The Hurners in France

12 September 2011

Loving life (so far) in Crest

It's funny how Mary keeps reminding me that it's the "honeymoon" period (I had explained to her some of the feelings many people have when spending a year away from home like this) but I'm really loving life here. Yes, it's all different and new (some great things, some difficult) but the pace of life in general seems to be more reasonable. Anyway, here you can see some of the people who have been incredibly welcoming. Sandrine does have some fabulous friends and we're so appreciative of how they've included us in their lives. It doesn't hurt that there's another Fulbrighter who lives 40 minutes from here, Margaret. She and her son, Jed, joined us for a day at Vallon Pont d'Arc and the Gorges d'Ardèche.

Pascale helps Mary find the good "murs" while Nate's playing soccer

Mary waits impatiently while Nate's practice is finishing up

Evening à la rivière (la Drôme)

Us at the river eating hot dogs and lamb chops

Vallon Pont d'Arc

Mary swings off a rope at Vallon Pont d'Arc

02 September 2011

la maison, le jardin et la rentrée des profs

So just a few pictures of the lovely home we'll be living in for the year, the cat, and Margaret (a fellow Fulbrighter).

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera for the rentrée des profs. We had meetings all day and I met some really nice people. So friendly and smiling...I know it's the après summer glow but it just seems like people here are so warm and down to earth. We had some general discussions with a good amount of chatter followed by the unveiling of the "emploi du temps." This was followed by comparisons and possible schedule changes and finally a "pot" which included some fabulous finger foods (like pruneaux wrapped in a kind of bacon...mmmmm) and some juices. No wine, it's "forbidden" in schools as of several years ago. This said, I heard reports of wine at other schools today and saw champagne being poured at a rentrée on the news. In any case, it was a big day.

la piscine

les raisins

Pas-touche - She returned to us after her flea bath!

Mary enjoys the playhouse she just tidied up.

La drôme - the river that runs through the center of town.

Margaret, Mary, Jed, and Nathan....Margaret and Jed are Fulbrighters in Montélimar.

These are the lovely gifts my new colleagues brought over!

29 August 2011

la Tour des Glaciers

So our tour of the glaciers of the Alps started in Pralognan-la-Vanoise, which I'd visited 20 years ago as a nanny for a French family's vacation with their three young children. I had great memories of the ski trip and fun interaction with the family....they played Scrabble with me in French, made sure I had a chance to ski, and shared a special raclette dinner with their local friends toasting to the Americans for the end of our first war in Iraq.

Alas, I was back with the family and embarking on a crazy adventure. Truth be told, we had NO CLUE what we were getting ourselves into. The first day involved an extreme climb of "Col d'Aussois." Mary surprised us by leading the family up the steepest section. As she said, "You don't need to know where the path is, you just need to know which direction you're going." The hiking was very up and down....little level walking, and the last bit to the "Refuge de la Dent Parrachée" followed a waterfall straight up. Thankfully, there was rice with cooked tomatoes, pork, and a gorgeous homemade Tarte Tatin awaiting us after our hardest day of hiking. The animated host of the refuge offered us the "guide" room instead of a spot for a tent (which is what we'd reserved). This also meant privacy which is not typical of the many "refuges" in the area. Of the three we visited, this was the best refuge, complete with warm croissants in the morning. Our table included 4 Germans, a French couple, and the Hurners.

The photos will tell the rest of the story. No other refuge compared to the first, though we did meet Australians and a Kiwi along the way. The sheepdog picture is for Casey.