I'm back!
To take a break from making my way slowly through six weeks' worth of back-log in 3 different inboxes, I took this morning to catch up on LMLD.
When I said I was going away for a French-immersion experience, I meant it! Except for two-ish very quick glances at facebook and a couple important business-related English emails, I truly did not read nor write in my native tongue while I was away.
Nor did I sing a single American song — with the exceptions of the National Anthem on July 4th and one or two Jason Mraz songs hummed under my breath (and during the Jason Mraz, my host mother caught me red-handed: “Deirdre?! Is that English I hear??!” she said. In French. And she didn't say “Deirdre,” she said “Madeleine,” which was my alias during my stay. Asking the French to say “Deirdre” is like asking an American to say “Saucisses sèches sachant sécher sans s‘assécher”).
There was also the rather large exception consisting in my 4-day trip to Ireland to meet up with my parents and Bridget there… but that doesn't count!
I didn't even look at RedSox.com!! Trust me, there is no way to look up baseball scores in French. I tried.
Anyway, suffice it to say, I have a lot to catch up on! And I missed LMLD! So I'm eager to chime in and be back in the midst of things here.
I learned many many things while I was away. What an awesome experience! Not only about the language (oui, mon français est bien amélioré), and about art (an average of about 7 hours a day drawing and painting? I was very blessed!), but also about myself, about American life in comparison to French, about different ways of doing things…etc.
And I'm here to tell you that, as far as I can see, the French are masters of some things that we love here at LMLD. Namely, the principles of Collective Memory, the If I Can Do It So Can You attitude, and the understanding that it's better to enjoy what's around you than wait/yearn with an unrealistic expectation of perfection.
If you think about the French, this makes sense. Their history is all around them. Imagine being a Parisienne whose parish church had centuries-old stained-glass windows that looked like this:
And when you go to your quiet summer residence in the tiny stone village in Lorraine, you can see the names of the ladies who belonged to the fellowship of the Rosary – which I gather they began during the War – in the little church at the center of town (a church which dates from the 12th century and is, in fact, registered as a national historical monument of France):
And imagine having amazing, famous mansions nearby that you can tour in order to see things like this:
And be inspired to go ahead and do something similar in your own little country chateau like this:
Hey, if the royalty can do it, so can you!
When I commented to my host mother that she's very bold for being unafraid of projects like this, she just smiled and told me, “I figure, if I don't like it, I can just whitewash over it!” And she's so right! Now I'm finally inspired to paint on walls the way that my mom has always been wanting me to (someday when I have time).
Don't wait for the unreal perfection – just dive in and enjoy what's around you! Make something pretty!
Anyway. I could go on and on. But really I just want to share an example of the lovely simplicity of French country life. Namely, making that important breakfast staple: confiture.
It started when we visited a relative of my host father who has a rustic little home with a lovely garden.
We were invited to help ourselves to les groseilles. Apparently, this summer has been unusually hot in Lorraine, and we were told we should go ahead and take what we wanted of the lovely harvest before the sun got the better of the berries.
So we brought them home – buckets full – and picked through them and cleaned them.
Turns out that groseilles are currants. I had not realized this until just now, because I've never actually seen a currant on the bush before. But I have always loved red currant jam, and had actually been craving some to eat on my daily breakfast tartine.
Odile, my host mother, simply cooked some up with a bunch of sugar on her huge, rockin stove:
Briana says
The picture from the mansion almost brought tears to my eyes and I am not a crier. You made life there sound so beautiful! I can't wait to hear more about your time in France.
Nancy says
Bienvenue! Welcome home, and thanks for sharing your lovely pictures. There is something so vital about being out of your normal world and seeing how other people live!
Laura Jeanne says
What a delightful post. I love the photo especially of the red currants with the light shining through. They're such a beautiful colour. And I think I agree with the quantity of butter on that bread–yum!
Anne says
that bread and butter breakfast looks HEAVENLY
margo says
I'm laughing – that is truly how they eat butter in France??! We make fun of my mother for the way she eats butter like that and now I know: she's French. Can't wait to tell her.
I can buy red and white currants at market and they are simply so beautiful. We actually made cordial from them instead of jam to keep the pretty glass bead look intact.
I hope we're going to hear even more about France! I adore travel and especially the French (and don't speak any).
Deirdre says
One of the first things that struck me when I arrived was that they eat their butter the way that we eat cheese and they eat their cheese the way that we eat fudge or cake. (not exaggerating)
I got used to it! 🙂 By the end I found myself slapping on the butter like there's no tomorrow…
Mary says
the currants look scrumptious! welcome home deirdre!
Deirdre says
Thanks!
bibliotecaria says
Absolutely that is the way to do butter. I really don't subscribe to the bare minimum theory of butter.
Christiane says
Des tartines de beurre et de confiture de groseilles pour le petit déjeuner…Vraiment, rien de meilleur ! Miam !
Jamie says
Mmmm…I'm hungry now. Love how she just painted on her wall! I'll give her a big American “You go girl!”.
Suzanne says
After living in France for a few months I could not go back to margarine. The French taught me to love real butter. Mmmmm! There is just no substitute!
Natasha says
I love red currant jam! It's so fun that you made some. And you were so good about your French only policy–nice work!! We got your letter and I was shocked that I actually still remember some of mine. Also, your penmanship is so lovely! So glad you had a great trip. Please post pictures of your drawings and paintings.
Jessica says
I loved my summer study in France. I need to go back and read my journals and look at my pictures. My host mom also made me confiture d'apricot. I stayed in Angers. Wish I would've spent a whole semester. 🙂