Want to live in France for a year?

Earlier this year I was lounging on the "banana" couch in my sweats doing homework at my apartment in SLC, Ut. A seemingly normal situation, with the exception of a ridiculous phone call. I heard my phone. It was my mom. I answered and instantly noticed that her tone of voice was far too happy to be just a normal call. Then, as if she might explode from excitement, she asks me this,"How would you like to live in France for a year?!" I laughed. I choked. I thought she was joking. "Are you serious?"
She continues to explain that her french teacher is moving back to France with his family, and that they're looking for an Au Pair before they move. At this point I'm screaming, and my roommates think I'm crazy. I answered yes (ha...duh). Next thing I know I'm interviewing with the family (who happened to live just a couple streets away from my apartment...small world). The interview turned into a mutual agreement. The mutual agreement turned into a signed contract. Now I live in France. Ha ha. Crazy, right?
I've been a France resident for exactly a month and a half tomorrow. So here I am, on the eve of my 20th birthday and my month and a half mark, thinking how in the world is it that I'm here?! It still hasn't quite set in. It's also weird that I'm turning 20, gosh I feel old. But that's beside the point. The point is I want to share a little bit of what my life has been like for the past month and a half.

There is a lot I want to post and talk about, but first I'll introduce you to my french children.

Meet Marie-Faustine. She's 2 years old, and basically a party and a half. We enjoy dancing in the hallway, making funny faces at each other, and eating chocolate. Her main source of food is bread. And her favorite word is "plus" which means more. Her personal interests include: putting her shoes on the wrong feet, attacking her older sister's head with a brush, and running around naked.


This is Guilhem.

He's comfortable enough with his manliness to dress up like a princess, he loves cheese more than anyone I've ever met, and he is the best french teacher in France. I love this boy. Greatest one-liner courtesy of this genius 6 year old, "Easy peasy, [then in the best Shakespearean voice you can muster] TO SQUEEEZE A LEMON." Our favorite past-times include: playing all and any games, reading, and creating culinary masterpieces. He collects marbles and eats his boogers.

8 year old Aymeric. Yes, that is him behind the plastic palm tree. He dominates at the game of marbles and has an extensive collection. He has a fantastic imagination that is capable of turning any regular conversation into an extreme story that usually involves near-death escapes and explosives. He's currently working on his Christmas list and does so tediously; it has well over 40 items, prices included.

Maëlle-Marie. 10 years old and crazy cool.  She is my number one aid when it comes to her siblings. She's big on sharing; always willing to split any candy that she brings home from school with me. Everyday when I drop her off at school we have to do a round of high fives, "up high...to the side...to the other side...down low...TOO SLOW!" She is currently cultivating her art skills and recently drew a fantastic wolf as a birthday gift for her teacher. She rocks the violin and is a master of Cat's Cradle.


Love these guys. Really these pictures and descriptions don't even cover the half of how great they are. But for now it will do.

Next time pictures of France are going up!

Until then,

Mary