Living To

Summer News Update!

2010-02-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

Family!

It's been so long since I've posted anything, but if any of you are still following, I'd like to update you with some great news!

I've been selected to be an intern this summer at Wake Forest's Office of the Chaplain. I'll be spending June and July working 4 days a week interning with a church or Christian based non profit (yet to be determined), and one day a week in spiritual reflection and fellowship with the staff of the Office of the Chaplain.

I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity, and I ask for your prayers as I begin the training for this summer. It'll be a summer of discernment for me; please pray for God's guidance in my life as I listen to His calling and see what other doors He opens for me!

Much love to all,
I miss you,
Carolyn

Wow

2010-02-16T01:15:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe that it is already half way through February.

I'm planning spring break already...I mean, it'll be here before I know it!

Time really does fly.

scary.

A Week Into Classes...

2010-01-19T23:41:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow marks one week into classes. I cannot believe its already mid January!

Classes are going well. I am taking three psychologies and one French, so all my classes are in the same building, which is a bit boring. But at least I'll know my way around Greene really, really well.

Emmaus has been great fun to get back into, and I am also excited to start going to another program called Wesley with some friends. It'll be a time crunch, but I am excited.

To bed!

First day!

2010-01-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

First day of formal recruitment done! I am soooo exhausted and I think my voice is almost gone, but I have to say...the day was so much more fun than I expected. Yes, I woke up at 5:45 and yes, we still have more events to go to after this short dinner break, and yessss we do it all again tomorrow...

But I actually think its going to be super fun.

GO ADPi!

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T12:14:00.002-05:00

Here's hoping that this year brings more life lessons, more spiritual and personal growth, and the opportunities to make up for all the messes I've caused in the past year.

Growing up ain't nearly as fun as we'd all thought it be.

...

2009-12-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

Back to school in a week.

Weird.

Wonder what it'll be like to hit campus again?

Christmas

2009-12-25T23:07:00.000-05:00

Can't honestly believe its come and gone.

But, it is truly one of the most special days of the year. There's nothing I love more than opening presents with my family, and then spending hours watching the new movies or tv shows we got. Or sitting at the dinner table, reading the Christmas story ((even though we all act annoyed)). Or visiting family. Or, as we do on every Christmas night, watching The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Days such as this make me thankful.

dream

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

I had an incredibly, incredibly strange dream last night. While I only remember a few distinct parts, the one that was on my mind this morning when I woke up is this.

In the dream, I was walking up some stairs carrying a bag of buttery, greasy popcorn and a giant bag of cookies. My sister was at the bottom of the stairs and said, "Carolyn, you need to stop eating. You're so fat."

off for a run at Bur Mil.

SNOW

2009-12-18T14:18:00.000-05:00

around the yard...first snow of the season!

There's just something about music...

2009-12-15T22:39:00.004-05:00

Currently on the "Recently Played" list:

Hero- Regina Spektor "No one's got it all..."

Primavera- Ludovico Einaudi

Release Me- Agnes Carlsson ~~"...I'm not able to convince myself that I'm better off without you."~~

Speechless- Lady GaGa "After all the boys and the girls that we've been through..."

Oh! - Eric Hutchinson "I'm now a new man. How does that work? I started giving a damn..."

Too Late- M83 "Like a wall of stars, we are ripe to fall."

La Priere- Alexandre Poulin "C'est toi qui m'as appris le sens du mot sincere..."

Lifesize- A Fine Frenzy "We smiled so bright the sun went down..."

Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z "These streets will make you feel brand new, these lights will inspire you."

Auld Lang Syne- Straight No Chaser

Joy to the World- Casting Crowns

A River Flows in You- Yiruma

Lover- Derek Webb "And as surely as the rising sun, you will be set free."

Calling

2009-12-14T11:30:00.001-05:00

Currently: M83, "Too Late"

I learned a lot about myself while I was abroad, but the main thing for me was that I'm done with the stupid drama and mistakes that plagued the past year of my life.

The past year really has been just crazy. Its been literally all over the place. And I am done with that. By no means am I going to be "perfect" from here on out, but I'm going to live the life that God is calling me to live and be the best person I can be.

So, that means starting fresh. Dumb drama with people in my life...I want to let it go. But I'm learning that its really hard to let it go if they won't.

I mean really. Be an adult. Or are you just scared to see me? Whatever it is, know that I am going to treat you with caring and respect, because that's the kind of person I am. I think it's going to hurt no matter how you treat me, but at least I can say I acted maturely.

Home

2009-12-10T22:48:00.000-05:00

I honestly had no faith that coming home would be a positive experience. I honestly expected to kind of be a grouch about being home.

But, being home has actually been refreshingly good. Sleeping in my own bed, seeing my grandparents, eating breakfast at my kitchen table, having my cat sleep at my feet, seeing my friends and family...even driving my car!

These small comforts have made my transition easier. I still don't think that its completely hit me that I'm home yet, and I know that there are several encounters awaiting me in the next week or so that I am not really ready for yet, but in the long run I am very thankful that I have been happy to be home.

As I continue to transition and apply all that I learned in France about life, myself, and my relationship with Christ, to my life here at home, I just cannot stop thinking about the idea that every small moment, change, event in my life is another part of my path, one of many stepping stones that are leading me forward.

I've decided that while I might not know exactly what stone I'm standing on now, I do know, I think really and truly for the first time, who I am.

Just don't want to believe it...

2009-12-06T10:10:00.002-05:00

Final weekend:
final kebab.
final french movie.
final patisserie.
final soiree with my friends.
final sequana moment.
final (4 hour) lunch with my host family.
final train to Paris.

Is it already time for me to leave?

I just spent the past 10 minutes walking around the house, looking at everything I could, trying to just grasp the fact I'm leaving.

What I have to keep in mind--what I am doing my best to keep in mind--is that these "final" things are opening the door to another phase of my life.

fellowship

2009-12-05T04:46:00.009-05:00

Because I love reading, literature, movies...and have a horrible tendency to quote movies and books almost more than I say original thoughts...I have of course been comparing my life to epic stories like Lord of the Rings.

Yes, this post might as well be a great flashing sign telling you that I'm a nerd, but I am completely ok with that.

Us nine Wake Forest students here in Dijon this semester decided that we were like the Fellowship of the Ring, and therefore we gave everyone a LOTR character. (I would like to underline that this was totally a group idea...so I'm not the only crazy one.)

Peter, semi-frat star but ever sweet and personable, was dubbed Aragorn.

Lauren, loving, super smart, and always organized...naturally, Gandalf.

MaryKate, red-headed sweetheart with an affinity for complaining; thats Gimli.

Me, always the trouble maker and continual goofball, got the role of Pippin.

Jenn, quiet but hilarious, is Merry.

Kara, so sweet and loyal, definitely gets to be Sam.

Wright, just because he's awkward and we didn't know who he should be, is Frodo.

Carleigh, always a little bit out there but always graceful...without question, Legolas.

Miles, because he's always willing to do what no one will, is Boromir.

We also decided that Madame Barbour gets to be Bilbo, and our favorite chauffeur Patrick is Treebeard.
All of this crazy, awkward, nerdy comparing to the Lord of the Rings (besides the fact that its pretty funny) is just indicative of the bond that our group has formed.

We don't always get along. Some of us are closer than others. Some of us are ready to leave France, some of us aren't. But the point is, this unique group of individuals made this semester more than memorable for me.

I have found, in this group, 8 new amazing friends...and even if we aren't as close when we get back to Wake as we are right now, I know for sure that the friendships will, in some form or fashion, continue.

"And the fellowship of the ring... though eternally bound by friendship and love...was ended."

I am beginning to feel a bit more peace about going home. I've spent much of the last few days praying and journaling, trying to rationalize the crazy swirl of emotions.

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life?"

I've decided that one of the biggest emotions that is getting me is the overwhelming sensation that time passed so quickly. I honestly and completely do not believe that its December and that I am flying to the States in less than two days.

What I am realizing, though, is that this experience is not ending when I leave French soil. I have been completely and irrevocably changed by this experience. I have grown up more than I ever though possible. I've overcome a culture shock and a language barrier. I've learned independence but dependence on the Lord. I've traveled to different countries and all over France. In one single moment, God told me, reassured me, that His purpose for my career is special education. I've laughed, cried, been frustrated, been homesick, been so content, made stupid decisions, learned from them, made good decisions, learned from them...and the list goes on and on.

So yes, while the next few days, and probably the next week or two, are going to be really hard for me, I know that I'll be fine. Because there are so many things back home that I have missed, so many people who love me and who could not be more excited for my return...and that'll make all the difference in the world.

" ...you cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be and to do. Your part in the story will go on."

The List

2009-12-02T17:09:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a break from studying for my final.

I might regret this in the morning at 8am when the test is placed in front of me, but I am so mentally zonked right now, I just do not care.

Today I had my last class with one of my favorite professors, Stephane. He talked for a few minutes with Lauren, Peter, Miles, and me and told us to make The List.

The List is just that...a list of things that we are going to do, people we are going to see, foods we are going to eat, when we get back to the United States. Why make a list?

"Tu fais Le Liste pour que la porte de l'avion soit deja ouverte quand tu arrives aux Etats Unis...pour que tu saches deja ou tu es."

"you make the list so that the plane door is already open when you land in the States...so that you know already where you are."

Stephane also made the entire class be silent, and told the us Wake Forest kids to put our heads down and close our eyes.

Silence.

"Dijon."

What came to my mind? My host family and the house. Next my classes. And finally, my walk every day to the bus.

It was all I could do not to cry in class as Stephane told us that these were the images that, from now on when something made us think of France, would surge to the front of our minds.

A very wise man told me yesterday that my experience in France is my latest stepping stone, but just one piece of the entire journey, and that I cannot be frustrated because the next stone seems different.

Three and half months ago, I never would have imagined that going home would be hard. But, I'm 4 days away from my flight to the States and I feel like this might be the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

So while I'm unhappy in this moment now, I know that I will not always feel this way.

I am going to make The List.

What will I do when I get home?

PRAY.
Visit my best friends.
See my family.
Hug my girl Brooks and her sweet brother John.
Hold my kitty Indigo.
Eat Cook-Out BBQ and milkshakes.
Drive my car.
Go to Target.
Watch movies with Laura.
Run at Bur-Mil.
Shop for Christmas presents.
See New Moon in english.
Read for fun.
See my church family.
Sing Christmas songs.

...speak in French whenever I possibly can.

I know that I have changed this semester, and I thank God for blessing me with such a rich experience. I've grown up, discovered my purpose in life, learned independence...

And as dear Pops reminded me, yes, my next stepping stone seems different.

But this just my next challenge.

Decision

2009-11-28T17:31:00.002-05:00

I'm going to be selfishly unhappy to go home.

I don't want to leave France.

Not one bit.

And honestly, I couldn't really give you a reason.

I just know.

I don't want to go.

Simply, Completely, Truly...

2009-11-25T16:44:00.002-05:00

Blessed.

I don't know how else to say it.

Tonight, I had dinner with my host family and my real family.

The two worlds that have defined me the most, meeting together in one place.

First of all, it was a rather hilarious dinner. My host parents speak very little English (in fact, my host dad doesn't speak it at all) and my real family speaks very little French. My professor, Madame Barbour, came along to help translate. But regardless, it was amusing to be caught in between the two languages (there were a lot of mismatched sentences for me, half in English and French when I was trying to talk in just one or the other). It was also hilarious to hear my mother and father try to speak French. And watch my brother drink wine and champagne. And to watch my host dad pull a bird he'd killed on his last hunt out of the freezer, all feathers still attached, to show my family.

All amusement aside, I can honestly say that this was the most unique experience of my life. To be able to share each of my families with each other; to show each family what the other family is like...never again will I have that.

We were 8 people, of different languages and backgrounds, brought together just because I happened to be the common link. And now, after 3 hours together, we know and understand each other a little bit more.

When I sit here thinking about it, I can't help but be moved.

I'll be home in less than two weeks. Which distresses me and excites me all at the same time. But, I can say now that tonight's dinner made my time here in France more complete.

To be able to share this experience with my family is a treasure that I will never forget.

Just this afternoon, I received two letters from two of the brightest stars in my life. One, from a rambunctious little girl named Brooks who teaches me how to be a more loving person every single second of every single day, and the other from her sweet brother John, who teaches me how to laugh more every single second of every single day.

Those letters, when added to the incredible experience I had at dinner, just make for a completely outstanding day.

I am simply, completely, and truly blessed. I do not think I will ever comprehend why the Lord has given me the life I have. I deserve far less...but thats the beauty of the Lord, isn't? His blessings have nothing to do with my shortcomings or my merit...they are based completely on His grace.

Blessed.

Caught

2009-11-23T13:01:00.003-05:00

Honestly, I cannot fathom being anywhere but here.

Right here, at my little french desk in my little french room in my little french town.

What does it mean when an experience that was so unreal becomes your reality?

What does it mean when everything you once held as "normal" --the things you fought to hold on to because you hated, hated change--have passed into some far away land that just does not seem a part of your life anymore?

not liking this feeling.

I think the next few weeks are going to be a bit rough. I'm caught.

Caught in a place where I don't know how to feel. Do I be selfishy unhappy to be going back home in two weeks, knowing full well how many people miss me and how it honestly will be incredible to see them, laugh with them, and hug them again...or do I just appreciate this experience I've had, and head home without a regretful glance behind me?

The solution seems to be simple...rest in the middle. Accept both feelings and take it one day at a time.

But I hate not knowing.

Not knowing which is certain, which is going to prove to be the stronger emotion. I don't think I would be happy with either of these emotions proving to be the stronger, but I am not content to rest in the middle.

Finally Dublin

2009-11-15T18:14:00.018-05:00

On Thursday night, our plane landed in Dublin around 10pm. After going through customs (yay new stamp on the passport) and figuring out the bus to the hostel, Lauren, Jenn, and I headed to the hostel and Kara headed to meet her friend since she was staying at her friend's apartment. Our hostel proved to be quite nice, especially for the price. We had some inconsiderate roommates the first night, but thats the way it goes sometimes.

Friday morning, we got up bright and early to hit the city. Lauren's friend Elliot is studying in Dublin and graciously agreed to be our tour guide/plan our days for us. Talk about awesome! Our first stop was Trinity College where we saw the Book of Kells.

The Book of Kells is an ancient illuminated book of the Gospels and it was fascinating. Next up was Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin's oldest church. It was smaller than a lot of the cathedrals I've visited, but the inside was beautiful. The tiles on the floors were incredible.

After delicious foccacia bread at a little Italian place called Panem, we walked around the outside of Dublin Castle and then went to Queen of Tarts. Reccommended by Jenn's host family, this little dessertery was outstanding.

It just so happened to be a dreary Ireland day. Now imagine a fresh warm apple crumble served with warm cream. Divine.

After the Queen of Tarts, we met up with Kara and some of Jenn's Wake friends and headed to the Guinness Storehouse. There, we learned how beer is made and had lots of fun taking pictures of it all, as well as tasting some beer. At the end of the tour, you could either redeem your ticket for a beer in the cafe up at the very top, which gives a 360 degree view of the city, or learn to pull your own pint. My friends and I chose to pull our own pints!

Here's a few photos from the storehouse:

my friend Jenn and me.

the group! (sans Kara and moi)

Barley!

pulling my pint!

"It comes in pints? I'm getting one!"

I'm certified...

After the storehouse, we headed back to the hostel to chill for about 45 minutes and then headed to dinner.

Now, I am not one to exaggerate...often. But I have to say that the authentic Irish dinner that I had at a Pub called O'Neill's (where lots of locals like to hang out) was probably the best meal I have ever eaten. I ordered beef and Guinness stew with sides of carrots and mashed potatoes. And of course, Bulmer's ale to wash it down.

