So much has happened since the last post! The days are packed and very exhausting.
Thursday night we went out to a bar called The Frog and Princess. It was mostly an American bar but there were some locals. It wasn't too crowded which was nice so we just had some drinks and danced. It was pretty funny hearing The Jackson 5 and other American songs at a bar in France.
Friday we were finally able to sleep in a bit and had to meet at the Musee d'Orsay, a museum full with paintings of Van Gogh, Monet and other people I didn't know nor care. It was pretty boring and the tour guide's voice would be perfect to put me to sleep at night. I was people watching and observing what they were wearing (we got in free with our student card so I didn't waste money, looking out for you Doll). That night we went to an Australian bar called Cafe Oz. It was so fun. There is a whole deck outside and inside there is a dance floor. We all had a lot of fun.
Saturday we were headed to the Luxembourg Garden which was so beautiful. It is definitely popular on the weekends with families and couples to go for the day. There was a jungle gym, basketball and tennis courts, ping pong tables, picnics, and food. I got a chocolate ice cream cone and it was delicious! After we just sat around on the lounge chairs as many other Parisians were doing. I just copy them and try to fit in. It isn't working all too well. Right now I know about 10 words and my Philly accent isn't helping. Last night when I ordered my drink I said "Fosters por favor." Could I have sounded more like an idiot? Definitely because I have said worse things.
Yesterday night we got dinner at a cafe right up the block and then got ready for the Australian bar round 2. We got there early but it was packed for the Manchester game. The whole bar sang "We Are The Champion" when the won, I was happy I knew the words.
Today we went to Versailles and saw the palace and garden. We left at 11:30 and didn't get back until almost 7. It was enormous and so beautiful. I got in for free too! A Parisian woman came out and gave me her pass for the day, thanks baby girl I will reimburse you with a baguette...wish I knew that in French. Each garden was different but they were all amazing. I got an enormous amount of sun but I had an umbrella in my bag so I put it up copying the French once again. We went into the store there and I picked up two post cards and a purse that I love! It has rose embroidery and is very pretty...I guess most people would buy something else that would be memorable of the things they saw at Versailles but why would I do that?
The group is getting along really well and I am really happy I decided to come on this trip. I am excited to be with them when we are back at Penn State!
As for the food, it has been very good so far but I have had to perfect saying "No cheese!" Twice I have ordered something and got something different but I did like what I supposedly ordered. As for the French, some could use my Juicy perfume and a shower or two wouldn't hurt. I love all the fashion and seeing what the women are wearing. They always look so classy.
I found out the French phrase I made up a few years ago (Ju de se play voo..my own spelling obviously) means nothing in French! I am just going to continue to make up whatever comes to my head or form a sentence with the words I know. The group is so good with directions which is really nice because there is about a million different ways to go everywhere on a million different transportation modes. I am just the child following everyone and listening to what I am told.
We have our first art class tomorrow so we will see how that goes. I am sure it will be interesting but it is three hours long so it better have my attention.
I will be checking in again soon :)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Bonjour!
Hello everyone :)
After a tearful goodbye with Doll, Aunt Dede and Vicky I made it to my terminal where I watched a couple all over each other (save it for the Eiffel Tower) as well as a French girl asked me to watch her luggage (idiot). I made it onto the plane but could not lift my carry-on over my head so a French boy kindly helped me. The 7 hour flight was not exactly the most comfortable but I managed and finally arrived in Paris. We were taking a shuttle as a group so we had to wait a few hours in between the flight and the time we got picked up. In the mean time a man began talking to me in French and I said I didn't speak French. He said, "You came to France and don't speak French?" I thought mind your own business for my motive to come here and come to the melting pot and see how many people don't speak English.
The first day was so exhausting. We had an orientation that I couldn't stay awake for and received our French cell phones. We went to dinner and had a cider that had some liquor in it, a Manhattan which was a meat crepe and a caramel crepe for dinner. It wasn't Doll's cooking but it was pretty good.
My roommates are Gabi and Shannon who will both be juniors. We are all getting along really well so far!
Yesterday we had a second day of orientation. We were told not to make eye contact with anyone and refrain from staring. This will be extremely hard since I have been staring at people and people watching since I was little. If I were to look into a boy's eyes it is an "invitation." So I decided I am going to wear my sunglasses on the metro and anywhere else so I can stare at however many people I want without them thinking I want to date.
