Apres la France

Out of all the options available to me for study abroad, I chose France because I've already been to Spain and I wanted to experience something new. Also, being of French descent (creole), I wanted to see the origin of my heritage. I surprised myself out there; while in Spain I was more reserved and inhibited, thus I did not truly experience the culture. In France, I was more open to pretty much everything. From cooking classes, to swimming in deep waters, to eating zucchini and tomatoes, I've knocked down my walls of inhibition. Furthermore, I think I will be able to study abroad for a semester now. This was the perfect stepping stone from three weeks in Spain to six months in Japan, hopefully. While overseas, I decided that I would double minor in Spanish and French. Languages and international cultures are my passion, so instead of following a safe path, I've decided to follow what makes me happy (and the safe one too). Basically, this experience abroad has helped solidify my plans. I now know that Spain, France, and hopefully Japan will be my focal points in my career. Some future goals are to acquire a Master's Degree in Japanese and/or French studies.

As far as how the culture affected me, truthfully, it wasn't what I expected. We all have preconceived notions of other people, places, etc. France is beautiful and over there I breathe, I live, I love. It is so laid-back and calm, so free, so alive. I didn't run into people who were negative towards me. Matter of fact, they were all so excited and nice! They know the stereotypes, such as "All Texans love their state," which is very true (I'm from Texas). They adore Obama. It was so easy for me to relate to their culture too because of my Creole heritage. Some things I already knew: Mardi Gras, boudin, and such. Surprisingly, people didn't think I was American. They thought I was from Martinique, and I liked it that way. I could slide right on into the midst of them without them knowing, except for sometimes when I had trouble speaking. Because of this opportunity, I know where I want to go in live, figuratively and literally. I honestly think I would still be searching, and still be unsure had I not been graced with this chance. So thank you to all who made it possible!

Avignon and Last Days in Aix

Sorry it's been so long, but I've been busy cramming in some last grammar and studying for my final on Thursday. Today's Bastille Day so no class. We're planning on going to the park and watching some fireworks.


Last Wednesday we went to Avignon to see some bridges, an aqueduct, and the Pope's Palace (pictures below). Afterwards, some people swam in the river. I really like gargoyles - they're interesting, although not nearly as big as I thought they would be (thanks to the show!). There were people all dressed up in costumes walking around the heart of the town to advertise their plays.


Friday my class and I went on this little excursion to the cathedral of Aix. I would've never imagined Aix could hold something so big nor so majestic. It was gothic style, go figure, with big stained glass windows. There was a baptismal dating back to... well I'm not really sure, but they still use it. It's basically a hole that was dug out of stone hundreds of years ago. We saw this courtyard that resembled the one from Sylvacane (Cistercian Abbaye). I like visiting places like that because there's so much history and symbolism. All around the columns of the courtyard were mini sculptures of Jesus - washing the feet of the Apostles, the Nativity, carrying the Cross.


On Monday we walked around Aix giving presentations on the numerous fountains (I really have NO idea how many there are but Aix is called the place of a hundred/thousand fountains). After that we went to our profs house to have crepes! They were the BEST I've had here, hands down. There was ham, chicken, ratatouille, cheese, cheese, more cheese, sausage. Then for dessert we had some more with jelly, chocolate, bananas, sugar, WHITE CHOCOLATE -- just for me :) And the little machine we used was too cute. I've already told some people I want one for Christmas! I really believe crepes are rather practical b/c you can eat them any time with anything.

My teacher, one of my classmates, and the CreParty machine!!!
the aqueduct at Avignon - we walked through it all the way at the top, kinda freaky

A gargoyle at the Palais de Papes (Pope's Palace)

And another - he doesn't look too frightening

This is the oldest part of the Palace. None of the saints have heads b/c, of course, during the French Revolution they were destroyed. This is the most ornate part of the Palace as well, and it's where the Pope would come after Mass to wave to the public below.

The walls were covered in murals/frescos, but many of them have been destroyed from the Revolution, sadly.

Palais de Papes

Pont d'Avignon (bridge)

Paris, Je t'aime

We made it to Paris on Saturday. I must say, I was pretty impressed with the "hostel". The food was decent at night - we had etouffee one time, and steak another! Sunday I walked for a good hour to the Grevin Museum where I took a picture with Michael's wax statue (see below). It was so interesting because some of the figures moved (eyes, hands). They had a Rodin figure that sculpted! Ghandi, PELE, Tony Parker, Celine Dion, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn, Liza... so many more. It takes 6 months to make each figure and 25 days to put 500,000 hairs on their heads. Crazy. That afternoon we took a boat tour of Paris and I passed by the Eiffel for the first time. It's 700 (?) tons of metal. The Parisians didn't like the tower because they were afraid it would fall on them.

