December 8, 2020

Tuesday

My marathon day. I got on the 7:30 am bus out of Anthon to the school. We’ve reached what I think I can officially say is winter. It is consistently about 35-40 degrees outside. The morning air is frigid, especially near the water. I’m starting to miss being home. I wish there was frost on the grass or even just a little bit of snow. Instead, there are oranges clinging to trees and still blooming flowers on the side of the street.

I sat and listened to my audiobook on the Romanovs before my classes started at 9am. As usual they were super rowdy. I had them work on a vocabulary exercise together for the first ten minutes and then we spent the rest of the time talking about landmarks in New York, LA, and Chicago. I showed each class drone tours of Central Park, Navy Pier, and photos from my family trip to Santa Monica Pier. They always get really excited when I show them older pictures of me and act shocked that my hair used to be a lot longer. I got to head home at 12 with Madame Bodet.

Each year on December 8th, the city of Lyon hosts a Festival of Lights. We were unable to go because of COVID restrictions, but nearby villages like Anthon also participate. The same day as the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the festival celebrates the Virgin Mary. In 1643, Lyon was struck by an outbreak of the plague. Members of the town council promised to pay tribute to Mary if she would intercede and stop the outbreak. Since that time, there has been an annual procession to the Basilica of Fourvière to give thanks. The massive church sits atop a steep hill in the city and overlooks Vieux Lyon (old Lyon).

Nearby towns like mine celebrate by placing small candles outside their windows at night. I didn’t think it would be dramatic, but when I stepped outside I gasped! It seemed like the street was transformed. Nearly every windowsill and every doorstep was outlined in tiny candles, fluttering in the evening breeze.