November 10, 2013

Fall Traditions

One of my good friends here in Paris just did a segment for her station back in Charlotte, about fall traditions here in Paris....and how there are none. SOOO TRUE!! We are in the middle of fall here and Paris has the big lighting for Christmas this week. WHAT!!! We thought the US promoted Christmas early. My rule of thumb was always after Thanksgiving, at least, possibly even December 1st. Well here there is nothing to celebrate in the fall so why not go right to Christmas. There is no Halloween and no Thanksgiving (and why would there be). So we celebrated all the fall holidays on our own (and with every other US expat in Paris)

We started by visiting a great farm right on the out skirts of Paris, Gally Farm. We borrowed a car from a friend and headed out. It had everything you can imagine. There were pumpkins, apples, every kind vegetable and flowers. The list can go on. It was really great, it reminded us of our home, Hunterdon county, where there are farms like this everywhere. It also reminded us of home because everywhere we turned people were speaking english. There were expats trying to keep some fall traditions going just like us. We ran into so many people we knew.

We started with the pumpkins. Unfortunately the pumpkin picking consisted of picking your pumpkin out of a pile, but we didn't care. We then went on to the apples. There were rows and rows of different kinds of apple trees and Keith made sure he tasted every kind. We picked enough apples to have for weeks to come and apple pies to be made. Then it was onto the carrots and flowers and strawberries. I had never picked carrots before and because all the shovels were taken we were only able to pick little ones, even with that it is a pretty dirty job. Then came the fresh flowers (which were my favorite) and then the strawberries. It was such a fun filled day, it felt sooo good. The kids were just soo happy.

The picture I posted on FB, love this one.

Peyton enjoying an old fashioned see saw.

Then came Toussaint Holiday in France, which is also know as All Saints. The French schools are off two weeks every year for this holiday, thankfully the international school Lance and Peyton attend only have a week off. So like everyone else we planned a small get away. We decided to go to Prague. It is somewhere I alway wanted to go since my days working for Foster Wheeler when one of my fellow colleagues went for an audit and loved it. We stayed in a Marriott, which is always so refreshing to stay at, and the rooms were so big (in comparison to a european hotel), not to mention the pool for the kids. Of course we thought the people in the hotel were going to call the police on us one night when our daughter woke up with night terrors. If any of you have ever had a child with night terrors (Lance never had them), they are the scariest thing. We got thru with out any cops at our door and even with the lack of sleep we had a great time. I have to say Prague lived up to everything I thought. It was AWESOME!! We had a great time just exploring the streets in old town, climbing the steps of cathedral in the Prague castle, drinking good beer and just hanging out. It was very clean, very friendly, everyone spoke english with no problem and we lucked out and had awesome weather. Oh yeah, gothic architecture is one of my favorites so I especially loved it. I would recommend it to anyone! Keith and I both agreed that we will be back we liked it soo much. (Sorry there are so many pictures)

Famous astronomical clock.  you just can't help but stare at it.  On the hour there is entertainment. — Famous astronomical clock. you just can't help but stare at it. On the hour there is entertainment.

There was a TGIF...don't worry we didn't go.

Waiting for the change of guards at the castle.

Keith got his favorite thing...bratwurst.

We got back from Prague and it was time to celebrate Halloween but wait ....they don't celebrate Halloween in France. We were told that they have tried to get it going but it just didn't take. The kids had a great Halloween party in school before the holiday, and Lance's friend also had a halloween birthday party so the kids got to dress up a few times. They weren't totally deprived, but we still thought of alternatives. The only thing to do was to bring the kids to Paris Disney, where they were decorated for Halloween and having a big party. It was fun, not the same as trick or treating in downtown Clinton, but I have to say nothing beats trick or treating in downtown Clinton. They didn't have trick or treating at Disney but we still had a good time. I think next year we will head to London where they do trick or treating. I am happy we didn't have a ton of candy in the house but as a person who just loves Halloween I missed it. I did learn a good lesson from the kids school. They sent out a background on what Halloween was all about. To be honest I don't think I ever knew this. It is a good lesson and I had to share it with you.

What is Halloween?

The history of Halloween can be traced back 2,000 years. It was during these ancient times in Europe that the Celts celebrated the beginning of winter on the evening of October 31. November 1 was the first day of their new year and it also marked the first day of winter. They believed that death was strongly linked to the long and bitter winter. The Celts thought that during the winter the dead and the living existed simultaneously because it was on this day that the dead roamed the earth. Samhain was the name they gave to their celebration of the dead on the evening of October 31.

However, when Christians began to gain authority in the 800s, the history of Halloween was forever changed: November 1 became known as All Saints Day or All-Hallows. It is believed that the Christians slightly altered the holiday into a church related celebration, honoring deceased saints. Not unlike Celtic tradition though, the Christians too honored the dead on this day. The evening of October 31 soon became known as All-Hallows Eve and was eventually changed to Halloween.

