It's so Hard to say Goodbye!

Hello everyone! Our time together has come to an end, and we have learned quite a bit over these last few months. I really enjoyed writing for you all, and I hope you enjoyed reading the blog!

We covered a lot of topics, including French food, sports, mythology, holidays, and some general French culture, as well as my experiences in other European countries. Some of the travel highlights I shared with all of you includes Nice, Bordeaux, London, Amsterdam, Paris, multiple cities in Portugal, and, of course, the lovely town I lived in – Angers!

Lisbon, Portugal.

Paris, France.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Angers, France.

I thought I would give you a little more detail, as well as some updates, on a few of the topics covered. To begin, Angers' hockey team – the Dukes – have won 25 games out of 35 this season! I wish I had been able to go to more of their games while I was there, but I have a few friends who went recently and they had a lot of fun. Apparently, it was very busy at the game because hockey is such a popular sport. The Dukes are also competing in the French Hockey Cup, and I'm sure they will do well!

A photo of the hockey game I went to in Angers.

I've already told you about a variety of French cuisine, but I thought I would share with you links to the recipes of a couple of my favorites. It was a little difficult to find authentic recipes that weren't in French, but I think these are pretty good. If you and your family can't figure out what to have for dinner one night, you should check these out! Here is a recipe for quiche lorraine, which is a tart filled with eggs, bacon, and cheese. It is an incredibly popular dish for the French, and one of my favorites. Here is a recipe for beurre blanc, a dish of fish smothered in a delicious white butter sauce. This is an iconic French dish that many French restaurants serve, and yet it is still very simple. 

A mini quiche lorraine with hashbrowns made by my host mom.

Something new I am excited to share with all of you is the French dance Le Madison! It is a very popular dance that every French person knows, and while it is often done at weddings, it can be performed anywhere. For example, some of my French friends did it at a talent show we had at my school! It is super fun to do, and not too hard to learn.  Even young kids know the dance. Below is a video of two different groups performing the dance so that you can see what it looks like!

A group of younger French kids doing Le Madison.

A group of people of all ages doing Le Madison in a flashmob.

I enjoyed writing for you all so much! I hope you enjoyed reading these posts, and I hope this blog has inspired in you a curiosity of the world. Thank you for reading!

Emma

Photo of the Week #10 - London Christmas Market

Hello everyone! Last weekend, my friends and I went to London and enjoyed the start of the holiday season in this amazing city. Though the United Kingdom doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, they do participate in Black Friday, so the city was packed with people. My favorite part of the trip was the Christmas markets, which is where this photo was taken. At the markets, there are gifts to buy, foods to try, and hundreds of lights to see. Cities all across Europe – including Angers – have Christmas markets, and I absolutely love them.

Food with the French

Hi everyone! Sadly, this is my last post, aside from the photo of the week that I will post on Friday. To end on a truly French note, I thought I would talk about French foods and dining! Food is a very big deal here, and it felt wrong to not write a post about it for you all. 

Last weekend, I went with my host family to a food and drinks event in Angers. It was held in a huge convention hall and had over 140 stalls selling meats, cheeses, chocolates, and more. They had many samples that were all delicious, and my host mom bought a lot of food there. There were a lot of people there purchasing all different types of food, and almost all of the products there were local, which is very important to the French. I loved experiencing this aspect of local culture and I'm so grateful my host mom brought me with her! Have you ever been to an event like this one?

One of the vendors and the vast amount of meats he had for sale.

Meats and cheeses. 

Cheese for sale.

As I mentioned, shopping locally is very important to the French. On regular weekends, many families head to the local market to buy their food for the week. Doing so is a staple of French life, according to one of my professors. The market has an extremely wide variety of food, and by going you support local companies and small farms. My friend and I went to the market in Angers last weekend and bought food for the next week. It was a lot of fun taking part in such a normal aspect of French life, and all the food there was fresh and delicious!

The local market on Saturday morning.

Spices for sale from a very kind French woman.