After dinner, we listened to a bit of local music but decided to head back to the hostel early since we were all exhausted.Saturday, Kara, Jenn, and I went on a day trip outside of the city. It rained on and off the entire day, but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our bus rolled through beautiful countryside and passed the Blessington Lakes (HUGE) and then stopped at Glendalough, an ancient monastery founded by St. Kevin, the man who gave the world the celtic cross.

After the tour around the ruins, we had about an hour to walk some of the surrounding trails. Kara and I headed to Upper Lake and Lower Lake, and now begins the plethora of pictures that document our adventure.

After Glendalough, we headed to a small town called Avoca where the oldest hand mill in Ireland still exists today. After eating a late lunch and shopping for lots of things I couldn't afford, the tour headed back to Dublin. On the way back, I was lucky to witness the brightest, biggest double-arched rainbow I have ever seen. I took about 200 pictures, but lets face it, this post is already about 3 miles long. Here's my favorite:

(and one to show the double arches).

Saturday night, we went on a musical pub crawl. I could go on for hourssss about this. Condensed version: tour of three Irish pubs led by two authentic Irish musicians who played Irish music for us and taught us songs. It was the highlight of my time in Dublin.

Joe the guitarist.

Andy the violinist (swoon!)

Sunday morning, Jenn and I grabbed fresh scones (raspberry and apple!) from the Queen of Tarts and enjoyed them in the little park outside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

We then rendez-vous-ed with the rest of the group for a second breakfast at a place called Gruel, which served an absolutely delicious full Irish breakfast.

After that, it was back to the airport and back to France.

I am one darn lucky lady...

...or should I say lassie?

Dommage

2009-11-10T14:57:00.002-05:00

Why is it that EVERY time I interact with one of my insanely attractive host brothers, I am awkward? Tonight's possible answers include:

A) I haven't showered in almost two days.
B) I'm running on 3 hours of sleep.
C) He was sick and therefore, while I sat next to him at dinner, I shifted away from him every time he so much as looked like he was going to sniff, cough, or sneeze.
D) Perhaps I'm just awkward.

Christophe's 25th birthday was October 27, but tonight was the first opportunity he had to come home to celebrate. I had no idea he was here until I walked into the dining room and saw him at the table.

Thank goodness for birthday champagne that is oh-so-good at relaxing those who drink it.

Regardless, it would be nice to have just one interaction with him where I looked/smelled decent. At least tonight when I spoke I didn't make a fool of myself like I had in times past. Sign of progress.

I catch the 6:30am train tomorrow morning to the airport so I can head to Prague until Sunday. I am SO excited.

Just two more essays that stand in my way.

and that's two too many.

Dublin updates soon, it was an AMAZING weekend.

FINALLY

2009-11-05T10:09:00.002-05:00

Thursday is here and I am about to head to Dublin!

I am SO crazy excited. I've wanted to go to Ireland all my life, and I finally have the chance to do so! I am unbelievably blessed to have this opportunity.

Until Sunday!

(that is, if I ever come back from the great, green land where the history is overflowing, the music is more than spectacular, and men talk with an accent that makes me weak in the knees.)

Standing in My Way...

2009-11-03T18:09:00.002-05:00

Two Papers.

Two Tests.

Two Days.

ready to go to Dublin....

Needle & Thread

2009-10-26T06:29:00.003-04:00

When the world welcomes us in,
We're closer to Heaven than we'll ever know
They say this place has changed,
But strip away all of the technology
And you will see
That we all are hunters,
Hunting for something
That will make us okay.

Here we lay alone
In hospital beds tracing life in our heads
But all that is left
Is that this was our entrance and now it's our exit,
As we find our way home.

And all the blood and all the sweat
That we invested to be loved
Follows us into our end,
Where we begin to understand.

We are made of love,
And all the beauty stemming from it.
We are made of love,
And every fracture caused by the lack of it.

"You were a million years of work,"
Said God and His angels, with needle and thread.
They kissed your head and said,"You're a good kid, and you make us proud.
So just give your best and the rest will come,
And we'll see you soon."

And all the blood and all the sweat
That we invested to be loved,
Follows us into our end
We begin to understand.

Maybe Hollywood was right:
When the credits have rolled and the tears have dried,
And the answers that we have been dying to find
Are all pieced together and, somehow,
Made perfectly mine, mine, mine
Made perfectly mine

We are made of love,
And all the beauty stemming from it.
We are made of love,
And every fracture caused by the lack of love.
Caused by the lack of love...

--Sleeping at Last

WEEEEEEEE

2009-10-25T06:45:00.004-04:00

My family is coming to visit me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear France,

Please be ready for my entire family, but mostly my mother. She's been listening to "Learn French" cds. It'll be quite a sight to behold when she finally lands on le sol francais.

Respectfully yours,
Carolyn

All that being said, I could not be more thrilled that she (and of course my entire family) are coming.

My dad chose to inform me of their final decision to come visit by sending me the confirmation email for the plane tickets. I was checking my email and one of them had the subject header of "Your US Airways Flight Info." Confused, and thinking perhaps it was something to do with my flights to Dublin or Prague, I clicked open the email to read:

Passenger Name:
Stephen St Cyr
Sarah St Cyr
Laura St Cyr
Stephen M St Cyr

Trip Details:
Depart: Charlotte, NC --> Paris, France

I started laughing hysterically and crying at the same time.

Laughing because its awesome they're coming and because that is SOOO my Dad, not telling anyone he'd decided they would go and just booking the tickets early one Saturday morning and telling me by sending me the confirmation email.

Crying because I was so happy and just so darn lucky to have a family that has the means to come visit.

They'll be here in month! So excited.

Florence

2009-10-22T10:12:00.008-04:00

You know you're extremely lucky and kind of ungrateful when...

...you hate leaving Italy to go back to France.

After a two hour wait in the train station on Thursday night (thank you delayed trains), Kara and Carleigh and I finally boarded the night train bound for Italy. We made the occupants of beds 61-66, Car 85 rather angry, as we knocked on their door mulitple times confused as to why they wouldn't let us in, only to realize that we should have been bothering the occupants of beds 61-66 in Car 86 instead. Finding the right compartment, we settled in for the night. The three people who were already there had rather rudely taken our blankets and pillows. So, I passed a rather sleepless night (thank you, IPod) using my Northface and a sweater as blankets and my back pack as a pillow.

We arrived in Florence around 10:30 the next morning. Famished, we found a little hole in the wall pizza place and with lots of hand signals and laughing ordered pizzas and scarfed them down. We also left our mark on the restaurant.

After lunch, we headed to Il Duomo. Only the most recognizable symbol of Florence, this amazing church that had me dancing around in joy because I was finally seeing it with my own eyes. I took an early Italian Renaissance Art course my freshman year, and we talked about Florence almost more than we talked about paintings.

After seeing the Duomo and the museum right beside it (housing Michaelangelo's Pieta and Donatello's Mary Magdelene), we met up with Tyler, a friend from Wake who is studying in Florence. He took us to get our first gelato and see Santa Maria Novella, another famous church in Florence.

The gelato was oustanding. And after consuming the calories, we decided to climb the Duomo...all 463 stairs! It was quite the hike, but the view of the city was unbelievably worth the climb and the 8 euro price tag.

After meeting up with more kids from Wake, we ate dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant. I had two courses...first, "pasta with sauce like your grandmother would make" was the translation, and then roasted chicken. We went and got gelato again...and it was even better than the first gelato we ate.

Saturday morning, Kara, Carleigh, and I strolled through the streets of Florence on our way to meet Tyler. We cross the famed Ponte Vecchio, which couldn't have been more beautiful in the morning.

We then climbed up one of the hillsides to visit San Miniato al Monte, a church and monastery. The monks chant every morning at 4:30, but we defintely did not get up that early. We did sit in on part of a mass though, and I don't think I will ever ceased to be amazed by the power and might of attending worship in a centuries old church and just appreciating the magnitude that is God.

After lunch and more gelato, we went to see Michaelangelo's David. Sadly photos were forbidden, but this was my reaction:

KJAHOISUFOIEUF:L":ANFLKUSADHANM:L""?>">AJA:LDK}P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looked that that perfectly scuplted marble man was breathing. Truly and completely and totally amazing.

We also went to the Uffizi that afternoon, where we saw Botticelli's Birth of Venus, along with other famous works by classic Renaissance artists. It was particularly nice for me to see works Giotto and Lippi as well.

After a nap at the hostel, we headed off to meet our friends Matt and Thomas for dinner at the best pizza place in the world. Legitimately. The pizza I ate was the Campione del Monde 2002 (Champion of the World).

Three different kinds of pizza on one: tomatoes and basil; mushrooms, truffle oil, and gorgonzola cheese; and cabbage and something else delicious. Sounds odd, but legit was the best pizza I've ever had. That dinner was one of the highlights; not only did we get to spend time with Matt and Thomas, but they brought two of their friends Natalie and Anna, who were so much fun and it was great to get to know them.

On Sunday morning, we had a delicious breakfast of real Italian cappucino and pastries and then spent more money than we should have at the morning markets. I bought a sweater and cameo earrings, which according to the couple who sold them to me, are real cameos. Even if they aren't, they're still gorgeous.

The Bargello, famous museum with famous sculptures, was sadly closed because it was the third Sunday of the month. Random? Since we missed out on that, we decided to stroll through the Boboli Gardens at the Palazzo Pitti, which were gorgeous.

That afternoon, after gelato #4, we visited Santa Croce, where greats like Michaelangelo, Dante, and Machiavelli are buried. Sadly, so much restoration was being done inside that we didn't get to see everything we wanted. It was still gorgeous though.

After walking around a bit more and grabbing a dinner of BigMacs and beer at McDonald's, we finally boarded the train to head back to Dijon.

I'm sitting here in my room after week number two of classes and realizing that I have less than 7 weeks left in France. I can't hardly believe it. It literally astounds me. Where has my time gone? I remember being nervous about coming here, thinking how long 3 and half months sounded, which I think rounded out around 15 weeks. I thought 15 weeks sounded so long then...but here I am now thinking how short 7 weeks sounds.

My first 8 weeks here have been an unbelievable blessing, and if I learn even half as much about myself, life, and the Lord in the rest of my time here as I have already, I can only hope to imagine the kind of young woman I'll be when I return home.

One Week Down

2009-10-15T10:53:00.003-04:00

Wow, done with my first week of class.

Other than the French grammar class that is totally going to kick my butt, I think I am really going to like my classes.

On Mondays, I have two hours of intense grammar with Stephane Dugois, who I think is the most hilarious French man I have met yet. So while the class might absolutely kill me, at least the proffessor is great.

Tuesdays are going to be my hardest days because I am in class for 6 hours. I have expression ecrite (to improve our writing skills) with Stephane from 9-11, France contemporaine (Contemporary civilization) from 12-2, and histoire d'art (art history) from 2:30-4:30. Poor Monsieur Tomarchio, our art history professor, is going to have a hard time keeping my attention.

Wednesdays will be a bit tough too, with comprehension orale (to improve our comprehension of spoken French) from 9-11 and comprehension ecrite (to improve our comprehension of journal articles, books, etc) from 11-1. Four straight hours of class will be intense too, but at least I'm done at 1.

Thursdays I'll occasionally have France contemporaine at 8:15 in the morning (ouch), and then always technique ecrite from 11-1. Technique ecrite is going to be really interesting because we'll be learning idioms and vocabulary used all the time in everyday French life but that aren't going to be taught in a French class in America. I guess its kind of like learning slang.

And my Fridays are freeeeeee. Which is fantastic. Allows for lots of trips to far off, fantastical places. Like Florence, Italy.

Which is where I'm headed in just a few hours!!! I could not be more excited.

And honestly, more grateful. How amazingly blessed am I that I get to spend a semester in France and visit places like Italy for a weekend because its just a train ride away? How amazingly blessed am I that I have the money to do it? It blows my mind how many opportunities the Lord has given me and how easily I take it all for granted.

Prayers for a weekend of appreciation, learning, safety, and gelato...and most of all, prayers of thanks.

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." -Psalm 107: 8-9

"Qu'ils louent l'Eternal pour sa bonté et pour ses merveilles en faveur des hommes, car Il a désaltéré les assoifés, Il a comblé de biens les affamés." - Psaumes 107: 8-9

First Day of School

2009-10-12T10:03:00.002-04:00

Not to bad.

I got up this morning and went for a run, my first run in about 2 or 3 weeks. So, it was a bit rough, but there's nothing quite like crisp, fresh autumn air to make me feel alive and well and completely happy. Running on my own is such therapy time for me. Its just me and the road and oftentimes God, as I seem to talk to Him a lot when I run. And today, this run was definitely a bright start to the day.

I got back to the house to realize I had no clean pants. And when I say no clean pants, I legitimately mean no clean pants. Its been almost two weeks since the last time I did laundry. Oops.

And of course I didn't like any of the dresses or skirts I tried on. And normally, I would have thrown on clothes and just gone to class. But everyone knows you've got to look good on the first day of school.

Luckily, I found a pair of pants that I only remember wearing twice, and they didn't smell, so they got worn.

I met some of the Wake kids at Resto U, the campus cafeteria where lunch is a mere 2.90 euro. It's not gourmet, but its cheap and filling, so we don't complain.

And 1:00 brought the first and only class of the day.

Grammar.

Yuck.

And by yuck, I mean not-fun-going-to-kick-my-butt-rather-not-go-at-all.

The professor Stephane (ste-fan) is hilarious and I think I am really going to like him. His three rules for the class are: 1) Make mistakes, 2) Participate, 3) Ladies, don't play with your hair because it makes me jealous (he's balding).

Regardless of how much I like him and how much he's going to make us laugh, the class will still be really hard. He called me out and asked what my greatest weakness in French was, and I got to say, "Speaking!" But of course, he then had to ask why. And luckily I didn't make a fool of myself and spoke quite coherently. I think.

We also did 4 exercises to begin our review of grammar. And if those exercises were review, then I'm history. Because they were hard. But luckily everyone in the class thought they were hard and had about the same amount of difficulty with them that I did.

But still, I HATE grammar. And being in the highest level grammar class is going to be no fun.

Tomorrow, I have one class at the university and then two classes with the Wake kids. It'll be a long day, and I've got a paper due tomorrow for my art history class, which means a long night.

Woopeee.

One Step Forward...

2009-10-11T11:59:00.002-04:00

Several steps back.

Ok, so that's a bit dramatic.

But I'm finding that one of the most frustrating things about learning a language is that some days, you totally rock the conversations. The French is flowing, you're not making many mistakes, you feel like you've actually carried on an intelligent conversation.

The next conversation, you're stumbling over your words as if you've never actually had a conversation in French before.

For example, on Thursday night, dinner with my host parents was great. We talked, talked, talked. I walked away from dinner thinking, schweeetttt I'm getting there.

Dinner on Friday night was a completely different matter.

I went to the country with my family for the night. Their country house is gorgeous, and I knew I'd be able to relax and get work done. Madame Briotet had told me that two of her sons were coming that weekend. I'd already met Christophe, is around 23 and is the second oldest. My first conversation with him involved me convincing him that I didn't have the swine flu. Awesome. This weekend, however, I would meet Vincent, the oldest Briotet kid.

Now, I would be lying if I didn't admit that I find Christophe insanely attractive. So, I had high hopes for Vincent, and was not disappointed.

My host mom and I were sitting outside reading when my host dad and Vincent arrived. It was already dark, and so I was caught a bit off guard not only when Vincent, who is probably about a foot taller than me, came bounding out of the darkness and swooped in for the French cheek kisses. In France, I find it so awkward meeting new people because some of them do the cheek kisses and some just shake your hand. So I never know what to expect.

