Mountains

This past week I've spent in and near the Alps. The first night I spent in Lyon in a little apartment not far from the Rhône River. As I walked past the Rhône on my way to my friend's place I had thought how cool it was to be in a place I had learned about in high school french class. The next morning I got up early to take a train to Grenoble and then a bus to the Bourg d'Oisans, which is a cute little mountain town.

The camp was beautiful. I enjoyed getting to meet some of the Greater Europe Mission (GEM) folks. I stayed for the next few days. The first day that I got to the camp I hiked to the porte de romaine, which means Roman door. It's actually a place where the Romans crossed. You can see and feel the markings in the rock where wagons had crossed. The following day I hiked up this trail called la cheminée, which means the chimney. Parts of this trail were also crossed by the Romans. The third day I was there I went for a run/hike near the camp. While I was gone I saw wild boar! It was incredible.

I arrived in Grenoble on Monday. I stayed two nights in a community christian house not far from the University in town. Grenoble reminded me a great deal of University of Colorado in Boulder, where I've gone to school for the past three semesters. It could be that all college campus' are the same, or maybe it was that and how the city had mountains. While I was there I spent time with some students, going to a French politics class, and eating meals in French. :) Grenoble has been my favourite place to visit thus far. I just wish that my vocabulary was larger so I can understand more.

As a head's up, my laptop is a bit out of commission. I am using the Cross' laptop for the moment, gratefully.

This is a picture above the camp in the Alps. It's looking at the Belledonne mountain range. Don't mind the tree branch in focus, I had to set the camera on the tree to take the pic.

This one below is from a bridge above the Isère River not far from the fortress on the hill in Grenoble. The mountains sure look lovely for a backdrop.

Learning

In my previous post, I shared some personal things about the Cross family. After posting it I was gently reminded that this a public space. I don't feel like it was appropiate to have posted such personal things about other people. I have changed the post since then.

This is my first blog and I'm learning how to communicate through blogging. I want to invite you to post any thoughts about blogging. What are some things that are good to remember when writing in public space? What are things that you've learned? How can I communicate better in this space?

A child

Stepping into this family, joining up with them in the way they cook, the way they take the kids to school, the way they live, has been exactly what everyone has told me, it's not what I expected. Before coming I thought that I would just jump into whatever the norm of the Cross family was, little did I really realize how excruciating it is to lose a child, how that pain and sorrow is carried. This isn't a normal time for the family, yet in the same moment it is.

How can I, a mere 20-year-old, offer compassion to a hurting family. It's funny to me how traits that I see in the girls stand out so strongly because I don't like that they exist in me. Watching Claire and Emma, the two eldest girls, argue draws me back to bickering with Drea (my sister). *shakes her head* God sure has a sense of humor.

I'm mapping out my time for next week. I'm taking the TGV, the fast train, to Lyon. Lyon is near the Alps and I'm going to be staying at a camp in the Alps for a few days. Check out the website,Camp of the Peaks, if you would like. Afterward, I'm going to take the train to Torino, Italy to eat some real Italian food and real tiramisu, my favourite dessert. Did I mention real? I may stay the night in Torino, I haven't quite figured out all the details, just yet. I'll be gone for five days.

Á Plus Tard (At a later time)

Raechel

Paris Feburary 7th

Dear Monsieur Whiskers,

I went into Paris today and it was beautiful. I don't have time to chat long but here's a few pictures to show you a bit about what I did. The picture above is of Notre Dame and the Seine. Enjoy.

Fatiguée (tired),

Raechel

This one is fairly obvious. It's hard to believe I saw this painting in person instead of in book store somewhere.

This one is outside the Musée D'Orsay (a famous museum). Do you see all the snow? Love it.


This is of the quai de gare (train station) on the way home.

Pirates!

Dear Monsieur Whiskers,

Have you ever seen pirates in France? Well, I have a shock for you. There were pirates running around in Apremont hier (yesterday). I have pictures to prove it. They were an energetic bunch, a few neighbors stared as they walked past. The pirates balade (strolled) by to meet another rowdy group for a fight to the finish. It was awesome.

Dans l'après-midi, I tried my hand at ratatouille. It's a popular french dish made up of vegetables such as d'aubergine (eggplant), de courgette (zucchini), de poivron (red pepper), d'oignon (onion), d'ail (garlic), and de tomate. C'étais délicieus!

Dans le soir, I went to Chantilly for a beer with some other au pairs. We met at this cute café called Le Syliva. There were 9 other girls around my age. It was good to hear about some other of the girls experiences of being an au pair. They meet up every Wednesday at the café in Chantilly. I know I will be back.

The plan for this weekend is to go into Paris and visit the Musée d'Orsay. Then that evening find a little jazz club and enjoy some French jazz music. Let's see if it all works out!

Until next time,

Raechel



This is moi.

This is Sarah, another au pair, chasing the pirates!


Sarah and Emma fighting.

Jus De Pomme

Dear Mr. Whiskers,

What to you do in a grocery store when you can't find the jus de pomme (apple juice)? You ask, bien sûr. Today I went to the grocery store. Amy (the mom) had lunch with one of the girls, Sophie, while I looked for a few groceries. I couldn't find the jus de pomme, I looked around the store timidly. I decided here's my chance to practice my French and ask someone for help. I went up to an employee and greeted him, which is très important. If you don't actually greet a person before talking, like bonjour or bon soir, then they find that quite rude. He pointed me in the right direction and off I was to find the jus de pomme.

Another thing I've learned is don't say hello or make eye contact unless greeted first. Guess what the first thing I did on the day I arrived and went for a walk? Bonjour to everyone and to the two men working in the cementary. Wow, I couldn't believe how friendly everyone was in Apremont. Amy soon told me it is very forward to greet men or make eye contact. No wonder they were friendly! Ugh...

On samedi (Saturday), I did a tour of Paris in a convertible. Talk about overwhelming. It is très beautiful. It is a lot bigger than I had imagined. I'm looking forward to taking more time exploring parts of Paris on pied (foot) rather than car. Champs-Élysées here I come. :) Click on this link to watch this video of pictures of Paris. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAMuNfs89yE&feature=related It's a taste of everything I saw from my whirlwind tour of Paris. Don't worry I'll be back to take my own pictures. The song is called Aux Champs-Élysées, which is popular French song. Yes, I did sing the chorus as we walked, for a short jaunt, on the Champs-Élysées.

Attention (be careful) with water!

Raechel