Additionally, each region of France has different specialities that they are known for. It is often difficult to find the specialties of one region in any of the others. For instance, in the Bretagne region of France, there is an amazing dessert called the kouign amann. It is a spiral-shaped pastry made with loads of sugar and butter, and it is delicious. My friends and I love it, but it is almost impossible to find here in Angers because this region does not specialize in making it. Can you think of any dishes Portland is known for?

A kouign amann.
Image acquired here.

In the Pays de la Loire region, where Angers resides, there are many popular dishes. The most famous ones are rilettes, beurre blanc, and rillauds. Rilettes is a pork spread usually eaten on bread, and beurre blanc is white fish practically drowned in butter. Rillauds are pieces of pork marinated in salt and herbs. My host mom has made each of these dishes at one point or another, and they're all delicious! For dessert, quernons d'Ardoise - nougatine covered in a blue chocolate - as well as caramandes - caramel and chocolate blended together - are very popular. There are many stores that sell these desserts in Angers, and while expensive, they are worth the cost. 

Rillauds with seasoned potatoes and bread with goat cheese.

Quernons d'Ardoise.
Image acquired here. 

There is also a lot of etiquette to French dining. For example, if your friend invites you over for dinner at 7 PM, it's expected that you show up at 7:15 PM to make sure they are completely ready for you. In the United States, it is expected that you show up on time or a little early – it is actually rude to show up late. As well, in France, place settings are always set a specific way no matter how casual or fancy the meal is. While a simple dinner at home is less intricate than an expensive dinner out, there are still rules to be followed. This shows how much the French care about and respect their dining experiences. What kinds of American dining rules do you know?

An example of the simplest place setting used for dinner.

The expected place setting for an ornate French dinner.
Image acquired here.

A traditional lunch with friends and family
Catherine hosted last weekend.

The French put a lot of effort into their food and their dining experiences in general, and I've come to really appreciate this important aspect of French culture. I hope you all learned from and enjoyed this final post! I have loved posting for you all each week, and I will really miss doing so! There is still one more photo of the week coming, but this is my last long post. Thank you all for everything, and have a great week!

Emma

Photo of the Week #9 - Holiday Lights

Hey everyone! This week’s photo is of the holiday lighting ceremony Angers had last weekend. Over the past few weeks, I have seen more and more lights go up in the streets, and last Saturday they finally lit them all up. Some of my friends and I headed to the château where the main event was scheduled to take place. The ceremony included music and performers on stilts. Towards the end of the evening, we all counted down to when the beautiful towers in the photo were illuminated! I loved taking part in this local tradition, and I am very excited to do more as the holiday season has now begun!

The Creatures of French Lore

Hi everyone! This week, I thought I would share some popular French mythological creatures. We talked about them in one of my classes, and I thought you all might enjoy learning about them too.

Gargoyles

Gargoyles are one of the most famous mythological creatures of France. They are dragons from medieval times, who are said to have lived on the Seine River in Paris. They spat fire, but it is never said that they were evil creatures. In fact, some legends say they were guardians of the townspeople from outside threats. I have seen statues of gargoyles all around France that have been there for hundreds of years. They are often on bridges, in churches, or decorating the outside of an old building. People did this in an attempt to ward off evil and other potential threats. 

A small gargoyle statue outside a church.
Image acquired here. 

Matagot

In French folklore, the matagot is a shapeshifter who often takes the form of a cat, but can also be depicted as a rat, dog, cow, or more. Though technically evil, if you treat it well, the matagot can bring you wealth and success. It is said they can be convinced to help you if you offer them a plump and fresh chicken, and if you let them eat and drink first at each meal. According to myth, if you do so, it will reward you with a gold coin each morning. My host mom told me that when her daughter came across cats in the neighborhood when she was younger, she always believed they were a matagot, and she would try and bring the cat home so she could have wealth and success. Would you try and do the same?

Depiction of a matagot.
Image acquired here.

The White Ladies

These spirits were said to be found throughout France. They would appear in the night, or lurk in the shadows, and dressed in all white. They were malevolent ghosts who required people to do their bidding. Each apparition forced people to do different things. One commanded people to dance with her, while another demanded that those she captured get down on their knees and beg for her mercy. If anyone refused, they could be tormented with cats, owls, and rats, or be thrown into thick bushels of thistles. Each spirit had a unique demand, as well as a unique way of punishing those who refused to do their bidding.

