Tag: French Sabbatical

July 14, 2011

It’s French National Day in France, Bastille Day or le quatorze juillet. To this point, we haven’t done anything special to celebrate but we are thinking of heading in to town for the fireworks show later. Last year we watched it from the balcony of the apartment at which we were staying. But the apartment was much closer to town than where our house is so to see anything we’ll have to leave the house. The small problem with that is public transportation is on an abbreviated, holiday schedule.

What we’ve spent most of the day doing is lounge by or in the pool. In preparation for the effort involved in such lounging, I went for an early morning run while Melinda worked out with Christine. For you Seattle folks, we are intending to come back with some serious tans. Chloe commented that on days like this Nantes feels like California.

Another thing happening this month is me spending time each weekday morning (including this morning) working with Ella on algebra. She had completed half of a year-long high school course at PSCS before we left and wants to complete the second half before school starts in September. She’s well on her way. Tomorrow she will have completed the eighth of ten workbooks she needs to finish to meet her goal. Today’s photo shows her graphing linear equations.

Learn more about our first Bastille Day in France from last year’s entry for this day…
Day 14 (14 July 2010) – Bastille Day

July 13, 2011

Here are Chloe and Ella, off on a shopping excursion today, just the two of them. Chloe learned that Ella had not yet been inside the Nantes chateau so set about rectifying that oversight. Before that, the girls did some shopping. I know Chloe came back with some shoes she’s been wanting. You may be asking why she’s buying more items so close to our departure from France and you’d have a point. But I think the answer has something to do with not being able to get THESE shoes in Seattle.

I volunteered a few Euros for the girls to get some gelato, which they gladly did at the yummy gelato shop in town. Chloe raved about it afterwards, saying it rivaled what we had in Italy. That’s saying something.

I’m writing while sitting next to Frédérique and Laurent who came over, along with Romain and Manon, to watch the US-France women’s World Cup match (won by the US 3-1). Minutes ago, Chloe took off with Romain and Manon to see he new Harry Potter movie which was released in France today. Ella declined an invitation to go along, preferring to wait to see the movie until she can see it in English.

A year ago today I acknowledged it being my father’s 76th birthday (happy 77th today, dad!)…
Day 13 (13 July 2010) – Happy Birthday, Al!

July 12, 2011

A year ago today I posted a “Dear Jane” letter to Melinda, having fallen for the lovely young woman who was working last summer at a bakery near the apartment at which we were staying when we first arrived. It’s been a year since I’ve seen her (the baker woman, not Melinda). I decided that I’d go back today to see if she’s returned.

In two words, “no luck.”

In fact, when I asked the young woman working the counter today if I could take a picture (I envisioned using a shot similar to last year’s), she retreated to the back and returned with who I assume is the owner. She explained (in French) that she doesn’t allow pictures to be taken inside the bakery. In fact, she all but demanded to see the photos I’d taken of the exterior. Apparently, she saw me taking them from across the street (and, yes, that’s the tram, Line 2, on the right of the image).

As you might imagine, no one told me that the pain au chocolat I bought today might burn my tongue.

Still, I “liked” the bakery on Facebook and get this. They have a WordPress blog, too…
Day 12 (12 July 2010) – The Baker

July 11, 2011

Yesterday I wrote about Frédérique & Laurent, commenting that if it wasn’t for them I don’t know where we’d be. Today I’m writing about Christine & Bernard. Without them, I don’t know where we’d be.

Meeting Christine & Bernard is going to be one of those lifetime memories that are easy to chalk up to dumb luck. But since I really don’t believe in dumb luck, I chalk it up to something more profound. It’s like something that was just meant to be. For Melinda, meeting Christine has been like being introduced to your long-lost sister. To put it frankly, Christine is the best friend Melinda has made since I’ve known Melinda (and we’ve been married, in case you didn’t know, for over 20 years). Bernard is just one of those people that you feel comfortable with right away. That they have been so kind and generous and helpful, and live just a couple of doors away has been the literal definition of a God-send.

