Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Misc. #2

So I’ve been a little MIA, but the hiatus has made me realize that there are, in fact, a few people that care about reading this little thing (THANKS Christine and Mina)! Encouraged by this and some positive feedback from friends who are actual writers, I shall recommence with another bulleted stream of consciousness:

  • I must have sung head, shoulders, knees, and toes about 300 times this week (in my classes, not just for fun, though it IS fun and slightly aerobic) and will probably be singing some more tomorrow and into next week too… I just started it because I panicked for something to do in one class and that’s the first thing that came to my head. Now I’m stuck singing it over and over and over… at least next week I can take a break and teach some Thanksgiving!
  • Love. The. Foliage. Click here and check the end of the album for some new pictures of a boat ride we took around the city. It's so wonderfully autumnal! Though the cold will be a trial, having actual seasons is a definite reward. I just love the fall! Always have, even in Louisiana, the home of “oh wait, it’s 75 degrees AND humid in December?” I love fall because I swear that the sun seems to shine more... golden, more warm in way, more glowy and comforting. The sun of summer is bright and blue and sharp but the sun of fall is encompassing and cozy... perfectly complementing the colors and textures of the season. It has mostly been gray and cold and rainy but this typical Franche-Comté weather hasn’t bothered me too much yet. Fogs and clouds and rain just feel so appropriately French. As does wearing a trench coat and carrying an umbrella while walking along cobblestoned streets. But what totally makes up for all the grayness (other than the romantic outerwear)? CHRISTMAS IS COMING! I’ve been watching the city put up lights around centreville for the past week, including a whole arrangement in the big fountain at Place de la Revolution. I cannot wait until they actually light them! AND there’s a roasted chestnut stand where we already have plans to spend some Euros.
  • But thinking of the holidays gave me my first real pangs of homesickness. Though I’m SO excited and glad to be able to travel over the break with my mom, it’s going to be my first away from home. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite, because of the tradition and the food. I’m going to so miss seeing the rest of my family. I’ll also miss the sweet potato casserole, the cornbread stuffing, the boxed mashed potatoes, the hot pepper jelly and the pecan pie. We’re planning a little Thanksgiving fête here, so that will hopefully lessen my sadness. All the wonderful emails and messages and cards have helped too! Holiday Season 2009 WILL be very different from all my previous but from what I’ve seen so far, Europe does Christmas pretty well… it’ll be different, but amazing and I’m so glad and THANKFUL to be able to “profiter.”
  • Food update: I have been living off a lot of yogurt lately but I am not complaining. Especially because I recently discovered a twelve pack for 1,17€ at my neighborhood Intermarché! At the farmers’ markets, I’ve been stocking up on Clementines, the closest thing I can find to Satsumas, which I could eat by the sackful this time of year back home. After buying my compulsory bag of citrus, I just walk around until I see something that strikes my fancy. First it was those artichokes, last week it was a cauliflower that I steamed and ate with Comté cheese, Tuesday I bought two eggplant that I’m not sure what I’ll do with yet… but I’ll definitely need to buy some olive oil to do it. I recently added to my pastry-tasting repertoire an almond croissant, a caramel croissant (less croissant-y and more king cake-y), and a chocolate-dipped meringue (HUGE and cheap plus it has that cotton candy dissolving quality when it hits your tongue, which I always enjoy). Monday I received a package from Daddy filled with Cajun-ness: jambalaya and gumbo mix, roux, file, Tony’s, Tabasco, etc. Can’t wait to cook some and show these Frenchies, Yanks, and Brits what’s what at our pseudo-Thanksgiving. We may technically be in the culinary capital of the world, but nothing can compare with South Louisiana. I mean, come on.

p.s. I did see some packets of crawfish at the aforementioned Intermarché, but they’re from China and it’s November… However, I’m still tempted to try them. Opinions?

2 comments:

  1. "I must have sung head, shoulders, knees, and toes about 300 times this week (in my classes, not just for fun, though it IS fun and slightly aerobic)"
    LOL!
    no, I mean really, I actually laughed out loud. mee-hee-hee

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  2. Whatever you do, Connie, DON'T buy those crawfish. In China and other crawfish-producing Asian countries, the fertilizer of choice is, ahem, nightsoil (you can wikipedia it). Unless you're really itching for a couple of liver flukes, you may do best to avoid these tempting, but tortuous treats.

    I hope this suggests that you have a larger fan base than you thought. It's good to see you being a spontaneous and sophisticated traveler. To say the least, I'm jealous.

    ReplyDelete