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Eagerness and anticipation: Advent.

Sleep and reading. My life for this week in a nutshell. I've been catching up on any sleep that I lost during the fall semester, and it is rather gratifying to sleep in at whatever hour I wish, even if it is 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning. Perhaps I've already mentioned that I am a gros dormeur (deep sleeper). It helps me to have at least 8h30 to 9h30 of sleep. I actually feel that I am at the optimum level after getting that much sleep. Looking at the statistics posted by the National Sleep Foundation, it seems that each individual person has a certain optimum number. Mine tends to be higher and has been at that level since I was a teenager. Funny looking back to teenage years as I am now in my twenties (early twenties, mind you, but still...).

I've been reading through the "Pensees" by Pascal, especially the proofs for the existence of God, which I savor every time. His section on the limits of human reason as well as the case for Christianity as the only religion that can work, because of Christ as the mediator through which we have access to God. The Pensees (which translate to thoughts) are profound statements, written in the form of aphorisms that touch on the most profound things in the universe. You have to really dig into them to reach into what is incomprehensible but that which we are able to know through faith. Truly amazing and remarkable.

The time is coming for my departure, and I am exceptionally excited. I booked a ticket to see "Mozart, the Rock Opera," (musical comedy) in French, on December 25, so that I'll have something to do before meeting my family at the Gare Montparnasse (the main train station for Bretagne) in Paris, 14th arrondissement, on the 26th. I do feel like a kid again, waiting for Christmas, but, in fact, it's coming to me this year. My parents will be here in just a couple days. I don't think it could get any better than this. I'm planning on giving my parents and little brother the biggest hug I've given them yet. (Intense, we're talking close to a minute of embrace! Haha.) I have my gifts wrapped and ready, including a bottle of Bordeaux rose wine that we can share (speaking of which, I need to buy cork-screw-- tire-bouchon) and enjoy as an aperitif in our hotel. With my train tickets in hand, I'm ready to go. Just have to pack my bags and then I'll be ready to head out.

Tomorrow, which is Christmas Eve, will be spent at home with the Griffon family. We'll have a Christmas Eve dinner and probably head out to the mass at the Basilica Notre Dame, which is only a few steps down the road from my house. On the 25th, I will be at the house for opening presents and then leave on my TGV at about 10am. I can't believe it's finally almost here!

Charlie Brown Christmas and skyping for the holidays

One of my favorite holiday traditions is gathering around to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." This entire afternoon, I was listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio playing the music that is very festive and memorable. I was so excited about listening to the music that I decided to find the actual movie on iTunes, which I proceeded to purchase on iTunes so that I would have a definitive copy of it, rather than searching YouTube all the time. Of course, I am a sucker for wanting to do everything the legal way. Doing any kind of illegal downloading frightens me, since you never know what an illegal file could do to your computer. Anyway, I enjoyed downloading music and watching the classic Christmas special today.

Also, this afternoon, I spoke with my middle brother, Jeff, via Skype from his Air Force base in Altus, Oklahoma. He seems to be doing well. Jeff wrote me a very frank and brotherly message the other day that I was very happy to read on Facebook. He will be spending Christmas in Austin, TX with his friends in a not-so-shabby hotel, the Sheraton. Jeff seems to love Austin for the cultural things that there are to do there. He mentioned going to a death metal concert and entering into a fist fight to "save" his friends from an attack. Anyone who knows my brother, Jeff, knows he doesn't "take no shit" from anyone and will ensure that justice is taken care of, even if that involves blood and scaring off people with his physical prowess. (He's in such great shape, as he has had intensive physical training both during the football season in high school and in the military.) Anyway, he told me about that. He seems excited about seeing the whole family at his return in May. I'm looking forward to seeing him after I return home.

This evening, I will speak with my parents once more as they get ready to come see me in Paris. Hopefully, there will be no weather-related delays or cancellations as England and surrounding areas have been hammered with terrible weather. It looks like the "all-clear" can be sounded, looking at the meteo web sites for the Paris (Ile-de-France) region. Later, this week, I will have a skype visit with Elizabeth (my childhood and lifelong friend) and Devin, a good friend from college. Looking forward to communicating with people back home. So many blessings with technology these days.

