cochonneries

I went to the Alimentation Générale—our version of a convenience store—and was surprised that the guy working there recognized me. We chatted for a minute, he asked me about my vacation and I told him about my parents coming to visit in a few weeks. It’s nice to imagine that I am actually becoming a local here! When I go into the pharmacy or the bakery (because there isn’t much else to do here…), they know me! We have a nice little “Ca va? Oui, ca va, et vous? Vous allez bien?” conversation. It could be the intro to a (terrible) show—cue corny theme music and me breezing out of the boulangerie with a sac of fresh bread in hand…

Alright, enough of my daydreaming. That paragraph was actually supposed to go in a different direction. What I actually wanted to say is that time is flying! When the guy at the store asked about my vacation, he was referring to my trip home at Christmas. When I realized that it was actually April already, I stood there stunned for a few moments before regaining composure and muttering something about how the time passes quickly. I only have three and a half more months in this crazy, wonderful, aggravating country.

And now I’m going to bitch/rant a little. I promised myself I wouldn’t, but I think I’ll indulge. If you’re reading this and shouldn’t be, well, tant pis.

How’s that for a disclaimer?

So Friday some friends of the family came over for dinner. Zoe had some sort of parent-teacher meeting and so Alain didn’t have a lot of time to cook. Luckily for them, I was exhausted from a night out and agreed to stay home and help. Which is fine, I didn’t mind. But: NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY. A very, VERY nice favor. I basically made an entire dinner for nine people. I’ll give Alain credit for sticking the leg of lamb in the oven and helping peel apples. I, however, peeled three kilos of potatoes and made a gratin as well as a homemade piecrust for an apple tart. I also made a salad and cleaned the rather messy house. I’m not bitching about that part though. I actually like cooking. The part I’m bitching about is that no one, NO ONE, said any sort of thank you. Yea, yea, I know, I shouldn’t expect thanks, but I did them a HUGE favor. There was no “I really appreciate your help”, “Thanks for giving up your Friday night to make such a great dinner”, “YOU’RE THE BEST AU PAIR EVER”, NOTHING. The evening wouldn’t have been possible without me, and no one recognized that fact.

Also. Alain told us last night that if we didn’t eat organic food we would get Alzheimer’s or “one of those other new diseases”. Oh really doctor? Is that your medical opinion? Last time I checked, no medical journal was praising organic food as the end of AD http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/AlzheimersInformation/Causes/.

We also had a discussion about junk food. He has very specific ideas about what is and isn’t good for you. Most of them are completely irrational and have nothing to do with actual nutrition facts. Yesterday, I had to put a few of those irrational thoughts to rest. I can’t help myself sometimes! He was insisting that some sugary yogurt shit the kids were eating was terrible for you. He was actually right about that. I won’t argue. But then, he was like, go drink some chocolate milk. I thought to myself, how is CHOCOLATE milk any different than fruity yogurt? Sugar is sugar. So I got online and found all the nutrition facts and showed him that actually, in reality, the chocolate milk is worse for you. Even if it is organic. BOOYAH.

So the kids can drink all the chocolate milk they want and eat at least five chocolate Easter eggs per day, but guess what? We aren’t allowed to have ketchup in the house because there is—quote—“too much sugar”.

GIVE ME A BREAK.