Hello All
Sorry for the short message but Spring Break = always on the go!
We started in Thessoloniki which was a really fun hip beach city. Very fun. Then we took a 7 hour bus ride to Delphi (which was actually just stunning biews the WHOLE time). Delphi was this amazing little town with ancient ruins hidden in the hills. Our hotel rooms balcony had an AMAZING view. Then we took a short bus to Athens. We have really enjoyed Athens. We have walked ALL over and its been amazing! Now to the islands!!!!!!!!!

Marseille

This weekend I went to Marseille to visit Charlotte and the Boyer-Chammard clan for a short weekend. Saturday we played tennis, had a nice lunch, and rode bikes along the beach. Melanchamp, Frances Communist candidate was speaking, which meant the streets were filled with French Communists which was pretty cool. We didn't wait around to hear him speak but it was still cool to be in the midst of the mob of people.

Then Sunday we went with Agnes and Marc to Aixe-en-Provence and had for lunch what Charlottes friends say is the best kebab in France, it was pretty delicious. Then we walked around the town  a little, got ice cream, before going to their family friends newly bought modern chateau on a vineyard. They have decided to go into the wine making business and had a big open house wine tasting day. It was pretty cool. Hung out back in Marseille a little then the next morning went home.

Sud de la France

This weekend Erin and I went to visit her sophomore year high school host family, in the mountains above Cannes. It was absolutely amazing. We got there pretty late Friday, after a 6 hour train ride. Saturday we went to the market in Saint Cézaire sur Siagne and then drove to Nice. We had lunch on the beach, even though it was windy it was still sunny enough to enjoy. We walked around Nice, looking at all the pretty Nice things (get it?). Had ice cream at a famous ice cream place where I got Cinnamon, Coconut, and lavender ice cream- delicious. After Nice we stopped at a Perfumerie on the way home.  Once back at their house we walked around the town looking at the awesome views.

Sunday we went to a market in the morning then laid out and read. We had a fabulous lunch (really all the meals were fabulous) and then we all went (minus Jérôme who is studying for a big test/competition/life changing exam that is next week) to a glass blowing town where we watched, mesmorized, them blow glass then walked around the museum and shops. From there we went to another little town and went to the top of a tower in a castle and got some amazing views of the French coast. We sat and had a drink then went home.

Monday we relaxed in the morning, then had a nice Easter lunch (although maybe easter was on Sunday....??).  They then drove us to Cannes and showed us around a little before we got on the train for the 6 hour trip home!
I mentioned that Jerome was busy studying while we were there, which was as they say here, a dommage. But Eloïse (the daughter, 2nd year in high school I think) was learning how to drive. Props to her for learning how to drive on a stick shift car (props to all of Europe I suppose) but it brought me back to the good old days when I was learning to drive- oh the frustration with parental units. But good luck to her and good luck to Jérôme! And thank you Sophie and Robert for an awesome weekend- French version coming shortly I promise!

En Français:

Ce weekend Erin et moi sommes allées visiter sa famille d’accueil de lycée dans les montagnes qui surplombent Cannes. C’était vraiment génial. Nous sommes arrivées tard vendredi par le train après 6 heures de voyage. Samedi, nous sommes allées au marché à St. Cézaire sur Siagne puis à Nice. Nous avons mangé sur la plage, et même s’il y avait du vent, il y avait assez de soleil pour être contente. Nous avons fait le tour de Nice, regardé les jolis bâtiments et les places. Après avoir visité Nice, nous nous sommes arrêtées dans une parfumerie sur le retour. Quand nous sommes arrivées chez eux, Erin, Jérôme et moi avons fait le tour du village pour regarder les beaux points de vue.

Dimanche, nous sommes allées au marché le matin et après Erin et moi nous nous sommes allongées et avons lu. On a mangé un très bon déjeuner (tous les repas étaient fantastiques) et après nous sommes allés dans une verrerie (tous sauf Jérôme qui étudie pour un concours qui va décider de son avenir et qui aura lieu la semaine prochaine). Après nous sommes allés dans un petit village, et nous sommes montés au château pour faire le tour. On a pris une boisson et nous sommes rentrés.

Lundi nous nous sommes relaxées le matin et nous avons mangé un bon repas pour Pâques. Après ils nous ont conduit à Cannes et ils nous ont montré un peu la ville avant qu’Erin et moi reprenions notre train à Dijon.

C’était dommage que Jérôme étudie et soit occupé quand nous étions la. Mais Eloïse (leur fille au lycée) apprenait à conduire et comment passer les vitesses. Je me suis souvenue quand j’apprenais à conduire, du stress que j’avais et des conflits avec mes parents. Bonne chance Eloïse avec le permis et bonne chance Jérôme pour le concours. Merci pour ce bon weekend.

