France

Apres la France

2009-08-14T22:19:00.002+02:00

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

2009-07-13T21:57:00.008+02:00

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

2009-06-28T17:34:00.012+02:00

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

Sailing in Marseille

2009-06-17T22:01:00.004+02:00

OH MY GOODNESS! I absolutely LOVE sailing, though I would've liked a bigger boat. But it was awesome! And I steered for a while. It was backwards though on one side, and then you have to move to the other and it's the right way - whatever. I just didn't like when it tilted close to the water, as in the railing was in the water basically - thanks Guru. And you really can get smacked by the rod if you're not watching out. But you have to "feel the wind" and find it... Anyways, we sailed by chateau d'if (eef, not if like we normally say) which is the castle mentioned in the count of monte cristo but not the one in the movie. Then we pulled off to the side by this one island that used to be a quarantine area for foreigners coming into marseille and threw out the anchor (not that it did anything bc the water was so deep 0 the boat still floated away from us) and JUMPED RIGHT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN! Whew what a rush! It wasn't TOO too cold. I really like Clay's nick name "skipper" (since the French boatman couldn't pronounce clay "cray") bc he really reminds me of a fish - always wanting to just swim down as far as he can. Man it would be pretty horrid to get tired while swimming out there. We weren't really too close to the rocks.

We visited Notre Dame de la Garde cathedral - gorgeous! And i bought a Bible in French. Yes I did. And so what it's for kids!? That means I shouldn't have trouble reading it. They set it up so you can read a page each day. I'm so going to try it.

Then Chris Matt and Clay had Bouillabaisse (sp) a classic French dish, each paid 32 euro. So they paid 96 euro for a dish of 6 fish, 3 shrimp, 1 thing we couldn't distinguish and 3-5 mussels. All of them whole - with the heads and eyes (except the fish) and fins and scales and little feet (shrimp). Gross. Denuzzo was NOT happy. I got spaghetti bolognaise (just good ole spaghetti, guys). I'm REALLY craving some frites (fries) though! And that was my day. Next stop, paireee!

This is the boat tilting, not my camera.
One of our sails. and the sky!

This is where we stopped and JUMPED IN! C'etait un peu froid.

Gorgeous view from the sea

Notre Dame de la Garde - I love this picture bc of the sky in the background

A traditional French dish Bouillabaise (if I spelled it right)

Chateau d'If - old prison kind of like Alcatraz

Notre Dame de la Garde (sorry the pics are a bit out of order)

Pope John Paul II was there (not when I went though, of course)!

Ajaccio, CORSICA

2009-06-14T23:14:00.005+02:00

I finally went on my first "day" trip to Ajaccio, Corsica where Napoleon was born with Katie, Sarah, Chris, and Calla (see album entitled Ajaccio, Corsica for references). It was AWESOME! We took the TGV to Toulon and had to run to catch the ferry, which was more like a cruise ship. There were video games, about 3 food places (ok the "cafeteria" had bbq and fried calamari, fries, other seafood, mousse) basically I wish Vandy had a caf like that! There was a play area for kids, a dog sanctuary (is it sanctuary or is there another word that sounds like it?). We had arm chairs to sleep in and the first go 'round it was SO uncomfortable esp. because my seat wouldn't recline (it only went back about 3 inches anyway haha). Then in the morning at about 6 am they wake you up by BLASTING the tvs. Gr.

Let's see we took a bus tour of the city and saw this old defense tower (like they have with castles), some Napoleon statues (I have a feeling they have WAY too many)! The weather was perfect. Not too hot, with a light breeze, although that sun can really get you! My goodness. Be grateful for US sun, really. I mean you're out there for 20 minutes and you burn regardless of the amount of sun screen. No WONDER it costs so much out here! Anyways we went to the beach for a few hours before we checked out the Napoleon museum, which used to be the house he lived in. I love preservations like that - actual fabric from the rooms, his bed still intact. It's just amazing. Written documents.

We saw some mussels in the water and I saw a school of tiny fish! Cute! I really wanted to go fishing but the boats we saw were 27 or 50 euro just for a tour - WAY too much. And to rent a motor boat.... 1000 EURO/day! Ridiculous. But I got to watch someone fish, though he didn't have much luck. I had salmon pasta for lunch and shrimp pasta for dinner. I've decided I'm going to back of the pasta (carbs man). And I really don't like the heads on the jumbo shrimp. It just unnerves me. Chris had octopus! OH I almost forgot, in the center of the main plaza there was this reenactment where these guys dressed up in the old Napoleon uniforms and fired a cannon. Pretty interesting.