Pretty good lesson!

Oh yeah and we finally got around to carving our pumpkins and making some great apple pie.

Next up is Thanksgiving and we are looking forward to some family coming in for it. I ordered a cooked turkey from a local butcher. If you are wondering why, it is because the ovens here will not fit a turkey in it. I will let you know how that works out with the butcher. Keith will be working that day (although I think he will take off) and the kids will be in school but the celebration will start in the afternoon. Not sure how we are going to watch the parade but we will try.

Besides that we are just looking forward to some fun parties and impromtu traveling coming up in the next few weeks.

Thanks for reading.

Miss all of you!

As always Life is good ...in Paris.

Alicia

October 18, 2013

We made it 6 months!!

by Alicia Demmerle

It has been a while since I posted anything so I wanted to wait for this very special post. Our six month anniversary in Paris!!! Woo hoo, we survived 6 months. We have had our ups and downs during the six months. There are times where I just wanted to get back on that plane and go home. Then there are so many other times, perhaps on a Sunday afternoon, when we are discovering more things about the streets of Paris, I think to myself how great it is here. Or I should say Keith keeps reminding me how great it is. His exact words "you can't do this in Clinton, NJ". However, It is a never ending roller coaster of feelings.

We have had a handful of visitors already in the six months , my cousin Chris just left a few days ago, and we are having a few more coming in the next month, which we are super excited for.

We have also visited so many places already and have three more big trips in the works. It is so easy to get to places here, which is wonderful!

Of course we miss our friends, our house, our family and the ease of everything back in the US. The weird thing is that thinking about it, so many things have changed and things will never be the same. I am not sure if that is good or bad....

Back to being here six months....I have put a list of just some of the things I have learned the first six months in Paris:

- A Bon Jour Madame/Monsieur and a smile can go a long way

- Grocery shopping can take at least two hours and then you are back in the store the next day.

- Summer time in Paris is wonderful

- Winter time in Paris is dark and gloomy, Keith feels right at home coming from Cleveland

- When you go to a doctor appointment the doctor will come out to get you. There is no nurse.

- Chivalry still lives on the Paris Metro. I have had people get out of their seats to give the kids and I seats and have had people help me carry the stroller up the stairs of the metro.

- Doing a long run past the monuments on a Sunday morning is my favorite time of the week

- Listening to my son and daughter speak french makes Keith and I smile.

- Even with over 20 swimming pools in Paris, there is never a down time when you are swimming with at least 6 people to a lane ( Keith had up to 13 in his lane), Luckily Keith has joined a triathlon club and he is able to swim and train with a few as 3 in the lane.

- My dog doesn't like anyone in our building, except for the really nice older lady that lives across the hall from us. She just loves him, doesn't speak any english but just loves Max!

- My daughter is not always as sweet a girl she acts like in public, she grows horns after 5pm. (she is 3, I do not like 3, I couldn't wait for Lance to turn 4 and Keith and I are counting the days unit then)

-Peanut Butter is a novelty. it is available but at least ten times the price with a smaller quantity. (When anyone comes to visit that is the admission fee, a big jar of peanut butter).

- You can get a great bottle of wine for 3 Euros (around $4)

- Eating at least two baguettes per family a day is normal (we definitely do!)

-Lamborghini makes an SUV and I have seen it on the streets of Paris

- French people are not being rude on the streets when they are looking down, they are just making sure they don't step in dog poo.

- When asking for something in Paris always ask twice, you will get a different answer. This has happened to me many times.

- Everything just takes longer and is slower in Paris.

- Although it is taking us time to adjust to the city of Paris, It can be breathtakingi!!!

As we are living here I plan on just adding to this list, if anyone has anything to add let me know.

This experience is and continues to be a life changing event for my family and me. I love my husband for bringing us over here (not always...LOL). I know our kids are going to have some life changing experiences. I also know that in only 6 months I have made the most wonderful friends. Friends from all over the world that are in the same circumstance and that can relate to any challenges we face. It is comforting.

The first 6 months has been interesting and we have many more interesting things to discover in our time here.

Enjoy some of the latest pictures from our adventures.

Thanks for Reading!

For now:

Life is good in Paris!

Peyton and Mr. Brian.  We had a great visit with him and look forward to holiday together next year. — Peyton and Mr. Brian. We had a great visit with him and look forward to holiday together next year.

I will never get tired of this view. :-)

Another picture of the start of the race.

Start of 20k Paris.  I am in that crowd somewhere, along with 24k people. — Start of 20k Paris. I am in that crowd somewhere, along with 24k people.

clock at the Museum D'Orsay ...very cool.  Can see Sacre Coeur thru the window. — clock at the Museum D'Orsay ...very cool. Can see Sacre Coeur thru the window.

