Happy birthday to ME!

Salut!

Well, saturday was my fake birthday. That was the only day that everyone could celebrate my birthday, so Saturday was my birthday...in France.

It was pretty close to being magical. Christian made me a birthday cake, which was closer to being chocolate mousse with cherries and bits of vanilla cake sprinkled with rum surrounding the mousse. Either way, cake or mousse, it was delicious!

So, it was really nice because Christian's daugher and boyfriend were here for the weekend. It was nice having Elodie around. She's really nice and was easier to understand: I think she just has really good pronunciation.

I invited my only friend (outside of the family) that I've made (and is still in town) to my birthday party. That's Jacques....a 50 year old man who is super nice. He even gave me a birthday gift. I was SO suprised. He gave me a necklace and some earings. They're kinda quirky but I like them. I also got to take part in a REAL French birthday party tradition. They take a knife and cut off the end of a bottle of champagne so that the cork is still stuck in the end. Apparently, after the end is cut off, you write the date and your name on the cork and it's a memento. I thought that was pretty cool. So, now I have a cork with the end of a champagne bottle stuck around it.

So, it was pretty chill, my birthday party. Just the typical French dinner. Salad, potatoes and beef sauteed in olive oil and garlic and of course lots and LOTS of bread and fromage (cheese for our non-french speakers)! I am falling in love with French cheese! I love it SOO much.

After dinner, I was forced into serenading everyone with my Ukulele. We sat outside, under the stars with candles as I played my very short songs (everyone wore farmers hats...I think they thought the Uke is a hick instrument or something). After that we just dug into the cake.

Also, over the weekend, we had 12 quebecois rent out the bed and breakfast houses here! It was almost like having a piece of home here in France, having the canadiens here. They mainly just spoke French though.

Well, that's all for now.
Krista: CONGRATS! I'm glad to hear that you had Cade! I can't wait to meet him.
Diana: I've been thinking about you. I hope everything goes well for you in Texas/Mexico. Thanks for the message in French (that was clever of you)

I love you guys!
Kelly

and the journey continues........

So, About 5 days ago, I arrived at my "farm". With only a couple problems. The main one being that no one was there to pick me up. So, i quickly made a friend and he let me use his phone book...and telephone....because apparently the number I had was incorrect. Luckily, Pascale came to get me and ever since I have been VERY happily installed at their house. Well, not exactly. I live in the "pigeonnier" or the pigeon house. It's very cute. To the left of this page is where I live. (this picture was taken by Christian Combaceau) Their are LOTS of spiders there...I have been learning how to combat them. there have been parties pretty much every night since I've been here. Apparently the weekend that I chose to come to France had LOTS of holidays....so...no work! I met tons of Christian's and Pascale's friends and was pretty much lost for the most part in conversation. But luckily....I feel like I've had a break-through and I can now understand very rapid speech and I think that my French has improved a lot already. I LOVE french dinners! I have been eating sooo well here. (it helps that Christian used to be a professional cook). The dinners a usually pretty long...a couple hours for lunch and then sometimes more for dinner. Always, with wine of course. Christian says that I'm a true French woman because I love French cheese and I love French wine. There is another woofer that's here. His name is Dave. He just got here two days ago and proceeded to sleep for 16 hours! Gotta love jet lag. He's really nice and I think by talking to him in French I have been getting better with it. Today, we didn't really do anything special. Just worked in the garden and after that Dave and I took the donkeys for a walk. Well, that's all for now. Will post more when something exciting happens.
donc, a bientot!
Kelly
http://www.perigord.com/gite-lefalgueyret/accueil2.htm

I made it!

well, the past two days have been exciting/nerve-wracking/scary. My flight to Paris was good, even though the first flight was just a puddle jumper, but I found myself a home away from home in Washington DC when I walked to my gate and saw there...Potbelly. So, my last American meal was just a delicious chicken salad sandwich.

So, I arrived in Paris early this morning and found myself in a Taxi with a very nice taxi driver. He immediately asked me if I was for or against Obama.

Once I arrived at the train station I found out that their wasnt a train for me to take today....so the rest of the day was pretty frustrating. Going from a couple hostels....trying to get a room. I have one now...and Ive been spending the past couple hours just relaxing....I sat outside in a park and drank an orangina while listening to music. It was wonderful! Im eager to get to my first family. So.....tomorrow I will be there.

well...I guess that's all for now. Mom, when you read this, give dad a call and let him know that Im ok. I have some phone card problems and dont know when i will be able to call.

I will talk to all of you later,
Kelly

Bienvenu!

Well folks. I just wanted to set this blog up so that when I'm out in France (and when I have the opportunity to use a computer) I can let everyone know what I'm up to on the farms! Stay tuned....