August Vacation - Nashville Wedding

August

While we were waiting for items to arrive at our empty house, we did some traveling.  First, we went to Dan's brother's wedding in Nashville.  This is the best picture we got of our family dressed up all fancy-like.

Yes, Will-the-reliable-one rolled his eyes while Alex perfectly behaved.

While in Nashville, we explored a Grecian site...  by visiting the Nashville Pantheon.  We actually found out about this place while watching the film edition of a Percy Jackson book.  Will and Alex had started reading the series after we visited the Uffizi in Florence last February.  It had a giant statue of Athena in the center and some plaster casts of the real Elgin Marbles that we had seen at the British Museum in July 2017.

The boys spent a lot of time hanging out with their cousins from Virginia.  One new thing that they have become interested in is what "National Day" it is.  We blame Uncle Mike for this.  In fact, our 2019 wall calendar is now the official "National Day" calendar.

Yes, all the boys fit here

No, I don't know what they are doing

The Calmest Cousins

The wedding was successful, although not witnessed by Alex.  He had too much fun running around in his fancy suit and fell asleep during the ceremony.  His power nap energized him enough to do some dancing at the reception.

 

Parenting ProTip:   Don't let your child dance on an escalator.  Sure it might be ok this time, but do you really want them to go viral for their dangerous dance moves?

Despite all of the dangerous dancing, as I mentioned before, these guys successfully got married!

Where in the world are the Kroboths? Back in the USA

After 2-and-a-half years of living in France, we are back!  Unfortunately, we are not in the lovely Southern California weather, but instead, in the swampy, bug-filled humidity of Washington, DC.

Wait, that doesn't sound great.  Let's start again!

We have returned to the amazing city of Washington, DC.  The city I have loved since I first visited at the age of 17.  The place where Dan and I met.  A historic location with many opportunities for a 10-year-old and 12-year-old to learn new things, or just hang out contemplating why there are more of Degas "Little Dancers" here than in the Musee D'Orsay.

That's better.  Now, where were we?

We are back!  Currently, we are in temporary housing because our new house exists, but our personal items have not arrived from California or France yet.  So, while our new place does have appliances, including a wine fridge, we don't have beds yet.  Yes, rental houses in the United States come with things like appliances.  Including, but not limited to: a stove, refrigerator, washing machine, and clothes dryer.  The house also comes with amazing amenities such as kitchen cabinets.  And, most importantly, instead of bare bulbs hanging down from wires, actual lighting fixtures.

Is that a refrigerator and a stove?

Rather than lounge around by the pool at our temporary housing, we are jumping right in and getting things done in DC.  The plan for our first week of defeating jet lag is to pick up the keys to our house, host a birthday party for Dan's sister in the empty house, then spend the week taking Will to AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning Camp.  Alex and I will be hanging out, joining the summer reading club, and searching for a job.  I need to catch up on my reading, and Alex should really start earning money.  :)  No wait, I'm the one looking for a job.

Here's (most) of the stuff we had to move from our temporary housing to our new rental house.  It includes the kids' scooters which will be helpful for us to get around our new neighborhood, especially without a car.  If you recall, we sold the Pilot and passed along the Leaf lease when we left California.  We sold our Golf before leaving France.

The boys didn't want me to post an obvious picture of them in DC.  You know, one with the Washington monument or Capital Building.  They picked this building to pose in front of:

Will & Alex Hang Out at The Cannon House Office Building Like Normal Pre-Teens

If Alex ever gets elected to the House, I am printing this photo really big and bringing it to his swearing-in ceremony.  

It's a crazy adjustment, but we hope to have great adventures here in our new home of Washington, DC.

Au Revoir, France

Sadly, we must leave the country of amazing bread and delicious food.  We shall return to the country where three out of the four of us in our family were born.  

During this particular international move, we are handling things a little differently than the move to France.  For going to France, we had a short house hunting trip when Dan was on a work trip to Toulouse and I came for a short visit without the kids.  I visited houses, apartments, and schools, then we decided which ones worked for us.  Then, without seeing any of it, we brought the kids to France with everything decided.  Because that's how the lives of adults and kids ultimately work.