Monday we went to the Louvre. If you spend three seconds viewing each art piece, it'll take 3.5 months to see each piece of art! It used to be a palace, but one of the Louis thought it was too small so he moved to Versaille. I saw Mona Lisa (La Jaconde), Venus de Milo, Egyptian relics dating back to thousands of years BC (avant J.C.). That night was La Fete de La Musique, which apparently happens all over Europe, but I wasnt too impressed. We think it wasn't so exciting this year because there was a riot somewhere. Oh well, I got to see Paris at night, which was simply beautiful!

Tuesday we visted the Orsay Museum where I saw Monet, Millet, Manet, Gaugin. I finally found out that the Manet in my house isn't a guy trying to be like Monet, but that he's a real painter! I've been thinking that for years :) What if it were a real piece...? Anyways, the Orsay Museum used to be an old train station and all the pieces there are from the Louvre. It holds Impressionism and later artwork.

Instead of going to Giverny like I had originally planned (where Monet lived and painted), I decided to stay in Paris and go shopping with Calla. I didn't buy anything but I enjoyed it. We went to Galeries La Fayette, and might I just say "outrageous". First off we went on the first day of sales so there were lines to get into stores within this department store. Meaning, imagine you're at North Park or Green Hills and you pass by oh, I don't know, Tiffany & Co... there would be a line with a security guard and the velvet ropes just to get in to that store! Crazy. They had Louis V, Rock n Republic, Versace, Gucci, Prada, Jimmy Choo... and EVERYTHING was on sale. Except this one necklace I saw that cost 31,000 euro. Eh, I could've bought it if I really wanted!

Thursday we visited Notre Dame and Sainte Chappelle. Friday we saw Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, which is where Moulin Rouge is. And in a nutshell that was my trip to Paris. I had some greek gyros, some ice cream, saw a silk sweater for 25 euro... it's amazing there. The last day I heard this guy (nikerson.com) singing Michael Jackson in front of Sacre Coeur with his guitar and his French accent. All these people were just lounging on the steps listening to him and singing along, it was great - except for the drugged up/drunk woman who kept interrupting. Then she wanted to perform for us and he left. The show ended.

Notre Dame
St. Eustache - I ran into this rather large church while walking to the Grevin Museum



Jackie at the Grevin Museum

Ray Charles (I hadn't yet figured out what setting works best in the dark)

needs no caption.

Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa

passing by la Tour Eiffel on the boat tour

oldest house in Paris, from the middle ages

smallest house in Paris with only two windows

Notre Dame from the river

Conciergerie - used to be a prison where Marie Antoinette spent the last few months of her life before she was beheaded

the Seine River

the Pyramid at the Louvre

I just thought my mom would like this outfit :)

Odelisque - nude paintings of women, this one's rather famous

La Jaconde - Mona Lisa

Arc of Triumph

Olympia --> "Lady of Night" --> prostitute. This woman was popular for posing nude. These paintings are shocking because she's looking at her audience. The flowers are from the man waiting behind the door, the cat is the devil. She's wearing shoes because this was painted during the Puritan era where feet were exotic - a bit ironic to just cover those!

Monet. At one point he couldn't pay for his rent so he gave this painting to his landlord as an IOU. When he bought it back, he had to cut pieces off because some had molded, which explains the irregular shape. The drawing of the complete painting is on display in a museum in Russia.

Musee d'Orsay

Monet

"Amateur" Painter

Van gogh "Starry Night" La nuit etoilee

Political Science Institute of Paris - where I'm looking at going during law school

Chopin's grave!

Notre Dame

13 meters in diameter. That's 36 feet holding 32,000 pieces of glass (on both sides of the church!) This is also Notre Dame. They've taken these windows down twice for fear that they would break during the wars.

Sainte Chappelle - this is the private chapel of King Louis XIII (I know it was one of the Louis, but there are just so many...!) These windows are 20 feet high. You read them from bottom to top, left to right. In front of you, that structure used to house the Crown of Thorns and the Cross from Calvary.

Le Moulin de Galette. This is one of the two mills still standing in Montmartre. It's from the 18th century, or the 1800s - I can't remember. Either way it's old and a site/sight to see.

A popular childrens' story about a man that can walk through walls who, unfortunately, gets stuck!

Sacre Coeur - some nuns still live here