A White Lady. 
Image acquired here.

Malet

The Malet is a beautiful but evil horse whose story comes from the region surrounding Angers. My professor told us that this horse appears at night to tired travelers, saddled and bridled to tempt people into riding him. But if they did, they were never seen again. Some legends say this horse is an instrument of the devil and that when the riders mount the horse, they're taken directly to hell. 

The Malet appearing for a tired traveller.
Image acquired here.

Lutins

Lutins are goblin-like creatures that played tricks on people in medieval times. They are small and invisible, which made it very easy for them to slip in and out of places and cause trouble. They never did any real damage though, only small pranks like moving things around the house or tangling someone's hair. According to legend, they are also Santa Claus's helpers, and their trickster talents help deliver presents quickly and unnoticeably on Christmas night. 

A lutin.
Image acquired here.

Thanks for reading this week everyone! Which mythological creature did you find most interesting? What American myths or creatures have you heard of before? Next week is the final blog post, I can't believe it's gone by so quickly! I'm excited to hear from you all and I hope you had a great weekend!

Emma

Photo of the Week #8 - the Dukes of Angers

Hi everyone! This week's photo is of the hockey game I went to in Angers today. A couple of my friends and I finally got around to going, and we had a blast! The Angers team – the Dukes of Angers – played the Bordeaux Boxers. The Dukes ended up winning, with a score of 3-2, but it was a close and exciting game. Angers is the 2nd best team in the league, and it was very fun to see them in action. 

An Interview with Aymeric

Hi guys! This week, I’m excited to share with you the interview I had with a 13-year-old French boy named Aymeric. I used the questions you all sent me a couple of weeks ago, as well as some of my own that I thought would be interesting. I met Aymeric through a friend at school – my friend is staying with Aymeric and his father while he is studying here in Angers. The interview was conducted in English, which made it easier for me as Aymeric speaks better English than I do French. 

A picture of Aymeric.

First off, what classes do you take in school?
I have French, math, English, physics, science, IT, physical education, and visual arts. 

Do you have a favorite class?
I prefer math and physics. 

Do they teach other languages in your school?
Yes – English, Latin, German, and Spanish.

Do you speak any other languages?
Yeah, French and English and a little bit of German, but I don't know much. 

Changing it up, what is your favorite food?
Beef and fries, and steak haché.

Steak haché with fries. 
Image acquired here. 

What is your favorite dessert?
Pumpkin pie, I love this. My mom makes pumpkin pie in Halloween. 

What kind of television shows do you like?
I don't watch TV. Or, I watch only things about war. World War II, things like that. Documentaries. 

What video games do you enjoy?
Fortnite, First Special Shooter, Counterstrike, Phantom Forces, etcetera. I like Minecraft too. 

What kind of music do you enjoy?
I enjoy techno, electro, and old music like Michael Jackson, AC/DC, Rolling Stones. 

What is your favorite band?
Maybe The Beatles. 

The Beatles album cover. 
Image acquired here. 

What is your favorite hobby?
I like playing table tennis, playing video games, windsurfing, playing guitar, mountain biking, I think that's it. 

Where do you windsurf?
Lac de Serre-Ponçon in the Alps. It's cold but it's very cool.

Windsurfers on Lac Serre-Ponçon. 
Image acquired here. 

So you play the guitar?
Yes, not good but I like it because my father plays and my grandfather plays. 

Do you play any other instruments?
No, I don't.

Do you play any sports?
Yes, I play table tennis and I windsurf and I play handball. 

Are there memes in France? 
Yes, we see a lot of American memes. I enjoy them. 

Do you have a favorite one, or are there any popular ones right now?
I like all the memes, but I like the sound memes most – no video only audio. 

An example of an audio meme – The Avengers theme played by kazoos. 

Have you ever been to the United States?
Yes, I went to the USA in 2013. I was very young but I went to New York City, Washington DC, Miami. 

Do you have a favorite one?
I love New York City. 

Where all have you travelled?
I travelled to Germany, Spain, Wales, Scotland...

