Veux-tu m'epouser? (Will you marry me?)

So it started out as a Saturday similar to any other: 

-Get up around 10am, unable to sleep because our internal clocks tell us that we have to wake up early to go to work/school

-Eat breakfast: coffee, fresh milk, toasted baguette, lots of butter, and savory jams

-Watch music videos on TV in our pajamas because we both agree that they just don't make Saturday morning cartoons like they used to anymore.

Our Saturday afternoons usually consists of a sandwich and a pastry at the local bakery while walking around "downtown" and window shopping.  However, Benoit announced that he would like to do things a bit differently that Saturday, and let me be the one to say, "And OH BOY DID HE!" 

He told me that the Castle of Clisson was a rather nice thing to see that day, even though there was still snow on the ground and according to the thermometer in his car, it was a total of -7 degrees  C (which is approximately 19.4 degrees F).  But nevertheless, we hopped in the car and off we went to some castle that I didn't even know existed about a half hour away from where we live in Nantes.

"I know you're hiding something from me Benoit!"  He does look rather guilty in this picture lol.

So considering that restaurants in France are only open between 12 and 2pm and then again from 7 to 11pm, we decided it would be a nice idea to find a cozy place to eat on the way.  For some reason, of which I have now totally forgotten, I had always dreamed of eating at what would be known for us as a "truck stop" type restaurant, but "à la française."  As word may have it, these "restaurants ouvriers" (literally translated as  "manual laborers' restaurants"--I know it sounds a lot prettier in French), you can order an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for 10 to 12 euros and the carafes of wine are on the house!  What more could you want? French food and free wine--sign me up!

As soon as we saw small road signs advertising for such a "restaurant ouvrier," Benoit quickly made the detour so that we could have lunch there.  Ironically, the place was called "Le Gros Cailloux" which translates in English to "the big rock" (one of Benoit's nicknames amongst friends since he is a stone mason).  Although no one seemed to be eating there, we took the name as a sign and decided to go in.

Bad choice.  The bread was stale, my pâté was frozen, Benoit only got one beef shish-kabob, my frog legs were dripping in oil, and my chocolate cake was way over cooked.

Lunch for two at the worst restaurant that I have ever eaten while in France: 52 euros (approx. $70)
However, the experience and milestone that was patiently waiting for me: PRICELESS

My frog legs that day: the picture looks a lot better than it tasted, trust me.

After the terrible and EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE restaurant that Benoit insisted on paying for himself (note: The French may be considered chivalrous in their demeanor, however, that would definitely not be the adjective to describe them when it comes to money--I guess they have to have at least one flaw lol), I was not feeling very reassured about our Saturday "promenade."

We arrived in the city of Clisson which is known for its Italian inspired architecture.  We first visited the Church and I was surprised to find (and my Mom can now even vouch for me) that it was at least 20 degrees colder inside the church than it was outside.  Nevertheless, we lit a candle for my Mom, walked the perimeter inside the church leaving Benoit to critique the stone work, said a quick prayer, and left shivering!

Our Lady of Notre Dame Church in Clisson

Of course, admiring the magnificent chocolates and fresh pastries.  You really can never get enough.

And here we are at the "Chateau de Clisson" (Clisson Castle).  We bought out tickets from the lovely, old ticket woman who was sitting next to her little electric heater, gently telling us that she was so delighted to see such a lovely, young couple take interest in the castle and its history, especially on a day like today where the snow scared everyone away.

Benoit was rather quiet while visiting the castle that day, wondering off by himself and admiring the snow that lay on the ground.  I thought he was still upset about the terrible restaurant we had eaten at like I was.  

Then, we suddenly came to a landing looking out onto the small town of Clisson and we stood for a few moments in silence, admiring the charming little village that lay under its cold white blanket.  The wind was harsh that day and I was doing my best to concentrate on the simple beauty of what was in front of me in order to drown out the frigid air.  

And then suddenly, Benoit took both of my hands, firmly turned me to face him, and looked at me every so lovingly deep into my eyes and said, "Laura, je veux te demander une question." (Laura, I want to ask you a question).  This is where I started crying.  I mean not just crying, but playing the American card and saying "oh my gosh oh my gosh" and not be able to catch my breath because I was so cold and obviously I was crying too much haha.  Yes, I know, how romantic on my part right?  Here I am, standing in the middle of a medieval castle in France, Benoit in front of me, about to be proposed to, and there I am crying lol.  Ok so anyway, back to the romantic French side of the story.  "Veux-tu m'epouser?" (Will you marry me?) Benoit softly asked as he pulled out a small box where inside neatly perched the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.  On a fine golden band, there sat a ruby surrounded by 8 diamonds (yes I counted lol).

