Quenelles de Veau

So... I posted yesterday, but this is definitely post worthy..

Jess and I sit down for dinner ( no one else ate with us tonight) and Mme. Puts some salad in front of us... All is well, then- she puts down the next course and it gets lost in translation. Sitting in front of me, is what looks like steamed potatoes and some form of chicken in a tomato sauce, although I was rather sure poulet was not a word used when describing the menu.

I take a bite of the potatos with the mysterious meat sauce- all is well... The sauce was good, Jess and I started to think things may be Ok.. the BAM we bite into the 'meat' and Oh, it was soft and mushy and of a consistency I can't even begin to describe... It was like, mashed potoatos, somehow sitting in a gelatine solid form, staying in one piece, just until you cut into it- then it all goes to hell on your plate..We struggled to get through the meal and headed upstairs to discuss what the dinner consisted of...

I finally got the courage to get mme to write it out- when i googled it, I wished I hadn't.. it is a Lyon Speciality... made of Cow Kidneys.. yum? I think not... I feel sick- the only upside is that I am not drinking tonight... MAYBE my belly will settle.

blarg.

Oh, the joys of french cuisine.

Bahhh?

I booked a trip to the Land of the Sheep!

I am not quite certain of that is what to call it, I think of sheep, mainly because it had been Heather MacKay's plan to dress sheeplike, for my European themed party...

I am jetting off from November 6-9th. I am incredibly excited for this excursion, as it will be the first out of France lasting more then a day! (I am headed to Geneva on Saturday, but only for a day trip!)

Other then my travel plans to Scotland.. There is not a whole lot new in my french life. Tomorrow, I can finally apply for my long stay visa- so lets cross our fingers that I will be able to stick around France past christmas... that would end in mild complications..

I am not sure if my blog was lucky enough to mention the cute little white ball of fluff we try to call a dog or not... If not, his name is Eddie- and contraire to any previous praise I may have given him... I HATE EDDIE MORE THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE. He pee's everywhere, humps everything and gets reprimanded ALL of the time- thus I wake up to

[please add french dialect]: NON EDDIE- NON NON NON!! TU ES UN COUCHON- NON NON NON!

It is getting old- fast... So much for my distaste in dogs to have disapeared... it was just hidden under some cute, soft fluff for a couple of weeks. I have come back to my senses, so please- no body worry.

I have a test tomorrow, I should go study now...

Bon Nuit!

Lake Kir

It is eight degrees and beautiful in Dijon today. My plan was to sleep my life away (first week of school plus a couple of busy evenings left me begging for a good nights rest) but the sun woke me and I went for a walk around the lake instead. My Taiwanese housemate mentioned it taking her 3hrs to get her way around the lake, so I planned on quite an excursion.. 50 minutes and some lovely lake photographs later- I have scaled the mountain that is the hill i live on and am home safe and sound.

I can only Imagine how pretty it will be in the midst of the summer and in the dead of the winter

Isn't it prettttty?

Happy Turkey!

It is weird, not being home this weekend. Even when at dal, I always made it home for thanksgiving. I think the most bizarre part is that there is this EPIC dinner and tradition taking place in Canada, while in France, it is just another sunday. Nothing different. I guess all cultures have their differences. I am just very excited to have found out that dijon DOES indeed celebrate Halloween. It is a new holiday, but something that does exist.

Nothing else shocking and new thus far. I have been placed in niveau 3 for my french program, so I smack dab in the middle. I also found out there is an econ in french credit I can tranfer back to dal, which is AMAZING.

Last night was David Guetta at the Chat Noire, if you have never heard of him... get your life together. Just kidding... He produced "Bam Bam Pow" and "I got a feeling" by the BEP and also has his own origional music such as "sexy bitch" feat. Akon. It was prettttty amazing. No word of a lie.

Anywho, classes start tomorrow- no school till one. It should be great to finally get in a routine of things.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

So, tomorrow the buses strike.

I am realllly hoping this does not happen. With my one transfer it takes 40 minutes by bus to school. Therefore, it will take FOREVER to get there by any other method of transportation.. pus, there is no way I would be able to go and not get lost.

Today we had a field trip to Beaune . It is the 3rd richest town in France. They make damn good wine. I would know, I drank some. We saw a famour vinyard, have some free time in town and went on a tour of a hospice museum, which was a bit creepy, but the architecture was killer.... We then went and indulged in some red wine at a vino. Speaking of wine it is amazingly cheap. Ali and I have decided to have a Mimosa night with 1,5 euro champagne! Hoolllla- that should be fun!

Anyway, things are going well so far. I am more easily seeing the cultural differences between France and Canada... It is a bit frustrating, but I guess it is something that I just have to get used to.

au revoir (bisous!)

Ma Maison!

I am going to do a bit of a picture tour of a bit of my area... I will try to not bore you..

<----view from my bathroom/deck window!

The view of my house, from the road!

pictures are not co-operating, therefore... this is all you get, more to come soooon

phew

made it, somehow in one piece, and magically... I have internet!!

I am living in a house overlooking Dijon, it is a beautiful view, with a lake, and a view of the city lights at night. I really lucked out here, tonight for dinner we had a delicious stew made by my host mama mme. alexandravitch, but when I thought it was over I was surprised with some authentic French Cuisine... We had lentils with local bacon and sausage in it... It was delicious.

I haven't slept in 36hrs so Im going to rest up before I go try and figure out this city and attempt to get a cell phone..

The French is overwhelming already, but I am excited to learn!!

Fun Facts from my first 36hrs of travel:

* It is dark in Iceland until 8am, so don't get too excited to see the beautiful land when you fly in at 5am

* Expect to see many many 13 year old greaser boys outside the dijon train station- they are a staple in society

* Don't try travelling with 10 other students, as comforting as it is to have them around, you will get things accomplished at 1/4 the rate

* There will be a dog at my house, starting tomorrow... just a wee one though, and a brand new puppy, 1.5lb. It is a good thing the wee ones are growing on me!

* The toilet paper in my bathroom.... is PINK