This week, let alone today, has been an absolute whirlwind.
Despite the disgusting Thursday spent at home sick with the flu (gross) the week flew by.. we finished up classes and discovered some more of the little shops throughout Tours. My host mom recommended a bookstore called La Boite a Livres, which was a smaller (and very French) version of a Barnes and Noble, except it's not a chain. It took some nerve, but I restrained from buying anything toooo unimportant. ;) It's okay, anyway- my host mom bought me a book from the same store that she gave me on my last day, on the artist William Turner (who did some very pretty landscapes of the Loire, as she duelly noted my love for the beauty of the river).
As much as I'd love to write more about the past week, today has been far to exciting and I just have to get it out.
I LOVE PARIS.
There are two other girls in my foyer from Central- Katie and Caci. We got to the foyer on the Ile St. Louis in the afternoon, kind of confused because the address and sign was just a slate and a huge door. After ringing the bell, the door unlocked and we pushed it open to reveal a huge, gardened courtyard collecting the five residence buildings of the Foyer Vigie! The foyer is very quiet, and we all live in different buildings on the fourth and fifth floors.. it's definitely some good exercise up the stairs.
I was so nervous to meet my roommate. First of all, I knew she was going to be Francophone... so what do I say? Uhh, nice to meet you, sorry for my huge bags I'm dragging in? It was such a relief when I walked in... she had left me a note on the dresser (in half English/half French) saying welcome with a jar of peanut butter on my desk! SO COOL. She also labeled all of the items in the room with English/French translations (lightswitch, doorknob, towel rack.. ect).
The room itself is a decent size- probably the size of a double at school. It has a big window (with curtains!) at the head of the two beds with nightstands and lamps on them. We each also have a desk, and there is a sink/medicine cabinet and towel racks cornered off from the bed area. The toilet is right outside the door, as well as the two showers. Convenient.
(I'll put up pictures in a few days... today was just way too overwhelming to bring out the camera.)
So ANYWAY.. out of the room, onto the Rue Poulletier, and five steps to the island's edge, where on our way to the metro we faced Notre Dame, literally five blocks away and in plain sight.
...gorgeous.
If that wasn't enough, on our walk back after dinner we passed the Pantheon, and the Place de la Sorbonne, aka my school. AAH!
Oh yeah, and we had to pass Notre Dame to get back to our house. Like, walk in front of it. Incredible.
I'm sorry if my vocabulary isn't getting very far past, great, wonderful, and gorgeous... it's just all so EXCITING!
I finally met my roommate on my way in as she was leaving- her name is Colin, and she is so sweet.. she asked which one of us was me and introduced herself before she left. (Did I mention there's a copy of "Un tramway nomme Desire" on her nightstand, and she has a copy of "L'Etranger?!")
Tomorrow is our Redcar (double decker buses) tour of the city, and after that, some more exploring! I don't have internet in my room, so the skype/phone call thing probably won't happen as much. :)
Salut!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Nouvelles!
So today we have our meetings about classes and such... starting in the next few weeks. In PARIS! Two other girls (both named Katie) and I ended up eating lunch with Shelley, the program director today, and she took us to an amazzzzing sandwich shop where we had a "Formule," aka Combo, of a drink/sandwich/tartelette for 6 euros. (Pas mal!) Anyyyyway, lunch was teriffic, but my my point was that Shelley told me I'm definitely going to be able to take art classes here as well! (Instead of so many lecture courses) I was not expecting to be able to continue with art stuff while I'm here... so this is such good news! She said the art school she wants me to go to is about a 30 minute trek from my foyer via metro, but it's well worth it and the classes are great. I can even get school credit... yay!
Tired this afternoon.. after our meetings I'm going home to crash and watch Wall-E. :) A tout a l'heure!
Tired this afternoon.. after our meetings I'm going home to crash and watch Wall-E. :) A tout a l'heure!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Pictures
I decided I'm just going to upload my pictures onto facebook, so if you don't have facebook or want me to send you to them let me know. Some of them will also be on the Central blog!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
I've been here a week?
The first week comes to an end as the second one begins! (I guess that's how it usually works...) What a crazy week of classes, people and FOOD.
Tours is great! We've been taking classes at the Institut de Touraine, which is just like, Extreme French in two weeks. It's really nice that everyone is so enthusiastic about learning, and I feel like we are even beginning to speak French to each other more often. It just becomes easier, because even as you're struggling for words, someone is there to tell you what you're thinking or trying to say.
