Emails from Noah

 
I told Noah he was going to cheer his teammates on at their meet even if he couldn't swim.
 
He emailed me 10 reasons he couldn't go:
 
1- I can't clap
2- I will have nothing to do
3- humid environnements are bad for the platre for it makes it bendable
4- humid environnements makes water go under the platre and after it will turn into many stinky nasty bacteria
5- I cheer team on saturday
6- I have homework
7- it is far and too far to go out to do nothing
8- too hot
9- too small gradins so nageurs will try to go up and they wet everything and after my platre is detroyed
10- No.
 
(Didn't work - he went anyway.)

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Email exchange with Noah, who has asked for a metal detector for his birthday:

Noah: so nothing new for detecors ?
Me: How can it be a surprise if you keep asking
Think we’ll get you a penguin instead
Noah: oh yeah I always wanted a pinguin oooo

Regionals and broken bones

 Benjamin swam in regionals at Amiens this weekend, in his favorite events: 50, 100, and 200 meter backstroke. 

Some last-minute advice from his coach.

In 100-meter backstroke, he improved his time and finished first in his heat. The second day, he improved his time in the 50-meter backstroke. In the 200 backstroke, he swam in the B final, and shaved over 2 seconds off his original predicted time!

We took advantage of the day in Amiens to visit the city center, since the pool was quite conveniently located smack in the middle of town. Beautiful city!

Noah opted to stay home instead of coming to cheer his brother on, and instead of going to swim practice Saturday. 

That turned out to be a bad idea, since he went out for a bike ride with a friend and flipped over his handlebars, landing on his wrist.

He didn't get sympathy from me. Despite having lived in France for over 20 years, apparently I still have American healthcare reflexes. I told him, take an Advil, and use this splint. 

The next morning he still complained so Frédéric took him to the ER...

where they came to the conclusion that his arm was broken. Oops!

No more swimming for two months!

Permit Driver!

 At long last and after much parental forcing, Benjamin finally took and passed his permit test today! 

Next step, 20 hours of lessons through driving school.

 

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

It might be January, but it's beautiful out!

Just right for a walk to the water tower.

The fields are already planted.

Gala loves to go on walks!

 

Noah's work observation week

In 9th grade (troisième) in France, students have to do a work observation week. The idea is to spend a week in a work environment and see what kind of jobs exist and what they're really like. 

Noah did his this week with the airline - it helps to know people!He did his report on medium-haul pilots, and as part of his week, he got to fly to Athens and back, in the cockpit, and visit Athens with the pilots. 

He had to do a written and oral report afterwards, and did a great job on them - not too hard when your work observation week is something you're actually interested in.