My room:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
My House
Thought some pics of the house might give for a better visual of my life in D-Town.
My room:
The other half of my room:
One floor down from my room, the living room. If you go through that opening its a small dining room and on the wall from where im taking the picture is the kitchen. To my left is stairs down to their room and an office.
Ground Floor. Im never down here since its not close to the kitchen or my room.
Bigger dinning room area on the ground floor.
My room:
Life so far
You should all know that I am writing this instead of doing my homework...
First week of classes went by smoothly. Dijon decided to shower us with snow too! Dijon sur la neige is very pretty.
We had a class at what France calls SciencePo, which I would love to explain to you but I dont really know what it is besides an extra class I have to go to because UPS decided since most people are International Relations/Business it would be fun. I'm not saying its not going to be interesting, the French elections are this year and so that is what the focus is, but having a 2 hour class Friday afternoons when I would otherwise be libre (free) from class is a bummer.
Luckily the snow was all melted by Saturday and we had a sunny excursion to Beaune. We left at 9: 30 in the morning (more like 10 as some people decided it would be cool to be late...) and went straight to the caves for our tuition-paid-wine-tasting-in-the-lovely-capital-of-Burgundy. (Jealous yet?) (and yes... it was 11 in the morning). We walked though dark caves learning about wine making while sampling 2 whites and 6 reds from around the area. We got to keep our silver wine tasting device (not a glass, but a metal big spoon like thing so that you can see the color of the wine even in the dark caves... or something) as a souvenir. We then headed to lovely lunch where I had delicious risotto and chocolate goodness for dessert. After our bellies were full we went to the old hospital which was amazing. We had a guided tour and saw the old rooms, medical devices, medical remedies, and the renowned tritich by Van der Weyden which was breathtaking. Our tour of Beaune ended there and we headed back to Dijon.
The rest of the weekend was relaxing, its highlight being Erin and I buying our spring break tickets!
Unfortunately I have another first week of school this week as I have switched into the upper level. Shouldn't be too much harder I hope- although it does require going to two more electives. (if you recall I went to economy last week)
This week was Theatre and Art History. Theater was a pretty boring experience as it required a lot of introduction and talk of the republiques in France and really nothing to do with Theater but to set the scene (haha get it?)
Art History today was an experience. We will be studying 20th century artists. Not french. Just any. Today was Kadinsky. This kind of disappoints me because I was looking forward to an in depth study of the real French masterpieces... and instead will be talking about Kadinsky, Pollock, Dali (Russian, American, Spanish....)
First week of classes went by smoothly. Dijon decided to shower us with snow too! Dijon sur la neige is very pretty.
We had a class at what France calls SciencePo, which I would love to explain to you but I dont really know what it is besides an extra class I have to go to because UPS decided since most people are International Relations/Business it would be fun. I'm not saying its not going to be interesting, the French elections are this year and so that is what the focus is, but having a 2 hour class Friday afternoons when I would otherwise be libre (free) from class is a bummer.
Luckily the snow was all melted by Saturday and we had a sunny excursion to Beaune. We left at 9: 30 in the morning (more like 10 as some people decided it would be cool to be late...) and went straight to the caves for our tuition-paid-wine-tasting-in-the-lovely-capital-of-Burgundy. (Jealous yet?) (and yes... it was 11 in the morning). We walked though dark caves learning about wine making while sampling 2 whites and 6 reds from around the area. We got to keep our silver wine tasting device (not a glass, but a metal big spoon like thing so that you can see the color of the wine even in the dark caves... or something) as a souvenir. We then headed to lovely lunch where I had delicious risotto and chocolate goodness for dessert. After our bellies were full we went to the old hospital which was amazing. We had a guided tour and saw the old rooms, medical devices, medical remedies, and the renowned tritich by Van der Weyden which was breathtaking. Our tour of Beaune ended there and we headed back to Dijon.
The rest of the weekend was relaxing, its highlight being Erin and I buying our spring break tickets!
Unfortunately I have another first week of school this week as I have switched into the upper level. Shouldn't be too much harder I hope- although it does require going to two more electives. (if you recall I went to economy last week)
This week was Theatre and Art History. Theater was a pretty boring experience as it required a lot of introduction and talk of the republiques in France and really nothing to do with Theater but to set the scene (haha get it?)
Art History today was an experience. We will be studying 20th century artists. Not french. Just any. Today was Kadinsky. This kind of disappoints me because I was looking forward to an in depth study of the real French masterpieces... and instead will be talking about Kadinsky, Pollock, Dali (Russian, American, Spanish....)
