Slept in this morning. Checked some things off my to do list this morning.
Though I had originally planned to eat lunch with my friends because technically (according to my program) I am suppose to supply all my own lunches, but Claudie invited me to eat with them! We had ham slices and bread, and ratatouille over rice and ravioli-like pasta. Yum!! Claudie went to see Invictus yesterday with a friend, and she loved it. She wishes Obama could do something to reunite the US like Nelson Mandela did after the apartheid.
I then called my friend to see where they were at so I that I could meet up with them to sit and socialize. She warned me to be aware because there was some kind of race going on today and there were a lot of people out. So instead of Sunday being the day of rest, it was the day of the race!
I left to go meet up with my friends and sat with them and enjoyed their company, sipping my vin chaud. We left that restaurant and wandered around a little bit. The mistral wind was very strong today making it very cold even though it was supposedly in the 50s. We went and got waffles at a corner store - mine was jam covered and it was delicious!
After that we followed the race course, taking pictures of Avignon at a time when it seems the most alive that it's been since we've arrived. In the course of our observations we recognized one of the runners - a fellow student at the Institute! Obviously we took pictures and caught him as he was finishing the race. How cool to be able to say you ran in a race in France?!?
Returned home after a coffee. Occupied myself from then until dinner time. Dinner was delayed because they were finishing work in the theater, redoing the dance floor (I think). Dinner was delicious as usual - "steak" (which actually means a burger) and then a mix of potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes that you mush/mix together.
At and after dinner Michel talked to me about current event issues (I guess that's what you would call them). He was describing how there are different shifts of cultures and languages for example the rise of the dominance of Spanish speakers in the US or the rise of the use of Arabic in France. It was really interesting to hear his take on this. Also, I was surprised to hear him describe people from Africa in a similar manner as the man yesterday at dinner. He talked about how people from Africa are given these nice homes from the government and then they don't do any upkeep on them and the ceiling rots, there's mildew, etc. ... But, according to him, Middle Eastern people don't let that happen. When I asked him why they don't upkeep their homes he said that's just they way they are. It's the same thing in Africa - he sees it in Africa. He had all these stories to tell about people throwing their trash out their windows instead of walking it outside, etc. I didn't get the sense that he meant it in a derogatory way, more just neutral - a statement of fact that he holds that to be true .
We ended the nigth by watching a recording of a play called "L'Art," which was a comedy / critique of modern art. Claudie was getting a kick out of it!
Tomorrow brings the 2nd adventure to the University!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Day 28: Carpentras-Les montagnes, les roches, et un bon repas/Mountains, rocks, and a good meal.
Got up bright and early aka 8:30am to catch the bus at 9:30 to go to Carpentras with 7 other students from my program. We had a little trouble finding where to pick up the bus but found it (got help finding it) just in time! 45 minutes later we arrived in Carpentras.
The head of the association (French-Etats-Unis Association or something like that) met us at the bus station. We went to/saw the former hospital and prison, and got toured around the rest of Carpentras - looking at the landscape, saw a former Roman aqueduct, the remains of their ramparts, going into art galleries/expositions, etc.
Then they drove us to lunch at a restaurant where we met up with the other people of the association. It was good. I had a plate of vegetables crudité to start, rotisserie pork, a provencal tomato, potatoes, etc. Then for dessert we had apple tart/pie with whipped cream. Yum!
I sat across from a stereotypical snobby American (from Manhattan, went to school in Boston at Northeastern) and then a pompous French person. The American was convinced that (despite his inability to speak or understand French after being in France for 30 years, he's in his 80s), the problem with french people is that they are jealous of everyone no matter what they have. The French man was talking about how people in Africa have no culture or work ethic because everything is at their fingertips - food in the trees, hunting for meat right in the forest, etc. I wished that I had a better grasp of French vocabulary because it was very frustrating to sit and listen to him go on about this without being able to dispute it. It was an interesting experience to say the least.
After lunch, they drove us around the area looking at the scenery, going up to a chateau, etc. See the pictures to look at what we did. The weather was gorgeous! Overall today was a great - and busy - day!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Day 27: Bon weekend! / Have a good weekend!