Alace

This past weekend the group went to Alsace, and it was amazing to say the least. We left friday morning, via bus, for Strasburg. When we arrived we started with the a tour at the European Parliment. Then, after dropping stuff off at the hotel, we had lunch where I had Spatzle!!!!! So delicious!!!! Then we had free time, so most of us took a tour on the boat and walked around town. We saw the beautiful cathedral, saw some guy playing cool music before dinner. We ate dinner in this awesome, authentic, German(ish) restaurant. I got spatzle...again.

The next day we got in the car and went to a castle that is on top of a hill. Very cool, unique, unlike any of the castles in the Loire Valley. We drove down and had free time in a village for a couple hours. A couple of us ate with Nathalie before going off and exploring the alleys of this little town. Such beatiful colors it was unreal. We met up with the other half of the group who had climbed up this vineyard and were sitting on the top looking out at the village. So we hiked up and just looked out. It was so amazing, so warm, so great. Then we met Nathalie and had a wine tasting- wine made from non other than the vineyard we had just hiked. We drove down to the next town, Coulmar (or somehting like that). We had free time in the city where Erin and I just walked around getting lost in this once again stunning village. We met up for dinner, which was in what is called Little Venice. My only meal where I did not eat Spatzle....

The next day, I was woken up by people freaking out about an April fools joke. The night before I had received a text from Nathalie saying that our rendez-vous had been moved up to 8:45 instead of 10. We were all very upset about the lost hours of sleep.... well in fact James had changed the number in my phone, sent me that text message, and played an April Fools joke on everyone. Although being mad at first, it was actually hilarious.
We went to the museum in the morning, before going to lunch then home. My last Spatzle dish- so delicious.
Overall Alsace was very amazing. We got so lucky with the weather and the towns were so adorable.

The days go by in Dijon

Last week was quite hectic:
Tuesday= Opera. It was interesting.... there was no real idea of time period, sometimes super modern (like jeans) sometimes fancy clothes. Sometimes there was a Lexus car on stage.... sometimes there was a remote control car. Sometimes there were people holding rubber ducks...sometimes there was a woman belching and rubbing whip cream all over herself. It was weird...
Wednesday= weekly dinner followed by going to see The Hunger Games in French.
Thursday= Soiree sur la penich. Night on a boat, with dinner and live music with the group. Quite fun and entertaining.
Friday= No school so we went and hung out at Lake Kir.
Saturday= Beautiful Day. Ate lunch outside and read then went on a hike with James, Grant, and James's little host brother. I don't like kids... and I thought I liked this one but he threw rocks at me and pulled kung fu moves on me- we have our differences. Then Charlotte came! We had dinner with my host family then I tried to show her a fun night out in Dijon!
Sunday= Slept in (clocks changed; time difference makes getting up 100 times harder) then I sat outside on our patio with Charlotte just enjoying the sun. When we finally did move we went to Lake Kir again and sat in the sun there. Then came back and then it was already time for Charlotte to catch her train!

Monday= nothing of importance.
Tuesday= No Internet Day. One of our professors challenged us to not use the internet for a whole day. I was one of 3 people who actually did it. So after class I read for like 3 hours then met up with Shana and we went to a volleyball class on campus. It was SO FUN! all the French were quite impressed with our skills. We decided to stay for the second hour and a half for the more advanced group. By the end of the 3 hours we were exhausted- but we will definitely be going back every Tuesday! Now I have to decide between going to volleyball or Kickboxing... dilemma.

What 40euros gets you

After 3 failed attempts, Shana, Grant, Kyle, and I finally managed to figure out the french system and sign up for a day skiing trip to the Alps with the university. The school has all their own gear, so we tried everything on Thursday so come Saturday that would all be taken care of. We left Saturday morning at 4:30am and got to the bottom of the mountain, resort Samoens, at 9. We had to unload all the gear but made it on the mountain in good time. The weather was so beautiful- we could not have asked for a better skiing day. Sunny, no wind, and the snow was actually pretty good. The resort was really big- we did some easy runs just messing around practicing 360s, riding switch (snowboarding with the other foot leading), going off little jumps on the side. It was awesome. We did some bigger runs too, they were just so beautiful, with views to die for and sunny. Such a wonderful day. We were told to be on the gondola heading down at 4, but I guess to the French that means they can show up at 5. We waited for 2 hours before the bus finally left for the 4 hour drive home. We were all so exhausted but it was such a glorious day, we didn't care.

Kickboxing

Fun story. Erin and I decided to take a kickboxing class offered on campus. It was the most fun thing ever- and such a workout. We probably looked ridiculous bouncing around punching and kicking each other- but it was great! We are going to go every week now. The highlight was definitely when I was paired up with a black man, one and a half times my size, and was told to punch and kick him....