The Berthelots

My goodness have I been busy! I'm sorry for not posting sooner, it has been crazy around here with school starting and all the excursions! Anyways, where did we last leave off?...

So I LOVE LOVE LOVE my host family. There are a lot like my Grandma and Papa, and make me feel like I am part of their family. Their names are Thérèse and Jean Berthelot. They actually don't live in Angers, but a suburb outside the city called Avrillé. I really like it out there, but unfortunately its a 45-minute bus ride to school every morning. But I enjoy living with them so much it does't matter. Both of them are retired, and both volunteer at hospitals and bring meals to sick people. What great people! Here are some pictures of their house:

This is their kitchen...so cute!

Their living room/dining room

I told them how I bake and they were very interested, and asked me to make them something, so I made them a tart!

Strawberry Kiwi tart I made for tea

Enjoying the tart! From left to right: my site director Sue, roommate Krista, host mom Térèse, host dad Jean, roommate Blythe

I know you all want to know about the food...and it has been amazing! Every night Térèse cooks us something new. My favorite so far has been the carrot soup...it sounds gross I know, but it is delicious! The French eat very different from Americans. First of all, things are served one at a time. So when we sit down to dinner, we will start with the entrée (which is an appetizer) of shredded carrots or ham or cabbage or tomatoes and eggs or soup or anything really. Then after that we have the plat principal (main dish), which has been everything from zucchini stuffed with cheese and meat to pizza to les tomates farcies (tomatoes stuffed with pork)! This is served with some type of vegetable as well. THEN, after that we have our cheese course...lots of different types of cheese to put on the baguette (baguette is served throughout the whole meal...I probably eat 1/2 a baguette a day!). And I've tried so many different types of cheeses, and I have no idea what they are called but I loved them all :) Also, dinner takes about an hour or more to eat because there is actual conversation and people aren't wolfing down their food. I like it a lot.

At school lunch is served the same way, but it's not as good. It's very much like cafeteria food, but I eat it anyways because by the time lunch rolls around I'm starving because my breakfast usually consists of a piece of toast with jam and coffee.

Unfortunately I have to go to class now, but I PROMISE I'll update later about school, excursions and friends I've made! A tout à l'heure!

Things to know:
*People here don't waste anything, even if they can afford to. Take note America.