French Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, all the American assistants in the academy (as well as assistants from other countries) got together to throw an American-style Thanksgiving! It was in a little place called Faites-le-vous-même, a sort of community center/restaurant where people can bring food for a potluck. There was a lady there to help organize, reheat etc. 

Jackie, Simran, Jenny (from Australia!!) and our fearless leader, Joshua.

Emily does such a great job photobombing...

Melissa, Simran and me. By the way, Melissa took most of these pictures and she was most obliging to let me use them. My camera doesn't do well in dark light!

Melissa! Sweetest girl on the planet!

I know it looks like we're celebrating in a storage closet!

Pumpkin pie!

Tyler and Carl

Lots of action and conversation!

And finally, our lovely representative of the state of Iowa, Emily. :) Happy Thanksgiving guys, you're the best!

Côte Bleue

One of the beautiful places that Isabelle and Yann took me was the Côte Bleue. You could really tell why it was called blue!

Sorry for all the similar pictures...I just loved them all so much that I couldn't choose.

It really wasn't warm that day, but these brave people were out in the water...

I loved how the rocks and plants along the coast were very different from any I've seen so far.

There was a path that ran along the coast a few kilometers to a little cafe.

This is where I'll live when I'm rich and famous.

We stopped for a quick drink before the sunset forced us to walk back.

I promise it was 1000 times prettier than this...maybe we should just stop taking pictures of sunsets because we're never gonna get that perfect picture. It's definitely more in the experience, being in the moment of the sunset.

There was another brave soul trying to swim.  At least that other guy had a wetsuit, but this poor girl was braving it in a bikini!

The moon's out!

When we got back to the parking lot, we saw that there was a pétanque tournament going on behind it. We got there right at the end when the last two were facing off and everyone was standing around watching them.

Inside the building, there was a roomful of old men playing cards.

Goodbye "La Pétanque Carryenne" and La Côte Bleue. A la prochaine.

Birthday at the Fun Fair

These fun girls, as well as Tyler and Andrea (not in picture), came out for my birthday last week!

Since nearly everything else was closed (Sundays in France), we went to the fun fair on the banks of the Seine here in Rouen.  It opens over Toussaint and runs through to the end of the month of November.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the fair stretches far down the river in either direction.

There were many games at the fair that promised 100 euros if you could win them.

The opportunities to buy candy and pastries were endless.

I had my eye on these chocolate covered apples...

...and I finally settled on one that was covered with chocolate and hazelnuts. We also ate birthday churros.

So much nougat!!

I thought it was funny that cotton candy there was called "Barbe à Papa." (Daddy's beard!) I'm trying to imagine my dad with a pink, fluffy beard...

There was also a selection of restaurants that cooked typical food from Normandy. We were big fans of the roasting pork outside since we were cold and the wood fires were very warm.

There were also a lot of typical fair games. I think Max would have enjoyed this one!

We were all sad that this didn't come in adult size.

Everyone else agreed that this game brought back good childhood memories.

We had our two adventurous people in the group. These two wanted to do all the fun rides.

While we were waiting for Tyler and Anyees to finish their ride, we watched multiple people fail at holding themselves up on a pull-up bar for two minutes. Apparently the prize was 100 euros if you could hold yourself up for the two minutes without touching the ground...it doesn't sound too hard, but I guess it is! We should practice for the next two weeks and come back on the last day of the fair and win 100 euros.

I was surprised that they could transport such big rides to the fair!

It was along the river the whole way, so anytime you wanted you could go see the Seine.

Our two adventurers get ready for their next ride!

There's no turning back now!

All set!

And up up and away!

At that point it was getting dark and cold, so we decided to head out.

The walk back along the other side of the river though cold, was beautiful.  The picture doesn't do it justice in the least.

We went to one of the only restaurants that is open on Sunday in Rouen, Pizza Paï.

Here we all are with our food! (Except Anyees who took the picture.)

We didn't know that this was the case at Pizza Paï, but they give you a free birthday cake on your birthday! It was enough for all 7 of us!

They even put candles on it for me to blow out! Thanks guys for such a nice birthday! You're the best. :)