My boyfriend is hot like a truck.

I'm babysitting right now. Les enfants are a sleep. The parents said I could do whatever I wanted and gave me some red wine. Need I remind you that I am getting paid to play on the internet right now (it's a pretty amazing MAC I might add). I'm almost laughing at myself right now. Seriously, could I get any luckier? Is this somehow the calm before the storm? My dad seems to think that the Aceto's are not lucky. No offense to my father, I love him dearly, but I think he was a little...mistaken. Or maybe it skipped a generation. Qui sait?

I made myself dinner tonight- avocado and cucumber and tomatoe salade with olive oil and vinegar and yogurt and rasberries for dessert. PAS MAL. Oh and cheese. Never forget the cheese people. My french mom had to go take care of their other home in Bretagne. I hate it when I have to do that, if I could afford someone else to do it for me- I would without hesistation. Geeze. The thing about my family is, the are the nicest, most generous people. You would never know they had what they do. My french dad works a lot. He is the same age as my dad and I think he is also ready to be retraité (I know you can figure that one out).

So you probably want to know about my hot boyfriend. Today in conversation class, we learned the expression "il est beau comme un camion" which literally translates to he is handsome like a truck. However, for the Français it just means "he is good looking." But I wasn't lying about my boyfriend- I really did have La chance with him. (it's about time I brag about him and not some random french dude).

Well I guess I am going to color now. I promised the kids I would draw something for them- they seem to think I am good at it.

Bonne Nuit.

aghh

Bathrooms & Showers & and Bears, Oh my!

Before I begin, there are no bears in this story. This story has one simply purpose: to convey to you the coche-marre –ish (nightmarish) bathroom situations I experienced on the weekend trip. Situation #1, Hotel Bayeux: there is a bathtub, NOT a shower, no curtain, and some shower head looking thing attached to the knobs. I turn on the water..and I begin turning the knob for the shower head on a cord. It is definitely not working. I feverishly start twisting it as I do not like bathtubs, and above all those in a hotel- who knows whose been in there. I cannot, for the life of me, get the shower head-thingy to turn on. So I end up sitting on my feet, somewhat contortionist style in the bathtub, and strategically placing my soapy hair under the faucet (which I might add was sort of blocked by the shower head thingy). Long story short- you had to pull the knob- not twist it and had it not been for my friend Rachel I think I would have ended looking like a bear (I totally lied to you about the bears).

Situation #2, Mont Saint Michel: Rachel and I are sharing a room again. Like all French bathrooms- there is the shower and there is the toilette and sink in separate rooms. The shower looks like a closet. It smells suspiciously like pee (no flip flops either), but Luckily this one is not a bathtub. I get in (6:50 am). Turn it on…shower head is working, things are looking up. Non. Non. Non. The shower head falls off the cord. The cord attached to it, like a viscious metal snake, is flying everywhere due to the water pressure. Pain. Turn the water off, I’m thinking this sort of thing does NOT happen in a Hilton. Skillfully reattach the shower head and turn the water on low. This lasts about 2-3 minutes and I start the process over. All is sort of well again. I go to put the shower head in its holder and the bar holding the showerhead falls over. Let me repeat that. It fell over. Does Money Pit ring a bell to anyone else?

I am sad to say that the pictures are not working in Macdo. I tried to create a kodak gallery and it was in the process of uploading for about 30 minutes. I think I will have to try at one of my friend's houses that has high speed internet. I'm sorry I let you all down. I'll some how redeem myself, je vous dis!

Also, I realize I did not really talk about my weekend in Normandie but I have to go babysit...désolée

I really hate eating Suffocated Christians

Calmez-vous,I'll explain. If you burn, say a cake, while baking in France, they call it "a suffocated Christian"- C'est un étouffé-chrétien. Apparently this is widely used but you should NOT tell your french mom that dinner tasted like one. I'd also like you to be well aware that I did plenty of window licking this weekend. Yes, of course the french say they licked windows in place of window shopping- why is this not surprising in the least bit?? J'aime faire du lèche -vitrine!

I am well aware I have not updated in quite some time and I am going to save the weekend update for when I have WIFI access. However, I've decided to be sort of generous and tell you about le Musée Rodin, which I visited today. If you like sculpture, this is the place for you. Of course it has an exquisite garden, like most places in France, however it is the only place you get a view of the thinker "le penseur" and the le Tour Eiffel at once. Oui,oui! I have been obsessed with "the kiss" since my art history class at Furman (which of course I forgot a good 60% of everything we studied) but it was so beautiful in person. Painting is one thing- most everyone can imagine a flat surface and creating depth and shape but sculpture is not for everyone. Can you imagine starting out with a block of stone and then magically there is a perfect human form? Incredible. For those of you who prefer painting, they had 4 different Van Gogh's. I liked looking at different angles to see the thickness of the paint. He really slapped it on there too. I'm kidding, I know he didn't "slap" anything.

