Never Have I Ever Hitch-Hiked

Last post in France! Crazy. Oh, how I long for more time here. At the same time, I am ready to be home again with you all. I cannot believe how quickly this summer went by, but it feels like I've been here forever.

I've started this post several times, and I'm not sure why my words are coming so slowly today. I could blame it on how little I use English, but I think there is more to it. Sometimes, it truly is easier to think in French. My memory can't distinguish between the two languages anymore. Earlier I remembered a conversation I had yesterday, but I remembered it in English. After only two weeks here I remembered something my dentist told me, but in my mind she spoke in French (as far as I know, she only speaks English...).

I've been pretty tired this week too. There has been much preparation for our time in Paris and our departure for the US. Whoo! Today at school we went over the logistiques for our Paris excursion. My profs are crazy. I don't know what they were thinking when they agreed to be responsible for 32 teenagers in PARIS. On va voir.... There were at least 20 minutes of stories about pickpockets and their various techniques. We went over what to do if only half of your group makes it on the metro before the door closes. When we started to talk about the youth hostel we'll be staying in, we asked if the bathrooms were like the ones in the hostel in Normandy (There was one toilet per floor and a separate room with showers, like a locker room). We all cheered when the profs told us there was a bathroom in each room. How spoiled we'll be!

I'll wake up early Saturday morning to say my goodbyes and meet the other students and our profs. Since the third week here, I've felt like throwing my feet out in front of me to keep time from pulling me any closer to the end of my time here. We leave at 7:30 for our last excursion, but I'm sure it will be our best. We'll drive to Versailles and spend a few hours there before heading to Paris itself. Louis XIV wanted to be distant from Paris; life in the city was too inconvenient for him. After touring France's major chateaux (and even staying in the Louvre), he wasn't satisfied and ordered Versailles to be constructed. I hear it is almost ridiculous in its luxury, but I can tell you for myself in a week or so.

Sunday we get to visit the Sainte-Chapelle (so excited, Mama Z!!) then take a tour of the city on the Seine. I'm hoping to get a crepe or two as we wait for the Tour de France to pass by. Isn't that awesome?! I'll be sure not to blink; Larry said the whole thing passes by in two minutes. After that we'll see the Tour Eiffel, then head to the Latin Quarter for dinner and some free time to explore.

Monday we have several hours of free time with our groups after we visit the Louvre. My group is hoping to visit the Montparnasse and Père Lachaise cemetaries and the Centre Pompidou before we have to meet up with the group at Notre Dame. I love Paris already : ) Monday night we'll all have dinner together, one last time before we go our separate ways.

Tuesday we'll wake up at 5:15 for breakfast before we got to the airport, but some girls in my group think it's a better idea to not sleep at all, then sleep on the plane. I don't think I'll be able to stay awake that long...

The past week has been a good one. I've gone into town almost everyday after my classes for some last minute pastries and shopping. I bought some macarons today and didn't think to take a picture until I only had one left, so I have a picture of my chocolate macaron (saving the best for last). The stagiares retook the exam we took to qualify for the program, then again our first week in France. I can tell I've made progress! We also had our program to thank our host families. The choir sang, there were many skits, and several students played their instruments. Remember when I said one of the students plays the accordian? I misunderstood; she plays the bagpipes! I guess the hand motions are similar...? She played with the choir for one song, and the families loved it!! Bretagne has a Celtic culture and an appreciation for bagpipes.

Last weekend we were in Brest with Monique's aunt and uncle for la fête nationale. It was like the State Fair and the International Festival together, but much much larger and with lots of ships. (And not dinky paddleboats. There were ships fit for pirates.) We did a lot of walking that day! We went 14.9 km before dinner. When it got dark, there were fireworks set to music. Maybe I was the only one that thought it was strange that we heard "Viva la Vida" but not "La Marseillaise." As I was packing for the weekend I asked Monique if everyone wears the colors of France's flag, but she said everyone dresses like normal. If we were French, Michaela, I don't think I'd paint your nails with little French flags for the 14th. I suppose they just have different ways to express their love of country.

After the fireworks, we (along with the rest of France) left the party for the train station. Never in my life have I been in a crowd packed more like sardines than on that train heading away from downtown Brest. Everyone was in good spirits and friendly. Would it have happened the same way in America? It was almost one in morning and I couldn't move- I had no where to move to with all the people packed on that train!! The doors tried to close several times before succeeding; we have to readjust ourselves so that there was room for the door to close. Finally we got off the train and walked to our bus stop. It was COLD, but we sat on a bench and waited for the bus that would take us back to where we parked the camping car. After a little more than an hour, we had broken into the leftover sandwiches and crepes in Monique's backpack, and the bus hadn't come. We laughed about what we would do if it never came, but by now it was pretty clear that the bus wasn't coming. It was two in the morning and we were about 10 kilometers from the camping car. We zipped up our coats as much as we could, readjusted our scarves, and started walking. We hadn't gotten very far when a family in their car stopped and asked if we needed help. Maybe we looked like we were lost? After telling us how far we were from our car, the wife and son got out of the car to give us their places! They said they were close to home and could walk. And then Dominique got in the passenger seat, Monique's uncle slid in the back, then Monique, then her aunt. I crawled in and sat on the seat in between Monique's legs with my head hitting the roof of the car. An experience.

After several minutes in the car, I was grateful the scenery was passing by in a blur out of the window of a car. That would have been a long walk... We talked cheerfully with the man who was helping us- what a strange group we must have seemed to him! Two couples lost in Brest in the middle of the night with an American. He dropped us off at the camp, and we thanked him and let him get back to his family. We started walking towards the camping cars when we all started laughing and my hosts told me, "See, Kate? That worked out fine! See, Kate? The French are so friendly!" Boy, did I have a story to share at school Monday.

I had my last day of school today. Aw, I can't properly describe how I feel, but it was sad to leave school and wish everyone a good Friday and say that I'll see them bright and early Saturday. After class I walked to the bus stop with some girls and we tried to explain all that we're feeling. It isn't easy! But we are thrilled that we get to see our families so soon. I took the bus with my neighbor for the last time. Ryan, I have been super aware of what my eyes are doing as I look out the window this entire summer : )

Tomorrow I'll wake up later than usual and meet up with some girls for one last outing in Saint Brieuc, the beach, and a creperie that we like. Then I'll have dinner one last time with my family before taking off. This time next week I'll be home with you all! And in a few days I'll be an American in Paris. I love you all so much; thank you for all you've done for me!