Time can mean a lot

I have less than a week now in Clermont-Ferrand, so I thought I would give another update and share some of my thoughts on my time here.

I have spent four months here in France in a city called Clermont-Ferraand. Four months is short but at the same time long enough to make friends.

The last couple weeks flew by. I finished my classes now I just a have a week of exams. Here are the little things I did in the past month. Ashley and I had a plate of the day at a small locally owned cafe just next to our residence, the meal was nothing fantastic but it was french and the company was great and the owner of the cafe is so nice and cares about us. (The first month we went every morning to her cafe for a cup of coffee).
I have helped lead English corners with the FEU...that has a had a big impact on my life.
We had a Christmas party with the FEU, in which I played a role in a sketch and sang a song...Yes I am quiet talented now :)
Ashley and I, we had a party for us with our friends we have made here in France, it was a going away party and since we both have birthdays in the month of December we decided to call it a birthday party plus that is less sad. Below are some pictures of just some of the friends we made. We had a meal at the party and it was a meal that I ate the very first night at the FEU long ago in September when I barely spoke french and was uncomfortable in France...Now it is a whole another story. For dessert we had my favorite; tarte au chocolat. Yep just chocolate tarte. Really simple but my favorite.

I cannot begin to express the gravity of an adventure such as this. I learned so much and grew a lot. I learned to live in another culture and speak another language. I made friends and saw another part of the world. And so I want to say Thank you; to all the friends I made, to all back home who continued to talk to me even though at times it was inconvenient and for those who supported me with prayers (Kim and Archie and Allegra) and financially (yes that would be you dad!) Thanks!

This is Ashley and I's party...We look lovely

Ines and Ashley; good friends

A meal at the FEU...some of my best times were in that apartment and with those people.

Cold December night

I am sitting in my room listening to "Cold December Night" getting ready for the Christmas season. Ashley and I have already decorated our rooms with snow flakes and the center of town has a huge Christmas tree already up and a giant Ferris wheel!

But as you all know Thanksgiving comes before Christmas...well not here in France :)
However I was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate it with my friends in the FEU. This is the second here in Clermont where they have a Thanksgiving dinner. We had more than 50 people show up! I was also in a skit...where I was a turkey...it was very funny. The food was good to but does not compare to our Thanksgiving meal.

Christmas is quickly approaching and I am very ready for Christmas I am not ready to leave France.

Another opportunity I took was to serve at the food bank. I volunteered my time at a grocery store collecting food for the food bank. On a more fun note I saw the second Hunger Games...yes completely in French. Also I find it funny that the French say "unger games" because they do not pronounce the "h".

Also not sure I have mentioned this or not but I also spent a weekend in the mountains with the FEU. It was really cold! I puts some photos in here so you can see. We could see absolutely nothing because of the white and fog. It was so beautiful up there. And so many cool moments playing games and singing with people from all countries and walks of life. That was a weekend I will not forget.

We made pumpkin and apple pies. Pretty American...some of them had never eaten pumpkin pie before!

Lots and lots of snow!

Marélie and me enjoying the snow (right before our walk in the snow)

Just another view of the nature around me so you can be jealous of where I live :)

The Eiffel tower

I suppose I should give an update. I apologize because I am not good at blogging. Honestly, I forget I have a blog and then someone mentions it.

Anyway update.

Well in the last three weeks I have done some pretty amazing things.

During the week of vacation I hiked a mountain. It is 1465 meters above sea level and me and some friends did the whole trip in one day. Below is a picture of what I climbed. The weather was nice for the way up but on the way down…it rained so by the time we got back we were really wet. It was well worth it though. I was very proud of myself when I made it to the top!

I also went to Paris. So yes I have pictures of the Eiffel tower! I also ate escargot in Paris, walked along the Seine River with a dear friend of mine and fell in love with the Eiffel tower. Paris is beautiful and amazing and wow but I prefer living in Clermont-Ferrand. I guess I should add that I did other stuff in Paris besides see the Eiffel tower. I saw the Mona Lisa and still I do not understand why she is such a popular painting. And I walked through two churches in Paris that are older than the United States. That is a little weird to walk through the Notre Dame and think wow this building was here before The U.S was founded. But the churches took your breath away with the splendor and beauty. 

