Sorry guys, I completely forgot about this blog entry until I got home yesterday, and since I don’t have a computer anymore I couldn’t post this until today. Apologies!

We’re in the last week of classes here, and I’m pretty much never ever busy anymore. I turned in all my compositions a while ago, so everyone else is freaking out and I’m watching James Bond movies with my host family. It is pretty sweet. I have been able to spend more time with them now that I’m not working a lot, so the other day I was in the salon working on some Christmas cards for my students, and my host brother was listening to music and for some reason decided to have us listen to the national anthems of the U.S., France, and England. It was interesting, to say the least. He definitely sang along to at least half of The Star Spangled Banner. Last night he played some French boy bands from the 90s for me.

Something that made me feel really good recently is that I turned my final paper in to my internship professor, and when she returned it to me, she told me that I have “a very beautiful French.” I was really happy because I was afraid I haven’t improved as much as I should have… I feel that way about half the time, and the other half I can tell I’ve improved. But there is no way my French from before could be described as “beautiful.” “Efficient,” maybe.

This is the last week I’m with the elementary schoolers. I already said goodbye to half of them, and I’ll see the rest today. I am kind of sad because I love the kids but also kind of happy because I hate trying to teach any of them except the CM1 and CM2. It is really cute though because even the most annoying bothersome kids are still adorable and want to giv hugs and kisses because they are French and that is what they do. I am both nervous about and excited for the kindergarteners’ reaction.

Last Friday my friends and I had a mini Christmas carol sing-a-long, and it was pretty great; I hadn’t realized how much I miss that kind of thing. Then on Saturday we went to the Christmas Market, which was amazing, and I hope to go back soon. There are hundreds of little stalls with all sorts of products and things; it’s a bit like a huge festive flea market that’s open every day except Sunday.

I told my host family that I had learned to play two Christmas carols (Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Angels We Have Heard on High), and now my host mom wants me to play them for the family. Ummm I don’t know them that well, and their piano is really out of tune. Ah well maybe the last day so they have a chance to forget it over the holidays. I also learned to play a simplified version of the Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. I love love love that piece so much that it hurts to listen to it. I’m pretty happy that one of the books in IES had a version of the waltz, and I’m glad that I’ve had a chance to play piano here. I think I’ve improved a lot.

So I will post one more update next week, which is finals week. I’m going to Paris next Friday, and my flight leaves on Saturday morning, luckily with one of my best friends from here on board! I’m sorry again for how late this is and hope you are having a beautiful holiday season!