Lyon - September 13, 2004

So, there we were, walking down the streets of Lyon. Evan had just remarked, for the hundredth time, "I really want a French flag," after seeing workers going around changing the flags hanging above the streets, and then seeing flags piled on the back of their truck. We walk into a store, walk out again, and there, lying on the ground in front of us, are three flags (one for France, two for the city or province). Some people nearby hurriedly snatch up two of the flags, and we arrive just in time to grab the last one, the tricolor. After ducking into a shop to stuff the flag into Evan's backpack, while hoping we hadn't broken any laws, we left again, to return to class.

"I really want a big screen tv!"

This weekend, I went on another field trip, to Beaune and Dijon, with four people from my class. We saw a famous hospice/museum in Beaune, walked around in the market, and had lunch (which was excellent) and ice cream (which wasn't). At the hospice, they had a bunch of nun mannequins set up, to simulate a real hospice, but it made the place seem more artificial. I would have just preferred seeing the art there. In Dijon, we took a walking tour as a group, which kept getting smaller as people got separated. I ended out seeing the tomb of Saint Benigne (?), and tasting mustards in a mustard shop there. I had no idea there were so many mustards in existence (apricot curry mustard, anyone?). There were a ton of things to see there, though, and we had almost no time to look at them.

Yesterday, I went to a small neighborhood fair with my host family. Lulu (Anastasia) and Touim (Alexandre) both rode the ponies, and Lulu had her face painted, as a rabbit. It was fun, but the lines there were really long. After, we went to have dinner at the cafeteria at Casino (big supermarket here). It was kind of weird, because the store was closed, but the cafeteria wasn't, and we were the only ones there. The food there tasted American. We ate at Quick too, last week. I think it's because Touim hasn't gotten the whole table manners thing down yet, and they can't take him anywhere nicer.

Oh, I forgot to tell you last week, that we all had doctors appointments for our carte de sejour (paperwork). I got an X-ray, which they let me keep. Mom, you'll be pleased to know that I don't have tuberculosis.

Also, at Annecey, in the middle of the most beautiful lake I've ever seen, on a gorgeous day, next to a picture-perfect town, surrounded by flowers and swans, I heard a little girl proclaim "La vie est belle!"

So, how's the U.S? Bwahahahahahaha!

I'm just kidding. I hope you're all doing great.

Ciao!