Monday, February 13, 2012
My First Experiences in Dijon
We had one last final moments of what seemed like an everlasting winter vacation with our week libre (free) in Dijon....
Unfortuneately it was minus 4 celsius most of the time which made exploring and going out almost unbearable. Nevertheless we went to a museum, got a walking tour, learned where a couple good bars are, found our way on the bus system, and go to know our families.... oh and the creme de cassis factory! Just in case you don't know what it is because I didn't till I got to France-land, its a yummy blackcurrent liqueur. Its mixed often with white wine to make Kierr or champagne to make Kierr Royal. We got to try all the different flavors- pretty strong but very fun!
The program does this awesome thing where two students cook dinner for the group and a host family every week. I decided to cook the first week with a guy Kyle. We made Buffalo wings, brusselsprouts, and Mom's famous chili (which even in France everyone LOVED) - I made sure you got lots of credit mommy Tana. Unfortunately my host family couldn't come but it was still a great night of speaking french, drinking, then speaking french a little louder.
Thursday morning provided quite the uncomfortable situation. My host mom's mom, who lived in the house with us, died. I decided it was best to get out of the house and let the family be alone. So I have been spending lots of time getting to know other host families and eating meals with them- which has been very fun.
Thursday I ate with Erin and her host mom- Friday I ate with James and his family and we had racklet. It was SO fun. And his family is very inviting and funny. Saturday I had lunch with Megs family. There house is like a museum. Paintings all over the walls and that really decorative walls like at Versaille where its like silk cushions. Maybe you have no idea what Im talking about.... Ate dinner at Erins where we made crepes! it was fun and delicious. We went out for a girl on our programs birthday and I decided to sleep at Shanas because lots of their family was at my house.
Sunday lunch again with Meg and her family. Then we decided to go ice skating. That was really fun. Then I had dinner at Erins again (crepes... again) and I stayed there because of the family.
Then came TODAY=First Day of School!
French School. How fun.
I am in the same level and group as Erin so its nice to have at least one friendly face in class. We had comprehension ecrite this morning. 3 hours. I never have class for that long! So that was brutal but not too bad. We went back to the Condorcet (the apartment the University owns) to eat lunch and hang out. We had to go back for our elective class which started at 4-6. We have to pick one elective (or 3 if you're in the highers level) to attend and test out of. You can attend how ever many you want but at the end of the day I will have to take 1 exam. So basically what everyones stratagey is is to go to all the electives and then after the first two weeks decide which ones you will actually attend and test out of. So tonight was Economics. Which was like econ 101. And I knew that, but thought it might be interesting and useful to learn the words and expressions in french. After today I don't have my heart set on the class but we'll see. The teachers voice was so high and squeaky it was hard to pay attention for fear of laughing. But it was still interesting enough...half the time. The other half was her telling us out to draw a supply and demand (demande and offre as they say) graph. Brutal.
I then went to check out a dance class I might start going to. I ended up eating at Shanas because although the grandmothers funeral was today and most of the family has left her brother was still here.
And my first day of school ended in snow. About two inches so far. Well see how tomorrow goes. Everyone says that Dijon people don't know how to act in the snow and life slows WAY down...
Unfortuneately it was minus 4 celsius most of the time which made exploring and going out almost unbearable. Nevertheless we went to a museum, got a walking tour, learned where a couple good bars are, found our way on the bus system, and go to know our families.... oh and the creme de cassis factory! Just in case you don't know what it is because I didn't till I got to France-land, its a yummy blackcurrent liqueur. Its mixed often with white wine to make Kierr or champagne to make Kierr Royal. We got to try all the different flavors- pretty strong but very fun!
The program does this awesome thing where two students cook dinner for the group and a host family every week. I decided to cook the first week with a guy Kyle. We made Buffalo wings, brusselsprouts, and Mom's famous chili (which even in France everyone LOVED) - I made sure you got lots of credit mommy Tana. Unfortunately my host family couldn't come but it was still a great night of speaking french, drinking, then speaking french a little louder.
Thursday I ate with Erin and her host mom- Friday I ate with James and his family and we had racklet. It was SO fun. And his family is very inviting and funny. Saturday I had lunch with Megs family. There house is like a museum. Paintings all over the walls and that really decorative walls like at Versaille where its like silk cushions. Maybe you have no idea what Im talking about.... Ate dinner at Erins where we made crepes! it was fun and delicious. We went out for a girl on our programs birthday and I decided to sleep at Shanas because lots of their family was at my house.
Sunday lunch again with Meg and her family. Then we decided to go ice skating. That was really fun. Then I had dinner at Erins again (crepes... again) and I stayed there because of the family.