Volubilis presents Schubert Mass No. 6 in E flat major

I finally learned the name of my choral group this afternoon and evening, Volubilis, a mouth-full if you ask me. It was a beautiful day. The snow melted, clearing the roads and making it possible for Antoine and I to arrive safely and soundly in Evron, 20 km to the north. We left promptly at 13:30 to head to the Evron Basilica. It was rather cold when we arrived and on the inside of the basilica, it was freezing. Fortunately, there were pink-colored light heaters all around the stage and scattered throughout the building. The church is absolutely stunning with beautiful stain-glassed windows, dating from the 12th century, so during the feudal times in France. When I arrived, I had to go to the bathroom really bad. Ok, my strategy on hydration was to completely gorge myself with water and coffee before arriving so that I wouldn't have to drink anything during the performance. For the most part, that idea worked. I wasn't thirsty during the performance. However, I did have to go to the bathroom three times. (And it wasn't in the church either. It was in a toilet hidden right next to a feudal archway, marked "Publics WC.") Not exactly the cleanest but it served its purpose.

The choir warmed up, everyone in their coats shivering in the freezing cold church. I felt bad for the orchestra players, because anyone who knows anything about strings, knows that cold temperatures make strings go flat and can also create cracks in the instruments. For anyone, it can be miserable to play, no matter what the instrument. We managed just fine. During the rehearsal, I saw Sylvain, one of my friends from orchestra and asked if he could use my camera to take some pictures. He did and also used his professional camera with which he will provide all the members of the choir with quality photos. So I will have good ones to take home. I went to the dressing room in one of the wings of the basilica. Took off my coat and was left with only my dark grey/off-black sweater, which was all I had to keep warm. Some of the choir members were like, "you're not too cold?" shivering under mink coats. I sighed and said, "No." It must be my thick Netherlands pale skin that keeps me warm. I'm used to the cold in any case.

The concert started late (as is usual in the Mayenne, 20 minutes late at that), but with a packed house. My heart was warmed when it started and my spirits rose with each movement. For the most part, I knew the notes and most of the words in Latin. But there were definitely passages where I was unsure about the articulation of the words and synchronization with the notes. That's the tricky part with Latin texts. But then again, I only had 5 weeks to learn the piece, which in itself was a feat. It seems I'm learning to learn music quickly. Good musicianship takes certain things, though. Number one: a pencil. Listening to a recording. Attending all rehearsals, if possible. And most importantly, watching! That's what I did half the time during the concert. I watched our director, Annick, in order to receive the consonants and any tricky entrances. Sometimes, the tenors were together. Sometimes not. I did see some of them buried in their scores, which was not so encouraging. Certainly, this music requires concentration. But watching is an absolute necessity to ensure togetherness.

Now to the creme de la creme, the solos. In any mass, there are solo sections for a quartet of singers. Schubert, a truly gifted composer, created a beautiful section in the Credo movement entitled, "Et incarnatus est de Spirtu Sancto." I almost feel as if this area is a dance section in a slow 4 in which people could dance gracefully at a party. It almost reminds you of the party in the "Sound of Music," at the Von Trapp family house. So beautiful with the violoncelli leading in. The two tenor solos are absolutely out of this world, and I was so jealous that I couldn't sing them. (They're meant for professionals, of course.) And the soprano solo is clear as crystal at each melodious entrance. The baritone equally had a warm part in the quartet. These soloists are professional musicians, educated at the best music schools across France and England, and former students of Annick. In total, there were three main solo sections, but "Et incarnatus est" was my favorite.

At the end, we had a going-home kind of moment called, "Dona nobis pacem." So beautiful and exciting just to sing what means, "give us peace." Such a great way to end the mass. With love and warmth and dignity. And the mass ended peacefully with a quiet diminuendo down to a piannissimo and there was silence in the basilica for 30 seconds. Applause for a long while. One of the older guys asked me to present a flower to one of the soloists and do the bise (French kiss on the cheeks). So I presented a flower to the soprano (she's really quite beautiful and had an extensive CV in the program, having studied at the Conservatoire in Paris) and gave her the bise. Such a beautiful way to end with an appreciation of the soloists.

After the concert, I went to Annick's (our director's) house for a holiday party, complete with homemade cider, plenty of white and red wines to go around, pate, boeuf bourguignon, and other holiday desserts and such.) Elation and satisfaction.

And now, I will enjoy a week of rest and relaxation before heading to Paris with its illuminations and holiday magic.

