Je comprends!

After I wrote the last post, my mom said she was going to her parents home and asked if I wanted to come with! Yes, please! I met her parents last night at dinner, and I want to take every opportunity Im given! I forgot to say that last night, after we were at the dinner table eating and talking for 2 hours and 40 minutes, my mom sent me to bed because I was so tired. I was up for a while, unpacking and putting my things in their new places, and everyone was still at the table when I fell asleep! Its really neat how my mom brings the next course of wonderfulness out, but everyone is so wrapped up in the conersation that the food isnt passed around till that story is finished or topic exhausted.

So then we go to her parents house! Her brother was also there. We went just to visit, and there was coffee, which was delicious, and cookies with strawberry filling. My grandma offered me a drink and I asked for Coke; she sent the whole 1.5 L bottle home with me when we left!

Ive been feeling pretty lost in conversation (especially when they spoke breton last night), but today I told myself to just try. Great idea! Her brother is so nice,and very funny! Yes, I understood the jokes he made--score!! I was elated when I realized I got the jokes. He was very easy to talk with. He was very patient with me! We talked a lot about difference between the US and France. He was shocked that we get our drivers licenses at 16. He told me they can get theirs at 18, but can drink at 16. "Les Etats-Unis sont tres differents," he said. Oui. We also talked about differences in our diets. When he asked what kind of meat we eat, I could only remember the word for porc, so he made animal noises to help me name the rest.

My mom was skyping her other brother in the office, and my grandma explained to me that he is living in Madagascar for his job, and he lived in Tahiti for several months for his job also! She said it is a 24 hour plane ride from France to Madagascar. Now my 8 hour flight doesnt sound too bad... After this conversation, I realized, "Holy cow. I understood what she just said." Ha, YES! I cant explan how good that feels. Im beginning to communicate. Im starting to know what they are telling me! How long have I been here? Oh right, two days... Imagine how much I will learn this summer!! Ah, Im so blessed.

My mom has been telling me about this RV she and her husband are getting, and I kept smiling and saying that was cool. When we were at her parents, she showed me the "camping car" (they will borrow it from her parents) and told me that next weekend they were taking me in it to see Brittany!!! Are you kidding me?! Awesome!!

Then we went behind their house to the garden. Mygrandpa must grow every kind of vegetable! It was très grand. Oh, and he raises rabbits and carrier pigeons. Yes, really. The pigeons are kind of cute! There are so many, and of so many colors! And they can fly around because they always come back. By this time I was feeling more confident in speaking, so I wasnt embarrassed to say bonjour to the pigeons.

 My grandpa was working in the garden, which is by a big pen with two little spaniels! They were so so cute and very friendly. They got excited when they saw us come around, and they wanted to come out and say hello! They jumped up on the fence and barked, so my grandpa yelled at them to go back. He stomped his feet like he was coming after them while waving his little spade. The dogs ran into their chicken coop-like  home. One stuck his head out the door to keep watching us while the other jumped up to stick his little face out the window.

We took the long way home so that I could see the coast. Oh. My. Word. All I could get out for several minutes was "Ohh. Cest très magnifique.... La plage est trés belle!" Words fail me still. There were several times I forgot how to breathe as we looked on the jagged cliffs that lead out to the sea. Ill take pictures, but you all should come out to see them for yourselves.

I have loved driving around St-Brieuc and Yffiniac. Everything is stunning in its beauty and simplicity. The buildings have steep roofs, many have walls of stone, and they seem to be worn by hundreds of years of sea breeze. Even still, they are charming, with their petite windows and elegant gardens. And every house has a beautiful gate! Each house is unique. Its those details that make this place wondrous. Why cant America look more like France? Cest different, je suppose.

A lot of American music has made its way here though. Ive heard Maroon 5, Kesha, Flor Rida, One Direction, "Call Me Maybe," and "Somebody That I Use To Know." Oh, and the Police, but my mom didnt like it and switched radio stations. When we arrived at my grandparents, she was watching Monk!

I think thats all for now! I love you all beaucoup, and Ill write down lots that happen so I can tell you! And I will try to find the apostrophe on this computer.