The directors from the program said many people when they come to France think the French are rude but really they get nervous to help us out. They aren't confident with their English and don't want to be judged. Our cultures are so different and I am sure I will be experiencing that more and more each day.
After lunch (where I thought I ordered one thing and got another) we left for the boat tour. It was so beautiful! On the way to the boat tour we passed the Eiffel Tower, which was amazing! There were so many people along the river laying out or having a picnic. Following the boat tour we walked around more and came across the Arc Triomphe. We took some pictures there and continued along the way where the shopping came into play. I think I need to contact Aunt Ruth's son with the chateau to hook a girl up with some cash. The stores included Cartier, Louis Vuitton, H & M, Sephora and many more. We took the metro home and had dinner around the corner from our hotel. The waiter was so nice but I better start finishing everything because if you don't finish your meal they think something was wrong with it. I got a salad with marinated chicken and flavored rice, it was really different but good. We split a bottle of pink wine and it was pretty good. Last night we all went to one room and got to know everyone a little better. It is weird because it doesn't get dark until 10 p.m. We keep losing track of time and are fooled by the lighting outside.
Today was our first day of the management and leadership class and I was pretty intimidated. The professor is really nice but I'm not really familiar with all of the business terminology but I will try to make up the best comments I can think of and pray they make some sense.
Tonight we are going to cook in the room (we got some dinner from the market) and then head out to the bar as a group.
Can't wait for the first weekend!
Au revoir!
After a tearful goodbye with Doll, Aunt Dede and Vicky I made it to my terminal where I watched a couple all over each other (save it for the Eiffel Tower) as well as a French girl asked me to watch her luggage (idiot). I made it onto the plane but could not lift my carry-on over my head so a French boy kindly helped me. The 7 hour flight was not exactly the most comfortable but I managed and finally arrived in Paris. We were taking a shuttle as a group so we had to wait a few hours in between the flight and the time we got picked up. In the mean time a man began talking to me in French and I said I didn't speak French. He said, "You came to France and don't speak French?" I thought mind your own business for my motive to come here and come to the melting pot and see how many people don't speak English.
The first day was so exhausting. We had an orientation that I couldn't stay awake for and received our French cell phones. We went to dinner and had a cider that had some liquor in it, a Manhattan which was a meat crepe and a caramel crepe for dinner. It wasn't Doll's cooking but it was pretty good.
My roommates are Gabi and Shannon who will both be juniors. We are all getting along really well so far!
Yesterday we had a second day of orientation. We were told not to make eye contact with anyone and refrain from staring. This will be extremely hard since I have been staring at people and people watching since I was little. If I were to look into a boy's eyes it is an "invitation." So I decided I am going to wear my sunglasses on the metro and anywhere else so I can stare at however many people I want without them thinking I want to date.
The directors from the program said many people when they come to France think the French are rude but really they get nervous to help us out. They aren't confident with their English and don't want to be judged. Our cultures are so different and I am sure I will be experiencing that more and more each day.
After lunch (where I thought I ordered one thing and got another) we left for the boat tour. It was so beautiful! On the way to the boat tour we passed the Eiffel Tower, which was amazing! There were so many people along the river laying out or having a picnic. Following the boat tour we walked around more and came across the Arc Triomphe. We took some pictures there and continued along the way where the shopping came into play. I think I need to contact Aunt Ruth's son with the chateau to hook a girl up with some cash. The stores included Cartier, Louis Vuitton, H & M, Sephora and many more. We took the metro home and had dinner around the corner from our hotel. The waiter was so nice but I better start finishing everything because if you don't finish your meal they think something was wrong with it. I got a salad with marinated chicken and flavored rice, it was really different but good. We split a bottle of pink wine and it was pretty good. Last night we all went to one room and got to know everyone a little better. It is weird because it doesn't get dark until 10 p.m. We keep losing track of time and are fooled by the lighting outside.
Today was our first day of the management and leadership class and I was pretty intimidated. The professor is really nice but I'm not really familiar with all of the business terminology but I will try to make up the best comments I can think of and pray they make some sense.
Tonight we are going to cook in the room (we got some dinner from the market) and then head out to the bar as a group.
Can't wait for the first weekend!
Au revoir!
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