The vacation arrives! And my host family goes to DISNEYLAND! And more snow!

Today marked the end of my teaching duties for the rest of the calendar year before the beginning of January. I was so excited, because at lunch time, I headed to the lycee and got a complete holiday meal, filled with traditional French dishes for Christmas time. I had foie gras, rolls, stuffed chicken, French cheeses to paste onto a piece of freshly baked bread, and a chocolate cake with raspberries on the side. Chocolate bars and candy, oh the fun. And yes, when I get candy with my meal, I sometimes feel like a little kid getting a toy in a Happy Meal at McDonald's (which they call, MacDo here in France). Yes, I used to love getting special surprises as a child, especially candy.

After my very lovely lunch at the lycee, I headed home to go with Emilie, Bastien's girlfriend, to Leclerc (a giant supermarket) to find foodstuff gifts for the host family. We ended up picking out a gift basket with coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate truffles, etc. for Nathy and Pascal, my host parents. We went in together to get these. And then, for the children, I decided to buy a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates nicely presented in a tin that they will be able to share. Emilie told me that the children adore these chocolates. Score. I finished my Christmas shopping for the season. And then, I entrusted Emilie to wrapping them for me... (Yeah, I don't trust my wrapping skills. They're really horrendous sometimes. Plus, I was just lazy.)

This afternoon, I went to a meeting for the London trip, which went well, except I got a little bored. I know hardly anything about London. So I've never been, and I had no ideas about activities we could do with the kids while on the trip. So I found it was almost a waste of time. Nevertheless, I don't have to pay a dime for the trip, because I'm a chaperone (accompagnateur). Nice perk to assistantship in France, huh?!

I returned home to listen to music, complete my graduate school applications, etc. I submitted the applications for Brown and Illinois this afternoon. I also sent off the audio recording in the mail to the United States for Brown's application. I'm in high hopes that I will be going to Brown (in Providence, Rhode Island) next year. Meanwhile, I got an interesting email from an Illinois professor encouraging me to apply (after I had submitted; she must have not known) and looking forward to reading my application. This was the same professor who said that my research interests were almost exactly in line with hers and another professor at Illinois. So it looks like Illinois could be a choice that could be just as good as Brown. Who knows? Only the Lord at the moment.

Dinner this evening was good. We had meat (salami, ham, and other cold cuts), cheese, and potatoes. We cooked the meat and fondued the cheese over a heater/stove/oven thing that they use frequently in the Alps. Delicious and enjoyable.

Tomorrow, my host family heads to Disneyland for an all day affair, perhaps in the snow. I chose not to go first of all because of the cost factor and second, we have Disney Parks in the US that probably are better. Why experience Disney in France when you can experience the real thing in the US? It's almost the same attractions. Disney is Disney no matter where you go.

Here in Mayenne, I stay tomorrow, do some more Christmas browsing at the shops, resting, and a bit of reading. I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit. Downloading some Christmas music should help. The Christmas present I long for: to see my family, will be here before I know it. Being away from my parents this far and long has shown me a true appreciation for family. I'm excited to get a hug for the first time in three months. (Hugs are not in vogue here, as I've mentioned.) It's going to be really special in a great place, Paris. Ah, vacation.

Better end to the week

It seems that even when I get sick as I was Sunday through Monday, I always recover very swiftly by the grace of God. I'm feeling in tip-top shape, returning to school this final stretch before the vacation. Notes that I have mentioned before about the church are just expressions of my frustration when I was sick and at the church. They don't necessarily reflect how I feel right now. I'm not keen on leaving my church family behind so soon, even though that's the way I felt a couple days ago. Mainly, I was miserable and needed some way to vent my anger, frustration, and misery that lingered over from Sunday to Monday.

So I feel much better and do intend to stay with my current church without a problem. Tomorrow, I will give a class to the middle schoolers (my last one of the 2010 year) and then have a nice Christmas dinner with the faculty of the high school, complete with four or five courses and only paying 2 euros for the entire thing! Afterwards, I will have my meeting for the London trip with the English teachers. Finally, I will send in my audio CD to Brown as well as my Brown and Illinois applications. So by the end of next week, all my applications will be in and I will relax for the remainder of the holidays!

Some things do have to get worse before they get better, but I just think things are getting better in any case.