I have to say, staying with a host family for two weeks was an excellent idea. I only speak French with my host mom, who loves to cook (good for me), is vegetarian (like me) and helps me with little grammar puzzles every night at dinner. It's becoming easier to understand native Francophones, as you pick up the little colloquial phrases that were hard to comprehend before. Eating at 7:30 was weird at first- there's this whole gap in time between the noon lunch and dinner, but it just makes a good excuse to try all the tartelettes in the boulangeries. :)
Today we visited Chambord and Cheverny, two of the famous French chateaux on the Loire. Even in the rain and freezing weather, they were absolutely breathtaking, especially Chambord! I think I may build one someday. Or I'll just marry a king, one or the other.
There are so many times in the day when I have to stop and think about the fact that I'm in France. I'm actually here, experiencing this completely different culture and even still just absorbing everything like a sponge. I understand now why this is called the "Honeymoon" stage- there is just so much to see and do there's really no time to be homesick or question yourself. This is the time to see the French culture and begin to experience a little (especially in our host family setting), but I'm still on the outskirts. Still working on the language and the way of life- but that's okay. There is a lot of learning to be done!
Tours is so beautiful. The Loire riverbank has a sidewalk alongside it, so the other day Lauren, Katie and I bought a fresh baguette and Camembert cheese and sat on a bench by one of the old bridges. It was chilly, but the sun was forcing rays through the clouds as it started to set so the reflection of the opposite bank on the water was pretty. It was just one of those surreal moments on the trip, like, this is just the beginning of an adventure I know I'll remember forever.
Tours is great! We've been taking classes at the Institut de Touraine, which is just like, Extreme French in two weeks. It's really nice that everyone is so enthusiastic about learning, and I feel like we are even beginning to speak French to each other more often. It just becomes easier, because even as you're struggling for words, someone is there to tell you what you're thinking or trying to say.
I have to say, staying with a host family for two weeks was an excellent idea. I only speak French with my host mom, who loves to cook (good for me), is vegetarian (like me) and helps me with little grammar puzzles every night at dinner. It's becoming easier to understand native Francophones, as you pick up the little colloquial phrases that were hard to comprehend before. Eating at 7:30 was weird at first- there's this whole gap in time between the noon lunch and dinner, but it just makes a good excuse to try all the tartelettes in the boulangeries. :)
Today we visited Chambord and Cheverny, two of the famous French chateaux on the Loire. Even in the rain and freezing weather, they were absolutely breathtaking, especially Chambord! I think I may build one someday. Or I'll just marry a king, one or the other.
There are so many times in the day when I have to stop and think about the fact that I'm in France. I'm actually here, experiencing this completely different culture and even still just absorbing everything like a sponge. I understand now why this is called the "Honeymoon" stage- there is just so much to see and do there's really no time to be homesick or question yourself. This is the time to see the French culture and begin to experience a little (especially in our host family setting), but I'm still on the outskirts. Still working on the language and the way of life- but that's okay. There is a lot of learning to be done!
Tours is so beautiful. The Loire riverbank has a sidewalk alongside it, so the other day Lauren, Katie and I bought a fresh baguette and Camembert cheese and sat on a bench by one of the old bridges. It was chilly, but the sun was forcing rays through the clouds as it started to set so the reflection of the opposite bank on the water was pretty. It was just one of those surreal moments on the trip, like, this is just the beginning of an adventure I know I'll remember forever.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Les classes commencent!
WE GET A NEW PRESIDENT TODAY!
Our whole group is planning on going out to dinner to watch it, I think it's at five our time. Yay!
Classes started today! I had my first three this morning, from 9-12, the first being a Phonetics class in the language lab, the second an oral speaking/presentation class, and the third was a "Civilisation" lecture class where the professor talked about French social classes in the last fifty years, unemployment, ect. I'm on break right now- this afternoon I have another language/grammar class and then my Orientation class which I'm taking with the entire group from Central College. I really like the kids in the group- everyone seems to be in the same boat, although there are two students who haven't had any French at all! I have no idea what they're going through- everyone speaks French here. Period. L'Institut de Touraine is for international students only, but everyone still comes from different countries so if you don't know where someone is from, it's natural to speak French. Weird!
My host mom is an excellent chef! (Of course, not as good as you, Momma ;] ) Every morning she sets out la confiture (jam) and bread, along with yogury, cereal and a pot of coffee and juice. For dinner, we always have an appetizer, main course and then finish with my choice of cheese from the cheese board and some fruit. Last night's hors d'oeuvre was mangoes chopped up in a coconut cream sauce with spices... something I've never tasted but so delicious!
On Sunday, there are two more students from Italy coming to stay... I'm curious to see how four girls will fare in a small house with one bathroom! Oh well, the more the merrier. I also wonder how their French/English is... will there be any communication at all? :) Always an adventure.
I have an oral presentation to do next week on how to spend a weekend in New York... should be interesting! I'll be putting up pictures soon although I really haven't taken many yet. Au revoir!