The ride back was much better. I was knocked out so I didn't realize the cold. Calla and I watched this really weird movie with the Wolverine guy (don't know his name) where he's a surgeon looking for a cure for a tumor - anybody have any idea what it is? I really like boats. I'm going to have one some day, maybe, for a day ha. I didn't say I would OWN one. And I like lighthouses. I'm such a water person - it's the Aquarian in me! (water without sharks of course..)

just a really pretty boat

mussels

cemetary - there are either 45 dozen, 4500 or 45k of these - I couldn't understand exactly how many haha

Sleeping on the beach is prohibited

In the Mediterranean, again

Bonaparte house

Nice

2009-06-10T22:36:00.004+02:00

Well before I get to Nice, let me update you on the other goings-on. We had another cooking lesson last night where we made this amazing salad! It had hot chevre cheese with bits of cooked ham and garlic croutons (which we made). The entree was dourade fish with carrots and tomatoes on top. For dessert we had a flan-like pastry. It didn't really taste like much, except eggs. And of course rose wine. They really don't get tired of that out here.

The night before we actually had a wine tasting dinner with our cooking instructor and the man who gives WT lessons. I didn't really like any of those selections. But I tell you what I DO like, maybe a bit too much - the bread! It's to die for.

So Nice... we went to the Matisse Museum and got a tour. It was really interesting seeing his first work and one of his last - the tremendous difference in the two. At the beginning he painted dark colors and huge masterpeices. Towards the end they were simpler and more colorful. He built this chapel and did all the artwork for it - I'd love to see it some day. It was beautiful (the pictures and the scale model). It's sad though that he didn't make it to the chapel's opening (he was old and sick by that time). Did you know that he was still painting well into his 80s?? Impressive. I'm disappointed we couldn't take pictures even without the flash. It was also cool b/c all the works in there he decided to give to the museum when he found out they were going to build one for him. So the stuff we saw was what he wanted to be remembered by. And then in some instances his family donated the things he painted (i.e. this golden chair..). I really like museums. But I think my favorite would have to be "Sa femme a l'ombrelle" http://www.net-provence.com/artistes/matisse/femme-ombrelle.jpg . I like this one because he uses the "dot technique"! Crazy how he became known as the leader of the "Fauves" (wild beasts) because he was a pioneer of bright(er) colors. Hm.

France likes fountains
the market in Nice with SO many veggies, fruits, flowers, purses, lavande, and paintings

oh and cheese of course!

the mediterranean

Mount Saint Victoire

2009-06-03T18:54:00.003+02:00

So today we went hiking... 3300 ft up Mount Saint Victoire. All I kept thinking was "I can't believe I made it". Word to the wise: when hiking, wear hiking boots. And don't go if you have weak ankles. It took us about 2 hrs to go up and half as long to come down. And of course I got sun burned - again. But the view was gorgeous. It was so worth the pain haha. I won't ever do it again though! As I keep saying, I've checked this one off my bucket list! In all I say I walked from 10-4:30 with a 1 hour break up top for lunch. Can't say I'll ever walk for that long again either!

The beautiful blue is a man-made lake. And that peak in the distance is where we were headed
Oh I just thought I'd take a picture of the gargantuan ant - can you see it? Right in the middle..

The peak - look for the cross

A really big dandelion! And no you can't blow 'em away like at home - you have to pick 'em

Where we came from

The cross. We made it

This church was made in the 13th century. How they got all the materials up there I've no idea!

The view

And back down again

Cooking Lesson #1

2009-06-02T22:35:00.008+02:00

Well I thought I would tell you about my first cooking lesson because it was simply divine! We made soup de pistou, just a soup with a lot of veggies. By the way, I absolutely LOVE French cookware! Their dishes (especially for dessert) are so cute! And our teacher had a single burner that you can put different pots on - so we used it at the table for the soup and later to melt the chocolate for the mousse.

