So I’ve realised a negative about France. During spring time when the colds are going around you’re basically guaranteed to get sick with all of the french kissing. I feel like I’ve had this same cold for like 3 weeks and it’s driving me banana’s!

This week was extremely nerve wreaking for the lead up to the weekend – when I got to see my new (potential) host family. But before I get to that I’ll give a quick rundown of the week. I spent heaps of time in the garden of baza’s with my friends because nearly half of my teachers were away on a trip to Italy with the terminal students. This meant we had only about 4 classes per day which was absolutely heavenly!

Friday night Denis, Louise and I drove to Bordeaux to see a piece of German theatre put on by Lina’s German class. It was definitely an experience and by the end by brain was totally boggled with all the different languages going on around me. It was a good laugh though – you didn’t have to speak German to understand it because the class was so dramatic. This one guy was dressed up in a ball gown with a horrible blonde wig and when he bent over a pair of socks fell out the ball gown’s bodice, it was absolutely hilarious and I was practically crying with laughter!

After the theatre we all went out to dinner at a Spanish restaurant and had Tapa’s – a whole heap of nibbles and appetisers. It was a first for me, and definitely not a last, they tasted sooo good!

The day after was the day I had been anticipating and dreading for several weeks – meeting my new host family who I will probably move in with in June(ish). I definitely got quite the shock when I arrived to be greeted by 7 dogs (yes seven), barking their heads off in the lounge! Before I arrived Elizabeth had warned me she had a few pets, but I didn’t realise just how many! The family was so nice and welcoming – contrary to the evil bunch of dementors I had envisioned in my head, and I found myself wondering why I was ever scared. I was at first quite apprehensive about the idea of having 7 dogs in the house, but they explained they only come inside at night to sleep and eat. There were just a few other animals too (takes a deep breath): 9 cats, 3 kittens, 1 horse, 6 rabbits, and 100 or so geese and chickens! I think Elizabeth’s and my idea of “a few animals” are very different – I thought I’d stepped into a zoo!

In the family there are 4 girls, Florestina or Flo (7 and the cutest thing ever), Melyssandre or Mimi (11), Gwendoline or Gwen (14) and Elizabeth (16). They were honestly so nice and really close, and were very welcoming to me. This family was very different to my current host family in terms of spending more time together, which for a social person like me, was really good. As for the animals, once I’d recovered from the shock I was quite taken to the idea – I always think of that quote “It’s not right, it’s not wrong, it’s just different” in moments like this. Unfortunately I couldn’t tell if the dogs inside would mess with my allergies because my cold was already very present.

We didn’t do anything that special that weekend, it was just time for me to get to know them and vice versa. Although on Sunday we spent the evening hiding Easter eggs for the local primary school which was good fun! By the Monday when I waved good bye I felt so relieved to know how loving and such a close family they were. I really like my current host family but sometimes I get lonely with everyone being away during the week. I am definitely looking forward to staying with them (that is IF I haven’t scared them off!

After this week it’s the holidays, I can’t believe how short the terms are! I’m actually so pumped for these holidays. This weekend I am off to one of my friends houses and going to church for Easter with her. Then me and my current host family are off somewhere (forgot the name…) for 5 days, and I have no idea what we are doing but I think it has something to do with caves? I’ll have one week of holidays when I get back and then I’m off to meet up with the JPC french class on their trip to France so I get the first week off school! It’s go go go.

I don’t think I will get my blog updated next week because we’ll be … somewhere, but I’ll do an update one when I get back. I’ll load the pictures later.