Fun, Friends, and Field Trips
We hopped on the train back from Paris and meet up with Bruno, Vanessa, and Emile in Guethary for a picnic at sunset. Bruno made a shrimp and mango salad, while Vanessa treated us to the most incredible fruit salad for dessert. The beach was practically deserted, a serene and pristine hideaway—a little slice of secret magic. After the sun dipped below the horizon, we headed back home to prepare for the week ahead.
The boys headed off to school while Gabe and I drove down to Bilbao to pick up Tara and Ken. We had four nonstop days with them, and boy, did we eat and drink too much! We had lunch in Getaria, checked out Les Casetas on the Cotes des Basque, enjoyed lunch in Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry at the cutest (and most delicious) Restaurant Arcé, walked in the Pyrenees, strolled in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, had dinner at Ahpe with Stacey and Bryan, toured around Biarritz, had a local products picnic at home, went pintxo hopping in San Sebastian, and capped it all off with a final dinner at Le Table Sebastian in Bayonne. I was so exhausted when they left that I slept from 12:30 to 3:00 in the afternoon and have been eating salads ever since. Thanks for visiting, you two!
On Tuesday, we shipped the first round of luggage back to Carmel using Luggage Forward—the skis, two boot bags, and one large duffel. Moving back is starting to feel real and happening too soon. We had a carnitas taco night with Stacey and the girls, along with Ashley, Frankie, and Wyatt. Love those guys!
Alright, so Luke has had a wart on the bottom of his foot since before we arrived. It’s callused over and doesn’t really bother him, but he wanted to take care of it before going to Greece. A few weeks ago, he went to a general doctor to get a referral. Luke and I biked over to his appointment. The podiatrist was a super young guy who spoke no English. I thought, "Shit, this is going to be interesting." And it was—but not for me. Luke chatted with the doctor about his foot, his interests, hobbies, and a bunch of other things I couldn’t follow. I got the gist of the recommendation, and Luke’s foot was treated. He’ll go back three more times to complete the protocol. I was so impressed with Luke—he really is fluent! Cost = 20€
Luke had Emile over and Charlie had Gaspard over. After a Mac 'n' Cheese lunch, we took the boys to Parc Mazon to play. Finally, what I had been waiting for since we first visited this park in September: sitting on a bench with Gabe, chatting while the kids played on the fronton like all the other kids! I knew this would happen—right when we are starting to pack up, both boys really feel like they belong here.
Gabe and I were invited to join Charlie’s class on a field trip to Lac Marion, and we had no idea what we were getting into. After asking around, I learned about the "course d’orientation" that French primary schools organize. During this activity, students use maps to navigate outdoor areas and find checkpoints marked with small boxes. It’s a competition where they race in teams to finish the course as quickly as possible. They gain skills in navigation, spatial awareness, and teamwork, while also learning about geography, map reading, and problem-solving. I wish we had something like this back at All Saints!
Anyway, we arrived at Jules Ferry at 9:45, and we were happy that Stacey was asked to join too! The kids lined up and walked up the street to meet the bus, which happened to be very late. Mr. Zubieta read out the names of each team and assigned parents randomly, which I really appreciated—being in a group without our own child had its perks, I must say! It was a bit surreal for me, realizing that this was one of the first times (aside from a recent ballet outing) where I was just a parent on a field trip, not a teacher who happens to be a parent. It struck me that I had no idea about the rules or protocols—I was just a random parent ensuring five kids listened and followed the teachers' directions. How cool and slightly nerve-wracking! At the same time, it hit me that this would also be the last time I'd have this opportunity. How do I feel about that? Kind of sad, actually. I had Evie and four other kids in my group, and they all introduced themselves politely.
While waiting, one kid started throwing small rocks at a garage, and Mr. Zubieta swiftly intervened, grabbing his arm and telling him to sit down. A few more boys were goofing around, and he sternly instructed them to do the same. Even Charlie's friend Gaspard couldn't stay chill and ended up sitting down too! Finally, the bus arrived, and we made our way to Lac Marion. We followed a wooded path to an opening with a grassy area by the lakefront. But wait—I noticed a few women nearby, and next to them was a shiny silver pole on a platform—a pole for pole dancing. I was like, "What the hell is going on here?" The kids didn't notice, engrossed in listening to the course guy giving instructions. While the kids studied the map and strategized, I glanced over and saw the teacher facing the lake — right where a woman got onto the pole in a pole dance position. I couldn't believe it—I even took a photo, probably shouldn't have, but who would believe it without evidence? Only in France would this happen in a public park!
The directions were given and the kids were given the signal to begin. We were off! I ran with the group because I didn't want to be the lame parent just strolling behind and potentially hindering their chances of winning. I wanted to be the cool parent who got into it, but also let them do their thing. First, we tackled a slippery, muddy side pathway. Marius went first and held a tree branch while offering his hand to everyone on the team. We found our first checkpoint, slid down the path, and raced to the next one. In the end, we found the seven checkpoints and finished second. Gabe's group clinched first place!
We all gathered at the finish line, the kids beaming with a sense of accomplishment. Mr. Zubieta inspected the punch holes on each team's card to ensure they matched the unique patterns assigned to each checkpoint. Then, for some reason, a few kids ran off, and soon more followed, trying to get them to come back. Chaos ensued as kids started blaming each other. Mr. Zubieta was visibly upset that they didn’t follow the rules, which made us late to board the bus. It was quite the scene. Stacey felt pretty bad because the three boys who started the commotion were from her group. They ran off after we had returned to the end spot, so it wasn’t her fault, but it added a bit of drama to what had been a fun course d’orientation. As we rode the bus back, exhausted but happy, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this experience, like so many others here, has enriched our lives. This chapter in France has been full of surprises, challenges, and beautiful moments, and as we prepare to head back to Carmel, I’m already missing the adventures we’ve had. Here's to making the most of our remaining time here and cherishing every bit of it.
