We Come From France...

I am back again.

I'm here to report that I quickly learned how to say I am allergic to food at a restaurant this evening. I'm sure you are surprised to hear that. While sitting at a table of my fellow students (and American aliens), I was trying to explain that I am allergic to garlic "Je suis allergique du garlic." The waitress looked puzzled and said "garlic?" in a heavy French accent. "Oui (yes)." My new found friends started stuttering and stammering to translate for me "L'ail!" Garlic in French is Ail. "L'AIL!" we all shouted in unison. To which she replied "There is no garlic in the soup" (in French).

Mom, you will be happy to know that many things from our high school French classes are coming back. I must have stored them away deep down in the back of my subconscious. Thank you.

To my friends who feel less than friendly about France (you know who you are!), the natives have been very warm and friendly, with the exception of a woman at the bank today. No sign of a reformation yet. However, our Irish guide/poet/maintenance man/history teacher, Finn, took us on a tour of the city today. He informed us that post-Reformation, Lacoste was a Huguenot town! To which I turned and smiled at Anna and said "Calvinists!" During the counter-Reformation, Lacoste fell back into the hands of the Catholics. Today the house of worship, or temple as they call it here, is now a movie house and city hall meeting place.

To my Catholic family members. Please do not be offended. You know that I am a Protestant for a reason and that I love you.

BTW, I didn't get to eat the soup anyway. It had a tomato base.

Nonetheless, I am consoled by the amazing local fromage (cheese) that I bought in the market today.