So tomorrow when I leave from seeing people at the Institute, I can't say "À demain" (essentially, "See you tomorrow"), because I won't be having a "tomorrow" in Avignon tomorrow. That's insane. I can't believe it.
"Parce qu'on sait jamais, regarde vers la haut."
"Because one never knows. Look up, think to the future."
I woke up this morning at 8am. I left my huge tall windows open (which by the way are awesome and I'm going to miss) because it was really warm, and especially since my bed is lofted and heat rises. SO anyways, the crazy Avignon guido hooligans were being loud and obnoxious at 8am this morning and plus, I think I "turned into" a light sleeper for the past week since I'm so torn about leaving Avignon and going back to the US.
Claudie said "Bon nuit, le dernier."
So I studied in bed for about a half hour (I reviewed my flashcards for my Literature class) then got up and started packing. I wasn't too sure that I was going to fit everything but I did in the end (I didn't finish packing until this afternoon). I will feel a lot better once that suitcase is approved (if its more than 50 lbs it can be checked but with a fee. If its over 70 lbs I'm not allowed to check it) and checked, and I'm through security.
I showered (my last shower in this shower without a "permanent" shower head) then got dressed for the day. I had really worked up a sweat packing! :-) I went to school a few minutes early to say hello to everyone and do a last minute review. The professor thought my flashcards were cute. The exam took over 2 hours for me (which is our allotted time) and some students took over a half hour extra.
Came home and finished packing.
Theater association/company "reunion" - they talked business then we ate dinner.
Two major highlights they asked me that I'll share:
1. what was surprising to me when I arrived in France? I was like, nothing, I can't really remember. They were like, nothing. And I was like, well I don't really know, it's been a 4 months since I arrived. They all laughed!
2. Then they asked me to explain what the word "merdique" is in english. I explained. If you don't speak French, then look it up on google translate or wordreference.com.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Le 107ieme jour: Ç'allait
Exam this morning: 9am
Time I got up this morning: 7:30am
Time I finished my exam: 10:40am
Going to bed at the same time as Claudie last night: timeless
Well okay, not really...it was 2am. I could read the clock no matter how wacky I was feeling. But you get my drift...maybe.
Exams were good. I felt good when I left them, and felt even better just by the fact that I was finished.
Bought stamps to send postcards. Yes, I know I will return home before the postcards get there, but I still want to send them anyway.
Went up on the roof one last time, even though it's interdit. I had to enjoy the 75F weather here before I go home to where it has recently been at least 20 degrees colder.
Dinner, tv, studying, paper writing. ... all successfully completed.
It is so hard to leave. I can't believe it. Four months ago I arrived and there was snow and ice on the ground, and I could barely figure out what people were saying to me. Now 8.5 times out of 10, I understand what people are saying to be the first time they speak and 9.75 times out of 10 I understand the second time. I can navigate my way around Avignon and often get mistaken for a native.
Tomorrow is my last night in Avignon, my second to last night in France for this semester.
Time I got up this morning: 7:30am
Time I finished my exam: 10:40am
Going to bed at the same time as Claudie last night: timeless
Well okay, not really...it was 2am. I could read the clock no matter how wacky I was feeling. But you get my drift...maybe.
Exams were good. I felt good when I left them, and felt even better just by the fact that I was finished.
Bought stamps to send postcards. Yes, I know I will return home before the postcards get there, but I still want to send them anyway.
Went up on the roof one last time, even though it's interdit. I had to enjoy the 75F weather here before I go home to where it has recently been at least 20 degrees colder.
Dinner, tv, studying, paper writing. ... all successfully completed.
It is so hard to leave. I can't believe it. Four months ago I arrived and there was snow and ice on the ground, and I could barely figure out what people were saying to me. Now 8.5 times out of 10, I understand what people are saying to be the first time they speak and 9.75 times out of 10 I understand the second time. I can navigate my way around Avignon and often get mistaken for a native.
