The soirée was really fun last night. We didn't actually dance but it was fantastic to just watch the people dancing. The twisting, twirling, spinning, dipping, and fast steps were just amazing. I wish I had taken some pictures, but it would have been awkward/bizarre/inappropriate to do so. Anyway, the three of us sat and watched until about 1:30am.
This morning, Michel said it went well. He was glad to hear that we had fun. He thought my friends were nice and was glad to hear we enjoyed watching the dancers. He said he did the same thing quite often - it's like watching a theater show, etc.
I left for lunch with my friends outside. Yes, outside. It was beautiful today. We bought sandwiches and sat by a tree in the Place de l'Horloge. After that, we got ice cream/gelato - I got a scoop of apricot (l'abricot). From the taste of it, I think it was ice cream not gelato, but with the flavors of gelato. None the less, it was delicious.
Then we headed to my house, I grabbed my stuff for studying, and headed over to Mirel's house. There is an outdoor patio and garden at her house. We sat out on the patio and studied for about 4 hours. I then headed home and took a little break from studying.
For dinner, we had "steak" (a hamburger), cooked zucchini in herbs, and homemade french fries. For desert, Claudie made an apple tart with cinnamon on top. Thin, light, and delicious!
Watched a movie with the French actor, Vincent Lindon, who was in a recent, highly celebrated French movie. Last night the French version of the Oscars, the Césars, was on, and he was nominated for an award for his role in the recent film, "Welcome."
Then, came back to my room and studied for my exams which start on Tuesday. I am glad I only have 4 (because of my University course). It makes studying less stressful.
À bientot.
Bon chance pendant le mois de mars!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Day 49: J'ai étudié. Maintenant, je vais danser. / I studied. Now, I will dance.
Last night, I spent the night at a friend's house studying and then sleeping over.
The other day at dinner we had cooked spinach mixed in with pasta and salmon ( Yummy!). Claudie and Michel were talking about how little kids in France don't like spinach and asked me if it was the same. I told them the story about how my sister didn't like spinach. My mom told her that Dorothy's (from the Wizard of Oz, my sister's favorite person at the time) favorite food was spinach. So my sister started eating spinach. Claudie and Michel thought this was so cute! Claudie was trying to figure out who I meant my Dorothy. I didn't know how to translate the Wizard of Oz into french. I described it as a girl who walks down a path with a bunch of animals to visit someone. Not quite specific, but she got it. She remembered the name of it (after a couple minutes of struggle), which is "Dorothy et le Magicien d'Oz". She loved the movie with Judy Garland.
Anyway, last night for dinner we had fried eggs with tomatoes and then rice with vegetables (basically a stir fry) thing. Afterward, we broke out the chocolate covered cranberries and blueberries that my Mom and Dad sent me. I didn't know the translation for blueberries, but they ate them and tried them, and seemed to like them. Ultimately, they decided that blueberries were "cassis" which actually translates to "black currants". I have since researched and learned that the word for blueberry is "myrtille". Claudie and Michel are having me keep the chocolate covered items in my room because they said if I leave them in the kitchen they will eat all of them!
Also last night at dinner, Claudie mentioned a store in Paris that sells foods from all over the world. She was wondering if they might have "chocolate covered stuff" there, like what I brought/my parents sent. She also mentioned that there is a whole aisle of all different types of coffee, which she seemed very excited about. She said that she would look for the name of it for me and then if/when I go back to Paris, I can go there.
So last night, after watching part of a crime/mystery show called "Hollander," I went over to Mirel's and studied until about 1am. Then we fell asleep to watching the 3rd Harry Potter.
This morning we got up, got ready for the day, and went to Les Halles, the fruit/meat/vegetable/etc. market in Avignon (Place Pie). I can't wait to go back!!! Everything smells so delicious and it's a lot cheaper than at the local grocery store. I think I'll go back there after my "interview appointment" on Monday that I have for my visa. Yes, I have another appointment for visa stuff. I have to bring in all my paperwork proving my enrollment in a program, etc. But anyway, les Halles was AWESOME! We saw a guy playing guitar behind one of the stands. The vendors at the stand were selling oysters on the half shell with a taste test of white wine! Les Halles has a little bit of France, PA, and Cape Cod all rolled up into one!
Tonight is another salsa soirée! I'm super excited. Michel and Claudie get so excited talking about the soiree, their faces almost light up. They've been working really hard to fix up the theater. They put in new hard wood floors in the main theater area, repainted parts of the theater, etc.
