the WOman of the house

The King's Speech won the Oscars! and Colin Firth won best actor :)
I am so happy. They could not have picked a more appropriate winner. Colin Firth is this movie really showed the world how great of an actor he is. And he really is a professional. For anyone who hasn't seen the movie, (those who have will understand this) it is incredible how thoroughly Colin Firth must have researched his role. His stammers and hesitations sounded completely authentic and it was actually difficult to sit through his struggles. Anyway, see this movie because it is genial.
I am currently listening to this song, which I am told won an oscar as well.
Song
Very cute and worth a listen.

This week Beatrice is skiing in the Alps, no big. I am the grown up of the house! Today I bought some fruit and bread. As much as I would love to make my own dinner, Beatrice has arranged for me to go eat dinner at her neighbors house. :(
I am really dreading going. I am tired of the small talk: what's your major, what do you do for fun, do you have a pet alien, blah blah. I am not looking forward to this dinner. And tomorrow I have to do it all over at a different neighbors. I am 20 and perfectly capable of preparing my own meals. But oh welllllll :P

However, I find it hilarious that Beatrice left me all my favorites, in mass quantities.

Coca Light

Sojasun yaourt: soy yogurt

"First line: I bought chocolate also!!!!"

Will this be enough...?

Where I am eating tomorrow

Too good to be true
http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26

Paris with Doloris

GMA and I have been in Paris for a day! After the MOST STRESSFUL morning of my life... taking the train to Paris, metro to the other RER train, getting fined 25 euros, trying to navigate through Charles de Gaulle, having to take the airport tram, walking across two terminals. etc. I found GMA just chilling in the airport. We then somehow made it to the CDG train station to try and get back to the city, gave up, took a taxi and arrived just before lunch. First of all, hotel was not as advertised. and I am still mad at our friend Pierre Henri at the front desk who is just. plain. rude. And I will strongly word my evaluation at the end of our stay. So keep scowling Pierre Henri, you have it coming pal.
Anyway, yesterday GMA and I fought the cold and visited the Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, The Arc de Triomphe, andddd Lalique, the crystal store. I made us crepes for dinner... except it was awkward because although we have a kitchen, we have no seating area. So, that will be the last meal we eat here. We then chilled for a bit, and then went out and got ice cream sundaes! (Because I've been dying for one) and I'm just gonna say, the stomach ache that followed my delicious sundae, because I have not eaten something like that in FOREVER, was worth it. It hit the spot.
Today GMA and I went to Le Carrousel, the mall where the entrance of the Louvre is (we always find the closest mall)... and now we are resting up in the room... aka GMA is napping and I'm writing my blog, eating copious amounts of twizzlers. This afternoon we are going to go to the Opera Garnier, where Phantom of the Opera was filmed! and then I will go for a run this afternoon... yayyyy.