Tomorrow is my last night in Avignon, my second to last night in France for this semester.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Le 106ieme jour/T-4: Un bain de boue./A mud bath.
Brief bullets/summary of my day
.Met with a University representative for the Avignon University. She is supposed to be the International Student Relations Coordinator. I've never met her before. I leave in 4 days and have one more class session at the University.
.Sylvie (our director) treated us IAU/University students to lunch outside at a restaurant in Place Louis Pasteur.
.Did some last minute gift/tourist shopping
.Spent the rest of that time studying for Poli Sci. and History exams that I have tomorrow.
.Met with a University representative for the Avignon University. She is supposed to be the International Student Relations Coordinator. I've never met her before. I leave in 4 days and have one more class session at the University.
.Sylvie (our director) treated us IAU/University students to lunch outside at a restaurant in Place Louis Pasteur.
.Did some last minute gift/tourist shopping
.Spent the rest of that time studying for Poli Sci. and History exams that I have tomorrow.
~~~
As my days in France wind down, everyday I find myself thinking of new things that I will miss. Here is my list from today:
.the church hymn that the church bells in Place St Didier play at noon and 7pm that no one seems to know the name of
.the classical music that the neighbor across the street plays spontaneously on random days
.being able to speak in "code" aka English...when I go home, I'll have to find people I can speak in "code" with aka French
.inexpensive "bubbly" (carbonated) water
.strong, delicious, dark coffee (even the instant coffee can sometimes be better than brewed coffee in the US)
.walking under the canopy of the fruit, veggie, bread market and smelling the fresh aroma of all the delicious smells that are captured under the overhang
.the classical music that the neighbor across the street plays spontaneously on random days
.being able to speak in "code" aka English...when I go home, I'll have to find people I can speak in "code" with aka French
.inexpensive "bubbly" (carbonated) water
.strong, delicious, dark coffee (even the instant coffee can sometimes be better than brewed coffee in the US)
.walking under the canopy of the fruit, veggie, bread market and smelling the fresh aroma of all the delicious smells that are captured under the overhang
Le 105ieme jour/T-5: Le dernier jour des cours
-Last day of classes: history and poli sci.
-Michel's last day in France with me. He leaves tomorrow a.m. at 7h45 for his flight from Marseille to Paris and then Paris to Togo.
-Gave them gifts because he was leaving. I gave her the Avatar DVD and I gave him the "singing" motion sensor cicada. Woody loved the cicada, he jumped all around. It was so cute. They really appreciated the letter that I wrote as well. It's amazing how much some honest and kind words can mean.
-We watched Arsène Lupin - a drama/mystery show based off books. Claudie said they're similar to the books of Agatha Christie, and they are from the same time period, but instead by a French author, Maurice Leblanc. She read them as a child and loved them! I am going to look for them tomorrow when I am out doing some brief last minute gift shopping.
-Took two group photos. The first one we weren't ready for, but it still came out well of me and Claudie. The second one is the best photo I have of Michel. I think that he just doesn't look at cameras. :-) I cropped the photos of the pairs (Claudie and I, Michel and I), but also kept the originals, the best one of which I will send to Claudie when I get back to the States.
-Michel's last day in France with me. He leaves tomorrow a.m. at 7h45 for his flight from Marseille to Paris and then Paris to Togo.
-Gave them gifts because he was leaving. I gave her the Avatar DVD and I gave him the "singing" motion sensor cicada. Woody loved the cicada, he jumped all around. It was so cute. They really appreciated the letter that I wrote as well. It's amazing how much some honest and kind words can mean.
-We watched Arsène Lupin - a drama/mystery show based off books. Claudie said they're similar to the books of Agatha Christie, and they are from the same time period, but instead by a French author, Maurice Leblanc. She read them as a child and loved them! I am going to look for them tomorrow when I am out doing some brief last minute gift shopping.
