Boo! (note the French accent)

It's now been a little over 2 years since we've made the big move. It is seeming more like home everyday but I have still noticed we haven't totally assimilated into village life and I feel like an outsider in many ways. Then I think, what better way to get to know more people in the town than to take advantage of what sets me apart here. So with Halloween right around the corner, I decide this is the time to introduce the French to a real American Halloween!  It's not that Halloween isn't celebrated here...just nothing to the close to the festivities in the States.  I decide to throw a kids Halloween party and invite all the girls from Audrey's class. I invite all 17 thinking surely a good proportion of them won't be able to make it, right?  In fact, we end up only 2 regrets so it's now a party for 15! Okay...not a problem, we can handle this.

Luckily we end up with a sunny, 60 degree day and we are able to have most of the festivities outside.  One by one, the girls start to arrive. First, two sisters both dressed as witches. Super cute, no?  Then a third witch, then a fourth followed by a fifth.  At first I though it was just a strange coincidence. As witch after witch arrived, I realized that apparently in France you dress as a witch at Halloween. That is THE costume. In fact, by the time all he girls have arrived we have a total of 14 witches (Audrey stood out just a bit as Tinkerbell).   I must admit that there was a bit of variability in the witch costumes though - some were "cat" witches (with a cute nose and whiskers) and others as "princess" witches and a couple with a Harry Potter take on the witch. But hey, at least I didn't have a house full of Elsas ; )

I tried to keep the party kid-friendly as I was a bit worried about making it too scary and have kids run into their parents arms at the end crying that the lady with the funny accent tried to get them to eat witch's eyeballs and monster brains. So we stick with Halloween crafts, broom races (appropriate since we pretty much only witches at the party) and a Frankenstein pinata. We eat some harmless spiderweb cupcakes and come back inside the house as its starting to get dark. Overall, the party seems like a hit. Parents come pick up their respective witches and we put our feet up, content with a job well done.

It's funny, the next day at school parents greeted me.  Of course in France (especially in small towns) you always say "bonjour' as you pass someone but this "bonjour" seemed a little different. It wasn't just a pleasantry, it was a real acknowledgement.  This was a big step for our assimilation into the village and I am happy that I decided to take this risk.  Instead of letting my differences separate me from the rest, why not use it as a way to help me meet others. Who knows, the Sprauer Halloween party may become an annual event around here.  But watch out girls, next time monster brains and witches eyes WILL be on the menu! I mean scaring the crap out of a houseful of 5-year old girls is one of the joys of parenthood, no?