The longest meal ever recorded

Yesterday night, I went out with Beatrice to her friends house for dinner. I was hesitant to go for many reasons. I'll list a few: 1. the french eat late 2. I would have to speak french 3. the french eat late. 4. I would have to speak french.
I told her I was hesitant because its difficult for me to keep up with a lot of conversation and I get REALLY embarrassed trying to conjugate verbs and getting overwhelmed and such. But she told me not to worry and called her friend to say i was coming.
We left at 6:30 p.m. and drove to a flower shop. This shop was ADORABLE. I wish I had my camera because it was SO cute. But oh well. We then continued to her friends house who lived in another town. This friend is an old friend of Beatrice's, they met in grade school!
We got there and I was kinda nervous but the family was so nice. Their house was sickkk! One thing that I've learned to love is the color french blue. In the future, my front door will be french blue and so will my kitchen. No exceptions.
Anyway, this family was uber modern, especially in comparison to my old family. They had one daughter, Clemence, who was really nice. The father liked to poke fun at me ALOT, but it was all for a joke, and we ended up making him speak english so I could laugh at him instead. We had aperitifs for almost TWO HOURS. We sat down a little before 9 for our starter, which was scallops. I've never had this before but it was good! We then sat and talked forever before they even got up to make the main dish. They had duck and I just had the side dish- a celery and potato puree... DELICIOUS. We then talked forever again and a little after 10, they got up to get the cheese. The cheese sat there forever before they realized they needed a knife. We then waited until 11 to have dessert. At this point I was like come on come on come on, but then it was tea time! Duh! We finally left at 12:15 AM.
It was a long night, but I did enjoy myself. I noticed I was mentally EXHAUSTED at the end, and kinda started to mentally drift off... but I had fun! The daughter goes to high-school in Tours, and although she doesn't know my old host sister, she's going to ask around. They were very sympathetic to my old situation and felt awful. I was talking being like, "Poor me, right?"
But all in all, I HAVE to say, I am no longer counting down the days until I leave. Living in the new house, my days pass quickly and enjoyably. I loveeee it here.
Today I have tried to cultivate my growing interest in cooking. I woke up lateee and went for a long run. When i came home, Beatrice was in the kitchen about to make a quiche. I sat there and was watching her when she asked if I wanted to join.
Yesss, my french cooking begins again. I was in charge of scrambling the egg yolks and adding the cream. And why yes, I did spill it all over the counter top. But I cleaned it up and continued my duties. Beatrice added the cheese and tomatoes and the quiche went into the oven. The smells that grew from that oven were DELICIOUS, I was dying in my bedroom waiting. Finally, when it was ready, I ate it so quickly I'm pretty sure I burned my tongue off. But it was sooo yummy.
In fact, it was so good, that when beatrice asked whether or not I wanted pasta for dinner or just the quiche I answered without a second thought.. QUICHE.
After dinner, I stole away into the kitchen for the recipe. Do Not Worry.
Waking up early tomorrow to catch a 7AM train to Paris to spend time with GMA!
Yayyyy

Who in this building gets to see my pickle pajamas

Last night, I couldn't sleep. Maybe it was the chocolate I had at 9 PM... mistake... or MAYBE it was that my upstairs neighbor was listening to the TV or radio or whatever, really loudly, at 1 in the morning!!!
First, I tried closing my door really loudly. This was for two reasons: 1. I thought maybe she would hear it. 2. I thought it would help my frustrations . Well, it didn't help either. I then resorting to crying because I was tired. But this didn't even help (and I always feel better after a good cry). So then, I did what any girl could do at this point. I walked up there in my pajamas and glasses and hair a mess (and I wasn't being brave, I was SHAKING).
I knocked on the door, and waited.
I heard some moving. I started to think of french words to say, realizing I didn't know how to say what I wanted. Even if I did, I would forget it, as I do in any situation in which I become overwhelmed. (What sucks is I always get overwhelmed, forget the words, walk two steps away, calm down, and remember what to say, verbs perfectly conjugated... DARN). But anyway, this woman opens the door.
I say, "Bonsoir, um, c'est dificile pour moi de dormir avec..... avec...." (Good evening, its hard for me to sleep with....)
"Ah le radio?" "Oui, je suis desolee"(Yes, I'm sorry). This neighbor, who Beatrice knows well, and who, I know because she told me earlier, she had plans with to go swimming with today, was super nice. Apologized, and I immediately felt bad. I sat in my bed thinking, did I ruin their friendship? Will Beatrice be mad? Was I rude? Is this not ok in France? What would I do in the US in this situation? Besides speak english and be really smooth about it... obviously.
Beatrice is really good friends with her neighbors. I am actually going to be eating dinner with two of them while Beatrice is out of town in two weeks because she feels bad leaving me to eat alone every-night for a week, so they are passing me off, every other night, awkward... I digress.
Anyway, the radio was turned down, I fell fast asleep.
This morning, I was DREADING telling Beatrice what happened. When I woke up and came into the kitchen she asked me how I slept so I told her what happened. She didn't hear any of this, including me and my blind eyes fumbling with the locked front door. She told me not to worry.
My morning went by and at noon, I could hear Beatrice and Catherine talking in the building hall after swimming. "Dont come in, dont come in," I prayed. "Meghan?" Beatrice said. "This is Catherine." And that's how I awkwardly re-met the neighbor who got to see my in my pajama boxers with pickles on them at 1 AM.
But all is well. We are going to work out a system where she turns on the radio and I tell her what is too loud.
Oh, french people.

