I love you Andrew.

Big News: Andrew is moving to Paris in January to go to HEC Paris to get his MBA. I am so proud of him and just so thankful for our relationship. Life is so much better with him in it, and his coming to Paris means many more good memories together to come! xx

Strikes, Santa, and Snow

Last Thursday was a very strange day of “work.” I left early to take the trains, and they were all on time despite several strikes, or “greves,” that had been going on in Paris public transportation. However, as soon as I got to school, I found signs that said “lycee en greve” (high school on strike)! Strangely enough, it wasn’t the teachers or administration who were striking… it was the students! There has just been a reform passed for the educational system in France, and the students didn’t like it. Alors, strike. Only natural to a French person. But students? All of the students were out in front of the school protesting, and the door was blocked by some of the older students. They let me through and were basically laughing at my confused state. As soon as I got inside, I saw all of the other teachers looking out the windows and acting like this was completely normal and that there was nothing they could do.When I asked some of the teachers why the students have the right to strike, their reply was that this is France and that is just how things work here. Another student later said that the French are expert complainers and aren’t afraid to let the whole world know what they are complaining about. C’est la France.

Becca and I went to a Christmas concert at American Church in Paris last Saturday and it was beautiful. I love things like that because they really remind me of what Christmas is all about and put me in a cheery sort of mood. It really is a wonderful church and I have loved going and getting to know some pretty wonderful people there.

On Sunday, we hosted a Christmas dinner party at out apartment. It was great to have everyone here together before we went our separate ways for the holidays. Please note the fabulous snowflakes on the window crafted by our very own Emily Plug.

Also note that Fozzie Plug (Santa) and I coordinated outfits.

In other news, IT SNOWED TODAY!!! It started this morning and I was smiling even at 7:30am in freezing cold weather because Paris gave me a little going away Christmas present on the last day before I leave. It was so beautiful... out in Villepreux, the small suburb of Paris where I teach, literally everything was white. My classroom has a

big window and I watched the snow fall all day. Some of the snowflakes were as big as my hand! Lovely.

So I leave tomorrow morning for San Francisco to spend Christmas at

home! I am so excited to be with my

family and just to be home in America for a bit. I love it here, but I do miss the sense of familiarity of home and it will be nice to have that for the next two weeks. Also, I will be in Los Angeles for New Years so everyone should go/stay there :) Can't wait to see you all!

get's me in the Christmas spirit...

City of Love

Last week was the best week I have had in Paris.

Paris in and of itself is an amazing place. The city never sleeps, and there are so many beautiful things to see and do. But Paris still is just a place, just another point on the map. The most meaningful things about it are the experiences I have shared with friends here. The people you love really do make all the difference in life, whether you are in Paris, OK, Los Angeles, bay area, or in the middle of nowhere.

So this past week was Thanksgiving, and with the holiday came Andrew, Chris, Molly, Brett, Lauren, Connor, and Kyle to add to my wonderful friends already here in Paris. I cannot express how amazing it was to see them all and show them my new life here. We visited a lot of monuments, museums and so forth, but some of the more memorable times were when we all got together at my apartment to hang out and make dinner (we did that a lot!). Thanksgiving was a little unconventional, what with a turkey sandwich meal and all, but the company made all the difference. (Side note... I found out from a friend Sean that a big turkey cost her family about 90 euros!!! Wild). The icing on the cake was being here when Chris proposed to Molly. He had been planning it for months and managed to keep it a secret from Molly (barely!). He proposed at the Trocadero, which has a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower, and they met us at an Italian restaurant after. I am so excited for them both because they really are perfect for each other and I can't wait to see where life takes them!

Having Andrew here was one of my favorite times with him ever. The first time we said goodbye was hard of course, but I think I was really anticipating all of the new things I was getting ready to experience so I had a lot on my mind to keep me distracted. That being said, saying goodbye this last Sunday was a whole new challenge. I am settled into Paris now, and I wanted to show him that and share everything with him! After a week of doing that, I wasn't ready to say goodbye again. Of course we talk a lot on the phone, but his physical presence here made me realize all over why I love him so much. Our relationship has grown a lot throughout this time, and it took literally less than two seconds after seeing him before he fit right back into his place next to me, even in this new environment. It wasn't anything we specifically did that made the trip so great together, it was just him. Andrew, tu me manques.

Right now Andrew and I are facing an opportunity that could mean we would be together again much sooner than we thought, so I am praying a lot that God will guide us through this time of important decisions. I trust Him to take care of us!

A good distraction from everyone's leaving this past Sunday morning was another Thanksgiving at our apartment with my roommates and friends in Paris. We would have all (roommates, friends, guests) liked to do it together in the first place, but plans and timing didn't match up... I'm not complaining, two Thanksgivings are better than one! After I came back from the airport, I decided to take a long walk. It was good to clear my head a little and reflect on such a wonderful week. When I finally got home, round two Thanksgiving preparations were in full swing! I got a chicken (please note turkey prices above!), Emily made home made apple pie and kiri corn, Becca took care of vegetables and stuffing, Kara made the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had, Sean created a sweet potatoes and marshmallows masterpiece and mashed potatoes, and our British friends Alison, Faye, and Emmanuela brought a wonderful rhubarb crumble with creme anglaise! Not to mention everyone brought some wine, Carl brought some baguettes, Melissa brought chocolate (mmm!), and Greg and Fozzie Plug took care to grate the cheese for the macaroni. It was such a great meal and time to share with friends! It also made me realize how much I love our apartment. Because it is so open, it makes a perfect cozy and inviting place to hang out with friends. And we make quite the hostesses, let me tell you.

Life has settled down now that all of our visitors have left and we are back into our routines. I am still teaching, tutoring 2 boys, and also now tutoring a history teacher in English at my school. He is such a nice man and wants to be certified to teach history in English, so I will be helping him until his test in March. This is a really great opportunity for me to become better friends with teachers at my school too, which is a big goal of mine. The more effort I put into life here in France, the more I will get from my experience!

I hope the holiday season has everyone in good spirits, I miss you all and think of you often! I will be on a plane home for Christmas in 2 weeks and cannot wait! The young adults group at the church I have been going to has been discussing Advent and we have been reflecting on what the holidays are really all about... Let us all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!