Chapter 69: Easter Bonnets

nerd blog post #74

I interrupt the foto essay to give you a quick update on what's going on here in Rennes. Foto essays take longer to create than nerd blog posts, and I will continue the last three later today or tomorrow.

The work week went well. More courses have been added, making Tuesday through Thursday very long days. On Wednesdays, because of the theatre group in the evening, I'll be at school from 8am until 10pm. This feels extremely long. At Queen's, my days were often longer than that - classes, work at the P&CC, library time, rehearsal, bar. So this isn't so bad.

The theatre group went well. We decided that we're going to work towards performing a series of scenes for an audience at the end of the term. We'll somehow link them together or have transitions in between so there's a nice flow. I think this is the best idea given the level of the group and the fact that we're only meeting once a week.

After that, Cynthia, roomie Alexandre, his friend and I did a French tradition called La Galette des Rois. This happens in the month of January, and celebrates the coming of the Three Wise Men. They celebrate by eating a delicious cake that is sort of a cheese cake meets puffy pastry. Way back when, a bean was hidden in the cake. Now, it's not a bean (though they still call it that), but a little toy. Usually, the toy is a part of a nativity scene, and people like to collect all the parts. So, if your slice of cake has the bean in it, you are crowned king or queen, and get to pick a partner. The cake comes with crowns. It's a very old, very delicious tradition. I was not the queen, nor was I chosen as someone's queen. This reminded me of the time I didn't win the Easter Bonnet competition in grade 1. I lost to Carly Oakes, and her mom helped her make hers!! I did mine by myself... Robbed.

Thursday evening was one of the best nights I've had in Rennes. Foun and Lucie invited Merrill, Cynthia and I over for dinner. Lucie's family lives on a farm in Normandy and they cooked all sorts of fresh veggies from there. They made apple pie. After that, we ventured to O'Connell's, where we've moved the student night from Monday to Thursday. There were many students there, and it was a really great time. From there, we (along with some students) went to Caveau, which is this really small, underground (literally) night bar with good dancing and a nice crowd. Everyone had a good time. My classes are full of freens.

Yesterday, I was happy to sleep in and take the day slowly. I cleaned my room and uploaded fotos and ate a spinach omelette a la SR. In the evening, Cynthia and I decided to go dancing at Museum, after we both took a nap. We planned to get up at 10pm to get ready, but both slept until midnight! I rose to the challenge of a rally back, and by 2am, we'd left to catch the last hour of dancing at one of our favourite spots.

Today, Cynthia and I are going to the market and I plan on catching up on some e-mees. Tonight, Natalie and her husband are throwing a party, so we'll head over there. Merrill is in Antwerp this week-end.

That's it for now. I will continue with the fotos. Commenting has been on the decline in 2009. Though I mention it less, do not forget about the Babe Ruth treat upon my return! The race is still on, folks.

Enjoy your week-end and much love.

Signing off,
Hincks.