I'm a Big Kid Now

 Bonjour à tous! I am settled in my new house all nice and cozy. I've learned to be a grown-up since moving into my brand spanking new apartment. I learned to make oatmeal on the stove (and yes, it boiled over everywhere and I had to clean it up... pain) and I learned that you REALLY shouldn't mix whites and darks in the washing machine :( (RIP the white clothes that were in there).
Yesterday, Beatrice had to go to Paris and left me in the apartment alone. Catherine and I planned a cooking day, that way Beatrice couldn't see the mess we made... hah kidding.. kind of. We bought our own ingredients and came home after class to get to work... time goes by... blah blah blah... let's just say, Meghan had enough cookies to NOT be hungry for dinner... OR BREAKFAST.... OR LUNCH. I knew I was so full of cookies, but I missed my cinnamon sugar vegan cookies so much that I just kept needing to have "just one more." (And that "just one more" gave me the energy to run for an hour today... fueling purely off sugar). So maybe that wasn't so grown up, but everyone deserves a vegan cookie day I think. 
ANYWAY, despite that MISTAKE, I've been sitting ALL day planning the wonderful week I will have when GMA arrives!!! YAYYYYY. Sadly, EVERY Bucknell student is already on break (it started yesterday and everyone got the heck out of dodge). I've been alone for approximately 6 hours, and I'm already bored (ruh roh). 
I have some pretty exciting plans for when Grandma visits, and all this planning is really helping me learn the parts of Paris well. We are staying literally DOWN the street from the Louvre. No Big Deal. I might even try to get some running in along the Seine, seeing as how we are right there. I am so excited to have GMA come visit :) So far I have four days fully planned (breaks included don't worry- including a hot chocolate break that I heard is to kill for). Today I bought my train tickets to go fetch her from the airport and a ticket to come home with time to drop her off! So all is set! 

Meghan, the travel agent, planning away little travel plans 

On another note, my running gloves got stolen at the gym Wednesday... REALLY? Well, chick who now is the proud owner of purple striped FIVE DOLLAR H&M gloves, the joke is on you. They are over four years old, and have been sweated in and snotted on. Sucker.
And today, I found this AWESOME running store by my house and picked out really sleek black ones that keep my hands really warm. So HAH. 

Comme Nuit et Jour

"Like Night and Day" is an expression that is translatable. And it perfectly describes my new and much improved living situation in Tours. I am now living in a modern apartment, with a single woman, maybe in her thirties (I know enough not to ask). First of all, I never took pictures of my old pad, so unfortunatley I can't prove to you how much better this new home is, but you're gonna hae to put all your faith in me and trust me when I say, Heck Yes.
Beatrice is really nice and sporty, which cracks me up because that's not particularly normal for French people (match made in heaven?). She eats SUPER healthy. But not the same kind of healthy as my old house. She is VERY much a single lady living on her own. She doesn't make fancy sauces with pasta or anything like that. Everything is very simple, made pretty quickly (which is fine with me!) Also, she took out soy yogurt yesterday and told me this was her favorite and I should try it. Soy yogurt! In France! I almost cried. She also doesn't make dessert... panic... panic... BUT, she was quick to inform me she always, always, always keeps dark chocolate in the house.
Although the apartment is small, its comfortable. It's clean, but not super neat. My old house was dark, cluttered, dirty, and musty. This could not be more opposite. My linens smell fresh, I walk into the bathroom and it smells like the summer, the kitchen is bright. I am so happy here. I wake up in the morning and instead of feeling gloomy because there's no sunlight coming through my tiny window, I feel happy because there is a huge window in my little room. I appreciate Beatrice even more when I realize she had less than two days to make room for me. And although life is a bit cluttered right now, I really am looking forward to the next months (instead of counting down the days at the old house,  I actually reverted to counting the number of meals I would have to eat with that awful family).

