additional photos from normandy....

We came back a few days ago from Normandy, but I never put up additional photos that I took. It was amazing that this time in Normandy, the entire time we were there, apparently it rained buckets in Bordeaux, and we had nothing but sunshine. It was warm and beautiful. I went walking in the forests everyday, and took a few riding lessons, since the house is right across from a riding stable. In other news, Jeremie taught me how to drive stick, which was really exciting for me. I still have to practice, but if I had to drive a stick, I wouldn't totally panic at this moment, maybe if I had to drive on a hill, but on country roads with no stop signs and few other cars I was fine. :)
On one of our walks in the forest, we came into a small clearing that as far as you could see were little blue flowers carpeting the forest floor. I found it once and then came back the next day to take an actual picture. The trail though was really weird, because it wasn't marked, and then it ends up right in the middle of this pasture with cows, which I of course had no idea, so all of a sudden I saw Puja trying to play with a young cow. And then the farmer came over to tell me that the random path was technically private, but yet it was marked with the sign saying that it's in fact a trail for the public, but I defended myself. It was beautiful though. The interesting thing about trails in France, is they are private, but if people use them for more than 20 years, the farmer is legally unable to close them, even if they go through his pasture. So technically its his property, but I have the right to walk through it, which makes him needless to say a wee bit angry.







I added this photo, which actually is from the last vacation I spent in Normandy, which is with, Jeremie, his parents (Stephanie and Herve) and his grandfather Renee. It was taken on Herve's camera, which he just sent to me.




Upon returning to Bordeaux, I gave all 10 hours of private lessons in two days. It worked out fine, meaning that I only missed one week for my students. I will have less though, because they are taking their final exams, some of them, and some of stopped, to continue in a few weeks, which will leave me time to study for my finals!

Much love to all!

"And a partridge in a pear tree"

Yes, there is an explanation for partridge in a pear tree....We saw lots of partridges today running around in the fields, I didn't actually recognize what they were because they are exactly the same color of the ground. Jeremie's mom, Stephanie, couldn't remember the word in English, so she hummed the song for me to figure it out. It was quite funny actually. Its called in French a Perdrix (Pear-drie).
We arrived yesterday in Bretoncelles for a week of hiking, sleeping, eating, and relaxing. Yesterday we went to go to the local farm to pick up milk, and fresh cheese. Today we went to go walking in the forests. The cows were really interesting in saying hi to the dogs, but the dogs were terrified. Though they took revenge on me making them say hi to the cows by rolling in what the cow left behind. Which was excellent fun on the way back home. We also found tons of badger holes, which the dogs would basically disappear into, seeing whats in the hole. They emerged covered in dirt.








You maybe able to notice my "little" hair cut that I got one day before vacation. I like it, much easier. Hope everyone is well. Much love, Sarah

time for vacation again!

I started my spring vacation yesterday. We leave on Tuesday for the countryside, and then we will be back in week after that. Lucky for us we are just driving and not going by plane anywhere! The volcano information is really bizarre to listen to on the news! The other Californians are very affected (the ones doing the program I did two years ago), most of them are flying out of Paris to various locations, which may or may not be postponed. This weekend, I have my normal 5 hours of lessons, and then I have some other lessons to give on Monday, so that all my little students don't freak out. Then we come back so that I can give lessons later that week, and the weekend.
Much love to all!
-Sarah

Day at the Beach!

This past weekend Jeremie and I took off on Sunday and went to the beach at Arcachon. Its a 45 minute train ride from Bordeaux (ironically one makes better time than driving, which takes an hour and a half). It was fairly warm, a little breezy, but it felt wonderful. We met up with our friends (Christane and Charles) and their kids (Elise and Caroline) who you see trying to imitate Jeremie talking on his cell phone. They HAD to try the sunglasses! of course. We went walking up and down the boardwalk, well running more like it...and one of the little girls faced planted because she was just letting the dog lead her and then the dog pulled too hard and she went kersplat....Then she decided the she'd rather just help me hold the leash rather than hold it herself. It was really cute.






After people left the beach to go home for dinner, we were still waiting for the train, so we let the dogs go, they went swimming and we watched, still to cold for us.







This next weekend, I start break, so we will be going back to Normandie for a little bit. We won't be going the whole time because my clients start exams, so they are all freaking out.
Much love to all!
Sarah

Leaves!!!

GeoTagged, [N44.85704, E0.62009]

It may not be extremely warm but there are leaves!! Jeremie of course hadn't noticed until I pointed them out when I took the photo. The photo is on the street I live, there is a walking pathway with trees. And you can see the large place de quinconces with the large statue figurine. I am in the bus coming home from a client. Which is good for me, i had trouble gettig there because of road work which hopefully won't make it long to get home.
Yesterday I went to arcachon, to the beach. Which was lots of fun. I will have to post pictures when I get home.
Much love, Sarah

Happy Easter and Passover...

Just wanted to show off my cute Easter egg! It has a cute bunny on the front. Unfortunately it's just not the same as a real sees candy bunny, so much fun to eat those ears!
Today I am seeing students and then tonight we have friends visiting from Paris. I am excited! Tomorrow we have lunch with Jeremies parents.
Much love to all!

Happy Easter and Passover...