Happy Friday!
I woke up this morning thinking I had class at 930. I rushed to shower and get ready in time for class at 930. I got to school at 925, just as the rain started to get heavier. I walked up to the library to drop my stuff off and head to class. Walked down to class, sat down, looked around, and there were people who I weren't in the class I thought I was in. I turned to my friend next to me and said, "What class is this?" She said, "Translation." -- Whoops, wrong class! :-) That's the first time that's happened in awhile.
Then I actually had class from 11-12:30 - Art History. We were supposed to go to a museum for part of class, but because of the rain we canceled it. Had class for the hour and a half and was done for the day.
Sat down, ate a quick lunch and headed over to the Université d'Avignon to figure out which class to take starting next week. I had been told to ask at the secretary's office if there was a paper copy I could have. So I did, and the woman told me that because the schedule changes so frequently, they don't bother having a paper copy because it changes too much. So I spent what felt like hours writing down which Literature classes that looked remotely interesting, fit into my schedule. I worked up a sweat. It was a very stressful and frustrating situation. Needless to say, I am making another trip back with a friend on Monday to re-check the schedule, see if she can help be better understand it, and see if they have a paper copy yet.
Met up with some friends around 17:15 to hang out before dinner. I got hungry so we all went and bought kebabs - roll up sandwiches with some kind of shaved meat, french fries, lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. Yum!!! Returned home for dinner and had salad, pizza, and a pasta called a "demi lune" (half moon) because of it's shape - it was filled with something, kind of like ravioli, and I put pesto on it. I asked Claudie and Michel where the gelato store was. I've been dying to find it and couldn't. I also told them that I was headed to Carpentras tomorrow and they didn't know why the program would have something in Carpentras, as there is very little to do there - only a few cafés. They also asked me what is the difference between lounges and bars. Apparently it is now the fashion/popular thing to do to name clubs/bars "________ Lounge".
Started watching this movie with Claudie and Michel about this guy who lived in the south of France and got transferred for his job so had to commute to and from the north of France every week (he stayed there during the week). It was really funny. Part way through I left to go meet up with some friends in Place Pie. One of my friends had a friend die recently back home in a skiing accident and today was his funeral service, so we were keeping her busy and distracted.
So tomorrow I'm headed to Carpentras!!!
À bientôt.
I woke up this morning thinking I had class at 930. I rushed to shower and get ready in time for class at 930. I got to school at 925, just as the rain started to get heavier. I walked up to the library to drop my stuff off and head to class. Walked down to class, sat down, looked around, and there were people who I weren't in the class I thought I was in. I turned to my friend next to me and said, "What class is this?" She said, "Translation." -- Whoops, wrong class! :-) That's the first time that's happened in awhile.
Then I actually had class from 11-12:30 - Art History. We were supposed to go to a museum for part of class, but because of the rain we canceled it. Had class for the hour and a half and was done for the day.
Sat down, ate a quick lunch and headed over to the Université d'Avignon to figure out which class to take starting next week. I had been told to ask at the secretary's office if there was a paper copy I could have. So I did, and the woman told me that because the schedule changes so frequently, they don't bother having a paper copy because it changes too much. So I spent what felt like hours writing down which Literature classes that looked remotely interesting, fit into my schedule. I worked up a sweat. It was a very stressful and frustrating situation. Needless to say, I am making another trip back with a friend on Monday to re-check the schedule, see if she can help be better understand it, and see if they have a paper copy yet.
Met up with some friends around 17:15 to hang out before dinner. I got hungry so we all went and bought kebabs - roll up sandwiches with some kind of shaved meat, french fries, lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. Yum!!! Returned home for dinner and had salad, pizza, and a pasta called a "demi lune" (half moon) because of it's shape - it was filled with something, kind of like ravioli, and I put pesto on it. I asked Claudie and Michel where the gelato store was. I've been dying to find it and couldn't. I also told them that I was headed to Carpentras tomorrow and they didn't know why the program would have something in Carpentras, as there is very little to do there - only a few cafés. They also asked me what is the difference between lounges and bars. Apparently it is now the fashion/popular thing to do to name clubs/bars "________ Lounge".