À demain!
The other day at dinner we had cooked spinach mixed in with pasta and salmon ( Yummy!). Claudie and Michel were talking about how little kids in France don't like spinach and asked me if it was the same. I told them the story about how my sister didn't like spinach. My mom told her that Dorothy's (from the Wizard of Oz, my sister's favorite person at the time) favorite food was spinach. So my sister started eating spinach. Claudie and Michel thought this was so cute! Claudie was trying to figure out who I meant my Dorothy. I didn't know how to translate the Wizard of Oz into french. I described it as a girl who walks down a path with a bunch of animals to visit someone. Not quite specific, but she got it. She remembered the name of it (after a couple minutes of struggle), which is "Dorothy et le Magicien d'Oz". She loved the movie with Judy Garland.
Anyway, last night for dinner we had fried eggs with tomatoes and then rice with vegetables (basically a stir fry) thing. Afterward, we broke out the chocolate covered cranberries and blueberries that my Mom and Dad sent me. I didn't know the translation for blueberries, but they ate them and tried them, and seemed to like them. Ultimately, they decided that blueberries were "cassis" which actually translates to "black currants". I have since researched and learned that the word for blueberry is "myrtille". Claudie and Michel are having me keep the chocolate covered items in my room because they said if I leave them in the kitchen they will eat all of them!
Also last night at dinner, Claudie mentioned a store in Paris that sells foods from all over the world. She was wondering if they might have "chocolate covered stuff" there, like what I brought/my parents sent. She also mentioned that there is a whole aisle of all different types of coffee, which she seemed very excited about. She said that she would look for the name of it for me and then if/when I go back to Paris, I can go there.
So last night, after watching part of a crime/mystery show called "Hollander," I went over to Mirel's and studied until about 1am. Then we fell asleep to watching the 3rd Harry Potter.
This morning we got up, got ready for the day, and went to Les Halles, the fruit/meat/vegetable/etc. market in Avignon (Place Pie). I can't wait to go back!!! Everything smells so delicious and it's a lot cheaper than at the local grocery store. I think I'll go back there after my "interview appointment" on Monday that I have for my visa. Yes, I have another appointment for visa stuff. I have to bring in all my paperwork proving my enrollment in a program, etc. But anyway, les Halles was AWESOME! We saw a guy playing guitar behind one of the stands. The vendors at the stand were selling oysters on the half shell with a taste test of white wine! Les Halles has a little bit of France, PA, and Cape Cod all rolled up into one!
Tonight is another salsa soirée! I'm super excited. Michel and Claudie get so excited talking about the soiree, their faces almost light up. They've been working really hard to fix up the theater. They put in new hard wood floors in the main theater area, repainted parts of the theater, etc.
À demain!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Day 48: Le rendez-vous chez medecin./The doctor's appointment.
This morning I had to wake up for a doctor's appointment. We all had to go for visa stuff. They wanted to make sure that we don't have spreadable diseases to pass along, etc. We hopped on a bus to go there and got there a little early. None of the people there spoke English.
First they took our height and weight. For the height she asked me if it sounded right, and I was like, we use different units in the United States, but I didn't do a very good job explaining. Then for the eye exam, she pointed to the line and I started to read the whole line (which at about 9:30 in the morning is hard in French since a lot of the letters are pronounced opposite for example the letter "i" is pronounced "ee"). Then she gave me a look, and looked at the other person working with her and then just had me read one letter. After that was done, we had an x-ray and then we were done. The same doctor asked me about three or four times if I smoked.
The rest of the day transpired uneventfully. Our classes had been moved to later in the day because almost everyone - except for the returning students - had doctor's appointments in the morning during classes. The weather was gorgeous. I went home and changed out of my 3 layers of clothes that I had put on this morning and wore just a sweater. Yes, it was that nice. However, Michel was worried that my neck/throat would be cold. I reassured him that it was nice out!
I had art history class, then finalized and submitted my OPD application.
Now I will be headed to dinner in about a half hour and then spending the night at Mirel's house. We are going to have a little study soirée at her house tonight and then maybe watch a movie after an intense night of studying. Our midterms are next week. Lucky for me, I only have 4 because of my class at the University: 1 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, and 1 on Friday.
Bises.
