French Family Reunion: The Cousinade

When I first arrived in Rennes, I was nervous and sleepy and stressed. Flash forward three weeks, and I am at ease with my host siblings, host pets, and host parents.  For this blog post, I will describe my host family and their family reunion this past weekend.

In our family, both parents work and both children attend school.  They eat dinner on weekdays and lunch and dinner on weekends all together in a somewhat formal meal.  During these meals, conversation topics range from logistical planning to the upcoming French election and cannabis in the US and France.  As the American in the room, I was often called upon to provide insight from across the pond, and I felt like my views were taken seriously.  

This past weekend, I went with the family to my host mom’s day-long, 40-person family reunion (a cousinade). Upon arriving at the banquet room (13h30), I was introduced to more aunts, uncles, and cousins than I could count.  I shared bises with everyone, and was impressed at my own ability to quickly master this simple greeting. After introductions, I spent time in a self-titled “kid zone” with my host sister and some of her cousins and second cousins.  We shared pleasantries and they were all curious about life in the US and my studies.  They also complemented my French, and that ego boost propelled me to talk more and even start conversations with family members I did not know.  I tried some family wine, a white sparkling mystery mixed with opaque red cassis to make something like pink champagne. As I snacked on aperitifs, I continued to mingle with family and gain confidence in both my French proficiency and my ability to represent where I came from. After about an hour of ~mingling~ we sat down and started the meal (15h00).

First, we were served a plate with a small salad below a serving of lardon (sliced, cooked ham) as well as a slice of fois gras.  As the American in the room, I had never seen nor tasted this clichéd meat.  Consequently, my hosts insisted that I try it; it was not to my taste, but I am happy I tried it.  We were then given a plate with a sausage, white bean and ham sauce, and cube of ham.  This plate was incredible and I left nothing for the family to question! After these two plates, we had a game break for thirty or so minutes while some family members prepared dessert (16h30). Finally, we enjoyed a cheese plate and then a delicious apple crisp with caramel for dessert (17h30). The late lunch finished at around 18h00 (also known as when I start to eat dinner in the US).

After all the eating, we played games like Taboo and cards; I even won a few games!  I felt just like a member of the family, taking care of the younger children and chatting about school and life with the older cousins.  I loved engaging with the extended family as an equal- my opinion on Trump was asked about ten times, as were my life goals and future career. I truly felt like I belonged, and I let any last concerns about the semester fall away. 

Not every host family has a huge family reunion during the semester, but they all work to make their host students feel at home in a completely different country. I look forward to the other wonderful experiences I will have with my family in the months to come.

Tory Dobbin

Bates College, ME