I'm "au pairing" again tomorrow night. I'm starting at 8 which is great because even though I obviously love the littles anges (angels) I love getting paid for sitting around and doing my homework more.

à bientot mes amis:)

Louie, Louie, Louie

Today was our trip to the "interieur" of the Chateau de Versailles. I'm sure that many of you have experienced this tour yourself, but I will induldge those of you that have not. Okay, imagine a vanilla ice cream cone- yummy. Now imagine Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk in a swimming pool of godiva syrup and sprinkles and real whip cream and little edible golden flakes all over it. That is the difference between a Chateau and the Chateau de Versailles. It is so beautiful. Not beautiful in the sense that I want my future home to resemble it in any way- beautiful in the sense that it is full of grandeur and elegance and impecable details and that Louis XIV lived there. Marie's room is very floral- very. I think I'm obsessed with the idea of her. I saw the door she "escpaped" from during the riots. My camera died 3/4 of the way through. Why I can never have extra batteries with me- je ne sais pas. About the pictures. Currently I am using the computer of my family and as soon as I get wireless (perhaps the next Macdo trip) I will create a kodak gallery account and you can see all the pictures I have- which would include all the ridiculous ones my friends and I take of ourselves- like today with our cheesy (or as I say now, Fromagy) headphone sets for our tour. Just so everyone is clear on my opinion- I HATE tour guides that speak at untolerably highly levels- in Spanish.

Tomorrow is my friend's birthday. I told her french mom this today- who was oblivious to the fact-and I was then invited to dinner- with Champagne. Oh, and her french brother- who is HYPER cool (yes they say HYPER) and in a band is coming with our whole group to the cyber cafe for beers. I just like having natives with us- it makes me feel less touristy. Don't worry Brian, he is not anything to brag about (even though I sort of just bragged about him).

Dinner tonight was scrum-dil-ee-umptous. Poisson with roasted tomatoes and onions and fresh green beens and brie and yogurt and chocolate. Boy am I full. I probably walked at least 8 miles today so I'm not sweating it.

My friend's and I like to eat at this little square (when its not raining of course) and I noticed a lot of "sketchy" young people there today. Apparently mohawks are "in" here or something?? There was also a thug looking gentleman with this group of shall I say the juvenile delinquants of Versailles, and all I know now is, French Thugs are the worst. He's probably some rich kid trying to rebel.

I guess that is all for now. I'm gonna go take my "petite douche" now. Little Shower for those non francophones.

Bonne Nuit!

Maison-less

So today, like a bunch of homeless, poor American students would, my friends and I ate on the train (we didn't actually take the train). It was slightly raining so we couldn't go to the park. With no other options, we sat on the train with bread, cheese, grapes, and rasberry chocolate in our laps. Because the trains take forever to go (of course depending on your arrival) we finished and hopped off before leaving- although a café in Paris would have been nice. I have to go read my frenchy french newspaper now for my conversation class. By the way..why is NO ONE commenting (my mother not included because she is getting assitance). The rest of you have "peu" d'excuse and I'm sorry if its boring.

Au Revoir!!

Oh Pear!!

So as if this house wasn't big enough, there is an appartement next door, that my french father's sister rents out to les d'amonville (a family). My french mother introduced me last week and bing I am not only student, I am Ashlée the au pair. They have 4 kids:Anna Flam (boy 8 yrs), angaurande (boy 6 yrs), espérence (hope; girl 4 yrs), and amadour (bébé 3 months. The bébé was soo cute. I don't even like kids and I loved him. The are probably the most well behaved I have ever met- and soo smart! I want to duplicate them and keep them in a box till I'm 30 something. Their dad is a pilot for Air France-oh la la handsome, and their mother looks like she has never birthed a child ( it must be genetic). And I earned 17 euros! yeah me!!! je suis fière de moi-meme ( I am proud of myself). So that is all I have right now.

Lots of bisous

One Big Child S'il vous plait.

This weekend the group traveled to Giverny, more specifically, Monet's "jardin." The weather has finally started to cool off and it was perfect for our little excursion. We have a huge bus that probably seats 80- leaving approximately 67 seats open. Yes, that means we are spoiled rotten. The equivalent to "sugar daddy" in french is "papa gateau" meaning, papa cake. I decided to title Dr. Patton as "papa gateau" seeing as he distributes the l'argent generously on our trips. Upon entering the gardens, we all recieved tickets but they were all decorated with different pictures. However, we were all labeled "big childs" and I thought this fachement drole- I do NOT think that would fly at Disney. Dr. Patton, however, got to be the "big adult"- of course. The gardens and the house and the studio are magnificent. Let me just say this- I am not usually one to take pictures of flowers, as one can just as easily google flowers and gaze all day, but I probably took at least 70 some pictures of flowers alone because they are all so unbelievable you think they aren't real (plastic or something). We visited Monet's room, where he died. It's sort of a neat feeling to KNOW that he was there and if only decades could be reversed you would be standing facz to face with a world renowned artist. By the way, I totally stood on the water lily bridge.