First they took our height and weight. For the height she asked me if it sounded right, and I was like, we use different units in the United States, but I didn't do a very good job explaining. Then for the eye exam, she pointed to the line and I started to read the whole line (which at about 9:30 in the morning is hard in French since a lot of the letters are pronounced opposite for example the letter "i" is pronounced "ee"). Then she gave me a look, and looked at the other person working with her and then just had me read one letter. After that was done, we had an x-ray and then we were done. The same doctor asked me about three or four times if I smoked.
The rest of the day transpired uneventfully. Our classes had been moved to later in the day because almost everyone - except for the returning students - had doctor's appointments in the morning during classes. The weather was gorgeous. I went home and changed out of my 3 layers of clothes that I had put on this morning and wore just a sweater. Yes, it was that nice. However, Michel was worried that my neck/throat would be cold. I reassured him that it was nice out!
I had art history class, then finalized and submitted my OPD application.
Now I will be headed to dinner in about a half hour and then spending the night at Mirel's house. We are going to have a little study soirée at her house tonight and then maybe watch a movie after an intense night of studying. Our midterms are next week. Lucky for me, I only have 4 because of my class at the University: 1 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, and 1 on Friday.
Bises.
Day 47: Finalement, le cours à l'Université./Finally, the course at the University!
So my watch battery died at the beginning of the week and I'm dying without it. Having a watch is the only method I can use to be on time to things ... or to confirm how late I am. But anyway, that's besides the point.
Today I had Lit class where we finally finished reading aloud and "explaining" our selected Henri Michaux 'poem'. If you know about or have read any Henri Michaux, then you know why I used quotation marks around poem. It was our second class session of reading them aloud...
I had my University class today for the first time. Jenn (the other student from the University with whom I am taking the class) and I walked down together. We arrived at the classroom only to there being no one there. Another girl was waiting outside, but that was all. We conversed with her, noticed a post-it on the door saying the room for Art History had changed but it said a different time on it, so we (well at least I did) assumed that it didn't apply to our class which started at 5pm, not at 11am. We walked in the general direction of the History office, hoping to figure out our dilemma, and in doing so we walked by the room that had been listed on the post-it. On a hunch, Jenn thought that the Professor (Madame Deronne) might have changed our class to that room as well. She was right.
So we got to class a little late but that didn't matter. The class is in a large lecture hall, but with probably no more than 15 to 20 people. Many of them are adults, and Jenn explained that often times professors from other departments or other schools will audit other courses.
We learned about Flemish artists who painted still-lifes (or as they are known in french "la nature morte"). The ones we looked at today were ones that contained fruits and flowers. I could follow probably 90% of what Madame Deronne was saying, the one thing I had problems with were dates (which in art history are very important). Just like we do in english sometimes the french say, for example 1492, "fourteen ninety-two," "fourteen hundred ninety-two" (and the french add another form) "one thousand four hundred ninety-two"...so I never knew what to expect because she used all three forms interchangeably. I'm sure I will adjust to this, but for today it was a little frustrating. However, besides that minor concern (and it truly is minor), I had tons of fun in the class. I think that I will learn a lot and that it will be very interesting. Since we missed the first day, I'm not sure what the mid-semester and final assessments are like, but whatever they are, I'll deal.
We went up to her after class, introduced ourselves - well, Jenn introduced me because she already has taken a class with Madame Deronne - and we signed up for the class.
Got home, we ate an early dinner because Claudie was going out with a friend to see the movie, "I love you, Phillip Morris."
Michel and I watched a news investigation show that explored:
We then watched a little of the Gangs of New York. ... and now I'm here.
Good night!
Today I had Lit class where we finally finished reading aloud and "explaining" our selected Henri Michaux 'poem'. If you know about or have read any Henri Michaux, then you know why I used quotation marks around poem. It was our second class session of reading them aloud...
I had my University class today for the first time. Jenn (the other student from the University with whom I am taking the class) and I walked down together. We arrived at the classroom only to there being no one there. Another girl was waiting outside, but that was all. We conversed with her, noticed a post-it on the door saying the room for Art History had changed but it said a different time on it, so we (well at least I did) assumed that it didn't apply to our class which started at 5pm, not at 11am. We walked in the general direction of the History office, hoping to figure out our dilemma, and in doing so we walked by the room that had been listed on the post-it. On a hunch, Jenn thought that the Professor (Madame Deronne) might have changed our class to that room as well. She was right.
