Swiss Alps and Swiss Chocolate

The large bridge that extends out over Lake Geneva

Which, is the largest lake in Europe

Geneva's most famous jet stream of water, which shoots out of the lake into the air

Gorgeous snow falling in Chamonix

The little cog train that took us up into the Alps to the top

It was so cold we only smiled to take a picture

Ski lift device that took us up into the skiers paradise

Inside the ski lift

Mother Has Arrived!

Mother holding my homemade crepes

French manicures at "Le Institut Mireabeau"

Mumsy with a very frenchie sign

Us at Book In Bar

A Christmas day walk in the park, I was talking during the picture

Mother is such a pro at the market now!

The pensive shopper

A spot of herbal tea at Book In Bar

Just us and the books!

Mother wasted no time diving into the French way of eating..!

It was a dark and stormy night... just a few days before Christmas, and mother's flight was set to arrive from Frankfurt, Germany at the Marseille-Provence airport around 6pm. It was raining cats and dogs in the torrential fashion common to southern France...not exactly ideal flying weather.

Donning my new rain boots and peacoat, I made my way to the "gare routiere" (bus station) to catch the shuttle and make the 30 min ride to Marseille from Aix.

I arrived about an hour before mumsy's flight arrived ( it was a few minutes late due to weather) and proceeded to wait with the other anxious persons there at the gate where passengers were to be met by their respective parties.

Mumsy came barrelling through the automatic double doors, suitcases in tow, ready to embark on her adventure in the south of France! We spent the next hour riding home and trekking the 20 minutes to my house through the windy cobblestone streets that were soaked with moisture, and it continued to pour.

The last few days have been a blur of shopping, eating and talking..what mothers and daughters do best! We have been cooking up a storm (thanks to my new found Julia life), shopping at the market, picking up gifts for the family, and mum has been attempting to speak French with real live French people!

I have taken her to all my favorite spots in Aix, like Book In Bar (my favorite English bookstore), Les Thes Anglaise (my favorite tea shop), Paul ( my ultimate favorite patisserie) and we even got French manicures in France!

Mumsy has taken quite a liking to macaroons, madelines and nutella crepes.

Tomorrow we head to Geneva, Switzerland for a vacation in the frozen north that includes a cable car ride into the Swiss Alps to see the Matterhorn-trademark to Toblerone chocolate.

Turning Point

I love this pic of Nikki and I trying to decide what to do, Dec '09

Our hostel in Paris had legitimate bunk beds. Good times, Nov '09

Cousine Amanda and I, Nov'09

Boris and I at f(r)amily Thanksgiving..spy school photos, Nov '09

Sarah and I, IPN, Nikki's Birthday, Nov '09

Whitney, (our au pair friend) and I have matching Longchamp purses, Nov '09

Starbucks in Geneva, I will forever be grateful for that bit of home, Oct '09

Italy and I. Period...well, of course my friend Diet Coke, Oct '09

Boris and I at Sarah's Birthday, Princess fizz ready to go, Oct '09

Sarah and I hiking St.Victoire, Sept '09

Our level 4 Prep Language Program group at Alejandra's Birthday Sept '09

The first night I took everyone to see our front door, Aug '09

I am officially halfway through my program..I can hardly believe it. Some of my favorite memories are those nights spent around my kitchen table, drinking tea and talking about our lives with my new found close friends.

We have reached some good conclusions, make some hard decisions, and shared some experiences that will last us a lifetime, and bring smiles to our faces whenever we remember our times together.

Here are some favorite memories from the semester, via photos.

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

Aix is all dressed up for Christmas!

Huile D'Olive

Spotted: S. Mann slipping into a patisserie.

Sarah and I at the Christmas market in Avignon

Just me and the olives

Darling Provencial town

My France family: Nikki, Frandel and Sarah

Nikki and I at the entrance to the factory

I am such a prime olive picker

Boris and Natasha make olive oil

France is obsessed with the little luxuries.

For example- fancy jams ( with flavors like strawberry lemon ), cookies called macaroons (small, very colorful melt in your mouth with filling types), and apparently, olive oil.

They even have a festival devoted to the making of this useful substance that Rachel Ray has coined the term E.V.O.O. for.

In a small, Provencial town ( think Belle from Beauty & the Beast), there is a party devoted to the making, selling, and celebrating of olive oil.

Today, we attended such a thing, in three towns around Southern France.

There was a half hour tour of an olive oil making plant, then a quick lunch stop in the town with the festival...where booths were set up in a large tent ( think county fair).

The last stop on the days journey was in Avignon, a larger town in Southern France. The entire center of the town is surrounded by literal castle walls...like "lower the draw-bridge and let the knights in" status. It was SO cool.

Thank you, Native Americans.

Sarah & Nikki at "French" Thanksgiving

Frandel and I at "French" Thanksgiving

Good friends, good food, good times!

My 2 point sweet potatoes

My program director, Markus, and assistant director, Caroline.

Yes, that is a real, little crab.

Thanksgiving.

Every year at Thanksgiving, no matter where I am, I have participated in tradition of going around the table and saying what each person is thankful for.

I have been home for most Thanksgivings, except the two I spent with Ali's family in Idaho Falls while I was going to BYUI. Even then, we all counted our blessings.

In France, no one cares about Thanksgiving.

It goes unnoticed-stores stay open, turkey's run about 90 euro and pumpkin pies have not yet made an appearance in stores or on dinner tables.

It did not go without celebration for "les etudiants" in the CSU program, however.

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner was held on the Friday before with all the trimmings-mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, even pumpkin pie.

Since turkey was out of the budget, a small chicken was substituted. It felt like a holiday, with all my newly made good friends sitting around, chatting about travel plans for Christmas and school and past Thanksgivings.

We had a more formal dinner the night of Thanksgiving, with the entire program of about 60 people. It was held at a quaint restaurant outside of town, with a fish soup starter, Julia Child's special beef dish with polenta, and cheescake (ish) for dessert. Not exactly a turkey dinner.

It was nice to all be together. I sat at a table with Sarah, Nikki and Frandel, who all feel more like family than friends with all we've been through so far together.

Before we started the meal, we continued the tradition of saying what we were grateful for. We all included eachother, our families who are funding our time here, our friends at home who continually give their support even though they miss us, our opportunity to study in Europe and the chances we've had to see the world.

We have alot of blessings.