Salut! Becky and I just got back today from Lyon for the Fete des Lumières (Festival of Lights) -- it was a bit of a whirlwind. Friday I was running around like crazy, all the way up until our train at 7pm. We got into Lyon at about 11:30 at night and walked right into a huge house party, hosted by the guy we were staying with. It was super crazy. In true Euro-20-something fashion, it went on until about 6 or 7am and we were wimps for turning in at 3am.

The next day I walked around the city with a fellow Kenyon alum. It was really nice to talk to someone who also spent four years in sleepy little Gambier. We found a cool thrift store, shared a Nutella crèpe and hot chocolate, and explored all the different parts of the city. Lyon is wonderful! I really liked the vibe there. Similar to Paris, but more manageable, it seemed.

Saturday night was filled with light! The light shows were amazing- artists and designers from all over the world collaborated to put on the different shows. I was mesmerized. I don't think the pictures do it justice, but hopefully it conveys a bit of how cool the show was. I was so tired from the night before that I went to bed 'early' again at 2am, and our train left at 9 this morning. We got back home this afternoon and I have school tomorrow.

I leave for Copenhagen in a week (Obama moved his visit to December 18, so I'll be there when he is. Hopefully he and I can hang out a little one on one, depending on his schedule). The Christmas spirit is really starting to kick in here in Franche Comté: lights, Christmas markets, sales, trees, all of it! Very excited and hopefully Claire and Becky and I will take cheesy pictures with the Santa and elf decorations soon. All the assistants are doing a Secret Santa exchange on Tuesday, so that'll be fun as well.

Joyeux fêtes, tout le monde!

Love,

Sam

Tonight was dinner at my apartment! It actually turned out very well: I borrowed a table and chairs from Diana and miraculously all seven people fit comfortably. It turned out to be a stimulating mix of German, French and English speaking. The Motown playlist I made was a big hit. The menu was as follows:

Appetizer: Baguette, pesto, tomato and melted goat cheese (from the farm, of course).

Salad: Pears, walnuts and a homemade dressing.

Entrée: Cream of broccoli soup, from scratch! With sautéed mushrooms, peppers and onions on the side.

Dessert: No bake cookies (the Germans and UK kids had never tasted them before!), vanilla ice cream, and clementines.

A photo of Diana, Carina, Fleur and me. Lots of other pictures were taken, but in all my hosting I myself didn't take many.

I worked at the farm today at 7:00 and I'm totally wiped. Lots of love.

À la prochaine,

Sam