But, being caught off guard never helps you speak coherently. I stumbled out my name and then awkwardly went back to reading as Vincent, who actually turned out to be quite hilarious, bounded around the house singing and playing with the dog

We sat down to dinner a little bit later and began talking about Obama winning the Nobel Peace prize. I thought the conversation was going fine until I started making stupid mistakes that I normally don't make (I attribute it to the attractive company). And then, Vincent started rambling to me about a tv show and, due to the fact he was eating and talking super fast, I had noooo idea what he said. He finishes his little speech with, "So what do you think?"

I just stared (which, because of his handsome visage, was not hard to do) and mananged, "En fait, je ne te comprends pas" which means, "Actually, I don't understand you."

My host dad laughed and goes, "Yea, because Vincent talks too fast and with food in his mouth."

So, Vincent starts over and explains about a tv show that said lots of Americans are Nazis. I stumbled through an explanation that no, its definitely not a common belief system.

I then shut up for the rest of dinner. Which I hate doing, but when I mess up or feel stupid, I have the tendency to just not talk.

After dinner we watched a movie, some classic French comedy from the late 70s that was actually really hilarious, called Le Corniaud. Vincent was really nice and helped explain parts I didn't understand, although I redeemed myself slightly by understanding most of the movie without any help.

I was invited to go hunting with Vicent and Monsieur Briotet the next morning, although I am about 99.9% positive they were banking on me saying no because no French man in his right mind would give an American girl who barely speaks French a gun. So instead, I slept in and let the boys chase animals through the woods.

After eating a bit of breakfast, I sat outside with Madame. I did homework, and she spent the morning looking through old postcards and letters collected from her parents' house, which she and her 7 siblings are trying to clean out.

The hunters returned for a lunch of pheasant, onions, and carrots (which was DELICIOUS) and mid-lunch, Christophe came bounding in the house. Once again, even though I'd met him twice before, the cheek kisses caught me off guard and with food in my mouth. Awesome.

Lunch progressed in a blur of fast French, of which I understood little except "Do you think our dog is stupid?" when the dog went rolling around under the table, and "No worries, it happens!" when I had to tell them I'd left my fork in the communal bowl of pheasant.

I was again invited to go hunting the next day, but this time I had the excuse of returning to Dijon that night as an excuse. I spent the afternoon with Madame. We went grocery shopping and then she drove me around and showed me lots of little villages and a chateau which was closed but complete with ferocious guard dogs.

I took the bus back to Dijon around 6:00, and then had dinner and went out with the Wake kids. Gotta love crazy nights.

Tomorrow begins class. Kind of excited and nervous all at the same time. I placed into the highest level possible in the program, which is awesome but means it'll definitely be a challenge.

Shucks, I'll have to actually apply myself here...thought I was in for an easy ride.

And So It Begins...

2009-10-08T10:28:00.003-04:00

Finally, this feeling I've been waiting for.

Not excited about, but expecting.

Stress.

That anxiety that starts to creep in when you realize that school is, unfortunately, about doing your work and making good grades.

I'd say I hit this realization every semester, usually around midterms when I realize that I've got only two months left to pull up my Bs to As.

But this time, I find myself being in the strange position of just now beginning classes.

Ok, yes I've technically been in one class since I got here, and we've had five tests and lots of mini essays for it. But when the class is broken up by so much traveling, its really hard to consider it class.

And this week, we had our first two days of my contemporary French civilization course. I think its going to be a really great class. We have to do a mini independant research project, and I'm going to research the French educational programs for children with special needs. Its a topic very close to my heart and I cannot wait to learn more about the systems here and, if everything works out like I hope it will, interact with children with special needs here in France. How amazingly awesome that would be.

Even though I am excited for that class, and ready to start the rest of my classes on Monday, I am already stressed. I see the next two months kind of tunneling out before me.

As in, I see all the things I have to do, both with school work and organizing trips (FLORENCE NEXT WEEKEND WOOOOOO!!!), and I am realizing how quickly my time is passing.

Two months seems like a long time, but as soon as all the stresses and frustrations that inevitably are on their way (and they'll be stresses and frustrations in a different language...even better!), I know I am going to be swept into such a whirlwind.

I'm hoping I'll be able to keep my feet on the ground through it all, but it'll be hard not having the same retreats here that I have back home. For example, when I get stressed at Wake, I crawl into bed and turn on the TV or turn on a movie or go get a veggie sub from Subway even if its 1:00am. I'm also accustomed to having 8 other girls living within 10 feet of me who I know will be there to listen to me vent for 10 minutes and even pray with me for 10 minutes.

And of course, the option of going home for a weekend so that I can study or write papers or just relax somewhere that's not school is a luxury I don't have here. Studying at home right before exams was always a good way for me to get work done.

But this semester, its a whole new ball game.

I guess I'll just have to dig my toes in the dirt and wind up, because the pitcher's playing fastball.

Three Middle Aged Couples and One American Student Equals...

2009-10-06T19:38:00.003-04:00

One heck of a dinner party.

Kind of.

This week has been stressful. Monday was the entrance exam for the French university, which actually turned out to be super easy. Today, we had our test on all the stuff from the Loire Valley and our first comtemporary french civilization class. Both went fairly well, although the preparation required for the two has worn me out (which doesn't explain why I am blogging at 1 am).

As I walked in the door of the house this evening, my host mom bounds up to me asking if I want to leave that second to go see a movie with her, my host dad, and a bunch of their friends. I said yes without hesitating, wanting to spend as much time with my host family as I could.

Of course, when I said yes, I didn't think about the fact that Madame and Monsieur Briotet's friends are all in their late 50s, which of course is fine, but, I was then unaware of the fact that we were going to a dinner party with all of them afterwards. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

The movie was an espionage thriller entitled L'Affaire Farewell. A true story, it was about a French spy living in Russia during the 1980s who was passing vital information to both the French government and the American government that helped bring down the Soviet Union. It was really good, but super sad.

After the movie, we headed to this really nice, huge house to have dinner. It turns out that this certain couple (I can't remember their names, the night was French overload) wanted help picking out the wine for their son's upcoming wedding. I was the awkward plus one at this dinner party. Their 20 year old son (single!) was supposed to be there to keep me company, Madame Briotet had told me. He wasn't. I was the token American, a 7th wheel (there were three couples), and at least 30 years younger than everyone at the dinner table.

But surprisingly, I didn't really care. I didn't talk as much as I would have liked to, but I listened and absorbed as much as I could. I gave my opinion on the wine choices (No. 1 was too dry, but No. 3 was an excellent choice) and taught them all the word "hedgehog" because the hostess found one in the garden when she went to get fresh mint leaves for the after dinner tea.

After dinner, we sat in the sitting room (ha) and the discussion wandered from politics to insurance to buying cars to cointreau (alcohol...the host offered me some, telling me it would without a doubt clear the little bit of cough that is still lingering...I kindly declined) and lasted until 11:30.

I now find myself happy to have finished my blog updates on Paris, still laughing about tonight's adventures, and wondering why the heck I am still up at 2am knowing full well I've got another test on Thursday.

Resposibility? Nahhh. Not right now. I'm in France! I'd rather party with the old folks. ;)

Condensed like milk

2009-10-04T16:43:00.003-04:00

So, I'm realizing how behind I am in my blogging. I have yet to record any of my adventures in Paris, and I didn't even journal while in Paris, so this post will be my only record of my infamous actions there.

Here's hoping I can accurately remember them and do them justice.

I believe I chronicled Monday in my last blog post. One day down.

Tuesday morning, bright and early, Lauren and I headed to the Notre Dame. We visited inside for about 30 minutes. The church is, of course, gorgeous and huge. But honestly, after all the churches I've seen since being here in France, it was honestly, to me, just another church. That sounds so awful saying that, and the church truly is beautiful. But, considering I've been studying gothic and roman architecture and have visited more churches in the past month than I have in my entire life, le Notre Dame de Paris was simply another gothic church.

Lauren and I tried to wait in line to climb the towers, but we had a guided tour with our group at the Musee d'Orsay at 11, and did not have enough time to do so. I regret not being able to! I would have loved to see the famed bells that poor Quasimodo rang each day.

The tour at the Musee d'Orsay was interesting, but actually very frustrating for me. The one bad thing about the guided tours that Madame organized was that very few left much free time for my own exploration. Our guide took us around and showed us famous and important works relevant to the art history class that we are going to be taking. For example, we saw lots of Corbet and Manet and Monet and Van Gogh, which of course is amazing, but we didn't talk about Degas or Renoir at all, and I anxiously walked past about 20 pieces that I would have preferred to stay and study, but I had to stay with my tour group. We did have about 45 minutes after our tour guide showed us everything she wanted to, and yes I could have stayed there all day, but Madame had given us a huge list of things we had to see, and I just didn't have the time to stay. Luckily, I did get to see some of Degas' paintings and his sculpture of the little dancer girl (LOVE IT).

After a quick lunch, we headed to the Musee Rodin to see all of Rodin's famed sculptures (you'd recognize "Le Penseur"). My favorite, however, was called "Le Baiser" (the kiss). Look it up. We also visited Les Invalides, the GIANT tomb of Napoleon 1st. And when I say giant, I mean giant. And gilded in gold. Craziness.

Lauren and I then tried to go inside the Paris Opera, but the auditorium was closed for rehearsals. Later that night, we went to an amazing concert at Saint-Chapelle, a gorgeous cathedral of great flamboyant gothic style. We listened to the musical stylings of Vivaldi, as played by a string quartet with an outstanding soloist named Frederic Moreau. My knowledge of the violin, limited by the 3-4 years its been since I really played, was good enough to recognize Moreau's talent. I have never sat up straighter and paid closer attention than I did when he started playing. He truly was incredible, and I missed my violin for the first time in a year or two.

Jessica, who was my best friend at Wake freshman year, hung out with us on Tuesday night. We went to a bar nearby, and it was quite the event.

So ends Tuesday.

Wednesday brought a trip to Versailles. As neat as it was, once again I just found myself annoyed by the extravagance. It was almost too much for me.

After passing the morning at Versailles, we returned to Paris and visited the Musee de Cluny, a superb museum of the Middle Ages which houses the famed tapisteries of the Lady and the Unicorn. I accidently took a picture with the flash and got fussed at. Oops. After Musee de Cluny came the Pantheon, which is home to the cadavers of people like Rousseau, Voltaire, the Curies, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, and Louis Braille. Pretty nifty.

Wednesday night our group visited the Eiffel Tower. We sadly did not climb it, but it was still gorgeous. We rode a carousel that was just across the street, and I ate cotton candy that was bigger than my head. No lie, it was the biggest ball of cotton candy I've ever seen. And it was delicious. We then headed to the lawns behind the tower and just hung out for a bit before going back to the hotel.

On Thursday morning we had a guided tour of the Louvre. AKA museum extraordinare. It was awesome. I saw a little painting called the Mona Lisa. And also my favorite da Vinci painting, Madonna on the Rocks. And of course, works by all the greats like Delacroix, Ingres, David, even sculptures by Michelangelo...and numerous others that I am not going to sit here and name. But it was pretty great.

After the Louvre, I spent 20 euro on the best hot chocolate in the world and an amazing pastry at a tea shop called Angelina's. Worth every centime. The hot chocolate was legitimately melted chocolate, and my pastry, called Olympe, was a strawberry macaroon with crystalized violets, raspberry jelly, strawberry jelly, violet jelly, fresh raspberries, and a few gold flakes. The perfect match for the hot chocolate.

We also visited L'Orangerie, a small museum with some spectactular works of Monet, as well as Picasso and other famous artists. Next, we visited la cimetiere de Pere LaChaise, where greats like Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Frederic Chopin, and the great Oscar Wilde are buried. It's tradition (don't ask me why) to kiss Wilde's tomb when wearing bright red lipstick.

So we did. We being me, Carleigh, MaryKate, and Jenn. Peter and Wright stood by and watched, rather embarassed and annoyed.

One of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes: "They have been eating muffins. That looks like repentance." -Cecily, The Importance of Being Earnest

Sacre Coeur, the beautiful cathedral atop a hill which offers a spectactular view of Paris, was our next stop. The church is beautiful, and I was able to listen to the first 15 minutes of mass. Incredible.

Dinner that night was hilarious. We ate at a fondue restaurant that served wine in baby bottles. Don't ask me why. But it was super fun.

Friday morning, Lauren and I went to the Opera. I, being the nerd that I am, was awkwardly singing Phantom of the Opera and making references to the musical every other second. I might have sang and danced Masquerade on the staircase and made Lauren take a picture of me. I also nearly peed myself when we saw the the auditorium (GORGEOUS) and the Phantom's Box, No. 5. Go ahead and stamp nerd on my forehead, I'm surprised it hasn't appeared on its own.

After a bit of shopping at la Galleries Lafeyette, I went to the Centre Pompidou, which houses a lot of modern art. It was not my favorite, as I don't consider much of modern art true art. I might be wrong, but a trashed room isn't art to me. The Centre Pompidou apparently thought so.

Friday night might have been the highlight of my trip. We went to the Cirque Plume, which is like Cirque du Soleil on a more modest, fun scale. It was outstanding. The acts where incredible, the clowns hilarious, and the music was beautiful. I had a great time. We finished our trip in Paris by drinking red wine beneath the glow of the moonlight and the Eiffel Tower.

Saturday morning we headed back to Dijon, and I started laundry and then napped for three hours. It was glorious, and much needed, and finally got me over the cold and cough that I had all during Paris week.

Whew, long entry. But now, at least, my escapades are recorded for my memory's sake.

For the sake of time...

2009-09-28T11:12:00.013-04:00

So due to lack of time and internet, I've missed several days of updates. And due to laziness, I didn't even journal on those days either, so I have nothing to go from other than my itinerary for what I did those days.

I could make myself sit here and think and write out details, but its almost 11 here and I am exhausted and just can't bring myself to do it.

Thus, condensed version. My last post detailed Chenonceau, which we saw on Wednesday. Thursday brought a guided tour of the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau.

This was one of the smaller chateaux that we visited (yes, small is definitely relative). I enjoyed this castle though simply because it was smaller. And I think that a smaller size brings a certain simplicity, and I do love simplicity.

After Azay-le-Rideau (we ate lunch at a pizzeria and I had this AMAZING desert called a quentin...chocolate and tiramisu ice cream. YUM), we headed to see the gardens at the Chateau de Villandry. The gardens are truly amazing.

We had a good amount of time to just wander and appreciate the amazing weather.

There was a movie being filmed in one of the gardens, La Vie Extrordinaire de Francois Rabelais (according to the cute extra we asked), and we stood and watchd filming for about 30 minutes. There was the cutest little boy who, best we could figure, was playing a young prince who is playing tag in the garden with some of the court, and then he falls and is comforted by Rabelais.

The gardens truly were astounding, I cannot imagine the effort required to maintain them.

After Villandry, we stopped and saw Leonardo da Vinci's house.

He was invited to France by Francois the 1st, and so we saw the house where he lived and then died. SO COOL. The gardens are full of models of his inventions (that are all interative and kid friendly...so naturally us immature college students monopolized them).

Friday brought one more chateau, Fontainbleu, which was absolutely MASSIVE. We spent almost tour hours with an audio guide and didn't even see an entire wing. It was not my favorite place by any means. As Madame Barbour said, no wonder there was a revolution.

We also met our art history professor, Monsieur Tomarchio, who was with us the rest of the weekend to kind of begin our art history course.

After the chateau, we stopped for about an hour in Barbizon,which is a little town where the first impressionist painters ventured to discover the light and beauty of the nearby forest. We visited the house in which many of them stayed together, which is now a museum. They drew and painted all over the walls, and it was so cool to see that.

We settled into a nice, 3 star hotel for the night. Although I guess they found themselves cool enough to charge 5 euro an hour for internet. Ridiculous.

Saturday brought more art history; we learned about an artist named Utrillo, who I'd never heard of, but I really like his paintings.

Saturday afternoon was my absolute favorite. We visited the house and gardens of Claude Monet. I think I took about 200 pictures. The weather was perfect and the gardens were beautiful.

