay here winds down and I reflect on the overall experience, I have been trying to think about why I have taken to Europe as I have, besides the obvious answer that Europe is straight up fantastic. I think I may have come up with a possible answer-- let me share. I will try to be brief.

I suppose the main reason I love Europe is because this continent has given me a chance at discovery- of many things. But most importantly self-discovery. I have been forced to prove to myself that I am capable of being happy in a place where, frankly, I don't really fit in, even though I would like to. I have learned a lot about the kind of person I am in the past 3 months and for the most part I've liked what I have found. Being put in a vulnerable, ridiculously scary situation such as this forced me to choose to sink or swim. My head is still above water. I have been able to stretch my ideas about the world and cultures and languages and see that yes, America is great, and I'm grateful to live there, but other places have their advantages too.

Above all, I am eternally indebted to Europe for somehow making previously discarded dreams seem possible again. It has given life to ideas I killed long ago with my supposedly realistic take on things. Throughout my life, I have been in a constant battle between what I want to think is possible (the idealistic side of me) and what actually is. Right now, I feel like I can do just about whatever I want. I don't know if it's the European air, the escape from Utah, or what, but I like this feeling. Like why can't I have some land when I grow up? And why can't I teach English in Africa? Thanks to Europe, I'm trying to get rid of my self-imposed barriers that have stunted my growth in the past.

And that friends is why I love this place and am going to miss it like a motherless child.

The result of my impulsiveness.