So we got to class a little late but that didn't matter. The class is in a large lecture hall, but with probably no more than 15 to 20 people. Many of them are adults, and Jenn explained that often times professors from other departments or other schools will audit other courses.
We learned about Flemish artists who painted still-lifes (or as they are known in french "la nature morte"). The ones we looked at today were ones that contained fruits and flowers. I could follow probably 90% of what Madame Deronne was saying, the one thing I had problems with were dates (which in art history are very important). Just like we do in english sometimes the french say, for example 1492, "fourteen ninety-two," "fourteen hundred ninety-two" (and the french add another form) "one thousand four hundred ninety-two"...so I never knew what to expect because she used all three forms interchangeably. I'm sure I will adjust to this, but for today it was a little frustrating. However, besides that minor concern (and it truly is minor), I had tons of fun in the class. I think that I will learn a lot and that it will be very interesting. Since we missed the first day, I'm not sure what the mid-semester and final assessments are like, but whatever they are, I'll deal.
We went up to her after class, introduced ourselves - well, Jenn introduced me because she already has taken a class with Madame Deronne - and we signed up for the class.
Got home, we ate an early dinner because Claudie was going out with a friend to see the movie, "I love you, Phillip Morris."
Michel and I watched a news investigation show that explored:
- being a DJ as a profession, and DJ "school"
- the illegal chopping/deforestation and exportation of exotic/rare trees/wood for building houses in France, which is the new popular thing in France (they have like "pre-made" wood houses - you just select the type of wood you want, what size, and other such specifications)
- how Roquefort cheese is declining/fading/losing popularity
- the "facebook planet"
We then watched a little of the Gangs of New York. ... and now I'm here.
Good night!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Day 46: Je ne sais pas. / I don't know
So today was a day just like any other Wednesday. Three classes - Lit., History, and Poli. Sci.
Then after that, the chorale.
I take the bus every week to the chorale practice. But today was more interesting. French people on the bus chatted with me. Asked me where I was from, told me I can thus speak English very well, asked me where I was headed on the bus, told me she had visited London, etc.
Returned chez moi and ate dinner in front of the tv because there was a very good documentary on about sites in Paris.
So things I've learned/love/find interesting about France:
1. Baguettes are cheap and delicious.
2. Food is fresh, almost always.
3. Weather here is a lot like New England weather, it changes constantly. Online can predict 60% chance of rain, and it will end up to be 60s and sunny.
4. French often can't differentiate between a British accent and an American accent. When they ask you if you speak English, you always need to clarify that you're from the States, not England.
5. Fruit is super cheap. I can literally purchase 6 clementines for under a euro.
6. The french know all about American politics.
7. At least two-thirds of the songs on the radio are in english. They play Lady Gaga and Kesha a lot. It's kind of obnoxious.
8. The stereotype about french people having B.O. is true. But I think I've figured out why - they bike everywhere, and fast!
9. However, the stereotype about french people being rude I have found to be false. Probably 90% of the people I've encountered have been polite and helpful, sometimes even more friendly than people in the US.
10. French fashion is awesome and unique! I wish I could replicate it. ... I try, and can get some of it, but I think you have to be french to fully pull it off.
C'est tout!
Then after that, the chorale.
I take the bus every week to the chorale practice. But today was more interesting. French people on the bus chatted with me. Asked me where I was from, told me I can thus speak English very well, asked me where I was headed on the bus, told me she had visited London, etc.
Returned chez moi and ate dinner in front of the tv because there was a very good documentary on about sites in Paris.
So things I've learned/love/find interesting about France:
1. Baguettes are cheap and delicious.
2. Food is fresh, almost always.
3. Weather here is a lot like New England weather, it changes constantly. Online can predict 60% chance of rain, and it will end up to be 60s and sunny.
4. French often can't differentiate between a British accent and an American accent. When they ask you if you speak English, you always need to clarify that you're from the States, not England.
5. Fruit is super cheap. I can literally purchase 6 clementines for under a euro.
6. The french know all about American politics.
7. At least two-thirds of the songs on the radio are in english. They play Lady Gaga and Kesha a lot. It's kind of obnoxious.
8. The stereotype about french people having B.O. is true. But I think I've figured out why - they bike everywhere, and fast!
9. However, the stereotype about french people being rude I have found to be false. Probably 90% of the people I've encountered have been polite and helpful, sometimes even more friendly than people in the US.
10. French fashion is awesome and unique! I wish I could replicate it. ... I try, and can get some of it, but I think you have to be french to fully pull it off.
