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Bourget-du-Lac sunset
Here is my Independance Day sunset So I haven't updated in a while, and I've added some pics to the last blog of my class, etc. This weekend Geneva fell through, and after last weekend I didn't want to travel by myself!! So anywhosals- it looks like I may be spending a weekend in Italy doing the Milano/Firenza thing...which should not be too bad...(that's the italian name for Florence)
Sunday I went to a Mass in French. It's hard to find a Protestant church out here, and the only one that I've found is like 30 minutes away- and sometimes I may be able to get a ride with this guy in the group who knows a missionary out here- but I don't do 7:30 in the morning very well...so anyway the evening Mass it was- and it was an interesting experience. Moi, not being Catholic- or that comfortable with the subjunctive tense when tossed around in a church service- just tried to go through the motions, stand when others stood, enjoy the beauty of the church, and enjoy being in the presence of God- even if I was confused and slightly distracted. (However, Eric- you would be proud that I could handle the songs in Latin-)
gearin' up
I'm not sure what look Maria has on her face- but we're pumped! The music was lovely though, and it was interesting to see a few of my fellow students there. Giovanni, a brazilian and non-practicing Catholic, sat next to me and helped me through what he could follow.
So this brings us to Monday- I am in France during the national sales as I have spoke of before. I found myself a cookbook for desserts and a 2 euro book of cocktail recipes....it will look cute on the coffee table! I actually understand enough french to follow the cookbooks...I just have to find metric cooking stuffs for when I come home- The first recipe that will be cooked in my apartment will be this chocolate cake...with hopes that it turns out like the picture. (FYI-Carly- you get to be the happy helper!)
So yeah- exciting stuff Tuesday we took a bus (with air conditioning and an oldies station, I was in heaven grooving to the Beatles and baaad disco) up to this little mountain town, Feclaz. There we all geared up with climbing gear and played around on a ropes course about 30-60 feet in the air. I am so proud of myself for doing course 1-2 (as I am DEATHLY
afraid of heights) and not doing 3....just because I was so scared and shaky- and 3 was freaky, and some girls did not fair so well. I enjoyed myself, slowed my heart down, and took pictures of those more brave than me. Of course there were a few who were fearless and climbed the 65 foot ladder to START the climb of the "panoramic" course- which was basically climb a little more then go through a series of ziplines...crazyness!!!
But after we returned home, we started to prepare for INDEPENDANCE DAY!!!!!! Booyah. So those of us in the group who chose not to swing from trees bought food and some even found FIREWORKS! I know not where, or how far they walked as they would not say but I know it was far and it was definately 95 degrees here that afternoon(Thank you Zach and Dylan) but they came home with around 150-200 euros worth of Fireworks. So we rented a van an drove to the Bourget-du-Lac. (which is the lake around here with beautiful mountain views and a nice park for cooking out) We went all out- hot dogs, a little game of bowling, fireworks, football-american of course
Cooks Zabby and Zach
Showing us how it's done...Zabby is the genius behind all these plans for the 4th BTW with the goofy shaped ball-the guys had to search forever to find one, a few swam in the lake, the whole nine yards- very fun. The best part of the evening of course was the fireworks....and the crazy americans who were told by the security guard that what we were doing was prohibited...only followed by "ok, Independance Day" and the guard and his dog watching our display for over an hour. We thanked him for being kind, and I think he thanked us with his goofy grin that stretched across his bald head. Apparently fireworks are not common in France- VIVA AMERICA!!
Update- France has made it to the final of the WORLD CUP- sunday night should be interesting. Keep your fingers crossed- the french take their soccer very seriously. So much to the extent that my friends that went down into town saw an Italian get pepper-sprayed and several other violent acts in the city as they walked up the hill.....and the people of Chambery only honk horns collectively for weddings- and when thier team wins a big game. I heard this last night for at least 30 minutes as people drove around town honking...over and over...followed by
Dylan the Allstar
He's fun...but after this pic he dropped the ball and I laughed..you had to be there more yelling and honking. It is kinda cool however to listen out my window as people on all sides of the hill descending into the valley shout from their respective residences, creating a wall of sound and the lights of different appartment buildings giving silhouettes of excited bodies as they jump up and down...
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Carly
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4th!
It's shake n bake n I helped!! I wish we did something for independence day! BRING ON THE CHOCOLATE CAKE!