My Room! Big Bed! (I slept on a prisoner's bed before)

Groovy lamp in my room

the shower (that thing is for drying clothes)

Speaks for itself

The kitchen! The walls are so cool!

Apparently washing machines in the kitchen is normal for Europe.

The view when you walk in the front door

We have a comfortable sitting area! With a tv! And a cool lamp!

Hopefully these pictures can help you picture what the little apartment is like. I really like the sitting room. There was NO comfortable place to sit in the old house. I travelled to two places in the old house: the dining room for meals, or my room. Beatrice came in yesterday and told me I was always welcome to sit there, I wasn't confined to my room. And she also told me I can use the "tu" form, and could call her Beatrice. This is really nice of her. "Vous" is the formal form, and on my wonderful and infamous list of rules at the old house, at the top were directions to call them Monsieur and Madame, and use vous. So this is realy nice of her, establishes more of a balanced relationship, and is also a lot easier mentally for me to conjugate. So, today I did the dishes to try to symbolize that I know she's not my "mom." She respects that I'm 20 years old and I like so I'm trying to respect our more balanced living arrangement.
So, I'm pretty happy in this house. And next week, GMA is visiting :)
Oh, and I got my first paper back! And I got an A-
Not shabbbbayyyyyy

Are You My Mother?

Very Appropriate... Listen while Reading

So maybe you've been wondering why I haven't blogged in forever... well, this has been quite the week. And, as of right now, I am homeless. Ok rewind, I've been getting increasingly bothered by the number of rules and unnecessary regulations in my host family and it all boiled over on Wednesday when I became extremely overwhelmed and anxious in class. I went to the Bucknell professors' office, to inform them about my bathroom rules, no flushing and also close the door quietly if I use the bathroom at night (a rule that was instilled with a post it on Wednesday morning... and trust me I havent been slamming the door in any way, shape, or form). I told them about the wall shaking tantrums my sister was having, and I explained a few more discomforts of the house. It all boiled down to me basically living in a boarding house, rather than a family. Not so comfortable.
They told me it seemed as if the dynamic had dramtically changed in the span of a year (the girl before me had numerous complaints similar to mine, and would come to the office in tears). They told me to think about my options, bring in my list of rules (which they were suprised to hear about) and come back in. Well, I obviously did not look forward to going home, and being there was almost unbearable. I asked to leave the dinner table early, blaming homework, and I was greeted with more rudeness than I have ever encountered in the house. While I sat in my room, my sister came in, telling me that when I went down in the morning, could I please remove my shoes? (sure?) I was so uncomfortable in the morning, I left early and waited for my friend, who I walk with, and just chilled on the street corner (no big). I arrived to one of the Bucknell professors in my classroom waiting for me. I told her my newest rules (no shoes, which I forgot to do and the mom STARED at my feet... get a life, lady) and also gave her my list of rules, including the two signs I took off the door of the bathroom. She rolled her eyes at my rules, and told me I should probably move out. I sighed and agreed, extremely relieved at this point. She told me the move would probably happen in a week or so, and not to say anything.
Not even an hour later, she came back to my class, pulled me and my friend Catherine out, and informed us that I would be packing THAT DAY, spend two nights at Catherine's, and move into my new house SATURDAY. That was fast.
We walked to my house after class, packed me up in less than an hour, had one awkward moment with my host mom ("are you leaving tonight?" she asked, "yes" I answered- that was it), and brought a sleepover bag to catherine, leaving my suitcases neatly lined up in my room.
Being at Catherines, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. No more disgusting, dirty walls. No more hamsters brought to the dinner table (ew), no more not sleeping because tantrums are being thrown, no more stupid rules, no more any of that! Catherine and I had a super girly sleepover, watching Jane Austen Book Club and painting nails, and I slept GREAT.
After class Friday, I drove with the Bucknell professors to pick up my suitcases. They told me not to worry, they were going as support and nothing would happen. We arrived, a little late (usual french fashion) and my host mom was NOT happy to see them. We shook her hand, went upstairs, brought everything down (they cleaned the house- psh... that was obvious) and tried to leave. But we were stopped. With a lecture, from my mom, telling them it ws MY fault I didn't say anything was wrong, that I was being dishonest when I took the signs down, BLAH BLAH. They kinda dismissed her, I shook her hand thank you, and got the HECK OUT OF THERE. We closed the door, and Professor Kingue looks at me and goes, "I seeeeeee."HA.
Well that chapter is closed. I am excited for the new chapter. I get my new family tomorrow. I will live close to my friends, with a single woman in an apartment. I keep wondering what she will be like, if I have passed her on the street. Catherine and I started a joke that I am the little bird from the children's book Are You My Mother. Looking at each person and wondering are you gonna take care of meeee?
I'm Little Orphan Annie waiting for Mommy Warbucks to loveeeee meeee.
Will keep you updated! Wish me luck!

