Mini update time!
So I mentioned in my last post that yesterday (Sunday) I was going to go to a get-together of my host dad's family. And I did!
And it was pretty darn fun!
Only about half of his family was there, but that still meant there were 17 other people there. Honestly, I was rather happy that not everyone was there, because the conversations were already challenging to follow, with all 30-35 it would've been crazy.
So the get-together was great - we ate (Google Racelette for an idea of the meal), drank wine (a lot), talked a lot, had dessert, went outside to soak up some sun, listened to music, talked, and eventually had some champagne to celebrate one of my host dad's brother's birthday. A lot of food and even more alcohol was consumed, as at any good French fête. All in all, I think I was there for about 5 hours, but the party continued after my host mom and I left.
For those of you who don't really know me, my dad's family has get-togethers like this about once a month. While we only number 27 in total (and I think we've only ever had everyone once), we still fill up the house with conversation, good food, far less alcohol (and mostly beer rather than wine), and far more coffee. I am so lucky that my dad's family all live right around the same city, because I've grown up knowing all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on his side really well. My mom's side is a lot more spread out, and only once in my life (and the past 30 years) has her whole family (7 siblings and parents) been together: this summer.
The fact that I don't see my mom's family as much as I'd like makes me appreciate all of the time I spend with my dad's family even more. It was cool to see one of the 3 annual get-togethers of my host dad's family, and to note the many similarities between his family (he has 4 brothers and a sister) and my dad's family. It was fun, but it also made me miss my family something fierce, especially since today is my Nana and GJ's 60-somethingth anniversary, and my dad's family is getting together next weekend, when my sister will be up in Maine.
I love my family lots, and I can't wait to see them again, but my host family's also pretty darn awesome, so it was great to feel welcomed by their family in the meantime.
A la prochaine fois,
Evelyn
So I mentioned in my last post that yesterday (Sunday) I was going to go to a get-together of my host dad's family. And I did!
And it was pretty darn fun!
Only about half of his family was there, but that still meant there were 17 other people there. Honestly, I was rather happy that not everyone was there, because the conversations were already challenging to follow, with all 30-35 it would've been crazy.
So the get-together was great - we ate (Google Racelette for an idea of the meal), drank wine (a lot), talked a lot, had dessert, went outside to soak up some sun, listened to music, talked, and eventually had some champagne to celebrate one of my host dad's brother's birthday. A lot of food and even more alcohol was consumed, as at any good French fête. All in all, I think I was there for about 5 hours, but the party continued after my host mom and I left.
For those of you who don't really know me, my dad's family has get-togethers like this about once a month. While we only number 27 in total (and I think we've only ever had everyone once), we still fill up the house with conversation, good food, far less alcohol (and mostly beer rather than wine), and far more coffee. I am so lucky that my dad's family all live right around the same city, because I've grown up knowing all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on his side really well. My mom's side is a lot more spread out, and only once in my life (and the past 30 years) has her whole family (7 siblings and parents) been together: this summer.
The fact that I don't see my mom's family as much as I'd like makes me appreciate all of the time I spend with my dad's family even more. It was cool to see one of the 3 annual get-togethers of my host dad's family, and to note the many similarities between his family (he has 4 brothers and a sister) and my dad's family. It was fun, but it also made me miss my family something fierce, especially since today is my Nana and GJ's 60-somethingth anniversary, and my dad's family is getting together next weekend, when my sister will be up in Maine.
I love my family lots, and I can't wait to see them again, but my host family's also pretty darn awesome, so it was great to feel welcomed by their family in the meantime.
A la prochaine fois,
Evelyn