Right after the holiday weekend earlier this month, I got a sudden opportunity to host a teacher from France in my home for 5 weeks. I knew instantly that this was a great opportunity to expand my world and jumped at the chance. Marie-Anne Daudin arrived on July 10. She is the chaperon of 8 French students staying with families here in UT, in CO and in CA for a language immersion and cultural experience. Other than keeping tabs on the students by phone, Marie-Anne has no particular demands on her time. We have been having a great time showing her our world, teaching her important American phrases- chick-flick, etc-, feeding her new foods-Coral has been demonstrating the use of Ranch dressing as an all purpose condiment, and on and on. She had a constant look of alarm and fascination in Costco. I totally understand-I find Costco alarming, and I am American. Marie-Anne has a husband and two daughters near Nantes, France who will join her for some sightseeing next week- I can't wait to meet them.

Marie-Anne was very interested to hear of the wildlife we encounter here, particularly the deer. They are so perverse- they seem to have left town just for her visit. It is nice for my tomatoes and peaches, but she was starting to disbelieve our accounts. One evening, I took her out for a drive to find some deer to look at. We drove over the hill to Highland and back without seeing a single one. I decided to drive around the Temple on the way home, and we finally saw one deer grazing in some one's front yard, amid the traffic and pedestrians around the Temple.

Marie-Anne, Leith and I hiked to Cecret Lake at the top of Alta last Friday. The sun was intense and the scenery amazing. We spent a few minutes feeding a Pika granola bars by the lake before returning to the scorching valley heat.

I didn't think of this in the two days I had to prepare for Marie-Anne's visit, but she is getting huge dose of our religion while she is here. We toured the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple yesterday, (it is pronounced 'ochre'- like the paint color) and she has spent some time visiting Temple Square and attending church with us.

I think there are two world class things to see here in Utah: the mountains and natural scenery and the headquarters and temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am so grateful to have a hand in showing her both. I am having a great time with her in many other ways, too- sightseeing, cooking, gardening, reading, watching movies, talking, etc., etc.