Then came TODAY=First Day of School!
French School. How fun.
I am in the same level and group as Erin so its nice to have at least one friendly face in class. We had comprehension ecrite this morning. 3 hours. I never have class for that long! So that was brutal but not too bad. We went back to the Condorcet (the apartment the University owns) to eat lunch and hang out. We had to go back for our elective class which started at 4-6. We have to pick one elective (or 3 if you're in the highers level) to attend and test out of. You can attend how ever many you want but at the end of the day I will have to take 1 exam. So basically what everyones stratagey is is to go to all the electives and then after the first two weeks decide which ones you will actually attend and test out of. So tonight was Economics. Which was like econ 101. And I knew that, but thought it might be interesting and useful to learn the words and expressions in french. After today I don't have my heart set on the class but we'll see. The teachers voice was so high and squeaky it was hard to pay attention for fear of laughing. But it was still interesting enough...half the time. The other half was her telling us out to draw a supply and demand (demande and offre as they say) graph. Brutal.
I then went to check out a dance class I might start going to. I ended up eating at Shanas because although the grandmothers funeral was today and most of the family has left her brother was still here.
And my first day of school ended in snow. About two inches so far. Well see how tomorrow goes. Everyone says that Dijon people don't know how to act in the snow and life slows WAY down...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Dijon-Like the mustard.
Dijon so far has been one word- cold. Maybe freezing is a better word. We just have no idea how to handle this kind of cold. Luckily its not just me the californian- but everyone who is miserable about it. That being said Dijon is a splendid city/town. It is so cute, with cobblestone streets, churches, kebab places, and cafes. So far we have done a walking tour, which the wonderful Nathalie told the guy to make it super short as it was SO COLD. We have eaten at a lovely pizzaria. We have watched french movies and the Centre Condorcet, which is the apartment the university owns for us to hang out in. We have taken a placement exam, which was really hard. And we have gotten to know our families as well as a few other peoples houses/families as well. Maybe once school starts I will have more to report on, but right now we have a week off just to hang out and get situated... it's great!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Jouer la touriste a Paris
Day1- Made it to Paris and back to Charlottes apartment from the train station. Charlotte, the goddess she is, took us to our hotel as we each have 3 bags minimum and are a mess getting anywhere with Paris’ tiny sidewalks and busy public roads. But we got there and met our group. Our day was a boat tour on the Seine, some free time, and then a nice dinner at a French restaurant with lots of aperitif and wine- but hey! C’est la France! And it’s paid by tuition! So drink up!
Day 2- Morning walking tour of the neighborhood around the Sourbonne. Then a tour of the Pantheon that I’d never been to so that was cool. Lunch at a creperie where we all drank cider as we enjoyed a salted and sweet crepe! We had the afternoon free so I met up with Charlie; her and Shana and I went to the Centre Pompidou where we saw some really weird art but also some nice Picasso, Kandinsky and others. We met Charlotte’s friend and sat in a bar until we had to meet the group for dinner. Dinner was traditional French- we drank lots of wine and didn’t get home until almost midnight.
Day 3- In the morning we had a tour of the Louvre. I’ve never had a guided tour of the Louvre, so that was nice, but we did basically only see the highlights. We had lunch at Angelinas! So fancy! We had so much white-hot chocolate and pastries we were all on a sugar high/so full. Then we went to the Orangerie, which is probably my new favorite museum. The Monet water lilies are amazing. We hung out and then it was off to the Jazz Club for dinner. Nathalie (the woman in charge of us here) said it was okay if Charlotte came, which was awesome. We had the most amazing diner, with live music playing, and Charlotte getting to know the group. It was a great last evening in Paris!
Day 4- We had a morning museum visit at the Cezanne exhibit at the Musee du Luxemburg. Then we had a nice lunch then cabs to the train to Dijon! Getting all our bags on the train and off the train then the 10 minute walk to the University of Puget Sound apartment was interesting and tiring but we did it. Unfortunately my host family isn’t here this weekend so I waited for all the other students to get picked up. It was weird how nervous we all were- sitting waiting for the buzzer to ring which meant another one of us was meeting their family. It was like an orphanage- with just me waiting at the end, how sad. Just kidding, it was fine. Nathalie took me in a taxi to my host family’s house where my host mom’s brother is staying and will be here until they come back. This house is amazing. 3 stories high, all modern with art everywhere. My room is huge with big mirrors on one wall and a desk, couch, fireplace (that doesn’t actually work but is still pretty) and window. Can’t wait to explore the city and get to know Dijon!!!
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