Sanskgiving in Fronce

We had a petit soirée chez Marie-Eve last night for Thanksgiving. It seems to me that the French really don't get our holiday- "What? A holiday where you just eat?" Yes, when you think about it, there's no religious banter about resurrections or deaths or births- just giving thanks for the heaps of food on the table. Once again, we've prooved to the French that we are indeed crazy. :) So Marie-Eve, our wonderful program director, keeps up with the American traditions, all the way over in Grenoble, and orders massive amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (the good kind) and gravy. The meal was delicious, although don't ever try to cut turket breast with a plastic fork- I go through about three. Then, of course, we break with tradition and add a little French twist- a cheese course. I've never seen so many on one plate before! Chevre, vache, fromage bleu- it certainly was a feast. When dessert came out, I could hear the bells of heaven. Geoffrey, our petit chef cooked a homemade pumpkin pie to die for. It's on the table for about 1.46 minutes before bam! it's gone. Others brought apple tarts, cakes, brownies, gateaux, and pudding.
After our feast, we celebrate Canaan's birthday with music - Jill and Geoffrey hit the piano and play songs that we all sing to. Canaan plays "Blackbird" and "Hey You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles on her guitar, I sing (2 glasses of wine later...). Then, for the finale of the talent show, Marion, Max, Evan and I get dressed up in 80s hairband costumes for our "air band" called "The Lost Kitties" (long story). It is fabulous ! Everyone laughs at our ridiculous costumes and Marion's imitation of Eddie Money singing "Take Me Home Tonight". I find a marocca in Marie-Eve's apartment, which entertains me the rest of the night haaha. After, Patrice does some ridiculous activity with all 25 of standing in a big circle. First we all whisper "Shoo shoo wa shoo shoo wa shoo shoo wa wa wa" and then sing "La laaaa la la la laaaaa" in a round until all of us have feet in, knees bent, butt sticking out, head up, tongue out! It was ridiculously funny, esp Patrice! Later, a bunch of us take the beers Evan brought to the soirée and drink them in a park, then "beers on a sidewalk" when he drops the box and they all explode :(