Sunday was more art history museums and then the journey here to Paris. After dinner at a couscous restaurant, our group walked around and went to see the Notre Dame. Absolutely beautiful by night. We walked along the Seine for a little while, and then headed back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Today was so fun. My friend Jessica is studying in Paris, and so we planned to meet for lunch. I got up early and went running with Kara and the boys. After breakfast, Lauren and I headed out to see sights in the 5th and 6th arrondisements. Madame Barbour gave us a long listed, organized by arrondisements, of all the things we need to see. Lauren and I saw several churches and then met Jessica for lunch.

After lunch, Lauren and I finished up the 5th and 6th arrondisements by visiting the Pantheon, passing by the Sorbonne, and walking through the Jardins de Luxembourg. We then headed to see the sights in the 8th, 9th, and 10th, being Champs Elysees, l'Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde (with the huge egyptian obelisk), L'Eglise de Marie Magdeleine, and L'Opera (yes, I was singing Phantom the entire time). Lauren and I didn't go in, but we're hoping to do so later in the week.

After dinner, the group headed to the Comedie Francaise to see a play. We had hoped to see a play by Moliere, but it was showing tomorrow. So, we saw Figaro Divorce. I actually left at intermission with half the group. The first act was almost two hours, and two acts remained. Madame told us before the play even began that we could leave early if we wanted to. And while I really wish I could have stayed, my cough has sadly become worse and worse, so I'd spend the entire first act coughing anyway. And I'm exhausted. And the play was honestly a bit boring. So, as much as I would normally have wanted to stay, the fates were working against me. The rest of the group isn't even back yet, and its 11:30 now. I would not have lasted the entire time without falling asleep.

Speaking of sleep, its calling. Tomorrow will bring so much more to see. We're headed to the Musee d'Orsay. Hopefully I'll be better about giving updates this week, I'll definitely have a lot to talk about. And I don't want to forget one single minute of my time here.

Paris

2009-09-27T11:49:00.002-04:00

I just got to Paris today, and got internet for the first time in a few days. I'm super behind on my blogging (does that make me a nerd??? yes). I hope to change that soon; I've done and seen so many things in the past week that are definitely noteworthy, so I want to make sure I share them/record them for my own sake.

I am so excited to be in Paris, I can't tell you how long I've waited to come here. It's going to be an amazing week. Museums, monuments, shopping....BAHHHH.

Now, time for a nap.

A nap in Paris. Exponentially cooler than a nap anywhere else.

Oh, just castles...

2009-09-23T17:00:00.013-04:00

After another rushed morning/breakfast, we headed for Blois to see a chateau that was built essentially by 3 different kings and a Duke. The castle is made, literally, of 4 different parts, all in a different style. The drive to Blois was BEAUTIFUL. We drove along the Loire River, and passed several quaint towns and grand chateaux. For example, we passed the town where Leonardo da Vinci died.

But back to the chateau de Blois.

The oldest part of the castle dates to the 13th century, and is early gothic style. The second oldest part is gothic with a hint of renaissance.

The third part of the chateau is full blown French renaissance. I love it.

The final part of the chateau was built by a Duke who's brother was King. He got on his brother's nerves, so he was given this chateau so that he'd be out of the way and less annoying. I find that hilarious. The final part is in the classic style, much more simple than renaissance.

But, imagine all those kinds of styles forming one chateau. You can kind of see that in the picture above.

The inside of the chateau was interesting; all the walls and ceilings are painted. Too much color for me though.

We ate lunch at a really delicious, really well priced restaurant (3 courses for 14.00 euro, thank you Madame/Wake Forest/Mom and Dad). I made the mistake of getting something spicy, and because I was already feeling kind of tired and blah, a stomache hit me full swing as we headed to Chenonceau.

Can I just say I am unbelievably bummed that my first real sick day since being in France fell on the day we went to Chenonceau. I've seen pictures of this place since middle school, and I was so excited to see it. Needless to say, I did not enjoy it as much as I could have/should have. Major frowny face.

Regardless, I am still glad I got the opportunity to go. Chenonceau is built across a river. My pictures aren't the greatest, so google it if it peaks your interest.

Several queens and mistresses lived at this chateau, although it was originally built by a no name family who used all their money to build it and thus had to sell it to erase their debt. The gardens were beautiful, though sadly I didn't take any pictures of them because I was just feeling too gross at that point to do anything but sit on a bench.

There was also a labrynth (like in the TriWizard Tournament!!!) and that was cool.

We then saw donkeys in honor of Kara. Because she sounds like one when she laughs. Its precious. We met an older American couple and talked with them for a bit. They live in California and are definitely rolling in it. They've only been married for 3 years, but the gentleman had three grandchildren who went to Chapel Hill. The woman worked under the Reagan administration and now manages some 9,000 grants a year for different things in California. Active!

I luckily felt much better by the time dinner rolled around, and enjoyed tarte fine avec poivrons et mozarella (a tarte with peppers and cheese), le lapin (rabbit), and chocolate mousse (which actually was eaten mainly by the others at my table).

Since then, its been a nice, relaxing evening at the hotel, which is exactly what I needed.

And now its time for bed.

Bonne nuit!!!

Tours

2009-09-22T10:32:00.009-04:00

After opting to sleep in a bit instead of run (I know, a little lazy, but I think I am getting sick, so sleep is a bit more necessary), I ended up sleeping in a lot and got ready and ate breakfast in the span of about 30 minutes. Which is pretty good, considering that included shower and a sit down breakfast with a really sweet waitress who gave my table enough coffee to satisfy an small army.

We met up with a tour guide outside the hotel. The first twenty minutes of the tour was on a bus, but we were then deposited by the cathedral and spent the rest of the morning walking around. I really like Tours (meaning the town...haha). It has a lot of history but also a lot of modern life too. There were many people out and about, both young and old and in between. We visited the cathedral, saw a stuffed elephant named Fritz that was killed in Tours (sad!) at the beginning of the 19th century, and saw lots of medieval houses and monuments and things of that nature. As I write this, its all kind of running together in my head. I was totally involved and awake during the tour this morning, but no so much now.

After the tour, we walked through the local market and then went our seperate ways for lunch. A few of us found an Italian place and ate some yummy pizza. The proprietor was Italian, but spoke French perfectly. He met his wife in Tours, but she is American, originally from New Jersey. She was studying in Tours when they met. Thus, they both speak Italian, French, and English. Pretty neat.

After lunch, Wright, Peter, MaryKate, Kara, and I walked around for bit and then headed to a park. The park was beautiful, green with many vibrantly colored flowers.

I tried to be a bit artistic and take some pictures of the flowers, messing with the settings on my camera. Some of the pictures turned out ok!

After about an hour in the park, we all headed back to the hotel, where I sit writing this, trying to fight off the desire to just crawl into bed and nap.

Alas, I believe that desire is too strong for me to resist. We've got dinner around 8, and the group wants to try out a night club called Excalibur. Tours is the premiere town for students, apparently. We shall see.

Extravagance

2009-09-21T16:49:00.010-04:00

21 Septembre

Sunday was a pretty hum-drum day.

Actually, no it wasn't. I totally spaced. Wowzers. Long Monday.

Sunday was NOT hum-drum. This past weekend was le weekend de patrimoine, and essentially that means that lots of nifty old houses and palaces and things like that are open and free to the public. So, Carleigh and I revisited the Musee de Beaux Arts, which houses lots of paintings and sculptures. After that, we climbed le Tour de Phillipe le Bon (tour= tower).

316 stairs. All spiraling up, up, up, until finally, a breath taking view of Dijon. The city and its suburbs spread for miles, and the surrounding hills are beautifully green.

We also stopped into to see the Notre Dame de Dijon, which was small but beautiful. There are frescoes on the walls attributed to Rogier van der Weyden. He's a pretty big deal.

Today commenced with an early morning. Well, not too early. We met at the bus at 9. Peter and Wright were noticeably absent, as they had missed their train from Munich and another en route back to France (first one, their fault; second one, because one of their trains had technical difficulties). Thus, they were taking more trains to meet us in Tours.

Most of our day was just driving. We ate a cafeteria for lunch, which for not very good food was way expensive. Madame handed out 50 euros per three people, and my group of three used 49.60. And none of us even ordered anything that expensive, or so we thought; it was ridiculous.

The afternoon brought countryside and the chateaux de Chambord.

Massive.

Here's a picture:

Francois 1er built this place just because he, at the ripe age of 20, liked to hunt in the nearby woods. And also because he wanted to leave an artistic legacy. And since he was king, he could do that kind of thing. Interestingly, he didn't even live to see it finished. In fact, his son didn't even live to see the castle finished. Crazy. Think how much time and money went in to building this place. And for what? The one who wanted it never even saw it realized. I mean, its definitely neat to visit. I really enjoyed walking around, discovering all the rooms and the staircases, like the double staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

You can't tell from the picture, but it works kind of like a DNA strand...there are two spiraling staircases that never meet wrapped around one center. Nifty.

You could also walk out on the top of the castle and see for miles. It really was beautiful.

(ok, so I've always known you could put pictures in your blog, I've just been too lazy to do it...now, as I've discovered how fun it is, be prepared to see lots more.)

After Chambord, we continued to Tours where Peter and Wright finally joined us. We had dinner at a restuarant near the train station, which is beautiful. The menu at the restaurant had english translations of all the dishes...but very, very hilarious translations.

For example:

Saveur liberique: Tortillas, verrine de pois chiche, salade en coque de brique au poulet

translation: swung, glass cup of chickpea, salad in hull of brick to the marinaded chicken white cheese.

There were also several that said things like, "salad crazy about duck breast" or "marbled by salmon on its bed." Not even kidding.

Dinner ended around 10:30, and Lauren and I came right back to the hotel. We're exhausted and are plannig to go to bed pretty soon. Its amazing how traveling wears you out, even if you really didn't do much other than walk around a giant castle.

French bugs...

2009-09-19T15:35:00.002-04:00

...must never have tasted Americans before. Because they sure do like us.

I went to the park yesterday with Jenn, and now on my right arm I've got about 7 bug bites all patched together like the little booger climbed into my sleeve and just went to town on my arm or something.

I've also got two giant bites on my leg, but they're older and starting to go away.

I'm not the only one who bugs like either, Peter's got about 4 bites on his hand all in a row and two on his ear. YUCK. I don't think any of us have escaped completely bug-bite-less.

Today was a good day. I spent the night at Jenn's last night since my family was in the country, and she, MaryKate, and I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's and Father of the Bride. We then slept in until 11. Glorious.

I came back to my house and got ready, did some laundry, and lounged around until I finally found the energy to hit the park. I took my French Bible and my new book with me. I found a bench in the shade and settled in for a few hours. Reading the Bible was interesting, although a little difficult. I'm excited to read more. My novel, called Aupres de Moi Toujours ("Next to Me Always"), might be a little hard for me, but I'm up for the challenge. It's written by Kazuo Ishiguro, who was born in Nagasaki in 1954, but moved to England when he was young. So, the novel is translated into French, not written by a French author. I'm only about 30 pages in, but its interesting so far. The story focuses on three students at a strange boarding school somewhere in England. I don't really understand why the boarding school is strange, and I'm starting to think this book is science fiction-ish. I'm getting a Brave New World kind of vibe. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Jenn, Carleigh, and I then met at Monoprix to buy ingredients for a pasta dinner chez moi (at my house). We bought tomatoes, green peppers, and mushrooms to go with heart shaped pasta! We bought Dinosaurus Cookies for desert. Dinosaurus cookies are amazing. They're kind of like chocolate covered animal crackers, i guess...but 10 times more delicious.

Dinner proved to be quite an adventure. There are only two eyes on the stove top, and its one of those stoves with the comepletely flat surfaces. Well, all three of us are apparently idiots because it took us over an hour to figure out how the stove top worked. For some reason, the burners kept turning themselves off. We did absolutely everything we could. Finally, we tried doing just one pot at a time. We put the pasta in a microwaveable bowl and tried the sauce on the stove. Still didn't work.

But then.

I realized.

We'd been reading the diagram wrong and turning on the wrong eye. These new fancy stove tops have sensors that can tell when a pot is sitting on the eye or not. If there's no pot, it turns itself off. Well, I guess just both pots were just big enough that they couldn't fit on the stove at the same time, so it didn't work then. And then when we tried one pot a time, we stupidly kept messing with the wrong eye.

We all about peed our pants laughing when we figured it out. And then felt really dumb. But, at least we finally got to eat a delicious meal. I'm stuffed.

I'm finishing up laundry, planning to read some more, and then heading to bed. I want to make sure I'm ready for our two week trip, which I know will be exhausting. I am so excited though. Castles, countryside, Paris...how perfect!

But after that, a bit more reality sets in. Real class begins. No more one class a day with trips every weekend. It'll just be multiple classes a day with a potential trip every weekend. A potential trip no longer paid for by Wake Forest. But that's why I worked so hard this summer, to have the money to travel.

My list:
Italy (I'm thinking Florence or Venice...)
Spain (I'm thinking Barcelona...)
Dublin
Prague
Vienna

I need to start planning, and here's hoping I make it to all of them.

prodigal

2009-09-18T12:55:00.002-04:00

After a somewhat crazy week, I find myself glad its Friday, which is the first time I've had that feeling since being in France. Honestly, its the first real Friday I've had; every other weekend has been a trip to somewhere else outside Dijon. And after this week, I need some relaxation time.

After getting back from Normandy on Tuesday night, a super hard test and a ton of homework kept me from catching up on sleep.

Not to mention my birthday on Wednesday, which meant salsa dancing til late, and a cocktail party with all the Wake students and their host families last night followed by my first experience at a boite de nuit (literally translated, means "box of night"...its essentially a dance club).

Today we didn't have class, so I slept in until 11. It was glorious. I met MaryKate, Kara, Jenn, and Carleigh for lunch. Wright and Peter are in Munich for Oktoberfest, Miles is in London, and Lauren went to Geneva. I almost went to Geneva, but I could not be more glad that I chose to stay in Dijon this weekend. My host family invited me to the country again, which would have been nice, but Monday morning I leave for a two week trip through the Loire Valley and Paris. I've got clothes to wash, packing to do, and things to study, so I decided to stay here in Dijon.

I went to FNAC this afternoon, kind of like a BestBuy with a book section, and bought a French Bible and a random French novel. I think its going to be kind of like a beach read, but thats what I wanted because it will be fairly simple and entertaining to read. Kara, Jenn, and MaryKate each bought books too, so we're going to read and rotate.

After FNAC, Jenn and I went and hung out in the park, and then I headed back here to the house to chill and do some laundry. Tonight Jenn is having all the girls over for a movie night/slumber party at her house. She's got microwave popcorn. YUM. I am constantly amazed and thrilled that our group has bonded as well as we have. It's great.

This week has been a weird week for me. Exhaustion, birthday away from home, and disappointment mixed with dancing, new friends, and quality time with my host family. I'm living in this awkward place between being so happy and having an amazing time, and yet feeling frustration and disappointment and a bit of homesickness.

This weekend will give me some quality alone time, and I think that's exactly what I need. I need some time to recenter, refocus, clarify, comprehend, drink it all in...I've been living at the speed of lightening since getting here, but this weekend, I think, I can just live. I'm planning to spend most of Saturday lounging at the park, reading in the sunshine, and people watching all the while.

So here's to wonderfully green French parks, a new Bible in a new language with new lessons, and the sun and the wind on my face.

20

2009-09-16T20:41:00.002-04:00

It's a new year.

I'm no longer a teenager.

I honestly don't feel old enough to say I'm 20. Seriously.

My host mom had roses and a special dinner for me tonight. I didn't tell her it was my birthday, so I think Professor Barbour must have told her. She made me a really delicious salad, some amazing fish, and fresh peaches. And, for a gift, she gave me a French cook book. I am so excited to read it and pick out recipes to cook.

