des adventures de gastronomie

Marseille...ah, Marseille. This week consists of meetings and more meetings, so instead I've decided to write a little blog about food. Its fantabulous!

I wake up every morning and I meet a friend at a local patisserie where we indulge in fresh viennoiserie: pain au chocolat, chaussons de paumes, des pain au raison, and always a cafe au lait. Before we leave, we buy a baget and save it for lunch. Lunch consists of bread and fresh vegetables. Here is where it gets incredible. The vegetables here are so fresh and natural that they taste earthy and sweet. Never a day in my life have I liked tomatoes, and I've been eating them like apples! Dinner is always an adventure here. I eat every evening with my host family, and this family in particular loves to eat fresh and environmental friendly--so today they recieved their food delivery, straight from the country side. This evening we had a free range rabbit roasted with onions, rosemary, garlic, carrots and an assortment of spices that I didn't recognize. This of course was followed by cheese, which was also from the countryside and is illegal because its not pasturized! Oh the glory that is cheese. Fresh chevre--goats cheese--is what I have found to be my favorite. Ratatouille is a local dish, so I have experienced that. But one of my favorite culinary experiences yet was on Fathers Day. I came home to a dinner of French pastry and champagne, and when the French say "pastry" it means little coffe and chocolate mousses topped with whipped cream and dipped in dark chocolate, cream puffs topped with maple cream, rasberry cream layered with some crispy delicious mystery and drizzled in chocolate.

Do I eat well in France? Oh, I eat well in France. While I could go on and on about their lovely culinary traditions and habits, I will refrain because you are hungry.

God bless, everyone, and thank you all so much for your prayers. Every one of you is very close to my heart. xoxo

Cara

this is a post.

So, on Tuesday night, Emma and I taught an English conversation class over an article on living for 800 years. It went so well. Everyone loved the article and the conversation was really excited. I loved explaining all the vocabulary to people.

On Thursday night, the team held an American picnic! The spread of American food was overwhelming and not even half of it got eaten! Afterwards, I taught everyone to line dance. It was a huge hit! I had all of the French women dancing and clapping to Shania Twain "Feel Like a Woman." It was one of the most entertaining things I've ever seen.

On Friday, the interns ate lunch at the university in Marseille. It was interesting to experience a little of what my life would be like if I were a French student. We got to meet some students, and then we had an intern Bible study. The other interns have turned to be a huge blessing. We're all on the same page, and it helps when you're in a foreign country to have people who understand your sentiments about the local culture. You don't feel quite as unusual :)

It's been a long but great week, and now that it's the weekend it's time to spend time with our host families. Tonight, I'm going to eat pizza with a bunch of French people, and after that we're going to our village party! There's going to be live music and dancing. The French really understand how to do charm.

Being in Marseille is eye-opening. God is continually working in my life and in the world, and He is always drawing me near to Him, but it's in experiences like these when we realize how much we actually want to be drawn to Him. I'm so excited to what Jesus is going to do in my life this summer. And so excited to see how he will work in Marseille now and in the future. One of my friends keeps reminding me to take this time to marvel at the fact that Jesus Christ actually died for me. I challenge you guys to see that as a reality too. God bless! And don't forget that tomorrow is Father's Day!

xoxo
Cara

Pictures soon, I swear!

Marseille is an interesting city. It's 1.2 million, but it's sectioned into what feel like small villages all mashed together. It's old and beautiful, with a spattering of new structures throughout, but what stands out the most to a person who's only been to Paris is how casual Marseille is. While it's still an incredibly French city, you also get a sense that people work in order to relax--they don't relax between work. Being next to the ocean gives it a laid-back, vacation-like, 'we don't really care what you do' atmosphere.

Tonight, my friend and co-intern Emma, and I have our first assignment. We will be teaching an English conversation class for adults!....and we're doing this all on our own. On Thursday, we'll be having an American picnic at the church for the English classes. Emma and I are helping to prepare, cook, plan, etc. As many of you know, though I live in Texas, I'm not exactly your cowboy-boot-wearing, horseback riding, tabacco chewing kind of girl. However, my assignment for the picnic (as the only Texan) is to teach all of the French people from ages thirty to seventy to line dance. Yup...

As for my adventures in Marseille, there have already been a number. Between meeting all kinds of new people, getting lost downtown, realizing that the "Casino" was actually a grocery store, and trying to communicate past serious language barriers, Marseille is quickly becoming unforgettable.

Lastly, I'd like to say that I'm living with an incredibly French couple, and if I could ask for you guys to pray for anything, it would be that I would be able to develop significant relationships with them, and that God might draw them into the church here in Marseille.

A la prochaine!
x

j'ai arriver!!

bonjour! This is going to be a short post, but I wanted to let everyone know that after a long and tiresome journey, I've finally made it!!! My host family is fabulous. They are very laid back and some of the funniest people I may have ever met. They (or we) live in a little village thats parts of Marseille. Its called Cabot. Today I'm really just getting to know people and tomorrow I'll be going to the beach for the day before I dive in and start real work on Tuesday.

Thank you all so much for your prayers concerning my travels and just this whole trip! There hasn't been a single problem yet!

Best,
Cara

Ma premiere post

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Marseille, France. At 3AM, I'll be driving to the airport, at 5AM, I'll be boarding a united airlines flight, and at 6AM, I'll be taking off--Chicago, Dusseldorf, Munich, Marseille.

In preparation for this trip I did two things. First, I bought a dress. Second, I cut my hair off. (thus the giant picture of my face) I'm ready to go!

This summer, I intend to inform and entertain you guys. Really, I'll be informing you about my travels, all the crazy-awesome experiences, letting you know how to pray for me... and I'll be entertaining you by making a lot out of the very little things.

x