Christmas time in France

For Christmas, mom sent me a big box of what I had requested- American junk food. I received the package slip in the mail, but I wouldn't have time to pick it up before the post office closed, so I signed the slip over to one of my students to go pick it up. I opened all of this rediculously uniquely American food in his company, and it was this constant 'Qu'est-ce que c'est?' 'C'est quoi, ça?' 'Et ça?' (What is is it? What's that? And this?) I explained that the cake mix was for cupcakes and the cream cheese frosting was for the cupcakes. And he goes 'Frommage? Sur un gâteau?' Cheese, on cake? I had a difficult time explaining that the cream CHEESE frosting was in fact just sugar, so I opened the container and let him taste it. And then with the popcorn, he was SHOCKED that it could be made in the microwave, but after I showed him a package and explained a little bit, he said that it clarified a lot about some American movies that he just couldn't understand where this popcorn was coming from. And then with the macaroni and cheese, he was absolutely DISCUSTED by the idea that this orange powder could possibly be considered cheese, being in France where not only is their cheese of legendary quality but almost entirely white. I made up a box and let him pour the powder as I stirred. It was like letting him catch up on 12 years of lost American childhood. He'd never heard of oatmeal. He liked the Triscuits, which again are flavored by powder, but I didn't point that out. It was pretty great, and I was like a kid in a candy store.

Oh, and of course, thanks mom for the jewelry, even if it isn't edible!