Although Madame Briotet is not my mom, she definitely made tonight feel like home. I am so thankful for that, and honestly, tonight was the best conversation that I've ever had in French. We talked about my birthday, about my family, about my trip to Normandy, World War II, the war in Iraq. We also talked about American universities and how an American student chooses where he or she wants to go.

After dinner and homework, the good old Wake Forest group went out to dance at a salsa bar. I don't know how to dance salsa, but I had a really good time.

Today.

2009-09-15T14:43:00.002-04:00

Caught up with my blogging. Whew.

I really enjoyed Chartres. We arrived late yesterday afternoon, and I bought an hour of internet so that I could check my emails and pay some bills (boo.) I was greeted with over 40 emails (felt a little bit loved :)) and two not so fun bills to pay.

After that, I wandered to the cathedral. It is beautiful and huge. I arrived just before 6:15 mass, so I decided to stay. I was glad to be myself (that is to say, without Wake Forest kids) in the vast, dark cathedral, and even more glad that there was a mass. I didn't understand everything that was being said, and considering I'm not Catholic I didn't know the parts of the mass. But, I did understand most of the homily. And for me, God is God of all. Denominations don't matter. I definitely felt His presence in the cathedral, and was truly awed by the fact that I was worshipping in a cathedral that is hundreds and hundreds of years old.

Dinner last night was delicious. Made up for some of the not so good meals we had on this trip. After dinner, we'd planned to go to a discotheque. However, we quickly learned that nothing is really open on Mondays. So, we all hung out in the guys' room and watched Miss Italia, an italian beauty pageant. Hilarious. And our pick didn't win. We were all rather miffed.

This morning we took an offical tour of the cathedral. An older gentleman gave us our tour. He was so cute and spoke really clearly. And you could just tell that he was an encyclopedia of knowledge about the cathedral. We went down into the crypts and saw the ancient foundations of the church, and then he taught us a lot about the facade and the stained glass windows inside.

I think the trip to Normandy has been my favorite so far. We saw such a wide variety of things, and the group had so much fun hanging out together.

I'll be 20 in less than three hours. Well, I guess not quite, considering I wasn't born in the French time zone and so really I guess I have to wait until its midnight back home. I sadly cannot celebrate tonight because we have a test tomorrow (boo). But, I think we're going to try to make up for it tomorrow night and Thursday night...we don't have classes on Friday! The guys are heading to Munich for Oktoberfest and most of the girls are heading to Geneva. I'm excited to go to Geneva...its only a few hours away by train, and I have a friend studying there this semester, so I'll get to see her.

Anyway, I'm interested to see how this birthday will feel. Probably a lot different, since I'm not home. I mean in some ways, its going to be a whole heck of a lot cooler. I don't care who you are, getting to celebrate your 20th birthday in a foreign country that serves great food and wine with a bunch of really awesome people around you is pretty darn awesome.

But, there's a little part of me hungering for a simple, normal, familiar birthday in good ol' North Carolina.

14 September

2009-09-15T14:29:00.002-04:00

I really enjoyed our two days at Mont Saint Michel. The church was absolutely beautiful, and HUGE. To think it takes up the entire hill, and that its been there for centuries! I really wish I'd had the chance to go to mass there. Yesterday morning, Kara and I got up and went for a run. We ran from our hotel to Mont Saint Michel and back, probably about 3 miles. Our group had a tour of the Mont in the morning, and sadly the tour was thoroughly disappointing and frustrating. It wasn't a private tour, so there were about 40 French people huddled around one man who spoke really quickly and made lots of jokes that NO ONE in my group understood. We were all disappointed.

Lunch was yummy: salade du chevre chaud (hot goat's cheese), cocotte d'agneau (lamb stew), and framboise melba (a rasperry sundae). After a bit of shopping, Jen, Kara, and I walked back to the hotel. We stopped and took lots of pictures with the mont in the background. They're great. Then Jen and I hung out with the boys before dinner. We watched Miss Congeniality! Haha. The boys actually wanted to. Seriously.

This morning Peter and I went for a run. He runs so much faster than Kara, but thats a good thing. We ran to the Mont and back in about 25 minutes. It took Kara and I just over 30 the day before. Whew.

We loaded the bus and are now heading for Chartres, our last stop of the trip.

A bientot.

12 September

2009-09-15T14:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we got up kind of early to head to the World War II memorial at Caen. The museum was really interesting because it gave a French and European perspective of the war, which is definitely a new way to learn about it for me.

It was an ironic day though. Just as I got to the section on the Holocaust, an announcement came over the speakers telling everyone that we needed to evacuate the building. I had noticed a funny smell, kind of like smoke, but I didn't really think anything of it. So, everyone headed out of the building. We sat outside and talked with a man from Italy who just retired and is going to class to learn English and who loves to travel. He spoke in very broken English but he was so cute and was trying so hard to talk correctly.

Eventually, we learned that there had been an electrical fire in the basement of the museum and that power was going to have to be shut off for the rest of the day. I couldn't help but feel a little chilled that we had to evacuate a war museum on September 11.

We headed to Arromanches sur Mer, one of the debarkment beaches. The British landed there and after taking the beach, began building a floating port! I had NO idea that anything like that had ever happened. It was fascinating. We went through a museum and then walked around the beaches a bit. After that, it was time to head to the American war memorial and cemetary.

The memorial was beautiful. I cried a little bit. Walked down on the beaches and couldn't imagine what it must have been like.

After the cemetary, we stopped at the ruins of a German strategic stronghold, where you can still see the identations in the earth left by bombs and the bunkers and gun mounts left by the Germans. After that, we went to the German cemetary. Really gave a face to what I think is oftentimes a faceless enemy. There was a grave marker for a young man who was killed on his 25th birthday.

Dinner last night at the hotel was much much better than the first night, thank goodness. After dinner, we went out and amazingly found a bar where all the young kids in Bayeux like to hang out. It was a lot of fun.

This morning we went and saw a GIANT tapestry from the Middle Ages that tells the story of William the Conqueror. It was pretty cool. We're now just a few miles from Mont Saint Michel...I can see it out my window! I'm so excited for the tour tomorrow. This place is BEAUTIFUL!

10 September

2009-09-15T13:42:00.001-04:00

Kara ran into a pole this morning. Like, literally. We're currently in Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. And maybe street signs here are harder to see? I don't know. But we were walking to meet at our guide in front of the Notre Dame de Rouen, and BAM. Kara ran smack into a pole. I mean, it was the closest thing to face-planting that you can do on a vertical surface.

Kara made it through our tour of the city just fine. We visited the cathedral, which was gorgeous like all cathedrals, and then our guide led us through the streets, showing us interesting houses and buildings and such that have been around since the Middle Ages. We finished our tour at Cathedrale de Jeanne d'Arc, which was constructed right at the site where she was burned at the stake so many years ago. Honestly, it gave me chills. I think that would be one of the most terrifying ways to die.

After the tour, we ate lunch at an Italian pizzeria. It was awesome. Except for the fact that Kara began to show signs of a concussion! So we finished our meal and Madame took Kara to the doctor while the rest of us did some shopping around town. Luckily, Kara did not have a concussion but just needed to sleep. We loaded the bus and headed for a little seaside town called Honfleur. A few of us went to a park there and just hung out and napped on the grass. Peter and I stayed the longest in the park just because neither of us wanted to shop, which is what everyone else was doing. It was nice to talk with him one on one though.

We left Honfleur and headed to Bayeux, where we're staying tonight. Dinner was at the hotel, and it was awful. Seriously, the worst meal I've had in France. And I mean, France is supposed to be good with cuisine. So you'd think bad French food would still be ok. Nope. Nasty. We had moules (mussels) to start, AWFUL ham and some lima bean concoction for main dish, and some awkward chocolate mousse for desert.

The group is going to try to go out tonight, but I doubt there's much to do here on a Thursday night. Probably isn't much to do any night of the week. We'll see.

Out of Touch

2009-09-14T11:15:00.003-04:00

So, haven't had internet for the past few days.

I purchased an hour of internet and its running out fast, so I'm not going to waste it with a long blog session.

Plus, that would just make me a nerd.

I'm really enjoying my trip in Normandy, and will have lots of blog updates when I have regular internet connection again, so be looking for those.

Tonight we're going out to a discotheque here in Chartres. I'll finallyyyy get to do some real dancing. Can't wait.

Sacrifice

2009-09-11T16:53:00.002-04:00

I don't really know the meaning of the word.

Do you?

All I know is, visiting the beaches of Normandy, and then the American Memorial and the German Memorial (yes, even the German one...) is humbling.

Makes you think twice.

About the things that matter, the things that don't.

Dad, I love you. Wish you could have been here with me today as I walked the beaches and cried at the memorials. I know you've always wanted to visit Normandy, and you were on my mind the entire time. We'll go one day, Pops, and it'll be awesome to experience together.

Longer blog post to be posted later.

Love to all.

How To Eat French Food: Volume I

2009-09-09T18:37:00.002-04:00

Ok, so sometimes you learn the hard way.

Tuesday night, I went out to dinner with a few friends. Wright and I both ordered grenouille...frog legs! Not even kidding, it was like the lower half of a bunch of frogs sitting on my plate. They tasted really good though. I tried to eat them with a fork and knife, as I am always doing my best to be proper and elegant, but eventually gave up and just treated the legs kind of like chicken wings.

So it was messy.

After the waiter cleared our plates, he brought out two white mugs. He said, "Pour vous qui avez mange des grenouille. Pas de the." Which means, "For those who ate the frog legs. Not tea."

Well, Wright and I look in the mugs, which were full of lemons and warm water. Someone at the table made a comment about cleansing the palette. So Wright and I started drinking the warm lemon water. Wright downs all of his, and I'm about three sips in. I'm mid sip, and I hear the waiter come up behind me and go, "Oh, pas pour boire! C'est pour laver les mains!"

"Not a drink! It's for washing your hands!"

I felt like the biggest idiot in the world. But I laughed pretty hard about it afterward. And am laughing now as I write this.

Today I left my house at 6:40am. Our Normandy trip began today! Our first stop: Les Caves de Mercier, a really old and famous champagne company. Les caves are literally caves underground where the champagne is stored and fermented, etc. Lots of vineyards give tours and tastings, and Mercier puts on quite a show.

It was like an amusement park, for serious.

First, a short film with three screens and surround sound. Next, the elevator ride down into the cave. The elevator had a clear glass wall so we could see sculptures of Bacchus and mannequins of men making wine and champagne, all built into the elevator shaft. Next, a roller coaster. Not even kidding.

Ok, so not exactly a roller coaster, but a tram on auto pilot that drove us around the caves while the guide talked. We finished with a tasting...best champagne I've ever had. I think also the only champagne I've ever had.

After lunch, we took a guided tour of Notre Dame de Reims. Absolutlely beautiful. A wonderful example of a gothic style church. The stained glass windows were gorgeous, the high ceilings were mind boggling, the sculptures on the facade were amazing. I could have spent all day in the church. I think I could have sat for hours and just stared at the windows and the ceilings.

I did a bit of praying when I was supposed to be listening to the tour guide, but it was about the best thing I could have done for me at that moment. I needed some me and God time in a church, and today definitely helped.

Its essentially Thursday. Saturday will mark three weeks in France. Wow. Its been a slow and fast time here so far. And even though parts of it have been hard, I'm beginning to recognize what I think I kind of knew in my heart all along: I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I think I've said it before, but said it without really meaning it.

God, always faithful, has been showing me everyday and I'm finally, truly, completely beginning to accept it: this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

A la mode

2009-09-08T12:06:00.004-04:00

no, not a la mode like ice cream (although I did have some particularly good ice cream today).

A la mode as in fashion.

This morning, after a great run (pounded out all my problems on the pavement) and walk/talk with Kara, I went shopping again. Ha.

Kara's host sister, Claire, is awesome and she and her friend Marion came shopping with us. They took Kara and I to all the popular French stores and showed us which clothes are fashionable (MODE), which ones aren't. Marion and Claire are the same age as me, and they are both so cute and sweet. Sadly, Claire leaves Thursday to return to school in Belgium. I can't wait until she comes home on the weekends!!!

After class today, most of us went and sat in parc d'Arcy and ate candy from this awesome shop called Glup's. Glup's has every kind of gummy you could ever imagine. Seriously. Today I ate gummy peach flavored crocodiles. It was very relaxing to just sit around and joke and laugh and feel the warm sun and cool breeze on our faces.

Tomorrow morning, we depart at 7am (yikessss) for a week long trip through Normandy. We're going to the famous beaches of World War II, Rouen (where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake), Chartres, and Mont Saint Michel, along with a few other places that I just can't remember the name of right now.

I am SO EXCITED to go see Mont Saint Michel. Google it if you don't know what it is. Miss Laura Minton told me it was incredible, and I've heard from numerous people how beautiful it is. I can't wait.

I'm also excited to see the beaches of Normandy. World War II has always interested me and I've always wanted to go to Normandy. My Dad has always wanted to go too, and I wish he could share this experience with me!

I know its going to be tiring to travel so much in the next week, but this experience really is unique and I have the opportunity to see SO MUCH of France. I mean really, I've been here for two weeks and I've visited at least 10 different cities.

Pretty darn awesome, and a pretty darn good distraction.

Truth

2009-09-07T16:39:00.002-04:00

This semester, honestly, is all about me becoming independent.

I'm here to trust God and myself.

As much as I miss and love my family and my friends, at this moment now, I'm really glad I'm not at home. Because its so much easier to deal with certain things when I'm thousands of miles away.

Today was a long day. I had a test this morning, which wasn't too much fun, and then we had a few hours of class after that. After class, I went shopping with Lauren and Jen. Probably a bad idea, as I did spend maybe a bit too much money. But I'll just be super good for the next week or so. I've been eating cheaply (KEBABS) and saving my food money that Wake gives me anyway, so hopefully I'm not dipping too much into my own money.

After shopping, I came back to my house and did homework until dinner. My host mom came in asking about my day and if I had gone for a run. She knows I run a lot and that I'm trying to be healthy, so she's started joking with me because I never really snack and she feels like I don't eat as much as I could at dinner. She said to me today that I must think calories are the devil. She was joking of course. And I really do eat, I'm just not used to having three and four courses, so when I eat salad, bread, and a main dish I really do get full quickly. And of course I am a bit picky, and not all the food I've eaten has been amazing.

I finallyyyyy got to Skype a bit tonight, and I am so glad for that. I still don't have WiFi but my host mom told me I could use the internet on the third floor as much as I need to. And yes, I feel bad that I'll be up here until midnight or so and then have to walk down creaky stairs past their door to get to my room, but I just really needed some connectivity with America.

And the connectivity brought good things and bad things, but all of it was the truth.

And truth is a good thing.

Frustration

2009-09-07T12:21:00.001-04:00

internet code still won't work.

i'm feeling way unconntected.

and very selfish because in the grand scheme of things, not having wireless in my room seriously doesn't matter.

but still.

6 September

2009-09-07T11:39:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I haven’t blogged in several days. I’m still having problems with my internet. I’m super confused because the code my host mom gave me won’t work. And while it would make sense that it’s just the wrong code, there’s another student living in the house, a French student, who just moved into today. He typed in the code, and BAM, it worked perfectly. I don’t understand why it’s not working on my computer.

I know that in the long run, not having wireless in my room is not a big deal. But there’s a certain sense of comfort in knowing that with one click, I can call a friend or family member on Skype from within the comfort of my own room. It’s more private, and doesn’t disturb the family as much. I’m planning to email Wake IS, our tech services, as soon as I can to try to figure this stuff out, but I’m going to bet they won’t be very helpful.

The past few days have been a whirlwind of travel. Our group shipped off early Thursday morning for a 3 day trip in Bourgogne.

