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 :)