Started watching this movie with Claudie and Michel about this guy who lived in the south of France and got transferred for his job so had to commute to and from the north of France every week (he stayed there during the week). It was really funny. Part way through I left to go meet up with some friends in Place Pie. One of my friends had a friend die recently back home in a skiing accident and today was his funeral service, so we were keeping her busy and distracted.
So tomorrow I'm headed to Carpentras!!!
À bientôt.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 26: Il y a des nuages dans le ciel./There are clouds in the sky.
After this morning was over with, today was a great day.
I had expected to present after the first 5 minute Current Events presentation, but that was apparently silly of me to assume. Instead, the 5 minute presentation did theirs first and then the professor taught class (finished the lesson) for almost the next hour giving me a little over 25 minutes to present. I did my presentation and it ended up only going for 15 minutes. I think that was probably a combination of nerves (I spoke faster) and because I felt rushed because there wasn't a lot of time left in class.
So, I finished presenting and he asked if anyone had any questions for me. He then told me that I had a few minutes, and I said that it was probably because I spoke so fast. He asked if any one wanted clarification. Finally, one person asked a question (which I was able to answer!) and then the professor added his own answer (which took up the rest of the class time) after I responded.
The professor told me after class that I did a good job besides the fact that sometimes combined between my fast speaking and my in-depth/details, people seemed confused, but that I did a good job.
After that class, I was done for the day with classes. I bought this crazy delicious mustard with Provençal herbs and I also bought pesto, both to go on sandwiches. YUMMMM!
Ate lunch, watched Lost, returned home.
For dinner, we had a "les légumes du soleil" soup (sun vegetable soup is the literal translation, I think it just means the colorful veggies, not sure). Claudie said they were similar vegetables to those used in ratatouille. It tasted to me like a combo of squash and tomato soup, and was DELICIOUS! After that, we had fish and crawfish / crayfish (not really sure, whichever one is bigger is the one we ate). I think that is probably the first type of food that has grossed me out since being here. Claudie asked if I had ever eaten something like this before. I told her back home we have food like that, but it's red and bigger - in my effort to describe lobster. She said two different words and asked which one it was, but I don't know the word for lobster in french (It's "un hommard" in case you were curious.)
While eating, she explained that the little mini forks that we were using, they typically use for eating escargot. Then they asked me if I'd ever had escargot. I said no, but I'd be willing to try. They said it's very delicious. Then they asked me if I'd ever eaten frog (une grenouille) and I said no and made a face. ... I will try escargot, but sorry, I draw the line at frog. After dinner, we ate bread and cheese like we always do. I discovered/made a point to remember the name of the type of cheese: camembert. I like it a lot - and is a great way to end a meal. It is a soft cheese that comes in a "round block".
After that we watched westerns. They love westerns in France! One was with Clint Eastwood (who Claudie loves - she loves watching all his movies!), called the High Plains Drifter (L'Homme des Hauts Plaines). Clint Eastwood must have been a chick magnet in his time - well, he at least got all the ladies in the movies!
Tomorrow, I will be venturing over to l'Université d'Avignon to figure out which class to take that will fit in my schedule. It will be quite the adventure navigating the building. Let's hope the rain we're having now lets up for my walk over there tomorrow.
As Claudie says, bises (kisses) et ciao!
This Morning
I had my 20 minute oral presentation in Poli. Sci. After practicing it twice - one time taking under 20 minutes and the other time taking over 20 mintues- I figured I was set to present and exactly use the allotted 20 minutes.I had expected to present after the first 5 minute Current Events presentation, but that was apparently silly of me to assume. Instead, the 5 minute presentation did theirs first and then the professor taught class (finished the lesson) for almost the next hour giving me a little over 25 minutes to present. I did my presentation and it ended up only going for 15 minutes. I think that was probably a combination of nerves (I spoke faster) and because I felt rushed because there wasn't a lot of time left in class.
So, I finished presenting and he asked if anyone had any questions for me. He then told me that I had a few minutes, and I said that it was probably because I spoke so fast. He asked if any one wanted clarification. Finally, one person asked a question (which I was able to answer!) and then the professor added his own answer (which took up the rest of the class time) after I responded.
