well friends, needless to say I had a great weekend. the family we stayed with is so warm and welcoming and had an amazing villa with all of the fixings (as you can see in the photos). we arrived there friday afternoon and we ate lunch outside on the little picnic table, facing the oliverie. the weather was beautiful and sunny, and i felt like i was in paradise. after lunch we got right to work... we took a little tour of their property and Annie showed us an old roman bridge hidden in the woods. chloe and i planted two cherry trees and an apricot tree, then a little later we went to their vineyard and help plant some vines! man, i am going to miss the 4 course dinners here, and wine!
unfortunately the rest of the weekend the weather was not very nice, so we set some fires in the woods because in southern france there is a lot of dry brush and in the summer when it gets very hot, there are many forest fires, so people are required to "clean" their forests and burn brush. this seemed to be a very funny thing to be doing while is france (to me).
Annie brought us to Saint Tropez for the rest of the day... we had to drive through mountains to get there and it was so beautiful. St. Tropez is on the coast (mediterranean) and it's very ritzy, many celebrities come there especially in the summer. the french daughter said she saw Bruce Willis there one summer. haha. we also went to a interpretive dance saturday night... the dancer's interpretation of the islamic religion... it was super interesting and amazing how he could move his body. it made me want to be a devout yogi!
the rest of the weekend we spent eating, lounging, and looking at fashion magazines (Madame Figaro. haha). the french mom, Annie asked for my e-mail address to stay in contact with me. :)
now i'm back in Aix, going to class, getting back into the groove.
Oh, so in europe they have this amazing invention called good espresso vending machines!!! the machine makes it right in front of you, you can choose how much sugar you want. plain espresso, cafe creme, cafe au lait, etc. i will take a picture. a cafe creme (=espresso and a little milk) is 60 centimes (euro cents)!!! and so during class breaks (because sometimes i have 4 hours classes) there are a bunch of people who gather in the courtyard sitting on benches, smoking, etc. with these little espresso cups. it''s purely divine! and i do not know why we do not have them!!! they have them here in gas stations, at my school, airports, TGV stations, everywhere!
Can you believe tomorrow will be APRIL? i can't.
P.S. skype me! it's fun.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
le week-end
So what i've been learning that strikes are very common here. although the french have practically free schooling, because of all of the strikes going on right now they cannot hold class and therefore their schooling is prolonged. i was talking to violette about it and she said she was in class and a bunch of communist students came in and started yelling things and calling the teacher a fascist so they had to stop class! and yesterday she attempted to go to her class and there were tons of chairs put outside of the classroom and in front of the door so you couldn't enter. woah! you really learn the best and worst things about your own country. I responded by saying "well at least you don't have to pay for school" and she said, " yeah but i would rather pay knowing I would be getting something in return!" haha. yeah, the U.S. is also more official in their offices and important matters like that. The bureau for foreign students is a joke... they are very disorganized and illogical. i still don't know how many credits my french program is. all i know is it is at least 12. oh, but the funniest thing here is if there is an organized strike, the people on strike still get paid!!! ridiculous.
I also learned that France's social security is better than the U.S. because the money people pay for social security (money coming our of their check like taxes) is directly payed to retired people right then... our (U.S.) social security apparently is INVESTED and so when there are economic problems, it is not certain that the funds be there when we get older!!! yikes.
to believe or not believe:
this weekend i am visiting the family that i stayed with in Paris. they invited Chloe and I to come to their home in the southern countryside. when we were in Paris, the father jokingly invited us, saying we should come and trim olive branches. then he casually mentioned while we were eating that the wine we were drinking with the meal was from "their vineyard" so Chloe and i were floored. because when you're filtering through the French language, sometimes you have to think twice. "wait, did he just say they owned a vineyard and an oliverie???" Alyssa thought to herself, shocked but silent. the answer is yes. they do. and i am staying there for the weekend and trimming trees! i'm hoping the weather will be nice! i'll get to meet their other daughter who i haven't met yet. apparently she goes to Oxford in London... i'll let you know how it goes!
haha. i like this little video. someday i want a videocam and make fun little videos.
I also learned that France's social security is better than the U.S. because the money people pay for social security (money coming our of their check like taxes) is directly payed to retired people right then... our (U.S.) social security apparently is INVESTED and so when there are economic problems, it is not certain that the funds be there when we get older!!! yikes.
to believe or not believe:
this weekend i am visiting the family that i stayed with in Paris. they invited Chloe and I to come to their home in the southern countryside. when we were in Paris, the father jokingly invited us, saying we should come and trim olive branches. then he casually mentioned while we were eating that the wine we were drinking with the meal was from "their vineyard" so Chloe and i were floored. because when you're filtering through the French language, sometimes you have to think twice. "wait, did he just say they owned a vineyard and an oliverie???" Alyssa thought to herself, shocked but silent. the answer is yes. they do. and i am staying there for the weekend and trimming trees! i'm hoping the weather will be nice! i'll get to meet their other daughter who i haven't met yet. apparently she goes to Oxford in London... i'll let you know how it goes!
