Est-ce que tu veux diner?

So I knew that meals here would be a little different. Aside from eating somewhere around bedtime (often close to 9:00, or excuse me 21:00), I knew portions would be smaller and food would be different. So I spent the first couple of days just trying to watch and learn so as not to make a fool out of myself. I always wait to see how they eat things first so that I don't go digging unattractively into something when, clearly, I should be eating it daintily. First of all, meals are oftentimes served in courses, especially those that are large and celebratory (which we've had a coupe of). If there's an appetizer or aperitif (like cheese or champagne), that comes out first. Then the plates are cleared for the main course (that's right, different courses, different plates). I told myself before meeting my family that, even if they served me a living breathing thing, I was going to eat whatever was put on my plate. Well nothing has had a pulse (yet), but I often don't know what I'm eating. The first night we had what looked like fried terds. I haven't a clue as to what they were, but I ate them and they were good. Last night we had a big log of some sort. I asked what it was, and she tried to explain it to me, but I was still puzzled (because I didn't exactly know what she was talking about, but I think it had zucchini in it). On a side note, I don't ever want to hear anyone complain that healthy isn't able to taste good, because the only thing I eat here is healthy food, and it's all good. And I never fully knew the meaning of "clearing your plate" until I came here. Nobody leaves anything on a plate. Anyways, after the main course, the plates are cleared (again) and the salad is brought out. And the salad is different every night. Sometimes it's fruit or tomatoes with some kind of cheese or sometimes regular salad greens (another side note: to those of you who cook, sliced oranges with cinnamon is an excellent salad). After that, plates are cleared again for dessert. And do you know what dessert usually is? Yogurt and fruit. Don't ever again wonder why French people are skinny (and they are). Meals are simple yet complete. Mom, you'd do just fine here.

Last night, though, I was a little embarrassed during dinner. I have told my family that I am fine with them correcting me (I am here to learn, right?). So even after all my observations during mealtime, I clearly missed a couple of things. First of all, apparently you don't put your bread on your plate; you put it on the placemat beside your plate. Didn't even notice. But they did. Also, for lack of something better to do with it, I ususally leave my left hand in my lap whenI eat unless I need it (also, we eat outised and I'm often trying to keep my napkin from blowing away). Apparently this is very "American" of me (and apparently makes me lean sideways), which stunk to hear since I'm here trying to be as French as possible. So now I have to be more aware of where my hands and bread are. Also, out of habit from talking to my friends and our professor (who i svery laid back and has been my professor before this trip at GT), I almost always say "ouay" (pronounced "way") instead of "oui" (pronounced "we", and meaning "yes" for those of you who are inferior frenchies). It basically means the same thing as "yeah". A bad habit, I know. But I've gotten to the point that I don't really notice anymore that I say it, and nobody corrects me. Until dinner last night. I was told that it's "oui", not "ouay" (reminding me eerily of Mom yelling, "Not 'yeah'! 'Yes'!"). "Ouay" is slang, so I guess that means I shouldn't use it (even though I'd love to be at the level of Frenchness to be able to use slang). I felt like had been rude, which was never my intention. So I felt bad. In general I guess I need to pay more attention. Oh, and for a fantastic end to a lovely dinner, a bird crapped right on my hand. Bon appetit!