Une famille de Paris

We've thus far failed to elaborate on one of the best parts of our stay in Paris - our host family. We owe them many thanks for an authentic and welcoming French experience. Each day after we wandered the city, Liz and I had the pleasure of coming home to Aline and Nicolas' house just outside the city, and practicing our French with Arthur (3 years old) and Amandine (5). I'm convinced I could not find two cuter children in the greater Paris area if I tried. Subtract watching Beauty and the Beast french edition and putting too much sugar in the kid's crêpes, living in a house with small children for a week is still an experience in it itself. It lent itself well to discussions of the future. For example, in a moment of peace following the chaos of preparing for the children's bedtime, we gave each other the same overwhelmed look. "I'm never having kids." "I can't wait to have kids."

Each night, typically after Arthur and Amandine's bedtime, we ate dinner with Aline and Nicolas. They had us sample new wines and cheeses each meal, and prepared traditional french cuisine like onion soup, crêpes, and beef stew. Conversation was abundant, as both liked to tell stories and hear about what we did in Paris that day. A memorable snippet of talk was explaining what a "bagel" is. And along with a bagel, cream cheese, which (a wikipedia search later) actually originated from a failed attempt to make french Neufchâtel cheese.

If I do say so myself, Liz and I adjusted quite well to the french lifestyle. Once, we met up at Saint-Michel, like the lovers of Paris do. We frequented the local Fontenay Sous-Bois patisserie, surely making the people who worked there wonder where we came from and why we were buying baguettes at all hours of the day and night. On Sunday morning, we went with Nicolas to the market and purchased fresh veggies for our meal that night. We tried new things, like eating small bowls of plain marrow. Well, trying to. Our stomachs, perhaps, were a little slower on the uptake when it came to french culture, having particular difficulty with the moldy cheeses. Each night was ended with caramel-pear infusions to aid with sleep. And after a long bout of couchsurfing, Liz and I snoozed away happily in...a bed! I may have cried when I first saw it.

It was sad to leave Paris, as it meant leaving another family we connected with. I am so very thankful for Aline and Nicolas and their lovely children, its amazing how much more meaningful a city becomes when you establish ties to its inhabitants. I would like more than anything to return, and see where this family is at in a few years. For now, au revoir et plein de bisous!