haha. i like this little video. someday i want a videocam and make fun little videos.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
ma belle-mere
here they say beautiful mother, father, etc instead of step-mother or step-father. interesting. they also say celebetaire for being single, which i do NOT prefer, but vive la langue (live the language). I am amazed how time is flying by and how almost every weekend from here on out is planned with some site to see, it makes it seem like i am leaving soon, which i do not want to think about at this moment.
when i first got here and was feeling homesick, there was a wikihow site i was looking "how to fight homesickness" haha, and one suggestion was to immerse yourself in the culture and see what there is to see, meet people and ask about their experiences and it will make you not think about being "stuck here" haha. well i heeded their advice. i have friends here now, a french language partner who is really sweet, and a belle mere. I asked her to watch a movie with me last night, it was french and surprisingly i really understood it (in french with french subtitles). Lately we've been talking about a lot of important matters and just the way society is progressing. I am very surprised to communicate of these topics because they are deep and in French. For example that the feminist movement was not good for families and that the differences between sexes is getting smaller, and that adolescents is becoming longer and that youth are more confused now and that they are less happy. And i guess it is also a trend here to delay marriage, or just live together and not get married. I asked the average age for marriage and she said about 30!!! yikes.
She also talks about her previous American students.... oh man. think paris hiltons. i am glad she knows it depends on the American because she's had some ridiculous but cliche American girls staying with her. I am glad that she views this exchange between us a learning experience for both of us because I am really learning a lot about France and wine and things in general. Yesterday i asked what her favorite age was at dinner and she said she loved every age they are just different and she explained the differences. And i thought of how beautiful that was. She really is a beautiful person. I really got lucky... or maybe luck is the wrong word.
when i first got here and was feeling homesick, there was a wikihow site i was looking "how to fight homesickness" haha, and one suggestion was to immerse yourself in the culture and see what there is to see, meet people and ask about their experiences and it will make you not think about being "stuck here" haha. well i heeded their advice. i have friends here now, a french language partner who is really sweet, and a belle mere. I asked her to watch a movie with me last night, it was french and surprisingly i really understood it (in french with french subtitles). Lately we've been talking about a lot of important matters and just the way society is progressing. I am very surprised to communicate of these topics because they are deep and in French. For example that the feminist movement was not good for families and that the differences between sexes is getting smaller, and that adolescents is becoming longer and that youth are more confused now and that they are less happy. And i guess it is also a trend here to delay marriage, or just live together and not get married. I asked the average age for marriage and she said about 30!!! yikes.
She also talks about her previous American students.... oh man. think paris hiltons. i am glad she knows it depends on the American because she's had some ridiculous but cliche American girls staying with her. I am glad that she views this exchange between us a learning experience for both of us because I am really learning a lot about France and wine and things in general. Yesterday i asked what her favorite age was at dinner and she said she loved every age they are just different and she explained the differences. And i thought of how beautiful that was. She really is a beautiful person. I really got lucky... or maybe luck is the wrong word.
Friday, March 20, 2009
la premier jour de ma vie
i am really starting to like it here. the way i can buy a fresh baguette and cheese and go to the market for some fruit fresh daily and eat lunch by a fountain or in the courtyard of my school...
...or i could have a coffee at a little cafe with a decadent dessert and write or do my homework. i'm really getting used to the provencial landscapes too, mont sainte victoire, the tan/pink/blue stucco apartment buildings and shutters, the olive trees and lavander and poppy flowers, the balconies and beautiful outdoor views.
I am expanding my social network and hanging out with people in my class more. today i had a picnic in the park with 3 girls. I enjoy that everyone seems to be from a different place, i'm learning a lot about everywhere! like that an eraser in the U.K. is a rubber... haha! man, i just want to visit everywhere and see the entire world....
I am pretty sure for my spring break Chloe and I are going to the U.K. for two weeks. One week in London and one in Manchester... her mom seems to have friends all over. I met her mom and she is really fun... she seems to have lived a great life and done many things, she's really interesting. She kind of reminds me of Maryl Streep in Mama Mia! haha. truly. i really like that movie...
Another things... it seems i am slipping into the oblivion, as if i am disappearing from the radar, but for the first time in my life i am happy with that. being normal has never seemed so beautiful and ideal to me as it does now. I just feel like i don't need anything anymore, just knowing is enough, i don't have to say it or post it on a bilboard or anything because i have it and that's all that's necessary. Most of my life I wanted it to be known that i was different and be marked by differences, but no, not now. I have found this sense of security in that no matter what, other people cannot take some things away from you... there are aspects of yourself that belong solely and inherently to you alone, and they can't take that unless you let them.
