I realize it has been a couple of months since I have written...so sorry. But, good news! I DID GRADUATE FROM LE CORDON BLEU!!!

Graduation was lovely. Dad, Laura Lee, Mom and Mac came up for the occasion. I was so happy they were all able to come and help me celebrate. I just wish the rest of the family could have come, but oh well...they are happy for me as well, I know it.

We walked in with our chef coats and in our classes: basic, intermediate and then SUPERIOR. They called each class, cuisine then patisserie for each basic, intermediate and superior. Then Le Grande Diplome was called. There only four of us. We got called up on stage, given a gold medal, a huge and beautiful diploma and of course a bottle of really nice champagne! It was such a great feeling to be done and to have actually graduated!! After the graduation ceremony, people went to eat little foods and have more champagne. The superior students were toasted to first. We got the first glass...it was great.

After the ceremony and reception, we all went to relax for a bit, then met for dinner at 6:30. Dinner was amazing. We went to eat at a place called eighteen. The food was great and the wine was superb. The next day, I was going home with my diploma and the feeling of being done with culinary school! What a great feeling.

My holidays were spent cooking at home and also getting a non-paying job. I got to work at Bottega, a local restaurant that serves amazing food. The chef/owner owns three other restaurants and I got to help make desserts for all his restaurants. It was great work. A great experience.

Now I am getting ready to go once again out of the country. I am leaving for Africa, Tanzania to be more specific. I am going to work at a children's orphanage. My aunt, Laurie, worked here last year and said it was the most rewarding experience she has ever done. Now my aunt Laurie is an amazing woman, like every woman in our family. She cares and loves all children and does anything and everything she can for them. This is just more thing she does.

I am going to be there for about a month. We are going over a few days early to adjust to the time change. Then I will be at the village for a month, working. A friend of mine, Art, is coming as well to make a film about the village. It's gonna be a great time spent there. I am going to try to blog while I am there, but I am not too sure about the Internet usage...so it might be up later, when I get home. So until then....