My answer: "YES! Oh! I mean OUI!"

(to be continued...)

Long underwear can be sexy

So after a full week of new classes, legal problems with Sophie (let's just say she did not take things lightly whenever I told her that I was leaving the apartment at the end of the month), incoming grades, and  lots of emotions.

At the end of the month I will be leaving my apartment in Angers and moving back to Nantes!  I am so excited to FINALLY be settling somewhere because frankly, despite my passion to travel, all of this moving around is a bit tiring (mentally, emotionally, and of course physically!)  I will be working at my internship one day a week, starting this Monday (ahh!) and then taking the train every day to Angers in order to attend my classes, which will finish at the end of March.  I figured that it will just be like taking a 40 minute bus ride to school.  People do it, especially for work, every day right?

So I orginally planned to stay in Angers the rest of the week (even though I do not have class this Friday) and join Benoit in Nantes for the weekend.  However, this week, I was missing him much more than usual.  And in need of a bit more adventure to break up the monotonous student life of class, study, eat, sleep, I took the train to Pornic Thursday night to see Benoit.  He was so touched that I came to visit and I am so glad I did.

He was 10 minutes late picking me up from the train station and at first, I was a bit floored do to the fact that I just spent 17 euros and 2 hours on the train just to see him.  Thursday nights is "aperitif night" between Benoit and his colleague (there is only two of them working on this particular worksite in Pornic) and I thought that he had forgotten about me after he had too many whiskeys.  Silly Laura, he was late because after he had a drink with his colleague, Benoit rushed home to straighten up the house and light a fire in the fire place so that I wouldn't be cold whenever I first arrived.  Then, he drove 30 to the nearest open grocery store (most all grocery stores in France close at 8pm--can you imagine that functioning in the U.S.?) in order to get exactly what I told him that I wanted to eat for dinner that night.  A plate of fine meats and cheeses with red wine of course was my choice.

Whenever we got back, we quickly revived the fire and poured the wine into a beautiful caraf that we inherited from Benoit's boss because it was slightly cracked on the inside.  We'll take it! lol.  I had just sat myself down by the fire in order to de-stress and enjoy the fresh moment of the present when Benoit walked in from the kitchen in nothing but his long underwear!  I didn't even know long underwear existed in France!  "I hope you still love my even though now you know I wear something so ugly underneath my pants at work," Benoit said meekly while imitating a ballerina in the mirror.  "I still love you if you still love me," I said as I lifted my turtle neck in order to show him that I too wear long underwear in the winter.  Yup, we were definitely made for each other.  We finished the evening by have a wonderful fireside dinner while watching and making fun of trashy French reality shows...there was really nothing else on tv that evening lol.

Thinking of you all.

Love,
Laura

current updates (it's a dry title I know, but it's the best I can do at midnight on a school night lol)

So despite my intense courses in computer science for translators, I am still incapable of converting the size of a video in order to successfully post it on my blog.  All films directly taken from itunes over 20 seconds have taken the liberty to manifest against publication.  Sorry Dad, despite my 11,5 on my recent Masters 2 computer class exam, I am no Bob Namestka lol.

However, Benoit and I are still holding true to our promise in filming the simple event of our lives.  We just haven't figured out how to post them yet!

Upon my return to France, we've had 1 death and 3 additions to the family.

George (one of our two turtles) decided to leave us.  He was never really active.  He reminded me a lot of Pistachio (my albino guinea pig whom we always knew wasn't exactly apt to play the game "survival of the fittest" and spent her days in the food bowl as her lack of 2 of the 5 senses impeded her from living otherwise).  George was always the slow one and was always a little bit too lazy to poke his head out of the water and come up for air.  One day, he just decided it was better to stay under water.

On a happier note, we bought a new refrigerator!  Being deprived of such an electronic necessity for a week and half taught me two very important things in life : always appreciate the simple things because you never realize how essential they truly are in today's technological and modern world (Grandma Trach, I don't know how you managed for so long using an ice box and putting the milk outside--bravo!) and secondly, if you leave camembert cheese out for longer than 2 days, your whole house spells like sweat socks (yes, Mom, worse than the basement smelled after 8 of Aaron's friends spent the evening dancing and singing karaoke).  

Second addition to the family, George V! Sea turtles were on promo at the pet store (24 euros those little buggers!) and Benoit, being the caring animal lover that he is, just couldn't go another day without giving Caroline (the other still living turtle) alone without a "lover."  He is such a romantic even when it comes to reptiles.