The professor told me after class that I did a good job besides the fact that sometimes combined between my fast speaking and my in-depth/details, people seemed confused, but that I did a good job.
End of the Stressful Part of the Morning
~~~
Then I had my Literature class right after. We handed in our creative projects. The professor was really excited to look at them! We then did this exercise where we visualized a French road. Then we visualized an American road. Then we visualized each again deciding what we would like to change in the image. It was really fun! Then we looked at this book that was a compilation of this photographer's candid photos that he took of people's faces on the Paris metro. It was really cool to examine people's facial expressions, eyes open/closed, etc, and to think why I had picked the picture I described.~~~
After that class, I was done for the day with classes. I bought this crazy delicious mustard with Provençal herbs and I also bought pesto, both to go on sandwiches. YUMMMM!
Ate lunch, watched Lost, returned home.
For dinner, we had a "les légumes du soleil" soup (sun vegetable soup is the literal translation, I think it just means the colorful veggies, not sure). Claudie said they were similar vegetables to those used in ratatouille. It tasted to me like a combo of squash and tomato soup, and was DELICIOUS! After that, we had fish and crawfish / crayfish (not really sure, whichever one is bigger is the one we ate). I think that is probably the first type of food that has grossed me out since being here. Claudie asked if I had ever eaten something like this before. I told her back home we have food like that, but it's red and bigger - in my effort to describe lobster. She said two different words and asked which one it was, but I don't know the word for lobster in french (It's "un hommard" in case you were curious.)
While eating, she explained that the little mini forks that we were using, they typically use for eating escargot. Then they asked me if I'd ever had escargot. I said no, but I'd be willing to try. They said it's very delicious. Then they asked me if I'd ever eaten frog (une grenouille) and I said no and made a face. ... I will try escargot, but sorry, I draw the line at frog. After dinner, we ate bread and cheese like we always do. I discovered/made a point to remember the name of the type of cheese: camembert. I like it a lot - and is a great way to end a meal. It is a soft cheese that comes in a "round block".
After that we watched westerns. They love westerns in France! One was with Clint Eastwood (who Claudie loves - she loves watching all his movies!), called the High Plains Drifter (L'Homme des Hauts Plaines). Clint Eastwood must have been a chick magnet in his time - well, he at least got all the ladies in the movies!
Tomorrow, I will be venturing over to l'Université d'Avignon to figure out which class to take that will fit in my schedule. It will be quite the adventure navigating the building. Let's hope the rain we're having now lets up for my walk over there tomorrow.
As Claudie says, bises (kisses) et ciao!
Day 25: Trop tôt ou trop tard? / Very early or very late?
I am writing this after a busy day of full of school work. It was probably the most work I've done and the most focused I've been since being here. I have a 20 minute oral presentation, which in France is called an Exposé, in my Poli. Sci class tomorrow as well as a creative project paper for my literature class tomorrow. Poli Sci doesn't normally meet on Thursdays, but this week we get an extra special, extra class meeting. Now granted, we don't have class all next week because he cancelled it, but right now in the moment, it's annoying to say the least.
On top of having lots of homework, I also have lots of things to do. I know the date keeps changing, but I received the official notice that my University class starts next week. The catch? The university doesn't post the course schedule online. I have to go down to the University, go to the office of the course I think I want to take and find it listed on this massive hall-long bulletin board to see what time it meets. This adventure is being saved until either tomorrow afternoon after all my work is turned in or until Friday. The nice thing is that I can just sit in on the class(es) to see if the level/material interests me and is what I expected, and then just tell my program director, and she does the rest for me!
Some students in our program are complaining that they are not getting enough language experience or immersion. Though at one point in my time here thus far I was equally frustrated, I found ways to change that. 1. I became more inquisitive with my host family. 2. When I thought/think something in my head while with my host family, I say it aloud. 3. I joined a "french only" activity - the Chorale. 4. I am taking a course at the local University. If students don't extend themselves, they can't expect the experiences to just happen to them. I am glad that I figured this out (and figured out a solution) so early on.
