I ate a magnificent dinner last night with my classmates at the Restaurant de la Tour in Sancerre. It amazes me that a small town like this - less than 2,000 people - should have not just one, but two "gourmet" restaurants (the other is the Pomme d'Or, just across the street from the school). I guess that is a testimony to the attention that the French people pay to food and wine; no McDonald's drive-throughs here. However, even the French sometimes turn to convenience food. When I was in the local grocery store yesterday I noticed escargot and jambes de grenouille - frog's legs - in the freezer section. I guess sometimes you need to have your frog's legs, and you need to have them fast.
The French lessons are going well, although my French is actually getting worse rather than better. Our professor Valérie said that is normal, because students learn so much grammar during their lessons that they lose confidence and start second-guessing everything that they say. Happily, after a glass or two of Sancerre blanc, my French returns to its former mistake-riddled "fluency." As good an excuse as any to drink wine.
I am having a great time here, working hard, and learning a lot of French (the immersion is invaluable), However, I really miss my family. Three weeks is too long to be away - luckily I will see Lizzie next Saturday in Paris. I am counting the days. À bientôt!
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