A Weekend in Bordeaux

I made it to Bordeaux and back without any complications this past weekend!

I got done early at the Museum of Decorative Arts on Thursday night, so I went to my school to meet up with a few kids at the tail end of Crepe Night (there was even a crepe left for me to make! No more nutella, but I discovered lemon juice and sugar is an amazing combination!). It was Jessica's birthday, so we went back to her apartment and hung out for a while. I left to go back home when they left to go out to celebrate. I didn't get to bed until a little after 2 am (because I didn't get home until midnight-ish and still had to pack and get ready!), so I ended up only have a few hours of sleep before getting up at 6am to have time to get to the train station.

I made it to Gare Montparnasse (the train station) with plenty of time, and got on the train without even needing to ask for help! I napped a bit on the ride down, which was 3 hours long. And Anne-Suzy was there to pick me up about 20 minutes after my train pulled in.

We then went and got some lunch and I got to try out my newly improved French skills. After that I had to accompany her to 2 classes (Portuguese and Spanish) and I met some of her friends, who all talked incredibly fast. Then we eventually made it back to Anne's house (which is about a half hour away by tram and bus in a cute town called Carbon Blanc) and I met her mom, who was leaving to pick up Anne's aunt from either the train station or airport. Anne and I then ate a quick dinner and got ready to go back into Bordeaux.

The view from Anne-Suzy's balcony

As I mentioned before, the Rugby World Cup is going on in France, and there was a game Friday night in Bordeaux. We didn't go to the actual game, but went over to one of Anne-Suzy's friend's apartment to watch it on TV. We then headed over to the town center where there was a big screen that had been playing the game. France beat Ireland, so there was much rejoicing. We ended up wandering over to an Irish pub, where everyone was gracious losers and just having a good time! And the night didn't end there! I then went to a nightclub with Anne and some of her friends, but by that time it was about 1:30 in the morning and I was exhausted. I hung back and just watched the goings-on there, and we actually didn't stay at the club very long. Anne-Suzy's mom actually came out and picked us up at 3am! That was really nice, especially because I was exhausted and my feet hurt more than they have the whole time I've been in Paris! I walked all over Bordeaux that night.

Anne and I at her friend's apartment!

On Saturday, we got up around 10 and had some breakfast and took our time getting ready. Around 2 Anne and I went back into town and meet up with her sister's boyfriend. We did some window shopping and then had hot chocolate at a cafe while I tested out more of my French language skills. We then walked to go meet her sister when she got out of work (she's doing vo-tech training to become a hair dresser) and then went back to their house. Anne, Laurence (her sister), Anne's mom and I then ate a quick dinner and headed out to pick up her aunt and go to St. Emillion- a cute little toursity town where a lot of the regions wine is sold. We just got some dessert. And I took a few pictures because it was a cute little town. But later that night, Anne tried to take a picture of me with her aunt's dog before heading home for the night, and sometime between dessert and getting home, my camera broke. The screen cracked and won't show any images. I was really disappointed, to say the least. I think I might order a new one online and have my mom bring it when she comes (which is less than 2 weeks!).

One of the last pictures taken while my camera was still functioning. A tower in St. Emillion.

Sunday was just another calm day, we hung out at home and Laurence did gave me a blow-out for my hair! She also had made fresh crepes for breakfast! It's the straightest it's ever been without using a straightener (she just used a brush and hair dryer). We had duck confit and fresh baguettes for lunch, and then I helped Anne with her English homework and we watched some MTV in French. Then I got dropped off for my 4:45pm train back to Paris.


All in all, it was a good and a kind of stressful weekend. It was quite a brain workout to try and speak French all weekend. Not to mention it was frustrating because I felt like there's no way I could ever understand how fast kids my age talk! But people kept saying that I could speak well, so I tried not to let it get me down too much. And my poor feet and camera got me down too, but the good food, and good time with Anne and a chance to explore a new city more than made up for it!


Now I should work on some homework (seeing as how I didn't do any all weekend) but it's so hard to find the motivation. Who wants to do homework when they're in Paris??