Given that the children had never moved before, they were not happy about this arrangement.  In fact, they wouldn't have been happy had we involved them in the house/school choices either.  Of course, after a year or two of resisting life in France and exploring Europe, they finally settled into it.  Here are the things they do now, without thinking anything of them:

• Going to the bakery to pick up pastries and bread (on their own)

• Going to the market to buy their favorite cheese (it's still sharp cheddar)

• Listing "cocoa mass" when required to make an ingredients list for a chocolate bar (Alex was told later that level of detail was not necessary, "milk chocolate" would suffice)

• Traveling the 17 km to school by train/bus/tram/walking (on their own)

• Arriving in a foreign country and figuring out how the metro system works

• Recognizing specific types of art and specific artists (Picasso, Matisse, VanGough, Degas, Monet, Magritte, Kandinsky,  Münter, Rodin, Renoir, Vermeer, Dali, Warhol, Mucha, Escher, Calder, Černý, and all 4 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Renaissance Artists)

• Spelling words in a British manner while typing them on a French-layout keyboard

• Talking to our neighbors in French

• Sitting down for a 2-hour dinner at a restaurant (3 hours is a bit much, they go home on their own if it lasts that long)

• Ordering food for delivery on a French website

• Understanding which activity involves wearing all white, with a red bandana

Overall, we had an amazing time living in France and are sad to leave.  Thanks to everyone who helped to make our stay here amazing!

Kroboths Toulouse Airport Departure

Public Transportation to School

Mini-Commuters

The kids have been on many different types of public transportation during their lives.  Will first rode the Tokyo Subway system when he was just 10 days old.  They have both been on subways/metros, buses, boats, trains, trams, light rail and funiculars in more than a dozen countries.  They have been on the busiest and most complex systems in not only Tokyo, but also New York, Washington, London, Paris and Budapest.

Back when Will turned 10-years-old, he had a good grasp of the metro system in Toulouse.  It's got 2 lines, so it isn't terribly complex.  We told him that since he was getting older and more responsible, it would be ok with us if he wanted to go on the metro by himself.  You know, to the candy store or something.  He never really took us up on the offer except to head home after late dinners out at restaurants as we were finishing up our dessert or coffee or paying the bill.   Typically that would not really involve the metro since there are many restaurants within walking distance of our apartment.

Then, when Alex turned 10 this year, a new family moved to Toulouse and their kids started taking the metro the 17 km out to school.  They were 12 and 14 years old.  After we figured out the route, we started sending the 4 kids to commute to school on their own.  Because when you think about it, spending 3 hours a day driving and waiting for kids at school is a little crazy.  We would leave for school at 7:30am, drive for 30 minutes, then hang out for 25 minutes until Alex's school started.  Then, I would return, typically taking 35 minutes back, getting home at 9:00am.  If we left later than 7:30am, we might not make it to school by the start time of 8:30am because traffic stacks up during that window.  Then, in the afternoon, I would drive to school, leaving around 3:25pm, getting Alex at 4:00pm, waiting the 15 minutes for Will to finish school, driving back home arriving around 5:00pm.

Three hours is the estimated time spent with normal traffic.  One time it took 2 hours to get to school.  There had been a truck drivers' strike the day before.  The trucks didn't go anywhere until after the strike was over, then they all left the next morning at the same time.  Which meant we couldn't go anywhere.  After about an hour of trying to get out of our neighborhood, we finally got across the river and were sort of on our way.  We stared wistfully at the tram for a while as we were stuck in traffic near the stop.  The kids got to school just before 9:30am.  To add insult to injury, it was a Wednesday.  Which means that the kids only had a half day.  I decided to just get coffee and groceries near school until the noon pickup time.  We have had similar experiences returning home from school.  The problem is primarily on the Friday before a school vacation.  Everyone leaves a little early and tries to get on the road on Friday evening.  It's kind of like trying to get out of Los Angeles before a holiday weekend.

