Letter to Beth

Dear Beth,

How are you?

It is so bad that you never received my last letter. Well, I'll start with the beginning since the wedding 

9th September 2011: I finally got married with Alex. This day was quite stressful because I was afraid to be late! My sisters were at home with me to help me face this preparation. Our photographer came around 10 am to start taking pictures of the preparation: My sister Sabrina started making me French manicure and Karen helped me brush my very long hair at this time. Around 12 am, we had lunch with the photograph and with Alex, then Alex went to his parents' summer flat to get ready as well. The hairdresser came at 1pm and started with my sisters and she also did the makeup. At last around 3pm, it was my turn! It lasted 1 hour! Then I had problems to get dressed and wearing this wedding dress was not easy. I had to think of everything and not forget my earrings, necklace and handbag. Then my parents called me. They were on the way to their summer place. They had to drive more than 4 hours from my hometown (Charleville-Mézières) to Strasbourg. They called because the landlady did not answer the phone and I had to call back. Finally they could dress up themselves but with the heat (around 28°C on that day, not current for September!) they did not have time to take a shower and they were much stressed. Later, the landlady of the summer house for my friends called me. She said that my guests haven't arrived yet. I called Delphine and she said they were stuck in the traffic! Later on, my Mauritian friends arrived! I was so happy to see them! I met Jean-Michel and his sister Pascaline when I lived in Ireland. He worked with me and then we went friends. He came from Ireland to attend the wedding! I was really emotional! Finally they were on time for the beginning of the ceremony at the town office. Finally, everything went good. Alex said yes! And so did I! Then we took lots of pictures near the town office and the church. If you want, you can see the pictures on Facebook. 10th September 2011: The day after the wedding, we had breakfast at the wedding reception place and we went to my apartment. My friends Delphine and Thibault had to come back home so I stayed with my friends Jean-Michel and Pascaline, my parents, my sisters and Alex. We went to Strasbourg and had a nice boat guide tour. As it was the first time for my parents, sisters and friends in Alsace, they were happy to discover the nice landscapes! In the evening, we had dinner in an alsacian restaurant with Alex's parents & sister and again with my family and friends. We had a lot of fun. My parents could not speak to Alex's parents because they do not speak German and they do not speak French! Was quite hard! Alex with his family chatting together & me with my French speaking area! Lol 11th September 2011: My family came back home. Alex and I drove directly to Bavaria, Germany to visit my grand aunt. She lives in a convent and is a nun. We had nice time with all sisters of the convent and I got the benediction from the priest there. It was a great time. A few days later, Alex wanted to surprise me and we went to Venice! It was a long drive but it worth it. It was 33°C there! We had nice time except at the hotel: We booked a room for 3 nights at a hotel but we noticed the next day that we had some pots along our body. We got bite by bedbugs!!! We told the hotel receptionist but she said it was mosquitos! We were sure of bedbugs because Alex got 75 bites on his body! Fortunately I got only 30! It ached and it was terrible! They did not offer us a discount after that though the room price per night was 210€ (around 300 USD). We couldn't believe it! I told Alex that we should see a doctor and make him state that it was bedbugs' bites but he did not want to go. Christmas 2011: We went to Alex's parents and it was stressful for me. His sister is always saying some bad remarks towards me. I was pissed off! I did not understand their weird dialect and I felt useless and like a plant for decoration! Alex did not care for that and said I should make efforts. Anyway, other Germans do not understand them (they come from Saxony) so how can you imagine that me (as foreigner) could understand? With his reflections, his sister made my cry. That is the main reason I want to avoid going to Germany with Alex. They are quite strange family-in-law! His mom also lets me know that I stole her son! New Year's 2012: We went to my parents and it was completely different. My parents like Alex very much and they offer every time a lot of regional beer choice! We had nice time! February 2012: We had our honeymoon in Mauritius! It was great! I've never been out of Europe before and it was a real pleasure! Nice beaches with turquoise water, palm trees, coconuts… paradise land! You can see the pictures on Facebook as well. April 2012: We went to my parents for Easter and then to Alex's parents. Again, I felt stressed. It was 10°C and they wanted to eat outside!!! I caught a cold. End of April, we went to Bavaria for my grand aunt's jubilee! My sisters came as well and we had a nice celebration with the sisters in the convent. May 2012: I am starting writing my first novel. It is a criminal case and I will send it to you when I am finished and translate it into English! Well, I think I did not forget anything. Hope that you receive my letter soon. What's up with you? Wish you all the best

Your friend Sandy