Our first stop was l’abbaye de Fontenay, an old Cistercian abbey. It was beautiful. Romanesque buildings, green grass, gardens. Truly peaceful and definitely a place of God. It rained on and off while we were there, and was a bit cold, but definitely worth the visit.

Our next stop was Semur-en-Auxois, a gorgeous old town that immediately prompted a chorus of Disney’s Belle. “Little town, it’s a quiet village; every day, like the one before. Little town, full of little people, waking up to say…BONJOUR.”

We had lunch there, and I watched the chef cook my steak on a wood fire in a gorgeous old fireplace. Pretty cool.

Our last stop of the day was the Basilisque a Vezelay. The church sits high a top a hill, and can be seen for miles around. Imagine being a pilgrim, exhausted after traveling, and finally seeing the hill rising in the distance, atop which you would find a gorgeous church that housed the relics of Mary Magdalene and hopefully the healing and blessings you were searching for.

Our group had scheduled a tour, but we arrived a little early. Thus, we had a chance to walk around the village a bit and climb to the top of the hill to see the view. It was breathtaking (and not just because we walked straight uphill for about 15 minutes). Needless to say, our group took lots of pictures. I’ve happily started the tradition of jumping pictures (you jump right as the picture is taken, so the picture captures you in mid-air), and us girls got one on the second try.

A young monk led our tour. He had a quiet confidence about him, and his calm manner demonstrated in every way that he was a man of God. His dedication of his life to the Lord both astounds and humbles me. The church once housed the relics of Mary Magdalene and was therefore a great pilgrimage site. The real relics were stolen a few years ago, so the church now houses a representation instead. While I don’t believe in the idea or power of relics, I certainly had great respect for the importance and history of the church.

After the tour, we headed to Autun for the night. We ate dinner at the hotel, which was the nicest hotel we’ve stayed in so far. Dinner was delicious. The first night, we had melon and some sort of meat for the entrée, chicken and something like grits for the main dish, and lime sorbet atop a mound of fresh raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and strawberries. The wine choices were excellent, thanks to Madame Barbour and our chauffeur Stephan.

After dinner, our group went out to a Karaoke bar. Yes, a karaoke bar. Ridiculous. The girls sang “I Will Survive,” and a Romanian song made popular by the Numa Numa video on YouTube. The boys sang “We are the Champions.” Together, we sang “Champs Elysees,” a well known French song. I think we cleared out the bar, but we definitely had a great time.

Friday brought more rain. We toured St. Lazarus Church in Autun, which was also gorgeous. It’s a mix of the roman and gothic style because so much reconstruction has been done within the church over the years. It was beautiful, though, and the stained glass windows were particularly vibrant.

Afternoon brought a tour of the museum at Bibracte, once the richest city in Gaule. Of course the city is now gone, and but there are multiple archeological digs all over the place. The top of that hill brought a beautiful view as well, and lucky for us the rain had cleared.

We returned to Autun and had dinner at the hotel again. The entrée was foie gras, or sweet meats. It took all my strength to eat them, but it actually tasted pretty good. The main course was rabbit with mashed potatoes. Desert was fruit tart.

If my friends and I had been wise, we would not have gone out that night. But we did go out, and we returned to the same bar. We did not sing karaoke that night, but spent a good time at the bar anyway. None of us were feeling our best the next morning, and our payment for our folly was a guided tour of the wine museum in Beaune and a wine tasting later that afternoon. None of us had even the slightest desire to think about anything involving alcohol that day, but alas we had no choice.

Sandwiched in between the wine museum and the wine tasting was a tour of the Hospices de Beaune, or hospitals. Built by a rich man to secure his entrance into heaven, the hospices provided a place of care and shelter for the sick, both the rich and the poor.

We headed back to Dijon that evening, and I settled back into the house and finally got all my laundry done. I think I’d worn most of my pairs of jeans about 5 times each. They definitely need a washing, as did many other my clothes. I finally met the two of the Briotet children, Christophe, who is in his early 20s, and Florence, who is my age. They both have the classic French beauty, and I hope to get to know both of them better. There is also another student now living in the Briotet house who comes from Aix en Provence. I haven’t gotten a chance to talk with him much, but he’ll be here all fall. It’ll be nice to have another student in the house with me, especially since he is my age.

I still can't believe I've been here barely two weeks. I don't know when time will begin to feel normal again, if it ever will.

Wednesday

2009-09-02T18:53:00.003-04:00

Wednesday morning arrived all too early. Homework had kept me up the night before, perhaps because I'd decided to eat a leisurely dinner with my friends that turned into a trip to the Monoprix (kind of like a Target?).

I met Lauren at Place d'Arcy and we ran for about 30 minutes, talking in French the entire time. I was proud of us! I then rushed home to get ready for our museum tour of the morning, and had barely enough time. We went to the Musee de Beaux Arts in Dijon. Lots of great paintings and sculptures.

After the museum, a few of us got kebabs for lunch. I just have to say, kebabs are awesome. It's some kind of sandwich with some kind of meat (maybe mutton?) with all kinds of toppings, sauces, and fries. While I'm probably consuming a week's worth of calories and not really eating real meat, its totally worth it. Cheap and delicious, that's all a poor student needs to know.

After kebabs, I returned to my house to try to do some laundry. My host mom has been so sweet about doing a lot of it for me, but I definitely want to do some on my own so she doesn't have to do all of it. I don't think dryers are very common in France, as none of my friends have them either...therefore, all our clothes are hang dry. Which, is totally fine except for the fact its been raining on and off for the past two days. I've got a drying rack in my room, but its not quite big enough for everything that was washed!

After class today, I headed to the post office and the bank to take care of some business and then went to hang out at my friend Jen's place. Her host family pretty much gave her an entire basement, which is awesome, and she's got a great hang out place for everyone. So, the group watched My Fair Lady. Haha.

Dinner with my host family when really well tonight, I think. I talked a fair amount, and I was definitely more comfortable at this dinner than at previous ones. After dinner, I watched a movie with them. The Briotets don't have a tv, so we watched the movie on her laptop. They have about 4 computers in the house, but no tv...interesting, but definitely not a big deal. In some ways it would have been nice to be able to watch French tv, but I'm not distressed.

That's my update for now. It's 1am here and I leave at 8am tomorrow for a trip to Bourgogne, also known as wine country. Can't wait.

A bientot!

Bon Courage

2009-09-01T10:27:00.005-04:00

Here I sit in McDonald's, trying to answer various emails and read people's blog updates and just breathe. It's been a crazy past few days, but mostly a good kind of crazy. I'm here at McDonald's because my host mom can't remember the password for the family WiFi, and so I've been unconnected for a bit.

My last update detailed moving in with my host family. That was two nights ago, and I've definitely been busy. I woke up Monday morning and went for a run with Kara and Lauren. Our group met for lunch and then I headed back to my house to get ready for a trip to the country. The Briotets spend almost every weekend at their country house, and they had been spending their vacation there over the past week. The house is about a 25 minute drive from Dijon; its amazing how quickly the land becomes nothing but farms after you leave the busy city.

The car ride was a bit quiet...I'm still not very confident when I speak. We arrived at their house and all I could think was, WOW. The house is beautiful. Two stories, made of stone, with a sprawling lawn, all surrounded by a stone wall. Their dog, Dicky, excitedly ran to meet us as we got out of the car. I went inside to put down my things, and came back outside to find two bicycles waiting for me. "We're going to see my mother in law!" Madame Briotet informed me. I thought, ok, no big deal.

We biked for at least 3 miles. But not on an easy road. We rode through a bunch of fields on a gravel path with bunches and bunches of hills. I definitely got my exercise yesterday. Dicky came along with us, running beside the bikes and chasing birds and doing all sorts of things dogs love to do. Madame's mother in law is very old, almost blind, and hard of hearing. While she is only 80, which is considered young in France, she worked on a farm her entire life and is just worn out. She had 9 children, 4 of which have died. Her husband died 9 years ago in a car accident, and its been down hill from there. We got her something to drink and then went to visit Madame's friend Veronique.

Veronique showed us all the jams and candies she was making: peach, blackberry, cassis. She let us try some cassis candy, and it was really good. She then showed us her little farm. She has pigs, chickens, rabbits, and some other kind of bird that I didn't recognize. Madame and Veronique then talked for about 20 minutes, and I just stood and listened, barely understanding anything they were saying, they were talking so fast. We stopped by her mother in law's one more time before we headed back to the house.

Once back at the house, I spread out all my books on the table outside so I could start studying for my first test. Madame went to pick peaches, tomatoes, and raspberries, all of which grow on their land. Dicky sat and watched me, desperately wishing I would play with him. I did for a bit. He likes plastic bottles and boots. Monsieur Briotet arrived just as dinner was ready. He and I have yet to talk much, but he seems nice.

Dinner was pizza with made with freshly picked tomatoes, a kind of cucumber salad, and fresh raspberries for dessert. Yum. We sat outside to eat, and it was very pretty and peaceful. Once again, not a lot of talking. I'm starting to realize that I have a lot of trouble understanding them when they talk too, which is making me nervous. I kind of thought that wouldn't be as bad. I was wrong.

After dinner, I studied until I went to bed. I got up the next morning and once again studied outside. Breakfast was homemade jelly on bread, and a peach just picked off the tree. Madame sat with me and went through my notes, correcting my grammar and clarifying different points. Our test was on the things we saw in Provence, so a lot of history, but she was still able to help clarify information. I was definitely appreciative of the help.

We packed up and headed back to Dijon for lunch. Monsieur Briotet was home and ate with us. It was kind of a rushed lunch as I had to leave the house to go take my test within 2o minutes of us sitting down.

After the test, which was a lot harder than I was expecting, Professor Barbour took a couple of us to set up our bank accounts. After that, I made my way here to McDonald's.

As much as I know that the Briotets will be a great host family, and as much as I know that I still just need time to adjust, I'm starting to panic just a bit. I'm realizing how bad I am at French. Give me a piece of paper, and I can write as much as you want me too. Put me in a room with a French person and ask me to have a long conversation with them, and I'd probably fail. I just hate the nervous panicky feeling I get every time I have to talk with a French person, or even just walking into my house and saying hello to my host mom. I think being with the kids from Wake Forest for the first week and a half I was here in France gave me a false confidence about my listening and speaking skills.

The rational part of me is saying, Carolyn, calm down, you've lived in a French household for less than 3 days. The not so rational part of me is saying, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I guess it is exciting in a way that I have so much to learn. I just have to recongize that it's going to be hard, and yes, there will be days when I'm just so fed up with French that all I want to do is go scream American up one street and down the other. But, I'm less than two weeks into my journey...and if I remember correctly, it took Harry Potter a lot longer to vanquish the Dark Lord, and Frodo Baggins didn't make it Mordor and back in a single day.

We're the best adventurers adventure ever saw.

2009-09-01T10:21:00.002-04:00

August 30

So here I sit in my new room at my new desk, a multitude of thoughts swirling through my head.
So I write.

The rest of my trip to Provence was wonderful. Saturday morning, Lauren, Kara, Carleigh, Jen, and I went to a local market. I think the market happens every Saturday, and it was like street markets in the U.S.

On the way to the market, we passed L’Eglise de Saint Trophime (Church of Saint Trophime). Its doors were wide open, welcoming any passerby into its cool darkness. I asked the girls to wait for me and went in. I walked around for a bit, marveling at the sculptures, the stained glass, and the tapestries. I also sat down and prayed for a few minutes. There’s something so peaceful about the quiet stillness of a church.

At the market, my friends and I wandered past stalls where vendors sold bread, meats, fish, spices, etc. There were also artisans selling their crafts and peddlers selling cheap junk. I bought a straw hat for our visit to the beach later that afternoon. It was 8 euro, but I really liked it and I know I’ll use it more. Hats are good for traveling and sight seeing, and it was just too cute to pass up.

After a quick lunch of sandwiches, we all headed to the Mediterranean Ocean. On the way, our bus passed through the Carmagues, a land reserve inhabited by horses, bulls, and pink flamingoes!

I was really excited to spend some time at the beach because I was not able to go to the beach at all this summer. The water was a little cold, but the sun was warm and I dozed in and out, listening to the sound of the waves and of chattering French families.

French families with topless French women. I was not ready for that. I, of course, knew about the stereotype of nude beaches and people walking around topless or whatever, but seeing it in person was completely different. And uncomfortable. And I was glad none of the half naked women chose to sit in my line of vision.

After a few hours, Peter, Wright, Kara, Jen and I walked around the little town. We ate ice cream and slushies and might have obnoxiously talked in English the entire time. Peter is a big fan of saying “America!” in a really hick accent when he feels like being a pain.

Exhausted, most of us slept on the bus ride back to Arles. We stopped at a boutique on the way back (I was still half asleep when we went in and therefore tripped on a rock, kicking it half way across the patio). I bought a little embroidered pillow stuffed with lavender, a product of Provence, and lavender bath gel. Smells amazing, and the little pillow is currently sitting atop my clothes in my dresser.

We had dinner as a group again, and after that we hung out for a bit at the hotel. Lauren, Peter, Wright, and I decided we wanted to go out for a bit. We ended up a place called Wallabeer’s, an Australian themed bar.

It was 70’s night.

I totally owned the dance floor.

Definitely led a bunch of French girls in the YMCA, and they had a lot of fun imitating my goofy dance moves. It’s questionable whether people back home think I have amazing dance skills, but the French loved me. At least, based on the reaction of the girls at Wallabeer’s.

Morning came all too early, and our group began the trek back to Dijon. On the way back, we stopped at the Pont du Gard, an ancient roman aqueduct. It is HUGE. And really cool. Once again, I am continually amazed that structures like that are still standing thousands of years later.

Jen and I went exploring and found a path that led to a really neat panoramic view of the river and the aqueduct.

As we continued our return to Dijon, I took a nap, wrote in my journal, and prayed about moving in with my host family. My main stumbling block is finding the courage to speak, and I just need the courage to talk as much as possible because that’s how I will learn.

Our host families came to pick us up at the hotel where we’d left all our baggage. My host mom was the first to arrive. The rest of the family is in the country at the family farm. I loaded all my luggage in the car and strapped myself in for an awkward car ride. We talked, but I was quiet and stumbled when I talked because I was nervous. We got to the house and Madame Briotet helped me bring my bags inside. She then began to prepare dinner while I started to unpack.

My room is pretty big, but sparsely decorated. I’m glad I brought pictures of family and friends. I have my own bathroom, but it only has a shower, not a toilet. The toilet is out in the hall. There are two cabinets for my clothes, and a rack in the bathroom for me to hang jackets and sweaters and such. I also have a little refrigerator, which is really nice because I can keep snacks and food for myself. There is also a piano in my room, as the youngest daughter used to play. That’ll be fun to play; maybe I can re-teach myself the piano this fall.

Dinner was some sort of cheese noodles and corn with green pepper. My family is probably laughing as they read this because they know I do not like corn. But, I was a good guest and ate everything on my plate. After dinner, Madame took me on a walk around the quartier (neighborhood). She showed me the bus stop where I can catch the bus to the university and showed me the best way to get to centre ville (the center of the city, which includes the main shopping and restaurant areas). She also gave me keys to the house and showed me how to get in and out of the front gate and the front door. Even though I haven’t met the rest of the family, I think I am really going to like the Briotets. Madame is really sweet and was good at asking questions that I could understand. She was also very patient with me as I stumbled through my answers.

I was also very pleased and relieved to learn that the family has wireless internet. I was worried about having to make trips to the local McDonald’s and the library to get internet access. Now, though, I’ll be able to email and Skype from the comfort of my own room. That’ll definitely make things easier.

Tomorrow, Madame Briotet has asked me to go to the country for a night. Even though I have my first controle (test) on Tuesday, I think I am going to go. It’ll be a really great way to get to know the family, and the more I know them, the more comfortable I will feel.