We also made a casserole with mashed potatoes, beef and cheese. And of course we added l'huile d'olive to everything (olive oil)! We had champagne to celebrate and du vin rose - Aix is known for their rose wine. And while everyone was eating the chocolate mousse, our instructor's husband and I were sneaking these cookies with almonds! They were so good! They were more like crackers with a cookie taste. You're supposed to eat them with cream or mousse as a dip, but we hid the cookies behind some wine bottles and glasses and nobody even noticed! We all had a great time, and I understood a good deal. Next week we'll be back and we'll be making flan! Now off to get some rest because I climb a mountain tomorrow for two hours! AH! A plus!

soup de pistou - LOTS of veggies: eggplant, tomatoes, leeks, onion, carrot, mushroom, garlic, cucumbers. But it was tres delicieux!

a casserole with mashed potatoes, ground beef, heavy cream, cheese, garlic...

basil from her garden

separating egg whites from the yolks for the mousse

the awesome burner I mentioned

the veggies we used for the soup

Sylvacane, Gordes, Roussillon

2009-05-27T19:48:00.008+02:00

Today we went to Sylvacane, where the Cistercian Monastery from the 11th century is; Gordes, a perch village; and Roussillon, where they have ochre which are rocks/sand that you can mix with water to make watercolor paints or acrilic. Oh it was all so beautiful! And there was so much history at the monastery. I never knew that much about the Cistercian monks. There have been a few waves of people who've taken over the monastery because in the 14th century the Cistercians were killed and the place was burned down by jealous neighbors. Apparently these monks made beaucoup d'argent from selling fish, running a hostel, etc. They were so strict - only two rooms in which they could talk; only straw mattresses and one blanket! It was tres interessant seeing the changes from one decade to another, or from one group to another.

Gordes was pretty - just a village high up with a gorgeous view. I bought a few lavender products there!

And then at Rousillon there was the ochre. I really wanted to buy some, but I don't really know too many people who paint, at least not with watercolor or acrilic. Hm. Thank God I didnt fall or I would've been stained! I did buy some "sand art" though - of course.

Now I'm making shrimp and mashed potatoes! I have my first test Friday so I have to get on this homework! A bientot.

Ochre in Roussillon

Bories

Gordes

Sylvacane - the two symbolize order and disorder

Gothic influence (because of the circular shapes)

Behind the altar in the Cistercian monastery

Cistercian Monastery in Sylvacane

Aix Marks the Spot!

2009-05-26T23:03:00.001+02:00

Bonjour et bienvenue. Thanks for visiting my blog. I've had one going on Facebook as a pseudo-blog til I could get this one running, so here goes!

I got in Friday at around 6 or 7 France time, 11 or 12 Dallas/Nashville time. It was a bit hectic. My phone died, the left my bag in Paris. I still haven't gotten it, so I've been using a hand towel ha. Murphy's law..! I had my first French dinner at un resto U - le poisson (fish. about the size of a cup of gumbo for 14 €. a bit overpriced in my opinion). But it was great - I love the tutors and other students. Saturday we toured Aix, which isn't too big. Supposedly it's only 15 minutes from one end to the other, about the size of Vandy campus? Sunday we went to Cassis! What a beautiful beach. We took a boat tour to see the calanques (rock formations). Apparently instead of sunbathing on the sand, they do so on huge rock slabs that jut out from these formations. The water was freezing but so very blue! Yes, the people here really do go topless. "Le mono bikini est tres chic" so they say. I got burned! For some reason this French sun is extra strong. I experienced my first French rain today, and afterwards the weather was perfect. We just came back from our first dinner with our French family. The food was wonderful and they were so nice. The mom said that she'd give us recipes for the meals we like - wonderful! Speaking of cooking, I will be taking classes the next three Tuesdays. And Saturday I'll be taking a vineyard tour in Palette! Tomorrow we go to Luberon to visit an abbay where some monks still live and to see the ochre where the pigment is taken from rocks for watercolor paints. I'm such a tourist and I love it! Get excited. So check back tomorrow for more pictures. I already have homework - it really is Vanderbilt in France! À plus!

Un calanque

Cassis

Calla and me in the Mediterranean Sea

Not a pirate ship, but the US Coast Guard

The train that took us down to the port

The fountain in the center of Aix.

One really hot day in Aix

My bed

The apartment kitchen (with a clothes washer)