2013

As 2013 comes to a close, I'm taking a moment to remember everything that's happened.  It's been an especially big year for me, with many changes, twists, and turns.  One year ago, I couldn't even imagine where I'd be right now.  It's been an exciting, crazy, sometimes nerve-wracking and stressful year, but I am here, stronger and more confident, ready to see what awaits me next.

This year I have accomplished and experienced many things:

• Wrote a 42-page thesis on the state of multiculturalism in France
• Graduated from CSU with a double major, honors, and distinction
• Bought a one-way ticket to France
• Started a job in a foreign country
• Been betrayed
• Lost, then regained, my social life (thesis!)
• Lived with my best friend
• Went from Denver to LA and back in one day
• Discovered Barcelona, tapas, and cava
• Revisited a friend in Norway
• Spent Christmas with my mom abroad
• Had a heartache from missing family and friends while I've been abroad or they have
• Practiced foreign languages
• Started teaching English to 200 French kids
• Pretended that I knew how to teach English to elementary kids
• Went to Canada for the first time
• Stayed in a haunted brothel for a night
• Ate berries until I couldn't eat anymore
• Saw my first rugby match at a stadium
• Tasted the best chocolates in Perpignan
• Hiked my first Colorado 14er (Mount Elbert @ 14,433 ft)
• Hiked to an abbey in the mountains
• Relaxed on a sunny beach in October
• Walked across a huge suspension bridge through the woods
• Tasted some wine, and then tasted some more
• Played at the Boeing factory with my brother
• Went flying across a lake in Wisconsin on top of a tube
• Skied, hiked, and watched sunsets in beautiful Colorado
• Had deep conversations
• Had a mini reunion from my Norway days in Chicago
• Stood on plexiglass over Chicago from the top of the Sears Tower
• Soaked in hot springs
• Snuggled with my kitty
• Swam in Horsetooth resevoir
• Went to the drive-ins
• Took my camera out to take pictures, and then put it away to let me experience the moment
• Laughed and cried, lived and loved

I can't wait to see what 2014 brings... especially since I have no clue what I'll be doing... really no clue!

Chocolat Chaud

Hot chocolate.  Chocolat chaud.

Yes, that's right folks, this is a blog post about hot chocolate.

Now, I've had some tasty hot chocolates in my life, but I have to share about the one I had today.  After arriving at Le Petit Moka near la Place République in Perpignan this afternoon, I thought a nice chocolat chaud sounded tasty.  I went ahead and ordered it without even looking at the menu... deciding that chocolat noir (dark chocolate) sounded even better when the waiter told me about that option and sticking with the classique (rather than adding in holiday spices).  I've had a few chocolat chauds during my stay thus far, but none have compared to the one I got today.

Imagine a hot chocolate so thick it's more like pudding than a drink.  This "pudding" is made from not just chocolate, but a delicious dark chocolate.  And it's warm, which it wasn't a very cold day or anything, but warm drinks are always comforting anyways. A perfect drink for a perfect afternoon.

This chocolat chaud is almost indescribable... something to try for yourself.  So if you get the chance, go for it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!
Thanksgiving is really a time of year to take stock of all the good in one's life.  For me, I am thankful especially for friends and family, the opportunities I've received, and the possibilities that are yet to come.  My family and friends are really a source of strength which I know is there for me whenever... for the good times and the bad.  The biggest opportunity that I am thankful for at the moment is teaching, living, and experiencing France.  As for the opportunities yet to come, I'll let you know as I figure them out!

So this past week was Thanksgiving.  As I couldn't be with my family in Colorado, I made up for missing out on spending time with family and eating too much by spending time with my new Perpignan family and eating too much!  After working all day Thursday, I came home to cook up some roasted veggies and baked cinnamon apples which I brought to a friend's potluck/ Thanksgiving get-together that evening.  There, around 30+ people from many different countries came together to share a meal and company.  It was very good!  And I ate way too much!  I loved trying all the dishes that people brought, and I also enjoyed sharing my traditions with others... for some of them, it was their first Thanksgiving.

After eating well on Thursday, I came home to Skype with some family who were sitting down to their own Thanksgiving meal.  For me it was past midnight, but it was worth it to join them for a bit.  We went around the table and shared what we are thankful for.  Even though I couldn't actually be there, this made me feel like home (I'm thankful for the technology that makes this possible! haha). 

Then I slept like a baby... until I had to wake up early for work!  It was a good day working... I taught numbers this week.  The kids really liked a song I brought in to help me, so everyone was happy.  I also got the cutest drawing from one of them.  I think it's supposed to be me... but I can't really tell for sure! Besides the drawing, I also had a little girl that wanted to bises me before she left (kiss on the cheek).

The next big event came on Saturday with a more intimate dinner among the language assistants (11 of us joined).  We had so much good food including turkey pot pie, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fruit salad (my contribution), gluten-free pasta salad, green salad, apple pie and crumble, and more!  So fear not, I ate well this week despite not being in America to celebrate Thanksgiving!  With the family holiday, I was feeling a little homesick this week, but being able to talk with my family back home and hang out with my Perpignan family makes a world of difference.  I am so thankful for all of you in my life!

Drawing from one of my French kiddos.

Happy Thanksgiving!