I am currently finding it quite amusing that Claudie is still awake. I can still hear her moving around in the house! I am so used to adults going to bed before me, I'm just a little baffled and surprised that she's still keeping busy so late/early!
I enjoy writing my blog each night before going to bed.
I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Ciao!
On top of having lots of homework, I also have lots of things to do. I know the date keeps changing, but I received the official notice that my University class starts next week. The catch? The university doesn't post the course schedule online. I have to go down to the University, go to the office of the course I think I want to take and find it listed on this massive hall-long bulletin board to see what time it meets. This adventure is being saved until either tomorrow afternoon after all my work is turned in or until Friday. The nice thing is that I can just sit in on the class(es) to see if the level/material interests me and is what I expected, and then just tell my program director, and she does the rest for me!
Some students in our program are complaining that they are not getting enough language experience or immersion. Though at one point in my time here thus far I was equally frustrated, I found ways to change that. 1. I became more inquisitive with my host family. 2. When I thought/think something in my head while with my host family, I say it aloud. 3. I joined a "french only" activity - the Chorale. 4. I am taking a course at the local University. If students don't extend themselves, they can't expect the experiences to just happen to them. I am glad that I figured this out (and figured out a solution) so early on.
I am currently finding it quite amusing that Claudie is still awake. I can still hear her moving around in the house! I am so used to adults going to bed before me, I'm just a little baffled and surprised that she's still keeping busy so late/early!
I enjoy writing my blog each night before going to bed.
I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Ciao!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 24: Beaucoup de devoirs / Lots of homework
Woke up this morning to the construction going on in the house. I have a feeling that the same thing will happen this coming morning. I saw rolls of insulation in the hallway and tonight at dinner Michel mentioned something about going "en haut" (up above) which I think means there's going to be work going on in the attic. Whatever.
I had only one class today - Literature. We talked about this "plasticienne," Ernest Pignon Ernest who works with a variety of media, mostly in outdoor areas -walls, sidewalks, trees, etc. At first I thought it was kind of weird, but after seeing each group's presentation about one of his works, he grew on me a little bit.
After that it was time for lunch. We continue to (and much to the delight of my taste buds!) replicate the olive oil-herb/salt mix for dipping our baguette in. Yummy!
I spent the rest of the day trying to get work done. I whipped out my container of Nutella as back up support and started trudging through the Political Science packet that I had to conquer (read AND understand) for my 20 minute presentation on Thursday.
I left the Institute around 17h to go "observe" at a café for my creative project for my Literature class. I lasted about 20 minutes outside - it was too cold - and then left to go home. I am comparing my experience today with my experience this weekend when I went to the same café and sat inside, instead of like today where I sat outside across the square from the café.
Michel asked me how my day was. I told him my classes went well like always but that I have an "Exposé" for my Science Po. class that is very difficult. He told me if I have any questions I can ask Claudie, she can help me with understanding the language, writing up something, figuring out how to express myself, etc. (I don't know why he didn't include himself, but I wasn't about to call him out on it.) I appreciated the offer and thanked him. He explained to me that french is a very hard language to master and that most native french speakers even make mistakes. There are so many silent letters that you don't pronounce but that can mess you up when you are writing.
For dinner we had a mushroom and onion omelette and then pasta (for me, with cheese and tomato sauce - I was also offered ketchup). Claudie's food is always delicious! Claudie was very excited that Avatar was nominated for 9 Oscars. She thought it was "magnifique"!
We then finished dinner and watched the movie, La Horse (came out in the '70s), which is about a large scale farmer/"proprietor" whose son becomes indebted to drug lords in Paris because his father destroyed the package of cocaine that the son was supposed to deliver. The father character is apparently played by a very famous French comedian.
Then I left to go continue working on my Exposé. It's a very tiring process to say the least.
À bientôt!
I had only one class today - Literature. We talked about this "plasticienne," Ernest Pignon Ernest who works with a variety of media, mostly in outdoor areas -walls, sidewalks, trees, etc. At first I thought it was kind of weird, but after seeing each group's presentation about one of his works, he grew on me a little bit.
After that it was time for lunch. We continue to (and much to the delight of my taste buds!) replicate the olive oil-herb/salt mix for dipping our baguette in. Yummy!
