Goodbye November!

Tomorrow is December 1st. While I've been in France immediately following the winter holidays, I've only been here once for New Year's -- and figures it was the year France switched their currency over from the Franc to the Euro.

But what I'm trying to say is that I've never celebrated Christmas abroad! And here, the celebrating officially begins tomorrow, on December 1st.

I can hardly contain myself. Supposedly there's a Christmas market downtown that goes all month and kicks off tomorrow evening.

After Aimée arrives in France, there's an official tree-lighting ceremony (presented by IKEA, cute huh?) mid-December in Nice and the following night Antibes is hosting a "Christmas log" soirée. The French tradition in most cities is to build a super long cake shaped and decorated like a Christmas tree "log." Then they're going to be cutting out pieces for all the guests and serving hot chocolate, coffee and vin chaud.

I'm kind of torn, however. One part of me wishes it would snow to be super festive. The other part is quite content with warm and dry feet, socks, mittens, etc. So perhaps I'll get to experience that in Switzerland the days following Christmas.

I leave you with this final thought: Today's an exciting day because we get our pictures!!! Let me take a step back, last month was class photo day at one of my schools, and I was invited to be in the teacher picture! My heart warmed at the idea of them accepting the strange foreign girl who comes into their classes twice a week, into their photo which will be immortalized on the school walls for years to come. And I get a free copy!

Here's to hoping this photo isn't as awkward as all my other elementary school pictures...

...32 More Days Until France BANS Indoor Smoking! :)