The third addition is television, internet, AND a landline which includes FREE calling to any landline in the U.S.  Hope everyone is ready for some phone calls, especially you Mom :) 

Our communication package is supposed to arrive in the mail on Monday.  As soon as we have everything connected and running, I'll be ready to pass my number onto anyone who has free calling to an international landline.  

Well the French Martha Stewart is one TV and tonight revealing the secrets of making the most wonderful tasting French crepes.  It's making me hungry!

Love and miss you!

Bonne Année! (Happy New Year!)

So this New Year's Eve will definitely stay with me forever.  I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Our plans this year were put together rather "last minute" to say the least.  Nothing seemed to be coming together, so we more or less "got ourselves" into a party that was being held at "Le Mouillet"(which in all other circumstances is about 45 minutes from Nantes).  The theme this year was "Metro Stations" and Benoit and I decided to base our costumes on "L'Opera."  Seems like a wonderful idea right?  Long gown, old fashion opera glasses, high-heels, gloves while Benoit would be wearing a tux fully equipped with a bowtie, top hat, cane, and a mustache.  I offered to make him a "cummerbun" and of course he said "YES" not even knowing what it was.  I guess men don't wear cummerbuns in France, but they have seen them worn in American films.

I'd say that we clean up rather nice!

The party was scheduled to start at approximately 9pm.  Benoit and I arrive at approximately 10:45pm. Although Benoit's hand written directions of "gauche et ensuite droite et ensuite droit encore" (left then take a right, and then right again) were exactly Magellan's best choice, I definitely didn't help with my wonderful sense of direction and my knowledge of French round-abouts and non existent street signs.

When we finally arrived, we realized that "we weren't in Kansas anymore" or were we?  We had the priviledge of parking next to 35 cows and walking through their wonderful smelling and fresh "merde" (excuse my French by "shit" in English) ruining our shoes and our sense of humor.  Everyone was pretty much "well lit up" to say the least by the time we got there, which they had every right to be because not only was it New Years Eve, there wasn't any heat in the house except for that produced by the fireplace in the kitchen (that no one really attended to).  However, after a few glasses, we fit right in.

(I apologize, I'm still trying to learn how to use my new camera--I swear! lol)

And take two:

Ok, so maybe the third time we'll get it right:

At midnight, champagne and "bisoux" (kisses) were had by all and the speakers too had their fair share of alcohol.  Just as in the U.S., French speakers are not waterproof so from midnight on, we had no music.  Good think the French like to talk!  So despite the long interuption of sudden silence, the invitees continued on, drinking, eating the unfortuately not so great food (I was surprised and very disappointed), talking, and having a relatively good time.  

We went to bed around 5am; however, the party still carried on without us.  As I said, there was no hear in the house so you can imagine that it wasn't exactly the best night's sleep I ever had.  

The next morning, we woke up around 9:30am and I was again completely reassured that I was currently dating the best man in the world (besides my own father of course--Hi Dad!).  In order for me not to retrace my steps through the rain and cow poop, Benoit went to get the car (in the rain the in the cow poop) drove the car as close to the house as he could, carried me the rest of the way, and plopped me down in the front seat.  Now, anyone who prevents me from stepping in cow poop, that's romance to me baby!

Some Christmas Cheer

So even though I was sad to leave a scene as beautiful and wonderful as this,

I was happy to run into this whenever I got back (yes, I am talking about both Benoit and the chocolate lol)

As Benoit already mentioned to you, he was waiting for me at the train station with a bouquet of red and pink Gerber daisies and our usual "Welcome back to France" meal consisting of all different sorts of cheeses, a fresh baguette, and always something chocolate for dessert.

So things have been pretty eventful here at 64 bis rue général Buat.  We recreated Christmas as soon as I got back and opened up all the gifts that were patiently waiting to be opened.  Benoit offered me a beautiful silver bracelet.  Small, simple, and absolutely lovely!  It is the second piece of jewelry he has given me since we've been together, the first being a blue cross made from Murano glass that he bought during our summer trip to Venice in 2010.  

As you can tell from the picture below, Benoit was absolutely thrilled with all of the gifts he received from the family.  He confessed that he has never received as many gifts than what he received this year.

In addition, we were forced to buy a new fridge due to certain complications with the one we had before, and after spending a week without any source of food conservation, we finally bought one!  And as with all new household appliances, we did a photoshoot.

I must say that there is a reason to why we must refridgerate cheese, so we don't pass out from the rank odor of  Camembert that has been sitting out for the past 5 days.