Our whole group is planning on going out to dinner to watch it, I think it's at five our time. Yay!
Classes started today! I had my first three this morning, from 9-12, the first being a Phonetics class in the language lab, the second an oral speaking/presentation class, and the third was a "Civilisation" lecture class where the professor talked about French social classes in the last fifty years, unemployment, ect. I'm on break right now- this afternoon I have another language/grammar class and then my Orientation class which I'm taking with the entire group from Central College. I really like the kids in the group- everyone seems to be in the same boat, although there are two students who haven't had any French at all! I have no idea what they're going through- everyone speaks French here. Period. L'Institut de Touraine is for international students only, but everyone still comes from different countries so if you don't know where someone is from, it's natural to speak French. Weird!
My host mom is an excellent chef! (Of course, not as good as you, Momma ;] ) Every morning she sets out la confiture (jam) and bread, along with yogury, cereal and a pot of coffee and juice. For dinner, we always have an appetizer, main course and then finish with my choice of cheese from the cheese board and some fruit. Last night's hors d'oeuvre was mangoes chopped up in a coconut cream sauce with spices... something I've never tasted but so delicious!
On Sunday, there are two more students from Italy coming to stay... I'm curious to see how four girls will fare in a small house with one bathroom! Oh well, the more the merrier. I also wonder how their French/English is... will there be any communication at all? :) Always an adventure.
I have an oral presentation to do next week on how to spend a weekend in New York... should be interesting! I'll be putting up pictures soon although I really haven't taken many yet. Au revoir!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Beautiful
I went for a run today along the Loire river. It was absolutely beautiful.
Starting classes tomorrow! I think I'm finally getting the swing of this French speaking thing....
Starting classes tomorrow! I think I'm finally getting the swing of this French speaking thing....
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Bonjour!
What a long weekend! It feels like two days ago was a year.
My flight landed in Paris safely yesterday morning an hour early, around 10am. (We're six hours ahead of U.S. time) Of course, I couldn't find the baggage claim, so after about ten minutes of running to the ends of the airport, I finally asked someone and it seemed I'd left the secure part where you were supposed to pick it up, so he let me back in.
I took a shuttle to our hotel, "Hotel Arotel," and dropped my two boulders (bags) off and took off to find something to eat. It was kind of crazy-I was still in too much shock of being here to actually comprehend my surroundings, (such as the fact that everyone but me was speaking French!) so I walked for a while down La Rue Montparnasse until I finally ventured into a busy patisserie on a streetcorner. (By the way, I love how everyone just holds onto their huge sandwiches (they use a baguette for the roll) and eats them walking down the street, whereas drinking a cup of coffee in a cafe takes about 3 hours.)
Around four, I met some of the new students, as well as another who is doing Central's year-long program (and swears she isn't going home). We went to one of the cafes on a main street, whose claim-to-fame was the list of artists and writers who had once been frequent visitors (Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Hemingway, and Sartre) A little expensive, but definitely the Parisian cafe experience. Even in the winter, everyone still sits outside!
We ate dinner as a group (18 students altogether) in a creperie around the corner from the hotel, and of course, it was absolutely delicious. They served us traditional cider from the Bretagne reigon, and our waiter was even describing how you can separate France into different reigons just through their food and beverages. He told us, "France existe pour deux raisons: pour manger et boire!" When we tried to describe a bagel to him later, he was appalled by the idea of "destroying good bread."
We took a train to Tours at 12:30 today- what a disaster! 18 students with huge bags, walking two blocks to the station, dragging them onto the escalator (I took the stairs- BAD idea. I think my arms are going to fall off) and then fitting them into the tiny overhead compartments was certainly a loud and very "American" adventure. I can't wait until the trip back...
Anyway... once in Tours we met and went home with our host families. My host mom Jacqueline is the librarian in Saint-Pierre de Corps (another part of Tours), and her house is overflowing with books. (It's wonderful!) She made me lunch and I tried a new cheese for dessert- I forget the name, but it was delicious. I also learned that in France, it is impolite to put your bread on your plate- it must be placed on the tablecloth! She told me that every time an American student visits, she has to re-explain the mannerism. Crazy! We then drove around Tours, which is pretty small for a city, but definitely full of life- there's a section that was originally built in the Middle Ages, and there are a million little shops and cafes.
And now.. I am going to attempt to find the Loire river, which is apparently only a few blocks away! A tout a l'heure!
My flight landed in Paris safely yesterday morning an hour early, around 10am. (We're six hours ahead of U.S. time) Of course, I couldn't find the baggage claim, so after about ten minutes of running to the ends of the airport, I finally asked someone and it seemed I'd left the secure part where you were supposed to pick it up, so he let me back in.