What's the Story Wishboneee

What a great weekend I had! Friday night I saw the movie the King's Speech (in english with french subtitles). If you have not seen this movie, go see it now. Shut your computer, get the car keys, and go. This was the best movie I have seen in a long, long time.
Seeing the movie with the French subtitles was very interesting. Many of the humor was lost through translation. The French people in our theater must have thought we were crazy as we laughed and laughed at jokes that were not translated. C'est dommage.

On the train lOoKiNg FlY

Saturday, we went to visit two castles. We went to Azay le Rideau and Chinon. I will talk about Chinon first because it was my least favorite of the two. Chinon was more of a medieval fortress than a royal castle. Interestingly, there was a lot of information on Joan of Arc, who travelled there to help Charles VII win the Hundred Years War, or something like that. The castle was actually kinda creepy, with weird staircases that led to random rooms. However, it sparked enough interest in me that when I got home, all I wanted to do was get on wikipedia and look up stuff on Joan of Arc. There was a lot of stuff that went down with her that was not portrayed on my Wishbone TV shows as a child (Wishbone- best history lessons of 1990). I've noticed since I've come to France that I have become so much more interested in history than I ever was before!

Purty Castle- Azay le Rideau

Why can't I get sweet air too?

So, Azay le Rideau. Now, this castle was more of a Noble residence. But it was bea-u-ti-ful. It is covered on all sides by a moat. They somehow slowed the water down surrounding the residence so that when its sunny, the water becomes a mirror... so cool. The castle itself on the inside was sickkk as well. One thing that stuck out the most to me was that the King had his very own bedroom in this house as well, just in case he ever decided to pop in for a quick visit. And he did, twice. The town surrounding this particular castle was adorable as well. We couldn't find sandwiches at the time we wanted to eat lunch, so we went to a boulangerie and bought a baguette, went to the market and bought chevre cheese and tomatoes, and had a nice lil' picnic. It was fun!

The market

Tonight is the Super Bowl and I am actually so sad I am missing it. I want to eat chips and salsa and have one night where its totally ok to sit around for four hours and not think about homework! And I'm also really craving an American ice cream sundae... so if anyone wants to make that happen, that would be greeeeeattttt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZLEvrkbFcQ For those who do not know who Wishbone is, I've included this link. But you should really take some time and be ashamed of yourself and think about what is actually important in life. A little Jack Russell Terrier teaching history to children is much more important than anything you were doing in the 1990s.

