Un jour de méditation

This morning I had the opportunity to visit a contemporary church service hosted by an English professor named Miss Whitechurch. It was very similar to a contemporary service in America except we sang in French! After the service Mrs. Whitechurch had some of the group over to her house for lunch and I met two Hungarian students who are studying business at the school of commerce in Troyes. Perhaps I can return and study business here! I also met two Americans from Ohio who are teaching French in Paris and Remilly-sur-Seine and an English bloke who is studying here in Troyes. You wouldn't believe what we ate for lunch!!! It was a real French Sunday lunch--apératif (I tried the wonderful cider of the region), coq au vin with mashed potatoes, steamed carrots and cabbage, bread, red wine; we then had a plate of cheeses (chèvre, camembert, comté, bleu d'Angleterre, and then a dessert of clafoutis and then coffee and chocolates.

I ate so well and even though I ate a lot of food I never had the "gross I'm so full" feeling. After our 3 hr lunch we went to the cathedral of Troyes and listened to a meditative sermon and savored an organist's performance of 3 pieces. I'm enjoying France so much and I can't believe the people really live like this--they aren't chained to their computers, they eat so well, they are active in their city, and they have pride in their country. Municipal elections were today! super cool

--Katherine Lott