vie en France: Another year older, folks.

So, I'm another year older. Goodbye teenager-ness (at last).

Since my actual birthday was on Thursday (Michel had to work), I just hung out with some people from the program at Amanda's house and drank some wine. The real celebration had to wait for the weekend.

After I got back from the overnight in Marseille/Cassis, Michel threw a big fête for me at his house in Eyragues with a lot of his (and now my) friends (plus Care who came with me, and took all these photos).

Then, yesterday, after cleaning up the house, we went to the house in Miramas to celebrate again (and rest up for the Manu Chao concert that we went to last night).

Definitely a very good birthday.

Rémy and me in the DJ tente. As the theme of the party was camping, they went all out. The music stuff went in this tent, they put down fake grass. Anyways, this was take two of me with Mr. DJ.

This would be what we call a cucaracha (aka a shot that you light on fire). It's obviously on fire when you drink it, but you can get the job done with a straw.

Rémy and his cucaracha-ing. I love these two photos with the fire and the lighting. Well done, Care.

Birthday cake! Cédric bought a mille feuille (type of pastry) cake. Very delicious, if hard to eat.

Opening presents! This would be a camel bak(like a backpack that you put water—or other beverages—in). Apparently I'm becoming nature girl this summer.

A glimpse of the setup. Michel used to work in sound/lighting so he has all the speakers and lights etc. Very very cool. When he said party, he meant party.

Clean-up the morning after. This would be Michel trying to fold up the tent that the DJ stuff had been in. I believe that it's the main tent that we have that all our other tents hook onto. It's a "2 second" tent. That really means that it takes two seconds to throw it and set it up, and 5 hours to fold it back up. I got my own one of these for my birthday. As it's a camping party, our friends all gave me camping stuff for this summer (eg. backpack, sleeping bag, camelback, lantern etc). Anyways, this is me being very amused as Michel tries to plier the tent.

Look! Success! For once, I feel that this facial expression is warranted.

Birthday flowers from Claire et Cédric

Birthday cake number two with the family on Sunday. Very yummy. Not sure what kind of cake it was. Notice the little frog and pig on there. Kind of a joke as the french get called both.

A short selection of the sequence of Michel trying to use my camera (first without then with flash) as I try to show him what to do. For someone who operates highly technical machinery, he did have a bit of difficulty. This would be the "annoyed give me the camera, mon cher, photo"