Le dimanche

Today is Sunday.

Back home in the United States, people are going shopping at the grocery store, at the mall, and at Wal-Mart. People are eating in restaurants in large numbers, and the streets are crowded. Because that's what people do on weekends, right?

Angers, France is what Americans might call a ghost town every Sunday.

Stores are closed. Grocery stores are closed. Windows are boarded up, shades are down, no one is out on the streets downtown.

What do the French do on Sundays? They rest. Imagine that - on Sunday, the day of rest!

If you go out in the morning, you will find many elderly couples - and some families - migrating toward the sound of ringing church bells.

In the afternoon, you might find families in one of the parks in town.

But for the most part, they seem to stay at home and rest and eat large, delicious home-cooked Sunday afternoon meals.

Today, however, I saw many people walking in and out of school buildings around town.

Even though everything is closed on Sunday, French people hold elections on Sundays. While it may seem bizarre to Americans, who are accustomed to voting on Tuesdays, the French always vote on Sundays.

Today they held elections for the President of each region of the country. (Somewhat parallel, in my understanding, to what I know as the governor of a state.) I live in the region Pays de la Loire.

When I asked my host family if it was strange that they voted on Sundays because it is the weekend, they responded, "Of course not! People can't vote if they are at work!"

When I told them that we hold elections on Tuesdays, they responded, "Well then, no one goes to work on election day, right?" Ah, if only that were the case.

Welcome to France, where Sundays are for resting. And voting.

As for me, I like my Sunday routine: I meet friends for 11am Mass at Saint Joseph, an old church just a three minute walk from my house. Going to French Mass is pretty good for practicing my oral comprehension skills. After Mass, a group of us usually go to a crêperie for lunch. (I guess I exaggerated a little bit when I said everything is closed. But this place is, in fact, the only place that we can find that is open on Sundays). I usually just have coffee and sit and chat, because I eat Sunday lunch with my host family.

Sunday lunch is late - usually around 2:30 p.m. - and it is delicious! Complete with appetizers, wine, a main course, cheese, and dessert, it is probably my favorite meal of the week. There is also something amazing about sitting and having a nice meal with the whole family, when I know that at lunchtime on a Sunday in America, my family at least is still lounging around in pajamas or out shopping or fending for ourselves by heating up some leftovers in the microwave or making a quick sandwich.

On Sunday afternoons, I always find something to entertain myself with, even if everything is closed. One week, I went on a bike ride with my host sister. Another week, we went ice skating. Today, I just stayed home and hung out with my host sisters for a little while (including giving them an English lesson, which I should write more about later) before working on some homework.

Sunday dinner is simple, as everyone is still pretty full from lunch. And Sunday nights, I feel well-fed, well-rested, and ready for my week.

Bonne semaine!