In the middle of this question, we began to hear chanting and shouting down the street. We proceeded to watch a small but loud yellow vest protest go by, which I have mentioned in previous posts. For this surprise portion of the interview, I thought I would insert the audio of this section for you so you all could get a unique perspective on French life as demonstrated by both the protestors passing by and Aymeric's commentary.

The audio from the section of the interview where the yellow vest protestors went by. At this protest, no one got hurt and there was no property damage.

We proceeded to continue with the interview once the protestors had passed us. 

Back to where have you travelled before... 
Italy, Portugal, USA too, and that's it. 

What is school like for you? Do you get a lot of homework?
Not a lot, but there is homework.

Do you have each class every day?
No. I have a timetable special for each day.

Okay, so each day Monday to Friday is different?
Yes. 

My school schedule. Just like Aymeric's, no weekday has the same schedule. 

What happens if someone gets in trouble at school?
If it is just a little trouble, how do you say, the people have to stay after school.
Me: Oh, detention.
Aymeric: Detention, that's it. 

Do you like your teachers?
Not all. My German teacher is bad, all the other teachers are pretty good. 

What do you do in your free time? 
I play table tennis, and if I don't have table tennis, I play video games or I read. I love reading. I forgot to say that before.

Oh okay, what kinds of books?
I like action. Not love books, but action.

What's your favorite book?
Do you know Cherub? And Henderson's Boys. 

Do you have a favorite author?
The person who wrote those two books is the same, it's Robert Muchamore. 

The Cherub teenage spy novels.
Image acquired here. 

What kind of fashion is popular at your school? 
Do you know FILA? A lot of people wear this, but there is no special style. 

And can you wear whatever you want to school?
No, we can't wear sports t-shirts or shorts. We can't wear caps, only if it's very hot or cold we can wear caps or put our hoods up.

Does it snow here in the winter?
No, it can snow a little but it doesn't stay on the ground. It melts. 

Is this weather pretty normal for winter?
Yes, it's a bit cold for the beginning of winter but that's it. 

The Château d'Angers with typical winter weather.
It's pretty similar to Portland, which surprised me.

What is your family like? 
My mother lives in Nantes, my father lives here in Angers. 

Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have a brother and two sisters. My brother is in Bordeaux and my two sisters are in Paris. 

Are you the youngest?
Yes, I am. 

Do you ever go visit them?
Only my sisters, but I will visit my brother soon. 

Do you prefer Nantes over Angers?
Not specifically.

A map of where Aymeric's family is in France.

Is it annoying to go back and forth between your mom's and your dad's?
It's a bit far, but not bad. 

Do you have chores you have to do around the house? 
No, I don't. 

What do you want to do or be when you grow up?
I want to be a fighter pilot. For the army. 

What inspired that interest?
I always loved planes, military planes, and I'm very interested in the army. In English class, I had an interview on this, I had to explain why I wanted to be a fighter pilot, and that's exactly the same thing I said now that I said then. 

How long have you wanted to be a fighter pilot?
Since two years ago, I think. 

This question concluded the interview, and Aymeric and I parted ways. I hope you enjoyed this unique post and learned about what life is like for someone your age in France. Thanks for reading everyone! 

Emma

Photo of the Week #7 - Astonishing Amsterdam

Hi everyone! Last weekend, I went to Amsterdam with a few friends. It was a breathtaking city, and is so unique. I'd never been there before – only had layovers in the airport – so I was very excited to finally explore the city. The photo is of me in front of one of the many canals in Amsterdam. They create such a lovely atmosphere, and all the bridges are beautiful too. What made the trip even more fun was the fact that the city has already begun decorating for the holidays! There were a lot of lights up in the streets that made the city feel magical in the evenings. It was a terrific trip!

A Day in My French Life

Hi all! This week, I thought it would be cool to do a "day in my life" post for you. It's a little different than the other posts I've been doing, and I hope you enjoy it.