Back in January, when it was still dark at 7:30am, the kids started taking the Tram to the Train to the Bus to school.

The Tram in January

We didn't just stick them on the tram and hope that they could figure out the connections.  The first few times, I went with them.  For the return trip, we practiced that too.  I would leave around 2:00pm to take the public transportation to school, then return with them, trying a couple different ways to get home and teaching them how to figure out which train to get on and where to scan their transport cards.  Despite being a huge expenditure of time, it was totally worth it.

After a few tweaks in the route, the boys currently the boys leave home at 7:10am, scooter over to the SNCF station, take the train nearly all the way to school, then scooter over to school, arriving around 8:00am.  Then, to return home in the afternoon, they take a bus to the train station, train to the tram, then scooter home, arriving at different times, depending on the day and success of quick connections.  Sure, they need to spend more of their time commuting, but it's a whole lot better than me spending 3 hours per day, every day, driving them to school and back.

Fun and Fast Scooters

Of course, nothing is simple and easy.  The kids have had times where the different parts of the journey were behind schedule, connections didn't work, part of the system was shut down, or the national trains or local transport have been on strike.  Fortunately, they have been able to think on their feet, improvise, and make it to their destination without too much trouble.

One time, when Will was coming home on his own after Computer Club, the transit officials kicked everyone off the tram.  Since Will had his scooter, he decided that the best way home on the last part of the journey would be to scooter on the sidewalk, along the tram track route.  It took a while, I was slightly worried, but he made it home.

The train strike has been the most fascinating of problems.  The day before a scheduled train strike, you can check the route you want.  It will show the schedule changes and alternative transportation by bus if that is what replaces the normal train route for that day.  Most times this has been reliable.  One time when the boys' train was supposed to be on track, it didn't arrive.  Fortunately, they were able to take the next train that was 30 minutes later.  They were slightly late for school, but here in France, La Greve, the strike, is an acceptable excuse and you aren't counted tardy.

The kids have become so adept at taking the public transportation that they feel they can figure out any route.  They think that when we are in the US, they are going to be able to take transport out to visit their cousins' house.  I think someone needs to tell them that the US doesn't work the same way as Europe.  (Technically they could do it, but it would take 3 hours.)  It will be a disappointing reverse culture shock for them.

Alex Commuting Alone

Has anyone ever noticed that their children are different from each other, even though they share practically the same genes?

Commuting Generally Going Well
Will and Alex have been commuting to and from school, most days, since January.  Sure, I pick them up on the two days a week that Alex has to get to judo after school.  I pick up Alex and one of their friends on Wednesday when Will stays behind with his friend for Science Club.   I bring them out to school when I have a meeting out that way once a week in the morning.  But mostly, they commute together, and meet up with or travel with their other two friends during the commute.  

One Day, Last Part of Journey, Alex is Alone
There is one day when Alex makes the last part of his journey home alone.  He and one of our friends leave school together, but then they split up to go to their respective homes.  This usually goes smoothly.  Except when it doesn't.  One time, there was some sort of lift or construction vehicle that had tipped over and was blocking the tram line.  So they kicked everyone off.  Alex's solution was good, as he was at a major transit hub, he hopped on the metro to get closer to home.  Then, because he had forgotten his key for his scooter and had to leave it at school, he walked home from the metro.  This took quite a while.  I was slightly concerned, but he made it home eventually.  

Lost Things
You would think that forgetting his scooter key might be the exception to keeping Alex and all of his stuff together.  But it is not.  He has also lost his metro card, twice.  He has lost his scooter lock, twice.  To be fair, he is not the only one who has lost his card.  Will lost his metro card a while ago.  Dan went online and requested a replacement.  Then Will found his metro card again.  When Alex lost his metro card, we figured it would be easy to request a replacement since it worked for Will's card.  However, when Dan tried to do this, the system told him that a card already existed for Alex and that we would have to go to the metro office to make a request for replacement.  Of course, the main office is currently closed due to metro improvement projects...  So, since Will had two cards, Alex is now the younger looking Will.  Yes, he is using one of Will's cards.  