I was recently reviewing my email archive and found a message in which the owners of our house mentioned Christine & Bernard, saying that Christine was an American who lived in the neighborhood. The message indicated Christine would be willing to help us out if we had questions. In fact, Christine, on her own initiative, wrote to use before we had met. She wrote, “Things must be very busy (and maybe a bit stressful) during these last days before your move, so I’ll end here, and wish you ‘bon courage et bon voyage.’ Call or write if you need anything, otherwise I’ll stop by and say hello when I see you’ve arrived. Sincerely, Christine Bertail

Indeed, Christine did stop by, the first two times finding Chloe and Ella alone at home. She jokingly concluded that the whole “living with parents” thing was a ruse designed by two teenage girls to live in France alone for a year.

A year ago today I posted a picture of a bottle of beer and lamented my difficulty with pronouncing the French “R.” Some things have not changed….
Day 11 (11 July 2010) – Quiet Day

July 10, 2011

Here they are, Frédérique & Laurent Boudeau! If you can, please hold your applause to the end. No, go ahead. I’ll wait for the excitement to quiet down a bit.

Indeed, the Boudeaus are worthy of Melinda’s, Chloe’s, Ella’s and my applause. If it wasn’t for them, we would not be in Nantes, we would not have had this amazing house, Ella would not have attended Le Loquidy… The list goes on and on. So just why were the Boudeaus thanking Melinda and me last night, taking US out for a fancy dinner? Perhaps it was to thank us for letting them do so much for us? Come to think of it, it was mighty nice of us to provide them the opportunity to be so thoughtful and generous. I mean, who knows, without us there is no way they would have had so many chances to earn their angel wings. Right? Right?!

Okay, enough of that already. The Boudeaus took Melinda and me out last night, and provided pizza for Chloe and Ella at their house, as a thank you for the English “lessons” we provided Romain and Manon. I put “lessons” in “quotes” because calling what we did “lessons” makes it sound far more formal than it was. We just talked to them. In “English.”

The dinner was delicious, of course. For you Seattle area folks, the restaurant is something like the Herbfarm insomuch as the vegetables are all grown by the chefs themselves. We had three courses and Laurent chose the wine. What could be better than that?

Nothing, that’s what.

Turning back the clock to last year’s July 10th, I reported on our cell phone challenges. Oh, don’t get me started…
Day 10 (10 July 2010) – Cell Phones

July 9, 2011

The weather remains decidedly un-summer-like, affording us the opportunity to start the laborious, sad and somewhat exciting process of getting ready to consider the prospect of some day moving out of our Nantes house. Today’s photo is a self-portrait taken by Chloe that includes quite a few of her clothes, rolled in preparation of being placed in a suitcase. If it’s hard to figure this out from the photo, here are some viewing instructions.

First, locate her legs and feet at the top of the picture. The presence of these indicate a mirror. Below her feet and on the floor are the rolled clothes, doubled in number because of the mirror (although to the rest of us it’s not surprising to think Chloe may actually have twice as many clothes as she does). Adding to the artistic nature of the photo is Chloe’s laptop (upper left).

Melinda has been organizing the office, sorting through paperwork to determine what needs to be brought home and what can be recycled or trashed. Like Chloe, I went through my clothes but did not begin the process of rolling them. I just decided what I’m taking and what I’m getting rid of. Ella bought a book on iTunes (something with Chloe in the title, I think, a new TV show, perhaps?).

So that’s how we spent the day. Tonight the girls are heading to the Boudeaus for a pizza dinner with Romain and Manon. Laurent & Frédérique are treating Melinda and me to a dinner out, a thank you for our English “lessons” with Romain and Manon during the school year.

A year ago today I reported on Melinda and me taking a walk to get a baguette. That post sounds so quaint today, so innocent…
Day 9 (9 July 2010) – Morning Walk

July 8, 2011

Ella, Melinda & I just returned from a late Friday afternoon excursion to Leclerc. Nothing out of the ordinary to report about this; in fact, today has been about as ordinary of a day as it gets. Well, ordinary for a chilly, rainy day in July. As we waited for the tram to come home, Melinda commented that we seem to have gotten our summer in the spring and right now are getting spring in the summer. We hope this turns around again soon. I have seen that it’s supposed to start warming up again on Sunday.

Anyway, as you may be aware, Leclerc is a large grocery store. Several aisles are devoted to the sale of alcohol-related products. Of course the wine selection is huge (this is France, you know). The beer selection is small (this is France, you know). But of interest is the wide variety of hard liquor available. For Washingtonians like ourselves, it takes a little getting used to, seeing hard liquor in grocery stores, although it sounds like that might change if this story in today’s Seattle Times is true.