I’m still nervous. I don’t know when that feeling will go away. I’m still in shock that I am here in France, and that I have only been here for a week and a day. It feels like so much longer. Now that I am settling in, I’m starting to feel a bit of homesickness creeping in. I expected it to come, I knew it would; but that doesn’t necessarily make it easier.

So I’ll pray.

Hosea 14: 7-8: “They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.”

Fridayyyy

2009-08-28T18:53:00.002-04:00

Longest day. ever. Our first tour, au musee d'antiquite d'Arles, began at 10:00. We spent about an hour and a half learning about the presence of the Roman empire in Arles. For example, we learned about the forum, les thermes (public baths), necropoles (cemetaries), et l'arene (stadium, arena).

After the tour of the museum, which sadly I thought was a bit boring and a bit long, we boarded the bus to head to Nimes, a nearby city which also has remnants of the Roman empire. We first visited l'amphitheatre (huge. and very well preserved.), which was used by gladiators, bull fighters, and even rock stars. Our tour guide then lead us through the streets of the city. We learned about the history of Nimes, which has a very interesting coat of arms. To commemorate a victory of the Roman empire, the image of a crocodile chained to a palm frond was designed. Therefore, crocodiles are everywhere. Including four stuffed crocodiles (ranging from 300-500 years old), which hang from a ceiling in one of the state buildings today. Nifty.

We finished our tour at the Jardin de la Fontaine, a beautiful garden which was the first public garden in France. In the park one can find the ruins of a temple to the Roman goddess Diane. Besides being an incredibly hot day, it was really cool (ha no pun intended).

The bus ride back to Arles was really fun. The table in the back of the bus seats 8 people, the number in our group, so we all sat around and just talked and laughed until we got back to our hotel. For being a group of incredibly diverse people, we have blended very, very well. We're different enough, and yet the same enough. Our differing personalities make each conversation new and fun. I could not be more thankful for this group of people, as they have made my first week in France so much easier.

Dinner was really fun too. I ate so much. I ate lamb, rabbit, mussels, fish...thats really quite remarkable for me, honestly. I never try anything new. After dinner, we walked around a bit more and have just been hanging out at the hotel since then.

On a separate note: Yesterday on the bus, I finished the book Redeeming Love. Mary, I am unbelievably thankful that you got that book for me. It was the best book I have read in a long time, mainly because it brought to light several things in my life that have pulled my focus away from God. I'm not saying that the book is theological per se, or better than the Bible, obviously. But, reading a book based on the book of Hosea, reading about God's unfailing and redeeming love in a new and different way struck a chord with me. I think its easy for me to read my Bible and kind of let the stuff go in one ear and out the other because passages are familiar or I'm not really focused because I'm tired and am reading my Bible because its part of my daily routine. Redeeming Love struck me because God's love was demonstrated through a fictional story that moved me and held my attention, all while incorporating the idea of God's sacrifice and intense, unrelentless love.

After I finished the book, I just sat and stared out the window and cried a little bit. Cried because the story moved me, cried because it applied to me, cried just because. No one saw me though, haha, because everyone was sleeping. I was hit with the realization that while I had come into this study abroad experience saying: trust God first, others after; think of God first, others after; worship God first, worship no other...thats the opposite of what I've been doing for the past week.

I've been clinging to the internet as a source of connection with those I love, forgetting that God's availability doesn't depend on free WiFi. I've been spending all my time with new friends, having fun, going out (which in and of themselves are not bad things), forgetting to reserve time for God each and every day. I've been thinking of myself and others, even putting them and myself up on pedestals, forgetting to think of God.

I've been without internet for the past few days. My cell phone died this morning and I was without it for the entire day (gasp). On the bus this morning, I was stressing because I felt like I had no way to contact anyone. My mind then wandered to God. Humbled, I prayed that I would use this technology-free day to rest in the Lord's presence as much as possible.

It was a good day.

Thursday

2009-08-28T18:02:00.004-04:00

Thursday morning, our group got up early to check out of the hotel and meet our professor to board the bus for our trip to Provence. She brought orange juice and croissants for us to eat on the bus.

Our bus driver: Patrick
Our bus: schweeeettt. It seats 30 people...there are 9 of us. Needless to say, a ton of room. And the bus has tables and tvs. Je l'aime. (I like it).
Our travels: through the French countryside to Provence, which is a region in the south of France.

Currently we are studying the Roman occupation of France, which occurred about 2,000 years ago. Provence is home to multiple well preserved examples of Roman structures.

Our first stop was at a rest area which had a cafeteria style restaurant. Not the best lunch, but not bad. There were several cats begging for food on the patio who were soooo cuteee. I may or may not have given them some food. After that, we headed on to Orange where we saw an arc de triomphe, which sadly was being restored and covered in scaffolding, and then we saw le theatre de l'Orange, the theater of Orange. It's the best preserved theater of the Roman empire. It is HUGE. And beautiful. And it was unbelievably humbling to stand in the theater and be dwarfed by its size, its history, and its presence.

After leaving Orange, we continuted to drive through the countryside of Provence, passing through les Alpines. We saw olive trees, castle ruins, and cute villages. We arrived in Arles, settled into our hotel, and then went to dinner.

We had dinner at restaurant near our hotel, and it was delicious. There were three courses (entree, plat, et dessert) and of course, wine and water. I had salade avec fromage de chevre (goat cheese), a steak that I can't remember the name of, and then for desert, glace au peche (peach ice cream) sur glace au fraise (stawberry ice cream). Amazing. Afterwards, we walked around the city a bit. Arles is where Vincent Van Gogh lived for a time, and his famous painting of the cafe with the yellow awning was done here. Needless to say, there is a lot of history in this city.

Exhausted, Lauren and I went to bed fairly early to be ready for our long day on Friday.

Review of Harry Potter: French Style

2009-08-28T13:25:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I'm in Arles in Provence and seriously behind on my updates due to lack of internet. Not that it really matters. But there's just so much that has happened that I want to share with everyone and I know I'll forget funny and fun moments if I don't write them down. After all, this blog is almost more for me than for anyone else. It's my way of recording my adventures. I'm not a big journal-er, so blogging for other people is good because its motivation to keep it up.

Wednesday night, Lauren, Jennifer, Kara, and I went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in French. The theater was super small, much much smaller than small theaters in America. Everyone was silent before the movie started, except for the kid in front of us who decided to throw up about 2 minutes into the previews. That was gross.

Anyway, I was curious to see how much of Harry Potter I would actually understand. Having seen the movie already and having read the books, I knew that I'd know the plot line. But, as far as understanding the phrases, I was intrigued to see how well I'd do. For the most part, I understood everything without trying too much. Which definitely suprised me, as the French was spoken quickly and with a lot of phrases that are run together when said in conversation.

A few interesting differences: For some reason, Severus Snape was renamed Severus Rogue. Also, Tom Riddle (Voldemort) was renamed, although I cannot remember his name. Everything else, I think, was mainly the same.

The best part of the movie requires some explanation. On Sunday night when we were having dinner with our professor, we asked her friend how to say "Bottoms up!" in French. She said "Cul sec" (coule-seck). In the movie, when Ronald Weasley has to drink an antidote for a love potion, in the French version of the movie, Professor Slughorn hands him the glass and said.....CUL SEC!!! It was HILARIOUS.

I am so so so glad I went to see the movie. Definitely worth 5.50 euros.

Tuesdayyyy...and some of Wednesday.

2009-08-26T12:29:00.003-04:00

So, class yesterday was awesome. Awesomely short, awesomely easy, awesomely laid back. I am not sure that class will continue to be that way, but for the first day, it was so manageable. Professor Barbour let us out about an hour early.

Hungry, Lauren, Kara, Jennifer and I went on a hunt for crepes. The crepe shop we wanted to go to was closed, so we went to a patisserie (pastry shop). IT WAS DELICIOUS. We each got something different and shared. We had pain chocolate amandes (chocolate croissant with almonds), tarte citron (lemon tarte), flan chocolate (chocolate pie), tarte aux fruits roux (red fruit tart). Like, amazing. I could eat that every day. I'd be fat but super happy.

After that we walked around a market and bought some wine to celebrate Lauren's birthday later in the evening. Kara and I made up a little story on the way back to the hotel, telling Lauren and Jen that'd Kara had lost her sunglasses, so that we could double back and stop at a flower shop to get Lauren some flowers. Genius.

Dinner was at a restaurant called La Table Marocaine. Obviously a Moroccan restaurant, I was unsure if I would find food that I would like. However, it was easily the best dinner I've had since I've been here. I got couscous poulet, which was chicken and couscous with onions, raisins, chickpeas, and other flavorings. Seriously, ate the whole thing. YUM.

After the girls got all dressed up, the group headed out to find the salsa club. Sadly, after about 20 minutes of walking, we realized we couldn't find it. So, instead we headed to an Irish pub called Flannery's. It was super crowded. I ordered an Irish coffee, which is whiskey, coffee, and chantilly (whipped cream). It was a hot drink, and of course whiskey warms you up, and I can easily see that being one of the best drinks you could ever drink on a cold day.

The rest of the evening was fun as well, and I really think Lauren thoroughly enjoyed her 21st birthday!

This morning, everyone slept in. We didn't have class until 2 and a lot of us are still catching up on sleep, so why not sleep in? I got up and finished my homework for class. After that, Peter, Jen, Mary Kate, Kara, and I headed and grabbed lunch at a kebab stand. No, not kabobs, kebabs...very different. They are sandwiches with various kinds of meat ( I think I had mutton?). It was pretty good, a little greasy, but cheap, so who's complaining? Not me.

After class, which was again short, laidback and easy, our group headed to a candy shop. Not interested in eating multiple kinds of gummies that probably all taste the same, Mary Kate and I got icecream at a little stand. Mint chocolate chip on a hot Dijon day = refreshing. We sat at a local park and just hung out for about an hour. It was fun!

Tonight, some of the girls and I are going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince...IN FRENCH (Oh Nicholas, how I wish you could be here with me). Tomorrow morning, we leave for a 4 day trip to Provence. We'll see lots of Roman ruins, fields of lavander, and the OCEAN. We're going to the beach on Saturday, I can't wait!

I can't believe I've only been here for a 5 days. It feels like I have been here for so much longer than that. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. I know the days are passing slowly because we have so much free time and not a set schedule. I move in with my host family on Sunday night, and I know that could cause several things to happen:

a) beginning of homesickness, as right now living in a hotel with a bunch of friends pretty much feels like vacation.
b) beginning of time flying, as maybe my routine will become more solidified.
c) beginning of true learning, as I will be alone with a French family and not spending all my time with other Americans, even though we do mainly try to speak in French to one another.

I'm still amazed that I am here in France. Every time I walk around and see all these historic buildings, I'm just hit with this overwhelming sense of incredulity. It's just so strange to me, and I really wonder when this place will actually and truly feel like home. It may not ever feel like home...I love my true home, good ol' North Carolina, too much to ever really be able to call another place home. I know that as much fun as I may have here, and as much fondness as I may develop for this place and these people, my heart is truly back in North Carolina.

French Mondays

2009-08-25T04:05:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was my first Monday in France. Granted, because I am still adjusting from so much travel and couldn't hardly tell you what day it is, for most of the day I wasn't super aware of the fact that it was Monday.

In France, a lot of stores are closed on Mondays. I'm not sure why, but they are. Maybe French people just don't like Mondays.

After a breakfast of coffee, croissants, baguettes, cafe (coffee), orange juice, and yogurt, my friends and I did my first homework assignment of the semester. After that, our group went to lunch at an Italian cafe. It was very good. We then met our professor at the archeological museum here in Dijon. We had a private tour of the part of the museum that focuses on ancient Gaulois history. It was interesting, although my family knows...museums like that are not my favorite!

After the museum, we were free to do as we pleased for the rest of the day. A few friends and I went to get cell phones, although unsuccessfully. We had to work with the rudest man in the store, who gave one look at us and talked to us in very poor English and wouldn't really talk French. What he didn't realize was that his poor English was just as annoying to us as our poor French must have been to him. He told us to come back the next day. We still don't know why he did so.

After returning to the hotel and doing our homework, the group went to dinner at a restaurant nearby. We sat inside because it was raining and it was super hot. We were all sweating. Yuck. Dinner, however, was delicious. The drinks were also delicious. I tried the "cocktail maison" (house cocktail) which was flavored with creme framboise (raspberry) and creme italien. Very yummy.

After dinner, we went to a grocery store and bought some chocolate and a few cheap bottles of wine and just hung out at the hotel. My roommates and I turned in a bit early, as we were tired and all had emails, phone calls, etc to attend to.

This morning, my roommates (Lauren and Kara) and I got up early and went on a run around the city. We actually planned our route so that we would run by our host families' houses. Maybe a bit stalker-ish, I know, but we wanted to know how far apart we lived and where our houses are in relation to le centre-ville.

We ran about 3 miles and we got more strange looks than I have ever received in my life. People in France don't run, I guess. Or maybe just not where we were running. But we had little children pressing their faces against the bus window to stare at us as we went past, and when we ran by bus stops, everyone watched us go by. Amusing.

After getting ready for the day, Lauren, Kara, and I returned to the phone store. The same rude man was there but when we reached the front of the line, even though he was available, he went to the back of the store and disappeared for about 10 minutes. We think he was avoiding us. The lady who helped me was very nice. I spoke almost completely in French, and understood almost everything she said. I was very proud. Now, I have a nifty French cell phone with a nifty French number.

After leaving the phone store, we walked around a marketplace where different vendors sell all sorts of things, from produce to shoes to jewelry. We bought peaches and grapes at a produce stand...best grapes I have ever had! We also grabbed lunch at a little sandwich station and ate it as we were heading back to the hotel.

Our first real class is today at 2, so we have a bit of time to relax until then. Today is Lauren's 21st (!!!) birthday, so tonight we are going out to a salsa dancing club. I am SO excited. I've been waiting for a chance to dance in France.

A bientot!

Les diners francais

2009-08-23T18:06:00.003-04:00

tres tres bien.

as in, like 6 courses and several hours.

My professor made us dinner at her aparment tonight. Her friend Dominique came as well.

We began the evening with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling white wine mixed with creme de cassis, a kind of black currant syrup. Delicious. And, at the same time, strange, because I am only 19 years old. While I am completely legal in France, it still felt weird to drink with an adult, especially a professor.

After this, we sat down at the table for some gaspacho. In Dijon, you simply drink it. I had never had gaspacho until this summer (Thanks, Warren!) and had eaten it with a spoon. The gaspacho was followed by chicken, green pepper, and tomato kabobs with rice. After this, salad, bread, and cheese. After that, two tartes, apricot and prune, to celebrate Kara's 20th birthday. And after that, coffee and chocolate. Of course, red wine was had throughout...all three hours!

Amazingly, I was not stuffed after eating all that, nor very affected by the wines. With the French, everything is in moderation. Small portions spread over three hours...tres tres bien!

First Few Days In France

2009-08-22T16:02:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting in my hotel room after a two hour walking tour around Dijon. I should be napping, but there is so much from the past few days that I want to share, so now is the best time.

Friday and Saturday were exhausting. I flew out of Charlotte at 12 only to have a 6 hour layover in Cincinatti. Not fun at all. I spent the time walking, eating, reading, more walking, more reading....internet costed $7.99 and I was just not going to pay that! (Thank you Mary for giving me the book Redeeming Love as a going away present!!! I love it, and was so excited to read parts of it and then get out my Bible and read parts of the book of Hosea, which is where the author found inspiration for her novel. The book definitely kept me occupied in the airport and on the plane.)