Next, we ventured on to the chateau Anet. Amazing as well. I saw a bride there- taking her pictures. If I ever get married, I decided Chateau Anet would work for me too! Sorry dad- you always knew I wouldn't be cheap. The Chateau is actually still inhabited- vive la france! Normally you can't trot around the grounds but last weekend was the weekend of the "journée du patrimoine" and everything is open to the public- for free! However you need to give a pourboire (tip) to the guide, who quite frankly I found a little annoying (nasally voice need I say more)

Then Sunday I went with my french sister Raphaelle to Victor Hugo's house- again free. It was a nice outing. I really like the Place de Vogues- that is the "quartier" it is locaated in. Lots of boutiques, which of course I'm drooling at and wondering where my papa gateau is when I really need him....

Next weekend- Normandie and Mont Saint Michel!

mon Dieu!

I am at the Macdo at the La Place de Defense. The McDonald's here, I must say, is pretty awesome. It is super chic and modern and clean and nothing like the ones in the states. I don't even know where to start because I haven't been able to update this day by day like I would have wanted. SOME people on this trip got families with WIFI in the house..I of course do not have it. Boo. My family is super nice and my french Maman and I have definitely bonded so I can't complain.

The flight over was great. I like air france for a number of reasons:
1. All the flight attendants look like French models. Super Sympa (that is a french phrase that I have learned). It means super nice, etc.
2.The food was PAS MAl!
3. I slept for approximately 6 of the 8 hours in the air thanks to my friend Leslie, you gave me some miracle sleeping pill in Atlanta. Thank you Leslie!
4. The served me Merlot ON THE PLANE for FREE.
5. Number four is so good it counts twice.

When we got there we met at Madame Chauchat's house. She grew up in the states but moved to France when she was 18 married a french man at 19 and had 3 boys. She is our grammer teacher. I LOVE HER. Je l'adore. She is honestly an idol of mine. Then all of our french Mamans (mothers) came to get us and then we got to settle in and nap, etc. My mother's name is Chrystel and my french father is Etienne. They are very down to earth for versailles people and I couldn't be happier. They have 3 olders sons, Tomas, Pierre, and Georges who do not live at the house and a daughter, Raphaelle, who is 15 and goes to a boarding school in Paris during the week. She is pretty great though and I learn a lot from her.

Versaille is picture perfect. PERRFFEECCTT. Every house, every stone in the street, every cute little french person that walks by with their fresh baguettes, every boulangerie, etc etc etc. I still feel like I'm in a dream and it's going to end any moment.

Last weekend the group from Furman went to Monmartre and the Latin Quarter (Luxembourg Gardens). My favorite thing was seeing the cafe that Amelie was filmed at. Yes! it actually exists. I would post pictues but it seems to be temporarily out of order. Next, we went to the Chateau for the "Grands Eaux Musicals" at Versailles. Many many fountains and statues and wonderfulness. Unfortunately there was what the french call an Indian Summer and it was HOTT here the last week (it rained yesterday for the first time and today its chilly). The french call sun burns " coup de soleil" meaning a hit from the sun. And we were all hit by the sun last sunday.

We have classes every day (the schedule changes everyday) but we always have 2 that last 2 hours= 4 hours.

Wednesday afternoon the group did the "bateaux mouches" on the Seine. That means "fly boats" and you get to see everything on the Seine. It was so great (slightly breezy). Then Dr. Patton and I (Dr. Patton is the professeur from Furman on this trip) were invited to eat with Jo Petit and his girlfriend Virginie Carrayol (Jo was in charge of the French house at Furman last year and his family lives in Versailles, on my street in fact). We walked around the Tour Eiffel and then ate dinner with them. I will probably stay some free weekends with Virginie so I don't have to worry about returning to Versailles late at night. It pays to have friends.

Tonight we are going to see a Movie, which movie I do not know.

For anyone that has not been to France- everything I put in my mouth (besides McDonalds) is the most amazing thing I've ever tasted. My favorite thing my french mom makes is the tarte a la tomate. It is to die for. The chocolate- I actually like the dark with a slight "parfum" of orange is not bad either:)

I know why french people are skinny. They would have to install all new showers. Yeah, you all know my size. I barely fit. Barely. I have grown to like it but...its just different.

I will try to get these pictures up. Please forgive me! I miss you all.

Je ne suis pas morte!!

I must apologize to all of you who have been checking this site. I did not forget about it (although I am utterly distracted here). The internet in my house is very slow, plus the keys are all different. I still need to find a transformer for my computer- the one I brought doesn't work in my house. Plus, this is the first time I have had access to WIFI. I am at a Mac-do (macdonald's) in Paris. I will write substantial information and post pictures as soon as I can. We have to dash (and this is my friend's computer). I love you all!

Bisous (kisses)