This weekend I took the train out to Poitiers, a small French city about an hour and a half south-west of Paris where the other Middlebury program is located. My friend Becky studies there, and Friday was her birthday, so I went down to surprise her. Another friend from Midd, Amanda, picked me up at the train station and had made plans with Becky for that evening. I had called Becky earlier to wish her a happy birthday, so she had absolutely no idea I was coming.
After Amanda picked me up at the train station, we had a few hours to kill before meeting Becky. We dropped my stuff off at Amanda’s and ate dinner with her family. Amanda has absolutely the crème de la crème of host families. Her host mom, Annette, is a bubbly little French housewife who tells Amanda constantly to make herself at home, invite friends over, live her life, etc. She was incredibly nice to me and very hospitable. Visiting Amanda’s house was like a dream vacation to the French countryside…staying in a cute little house with a cute little French family and cats and yummy French food. Dinner was standard French fare: meat, potatoes, and a salad plate, plus fruit, yogurt, and cheese for dessert. And of course red wine and baguette.
After dinner Amanda and I headed to the apartment of another American student where we planned to meet Becky. I hid in the hallway while Amanda told Becky she had a birthday surprise for her. I then walked in and the look on Becky’s face was priceless. The surprise was absolutely amazing and she was shocked and we were all very, very pleased. Then we ate a delicious chocolate cake made by Becky’s friend Luke, and we were even more pleased. Luke only had six candles, so we did four rounds of blowing them out, each accompanied by a different song (happy birthday, joyeux anniversaire, a clapping song Amanda knows, and “We didn’t start the fire”). We finished off the night in a cute little Irish bar, knowing more birthday celebration would follow tomorrow.
To celebrate Becky’s birthday, Steph’s leaving, and to spend time with Amanda’s friends, Amanda’s host mom Annette decided to host a luncheon on Saturday, called La Fête des Filles. The trip to Poitiers itself was great, but this lunch made it absolutely amazing. Annette and Amanda planned a full French meal and had started planning courses and food weeks ago. Friday night Annette spent hours in the kitchen baking cakes and preparing food. Saturday morning we rose bright and early (well Amanda rose bright and early, and eventually I arose) to continue preparations. I’m sure anyone who knows me is wondering what use I could possibly
be in preparing a French meal, and I warned Annette of my inexperience in the kitchen, but she put me straight to work. I arranged flowers, helped set the table, scooped out the macaroons, and helped arrange the entrée plates, all while wearing a precious pink apron.
Half-past noon the fête started with champagne and an apéritif in the salon. We were a group of ten, including 4 Midd girls, 2 University of Poitiers students, a Polish nun studying French in Poitiers (a friend of Annette), Annette, her son Olivier and his friend Bertrand. Originally the lunch was going to be only girls, but Olivier was around and Amanda invited him. He insisted on bringing a friend for support in a room full o
f foreign girls. He and his friend were both lively and adorable, and we definitely enjoyed having them there. Sister Monica was a Polish nun who came to Poitiers to learn French before heading on a missionary trip for 2 years in Cameroon. She spoke French with a thick Polish accent and was very interesting to talk to (my first conversation with a nun).
After the apéritif, we went into the dining room and started the meal. It began with a starter of crudités and two cakes that Annette had thrown together the night before: cucumber with goat cheese and feta, sun dried tomatoes and basil. Very delicious. Next up was the main course, roasted chicken, green beans and a potato pie. We had a bit of time to breathe then before melted goat cheese on baguette. And finally dessert of chocolate birthday cake, English cream and homemade macaroons. Overall an incredibly delicious meal. All the girls were absolutely stuffed after that. The French boys boasted proudly that they could continue easily.
After our feast, Becky and I wandered back through Poitiers to her apartment, where we collapsed on her bed and talked for a few hours. Later that night we went out to dinner with some American friends at an Italian restaurant, then, in honor of Becky’s birthday, we watched High School Musical. And ate the ice cream that we were too full to eat after lunch.
After Amanda picked me up at the train station, we had a few hours to kill before meeting Becky. We dropped my stuff off at Amanda’s and ate dinner with her family. Amanda has absolutely the crème de la crème of host families. Her host mom, Annette, is a bubbly little French housewife who tells Amanda constantly to make herself at home, invite friends over, live her life, etc. She was incredibly nice to me and very hospitable. Visiting Amanda’s house was like a dream vacation to the French countryside…staying in a cute little house with a cute little French family and cats and yummy French food. Dinner was standard French fare: meat, potatoes, and a salad plate, plus fruit, yogurt, and cheese for dessert. And of course red wine and baguette.
After dinner Amanda and I headed to the apartment of another American student where we planned to meet Becky. I hid in the hallway while Amanda told Becky she had a birthday surprise for her. I then walked in and the look on Becky’s face was priceless. The surprise was absolutely amazing and she was shocked and we were all very, very pleased. Then we ate a delicious chocolate cake made by Becky’s friend Luke, and we were even more pleased. Luke only had six candles, so we did four rounds of blowing them out, each accompanied by a different song (happy birthday, joyeux anniversaire, a clapping song Amanda knows, and “We didn’t start the fire”). We finished off the night in a cute little Irish bar, knowing more birthday celebration would follow tomorrow.
To celebrate Becky’s birthday, Steph’s leaving, and to spend time with Amanda’s friends, Amanda’s host mom Annette decided to host a luncheon on Saturday, called La Fête des Filles. The trip to Poitiers itself was great, but this lunch made it absolutely amazing. Annette and Amanda planned a full French meal and had started planning courses and food weeks ago. Friday night Annette spent hours in the kitchen baking cakes and preparing food. Saturday morning we rose bright and early (well Amanda rose bright and early, and eventually I arose) to continue preparations. I’m sure anyone who knows me is wondering what use I could possibly
be in preparing a French meal, and I warned Annette of my inexperience in the kitchen, but she put me straight to work. I arranged flowers, helped set the table, scooped out the macaroons, and helped arrange the entrée plates, all while wearing a precious pink apron.Half-past noon the fête started with champagne and an apéritif in the salon. We were a group of ten, including 4 Midd girls, 2 University of Poitiers students, a Polish nun studying French in Poitiers (a friend of Annette), Annette, her son Olivier and his friend Bertrand. Originally the lunch was going to be only girls, but Olivier was around and Amanda invited him. He insisted on bringing a friend for support in a room full o
f foreign girls. He and his friend were both lively and adorable, and we definitely enjoyed having them there. Sister Monica was a Polish nun who came to Poitiers to learn French before heading on a missionary trip for 2 years in Cameroon. She spoke French with a thick Polish accent and was very interesting to talk to (my first conversation with a nun).After the apéritif, we went into the dining room and started the meal. It began with a starter of crudités and two cakes that Annette had thrown together the night before: cucumber with goat cheese and feta, sun dried tomatoes and basil. Very delicious. Next up was the main course, roasted chicken, green beans and a potato pie. We had a bit of time to breathe then before melted goat cheese on baguette. And finally dessert of chocolate birthday cake, English cream and homemade macaroons. Overall an incredibly delicious meal. All the girls were absolutely stuffed after that. The French boys boasted proudly that they could continue easily.
After our feast, Becky and I wandered back through Poitiers to her apartment, where we collapsed on her bed and talked for a few hours. Later that night we went out to dinner with some American friends at an Italian restaurant, then, in honor of Becky’s birthday, we watched High School Musical. And ate the ice cream that we were too full to eat after lunch.
Although I'm very pleased with my decision to study in Paris, I definitely would have enjoyed life in Poitiers and I'm glad I got to experience it for a weekend.
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