Lauren, a friend who is also here in Dijon for the semester, met up with me and we took the same flight from Cincinatti to Paris. The flight was fine, rather short...just under 8 hours! I slept a bit, but sleeping on planes, even in cars, has always been difficult for me. Breakfast on the plane was an egg and cheese biscuit...it was good except for the fact that it was packaged like a Little Debbie cake or something...how egg and cheese and a biscuit can be pre-made and packaged like that, I don't want to know. Ick.

As we flew over Paris, I caught a brief glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. I can't wait to spend time there!

Lauren and I got off the plane, went through customs, and then got our luggage. I hate to say it, but I was that token American with two massive suitcases, a small suitcase, and a book bag. To make matters worse, Lauren and I were trying to find our friends Kara and Carleigh who had landed in a different terminal. Long story short, we finally found them and after waiting in the wrong place for about 30 minutes, boarded the shuttle for Gare de Lyon, the train station. I, however, still bear the marks and bruises which are my punishment for taking so many bags.

The Gare de Lyon is beautiful...I would love to have seen it even 50 years ago before all the advertisements and such took over. After buying my first french sandwich (ordered in French!), we sat and waited for our train to Dijon.

The ride to Dijon was about an hour and half, and the train meandered through beautiful countryside. I tried to sleep, and managed for a bit. Once in Dijon, we took a taxi to our hotel, where we met the rest of our group.

Last night was super fun. We went to dinner with our professor at Les Grands Ducs, a little restaurant near our hotel. I ordered steak hache, which is essentially like a hamburger with no bun. However, its flavored differently and was quite good. It came with fries and salad. French people eat mayonaise on their french fries. Paula Dean, bless her, had already introduced me to this delicious-ness, so I had no problem with that. Dinner was washed down with a red wine, and desert was a banana split. Delicieuse!

After walking around town for a bit, Professor Barbour left us to return to her appartment. My group consists of 9 Wake Forest students, 6 girls and 3 guys (one guy, Miles, is not here yet as he is having trouble with his visa). Kara's birthday began at midnight last night, so naturally we went out to celebrate her birthday and our first night in France. We went to a local bar, Club 88, and had a great time. We met a lot of local french youth like ourselves and were introduced to their hang out spot, a small square with a fountain and lots of benches. I met a girl named Lucie who told me my French accent was very good. That compliment almost made me cry.

After sleeping through our alarms and finding ourselves with a mere 20 minutes to get ready, today we set off for a walking tour of Dijon. We ate lunch at a place called Flunch, kind of like a K&W Cafeteria but better. A cute French woman gave us our tour, which was very interesting. Dijon is beautiful...there is so much history here, and the buildings are truly outstanding. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

I've been realizing over the past two days something very important: People are the same everywhere. Love, happiness, pain. French children are exactly the same as American children (although perhaps cuter). Families are the same. Friends are the same. Meeting other French people, talking with them...its shown me that everyone connects on the same level. The level of being alive. I've been here for two days, but not once have a really and truly felt like I didn't belong, even though I am an American.

I miss my family and my friends, and it still has yet to hit me that I am living here for the next three months. But, if anything, these past two days have shown me that I am going to be just fine.

And I'm going to love it.

And here we go...

2009-08-20T17:57:00.002-04:00

Eve of my departure. Some seriously mixed emotions. There's excitement, of course. There's nervousness and anxiety that makes me want to panic and run. There's happiness and sadness. There's readiness swirling with a feeling of being completely unprepared.

I would love to just snap my fingers and be in France, and avoid the stresses of packing, saying goodbye, etc. But, traveling is just that...traveling. Therefore the stuffed suitcases, stress, and sadness are somewhat unavoidable.

When I woke up this morning, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Tomorrow morning is the last morning I'll wake up in this bed for three and a half months." My next thought was, "But, tomorrow begins the greatest adventure of my life."

If I wasn't traveling abroad this semester, I'd be just fine. I'd be happy, have tons of friends, be at ease...everything would stay comfortably the same. I know, though, that a challenge is good for me. A change is good for me. And, in the long run, discomfort for a time will just make me stronger.

I feel like Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins (yes, I did just make that reference)...about to go on one scary adventure, but it'll be worth it in the end. Actually, when it comes down to it, I'm probably more like Ron Weasley or Samwise Gamgee...awkward, lovable, not always courageous, but nevertheless attempting to do what I can to get through.

All I know is, I've been hitting my knees and raising my hands to the Lord every night, and will continue to do so, until I find my footing and security in a different place.

My host family lives next to a beautiful church (at least, according to the stalking I've done on Google maps...Street View is AWESOME). When I need it, I cannot wait to slip into its cool, shadowy darkness and find sanctuary and a sense of peace.

Journey

2009-08-18T09:05:00.003-04:00

My faith journey. It's been all over the place for the past year. First semester sophomore year, I tried to trust the Lord in everything. I prayed all the time. Prayed with my friends in the library when we should have been studying. Prayed in the morning, prayed at night. I was blessed with a very, very happy semester. Second semester came bringing changes and distractions, and to this day I am shocked and ashamed that I put God on the back burner so quickly and easily.

After being at my lowest, I entered the summer with the conviction to renew my personal relationship with God. It's been great.

Last night, I was reading my Bible, and in the context of France and several previous discussions with friends who feel overwhelmed by different things in life, I stumble upon this verse:

"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10: 13

I don't think it will ever cease to fascinate me how reassurances like that pop up when I need them. SO COOL.

The Good Stuff

2009-08-17T17:43:00.008-04:00

Familiar places (Raleigh, N.C. State).
New living spaces (clutter, smelly couches, friends).
Responsibility (Rotaract posters made with lots of super glue by a non-Rotaract member).
Stories ("I changed my major!!!").
Cook-out milkshakes (caramel_brownie_oreo...or if you're picky, plain chocolate).
Late nights (sitting on the floor instead of couches, exhaustion).
Laughter (teasing, jokes, changing lightbulbs).
Lightbulbs (ones that don't work).
Maturity (being juniors in college but not acting like it).
New songs (country twang, "ass in the sand").
Bojangles (sharing Boberry biscuits in the early morning).
New recipes (bacon_wrapped_fried_macaroni_and_cheese).
YouTube (Watermelondrea, dances).
Francesca's (enough said).
Crisp (salad in a food court).
Talking (no explanation necessary).
The elderly (precious old man falling asleep over his lunch).
Target ("hellooo." ... "Was he hot???"..."I was talking about how fast the car was going...").
Pictures (worth a thousand words).
Good-byes (knowing that in the end, not that much is going to change because, after all, its not really a good-bye...just a "see you later.").
Fear (a friend who's often misunderstood).
Long drives (you, the radio, tears, conversations with the Lord).
Home (it'll always be there).

Readiness (a willing heart, courage, faith).

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

2009-08-16T00:59:00.002-04:00

8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

I came across this passage when reading tonight and can't quite seem to get it out of my head. Or I guess I should say, out of my heart.

Meryl Streep Obsession Continues

2009-08-13T20:52:00.005-04:00

Watching Mamma Mia! with big sister. Meryl is simply fabulous. Right now she's singing her amazing "Slipping Through My Fingers" which makes me cry everyyyyyy time. Makes me think of what it'll be like for my mom when I get married! The only thing my mom ever mentions about marriage right now, though, is that I better not find a man in France!!! I don't plan on it.

Best line from that song: "Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture and save it from the funny tricks of time..."

Speaking of France....ONE WEEK. Can't hardly believe it. Tomorrow is my last day of work, and I'm realizing how much I am going to miss it! I am unbelievably fortunate to have LOVED my summer job. Granted, I didn't love every minute of it. But for the most part, working with all those amazing kids was unbelievably rewarding and fulfilling. I am going to miss them so much!!!

I'm excited for my last week at home! It'll be nice to spend time with the family and some friends before I fly out! I'm so excited to get on the plane though and just get to France!!! I can't wait until these posts actually have some substance, like "here's what I did/saw today in France..." and not just randomness posted as a result of boredom.

peace out, bean sprout.

FOOD

2009-08-08T22:14:00.002-04:00

I saw the new movie "Julie and Julia" today with one of my best friends Mary. I have to say that I just love love love Meryl Streep, who in this movie hilariously portrays Julia Child. She's fantastic. Amy Adams, who is Julie, is cute too. But there's just something about Meryl Streep that I just can't get over.

The movie partially focuses on Julia Child's time in France and her experiences cooking French food. All I can say after watching it is that I AM GOING TO GET SO FAT IN FRANCE.

Between the wine, the croissants, the pastries, the meats...just eating in general is going alter my waistline.

Granted, I will be walking much more that I do at home, and I did buy an iPod today with some intention of using it for running (running through the streets of France??? AWESOME). But, I still have a feeling that I am going to eat and drink my way through much of the next three and a half months and honestly, I can't wait!

I'm 13 days away from departure, and after a we-canceled-your-flight-so-you-have-to-rebook-your-ticket-or-you-won't-get-to-France-scare, I'm getting all my ducks in a row and getting everything ready. I bought a portable hard drive, a memory stick for my camera, ordered power adapters, and bought a shiny yellow iPod for long train rides and flights. This week I get to start planning outfits and practice packing suitcases. It'll be interesting to see how that goes. I have never been a light packer, even for week-long trips. In fact, I'm taking the same size bags that I've taken on week-long trips! How spoiled and materialistic does that make me? Very!

This summer has gone by unbelievably fast, which I know is partially due to the fact that I've been working 50-hour work weeks. Still, its been the quickest three months I can remember and I'm not sure how I feel about that! I hate the feeling that time is passing too quickly for me to take it all in, and thats what this summer felt like for me. How much faster will the next three months pass?

Probably faster than I can eat a croissant or down a bottle of wine.

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

2009-08-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I mentor a young girl named Brooks. She has Down's Syndrome and is absolutely the sweetest and brightest little girl I know.

When I went to see her yesterday, I finally sat down with her and told her I was leaving for a long, long trip. She promptly responded, "Me too! We're going to the beach for a long, long trip. Two weeks!" I fought back tears as I explained to her that I was going to be gone much longer than two weeks. I told her that I was going to be gone for three months, and that I'd be back in December and would be kind of like an early Christmas present. We're going to mark her calendar so she knows the day that I'll be returning, and I've told her that I better get lots of emails and letters. I know she's going to miss me; the flipside of that, however, is that I'll miss her even more.

I've been a mix of emotions the past few days, for the most part feeling ready to leave. There have been several things swirling through my head lately that have made me realize that I desperately want a semester away from Wake. Don't get me wrong, I love Wake and I love the people there. But there are a few things at Wake I'm not eager to revisit just yet, and a semester away is exactly what I need.

I'm realizing more and more just how much I am in need of this change. At the same time, there are a few things, one big thing in particular, that I am scared will be different when I get back. Its interesting to me that I'm recognizing that I need a change, but am terrified of changes occurring back home while I'm gone. I'm not really sure how to reconcile that difference.

That's what I'll be praying about this week.

Nineteen Days.

2009-08-02T10:53:00.000-04:00

After being scared and nervous and panicky all summer about going abroad, prayers and contemplation brought me a very hopeful peace about leaving.

Now that I am sitting a mere 19 days away from my departure, I find myself ready and wanting to go.

I need to get out of Greensboro. Out of North Carolina. I love my family and my friends, and I will miss them. But there are a few things that I need to get away from and get over. There is a certain level of independence that I need to learn, and I will only learn it by being away from everything and everyone that I love. I also need to learn to depend on God and myself before other people, because several things about this summer have taught me that sometimes, people let you down. It's funny how you think you've already learned that lesson, but when it happens again, you still fall flat on your face.

I've been wise. I've been a fool. I've been mature. I've been immature. I've been happy. I've been unhappy.

But all that matters now: I'll be gone in 19 days.

end of the week

2009-07-18T23:31:00.000-04:00

So, having made it through one of the longest, busiest weeks of my summer, I've found some time for reflection.

Laura and I packed up the car and drove to Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. It wasn't too bad of a drive, but definitely longer than I've driven in a long time. And, I also discovered that truckers that drive through South Carolina seem to be particularly nice. How do I know? I was passing one at about 80 miles an hour and he honked at me (which, to be honest, at first I thought was rude) in order to draw my attention to the cop with his lights on at the top of the hill I was approaching.

Needless to say, I slowed down, restarted my heart, thanked God that I wasn't given a ticket, and did not speed nearly as much for the rest of the drive.

Mrs. Lanier had an amazing dinner waiting for us, and we spent several hours talking about Europe and vocations and life. I am so glad I was able to spend more time with Kasey's mom!

The next morning, Laura and I braved morning Atlanta traffic and headed to the French consulate. We got there before the consulate even opened. Once it did, however, the very polite (cough sarcasm cough) security guard promptly informed my sister she could not accompany me inside. He then proceeded to look through my papers, marked a few things, and sent me into the smelliest, smallest waiting room. I waited for a good thirty minutes with several other young adults who looked nearly as terrfied and nervous as I must have looked. After the guard thoroughly terrified all of us by fussing at a boy who'd accidentally made two appointments, the process began.

And by process, I mean walking to a window, handing in your stack of carefully organized papers through a tiny slot in a window, then paying, then leaving. Maybe I just had completely naive expecations, but after allllll the trouble it took to get all the paperwork completed, and the longggg drive to Atlanta, it was a little bit anticlimactic to simply hand in the papers and pay. Anticlimactic and also begging the question, why couldn't I just mail them in?

Oh well. Its done, I know the papers safely arrived, and its out of my hands!

After we left the consulate, Laura and I walked around a fancy mall and then hit the road. The drive back was harder just because we were both tired, but we made some sweet music videos and got ChikFila, which ALWAYS makes me feel better.

Work the next day was really rough just because I was super worn out. Friday wasn't too bad, but I am definitely glad to have a weekend!

Visaaaaaahhhhhh

2009-07-12T17:54:00.001-04:00

After a wild weekend (thank you Nick and Celia for going 80's with me), today has been all business. I'm in the process of getting my visa and, frankly, its a slightly annoying process. There are so many things to get in order and if I get to the consulate on Wednesday morning and one little thing is wrong, I'm out of luck and get to do the entire thing all over again. Or at least, that's what the confusing consulate website threatens.

As far as I know, I have everything I need. I've double checked and triple checked all my documents, used about 23543 cartridges of ink making copies, and paid $8.52 for 6 passport sized photos ( I only needed 2) that I honestly, probably, could have taken myself.

I'm leaving Tuesday after work and heading down to Atlanta, which is where my French consulate is. Laura, my big sister, is graciously coming with me to keep me company and make sure I'm safe in HOTlanta. I'm excited to be staying at a friend's house! Kasey will sadly be at summer school, but her parents are FANTASTIC and are opening their house to Laura and me so we don't have to stay in a hotel. I am so excited to spend more time with them, although I am so sad that I won't be able to see Kasey! She's outstanding, and I miss her!

So (hopefully) on Wednesday, I will be one step closer to being completely ready for France!

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." Romans 12:12

Beginning of Blogging

2009-07-04T16:07:00.000-04:00

As I scramble to get things ready for my not-so-distant departure for lands across the ocean, I decided to go ahead and begin my blog. I began one earlier, but decided to just start again because I didn't the the title of the last one. Yes, I'm that picky.

As August 21 comes closer and closer, I really can't wrap my brain around the fact that I am going to be living in a different country this fall. I am, in many areas of my life, rather stuck in my ways...one of those ways being the fact that I am still very attached to my home, my high school group of friends, and of course my life at Wake. New things don't come easily for me. I also have intense F.O.M.O. (Fear Of Missing Out) on things while I'm in France. Which, when I really think about it, is ridiculous because I am going to be in France and missing out on that would be unbelievably worse. However, I'm still scared.

Needless to say, studying abroad will give me the opportunity to branch out, gain confidence and independence, and learn more about myself. I'll be living to something...all that needs to be discovered is what that something is. I know that where I go, I go with God; His presence will, in time, still my fears and uncertainties about the coming months.

"...but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6: 10b