Jour Seize

...began with clothes that were still wet, and a continental breakfast in St. Malo.

We had a couple hours to walk around and look at the cute shops and experience the beautiful seaside village of old St. Malo.

Shae enjoying our beignet...Mmmmm.....Little friend.Cute little church in the middle of the town.Boats.

Then we toured this castle:Hannah snuck pictures of us on the way home, because everybody was out!!

5 happy things from today:

1. This view from the top of Mont Saint Michel,

(felt like "Liz on Top of the World" from pride and prej)

2. The whole group got separated from our director and we were totally lost trying to find our way up to the castle. We took some staircase that was the most claustrophobic, cramped, skinniest, little thing, and we didn't know what to do cause we all got stuck and we were laughing so hard. (Here we are, finally making our way out)3. Getting to eat green apples and my peanut butter on the bus ride.

4. Seeing the ocean once again.
5. Little alien Shae asleep on the way home.

A demain,

b

Jour Quinze

...began a few hours after jour quatorze ended, at 5:30 a.m. to be ready in time for us meet up with the rest of the group.

We were right on time and departed for Normandy.

This peanut butter cost me 4 euros-best I've ever spent-because I just really miss peanut butter. I don't understand how the French live without it. We're making this last.

After a lot of driving, we ended up at the Bayeux Tapestry; 1000 thousand years old, 230 feet long, delicate, and intriguing depiction of the Battle of Hastings. (We weren't allowed to take pictures, so this is just the outside of the building.)

We were then able to visit the Normandy Memorial. It was a very reverent and touching afternoon. The rain didn't stop the entire day, which added to the somberness of the atmosphere. Although I am so happy to be here in France, how blessed I feel and how proud I am to be from America.A few of us made our way down to the empty Omaha Beach where the actual attack began.
That moment became my favorite of this whole adventure thus far.

It was the most serene feeling; to be completely alone, soaked, rain pounding against me, standing on the silky sand, letting the waves crash against my feet, and to feel that historic spirit of where this event took place. It was peaceful and indescribable.

Beautiful Sutton didn't know I was taking this shot of her.After such an afternoon, we got a little stir crazy on the bus that night.
And we were just so wet, everyone was in a bit of a bad mood.
So Spencer and I performed a few magic tricks, and then played 'props' for everyone using my scarf as the prop."don't eat me monster hand, I want see my grandchildren"

Naturally, we were all starving that night, so we went out for a feast. This here, is my salad, and I put it on here to prove that I ate...chicken hearts.

After a rousing game of mofia, we were all tired, and really tired of being wet, so we went to bed, ready for jour seize.

A demain,

b

Jour Quatorze

...began by getting lost on the way to the Musee Cluny, but ended up to be a very nice art history class enjoying medieval art.

And I was so hungry (like usual) so I ate a whole tomato and baguette while walking home.

A big "gréve" (strike) was going to start on Thursday, the day we were leaving for Normandy, therefore, no RER available that day. So on Wednesday night, all of us who live outside of Paris had to make our way into the city before the strike started at 8 P.M. so we could be ready to go in the morning. This required us to leave around 6 P.M. to take the train in and find an Etap Hotel in some part of town that was really skkketchy.It was a bit intense! But we made it. And really I couldn't complain because I'll do anything for a continental breakfast.
We eventually made it, had to fit 9 girls and 3 boys in four rooms (included some bargaining), watched the magic bullet infomercial in french like 7 times, and ate dinner out of the vending machines, but had so much fun together.

A demain,

b

Jour Douze

..began with nerves because Shae and I had to give presentations in our Religion class, which we rocked, so now we're fine.

We got lunch and went to the park to eat and do homework because it was a gorgeous day. I had egg salad for the first time here, and I was the happiest thing cause I love egg salad. And because it tastes even better when you're sittin in a park in paris, france (eh? get it?)

And we took naps. I swear sometimes he doesn't fall asleep with a paper on his head.

The physical fitness committee doing yoga.

We ate the most delicious meal last night with the group and finished it off with some molten chocolate french cake with caramel butter ice cream, mmmm!

Then we went to single adult FHE, and we did speed dating (naturally) which was incredibly entertaining considering the language barrier, but still cool to see how good of friends we all our even though we sometimes have no idea what the other person is saying.

A good day in all.

A demain,

b

.

Jour Onze

...began soooo early in a cold house in a cold shower and a wet towel. But it is okay!! Cause we had Stake Conference to go to at:

Versailles!! Kind of an unconventional/really cool place to have Stake Conference.
More to come on Versailles once we return.

And for now, here is the belle maison we live in.

Et, bien sur, l'homme du jour:

This is Buddy. He lives 2 houses away from us and he is always waiting for us to come say "bonjour" in the morning and "bonsoir" in the evening on our way to and from the train station. He's kind of my Becker substitute for the next couple months, not as perfect as becks, but a good little guy to have around.

A demain,

b