Bechamel in Marseille

So… perhaps Sarah was on to something.. that I have SORELY neglected my blog… I could tell myself that 2010 will be different, 2010 I will blog every week! Non, everyday! Post interesting things, photos, witty highlights of my life here in France…but alas I shouldn’t be making promises I can’t keep…

What I can do now is to briefly sum up 2009…

SO many things have happened and I have immensely changed because of it…

I think the most important thing that has happened is that in 2009, I have finally learned to be content.. really content. I’ve always had the impression that I had to leave, see the world, travel, but honestly the more travelling I have done, the more I see that sometimes, it’s just nice to be home. I’m not sure if France will be my permanent home, but for now it is…

Which brings me to my second point: Alex. 2009 was a calamity for us. 2 breakups, and many many fights, tears, and screams later, we find ourselves finally looking at the same direction for the first time in our relationship. We dare not predict the future for oursevles, but we are utterly and sickeningly happy and in love with each other, so why  not? Why not jump off and see if we can fly together? I can only hope that 2010 will only bring good things for us.

In the career area, I often come to work amazed that I, an american journalist, found work this weird and interesting in the south of France. While I know way too much about flat screens than I care to admit, my new promotion as project manager of the green publication should finally pique my interests… of course it’s safe to say that I am scared shitless and have no idea if the publication will be successful, I know that in the end, with my interest it cannot fail.

I have also cemented my cooking interest in 2009. The number of meals I have made in my crappy kitchen is too numerous to count, but every time I see Alex finish a meal with a happy smile, it makes me wonder how just 4 years ago, I could barely make spaghetti. Also, being in France surrounded by fresh produce and being with people who certainly stress that eating well is not only a pleasure, but a MUST in their daily lives helps me see that eating well is so simply, a mere hour of your day. I am proud to say that I have survived well in a country where take-out (except for pizza) is unheard of and have eaten better than ever. I have also branched out further and further into Korean cooking, that even in a place were moo is rare, I can make kimchi and other korean things (it also helps to have hordes of Korean basics)

Finally, it was a difficult but interesting year family-wise. My parents and I have been closer than ever, while my brother and I have had a relationship quite strained, I hope that 2010 will change all that.

Et voila… sorry no pictures.. the next post will be my odds and bits of photos from 2009…

Courtey of my coworker Masha and the daily paper here:

This sex toy for dogs is out now and will be available soon !

To fulfill all of your pets’ needs.

Fuck the bailout, this is what America needs!

http://hotdoll.fr/

Who knew there was such a fascination with all things anime in Marseille?

Alex and I took in the Japan expo last weekend and was a bit underwhelemed.

However, we did see a lot of enthusiastic fans.

Alex found his inner nerd

Sumo wrestling

Kimono tryons

Obsessive gaming

and a DDR contest!

And I indulged in origami…. and discovered how non-asian I am

Marseille has pretty mild weather. It drops into the 50’s during the winter, but with the exception of the FUCKING Mistral, a horrendous fucking wind that makes everyone crazy and stay inside (think Santa Ana winds but cold!)

bref, it never snows. It’s not that cold here. Think Northern California weather….

Now on January 6th, I woke up to this

WTF!

Now, being a veteran of Montreal snow systems, I foolishly thought that a little snow wouldn’t hamper my bus to work. How wrong was I.

Marseille freaked out by closing all the highways and cancelling all buses for 3 DAYS. 3 DAYS PEOPLE!!!! My clients in Canada and Scandinavian countries thought it was ridiculous.

I, however, did enjoy it not working for 3 days!

Alex and I ventured out to go shopping (first day of the soldes!!) and enjoyed the quiet.

So I had promised myself I would update my blog with all these glorious French photos from my New Year’s Eve party…. then I bought the WII…..!

So excuses all around… here ya go

We went up to Alex’s sister’s place in Orleans again this year as they were organizing a huge party for about 20 people in their amazing house.

SO OF COURSE, many food pornography to come!

This is Boursin and Ham rolls…… please eat and buy Boursin. I can bathe in it! (For the unitiated, it’s a soft cheese with garlic and herbs)

I UNSUCCESSFULLY made a gingerbread house for the first time.

Why is it roofless? Because I measured it incorrectly. Alex’s Brother-in-law also kept on breaking off pieces to eat.

And the cutest cat ever…… Pistache!

Did I mention the cuteness???

Huge platters of cooked shrimp waiting to be devoured by me…!!!!! it’s awesome with aioli

Shucking oysters

Playing with his new gift

Catching up on much needed sleep

And the best thing ever……..! I know, I grew up SDA, but pork skin is SOOOO sinfully good….

Appetizers brought by other people

And me dressed up for the party (I was…… uhmm masked Asian-American girl. )

Now if you haven’t heard me squealing about French kids, hear me now. I normally detest children… but French children  beat any kids by a mile (with the exception of the Twins…!).

They had their own seperate table

AND CAN YOU SEE THIS!!!! It’s pâté in the shape of a duck!!

The adults had classier yet boring-er fare such as oysters and shrimp.

With all the lovely desserts…..

Then a rousing round of gift exchanges

And midgnight…

With little angels gathering confetti like no tomorrow

VOILA!