Wine, Michael Phelps, and Burgundian Theme Songs
September 6, 2008
Dressed in a cute little dress, wearing makeup, and smiling as much as I could, even though my hair had just caught on fire, I made my debut at the party. Carrying with me a huge dish of delicious Chocolate Mousse, about 6 jugs of Orange Juice (which would later be the downfall), and as much energy as I could muster, Leonie dropped me off at the Bernards home. She had to return for her cake and her family, both of which had decided to get ready a bit too late. Meanwhile, Andrew and I stood outside as our guests, none of which we actually knew, began arriving.
If you know anything about the French, you probably know that if the said Frenchie knows you, or if the party is in your honor, they will greet you with two kisses, one on each cheek. And if you know anything about me, you know I am cold human being that despises being kissed more than anything. Luckily, however, I am really getting over the kissing greets. It took me about 5 or 6 months to get used to the bowing factor in Japan, and after only 11 days (and more awkard greeting kisses than battles that Napoleon won) I am used to the form of greeting. In fact, I even kind of like it because it is very personal and can tell you a lot about an individual. As such, masses of French people, spread their greetings over plump cheeks and Andrews as well.
Inside the Wine Hall, Phillipe, Andrew, and I wrote out name cards for our guests. Phillipe distributed the card, splitting up families into different State Region teams, while Andrew and I were to write the names. Now I like to think I should take pride in my decent spelling skills, but in the French language the vowels are completely different.
"Non Non Non! E! E!"
I write down an e.
"Non Non Non Non! E. 'Ere givvit to me!"
Then he proceeds to write down an I. Ugh... French.
Very early on in the party, I became incredibly self-consctious and embarrassed. Andrew is fluent in French and can express himself so well. When random people would come up to me and ask simple questions, I could not answer without relying on Andrews translation. After a few moments, I find myself alone, or trying to fight through a crowd to get to a place to stand and listen to Andrew or the other kids talk. I was really rather surprised when about 15 girls from my school, including quite a few from my class, showed up. I decided to not worry so much about my French and stress more on learning names.
After everyone had nametags and everything was set, Phillipe called everyone into the main room. He introduced us to everyone and then began explaining the rules of the games. As he spoke, I began to realize that it probably would work out, because everyone was keen on winning and playing. Then I took the group representing the East Coast into my room and began the game. Leonie and Jean-Francois were amongst the group, and they quite clearly told le how hard the game was. Not one person could tell me anything about the East, except Jean-Francois who named NY's famous person as Juillialli, which I took to mean Mayor Giuliani. But the next group representing the South dominated. They knew huge events like, Fort Sumter for South Carolina, Hurricane Katrina, MLKs March on Birmingham, and the Spanish in Florida. They also named famous Southerners, Aunt Jemima from Kentucky, Ray Charles, and Robert E. Lee. All I can say is, "South is going to do it again..." The other groups both bombed like the East, in fact the Mid-West only wrote Indiana Jones for Indiana and nothing else. Not that I blame them. Who cares about Nebraska?
Wine glass in hand, I grabbed a quick bite to eat before Phillipe called us all back in the main room for the answers and a round of American trivia. I munched on my new favorite spicey mustard bread, which I helped Leonie make, as well the Ginger Bread, a classic treat for Burgundy. He told everyone the answers to his various wines, raising an enormous of applause. He first poured both Andrew and I a glass of 1990 Red Wine, as a celebration of the year he and I were born. Then he poured us a sip of white wine grown in Fixin in the year of 1962. It tasted as sweet and warm as honey. It is not everyday that you get to drink or try something that special.
Next up, it was time for Trivia. We started with History, my specialty. I asked about the French general who helped Americans in the Revolution, the French general that sold us Louisiana, the man that led to Free French movement during the World War, Dien Ben Phu, and the original color of the Statue of Liberty. I was amazed that no one knew the original color of our Lady Liberty, as everyone keeps reminding me she originated in France. As if I do not already know that. We then moved on to questions about Michael Phelps, even though I resisted the urge to ask the name of the Frenchmen who was supposed to 'smash' Phelps. We asked about Sarah Palin, Coca-Cola, Jack London, The Rockie Mountains, Big Alaska and Little Rhode Island, and other American themed questions. If anything, I was impressed at how much everyone knew about our country. Because I know for a fact, not one of my family or friends could answer tough questions about Burgundy, Brittany, Camembert Cheese, or Renault cars (well at least not everything...)
As soon as the trivia was over, it was as if someone ruled adults and teenagers must separate. I followed my classmates into another room, where the atmosphere changed. The doors were opened and everyone began smoking cigarettes. Andrew put on his boring folk music, until peer presuure forced him to change it to something good. We talked with all the French teenagers about things in general. I discovered I was in EPS, which is a Sports Class for Cross Country and Orientation with Margaux and Melanie, which I was excited about. I was enjoying myself so much, that I did not ask what was in the Orange Juice, until after I finished it. Andrew had a wonderful laugh when he saw my face drop after discovering what it was.
About an hour of just hanging around and doing nothing passed, dessert was served. I bid everyone to eat my delicious chocolate mousse, which was utterly delicious. In fact, it was so delicious that I ate someones elses chocolate mouuse, though I did intend to eat mine. I was just um... tired by that point. By then it was nearing one in the morning, a full 4 hours since we bagan. Everyone was exhausted among other things, so I was relieved when Jean-Francois happily stumbled into the room and announced it was time to go. I said goodbye to my new acquitances with a kiss in the cheek and a farewell till Monday. Jean-Francois, Leonie, and I managed to get home in one piece, as the others had left earlier. We were all going to have a good laugh at this the next morning.