-Took two group photos. The first one we weren't ready for, but it still came out well of me and Claudie. The second one is the best photo I have of Michel. I think that he just doesn't look at cameras. :-) I cropped the photos of the pairs (Claudie and I, Michel and I), but also kept the originals, the best one of which I will send to Claudie when I get back to the States.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Le 104ieme jour/T-6: J'ai baladé.
Got up this morning, went to the free market and got some cadeaux for people. It's very overwhelming, there are so many things to choose from and pick between. Mirel met me there after I'd been browsing for about a half hour. She also bought a gift or two. We went back to her house and ate lunch outside on the patio under the purple flowers (seen in the picture).
I returned home and je me suis installée (I got comfortable/situated) on the terrace and 'did some homework', though it was more of an effort and less of actual results. Claudie and Michel had gone to Saintes Mairies de la Mer with Woody.
They came back and gave Woody a bath - which he doesn't like. However, it was amusing to see him all skinny with his fur flat from being wet. He then proceeded to come out on the patio and rub off along the wall, pacing back and forth along the wall to dry off. Claudie came and gave me a little gift - they had bought me the salt and herb mix that she uses and has on the table to use at every meal. Apparently it is special to Saintes Mairies de la Mer, or at least the type she gave me is.
For dinner, we ate a little earlier, and by a little earlier, I mean like maybe 5 minutes, but we'd been eating later the last few days, so it seemed extra early. Anyway, we had chicken (poulet rôti), green beans (haricots verts), and french fries (frites américains).
After dinner was the Molieres, named after the famous french playwright, Moliere (in case you didn't know who he was). This awards ceremony is for french theater only - best actor/actress, best up-and-coming actor/actress, best costumes, best director, etc. There were a lot of people that Claudie and Michel knew or used to work with. I still find that so cool that they know people who are on tv in awards shows.
Michel leaves Tuesday morning for Togo, so I will be giving him his gift of a chirping, motion censor cicada. He likes them according to Claudie, so I found one over Spring Break in Cassis.
Bises.
I returned home and je me suis installée (I got comfortable/situated) on the terrace and 'did some homework', though it was more of an effort and less of actual results. Claudie and Michel had gone to Saintes Mairies de la Mer with Woody.
They came back and gave Woody a bath - which he doesn't like. However, it was amusing to see him all skinny with his fur flat from being wet. He then proceeded to come out on the patio and rub off along the wall, pacing back and forth along the wall to dry off. Claudie came and gave me a little gift - they had bought me the salt and herb mix that she uses and has on the table to use at every meal. Apparently it is special to Saintes Mairies de la Mer, or at least the type she gave me is.
For dinner, we ate a little earlier, and by a little earlier, I mean like maybe 5 minutes, but we'd been eating later the last few days, so it seemed extra early. Anyway, we had chicken (poulet rôti), green beans (haricots verts), and french fries (frites américains).
After dinner was the Molieres, named after the famous french playwright, Moliere (in case you didn't know who he was). This awards ceremony is for french theater only - best actor/actress, best up-and-coming actor/actress, best costumes, best director, etc. There were a lot of people that Claudie and Michel knew or used to work with. I still find that so cool that they know people who are on tv in awards shows.
Michel leaves Tuesday morning for Togo, so I will be giving him his gift of a chirping, motion censor cicada. He likes them according to Claudie, so I found one over Spring Break in Cassis.
Bises.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Le 103ieme jour / T-7: Saintes-Mairies de la Mer
I always start with the "cons" and end with the "pros." It's better to end on a positive note!
La journée: Saintes Mairies de la Mer
Cons:
-I have bug bites.
-It was cloudy and humid.
-My feet straps weren't appropriately adjusted, thus I "bounced" when we trotted instead of moving with the horse.
-Unable to take a lot of pics.
Pros:
+I went to Sts Mairies de la Mer - where Claudie used to go as a child on vacations!
