I had a great Christmas here in France. The biggest difference, apart from it being my first Christmas away from home, was the focus on the food! Not to say that we don’t eat well during the holidays in the US, but here in France I spent both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the table with my host family’s family. On Christmas Eve my host mother’s mom surprised with what was possibly my favorite gift- the most beautiful red hand-knitted scarf and hat that I’ve ever seen. For the benefit of my host sister’s three-year-old nephew who was staying with us, on Christmas Eve we put out our slippers (instead of stockings) for the Père Noël to come and fill with presents.
The day after Christmas I spent packing because on the 27th I moved in with my second host family. In the last four months I have managed to accumulate two suitcases worth of winter clothes and more stuff. In fact I felt especially bad when my new host dad unsuspectingly tried to pick up the suitcase that was filled entirely with books. (I have now realized that I may have to be more selecting when people are kind enough to offer me things like an immense dictionary as gifts).
Having carried all my luggage up two flights of stairs, including the book suitcase, my new host family showed me to my bedroom at the top of the house. I am now moved in and perfectly happy in my new host family. Besides my host parents, I have a host sister who is the same age as me, and a host brother who is a few years older.
Today I plan on familiarizing myself with the neighborhood, and continuing to settle in with my new family. I'll try to promise a more detailed post soon!
I hope that all of your Christmases went just as well, love from France,
Elizabeth
No comments:
Post a Comment