So since I last wrote there've been many memoriable events.. Christmas, New Years, my friend Florence (from New Zealand) staying with me, my class trip to Brussels and Strasbourg, my 18th birthday and my friend Injy (also from New Zealand) staying and getting a French boyfriend! I'm going to begin with Christmas.. it's almost 3 months late but I have to tell you about my amazing experience of a French Christmas!!
The month of December was a little strange for me, I had so many mixed feelings.. Incomprehension of how it was already almost Christmas thus how quickly my exchange was going, missing my family and friends back home and our Christmas traditions, but also at the same time I had so much excitement for the French Christmas that I was about to experience for the first time. Although sadly it didn't turn out to be a white Christmas!
In France they celebrate on the night of the 24th of December as well as the 25th. So at my home, we had around 20 people for the 24th and 30 for the 25th! It was packed.
Something I never would have guessed is that a traditional French Christmas food is..seafood! Mainly Oysters, but they also had things like Crab, Shrimp, Pipis etc. I was warned that every year my host family makes everyone try the Oysters, luckily being vegetarian, I had an excuse! Instead, I watched others trying them for the first time.. and not really enjoying them haha. Later when my friend Florence came, we made her try them and the look on her face was priceless ahah.
Another traditional food, which is better in my opinion, is the 'Buche de Noel' which is like a sponge cake rolled up into a shape of a log with chocolate all over it. My host mum and I made some the night before.. it took us hours and just as were finishing the last one, one of the cats jumped up on the bench and stepped all over it! He then took it with him onto the floor as we frantically tried to save it. Ah how exhausting but it was definitely a moment when all you can do is laugh!
 |
| Our Bush de Noel |
 |
| And then the Buche de Noel from the Aunty and Uncles bakery! |
Later at around midnight I skyped my family back home as they were having Christmas lunch at my Grandma's. I was SO happy to see them all together and on Christmas day.
I was a little worried before about being struck by homesickness seeing them. Of course I missed them, but it made me so happy at the same time. We didn't get to talk for very long, and once I was finished I went back downstairs and joined the crazy party again. Why I said crazy, well for a few hours I think, everyone from the Grandparents to the Grandchildren were firing these little balls of paper all around the room at each other. It was really funny, shows you a little more of the playful side of my host family!
That's honestly something that I love though, how they're such open people and really know how to have fun!
My host family's tradition is to keep all of the presents from the extended family at the house as well so that we all open them at the same time on Christmas day. Man I have never seen so many presents in my life.. they were all around the Christmas tree, 'Sapin' in French, even extending up the stairs too. While sitting at the dinner table everyone had there gifts brought to them, I was so overwhelmed with how many I received! A silver fern necklace from my mum and jewellery from my Grandma too, both sent over to me from New Zealand. From my host family: perfume, a scarf, a book with guitar tabs, chocolate, a huge mug and many other random things!
 |
| My presents |
It was really a humbling experience, my host family letting me experience something so family orientated as Christmas with them, how they have opened their home to me and treat me just like I was always there. It will definitely be a Christmas I'll never forget!
 |
| Matching! |
 |
| Opening presents! |
