Cemeteries Are Different Here (....and Spookier)

Dear Mrs. Ross and Class:

Blog #4

Hello Everyone.  Maddy here again from France.

This week's story is about how scary and different cemetires (cemeteries) are in France from cemeteries in America.

Very different!

The first and biggest difference is that French cemeteries are above ground in huge stone tombs and not in graves in the ground.  There is no grass at all...just stone and cement.  The reason is that the ground here is hard and solid rock and it is impossible to blast the stone for graves.  So all the tombs are above ground.   Gross!!! But they are REALLY cool.  Some are so old.  Some over 300 years from the 17th century.  And some are even broken.  I sometimes think that ghosts can escape and that is very scary especially when I am in the cemeteries tout seul (alone) as my bus stop for school is at the door to our cemetery in Villefranche.

Another strange thing about French cemeteries is that chiens (dogs) are not allowed.  That is really funny as dogs are allowed everywhere else, even in schools and restaurants.

Finally, French cemeteries are part of the life of everyone in each of the small villages.  The old people all go to every funeral even if they don't know the person.  And, it is so hilly here that the coffins have to be carried by hand as the voitures (cars) can't go up the stairs to the cemeteries which are always high in the towns with the very best views.

I hope you like the pictures and don't get too scared.  It really is very different here and very spooky.

Talk to you all next week.

-Maddy

There Is No Publix In France

Dear Mrs. Ross and Class:
Week #3

Hello Class.  Maddy here again.  Thank-you all so much for the comments and questions.  Read on and I will get to those in a minute.  First, this week's story:

Getting your food is VERY different in France than in Florida.  Very different.  People here shop for their food every day and not at big stores like Publix.  Every day we have a huge outside Marche (market) where thousands of people come to buy everything they need.  There is great fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and even over 1/2 mile of fresh flowers.  It is really neat.  Plus we buy our du pain (bread) every day too.  Did you know it is a law in France that every town has to have a bakery open every day?  The French love their fresh bread.  We also grow most of our own vegetables in our humongous jardin (garden).

The best part of the market is when it is over at about 1:00 pm every day.  Then the local firemen take giant hoses and wash everything away.  There is tons of garbage.  The worst part is the really stinky poissen (fish). After they are done, the market then turns into hundreds of restaurants for lunch and dinner. 

I hope you like the pictures.  Especially the pig and the smelly swordfish head.
More next week and thanks again for the GREAT questions and comments.

A bientot
-Maddy

Answers To Your Questions

Mrs. Herrera:  Thanks so much for reading my blog every week.  It means so much to me.  You are the Best!!

Katie:  I miss you so much too.

Bridgette and Lila:  Thanks so much for all your support.  I hope to see you in New York soon.  Miss u 2.

Sam:  I agree, French is so hard.  Keep trying though, you will get better just like me.  See you at Halloween!

Mrs. Ross and Class Answers from Blog #1:  Thank-you so much for the questions and comments.  It just makes me a bit sad as I miss you all so much.  Thanks again for making me smile.  Here are your answers:

1]  I love to pick the grapes because it is really fun.  The vines are so tall, just like soldiers in a row.
2]  Yes, I do eat the grapes while we pick them because they are awesome when they are fresh.
3]  We got our vineyard when my mom, dad, and I planted each vine when I was young in 2001.
4]  Yes, the grapes would turn to raisens if we did not pick them at just the right time.  Great question whoever asked!

Mrs. Ross and Class Answers from Blog #2:  The Big Wedding

1]  My dog Snoopy was the official at the wedding but he was not the best as he kept squirming to get away.
2]  There were no rings exchanged but they did exchange lettuce and carrots.  :-)
3]  Yes we had a beautiful cake.  It was a carrot cake with seeds and nuts on top.  It went very quick!
4]  No they did not rub noses but they did hop away very happily together.  They really love each other.

That's all for now.  Have a GREAT week.

-M

I Have The Weirdest Animals In France

Dear Mrs. Ross and Classmates:
Week #2

Most of you readers that have been with me for a while, know that I have two cute dogs.  But did you know I also have a lapin (rabbit) named Sugar and a Couchon D'Inde (Gunnea Pig) named Lillian.? They also live with me in our house in France.  However, these two characters are the weirdest animals in France.

First of all, rabbits and Guinnea Pigs get along very well together in the same cage.  They get along so well that I actually had to have a wedding for them as they both wanted to get married.  What a couple!  (See the above picture of Lillian's bridal gown.)

Secondly, these animals just love to go to go for walks with the dogs.  I even have a leash for each of them.  They look so silly walking down the street together.

Thirdly, these two love to be daredevils.  I actually had to make a Disneyworld for them including rides and rollercoasters.  I even trained them to jump in and out of their cages.

Finaly, and the really weirdest and worst thing is that Lillian especially loves apples.  She only eats the Royal Gala kind though. And she loves them so much, that she sqeeks early every morning so loud, when my mom cuts them on the counter, that she wakes me up from my sleep.

I hope you all can meet them somne day as they really are a very weird pair.

A bientot and see you next week.
-Maddy