And Back Again to that Foggy Place.

I spent January 10th to 18th back in the London area with 17 7th-grade girls who did an exchange with a private girls school called Tormead. It was an extremely busy week, but we had great fun - the English teachers were amazing hosts and the girls had a great time in their families. The girls would go to classes in the morning with their exchange partners, and then usually we would have a planned activity to go on. We visited the Globe Theatre again, which was perfect for me, and then the girls got to do a workshop on Romeo and Juliet where they all got up and acted and played theatre games - great for them, since they don't really do much of that at Le Caousou. We walked along the Thames, across several of the bridges, saw St.Paul's Cathedral, and took a trip in the London Eye. They also went to Portsmouth to see the HMS Victory (Admiral Nelson's ship), but I was stuck in traffic that day and didn't make the bus. I think they really liked seeing the sights, although at times I think their favorite parts were things like seeing London taxis and of course all the SHOPPING (this word was always followed by squeals of excitement). We did wear them out walking though, walking back from the train station and taking the rear, I felt like I was herding obstinate sheep or something, I really wanted to just spread my arms out and push them up the hill, hahaha...they were very fun to go traveling with though. :)

I stayed with an amazing family that I hope I won't lose contact with...Tina works at the girls school and is fluent in French, but works in the Special Education department. Isla is her daughter and she and I hit it right off. Hopefully I'll see them again if I ever pass through London! The pictures below are of Tina, Isla, and I, and a friend's property where Tina and a friend keep their horses. The house was amazing, classic, old, white-washed, perfect!

The English teachers and Tina and Isla introduced me to my new favorite form of a restaurant - pubs! Maybe I should start one in Alaska... I went to 3 in the time that I was there, each one with a different atmosphere - but more of the classic English touch. The first day we got into London it was absolutely freezing, and I'm telling you, a seat by the fire in a pub with mulled wine and a potatoe stuffed with veggies steaming hot, after you freeze your butt off outside and you have been up traveling with 17 very excited and loud French girls since 6:00 in the morning was -

Heaven!

The first weekend some of the English teachers, Odette (the English teacher I work with at Le Caousou) and I toured a brewery, which was really interesting. It was cool to see how all of the beer is made, and then the best part - free samples. They gave each of us on the tour (there were about 21 people all together, the English/French exchange group of us being about 5 or 6) a half pint glass, and we tasted 4 different beers. I managed my first half pint just fine, but then realized if I wanted to be able to walk out of the brewery without the support of my friends, I better just stick to a tasting a bit for the next 3 beers. There was a group of young travellers who had exactly the opposite mind set I did however, and it was hilarious watching them. Our guide gladly refilled our glasses each time, and they must have had 2 or 3 glasses for each beer...so in the end the must have had about 5 or 6 pints!!! "Anyone for a refill?" "Here, fill 'er up!" Gotta love it...

England definitely has some appeal. The people were fantastic, and honestly, why does everyone say that English food is awful? They tell me it's changed a lot, but I had no problem eating my fair share (of course, I've never really had a problem there...) Anyway, nice people, beautiful places, fun tourist sights, 17 crazy but lovable French girls, and some long lasting friends = good trip.