In the near future these things are coming up…Next weekend I am going to a mountain outside of Clermont with a group of friends. Then I have finals then I leave to Berlin.

Yes I hiked this!

Le tour Eiffel and me

Me holding the Louvre: it is really small

Me and Molly at a French restaurant called 1513 because that is the year the building was constructed...so it was a really old building. Also I ate a crepe there. How French!

Quand tu prends une limonade

The English is after the French, I just thought I would write in French first for practice then translate. Also there are some pictures. 

J'ai un historie amusant pour vous. Hier soir Ashley et moi, nous avons pris un verre avec un ami Français. Il est très gentil. Avec-il, nous avons eu une formidable discussion. Pour les boissons Ashley a eu une bière et Vincent a eu un chocolat chaud et moi, j'ai pris une limonade. Mais en France une limonade c'est le « sprite » donc j'ai eu un « sprite ». Bonne chose que j’aime le « sprite ». Voilà c'est mon historie qui montre cela que parfois les choses sont différentes de on pense qu'elles sont. J’ai vacance la prochaine semaine mais je ne sais pas encore que j’irai fait. Donc je suis stresse. J’espère que j’irai à Paris mais on verra voir. Quelque fois jours je parle bien mais autre jours je suis fâchée parce que la langue est très difficile. Souvent je pense que je comprends mais ensuit je trouve que non, je ne comprends pas. Franchement je peux écouter plus que je peux parler donc tout le monde pense que je ne comprends pas mais le contre je comprends ; je ne sais pas comment m’exprimer.  

I have a funny story for you. Yesterday night Ashley and I went and had a drink with a French friend. He is very nice. With him we had wonderful conversation. For the drinks, Ashley had beer, Vincent a hot chocolate and me lemonade. Well in France lemonade is sprite, so I had sprite. Good thing I like sprite. Well that is my story that shows that sometimes things are different than you think they are. I have vacation next week but I don’t know where I am going yet so I am stressed. I hope to go to Paris but we will see. Some days I speak well but other days I am mad because the language is complicated and difficult. Often I think I understand but then I find out that “no” I did not understand. Honestly I can listen better than I can speak so everyone thinks I do not understand but is it the opposite, I understand, I just don’t know how to express myself. So that is a summary of the month of October. I hope to have another update soon. 

Fall has come

It has been awhile since I lasted blogged so I thought I would give an update. Things are going well here so many things have just become a part of my normal life that I don't know what to blog about. Ashley and I went to a beautiful city Sunday. The city is called Vishy and here are some pictures. 

Volcanoes France style

La meilleure chose dans la vie est...?

Salut!

Sorry about my last post. I did not realize just how negative I sounded. It had been a rough day. But guess what the sun is shining today! It is actually sunny here today and things have begun to look up. (Don't ask about my classes though because that is still a touchy subject). However the other day I met some Christians. It was with an organization called FEU. Which stands for Foyer Evanéglique Universitaire. And I don't know if you know this or not but feu means fire in French so ya I think that is all pretty cool. Oh and they gave my a Bible in French which is even cooler because then I can practice my French and read the Bible at the same time.

A little bit of encouragement from me to you.
J'ai combattu le bon combat, j'ai terminé la course, j'ai gardé la foi. 2 Timothée 4.7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

It has been a real blessing to see God answer that prayer. I know He will continue to work here in Clermont-Ferrand even if I never see the results but I am so glad that I could at least see that God does work even when I have given up.

Have a good day!
Oh and here is some more pictures of another beautiful church.

Eating a slice of humble pie and it does not taste good

Today! oh what a day!! I hate Mondays I really do. I especially hate Mondays when you have to eat a slice of humble pie. I have some wonderful friends here already, I really do. Most of them are foreign like me. I found out what level they put me in (the level of my classes after taking an oral and written exam in French) and that level is... wait for it! Level one...(that is not good since level 6 is the highest) Well do you know what my friends here thought about that? They said that it was crap!! I speak way better than that (that is what they said not me.) They were more upset than me. I have good friends :). Well today was the first day of class. I hate class. I thought it was easy...too easy. So you may ask yourself how is that eating humble pie? Well to tell the truth I don't really know but I think it is because my attitude towards my French language ability needs to be humility and to be honest that does not taste too good right now.