You may wonder why it worked for Will's replacement and not Alex's.  Well, we finally figured it out.  When Dan requested the replacement for Will, he spelled William without the second "i."  So Alex is actually "William" and Will is now "Willam."  This has actually worked out pretty well.  Occasionally there are enforcing officials who check the tickets on the transportation.  And this did indeed happen during one of the boys' trips home.  Alex knew he didn't have his card and he was the other "Will."  I hear that when the ticket checking guys came by, Alex looked completely terrified that he would be found out as an imposter.  Of course, the worst thing that could happen is that he would get kicked off, taken to a metro office, and we would have to collect him and get fined 60 euro.  But really, the only things the ticket enforcers care about is if you are paying the correct fare and have a validated card.  They scanned the card, found it properly validated, and continued on to search for someone who hadn't paid their fare properly.  I feel, though, that the state of panic that he experienced may have encouraged Alex to be a bit more responsible about his card.  

Alex Commuting Alone
This brings us to the next Alex Commuting story.  Normally it is Will who has a cell phone and can use it to text or call if there is a problem.  He is older and sort of keeps track of his stuff more than Alex.  I can track him on his commute if I get worried.  Well, I can if he has actually kept his phone charged.  

But this week, Will is not here.  He is on a 4-day school residential trip.  Our friend, who Alex normally commutes with, had other afternoon plans on Wednesday.  As I had already spent the morning driving both boys and Will's large trip backpack to school, it was up to Alex to make it home completely on his own.  

As part of this epic journey, we gave Alex his phone with his new SIM card.  The first time he has had a phone that actually phones and works outside of WiFi.  

On the way to school, we reviewed his route home.  He was supposed to scooter over to the bus that brings him to the tram, then transfer over to the tram at a particular stop.  If for some reason, he missed the stop, it was ok, because the terminus of the bus was also a tram transfer stop that worked.  He would just stay on until the end of the bus route, not try to catch the bus going the other way to the first workable stop.

About 20 minutes after school finished, I got this text from Alex.

This is not the bus we talked about that goes to the tram!  This is the bus that goes to the train.  And it's a train strike day.  

I'm not sure if he actually meant "sniff" or if he meant "sncf" which is the train company. (Gare = Station).

Fortunately, the bus he was supposed to get on also goes to the SNCF Gare.  So he can take the 150 bus, but then switch over to the correct bus.  No problem, just extra time added to Alex's commute because he didn't get on the right bus the first time.  

So Alex successfully makes the bus switch.  And, being considerate, texts me to tell me this good news.  A little bit later, I get a new text.

Remember how I had discussed with Alex, in the morning, what he should do on the off chance that he misses his stop to transfer?  Yeah, he missed his stop and had to sit in a bunch of traffic until the end of the bus line to catch the tram at the later stop.

Fortunately, he made it home without any other incidents of closed-down transportation.  He also had his scooter, so he made it home from the tram stop without delay.  

The whole experience of missing two different transports is probably good for him.  Most likely next time, he will think a bit more and pay a bit more attention.  

I did, however, text him this morning when it was nearly time for him to disembark from his train.  Because getting home late is a good time for learning how to handle missteps.  Getting to school late is not the time.  

I'm amazed a the kids' independence and resourcefulness.  I feel that the skills they are learning now will prepare them to go anywhere in the world and navigate any transportation system.  Plus, they have the confidence that comes with solving a problem on their own.  

The Two Musketeers Can Go Anywhere!

The Giant French Omelette of Easter

A long time ago, before I was born, an Easter Monday tradition began in Bessières, France. They prepare a giant omelette and share it with the town and visitors.

As the children were off school, we made the trek to Bessières to experience this excellent tradition.  (See how I didn't use the obvious egg-pun there... the children have enacted a restriction on egg-puns.)  Like many outings to the surrounding towns and villages of France, our trek involved me driving with the kids and Dan cycling.  

