* Snow * Snow * Snow *

Thanksgiving was last week, as I'm sure you're all aware of. I spent a lot of time in class talking about it, which even helped me brush up on my US history once again. So far I think this job has helped me become a better history teacher more than an English teacher! I'm surprised with how much the students already knew about Thanksgiving. It really wasn't a lot, but they knew some of the foods we eat for Thanksgiving (especially turkey and pumpkin pie), they knew for the most part that it WAS Thanksgiving without me telling them, and they knew where the Pilgrims came from. That's not to say everyone did, but quite a few.

All day I felt like I was walking around with this little secret. I was celebrating this wonderful holiday everywhere I went, but no one around me was, and nobody knew about it. Every French person I saw walking on the sidewalks... No clue.

After school on Thanksgiving, I headed back to my room to attempt making anything that resembles my mom's food. While cooking, I watched what I could of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade online. It was definitely not like watching a live broadcast of it on NBC, but it was good enough. There would be no turkey, that's for sure, because I don't have an oven. So I mashed up some potatoes and discovered how easy it is to make them the "right" way. So tose turned out well. I tried to make creamed corn. Now, once again, I knew ahead of time they wouldn't be like Mom's because there is no oven. But I looked up some easy recipes for making it on the stovetop. It was a bit difficult without having the proper measuring tools, but I eyeballed it. It turned out okay, but it was way too creamy. It almost tasted like I was just drinking a bottle of cream with corn in it. In fact, I don't know if I'll even eat the leftovers. Mario, the German assistant, made a pumpkin soup, which was very tasty. I had cranberry juice to drink since there are no cranberries to be found here (maybe I didn't look hard enough, but the easiest would've been canned cranberries, and I know for sure they don't have that), and for dessert a chocolate tarte... the closest looking thing to a pumpkin pie. And whipped cream on top, of course. Overall it was a good and successful meal. Before I came to France, my mom asked what I wanted for my last dinner before leaving the US. I chose Thanksgiving dinner because it is my absolute favorite meal of the year (even better than PF Chang's and Red Lobster!), and I knew I'd miss out this year. It sure didn't make up completely for missing the second most important day of the year at home, but in a way I just considered it my early Thanksgiving, because my corn definitely did not suffice.

After eating but while still talking with Mario, my family called. It was so great! I was going to surprise them and call, but they beat me to it. So we talked for a good 30 minutes, and all my family members who actually like me talked to me. ;) It was good to feel like I was still home a little bit on Thanksgiving day.

After everything was said and done, I did the millions of dishes sitting in the sink, and it really felt like a big day was over. I mean, it was. But it FELT like a holiday. It felt how it should feel. Something exciting had just taken place. The day was over and another year would have to pass until I saw it again. The same way I always feel on Thanksgiving night. But this was a bit better because I knew I'd made it through the most boring and uneventful Thanksgiving of my life. (I guess I can't speak for the future.) I made it!

That night, the first heavy snow fell. And the next day, it snowed, and it snowed, and it snowed.

Then Saturday it snowed, and it snowed, and it snowed.

Today, there is a lot of snow!

The snow couldn't have come at a better time! I'm so glad I don't have to drive in the snow this year, but I'm finding that walking in it is almost just as scary. The sidewalks aren't all flat around here! And how often at home do I walk long distances in the snow? Never. The good thing is that I should only have to go far once or twice a week to get food. Otherwise, I live at the school and really don't need to go anywhere if the weather is too bad!

It's really starting to feel like Christmas. I bought a few decorations for my room and feel really cozy in here. I wish I had a Christmas tree, but I don't know if it's worth buying one. I can go a year without, can't I? I've also been planning for Christmas. I'm not going to give it all away right now, but... I'm going to Disneyland! Christmas Eve and Christmas day. For real. Did you ever think that I would be going to Disneyland? ME? Betsy Sanford, whose parents would only drive as far as Big Sky, Montana?! I'm so excited! I will get to meet Belle... in her hometown. My dream come true! Okay so it's not my biggest dream. But I'm still really excited! (PS: It's Disneyland Paris, not the one in CA!)

The weeks go by so fast here. The weekends do, too, though they seem to go more slowly than the weeks. Before I know it it'll be April, and I'll be free as a bird to do whatever I want. Tell me your favorite European places you've visited. I should start brainstorming ideas.