C'est tout!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 45: Il faisait beau aujourd'hui! / It was beautiful today!
Today was the first really warm day we've had in Avignon since I've been here. I checked the weather this morning and it said mid 50s with 60% chance of rain. So I packed my umbrella and my raincoat, put in my contacts so I wouldn't have to deal with raindrops on my glasses.
I went to Literature class from 11am to 12:30pm. Then I left class and walked to the post office. I had to pick up the package I received from my Mom and Dad. It had been delivered to the Institute but since I was on break last week, the Institute was open limited hours. So when they tried to deliver the package (the postman rides around on a bike with a little basket!) no one was there to receive it. After leaving the post office with my very heavy package, I came out to find that it was sunny, bright, and almost - dare I say - hot!
The rest of my day was uneventful. Michel and Claudie were very excited to receive more chocolate covered things (nuts, berries, etc.). We had ratatouille tart (tart not to be confused with quiche) - very delicious (as usual)!
There was a cool street playing band (tuba, trumpet, etc.) that was playing all day - literally for about 6 hours until they were kicked out by the police!
That's it for today.
I went to Literature class from 11am to 12:30pm. Then I left class and walked to the post office. I had to pick up the package I received from my Mom and Dad. It had been delivered to the Institute but since I was on break last week, the Institute was open limited hours. So when they tried to deliver the package (the postman rides around on a bike with a little basket!) no one was there to receive it. After leaving the post office with my very heavy package, I came out to find that it was sunny, bright, and almost - dare I say - hot!
The rest of my day was uneventful. Michel and Claudie were very excited to receive more chocolate covered things (nuts, berries, etc.). We had ratatouille tart (tart not to be confused with quiche) - very delicious (as usual)!
There was a cool street playing band (tuba, trumpet, etc.) that was playing all day - literally for about 6 hours until they were kicked out by the police!
That's it for today.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 44: L'iPod et l'iPhone / The iPod and the iPhone
So just a quick note about today because I would like to get some beauty sleep. I've got to keep up appearances with all these classy, sophisticated Frenchies! :-)
After dinner, we went to watch TV as usual, and Michel was sitting on his computer. He looked over at me and asked "As-tu un iPod?" (phonetically: Ah too uhn ee pod?), meaning "do you have an iPod?" to which I responded "Oui" thinking nothing of it. I then ended up helping him add music to his iPod and his iPhone for the next 30-45 minutes. It was actually kind of fun because I had to explain to him in French what I was doing so he could know for future. However, it was a bit tricky to actually add music to his iPod because it was full so first I had to figure out how to eliminate files from his iPod. Not a problem, right? We've all done it plenty of times for our own iPods! Well, I've certainly done it for mine, but that was using a Mac - he has a PC - and that was using iTunes in English, not French!
After the semi-technology and semi-language barriers were overcome, we ended up getting the songs he wanted onto his iPod as well as onto his iPhone. I wished that Celine was here - aka the only iPhone "expert" I know (who even has a light saber app on her phone!) to help with the iPhone stuff, but it all worked out in the end.
Needless to say, it reminded me of home, helping my mom and grandmother on their computers and with their technology woes! There's nothing like a little taste of home to make you feel comforted!
À demain!
After dinner, we went to watch TV as usual, and Michel was sitting on his computer. He looked over at me and asked "As-tu un iPod?" (phonetically: Ah too uhn ee pod?), meaning "do you have an iPod?" to which I responded "Oui" thinking nothing of it. I then ended up helping him add music to his iPod and his iPhone for the next 30-45 minutes. It was actually kind of fun because I had to explain to him in French what I was doing so he could know for future. However, it was a bit tricky to actually add music to his iPod because it was full so first I had to figure out how to eliminate files from his iPod. Not a problem, right? We've all done it plenty of times for our own iPods! Well, I've certainly done it for mine, but that was using a Mac - he has a PC - and that was using iTunes in English, not French!
After the semi-technology and semi-language barriers were overcome, we ended up getting the songs he wanted onto his iPod as well as onto his iPhone. I wished that Celine was here - aka the only iPhone "expert" I know (who even has a light saber app on her phone!) to help with the iPhone stuff, but it all worked out in the end.
Needless to say, it reminded me of home, helping my mom and grandmother on their computers and with their technology woes! There's nothing like a little taste of home to make you feel comforted!
À demain!
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