At least I get rewarded by having some cool classes. Today, in order to make up a canceled class from the first week, my advanced French class had our normal class, and then went on a boat tour down the Seine river for free to make up the lost time! It was a bit chilly, but way more fun than sitting in a classroom!

This is the statue that Parisians use to judge how high the water level is. Once the river was up to his neck!

The view of the tower from the Seine!

My first quiz is today

I have my first quiz in my Advanced French class today- on negation, interrogation, the passe compose, imparfait, and the plus-que-parfait. I have an hour and 15 minutes until I have to leave for class, so I'm taking a study break to update!

As for my health, my stomach ache got better by Sunday, but now I have hints of a cold. As long as I keep kleenex handy I think I'll be alright.

I've been really busy these past few days (surprise surprise). Sunday I went to the Palais Royal in the morning (the building itself is usually closed to the public, but because it was the European Heritage Weekend, it was open for a tour), and then went on a walking tour of Montmarte in the afternoon. It was rather warm, so the walking tour definitely tired me out. Monday I had class and did laundry for the first time. Laundry isn't cheap here, but I've managed to go 3 weeks without doing it, so as long as I don't start spilling on myself a lot, I don't think it will be an issue. Yesterday was more classes.

However, to make things a little more exciting, Monday and Tuesday evening I met up with some of the girls in the program and we booked plane tickets and hostels to go to Italy for fall break! I've wanted to go to Italy for so long, and now it's actually going to happen! We're going to Florence for five days, but at least 2 of those days will be day trips (one to Siena, and one potentially to Cinque Terre), and then spending 3 days in Rome. I can't wait till I have some free time to start planning out activities for that trip! Unfortunately it's not going to be a very inexpensive trip, but seeing as how I'm already in Europe, it's cheaper than trying to go to Italy than the US! Plus I've wanted to go so badly, I think it'll be worth it. There's a fairly large group of girls going, but I'm pretty sure we're gonna split up some of the days and nights so we don't have to try to accommodate 7 people's needs all the time! I might even take a day trip alone to Venice, if I can afford it. We'll see how it goes!

Well, I should get back to studying. No fun plans for today- just more homework and cleaning when I get back tonight, but Thursday I have an on-site night visit to the Decorative Arts Museum for Haute Coture class, and then Friday I leave for Bordeaux!!

I'm a little nervous about taking the trip by myself and about my ability to speak French all weekend, but I'll let you know how it goes.

troubles in paradise?

Since we've been here, various kids in the CEA program, including my roommates, have been getting sick. I thought I was escaping the epidemic- at least until last night. My best guess is that I way overate, and now my body is getting back at me. I felt a little better this morning, went out with Amee to some other girls' apartment and then we went to check out the technoparade.
As you can see, it was intense. There were so many 15-18 year old scene kids just packed in the square. I started to feel pretty sick, so I left after about 15 minutes of extremely loud music, loud kids and massive amounts of smoke. I spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening up in my bed, napping, drinking lots of fluids, and watching some TV shows online.

I was upset at my body for making me waste a precious Saturday in my room, but I didn't want to feel any worse so I made the choice to rest up. But, I just couldn't stay in all night, so at around 9 I left to meet some friends at the Eiffel Tower!

Yes, the bottom half of the tower is green! The glowing white blob is supposed to be a rugby ball, and the colors of the 2007 World Cup (which is being held in France, fyi) are green and white. So I'm fairly sure the Eiffel tower will be half green until October 20th. It's an interesting look. That's Elyse, me and Amee- Elyse is in a different program, but she is friends with Annie from CEA. We met a bunch of kids from her Parisian school, and it was a good night! I'm still not feeling 100% right now, but I'm better than I was most of today. Here's hoping I'll be all better tomorrow!



I feel like I should be updating more often just because the time has gone so quickly! This past week I've gone to Hotel de Ville to watch a rugby game up on the big screen set up there, went to a French club called Le Mix, and went shopping on Friday! Tomorrow (if I'm feeling up to it) I'm going on a walking tour of Montmarte, maybe something for the weekend of Patrimonie in the morning, and the the plan for the evening is to attempt to figure out the trip to Italy I want to take over break!