I will post the videos that Benoit and I took over the passed few days whenever I return to Angers.  Let's just say that our gadgets here in Nantes aren't as up to par as those of Gadget Dad ;)

          hi! it is Benoît  thank you very much for the presents and this chrismas I had the most presents of my life. :-)

Hello it is Benoit . I never to write on the blog but it'is a good exercice for my english :) tuesday Laura is back in Nantes. I went to pick up Laura in the train station with some flowers (Germini ).
Laura and I had the idea to put some movies in the blog to show you how Laura lives in Nantes.
It is a good idea?
Love ,
Benoît

1 down, 9 to go; however I am not here to recount my final exams. There are other things much more exciting to address

Notion #1 Our turtles are officially sexually frustrated...

Every Friday afternoon and Monday morning, George and Caroline (those are the names of our two turtles--I named George and Benoit named Caroline) make the trip from Nantes to Pornic and back again in the back seat of Benoit's car (sometimes if they are good, he lets them ride up front).  The roundtrips must be taking a toll on them because we find that they are "much" more active nowadays than before.  Mom, you may have grandbabies sooner than you think!  However, they won't look anything like Benoit and I.

Each turtle wears his or her name well according to his or her character.  George is a lot like Grandpap George.  He keeps to himself most of the time, but always pulls out a joke.  Caroline, to my understanding, is a lot like the crazy turtle in the animated French cartoon Benoit watched as a kid.  

Notion #2 Benoit came to Angers this weekend!

He surprised me for lunch on Friday by arriving a little bit earlier than planned.  During my normal two hour lunch break (I still can't get over how much the French value their lunchtime) we bought chicken sandwiches on fresh baguettes with mayo, tomatoes, and egg and each of us chose the dessert that we preferred: chocolate tarte for me and a lemon tarte for Benoit (a lot like another couple I know--Hi Mom and Dad--ok enough with the mushy love references haha).

During my afternoon class, Benoit occupied himself at the tool store.  Yes, this would be considered a usual habit of any common man; however, he was buying stone mason tools dating back to the middle ages.  Hmmm, again sometimes I wonder if I am living a dream or not.

After class, we went shoe shopping together and because Benoit bought a new pair of boots, the cashier gave me 50% off my pair of boots.  Now that's a steal!  

We were invited to dinner Friday at my friend Randa's (she is a Lebanese woman of 36 but with a lively, adorable character) and her husband Christophe's (he is French--Yes, Randa also converted) house. Since we had some time to spend before aperitif/dinner at 8pm, we decided to walk around the Christmas market.  Then while deciding that it would be a nice gesture to bring a bouquet of flowers for  "la maitresse de la maison" (the woman of the house) we made our way to the nearest florist shop only to find ourselves in the middle of a reception of Very Important People.  As we entered the shop, the woman asks us if we had an invitation.  "Um, no.  We are just here to buy some flowers." (which would be a normal response I would presume).  "Oh yes that's fine.  It's just that we are holding a reception for the mayor and his associates tonight.  But my colleague here will help you arrange your bouquet," the woman  informed us.  

As we walk in, we observe all of the "fine people" dressed to their best, drinking flutes of champagne and tasting beautiful desserts too delicious to eat.  And there are Benoit and I, dressed in jeans, noses red from the cold (and maybe a little too much hot wine at the Christmas market), holding our big bags of shoeboxes.  We decided on a full bouquet of 8 colorful Gerber daisies.  "Why don't you two serve yourselves a glass of champagne or two while I arrange your bouquet.  Don't be afraid to try the desserts made fresh from the bakery next door." 

Umm..OKAY! So while Benoit and I were "champagning it up" with the mayor of Angers, we decided that maybe it was time to head over to Randa's house (we are ALWAYS late for EVERYTHING--our friends now have the tendency to tell us to be somewhere a half an hour earlier than everyone else just so that we might have a CHANCE of actually being "on time").  And we left the mayor and his associates to carry on the delightful reception without us.

Dinner was lovely.  Randa and Christophe are absolutely wonderful people and I felt a little bit like Julia Child that evening, elegantly wining and dining in France with fine individuals (haha); even though it was not I hosting dinner.

Saturday was Chateau Day!  Benoit and I finally got to visit the Castle of Angers, which holds the largest tapestry in the world, dating back the age of the apocalypse.  Very, very impressive.  However, as you may expect, if you follow an audio tour which explains the entire tapestry, you better organize a good 2 1/2 hours out of your day.  After all, it is the largest in the world.

Weekend à Anger entre amoureux (Week in Angers between two people in love):

And here we are Sunday night, after a long and enjoyable weekend, at our humble home in Nantes eating the French smoked sausage and cheese we bought at the market, drinking red wine from the region of Chinon, and playing a game of chess.

Christmas Market in Nantes

A French man, wearing a barret, smoking a cigarette, and cooking chestnuts over an open fire.  Yes, this is a real.

Benoît won.