Acclimating

[This section of the post would normally contain half-hearted apologies for the lack of updates, but has been deleted by the editor]
Really though, it aint easy at first here. Only two years old, the Bordeaux Spring program isnt as streamlined as other programs seem to be. So its harder now, but will get easier.

I dont know why, but lets start with food: The holy trinity of France really is bread, wine and cheese. Dinners are served late and inverted, with main course then salad then cheese then dessert. Last Sunday I went to my French "sister" and "brother-in-laws" house for lunch with mon père et mère, and their other son and his fiancé. The married couple are expecting a baby in February. There, we had cassoulet, which is like French chili, weird but good, its a peasant dish. For dessert, we had canelés, a specialty of the Sud-Ouest, these petite crusty custardy pastries. We also had a little degustation, wine-tasting, between three different wines. We tested in two ways: horizontally, which means same type of wine by different chateaux of the same year, and vertically, which is the same wine from the same chateau from different years.

My host mom is definitely a great cook, no horror stories there, and I have tried, and liked, a kinda foie paté, not foie gras which is force-fed duck liver. Sometimes you just want to be able to turn off your imagination.

As far as today, all the EAP kids are going on an excursion to St.Emilion, a medieval town, castle, and very famous wine maker. Thats from 1-6 ish; then my host dad is taking me to the Rugby Game, and then its time to go out...

Next time Ill talk about nightlife, ILP (Intensive Language Program), parmi quelques autres sujets. A bientot!