Au revoir, Novembre!

I can't believe it's the last day of November! Our program director told us at the beginning of our time in Tours that this month would drag... Well, if this month dragged, then December is going to go lightning speed! I look back at the things that happened, and while a lot of instances were emotionally draining, it was a good month. I continue to be humbled with my lack of French, but I'm also encouraged by the things people say or the things I accomplish. I feel like that is a healthy balance to have.
Thursday was Thanksgiving. That's a pretty obvious statement. Well, it's not obvious here in France. It is not recognized as a holiday and many people asked the Americans at the Institute what the history of the day is and what makes it so great. That was really fun to explain, even though I was in school... just like every other normal day. My Canadian friend was so kind to point out the American flaw- that we back-stabbed the Native Americans. How was I supposed to respond to that in French? Ce n'est pas le cas? Anyways, while it was fun to explain to everyone the joys of my favorite holiday, I was very nostalgic and I was praying for the day to pass quickly and painlessly. My group from BGSU went to "Le Zinc" for a Thanksgiving dinner, which Alan deemed "Frenchsgiving." We ate a three course meal, completely French food, that was a decent substitute. First, we had a beautiful plate of salad and a sausage "gateau" (pictures will go up on facebook when I get a chance). Then came the duck, complimented by a side of potatoes and more salad. For dessert, we had tarte tintin, which is a form of apple tart. Afterwards, we went to the main road to see if the Christmas lights were on. They were not, but it was fun to walk there. The hardest thing about that day was not being with the people who matter the most in my life and knowing that they were celebrating just fine without me. Good lesson in humility, that one.
This week has started to prove a little more academic, and therefore more stressful. Thankful to leave nostalgic emotions at the door, I have plunged myself into research and the French educational system. That's just for one paper. The other is about laïcite (the separation of Church and State in France). Both topics are proving very interesting and time-consuming. My goal is to finish the rough drafts by Wednesday. I think I can, I think I can...
In other news, I have come to hate the French poste. Not only do they lose my letters that I'm supposed to receive, but they refuse to give me my packages the first time I ask for them. For instance, my mother mailed me an envelope with books in it that I'm supposed to read for my January class. My host mom told me on Friday that the Poste called and said that it was there for me to pick up at my convenience. Parfait! So, I went to the Poste after class and talked to the "gentleman" and he said that he wasn't going to give it to me without a paper (and my host mom didn't give me one), even though I had identification papers. He didn't even go check. He said that the package would be in tomorrow, even though I knew it was there. So, I went home dejectedly. I told my host parents this story and they were outraged. Saturday came and my host dad went with me to the Poste to retrieve my package. Thankfully, there is a happy ending to this story and I got my package, but I hope I never have to go back to that place. Those workers can be on strike all they want. "Vous faisez que vous voulez!" (Do as you please)