Nice et Monaco!

Ready for a long update??? 

Last weekend we had a CEA excursion to Nice and Monaco. This was my second visit to both beautiful cities! The weather was beautiful and I loved the warm sunshine! Hopefully it will head to Aix soon!

Salut Méditerranée!!! Je l'adore!!! I had forgotten just how much I missed the ocean! Lucky for me, Aix is only 30 minutes from the beach so once it is warm, you know where I will be!!! :) It was an absolutely beautiful weekend!

CARNIVAL DE NICE!!!!

This is the Bataille des fleurs...people would hit each other with flowers and throw them at the crowd! The Carnival de Nice is one of the oldest and most well-known carnivals in France. It lasts for about two weeks and we got to be there for the opening day. There were floats, dancers, and acrobats. It was very similar to a parade you would see in the states but it was filled with flowers, confetti, and lots of silly string!

Do you see the olympic rings?? This year, the theme honors the 2012 Olympic Games set to occur in London this sumer. 70 different countries took part! 

C'est moi :) We had free time after the parade so I decided to spend it on the beach of course!

After the day in Nice, we headed to Monaco. CEA took us to dinner...look how many of us there are now! Last semester we only had 8 students but this semester we have 36! So, here we are in front of the Monte Carlo!

Beautiful isn't it! Monte Carlo, Monaco.

oh the casino...yes, I did gamble. Walked in and only spent 10 euros and managed to walk out with 30! Gambling in Monaco at the Monte Carlo...check!

The port...to be honest, I find Monaco to be stunning yet at the same time, it is so overly built up and ridiculously wealthy!

On our way back to Aix, we stopped in Eze village. This place is home to France's well-known parfumeries. I love my new perfume! We visited the same shop I came to a few years a go so I knew exactly which one I wanted! It is called Accroche-Coeur and is mostly amber scents with a slight hint of vanilla...yummy! 

At the top of Eze village there are amazing gardens! Throughout, there are lots of small statue with quotes representing different personalities. The two above are my favorites and they beautifully represent my life in France (sauf...I know where I was born!). I love them!

So for those who haven't heard yet, I have decided on a future plan of action! I will be returning to San Diego on the 15th of June. A little earlier than I had originally planned but it will be good so I can work! This fall, I will be applying to Master's programs here in France. Here it is called an M2. If accepted, I will return after graduation so fall of 2013! Where and what would I like to study??? I would like to teach history or english at a collegiate level...yes here in France. There are fantastic programs all over and I still have a lot more research to do but my number one choice is Bordeaux. We will just have to wait and see what happens!

C'est tout pour le moment! Je dois faire mes devoirs pour demain!

Bisous!!! :)

Change and un défi...

I often think that people are afraid of change; afraid of changing their mind, afraid of finding themselves or afraid to take a risk. I think it is fear that stops people from following their dreams. I have learned that this world is too amazing not to discover. Yes, change can be scary and difficult (and expensive!!!), but if we limit ourselves to the things we know, we can never discover the people we are. You see, change is a challenge. It forces us to look within ourselves and challenge the person we thought we were. It may not be a question of change but rather a question of discovery. Change provokes discovery and it takes a lot to find the strength to allow either. But, if you can find the wings, take the leap and fly! Or, if you are stubborn like me, let someone push you. Sometimes all we need is someone to push us! You may just find what you've always searched for.

:)

Salut ça va??

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't updated this in a while...I've been busy!! So...here we go...on-y va!

Second semester has begun! Time is flying! I have to remember to not think of the time passing because as a dear friend told me, I can't stop time nor can I change it. I have to enjoy each and every moment I have! I changed levels for my French classes and now I am in the advanced level! I love my new language class and my electives are a lot of fun! I have a challenge and I think that is what makes it fun. I really love that my ability to speak the language has improved so much. I can now switch between english and French with less hesitation! So fun!!! I am now preparing to take a language exam (in may) called the DELF which will permit me to apply to grad school here in France. Don't worry...I will be coming home to graduate from CSUSM of course! :)

Now onto Aix! :)

It snowed! It has been so cold here and last week we got snow...twice! My little town is beautiful under a blanket of snow but it has been FREEZING and I am a whimp when it comes to cold! It is an interesting experience! Even the main fountain, la rotonde, has frozen for the first time in 30 years! Crazy!!

La Rotonde!

View from my terrace! 

I have lots of travel plans in the making! I am headed to Nice and Monaco next weekend and I have a week-long break coming up and I am headed to Rome with my friend Laura! I have also started thinking of Normandie (Normandy), Bretagne (Brittany), Switzerland and Germany. I would love to do all of those before the summer! In May I will be back in Nice to see Coldplay and hang out on the beach with my friend Kat! Can't wait! After that, I hope to head to Spain before returning to the States at the end of July! Lots to do!!! Hope to do it all! :) anyone want to come and travel with me!

Just a picture from a day trip I took...this was a city called Gordes and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in France! 

Et maintenant...un peu en français pour ceux qui parlent français! Vivre en France à changé beaucoup de choses dans ma vie. J'aime tout! Pour moi, la France est devenue mon foyer. Je manque ma famille, mes amis et bien sur tous les autres qui sont importantes à moi mais, j'ai appris que ici, je suis comme un poisson dans l'eau et c'est ça qui est importante dans la vie. Si vous aimez quelque chose, allez-y, et ne regarde rien en arrière!

