From the new house!

Sorry it's been so long since my last update! But I am now on Day 2 of my new host family, I act changed, and I can't believe that it's January, incroyable! The Christmas break was fun, kind of lazy in the end, I realized this was the first xmas break that I haven't gone on a trip since 4th grade! The first week was fun, I went skiing to Ax on xmas eve, it was beautiful weather and not that crowded. I went with the family of one of the boys who I give English class too. They are so nice and it was with his 18 year old brother and the dad. Xmas day was good, there is a shifting of priorities in France, presents are opened the fasted possible, then the rest of the day is spent at the table eating. There was actually a 1-2-3 count and everyone rushes and tears open the presents. I think people are given less presents too. So the downside is you don't get to see what everyone gives and gets. The meal was delicious, a lot, of food, 8 steps, and we ate doe. The rest of the week was ok, Friday I went skiing with them again, this time we went to Baqueira, Spain, absolutely gorgeous. The Pyrénées aren't as high as the rockies, so we were basically at the summit of the mountains at 5000 ft, and skiing above treeline the whole time. It changes it a little. But I snowboarded this time and it was soooo fun. I want to go back. The 18 year old broke his wrist, so I got to have quality clinic time again, and we go back to Toulouse pretty late. The weekend was filled with more eating and cloudy weather, I saw my cousin in Enchanted (in French), and we went to the grandmas for afternoon meal. My host parents went out for New Years, so they said I could have friends over, so I had a little exchange student party of 4. I actually prepared a french meal for my friends, appetizers, salmon, duck, cheese, ice cream. Yummy. Then we danced crazy and had fun and watched movies and stayed call up till 9 am to call ppl on the west coast at new years. The next day we slept and watched more movies. This week wasn't filled with much, but it was fun. Friday I spent packing, then I was delivered to Tournefeuille at 7. If you want my new adress, e-mail me. This house is 400 years old and amazing. My room is the 22 year od brother that goes to school in Australia, its bigt and I have my own bathroom. I have a sister, Chloé, 19 and a brother, Raphael, 16. Chloé went to Australia finished HS this year too, but she went to Australia between 11th and 12th grades. This year she is just working, and is going to be an International Student in Australia at a university starting this summer. Their parents are separated, so its just the mom here. They are all super nice, and its kind of a fun challenge moving somewhere else, yet different b/c you already have a life in Toulouse. Sometimes it's annoying going thru the getting-to-know-you stage, just skip to the part where we are friends. I'm also the 3rd student they've hosted, so that's a little different, they know what expect a little. Today is the holiday where you eat a galette de roi, and the person that has the little figurine in their slice gets to be the king of queen for the day. I live farther away now, so I have to leave for school a whole lot earlier, oh well. I'll put pictures up later, but I don't want to put pictures on this computer already.

Here's our first video blog:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=HMkA5O7I8Fs

Here's my pictures from December 24 to 26:
http://picasaweb.google.fr/eceperley/ChristmasWeek?authkey=wl6VGwp20tA

Much Love,
Lizette (that's what the little cousin calls me)