A Dinner at Home

I just hosted my very first dinner in France. I invited the two friends that I have known the longest here in Paris, one French and one Chinese. I met them each 4 years ago on my last trip to Paris at the same event, but on different nights. Tonight,I cooked them a Brazilian dinner...one of my grandmother's best recipes.

My only complaint about this flat is that I can't stay longer! I love it here. I feel so at home, so in my world and comfort zone. It's like a little nest...quiet, creative, bright, cozy, all the things I desire in a living space. And a few days ago, I discovered another winning feature: the Japanese straw mat carpet lends itself perfectly as a yoga mat. And there is just enough space, between the couch and the bed for one person to practice yoga. So, I have been starting these last few days here with a 20-40 min. yoga...feels great to stretch again!

Right now, my home is warm with the good energy of friends, good food and merriment. We started off with white wine, fresh pears and grapes, Camembert and Swiss cheese with baguette, and Italian salami. Then, we had red wine with Brazilian picadinho, white basmati rice, sliced banana, and salad with hearts of palm. For dessert, 3 kinds of chocolate mousse cake from a local pastry shop and Ben and Jerry's praline, nuts icecream. It was a satisfying feast! My guests stayed until almost 1am...after the metro stopped running...and had to walk or take taxis home.

Half way through the dinner, my Chinese friend posed the question to us of "What is the meaning of life?" My French friend answered that he feels its a collection of meaningful moments. When I was asked, I quoted Monty Python and said "Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it...Always look on the bright side of life!" My friends didn't get the joke, so I pulled out the video clip from "The Life of Brian", so as to give them the context. They loved it and then one of them asked to see the clip of "The Ministry of Silly Walks"...which got us off an a half hour or so of watching Monty Python sketches while digesting dinner. The International language of Monty Python. I marveled to myself how here we were, 3 people from 3 different nations and different continents and all sharing our love of Monty Python!

This is my last night here in this flat, so I'm glad I got to soend it here with friends. Tomorrow, I am moving down near the Chinese quater to stay with a travel network host. I am sad of course to be leaving, but looking forward to getting to know China town better!