June 1: A Family Day

A Family Day

June 1, 2008

Ally Mentock

Today was the `profession de foi' or the profession of faith, for many of the little brothers and sisters of our exchange students. My morning started with waking up around 830 and eating a quick breakfast of hot chocolate and baguette with Nutella. We went over to the church where there were many other kids in their white gowns and wooden crosses. The mass was the same as any other Christian mass but at one point in the mass the kids declared their faith in front of the whole church. Towards the end of the mass when everyone had been standing for quite some time, one of the girls who were participating in the profession fainted and fell into the aisle of the church and everyone rushed over to help her. It was very scary but there were many parents and doctors helping to revive the girl and the mass went on (she was completely fine; it was just very hot in the church). After the mass, the whole family (cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents included) went to the park and took pictures with Lisa (the sister of my correspondent who had the `profession de foi').

We left the park and went home where even more family members were waiting for lunch. I was greeted with a million cheek kisses and curious family members who wanted to know if I supported Hillary or Obama in the upcoming election. We ate in the courtyard and had lots of little snacks like: red pepper mousse, fois grois and crackers, and different types of crab dips. After a bunch of talking among the adults, we sat down and ate a delicious lunch of couscous, chicken, green olives, and pine nuts, and then a spread of different types of cheeses and a huge `cake' of chocolate and vanilla pudding profiteroles and a violin on top (Lisa plays the violin) made of caramel and nuts – it was amazing.

My correspondent (Manon) and I then took the next bus to the city to meet up with other exchange students and their correspondents. We went shopping a little on the main street and then it began to pour, it was terribly wet and cold, when just earlier that morning it was gorgeous. So we all waited in an indoor shopping mall for 15 minutes and then it was time for Manon and me to leave for the bus. We took the bus home and changed into warmer clothes and had tea/baguette, and played some wii sports. I don't think that any of the wii sports are really my calling since I lost terribly in every category. We watched Matilda on T.V. after, and then all of Manon's uncles and aunts left. After her family left we decided to play a game called blockus, which I also lost in, and Lisa decided to practice her English on me by saying random phrases like: 'I love bananas', 'Your eyes are blue', 'I know how speak good English'. For dinner we had cantaloupe, salad, omelet, and for dessert: leftover profiteroles (and fruit)! All in all it was a very exhausting, but fun day.