+Went to the beach and collected cool spiral shells!
+Went horseback riding in the dunes!
+Got a great photo of Mirel!
+Saw flamingos! (Who knew, flamingos in France!!??!!)
+My horse went slowly!
+I didn't fall off!
La journée: Saintes Mairies de la Mer
-I have bug bites.
-It was cloudy and humid.
-My feet straps weren't appropriately adjusted, thus I "bounced" when we trotted instead of moving with the horse.
-Unable to take a lot of pics.
Pros:
+I went to Sts Mairies de la Mer - where Claudie used to go as a child on vacations!
+Went to the beach and collected cool spiral shells!
+Went horseback riding in the dunes!
+Got a great photo of Mirel!
+Saw flamingos! (Who knew, flamingos in France!!??!!)
+My horse went slowly!
+I didn't fall off!
La soirée: La soirée salsa
Cons:
-My friends left early.
-The photo I tried to take with Claudie and Michel didn't come out too well.
-Sometimes I have two left feet (...Hmmm, I wonder if there's a translation into french for that?)
Pros:
+I got a photo with Claudie & Michel. If nothing more, I can show people a picture of them even if it isn't that good a photo.
+I got mistaken for a French person.
+I got asked to (and accepted) dance!
+I got taught salsa basics!
+Took a "timer photo" with Woody. New profile picture perhaps? :-)
-My friends left early.
-The photo I tried to take with Claudie and Michel didn't come out too well.
-Sometimes I have two left feet (...Hmmm, I wonder if there's a translation into french for that?)
Pros:
+I got a photo with Claudie & Michel. If nothing more, I can show people a picture of them even if it isn't that good a photo.
+I got mistaken for a French person.
+I got asked to (and accepted) dance!
+I got taught salsa basics!
+Took a "timer photo" with Woody. New profile picture perhaps? :-)
Le 102ieme jour: Le dernier vendredi en Avignon./The last Friday in Avignon.
Art History this morning: had class where some students presented and then we had a little picnic in the garden by the tourist office and then went to a museum on Rue Victor Hugo by Porte de St. Marguerite. It was a former mansion and there were tapestries, porcelain cups/dishes, old furniture, etc. Nothing special, but it was one last "hurrah" with the art history prof, who told me when/if I come back to France I need to let her know and that I need to keep her updated on what I end up doing with my life. She was super excited at the beginning of the semester to find out that I wanted to go into museum work. She's so sweet and super cute.
Came home, watched some tv, then went over to Mirel's, hung out, and watched some tv. Yes, I'm sitting in my/her room watching tv, but we just needed some chill time.
I returned home, had dinner, watched Boulevard du Palais - a french police/crime show kind of like a mix of Law&Order and CSI, though Claudie strongly dislikes "Les Experts" as CSI is called in French.
After that, went over the guy's house who is in the Foreign Legion, from Colorado. Most of the IAU students went over there to "celebrate" the last weekend. He also has friends who are from Argentina, the Ukraine, and Germany.
Now I am home, pumped to go to St Marie de la Mer tomorrow, even if it is predicted to be cloudy weather. I don't care...I'm going horse back riding and then sitting on the beach! :-)
À demain.
Came home, watched some tv, then went over to Mirel's, hung out, and watched some tv. Yes, I'm sitting in my/her room watching tv, but we just needed some chill time.
I returned home, had dinner, watched Boulevard du Palais - a french police/crime show kind of like a mix of Law&Order and CSI, though Claudie strongly dislikes "Les Experts" as CSI is called in French.
After that, went over the guy's house who is in the Foreign Legion, from Colorado. Most of the IAU students went over there to "celebrate" the last weekend. He also has friends who are from Argentina, the Ukraine, and Germany.
Now I am home, pumped to go to St Marie de la Mer tomorrow, even if it is predicted to be cloudy weather. I don't care...I'm going horse back riding and then sitting on the beach! :-)
À demain.
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