I spent the rest of the day trying to get work done. I whipped out my container of Nutella as back up support and started trudging through the Political Science packet that I had to conquer (read AND understand) for my 20 minute presentation on Thursday.
I left the Institute around 17h to go "observe" at a café for my creative project for my Literature class. I lasted about 20 minutes outside - it was too cold - and then left to go home. I am comparing my experience today with my experience this weekend when I went to the same café and sat inside, instead of like today where I sat outside across the square from the café.
Michel asked me how my day was. I told him my classes went well like always but that I have an "Exposé" for my Science Po. class that is very difficult. He told me if I have any questions I can ask Claudie, she can help me with understanding the language, writing up something, figuring out how to express myself, etc. (I don't know why he didn't include himself, but I wasn't about to call him out on it.) I appreciated the offer and thanked him. He explained to me that french is a very hard language to master and that most native french speakers even make mistakes. There are so many silent letters that you don't pronounce but that can mess you up when you are writing.
For dinner we had a mushroom and onion omelette and then pasta (for me, with cheese and tomato sauce - I was also offered ketchup). Claudie's food is always delicious! Claudie was very excited that Avatar was nominated for 9 Oscars. She thought it was "magnifique"!
We then finished dinner and watched the movie, La Horse (came out in the '70s), which is about a large scale farmer/"proprietor" whose son becomes indebted to drug lords in Paris because his father destroyed the package of cocaine that the son was supposed to deliver. The father character is apparently played by a very famous French comedian.
Then I left to go continue working on my Exposé. It's a very tiring process to say the least.
À bientôt!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 23: Le premier jour de la semaine et je suis déja fatiguée. / The first day of the week and I am already tired.
Another Monday already?!? What is this craziness. It is hard to believe that today starts our 4th week in Avignon. A little over 3 weeks ago, I arrived in to a snow covered city that was nearly shut down. Now Avignon is alive and bustling (as attested to by the existence of the many cars and buses on the road that I still haven't gotten used to being there).
I woke up this morning planning to shower and get ready for the day. I headed out of my room and down the hallway where the shower is, only to find that the stairs to the attic are down, power tools are out, cords are everywhere in the hall, and Michel was doing something with all of it. - I come to find out tonight at dinner that they are building/renovating a new room up in the attic. So after encountering this road- or should I say, hallway- block, I went to the kitchen, ate some breakfast, went to my room for a little while, did some busy work, and then when I finally heard Michel bustling around elsewher (which meant he was no longer in the hallway), I took a shower... at nearly 11am.
I left the house for lunch after my already eventful morning at a little before noon. The Mistral had let up a little today, and it wasn't nearly as cold as it had been yesterday. After eating some bread with an herb/salt mix and olive oil this weekend at the dinner at my house, we tried to replicate it today at lunch. We couldn't find the herb/salt mix at Carrefour (the grocery store), so we improvised buying an herb mix and salt separately. Needless to say, it was nearly as delicious as the actual herb/salt mix with olive oil.
Every day brings a new encounter/exploration. While at the grocery store today (which is where you buy shampoo/shower & bath products, not at the pharmacy), I needed to buy conditioner. I had bought shampoo upon arriving in Avignon, but hadn't originally seen the need for conditioner. However with this crazy up and down, wet and dry weather, my hair has been crazy static-y and dry, so I decided to invest in some conditioner. With the help of a friend, I determined what was actually conditioner and what ended up being this after-shampoo leave-in cream. Out of the whole half aisle that was full shampoo, creams, and what I thought was conditioner, there only ended up being 1 option for conditioner.
I had two classes today: L'Histoire and Le Science Politique. At the end of the semester for History, we will have group projects. So being ahead of the game, our professor had us sign up for topics and groups today. Myself and two of my friends selected the topic on the European Union. It is very helpful how the history class overlaps with the Political Science class! The history class will be a great way to reinforce the information that I'm learning in the Political Science class. In the Political Science class today I could better understand what the professor was staying, but because of the acronyms that go along with governments/bureaucracies and specific political science terms, the class still sometimes goes over my head.