I took a shuttle to our hotel, "Hotel Arotel," and dropped my two boulders (bags) off and took off to find something to eat. It was kind of crazy-I was still in too much shock of being here to actually comprehend my surroundings, (such as the fact that everyone but me was speaking French!) so I walked for a while down La Rue Montparnasse until I finally ventured into a busy patisserie on a streetcorner. (By the way, I love how everyone just holds onto their huge sandwiches (they use a baguette for the roll) and eats them walking down the street, whereas drinking a cup of coffee in a cafe takes about 3 hours.)
Around four, I met some of the new students, as well as another who is doing Central's year-long program (and swears she isn't going home). We went to one of the cafes on a main street, whose claim-to-fame was the list of artists and writers who had once been frequent visitors (Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Hemingway, and Sartre) A little expensive, but definitely the Parisian cafe experience. Even in the winter, everyone still sits outside!
We ate dinner as a group (18 students altogether) in a creperie around the corner from the hotel, and of course, it was absolutely delicious. They served us traditional cider from the Bretagne reigon, and our waiter was even describing how you can separate France into different reigons just through their food and beverages. He told us, "France existe pour deux raisons: pour manger et boire!" When we tried to describe a bagel to him later, he was appalled by the idea of "destroying good bread."
We took a train to Tours at 12:30 today- what a disaster! 18 students with huge bags, walking two blocks to the station, dragging them onto the escalator (I took the stairs- BAD idea. I think my arms are going to fall off) and then fitting them into the tiny overhead compartments was certainly a loud and very "American" adventure. I can't wait until the trip back...
Anyway... once in Tours we met and went home with our host families. My host mom Jacqueline is the librarian in Saint-Pierre de Corps (another part of Tours), and her house is overflowing with books. (It's wonderful!) She made me lunch and I tried a new cheese for dessert- I forget the name, but it was delicious. I also learned that in France, it is impolite to put your bread on your plate- it must be placed on the tablecloth! She told me that every time an American student visits, she has to re-explain the mannerism. Crazy! We then drove around Tours, which is pretty small for a city, but definitely full of life- there's a section that was originally built in the Middle Ages, and there are a million little shops and cafes.
And now.. I am going to attempt to find the Loire river, which is apparently only a few blocks away! A tout a l'heure!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
2 days to go!
Hello all!
So.. it's finally happening. I'm going to France. It brings a mixture of emotions- I'm so excited but don't think I'll be able to understand the reality of it until I get off my plane in Paris. AHH!
I plan on writing a blog while I'm on my trip, including pictures and lots of fun stuff about my adventures. I'm writing for the Central College (the school I'm traveling with) website, so most of my posts can be seen there, but I'm going to include them on this site as well. The site is: http://blogs.central.edu/abroad/
For the first week (until the 31) I will be in Tours, France- a city about an hour southwest of Paris, with a host family. The address and info is below, but my real mailing address will be at the Foyers Vigie in Paris (also below). I'm living on the Ile de France (right in the center of Paris, across from Notre Dame!) in an international student foyer for women. I probably get a roommate, but I haven't met her yet!
I will also be using Skype to call or contact anyone, so if you have it, add me! (Merion Read) If you need to email me, use my gmail (mread7@gmail.com) instead of my school mail.
Address in Tours (1.18-1.31)- only for emergencies!
33 rue Jean-Jacques Noirmant
37000 Tours
Paris address (2.1-5.29!)
Foyers La Vigie
7 Rue Poulletier
75004 Paris, France
The next time I write, I'll be in France!
Au revoir!
Merion
So.. it's finally happening. I'm going to France. It brings a mixture of emotions- I'm so excited but don't think I'll be able to understand the reality of it until I get off my plane in Paris. AHH!
I plan on writing a blog while I'm on my trip, including pictures and lots of fun stuff about my adventures. I'm writing for the Central College (the school I'm traveling with) website, so most of my posts can be seen there, but I'm going to include them on this site as well. The site is: http://blogs.central.edu/abroad/
For the first week (until the 31) I will be in Tours, France- a city about an hour southwest of Paris, with a host family. The address and info is below, but my real mailing address will be at the Foyers Vigie in Paris (also below). I'm living on the Ile de France (right in the center of Paris, across from Notre Dame!) in an international student foyer for women. I probably get a roommate, but I haven't met her yet!
I will also be using Skype to call or contact anyone, so if you have it, add me! (Merion Read) If you need to email me, use my gmail (mread7@gmail.com) instead of my school mail.
Address in Tours (1.18-1.31)- only for emergencies!
33 rue Jean-Jacques Noirmant
37000 Tours
Paris address (2.1-5.29!)
Foyers La Vigie
7 Rue Poulletier
75004 Paris, France
The next time I write, I'll be in France!
Au revoir!
Merion
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