Ahh, finally internet strong enough to add photos!
This weekend was tons of fun!
Friday afternoon this farm girl got to spend the entire afternoon in a tractor! (yes, I consider it fun) We were tearing out old vines and the rest of everyone working were putting the roots in the bucket and I drove the tractor up and down the rows. I had the easy job, thanks to having a license. Saturday afternoon Andreas took Claire and I out to his friends lake to wake board and tube. (typical American fun, but with French people)
Saturday night once we got home we drove to the Pyrenees mountains to spend the weekend with the family. Sunday morning the rest of the family met us at the house and we drove to Lac d'Oo to hike. 27 of us in 8 cars! It was an hour and a half hike each way, and the hike was 500 times worse than Turkey Run Trail 3 or the hike we did at the beginning of the Program in Gavarnie. I was not prepared for that! Once we got to the lake and everyone caught up we had lunch and sat around enjoying our view. The kids played in the water, well, and so did some of the adults. Some walked all the way to the waterfall but I stayed and talked with one of the aunts, she spoke perfect English - no accent either! We talked about French sports versus American sports, Purdue, Alpha Chi, and also what my plans are for the future. It was so nice to have a full, easy conversation with someone. I forgot what it was like! We went back to the house and sat around drinking some beers while the kids played with a futball. Dinner was interesting to say the least, women sat at one end of the table and the men at the other so they could see the TV for the Argentina vs Germany game. My, oh, my! It's just like us Americans with Marchmadness or the playoffs! We came home this morning. Today is a national holiday in France, so no work thankfully!
Getting to go on the family trip and meet 27 other members of the family is an experience I will never forget! I am so thankful that I was placed in such a great family, one that lets me tag along in everything they do. My placement in this family definitely makes this experience 100 times better than if I wasn't with such a cool family.
I have posted some pictures from the hike, the village, the house, and a group photo of myself, Claire (the oldest of my host sisters), Elise, and Quentin (cousins).
This weekend was tons of fun!
Friday afternoon this farm girl got to spend the entire afternoon in a tractor! (yes, I consider it fun) We were tearing out old vines and the rest of everyone working were putting the roots in the bucket and I drove the tractor up and down the rows. I had the easy job, thanks to having a license. Saturday afternoon Andreas took Claire and I out to his friends lake to wake board and tube. (typical American fun, but with French people)
Saturday night once we got home we drove to the Pyrenees mountains to spend the weekend with the family. Sunday morning the rest of the family met us at the house and we drove to Lac d'Oo to hike. 27 of us in 8 cars! It was an hour and a half hike each way, and the hike was 500 times worse than Turkey Run Trail 3 or the hike we did at the beginning of the Program in Gavarnie. I was not prepared for that! Once we got to the lake and everyone caught up we had lunch and sat around enjoying our view. The kids played in the water, well, and so did some of the adults. Some walked all the way to the waterfall but I stayed and talked with one of the aunts, she spoke perfect English - no accent either! We talked about French sports versus American sports, Purdue, Alpha Chi, and also what my plans are for the future. It was so nice to have a full, easy conversation with someone. I forgot what it was like! We went back to the house and sat around drinking some beers while the kids played with a futball. Dinner was interesting to say the least, women sat at one end of the table and the men at the other so they could see the TV for the Argentina vs Germany game. My, oh, my! It's just like us Americans with Marchmadness or the playoffs! We came home this morning. Today is a national holiday in France, so no work thankfully!
Getting to go on the family trip and meet 27 other members of the family is an experience I will never forget! I am so thankful that I was placed in such a great family, one that lets me tag along in everything they do. My placement in this family definitely makes this experience 100 times better than if I wasn't with such a cool family.
I have posted some pictures from the hike, the village, the house, and a group photo of myself, Claire (the oldest of my host sisters), Elise, and Quentin (cousins).