Leviohsa not leviosaaa

Today we met with an actress who does phrasing exercises with us. It seems fun, but it becomes very frustrating! She spoke so quickly and we had to repeat after her. And if you didn't do it right, which of course I never did, she would interrupt and make you say fragments of words over and over and over and over... OOh not Ooh...(leviohsa not levIosaaa for Harry Potter fans!). I became extremely overwhelmed and finally needed to take a seat. One thing I really liked about her though is that she realizes that it is EXHAUSTING to learn a new language. After an hour and half, she could see that most of our minds were shot. She let us take a break and do a little yogitskis. I miss yoga alot! After that workshop, the six of us that showed up went to an Irish store. This was the coolest store ever. They had so many products from Ireland like scarves, hats, big fisherman sweaters (which look to die for), jams, teas, ciders, etc. I definitely plan on going back!
One thing I really like about the school here is that it has MULTIPLE cafeterias. Today, we all decided to go to the Moroccan one. It was actually really good and you get a pretty good full meal for only three euros! I don't know if its something I'll do everyday but that was definitely cool to see... hopefully I'll find a sushi one and be set for life!
I had to meet with a teacher to talk about some homework due next week, which I suppose I should work on, but I know I'm not going to get it done right now! We'll save that for later. And after that I went running next to the Loire!
It was so awesome! I changed in the school and left my stuff in the locked Bucknell classroom. I had to walk past some french kids in my gym clothes, and trust me I stuck out like a sore thumb. The French idea of working out is having to walk to find someone who can light your cigarette. It was more overcast today than I would have liked, but I had a peaceful run (listening to Glee Christmas... Christmas 2011, I'm ready for ya!). Next time, I'm going to cross the bridge to run on the other bank, because I think that one is considered safer (and I found a bridge just for pedestrians).
Tonight I am going to see "The King's Speech." I'm seeing it in English with french subtitles. And tomorrow we are visiting two castles!
I suppose I should tell my mom we need to have dinner much before 9 tonight, but I might leave it up to chance ;)

Meghan the Teacher

First of all... I would like to give out a shout out to Eva Pleuhs and thank her for sharing her lemon cake recipe with the world on her blog "Fresh from Eva's Kitchen." This is the best cake I've ever had. Danke!!

My day started awful. The badness started yesterday when I wanted to do my laundry. Something tells me this will be a constant struggle between me and the mother. She said I couldn't because she was doing some. Woman, I've been waiting all week and it seems as if you are always doing laundry. And I am running out of "sous-vetements" AHEM. Donc, I need to do laundry now. But no, and then, the machine broke. Joy. So, I put my white clothes next to the door to claim my territory. If laundry gets done, it better be mine. And the angel did my whites for me! This morning, I dragged my colors down from the room, remember no laundry basket?... and had my breakfast (I bought myself good old Quaker Oats oatmeal the other day... heaven in a box). The dad came downstairs and I said my hellos, and headed back up. And there, on the stairs, was a pair of bright pink underwear. I grabbed it quick and ran to my room. And we all know the dad saw them, and I said hi, thinking everything was normal in the household. Horror.

I started out DREADING leaving the house because I had four straight hours of class this morning. Pointless classes, for example, today I learned how to take notes in french using a "mind map" (don't get me started). And then in the caf, the stupid woman was SO RUDE to me. So I paid in little coins, sucker. And then I had to go to two hours of service learning... oh jesus. BUT.....
It was great! I went to the Center of Service Learning to help French students with their english and finally, after one month of being in France, I remembered that yes, I am a competent, intelligent  human being! It's so nice to remember that!!! I feel so much better knowing that my inability and frustration with communicating is because I'm always trying to communicate in French! I can feel everyone saying duh, but you have no idea the difference this makes when you figure it out. These French students have the same silly frustrations in English that I have been having in French!
I had the best time being the teacher, rather than the student.

I helped two French students, one with the "h" sound, and one with the rhythm of sentences. We all worked together because there were so many French students to help and only two Americans there. And the students were really happy to be working, silly me, I was afraid they would be rude, given what I'd seen in class. But anytime they started going off in french really quick, I would just make them say something hard and we would laugh about it and move on. Ha. They joked around with me saying "You're a real American, not a martian!" (Ok?) But I had a great time. Anyway, after they left, I helped a French professor with his English. He didn't know much English at all, and we sat in another room because some of his students were there and he didn't want them to hear him try to learn. He said Thursdays were his days to learn English. We tried to just have a conversation, rather than work on exercises. I helped him with the days of the week and we talked about Universities in the US. He has a colleague at the University of Chicago, which I thought was cool.

Tomorrow is Friday and I'm going to go to some Chateaux this weekend which I am really excited for because its going to be 50 degrees and sunny!
Gonna go unpack my bikini!
(jk)