Starring out my window looking at the grey sky...oh how I wish the sun were shinning right now. It was ten minutes ago but now there is only grey.

On a more cheery note I had a great weekend. I went to a couple parties where I met many people (also side note... I feel the need to inform you that my name is difficult for the entire world!)

I could really use a croissant and some sunshine right now.

I hope your day is better than mine.

C'est la vie.

Thalia

A taste of France

A lot has been going on here that I cannot go into detail but here are some pictures :) and a short description of each. First the church, ya most churches here are that elaborate. It is a cathedral and it is in the centre commercial. The second photo is of Luiza putting a pie in a student's face because it is his initiation (yes the ways of the French are a little odd). Next is a BMW just to show that even though I am in another country some things are the same :). Next of course is a picture of cheese. The cheese and Vine choices are unlimited here!!!! This cheese is called Le Pavé Doux. Lastly a picture of the view I have in my room. I can see more than that but I thought you would find this building interesting.

Bon journee
Thalia

The Still (an irish pub in Clermont-Ferrand)

I know two Americans now. Ashley and Jason. Jason is from New Jersey and he is very outgoing. Jason met some Brazilians yesterday and they invited him to dinner that evening. He invited Ashley and I and we decided to go. We all met at the centre commercial (the place with lots of shopping and restaurants; kinda like a mall but outside). The Brazilians only spoke French with us so there was lots of practicing French. We walked to The Still and sat down and got drinks and talked for a long time. We discussed differences in Portuguese and English and French and cultures. I have a funny story to share from this night. When learning another language sometimes you remember things wrong well I remembered the word for sixteen wrong. I thought it was dix-seize when it is really just seize so there was a big confusion about what day our classes started because I was saying dix-seize when it is just seize. You could say I got lost in translation! Later when we were saying goodbye (I was really tired) I forgot the word for slow so I said "Je suis meme un escargot" which translates as I am like a snail. haha that got a laugh. I will try and post pictures of the Brazilians. I have a good feeling that we will be hanging out again. Also as far as contacting me you can always email me :).
Have a good day
Bientôt

Room

This is my room. Above is the tiny shower and sink and there is a toilet on the other side.  It's very small ( that is an understatement) it's very tiny but that is ok because I have not spent a lot of time in it. Only to sleep. 

Made it

Bonjour from France!!! I made it to my city. This is my American friend Ashley. Her and I have been trying to figure this out together. She is real good at French. I am improving. I had a wonderful conversation with a French man on my bus down to my city (all in French of course or as the French would say tout en français!! :) Bon journée 

Departure

The day of departure has arrived! Thanks to all who came out to see me off! I love you all and will miss you all. Don't worry 4 months will fly by ;)

Less than a month

Less than a month out and I thought I would give a short update and outline the purpose of this blog.
I have my visa, I have my passport, I have my flight booked... I am ready to go. Now I just have to pack :). Like I said less than a month till I leave. Freaking out is not the term I would use more like utterly stunned that it is so close and I am actually going!
The purpose of this blog is to give an update to those who will not be in daily communication with me on my adventures here in France.
Another purpose of this blog is to ask for prayer. I know that the Lord has plans for me in France and after but I also know that I will struggle. I think there will be many dark nights in France and so I ask for your prayers, I ask that you would keep me and those I encounter in your prayers. I am excited to go to France but I am also afraid. I need the Lord.

Stress

I am a little overwhelmed right now with all the paper work and costs of traveling to France. But I know that once I get there it will be worth it. To be in another country and worship with other believers and be a part of something bigger than myself. I look forward to landing in Paris. 62 days till I leave. 

Just a feeling

I have to blog about this because I just have a feeling about it (not sure what feeling but a good one) so today I am in Florida and I went to the pool and this girl comes down and kinda strikes up a conversation with me. I instantly judge her and think she is way too cool and would never like me. Well God proved me wrong she not only wanted my friendship but she invited me to a movie and told me her mother passed away a year ago. Now I know that was a God intended encounter. I have this feeling that I have an approachable  face and i pray that is true. I pray God uses me in France. I pray I make many many friends in France. 

Bought my plane ticket!!! I leave Sunday September 1st.

Bonsoir, mes amis!! This is a test to see if my blog works oh and a notice that in 93 days I will be on a plane to France!!!!