ROAD TRIP !
A big part of our decision to vacation in the States in August was due to the Hanoum / Farnsworth Reunion in Thetford, Vermont on August 15-17. I attended Camp Farnsworth from 1986 to 2002 (a few years missed due to Up With People) ... a total of 14 summers ... as camper, CIT (counselor-in-training), counselor, Program Director and Assistant Director.
Founded by Madama and Chelebe Farnsworth in 1909, Camp Hanoum (later renamed Camp Farnsworth) was a place for girls to experience the adventure and camaraderie of summer in the country. It’s now a Girl Scout Camp, and considered a second home to many. The camp – and more importantly the girls and women who have made it the magical place that it is – have so much to do with the person I am today, that it was important to me to get to go back and experience that camp magic again ... if only for a weekend.
If you’d like to watch a short video about the camp and the 100th summer celebration produced my WMUR in Manchester, NH, click here. If you attended our American wedding, you may recognize “Corky”, Nancy Frankel.
It was so nice to walk around camp, over the same familiar paths, around the beautiful lake. There wasn’t enough time to reconnect with everyone, but we tried to make the most of it. There were games and activities, campfires, and all the traditions from the camp birthday, which is celebrated every year.
Philipp as Robin Hood (he was really good!)
in front of our cabin
The weekend went by too fast. Philipp and I then headed to Essex, VT to visit some friends, Lauren and Mark. Lauren, also a French teacher, had come to Angers a year or two before I did, and stayed with Philipp’s parents. We had visited them during our New England road trip in 2005, but instead of seeing baby Andrew, this time he was a big brother and the “baby” (nearly 2) was Emilie.
We went to visit Shelburne Farms, a huge working farm and cheese factory. The kids enjoyed seeing the pretty chickens and petting the small animals. The highlight for me was milking a cow! We all enjoyed the cheese samples, too ... (AFTER washing our hands, of course!)
On our way back down to Cincinnati, we had to stop off and visit our good friends Suzi and John in Chillicothe. As always, they were gracious hosts. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, socializing with other friends, and then we spent the entire next day in their beautiful pool! It was heavenly. (So was my chicken taco salad with avocado dressing from Casa del Taco. I get one EVERY TIME I pass through Chillicothe. mmmmm!)
Finally, we headed back to Mom and Dad’s. The final week went quite quickly. First, Philipp and I enjoyed a night at the beautiful Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast in Burlington, KY, an anniversary gift from my parents. We all headed back up to the lake for a day, where Philipp and my Dad sailed, I read my book and went for a run, and Mom did some quilting. We were all very satisfied with our day. Dad, Philipp and I spent an afternoon at Cincinnati Museum Center, where Dad is a dedicated volunteer, to see the Bodies exhibit. It was really interesting, and I’m glad I went. It’s true that although our bodies are the only thing we have with us from birth throughout our lives, we know very little about them and how they work; this exhibit tries to change that.
After a few more trips to Wal-Mart to stock up on necessities, it was time to head back to France. Once again, we traveled on separate flights, but we both arrived in Paris safe and sound. (Unfortunately, although we arrived on Friday morning, my suitcase didn’t make it back into my possession till Tuesday morning. Delta and Air France are famous for doing this to me ... this was the third time!)
And now our vacation is over! :( But we’ll have many more adventures to share with you soon.
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