This week, Political Science meets for 3 times instead of 2 because next week he has to cancel class. So, my 20 minute presentation (called an Exposé) is on Thursday. Luckily, it looks like the reading I have to present is very straight forward, and though I'll probably have to ready it multiple times to solidify my comprehension of the material, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll understand all of it.
Between classes today, we finalized our list of what cities we want to visit on our "Tour de France" on our Winter Break, now we just have to book trains and hostels for those days/nights. We plan on going to the train station tomorrow to purchase tickets.
Last night for dinner, we ate fish (I think salmon) that had the skin and scales still on it (I had a fin on my piece). It freaked me out a little, but at least I knew it was fresh. It tasted great despite my initial confusion/awe at the presentation of the food. Tonight we had lamb, lentils, and rice. It never ceases to amaze me how delicious and filling such simple meals can be. I don't know if it's because they're fresh that they are so delicious, but I think that has got to do with it at least a little bit. Also, probably just the very fact that I'm in France adds to the tastiness of the meals!
À demain.
I woke up this morning planning to shower and get ready for the day. I headed out of my room and down the hallway where the shower is, only to find that the stairs to the attic are down, power tools are out, cords are everywhere in the hall, and Michel was doing something with all of it. - I come to find out tonight at dinner that they are building/renovating a new room up in the attic. So after encountering this road- or should I say, hallway- block, I went to the kitchen, ate some breakfast, went to my room for a little while, did some busy work, and then when I finally heard Michel bustling around elsewher (which meant he was no longer in the hallway), I took a shower... at nearly 11am.
I left the house for lunch after my already eventful morning at a little before noon. The Mistral had let up a little today, and it wasn't nearly as cold as it had been yesterday. After eating some bread with an herb/salt mix and olive oil this weekend at the dinner at my house, we tried to replicate it today at lunch. We couldn't find the herb/salt mix at Carrefour (the grocery store), so we improvised buying an herb mix and salt separately. Needless to say, it was nearly as delicious as the actual herb/salt mix with olive oil.
Every day brings a new encounter/exploration. While at the grocery store today (which is where you buy shampoo/shower & bath products, not at the pharmacy), I needed to buy conditioner. I had bought shampoo upon arriving in Avignon, but hadn't originally seen the need for conditioner. However with this crazy up and down, wet and dry weather, my hair has been crazy static-y and dry, so I decided to invest in some conditioner. With the help of a friend, I determined what was actually conditioner and what ended up being this after-shampoo leave-in cream. Out of the whole half aisle that was full shampoo, creams, and what I thought was conditioner, there only ended up being 1 option for conditioner.
I had two classes today: L'Histoire and Le Science Politique. At the end of the semester for History, we will have group projects. So being ahead of the game, our professor had us sign up for topics and groups today. Myself and two of my friends selected the topic on the European Union. It is very helpful how the history class overlaps with the Political Science class! The history class will be a great way to reinforce the information that I'm learning in the Political Science class. In the Political Science class today I could better understand what the professor was staying, but because of the acronyms that go along with governments/bureaucracies and specific political science terms, the class still sometimes goes over my head.
This week, Political Science meets for 3 times instead of 2 because next week he has to cancel class. So, my 20 minute presentation (called an Exposé) is on Thursday. Luckily, it looks like the reading I have to present is very straight forward, and though I'll probably have to ready it multiple times to solidify my comprehension of the material, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll understand all of it.
Between classes today, we finalized our list of what cities we want to visit on our "Tour de France" on our Winter Break, now we just have to book trains and hostels for those days/nights. We plan on going to the train station tomorrow to purchase tickets.
Last night for dinner, we ate fish (I think salmon) that had the skin and scales still on it (I had a fin on my piece). It freaked me out a little, but at least I knew it was fresh. It tasted great despite my initial confusion/awe at the presentation of the food. Tonight we had lamb, lentils, and rice. It never ceases to amaze me how delicious and filling such simple meals can be. I don't know if it's because they're fresh that they are so delicious, but I think that has got to do with it at least a little bit. Also, probably just the very fact that I'm in France adds to the tastiness of the meals!
À demain.
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