To begin, I wake up some time between 7 and 9 am each day, as I have a different class schedule for every day of the week. Once I'm up, I go through my morning routine, and then I head to the dining room for breakfast. Catherine makes it for me each morning, and it always consists of a baked good (usually a croissant) and fruit, and often yogurt as well. What do you typically have for breakfast? While I eat, Catherine and I chat in French about our plans for the day, what we'll be having for dinner, or whatever we hear on the radio. Catherine has it playing almost nonstop, so there's always a steady stream of information and music. Catherine is retired, so she usually spends her days visiting friends, going grocery shopping, exploring the town, doing chores around the house, reading, and watching documentaries. She regularly has people over too, and often I will come home to different people sitting at our dining room table, chatting away with her. 

A normal breakfast at Catherine's. 

After breakfast, I head to school. It takes 15-20 minutes to get there depending on how fast I walk. I pass a lot of French kids on their way to school as well, and the streets are busy with activity. They're always energetic and animated, which I don't understand as I'm always tired in the morning. Since winter is practically here, it's usually still dark on my walk, which doesn't help. Once I get to school, I head to my classes until lunchtime. What kinds of classes do you all have? Which is your favorite? Besides this one, of course!

The path to my building on campus. 

My French culture class.

My language class.

For lunch, I usually bring something from home and eat it at school, though occasionally I'll treat myself and go out with friends. When having lunch at school, my friends and I sit in the grand hall to eat and chat. It's always fun, and since I don't have classes with a lot of them, it provides a great time to catch up. Most French students do the same thing, so the hall is always full of people during lunch. There are students from around the world who study at my school, so there's consistently a combination of languages being spoken. It is extremely cool to experience and be a part of. 

A video of a couple of my friends having a mini dance party during lunch, singing along to the song "London Boy" by Taylor Swift. This dance party was inspired by our purchase of flights to London for a few weeks from now!

My favorite lunch spot when I want to splurge.

After lunch, I either continue with my classes or head to the library to do homework, depending on what day it is. The library at my school here has a lot of windows that let in natural light and provide nice views to look at when I'm doing homework. It's also really quiet, which I appreciate. Before I started going there, my French friends told me that the library is a very popular place to do homework, and that a lot of students regularly take advantage of it. They were right, as I usually end up running into someone I know. 

My regular setup at the library.

Once I feel like I've gotten a reasonable amount of homework done, I either head home or go out with my friends. I always have trouble doing homework in my room, which is why I don't let myself go home or go out until I've accomplished a good amount at the library. If I go out with friends, it's usually to shop, get dinner, or visit a site in Angers. My French friends know Angers better than the rest of us, and always know about the best places to go and the coolest things to see. My friend Maxime recently invited me and some others to play basketball with him and his friends whenever we want. I'm very excited to take advantage of the offer and meet new French people. Basketball is a pretty popular recreational activity here, and a lot of people play with their friends for fun. 

My friends and I soaking up a little more sun along the river a couple of weeks ago. 

My friends and I at dinner.

In the evenings, I usually have dinner at home. Catherine, my housemate Lin (a Chinese exchange student), and I talk about our days and anything else that comes to mind. It's like my own little French family. Catherine makes very good food, and I'm so grateful to be able to experience French household cuisine every night. She has so many delicious dishes, it's hard to choose my favorites. What are some of your favorite meals? After dinner, I head to my room to finish up my homework or to relax, before going to bed to rest up for another day. 

One of my favorite meals my host mom has made – fish encrusted in herbs with fried potatoes. 

Another favorite meal – a bacon and cheese pastry with pasta and crème fraîche on top. 

Thanks for reading this week everyone! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you have a great weekend. Talk soon!

Emma

Photo of the Week #6 - Carnival in Bordeaux

Hi everyone! I hope you've had a great week so far. Last weekend, I went to Bordeaux, France with a friend. When walking around one day, we stumbled on a carnival happening right next to an ornate pillar that was 200 years old. I thought the combination of history and modernity was cool, so I snapped a pic. Europe is a place so full of history that it sometimes throws me off to see demonstrations of modern life here too. Seeing this reminded me that everything changes, even places with centuries of history behind it. We didn't end up riding any rides as it was raining, but the weekend was super fun regardless!

Joyeuses Fêtes!