Just hanging out in the Champ de Mars eating some crepes.

Sacre Couer !  Montmartre is one of my favorite areas! — Sacre Couer ! Montmartre is one of my favorite areas!

Do you think she is tired...won't let go of the ipad.LOL!

Under the 6 metro, just a really cool picture.

Lance and Chris, we all loved him being here!

September 9, 2013

Bye Bye Summer

by Alicia Demmerle

Heading into the last few weeks of summer, with the kids still off from school we wanted to make the best of the weather and Keith's time off. We tried to get out of town but with everyone still on holiday in France it was impossible to get a hotel anywhere. Then we went to church on Sunday (the American Church of Paris) and discovered that they were holding a week long vacation bible school. Hmm....maybe this would be a good adjustment for the kids to get back in school mode and it gives them a chance to make new friends. Oh and did I mention it was only 20 Euros!!! WOO HOO!! Plus, Keith had already taken time off so it would give Keith and I the chance to get some stuff done in our apartment that would be difficult with the kids there. It was a win, win. Lance is a sport and goes off no problem when dropping him off to different places, Peyton can be a challenge but we have learned it is a big act, once we leave she just jumps right in. The kids had a blast and the church did such a wonderful job with almost 60 kids all week. They even taught the kids songs they they sang at church the following Sunday. Lance's exact words when picking him on the last day " This was the best morning ever!"

All the kids getting ready to sing at mass, see if you can spot Lance.

In addition to Vacation Bible School we decided to discover some more of Paris. One afternoon we went to the Jardin des Plantes which had the world's oldest public zoo, La Menagerie. It opened in 1794 and too be honest it kind of shows its age but the kids really enjoyed it and the gardens were really really pretty. It was an area we had not been yet in Paris and we were so glad we went. Plus on the way home we stopped at a very well known American restaurant, Breakfast in American (BIA). Soooo Goood!

On another afternoon we went to the Jardin D'Acclimation, which is Paris' oldest children's amusement park. The kids were in their glory, they had bunches of rides, parks and even water areas for the kids, when it is hot out. Lance enjoyed the steam that was shot up out of the sidewalk, while Peyton was so excited that they had swings at this park. When I say swing I mean just the basic swings that are in every park around the US. It is really hard to find swings in Paris. No one knows why since it can't be a safety thing. Most of the parks in Paris would never pass safety inspections in the US. Anyway, Peyton was just the happiest on the swings. Lance also went on a obstacle ropes course where he did amazing.

Lance doing great on the obstacle course!

Then it appeared that summer was over in Paris. Not just because the parking spots that were wide open on the streets during the summer were now triple parked with cars, or not just because there seems to be an increase of dog poo on the streets, because the Parisians just can't grasp that if you have a dog you need to pick up after them but it was the fact that school was about to start.

My little boy was beginning Kindergarten and my baby girl is going into Preschool (or Nursery school in Paris). It also wasn't just the start of new classes but a new school, The International School of Paris. They had a chance to experience the school at the beginning of the summer since they went to camp there for a few weeks.

The first day was orientation with all the teachers and went fantastic. Lance loved it, especially since he already knew a few of his friends and they were in the same class. He had half days for the first week, so the kids could get adjusted and now is going full time. He was such a good boy the first day in. One of his friends, Bridget, was having a hard time so he held her hand going in to make her feel better. It was sooo sweet. (Don't worry Molly, his heart still belongs to you)

Peyton also had half days last week and this week so the younger kids could get adjusted. She did well and will be Miss Social before we know it. I can't wait for her to go full time!! Am I a bad mom for saying that out loud. Remember she is 3, for those of you that have kids, I find 3 to be such a tough age, not terrible two's but crazy 3's. The funny thing is that she just melts your heart sometimes because she can be so sweet, but it can turn so quickly...LOL!

It has not just been great getting the kids into school but we are meeting some amazing parents that are becoming some really great friends. It is amazing how people in the same situations just sworm to each other. I love it and it makes me feel more at home. Oh don't get me wrong I still have my moments that I just want to fly home because I can't find ingredients to make a basic cake, but meeting such great people brings me back to what a great place we are in and how we need to enjoy it. It will be over before we know it.

Lance with his Kindergarten teacher and friends, Bridget and Charlie.

Lance and his friend Bridget on the first day, going in.

Aside from the crazy schedules of getting the kids back to school Keith and I are just living everyday life and getting really excited about some good friends and family that are coming in the next couple of months. I can't wait!!!

So for now:

Life is Good in Paris :-)

Thanks for reading!

Alicia

As always I am just adding some fun pictures for fun.