Weekend Update with Katie Cukrowski

Here's my update from the weekend:

Since I'm still not very confident speaking to people in French yet, I have a hard time talking to new people. However, Friday afternoon I learned how to get around that. We went back to the nursing home, but this time we went to the Alzheimer's unit, and this was perfect. I decided that even if I made a huge fool of myself speaking, it was totally okay because they weren't going to remember it anyway. This was my time to just go for it, and I did. I talked to a woman named Michelle for over an hour, and it was so great. She was so happy just to have someone sit with her, hold her hand, and ask her questions. Even though she could hardly remember anything (even her age and where she was sometimes), I still loved getting to ask her about her life and her day. I'm definitely going back there again.

Later that night, we had the dress rehearsal for the church musical. I mostly just helped with costumes and did backstage assistance with costume changes and stuff. After the practice, we went to what was called an FOI meeting, and it's where churches of all dominations from all over town get together and pray for unity amongst the churches both in Marseille and the larger world. The ABSOLUTE coolest part of the night was when a man read the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic (he's one of the only few who still speaks the language). I just closed my eyes while he read (and sang parts) and pretended like it was Jesus reading to me because that's the language he would have spoken. His words were really impactful for me.

That night, I went with a couple of my friends for a drive, and we drove to Notre-Dame de la Garde, which is a huge basilica on the top of a mountain in the middle of the city. It's a really cool building, and the view from up there is just spectacular. We looked at the city lights and talked for hours. I'm so blessed to have such amazing friends here!

Saturday morning, I spent hours and hours doing preparation work for the musical that night. We worked long and hard cooking, setting up, and getting all the last minute details in order. For lunch, Florian and Benjamin cooked for me at their apartment, and we hung out with the other cemistes and listened to music. I love having French friends because they cook SO well. Florian's aunt owns a boulongerie, so he grew up making pastries and French breads his whole life. He's going to teach me how to cook later this week, and I'll let you know how it turns out.

At 8:30, the musical began. The kids in the play were absolutely adorable in their costumes, singing and dancing. I think people really enjoyed it, and I was surprised by the turn out (we had over 100 people come!).

Kids singing in the musical

And back to great French food, after the play, there was a reception in the church. Man, back home, a reception means a couple of plates of cookies or something, but we had a feast! Homemade tarts, quiches, pastries, chocolates, and breads. The abundance of beautiful foods was overwhelming, and we were stuffed by the end of the night. It's hard to say no when people keep offering you yummy desserts. Offering tasty treats is also a good way to get people from the neighborhood to come to the play. Since any organized religion is looked down on in France, the best thing that the church can do here is just show that they're normal, nice people and help their image in that way.

AMAZING apple tart

Tarts with the new intern, Catherine

Sunday, we had the preacher's family (wife and three kids) to our house for lunch. Man, those kids were really crazy, but we ate a good meal. Bethany, Joelle, and I made salad, Irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, and crepes for dessert. We ate very, very well. And immediately after the family let, we went to have another picnic. We played soccer and frisbee again with our group of interns.

Joelle's amazing crepes

In the evening, the cemistes sometimes have meals together. For this meal, we went out on the balcony at Esther's apartment, and had a good meal surrounded by good friends. And afterward, we had out own version of French-American idol/Karaoke. It was absolutely hilarious, and I wish I had the video of me singing, so I could post it on here. I'll see if I can't get it from someone. Anyway, it was a fun evening with my intern friends.