I always crack a smile when I see the collection of “flasks” for sale, as seen in today’s photo. These are glass bottles backed with a pieces of cardboard and enclosed in strong plastic wrap. And it’s not just cheap stuff you’ll see being marketed this way. I couldn’t resist and today bought a flask of calvados, an apple brandy from Normandy, something to have as a digestif.

From the nostalgia file, a year ago today I served coq au vin (in a can) for lunch…
Day 8 (8 July 2010) – Coq au Vin

July 7, 2011

It’s a cool, windy and sometimes rainy day in Nantes today, meaning we aren’t sitting by the pool. Instead, it’s a series of little projects occupying our time. For instance, Melinda and I went into town and made it so our tram passes would not automatically renew (Line 2, forgive me). We also bought a couple of things to bring back with us to Seattle. Right now, Melinda and Ella are sorting through Ella’s school papers to see what to bring home. This prompted Chloe to start contemplating her clothes.

I won’t get started on the challenge that awaits Chloe in terms of clothing and suitcase weight limitations, but instead talk about this lovely French word, “poubelle.”

I took today’s photo this afternoon while Melinda and I were in a little crêperie in town. Isn’t it cute? You pull on the little handle and this door hinges open at the top, revealing a secret compartment. Just what does one find inside?

Garbage. Yup, “poubelle” is French for garbage. Yes, you may be asking why a word with “belle” (literally, beautiful) in it would be used for garbage. I know I am. So I looked up “pou” to see if it meant anything. Literally, it’s “louse.” Yes, the singular for lice. So the word in French for garbage translates as “beautiful louse.” Okay then.

A year ago today we toured Ella’s school for the first time and met Monsieur Bregéon. For my French friends, that means that today is M. Bregéon’s and my first anniversary. I’m embarrassed to say I did not get him anything…
Day 7 (7 July 2010) – Ella’s School

July 6, 2011

Our neighbor John, a kind man if one ever lived, invited me over for a game of snooker, a variety of pool that I’d never understood prior to meeting him. He has a table in his house and on several occasions has invited me to play. Every time I’ve accepted I’ve had a great time. John has a relaxed way about him that immediately puts a person at ease. He also is quick to offer a beer. Perhaps the two things are related, although I’m not sure which one precedes the other.

No, in John’s case, I know. The kindness precedes the offer of a beer.

I put my cellphone camera down on the end of the table to snap today’s picture. That’s John on the left and his step-son, Benoit, on the right. You may recall from last summer that Benoit is quite the cook. Today he was my snooker partner, while John partnered with daughter Céline. Benoit & I won the first game but gave up the ghost in the second after it looked like we had it in the bag. I think that means a third match needs to be had to decide the championship. Perhaps next week?

On a side-note, given the overlap of our days in France, this being our second July here, you may have noticed I’m ending each post with a link to what we were doing on this day last year. Indulge me in my nostalgia sappiness, please…
Day 6 (6 July 2010) – Touring Nantes

July 5, 2011

Perhaps some of my best, and worst, qualities come from the fact that I’m a nostalgia sap. I love mining the past for good memories and then trying to recreate them.

Take today for instance. We returned to the city of Pornichet, 45 minutes from Nantes by train and on the west coast, the city in which we spent two of our first four weeks in France last July. Last year, it was hot and sunny. Today, it was chilly and rainy. Instead of lying on the beach Chloe proclaimed as her own last summer, we tried to stay dry in the train station and public library.

Failing at the recreating of beach memories, I took it upon myself to make the most of the day, harkening other memories. I braved the rain and went for a long walk, retracing the bike route we took regularly last year, the one from our apartment to the grocery store and to the racetrack that was under construction (it’s completed and spectacular looking – we may even get a chance to attend a race day later this month). The rain let up as I walked, helping the nostalgia win.

Today’s photo is of a salted caramel crêpe from La Petite Saline, a crêperie in Pornichet that we fell in love with last summer and was part of our reason for wanting to return today. This one is Ella’s, complete with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect antidote to the disappointment of rain and further salve for nostalgia sappiness. When it comes to salted caramel crêpes, you can go back again.

Speaking of nostalgia, a year ago today we arrived in Nantes…
Day 5 (5 July 2010) – Travel Day