Hi everyone! This week, I am going to talk to you guys about French holidays! "Joyeuses Fêtes" in French translates to "Happy Holidays" in English. As the holiday season is beginning in the United States, and here in France as well, I thought it would be an interesting topic for this week. I chose to talk about holidays that were unique to France, or different from a holiday in the U.S. in an interesting way. 

Toussaint - November 1

As you all know, in the United States, Halloween is an incredibly popular holiday. Did you guys go trick-or-treating? What costume did you wear? In France, Halloween is becoming more popular each year, but the day after is much more celebrated. On November 1, the French celebrate All Saints Day – otherwise known as Toussaint. This is a day for honoring all the Saints in Christianity. To celebrate, people visit loved ones' graves, spend the day with family, and attend church services. I spent this holiday in Bordeaux with a friend. In the morning, we saw a lot of people going to church, and later in the day, visiting graves. Almost everyone gets the day off from school and work to honor their loved ones and spend the day with family. My host mom told me that people often bring chrysanthemums to the graves of their family members, as this flower is associated with death and remembrance throughout France. Interestingly, this flower is only used for gravestones, and if you give them to a friend it is incredibly rude. 

A grave with chrysanthemums in front of it.
Image acquired here.  

Poisson d'Avril - April 1

My favorite French holiday that I've learned about so far is "Poisson d'Avril." This holiday's name translates to "Fish of April" in English. It is celebrated on April 1 and is the equivalent of April Fool's Day in the United States. One of my professors did a lecture on French holidays, and this was one she discussed. She told us that previous to 1564, April 1 was the beginning of the new year in France. In 1564, King Charles IX reformed the calendar system and changed the new year from April 1 to January 1. Gifts were often exchanged on the first of the new year, but with the calendar change, those in rural areas who didn't receive the news of the date switch – or those who refused to accept the new system – continued to exchange gifts on April 1 instead of January 1. Those people were called "fools," and thus April Fool's Day was born. 

A graphic of Charles IX changing the date of the new year.
"Bonne année" translates to "Happy new year!" 
From a French educational video my professor showed us in class.

On this day, people began exchanging joke gifts – the main one being fake fish. There are different theories as to why fish became the "gift" of France on April Fool's Day, but for whatever reason, the tradition of giving friends and family fake fish, or pranking people with fish somehow, still holds strong today. A popular joke on this day is taping a picture of a fish onto someone's back, in honor of the name of the holiday, and to trick your friends of course! When my host mom's daughter was young, she would play pranks on her mom, and my host mom still laughs about them today. Have you all ever played any harmless pranks on family or friends? 

Two people being pranked with fish on April Fool's Day.
Image acquired here.

Fête du Travail - May 1

On the first of May, the Fête du Travail – also known as Labor Day – is celebrated. While the United States has Labor Day as well (in September instead of May), to the French it is much more important. The French are known throughout history for fighting against kings and queens, and more recently, governments, in advocacy of their rights, and they use this day every year to campaign for them. There are marches and protests in cities around the country on this day, and my professor told us that most people, even children, get involved. It is really cool to me that people use this holiday to fight for their rights, and it's basically a national day for protesting and advocacy. A couple of my friends told me they even traveled to Paris last year to take part in the large march that occurs there. What do you all usually do for Labor Day in the United States?

A march on Labor Day in Paris in 2015.
Image acquired here. 

Name Day

Name Day is a very interesting occurrence in France – for it is a holiday that can be celebrated every day of the year. For each day in the calendar, there is a Saint's name that corresponds to it. For example, January 21 is the name day for Saint Agnès. My name day – for Saint Emma – is April 19! Not all names get a name day, but if you do have one, it's like a miniature birthday. Your friends give you little gifts, go out to get coffee with you, or do some other small gesture to show they care. One of my French friends just had his name day, and we brought cookies for him to school. My host mom's name day is coming up at the end of this month and I'm planning on giving her a little gift and maybe making her dinner. Name Day is a very interesting holiday, and is much different than anything we have at home. Here is a link if you all want to look for your name! Do you or anyone you know have a name day?

My friend and I waiting to surprise our other friend with cookies.

Thanks for reading this week everyone! What holiday did you find most interesting? I hope you had a great weekend.

Emma