Selah.
...or i could have a coffee at a little cafe with a decadent dessert and write or do my homework. i'm really getting used to the provencial landscapes too, mont sainte victoire, the tan/pink/blue stucco apartment buildings and shutters, the olive trees and lavander and poppy flowers, the balconies and beautiful outdoor views.
I am expanding my social network and hanging out with people in my class more. today i had a picnic in the park with 3 girls. I enjoy that everyone seems to be from a different place, i'm learning a lot about everywhere! like that an eraser in the U.K. is a rubber... haha! man, i just want to visit everywhere and see the entire world....
I am pretty sure for my spring break Chloe and I are going to the U.K. for two weeks. One week in London and one in Manchester... her mom seems to have friends all over. I met her mom and she is really fun... she seems to have lived a great life and done many things, she's really interesting. She kind of reminds me of Maryl Streep in Mama Mia! haha. truly. i really like that movie...
Another things... it seems i am slipping into the oblivion, as if i am disappearing from the radar, but for the first time in my life i am happy with that. being normal has never seemed so beautiful and ideal to me as it does now. I just feel like i don't need anything anymore, just knowing is enough, i don't have to say it or post it on a bilboard or anything because i have it and that's all that's necessary. Most of my life I wanted it to be known that i was different and be marked by differences, but no, not now. I have found this sense of security in that no matter what, other people cannot take some things away from you... there are aspects of yourself that belong solely and inherently to you alone, and they can't take that unless you let them.
Selah.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
st. patrick's day
haha. so last night, i decided randomly that i wanted to go out for st. patrick's day... talk about ridiculous. i felt like i was in america. it was such a culture clash... thinking the french are taking part in this "holiday" (just another excuse to drink). so i went to an irish pub (there are a total of three in aix) and all of the little streets were pretty spare until BAM, i turned around the corner and people were bursting out of the pub, tons of drunks in the street drinking beer and wearing crazy hats and things. i met chloe and my swedish friend, frida and we went in and had a guiness (which i did not enjoy a drop of, but hello it's st. patrick's day!) had a few run-ins with some french drunks, and once again realized that i just do not belong in the night life scene. haha. i'm glad i went though, i've been wanting to go out here just to see what it's like and I have never taken part in this holiday before except for having a shamrock shake one year.... which might i add tasted much better than the dreadful beer i drank. so, Oh and i like irish coffee better too! next year perhaps live jazz and an irish coffee will suit me just fine.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
IXVM
I. There is this girl in my class that I have been getting to know, she's from California and somehow we got to talking about religion a few times in class (speaking in French)... she is agnostic, and often tells me her problem with Christianity and i defend it a try to help her understand it. But the hardest thing about it is that with our generation it is impossible to make anything seem valid. We don't believe in anything, and if we do we believe in everything and we have a preference but all paths are equally good, there is no right or absolute path. So even though I tell her for example that I am a Protestant, she will say "good for you, I am a -----". And she even told me that she likes Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism because they are different from Christianity (what she grew up with)- it has no logic theologically at all, but that she thinks other religions are more interesting.. not that they are any more truthful or right, but because they are more interesting. But I am glad being here is making me realize that i am in the world rather than protected in a safe environment, it is very interesting being surrounded by non-Christians all of the time.
II. I am very content knowing that I am finally doing what I want to do... that i'm not waiting for a future date, or looking forward to a unattainable future. I am finally doing one of the major goals that I have wanted to do for a long time... some days i questioned if it would ever come and here it is. There were so many pot holes and obstacles and I questioned whether I was even supposed to come, and even when I got here it got even harder which i did not imagine and it was trial after trial slowly it became worth it. It is how I imagine a jet taking off... it has to break through layers of the earth's atmosphere and there is full turbulence and you can tell the engines are working in overdrive and you are kind of nervous to see if you'll actually get to the place of zero gravity and bam! there you are! and there are all of the stars and the moon!
III. i don't think Kirsten Dunst is a great actress but for some reason I like all of the films she was in (that i saw) especially elizabethtown and I have this fascination with her. this for example...
II. I am very content knowing that I am finally doing what I want to do... that i'm not waiting for a future date, or looking forward to a unattainable future. I am finally doing one of the major goals that I have wanted to do for a long time... some days i questioned if it would ever come and here it is. There were so many pot holes and obstacles and I questioned whether I was even supposed to come, and even when I got here it got even harder which i did not imagine and it was trial after trial slowly it became worth it. It is how I imagine a jet taking off... it has to break through layers of the earth's atmosphere and there is full turbulence and you can tell the engines are working in overdrive and you are kind of nervous to see if you'll actually get to the place of zero gravity and bam! there you are! and there are all of the stars and the moon!
III. i don't think Kirsten Dunst is a great actress but for some reason I like all of the films she was in (that i saw) especially elizabethtown and I have this fascination with her. this for example...
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