St. Nicholas

Hello Everyone=)

So Just a couple of random things that happened in this last week and a half. First, it started snowing! And alot at that, it hasn't stopped snowing for one full day since and the one day it was close it rained and hailed most of the day too...I hate winter and being in another country won't change that. On the bright side because it's winter that means we only have two and a half more weeks till Chistmas break.=) One thing I did learn about the winter holidays here is that here in the Lorraine region of France there is a special holiday near the first or second Saturday in December called the "Jour de St. Nicholas" which is about an old folklore that isn't exactly the most pleasant, so I am warning you ahead of time. So the story in brief says that during this period of famine this butcher kidnapped three children and took them to his shop where he murdered them and sold their remains off as ham(I told you it wasn't pretty). Then one day St. Nicholas came to the town and saw through the butchers plans and what had really happened and through his prayers he saved them and brought them back to life. At least it has a somewhat happy ending. Anyway during the holiday there's a parade in most major cities in the Lorraine region of France and all the children get candy and small amounts of money and other things like that. Then instead of being able to buy chocolate santas you can buy chocolate St. Nicholas's with the three children. It's not a huge huge holiday but it's very popular where I live here and you hear about it alot. Even all year round you can find statues of the saint and the three children. I should mention that yes Santa exists as well during Christmas and is called the "Pere Noel" instead. I am also notincing little differences in our tradtions as well. For example, I learned here that only in America do people hang Christmas stockings over the fire place. As always I love these little differences=)

As for other things this week, our class in SES(something with economics) the teacher asked every student what we would do if we magically gained $10,000 dollars. He went around and asked everyone and I was suprised by most of the responses. Everyone either said they would buy clothes, cigerettes, jewelry or save it for a car...except me. I just said I would save most of it for collage which I guess for them isn't a problem because in France you don't pay to go to a university if it's in the same region in France as where you currently live. How I wish that was true when I think about how long it will take me to pay it off. Another thing with collage is that the people here don't have to be accepted in to collage, they choose where they want to go and unless it's a private school they just go and enter. Personally I think it's nice that way, but then again I guess some universities would be more crowded then others and what not. As for my only other school response is that we had the "conseil de classe" this week where our 2 class delegates that we voted for maybe a month or two ago go and meet with all of our teachers to discuss grades, and evaluate and see where each student is. Then in my AP class(no not advanced placement, I am sorry to say that I don't actually know what it stands for but it's kind of like advisment for us in Ankeny) the delegates talk to the class and read through the evalutations and such. I am happy to report that all of my teacher are really proud of me and how hard I have been working=) but for those of you that know me well there shouldn't be any suprise there. Finally for school this week there is a "BAC Blanc" or a practice test for the BAC, the largest highschool test in the lives of french teenagers, for French class. I am not excited because the test is four hours long and you have to analyze and prepare a number of documents. This should be interesting.

Finally, just a quick word on what I have been doing. This past week-end I went to Metz again for a little AFS day. We toured the Museum Pompidou, the cathederal, theater and I went shopping and things with my friend Celine who also stayed the weekend. I love meeting up with all of these other people and talking about our adventures(in french and sometime english if no one knew how to say what we wanted in french). All in all it was good there=) then I have a Marche de Noel in a city in another region of France with Ceiline and Eriko which is pretty much a Christmas market and other fun activities. I am looking forward to it! I hope everyone there isn't feezing like it is here. Hope everyone is well!!!