We arrived around 9:30, with omelette starting time at 11:00.  So we found parking near a bakery and consumed some pastries to keep us happy until omelette-time.  We walked toward the center of town, through a market and festival area and found THE GIANT FRYING PAN.

GIANT FRYING PAN and a fire

I know it looks like the pan is actually on the fire, but the fire is behind the pan.  It's a perspective thing.  The frying pan weighed about a ton.  And, no, it's not lifted by using the giant log handle, that's really for appearances.  It is moved with a forklift.  The legs on the frying pan are attached.  So when the forklift moves the pan, it doesn't put it directly on the fire, but the legs cause it to be a non-buring distance above the fire.  This is French Cooking, not me-burning-eggs-in-my-home-kitchen-cooking.  

On one side of the park were the omelette ingredients.  There are 15,000 eggs, a bunch of chives, some chili pepper, and other spices.  The pots on the ground were for holding the eggs after they get cracked.  Then the chefs beat the eggs with a whisk attached to a large drill.  

It's going to be necessary to break a few eggs!

Obviously, if you have a giant omelette, it must be accompanied by giant bread.

Alex near the bread, waiting for the cooking to get started

The fire was already being prepared when we arrived.  The guy on the left was the official fire tender.  I'm not sure what the guy on the right with the hat's title was, but his role was important.  One of his tasks was to drive the fort lift.  

Fire Preparation

After hanging out, just watching the fire for a while, the time finally came for the event to start!  It started with some guys dressed as chickens who handed out chocolate eggs, a parade of officials and, of course, a bunch of drummers.  Because French Chefs need inspirational music.

After a long procession, everyone was assembled.  This included the guys dressed as strawberries in red and green.  They handed out flyers promoting La Tarte Geante aux Fraises coming in June.

Strawberry Guys next to Country Western Guys (Country = USA)

Finally, it was time to cook.  
The official chefs of the day, ordained by the knightly order of the giant omelette, started with 25 liters of duck fat.  Because it's the local, probably artisanal, grease.  And it's delicious.  

Giant Pan of Duck Fat

During this whole time, people had been preparing all of the ingredients.  This includes cracking all of the eggs, slicing the giant bread, and cutting all of the scallions.  It took a long time.  I think from the time we started watching the fire preparation to the time when the eggs actually went into the pan, it was about 2-3 hours.  That's practically longer than a visit to the Louvre.  Or most museums in our travels.  The kids were prepared to wait with books and stuff to do but they were getting kind of antsy.  And hungry.  The eggs went in...

How Many Chefs does it Take?

... we heard the officials announce that cooking would take half an hour.  So, we left our excellent omelette cooking viewing vantage point and let the kids explore the rest of the festival a little.  We found snacks.  Will got fries which he declared, "The best fries ever!"  (They were probably cooked in duck fat.)  Alex had a Nutella crêpe.  After about a half hour, we noticed people walking around with plates of omelette.  

Empty Plates, Waiting to be Filled with Omelette

We sent the kids to get some omelette, but they couldn't find where and how to acquire it.  Plus, they didn't really want any, so they weren't particularly motivated.  I ran into some friends who already had plates of omelette and they told me to hurry and get some of my own.  So, I went to the crowd where the plates were being distributed.  It was kind of a process.  People in the front got omelette, they left the crowd, everyone moved up a bit, until you were in the front and could get your own omelette. I was involved in this process when I saw the kids walking back to where we had been standing (without any plates of omelette).  They are pretty independent, so I let them go.  Besides, I had omelette priorities!  I got my omelette and went back to the general area where I had last been with the kids.  

Successful Omelette Acquisition!

While I was busy taking this selfie of my successful omelette acquisition, the kids found me.  They were mildly annoyed, which is their general state of being when we force-them-to-experience-things.  But, since we were done, we headed back to the car to return home.  As an important last stop, and to bring things full circle, we once again went to the bakery, grabbed some bread and croissants so that the kids could consume non-omelette based sandwiches on the way home, and found a route out of  Bessières that didn't go directly through the festival.  

Will we go to the Giant Strawbery Tarte?  Perhaps.  Wait and see...