Almost there...

I bet you'll never guess what I did today... Yes, I went to church, but guess what I did at church? There was a family from Norway who spoke some English but no French, so I was asked to translate for them. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my dad's mad simultaneous translating skills, but I did my best. The hardest part for me was that I hadn't spoken much English for the last month, so I felt like my English vocabulary on hand (that is, the words that came quickly to mind) was not substantial enough to be translating into. When you're translating, it's easier to translate into the language that you feel more comfortable with because it's the one in which you're going to be volunteering the terminology. It's one thing to understand what is given you, it's another completely to be the one who has to be doing the giving. Although I am more literate in English, at the moment I feel more conversationally confident with French because it's the language which I have been speaking for the last month, nearly nonstop.

This Norwegian family was quite the clan- they had 12 kids! The mom was really nice- she reminded me of Ryan's and Spencer's moms at the same time somehow. Can you imagine having twelve kids, let alone taking them on a vacation to the French Riviera?

I also met a couple from Salt Lake City, and a guy from Mauritius. Too bad I met so many people on the last Sunday, particularly the couple from Salt Lake City. I really liked them- they spoke my language, and the wife seemed very motherly. She had a granddaughter born yesterday :)

We had Rachel's favorite meal today for lunch: tuna-filled tomatoes (a million and a half times better than it sounds- I got the recipe), with tomato tagine, and little cherry tomatoes as an appetizer. And for dinner, we had tomates farci (spelling?). I sure enjoyed it.

I have to share this with everybody, because it just tickles me. I was talking to my family on Skype a few minutes earlier, and they put the dog on. This dog, who usually NEVER does what you tell her, unless you're holding some juicy bacon or something of the sort and yell it to her fifteen times, obeyed me! Just from hearing my voice on the computer! (I don't have a webcam so my family doesn't see me, but they do so I can see what's going on on their end) She sang (ahoowoowoowoo), then sat, then did the coucher thing that I don't know how to say in Eengleesh. Maybe she does like me after all... I sure don't deserve it if she does, though. I have never shown much affection for that fecal machine (excuse my French...).

I have some exciting things planned for my three remaining days in France, but I am really looking forward to being home, too. It's like looking forward to Christmas! I can still appreciate the time before, aka present shopping, but these last couple days are all in anticipation of that magical night- in this case Thursday night- and gift-giving morning. Wonderful how this works- I look forward to the day I leave for France, then I look forward to the day I come home... I remember when I went to California with Grandpa and Grandma and Aspen a few years back... (has it been seven years already?!!!) I was away from my family for a week, which I enjoyed like crazy, but I was thrilled to be home afterwards. Then, in all my wisdom :), I expressed a sentiment which to this day has always been proven true for me, "The best part of going on vacation is coming home afterwards." I think that vacations help you appreciate your home when you come back. Especially when it's your family you're coming back to.

Random announcement for the day: tomorrow is apparently my Saint's day. You know, how the Catholics have Saints who all have days for them? Well tomorrow is the Saint Natacha/Natalie day. Funny how it ended up being while I was France. So, from now on, I get presents on every July 27th, ok? just kidding.