Well, this is going to be a loooong one. This is really hard because it's nearly impossible to put what I feel into words. It's almost undescribable. I'll try my best, though.... I absolutely love this place. They (the directors, Dr. R, etc.) say there's a crossing over point in everyone's trip in which he/she completely adjusts and starts to integrate into a new culture. It usually doesn't take very long (a couple weeks, maybe) and I think I hit that point this weekend. I have loved every minute of this experience but it wasn't until this weekend in Normandy that it occured to me that I don't want to leave. That's why I say it's hard to describe... I miss my family and my home so much but I feel like I could stay here forever. Ok- that's my little shpill :).Ok, before I explain what this weekend meant for me, I have to explain two friendships that I've had the privilege of making while here. Orie Perkins is a guy from Clinton who is graduating next year. He spent four years in the army and is now back in school. Once he graduates, however, he will be on active duty for another 4 years with a guaranteed 18 months in Iraq if we're still there. He is an awesome person and I am completely honored to even know him. The other friend is a girl named Rachel from Franklin, TN. She is a sophomore at UT and her fiance, Josh, is in Afghanistan right now. Her grandfather was in WWII and died in Normandy. He was a key member in the 82nd Airborne (Band of Brothers is a story about her grandfather's group). She found an amazing picture of him taken with Eisenhower.
Saturday morning, we left at 8 AM for Normandy. Normandy is a region in the northwest of France. We were staying in a city called Caen but we stopped first, at a WWII Museum on the way. It was really interesting because it concerned WWII but the museum was organized to portray everything involved in any world-wide conflict from the end of WWI in 1918 up until 9/11/2001. I cried when we walked through the 9/11 exhibit. It was really beautiful. Even though I've been to a dozen exhibits about 9/11, this one was different because it was from a French perspective. What really got me was a clipping from a Paris newspaper on September 12, 2001 that stated that all countries are American that day, some countries declared a day of mourning while others celebrated. It was also chilling to see every single mugshot of each terrorist involved in the attacks. It was hard but so special.Next, we made a stop in St. Mere Eglise which was the first liberated city in France after the Americans landed on D-Day. We went into all the museums and that's where Rachel found the picture of her grandfather. It was really neat. We went into the church which the city is named after. Their stained glass window is a picture of the 82nd Airborne soldiers parachuting down past an angel into St. Mere Eglise. It is beautiful.
Next, we went to the Apple Farm that Dr. R has been raving about since February. We got a tour of the farm where they make all things apple. Then we went into a room to "tasting" all the products. Has anyone ever heard of Calvados? Well, it's a 40% alcohol apple brandy. It wasn't a personal favorite of mine but Gabriel (our director) & Dr. R REALLY love this stuff. We all had a couple of glasses and Dr. R took SHOTS OF IT with Orie. It was hilarious. We also got to actually see a moonshine still. They make a 70% alcohol apple moonshine which we had the opportunity to taste. OMG! I thought I was going to choke to death. Gabriel, however, being the absolutely hilariously fun person that he is, drank a couple shots of it. God love him :).
We checked into the hotel around 7:00 and went out to this little Italian place that was sooo good. We went back to the hotel and I watched Coach Carter with Orie and then just PASSED OUT. Katie and I fell asleep with our clothes on with the lights on. We were so tired.
Saturday was a very emotional day. First, we went to the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. There are over 9,000 American soldiers barried right along the beach who died in WWII. It was such a humbling experience. This is going to be a long story but I have to tell it because it really moved me. There is this song by Brian McKnight & Rascall Flatts called "Red, White & Blue" that Katie wanted us to listen to since it was so appropriate. Orie just looked at us and asked us to help him find his grandfather. No one even knew he had a grandfather buried there. We went to the office and they look up the soldier's
name on a database and can tell you exactly where he's buried. They drive you out the grave in a golf cart and Orie asked Katie & I to come with him. They take sand from Omaha Beach and rub it into the name on the white marble cross so that it shows up in pictures. I looked over at 
Orie and he had a tear rolling down his face. That's when I couldn't hold it in any longer. I started just balling... I couldn't help but just thank God for people like Orie, his grandfather, Rachel's fiance, my dad, my pap-paw, my uncle... everyone that has been in the service or fought and/or died for this country. I don't even feel like my tears were worthy. We left Orie at the grave and I just went out and sat on the beach and just watched the ocean for about 30 minutes. I've never experienced anything like that before. Maybe it's really cheesy or corny but I just had to write about that experience. They gave Orie a packet full of papers about his grandfather which was so nice. He was the first person in his family to see the grave. If any of you have a chance, you really should down load the song.
Orie and he had a tear rolling down his face. That's when I couldn't hold it in any longer. I started just balling... I couldn't help but just thank God for people like Orie, his grandfather, Rachel's fiance, my dad, my pap-paw, my uncle... everyone that has been in the service or fought and/or died for this country. I don't even feel like my tears were worthy. We left Orie at the grave and I just went out and sat on the beach and just watched the ocean for about 30 minutes. I've never experienced anything like that before. Maybe it's really cheesy or corny but I just had to write about that experience. They gave Orie a packet full of papers about his grandfather which was so nice. He was the first person in his family to see the grave. If any of you have a chance, you really should down load the song.
After the cemetery, we got to go play on the beaches. SO FUN! After the beach, we had lunch at this little restaurant. Then we went to Point-Du-Hoc which is where the Rangers scaled the cliffs on the beach on D-Day. The bomb shell holes were HUGE and it was really hard to imagine the explosions that occured when they hit the ground.
We went back to the hotel and had dinner at the same Italain place since it was sooo good the night before. We went back to an Irish Pub which was really fun. We saw Gabriel out and about- needless to say, he was just as fun as always!
We left Normandy this morning at 9:30. We went to Mont St. Michel. This was absolutely the most beautiful place I had ever seen. It is a monasterie built literally on a rock in a bay of the coast of France. The pictures I got were amazing. Once you got to the top, it was a breathtaking view. The little medieval streets leading up to the church at the top were so little and cute. It was like going back in time. We had a guided tour of the church/monasterie then we left for Paris.
I just got back to Paris and I'm just sitting in the apartment. I can't believe I only have one more week of the program. I'm really excited for Katy & Hannah to get here, though. I'm so excited that I get to show them what I've learned and everything. I'm going to go to bed now. I hope this blog wasn't too long and I hope you didn't think the sappy stuff was too sappy :). I'll be seeing you! A plus tard!
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