Breaking news!

Felt so good to cross off my list!

Le full story...

So why did these two go to Québec City?

Les Masson à Québéc

Because back in 2001, Jonathan moved to Québec City for a year and lived with a(n amazing) host family and we finally got to go visit them! Well, I guess technically for me it was 'meeting them'. And we also got to meet my blogging buddy Jill, her husband and their awesome three boys. They were also friends of Jonathan's from his year up there, but Jill's totally one of mine now. :)

But where was I in telling this story? Oh yeah...

Picnic in upstate New York on the drive up. And did I mention...

4 people, 9 hours, 2 doors. We made it!

Downtown, where we bought maple candy and iced apple cider.

It was a beautiful time of year to walk around Québec.

Jonathan with his 'Canadian family'

Sylvie and Jonathan

Walking Québec City is officially checked off my bucket list.
Keep in mind, this was the same week as the NYC mega-walk.

Also off the list: eat poutine! Fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Château Frontenac

Les couleurs

Le Dad. Who, btw, busted out some awesome French on this trip.

Les plaines d'Abraham - an oasis in the city

Where these big honkin' squirrels live! Isn't he huge?!

Our travel buddies

Safely crossing back in the USofA!

Questions in the aisle...

Travel back in time with me to 2002. To a Walmart in Marietta, Georgia, at about 11pm on a Saturday night. A man is choosing between the Gillette shaving cream and the store brand. In the same aisle, a mother and 20-something daughter are having an animated discussion about how much deodorant a person uses in a year. The mother sees the man listening in and, realizing that the conversation is a bit odd, laughs and explains: "My daughter is moving to Africa for two years, so we're stocking up on stuff for her to take with her."

The daughter was me. And the mother was, well, Mom.

Now, eight years later, I'm headed to Walmart to ask the same questions all over again.

So help me out... If an American moves to Senegal, which items should she stock up on and ship over? What if she's lived in France for six years, so has gotten used to European brands of hair products but still prefers American lip gloss and scented candles? What if her husband is a super minimalist who would be happy with a bar of soap and a bucket of water? Oh, and what is the formula for figuring out how much deodorant and sunblock you use in two years?

PS. We met a guy from the Gambia while at Walmart. (They speak Wolof in the Gambia, so we were blabbing away in the aisle.) I pointed to our very full cart and explained that this is what toubabs (white people) buy for moving to Africa. It was awesome.

PPS. Canada part II is coming soon!

A recipe for Québec...

If anyone ever publishes a recipe book for cooking up a  culture, I've got a submission for Québec, Canada.

3/4 cup French language
1/2 cup charmning European architecture
1/2 cup American friendliness
3 Tbsp Québecois expressions and slang
1 tsp maple syrup
pinch of cheek kisses (bisous!)

Last week we hopped in the car with my parents (that's a 2-door Civic, in case you wanted a visual) and drove the nine hours up to Québec City. Via upstate New York. In the fall. Enough said, non?

The scenery was incredible, and the food amazing. But stay tuned for the real reason we went to Québec!

The sun goes to bed...

Sunset from Battery Park in NYC

I love that color. (All of them.) See the moon-sliver?

Lady Liberty

A blimp on my radar

I love that no matter how tall or big we build, nothing hides 'natural' beauty.

You know these kids.

Now name that silhouette couple!

If you guessed these guys... well, you're wrong.

'Cause this is them.

View from Battery Park

Sailboats

Me.

Le coucher du soleil

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades.
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.

More than a fashion show...

Massons and Borders

While near New York City, it seemed like a good idea to catch a fashion show. But then something even better appeared on the calendar: a white coat ceremony.

The program

It's kind of like a fashion show in that there's a short runway-style walk, special clothing on display, seats reserved for invited guests, flashing cameras... but the twist is that instead of models showcasing physical beauty, the people up in front are there because of their brains. Brains and perseverance, that is.

Chris and Kate... and his white coat!

Today we attended my brother's white coat ceremony at Seton Hall University, where he's in PA school. I was out of the country for both his high school and college graduation, so being there to see him 'graduate' to the clinical part of his degree (where starts hospitals rotations and wear his white coat) was awesome. I loved it.

    

Shaking hands, DO to (soon-to-be) PA.

A very happy day for the Borders fam

The class of 2012

One very proud wife  and one very proud sister

And a very proud Mother-in-law and Mom

Jonathan making fun of me: hugs and tip-toes in photos

Celebrating that night