First Snow of the Season

The first snow of the season hit Dijon the week before Christmas. In fact, Dijon was officially the coldest city in France at -15C at one point during that week. This is the first time I have actually lived in the snow; before this experience, I could count on one hand the number of times I had seen it. It was really exciting for this LA girl to see snow fall, and I actually got caught under it unexpectedly in the middle of a run. I decided to stop in the middle of my workout to lay down on the grass and watch it as it fell on me (there is a magic about snow...the world slows down when it falls). The next day I took this picture while on a stroll through the park.

Strasbourg

My friend Zara and I have known each other since we were twelve. Unfortunately, Zara moved away to Orange County for high school, but we still managed to keep in touch from time to time. It was quite the coincidence when Zara found out that I was in France thanks to good ole Facebook. Ever since, we have been traveling together throughout different cities both inside and outside of France. We decided to meet in Strasbourg for the Christmas Markets. Strasbourg is in the Alsace region of France, where the culture differs from the rest of the country, and they even speak their own language. Eastern France was going through a cold spell at the time, so we did everything we could to escape the cold. We ended up seeking solace in vin chaud--warm, spiced wine (Thank you "Golden Gate" bar!). We couchsurfed with a really sweet girl studying English at the university there, and in yet another attempt to escape the cold, we all huddled under covers together and watched the entire fourth season of "Sex and the City" together in one evening. Thanks Lucie :)

A French Thanksgiving

My French family had never celebrated Thanksgiving before and I didn't want to miss out on one of my favorite holidays, so we decided to have a Thanksgiving gathering Chez Marie-Françoise. It was my first time really preparing a meal for guests, let alone Thanksgiving dinner, but with a little help from my friends, it turned out to be an amazing evening (if it weren't for MF, I don't think there would have been any way in the world I would have found lait concentré non-sucré--non-sweetened condensed milk--on my own). It also marked a personal milestone for me, as I opened a champagne bottle by myself for the first time; of course, this was after a good deal of stress and detailed instruction from the experts. A good time was had by all, and I am confident Thanksgiving will be an annual tradition Chez Marie-Françoise.

We Have Some Catching Up To Do!

The hustle and bustle of birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and work made me neglect blogging, but here I am three months later! Having been absent for a while means that there is some catching up to be done, so the following posts will be an effort at that (and if it falls short, please forgive me).

Settling In

After moving in, opening a bank account, and sending out all of my immigration forms, I think I am finally settling in. I find myself feeling like an infant time and time again because I often do not know where to go or who to talk to, and I need not mention that I’m not exactly Victor Hugo when it comes to my mastery of the French language, so things haven’t been that easy. Luckily, the people here are so very considerate and patient, so it’s not as difficult as it could be.
I do not live in the vineyards, as those are a bit south of the city and there is not much going on in those little villages most of the time. I live in the west side of Dijon, about a ten minute walk from the downtown area. The neighborhood reminds me of East Coast prep schools in films, i.e. tons of colorful foliage and cold weather. As a runner, it is the perfect place because I stumble upon new creeks and parks each time I go for a workout. I have rented a room in the high school librarian’s flat. Her name is Marie-Françoise, and she is such an adorable lady. I definitely lucked out with my living situation because she can answer most of the questions I have, and she also teaches me so much as she is very well-read. Her husband, Jean-Pierre, lives uptown where he has a huge garden, and so she often brings home fresh fruits and vegetables from his place. I will try to post more pictures soon!

Côte D'Or

A Quaint Country Bed and Breakfast

After our short stay in Paris, my parents and I drove down to Dijon. Dijon is about three hours southeast of Paris by car, in the region of Burgundy (undoubtedly, we get our word burgundy from the rich color of the grapes and subsequent wines this region yields). Between Paris and Burgundy lays a long stretch of rolling green hills and rural villages. We stayed in the quaintest little bed and breakfast during our stay in Dijon. Each morning, they would lay out a beautiful traditional French breakfast, with a wide assortment of breads and homemade jams. The best part was the fresh homemade yoghourt and the freshly baked Pain d’Épices, a gingerbread that is a specialty of Burgundy. Their home was in the middle of farmland in a small village called Labergement-Foigney (so small in fact that the Dijonaise we talked to hadn’t even heard of it). They had four little kids who were possibly the friendliest, most delightful, cutest babies I have ever come across. They would alert each other about the arrival of “les Américains” at the breakfast table, after which we would hear the scurry of little feet about the house, rushing to see the alien specimens sitting at their breakfast table. The breakfast table was where we met people from other places who had also made the B&B a stop on their travels. The time I passed there not only provided me with an experience of French country life, but also taught me a lesson in hospitality and warmth of heart. The wife and husband team that ran the place would help us with absolutely every question we had, and then some. Aux Mésanges in Labergement-Foigney is the place to be if you ever want to spend a few quiet days in the French countryside.