I still have to figure out when to fit in my homework...

Notre Dame at night, on the way to Hotel de Ville

Hotel de Ville, with the big screen set up (and fake grass for people to sit on!)

Amee and I were feeling a little homesick, so we decided to try the Subway here to see if it was anything like home! It was actually quite good and really hit the spot. I think sometimes it's really nice to be able to have something familiar to help you feel a little closer to home. But don't worry, I won't be eating here every weekend! I am trying to adapt to all the French restaurants too!

P.S. You can click on any picture and it will open full-size in a new window!

quick update

Just wanted to let you all know I'm still gettin by! I can't believe how busy I am here! So just a quick update about some of my classes.

I had my first 'On-Site' Haute Coture class today, and we went to where the first shopping area in Paris was- the Palais Royal. The Duke of Orleans lived there, and rented out boutiques on the first floor, and it became the first shopping center of Paris. Not to mention it was right by the Louvre, where court was held at the time. Now it still has boutiques, even though there are no balls to be had at the Louvre anymore.

I saw the most beautiful Dior coat in the window- vintage from 1947, without a listed price of course! I can only imagine how much it would cost! Maybe someday... It was a really interesting visit, because we not only learned about shopping in the 17th century, but but also about the architecture and life in Paris at those times as well. Tomorrow I have an On-Site class at the Archaeological Crypts at Notre Dame and the Cluny Thermal Baths for Architecture! I'm really excited for that, and hopefully I'll remember my camera tomorrow.


Oh, and I decided to stay in Advanced French. I think I can do it!

The time is already flying by!

Well, its been about a week since my last update. I was talking with some of the girls here, and we've decided that the minutes in Paris must only have 45 seconds instead of 60, because time absolutely flies by. I've already finished my first week of classes! I still haven decided about the whole Advanced/Intermediate thing, but I can still try it out this upcoming week and then make the final decision.

I suppose I'll just do an overview of whats been going on, and then hopefully will start updating more regularly to note the weird.. okay, different things about here compared to home, and fun things like that.

Well first off, I went to Versailles yesterday! The history class was going, and that professor told my arhcitecture prof that if any of us wanted to come we could. All I had to pay for too was the RER ticket to get there (just under 6 euro) because CEA actually did something genius, and wrote on all of our ID cards that we're art history students. In Paris, you can get into museums free if you're an art history major (at least most of the time)! And it worked for Versailles as well, so heck yes to getting in free.

It was really nice to be able to tag along on their tour as well, because I feel like it's a lot more meaningful to actually learn about a place while your there instead of just going to see the cool paintings or buildings or whatnot. It made for a really long day (we left Paris at about 9am and didn't get back into the town center until 7pm, and after that I just went straight over to some friends' apartment for dinner and trip planning!), but was totally worth it.

Here are some pictures!
The Gardens!

These are for you mom, the flowers are still blooming!

My first up-close view of the Chateau

The hall of Mirrors!

Amee, Me, Lily, and Annie in the Hall of Mirrors

Marie-Antoinette's bed

This is what history class looks like here. Jealous?

Anyways, we attempted to plan some trips out last night, and we were all pretty shocked at how few weekends there actually are while we're here! There are 3 pre-paid excursions through CEA to Mont St. Michel and St. Malo, one to the Loire Valley Chateaux, and one to Bruges and Brussels. I bought a train ticket a few days ago to go to Bordeaux the 21, 22, and 23rd of September to see Anne-Suzy and family, and 2 weekends in October I'm doing things with my mom, and one in November is when my boyfriend is coming! That doesn't actually leave a lot lot of free time, but we're shooting for trips to London, Italy, Strasbourg, (hopefully) southern France, and maybe Barcelona. It's crazy intense!

Oh, and one more picture of my first dinner I made in my apartment!

And here's a look at the Gardens of Versailles (I'm sure you all missed hearing my voice!)