Bisous!! :)

Qu'est-ce qui se passe?!?!

Salut everyone et bonne annee!! Sorry I haven't updated this in a while...here is a quick recap:

Christmas: I was back in San Diego for 10 days. It was fantastic! Thanks Mom and Dad for flying me home :) I got to spend lots of time with my family and closest friends! I'm sorry I didn't get to see everyone...I was only there for a short amount of time and it was hard to fit everyone in! I'll be back before classes start in the fall and I will see everyone then! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me through all of this...I wouldn't be able to do it without all of you. My parents...you are always there whether or not I need you and you'll love me forever even though I moved across the world, my siblings...who laugh and make fun of my new experiences, special thanks to Gma because if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't and couldn't be here, friends...you never fail me, and last but not least, ma "prof" et mon amie...tu est vraiment important dans ma vie (en general) et aussi ici en France. Je serais perdue sans toi!

:)

Back to France: I am about to finish the fall semester...I cannot believe it is almost over! I will have to say au revoir to my CEA (fall) friends at the end of the week and je suis triste! The new students arrive on Wednesday and we begin spring classes next week. I have been very successful in my french studies this semester and I will be moving up a level for the spring! :) yippeeee!!! 

If I had to choose my favorite project from this semester it would be my presentation on the Aquitaine and Bordeaux for my language class. I had to speak for about 30-45 minutes on anything and everything from the region. It was easy and fun to do.....plus I got to take a great trip to Bordeaux (for research...or just for fun! ;) ) with my friend Katherine! Perfect right?!?!

In general, my french skills have greatly improved and I'm looking forward to learning even more over the next several months :) 

Work: I have two jobs man!!! I am teaching english to four young children ages 4-8 and I"m also tutoring a french girl for her english classes! It is awesome! Both jobs give me the opportunity to teach english and speak a little bit of French. C'est parfait!

And of course...I am still enjoying everything about ma vie en France! 

OK...so time for a current update:

I spent the past weekend in PARIS :) It was beautiful but cold! I thought Aix was cold during the winter but it is a different kind of cold in Paris (more life freezing)!

Ahhhh the Notre Dame...so beautiful

Did I mention that Melissa is here visiting me for two weeks? :) It has been so much fun so far and I'm loving the opportunity to show her everything I love about my new life here in my beloved France. 

Of course...La Tour Eiffel!! I never get tired of looking at this beautiful thing! I love all the history behind it! 

...and at night :) 

La Louvre...this museum is absolutely amazing. I love it. I could spend an entire week in this place and not see the same things twice!

This one is for you Maman :) Second trip to Paris...second photo like this!

Would Paris be complete without the Metro? No way...I got stuck in the turnstyles...twice!

yay for Metro signs! They are all so fun! We walked just about everywhere but by the end of the day we were just too tired to walk anymore!

French class this one is for you...FLY boats :)

whewww je suis fini...bonsoir d'Aix-en-Provence!

Bises:)

Oh France...je t'aime

Christmas in San Diego was fantastic! More on that later...

Melissa is here visiting for two weeks and I am introducing her to "ma vie en France!" dinner consists of cheese, sausage, bread, and wine from Bordeaux (my favorite!).

:)

Bonnes Fêtes de Aix en Provence!

Hello! SO you all know that I will be spending the holidays in San Diego but Provence has some pretty cool traditions I wanted to share with everyone.

Christmas Markets: Just about every town has their own set of markets. Often you can find french specialties but you also find things from all over the world. It is fun to try new types of food and find fun gift ideas. Here in Aix, the Cours Mirabeau is lined with a market and my favorite stand is definitely the "vin chaud" (aka hot wine) stand. So delicious!

Santons: These are the traditional Provençal figures for the crib scenes. They are hand-made out of clay and they are only made in Provence. Aix is famous for them! They are beautiful and it is a tradition for French families to put out their "santons" (little saintes) on December 5th and they stay out well into January. 

The meal: it s called "le gros souper" (aka big meal). Traditionally, the whole family is present. The table is covered with three white cloths layered over each other and has three white candles symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The sprouted lentils and wheat, tied with ribbon and sprigs of myrtle decorate the table. In Provence, places are laid for the poor and for family members who have died. 

13 Desserts: yes there really are 13! It is broken up into 3 categories: dried fruit and nuts, fresh fruit, and sweets. Here are some of the common sweets: Calissons d'Aix (almond-paste pastry with sugar icing), brioche, nougat, buche de noel (cake shaped like a log), and navettes. This is often held late at night following the Midnight Mass. 

Sooooo there you have it! 

Gros bises :)

Meet two of my Professors!

My university held a Christmas party last night for all of the foreign students! It was a lot of fun and we got to see some of our professors "break loose". I have six different professors and I managed to grab photos of two of them. :) Madame Abadie is one of my language professors and she is so nice and her class is helpful! Madame Moreels is my théâtre professor and frankly, she is a riot and her class is always hilarious! Watching them dance and interact with their students outside of the classroom was epic! Thanks for throwing such a great party!!! :)