That's All, Folks!

I have some time extra time before lunch because it's extremely hot outside, so I'll take advantage of this freedom to write my last blog post from France during this organic farming adventure!

On Sunday, I enjoyed having a feast that Chérif and Ja-Ja put on for some friends. I asked Mishka why they wanted to have this party, and she said that there wasn't any particular reason except that her parents just like to have people over and have a good time. Chérif and Ja-Ja certainly love having company over and spending time with everyone. At least 10 people had arrived by the end of the night. Some even stayed after Chérif and Ja-Ja had gone to bed, haha, but nobody seemed to mind. We ate a fresh tomato and olive salad that Fred the neighbor made, a cold green bean and potato salad, fresh bread with a butter and herb spread, watermelon, cantalope, and a spicy lamb sausage called mergeuse. Fred had made pork sausage himself, too, which tasted spectacular! We all had a cheerful time in the backyard with candlelight. We started shooting watermelon seeds at the parents, so they shot cantalope rinds back, haha! For dessert, I ate fresh Algerian dates that Ja-Ja had bought just for me from the Arab market that morning. She had also bought an incredibly large round of bread that was in the shape of a donut! Ummm... donuts.

Ja-Ja has been making a lot of things in the kitchen just for me! She had Mishka make crèpes, which I ate with strawberry and black currant jam. Everyone munched on them and I watched Mishka so I can hopefully make them in French fashion back in the States. Last night, after collecting crates full of potatoes at around 8pm, Ja-Ja decided to make mashed potatoes for me. They were unbelievable! They were made with organic milk and butter, too. No gravy was necessary at all! I hope to take something of hers before I leave, such as the black currant jam. I will certainly remember her for her exotic and neverending cooking skills that always satisfied any appetite!

It's nearly 1pm here now. I've already completed most of my packing and vacuumed my room. I've been wrapping my gifts and souvenirs in my clothes, trying to protect things efficiently while still respecting the airline weight limits. I brought an extra duffle bag with me, which will come in good use. Tomorrow morning, I will leave with Fred at 5am to go to the Nimes train station. He will already be driving there because he will be picking up his wife who arrives at 6am. My train will leave at 7:50am, so the plan works out pretty perfectly. Hopefully, I will be able to play tourist a little bit before boarding the train.

I've been spending my last work on the farm weeding, which seems appropriate considering that organic farms need this task to be done constantly. I also hope to take my last photos, give the family a gift that I bought them (a pizza cutter, haha, because they actually don't have one but eat pizza and tarts often), take a last jog to see the scenery, finish packing, enjoy the last of Ja-Ja's cooking, and fall into bed early! Tomorrow will be a big traveling day! Please keep me iin your prayers for I will need lots of guidance and strength.

I promise to write again soon when Im home about more of my thoughts on this experience and to answer any questions that anyone might have. I can say now that I do not plan on being a farmer in response to Rayne's question. I do hope to have a garden of my own wherever I live for the rest of my life if possible, but I don't believe that my strengths and passions rest in the fields. I will think about and write about this more. Au revoir for now!