with only eight days left in paris, kelly and i finally had a decent conversation at host family dinner tonight. usually dinner conversation consisted of our host mom asking us questions and us usually replying with "oui" and very broken french phrases. and even though i feel like my french hasn't improved much, it actually felt good to speak at dinner tonight, rather than awkwardly sitting there while the host siblings jabber about things and occasionally sing katy perry lyrics.
tonight, our host mom (i finally learned her name is GAIDIC...and i don't know how to pronounce it, so i just say it like it looks. gaydick. laugh now.) asked us to explain our thanksgiving traditions to henri and solene (the two youngest kids).
now ask me in english and i can explain what my family does for daaaaayz. i live for thanksgiving.
in french? the only thing i could think of was:
"BEAUCOUP DE MANGER."
literally that's what i said. all i said. all i could think of. and that's not even a proper french sentence.
i eventually remembered how to describe food and where we eat and stuff.
but then gaidic asked us why we celebrate thanksgiving and how it came to be.
i think i said something like "les pilgrims et les native americans created peace amongst each other et ils ont mange ensemble. in peace."
apparently it worked because they understood.
and henri kept saying donner merci. which i understood. to give thanks. thanksgiving. ya know?
so i think we were all clear on the topic of thanksgiving.
so yes. it's thanksgiving time.
i'm really sad i won't get to celebrate with ma famille this year. honestly, a taylor thanksgiving is possibly the best holiday around and it's always a good time.
but being on this study abroad really made me realize how grateful i am for things.
and how lucky i am. so i'll suck it up and enjoy thanksgiving in paris. besides, i get a thanksgiving feast when i get home, right mom?
so in lieu of this joyous holiday, i have fabricated a list of all the things i'm grateful for.
(in slightly no particular order)
mommy.
daddy.
grant.
the other kids (just kidding maddie, sam, lily).
nana and po.
aunts and uncles.
cousins.
friends.
jesus.
church.
church in english.
english.
america.
seedless grapes.
american money.
euro coins.
coats.
blankets.
heating systems.
technology.
pillows.
speculoos.
coloring books.
christmas music.
rap.
good music.
skiing.
snow.
fashion.
good food.
taco bell.
metro entertainers.
my host family.
stairs.
elevators and escalators.
water heaters.
fluffy towels.
british accents.
nice people.
daryl.
the lee's.
harry potter.
wizards.
magic.
my missionary friends.
dry shampoo.
long hair.
natural curls.
trains.
markers.
colored pencils.
fancy pens.
wolves.
unicorns.
my native american ancestry.
just native americans in general.
double sided tape.
mod podge.
art. crafts.
watches.
ipods/iphones.
laptops.
internet.
thanksgiving dinner.
mashed potatoes.
bread, rolls, and carbs.
cinnamon rolls.
donuts.
macarons.
baguettes.
croissants.
christmas lights.
sweaters.
boots.
h+m.
parks and recreation.
airplanes.
fresh air.
large glasses of water.
water in general.
dr. pepper.
sweatshirts.
wolf shirts.
cameras.
clothes.
arrested development.
literally everything else i can't think of.
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