Where's the time gone?

I've realized I'm an awful blogger. Maybe that say something about my commitment to things, I really hope not! I just get so busy and my days are jam packed and by the time I'm home I just want to sleep.

It's been a month since I've updated you all and so much has happened. My mom and I have an incredible trip together. I was so unbelievably happy to be able to share this experience with her. After my mom left I was bummed for a while, missing home and all of its comforts but I easily got back into the swing of things.

Grenoble has been in pleine forme (good shape) these past few weeks. Absolutely beautiful weather, mid seventies and breezy every day. All of the flowers are blooming yet the mountains that surround the city are still covered in snow. I know I've said it a million times but its like a dream. I am so happy that I chose this place, it's the perfect size and my french has improved leaps and bounds since I first got here. I find myself not even thinking but just speaking!

I've been gushing about being happy here but there have been some downs. I've found, as with most of the other americans as well, that making french friends is difficult. I would never have thought that such an animosity would still exist between the french and the americans, but sadly it does. I had hoped that our generation was learning to be tolerant but I've found that I'm not widely liked around these parts. It's surprising to me because I represent an American who is interested in their culture, I came here to learn their language and assimilate myself into their country. I try my hardest to not be a loud American and I am always respectful yet they don't like me.

It's fascinating really that this prejudice still exists. Everyday in the United States I experience racism, I see Americans give people of muslim descent a wary eye, and I see Americans shudder at people speaking spanish in america...god forbid. But I've never once been on the opposite side, I've seen racism at work but I've never been the one being scrutinized. I guess it's my own ignorance or just my indifference but I never really thought of it as a problem. Not until I arrived here did I realize just how unjust it truly is. I hate being judged because I'm American. I've learned so much already about myself and I've grown as a person and I hope that when I go home I will be able to use this new outlook on things in a positive manner and show others what it's really like to not feel welcome.

There is obviously two sides to this story though. I have made some awesome french friends who have done nothing but welcome me with open arms. Just like every story there is the good and the bad. I am happy to say that the good always outweighs the bad when you're living in France. I mean the main food staples are CHEESE, more CHEESE, chocolate, bread oh and did I say CHEESE? How can one possibly be unhappy?

A dieu my readers. I keep promising my diligence but I will stick with it this time. I've only get a short amount of time left and I want to remember everything that I've done here. If I can leave with one parting note, be more tolerant everyone. I'm having a hard time taking my own advice but I think it's really something that everyone can truly work on.

Paris Part Deux

Paris with my mom is SO different than paris with my study abroad group. I am beyond happy that she is here and I get to show her around this beautiful city. Being here makes me miss Grenoble and the ease of getting around, but I can't sit here and say that I don't absolutely adore this place. For example, I am currently sitting in our flat right down the street from the Louvre drinking a glass of wine I bought in Bourgogne...jealous?

This has been an extremely entertaining trip thus far. Being with my mother who literally knows NOTHING in french is both amusing and frustrating. It's helpful that I've become so good at french because its up to me to get us everywhere and buy us everything. Prime example, tonight at dinner in Montmartre near the Sacre Coeur my mom tried to say thank you to the waiter in the restaurant, did she say thank you...no, did she say merci...no, she said GRACIAS. I mean come on mom! We're in France not spain. Gotta love her though.

I've also realized that I've become a snob. I hate americans. Okay that's not the truth, but I really dislike American college students who are studying in Europe and don't even try to assimilate to the culture or try to speak the languages. Today mom and I were getting coffee before trecking to Versailles, there were four american college students my age sitting at the table across the restaurant. Since my ear is keen to english I picked up on all that they were saying, they were being rude to the waitress and became frustrated when she didnt understand what they were asking her in English. uh HELLO you're in France, they speak french here. It's ignorant to think that everyone in the world speaks English. It really irritates me because I am here to learn a language and become well versed in the french culture. My mom keeps calling me a snob which I will admit to being but I guess I should show some more tolerance for my generation.

Tomorrow mom and I leave for Rennes to visit my french exchange student Sophia from high school! I haven't seen her in four years and I can't wait to spend time with her and her mom. We're planning to go to Mont St. Michel and the beaches of Normandy. This trip just keeps getting better. Au Revoir Paris, until next time.

Trop Cher!

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been m.i.a. I don't really have any excuses except that I've been busy! Geneva was incredible! I went with three other girls from my program and we stayed two nights and had a blast. It's definitely a place worth visiting and now I can tell people I've been to Switzerland but boy was it expensive. Since Switzerland isn't a part of the european union they use the franc still and its close to the same amount as the dollar. So when I was charged 25 swiss francs for a drink at the bar I almost laughed in the bartenders face. There isn't much to do in Geneva so we did whatever we could, we went to the Red Cross Museum which was very interesting and I actually learned alot. We saw the UN and spent a lot of time sitting on benches by Lake Léman.

Being by a body of water made me really homesick. I've never been this land locked before and I miss the ocean and the beach. The water was crystal clear and blue and I can only imagine how much more beautiful Geneva is in the summer. I've been having a tough time with school the past few weeks, my french teacher is a typical french woman and lacks a little tact. She is very upfront about not doing homework and missing class and sometimes when I don't know the answer to a question she makes me feel like an imbecile. Tough love all the way, I guess I am learning a lot because she forces me to rethink what I say and say it the right way, but its disheartening for someone to be so tough on you all the time. I guess I'm more of a softie than I thought.

I spent the past weekend here in Grenoble with my friends but this weekend API is taking us to Dijon...a.k.a. the mustard capital of the world. (or so I lovingly call it) I hope they don't make us go on a mustard tour because dijon mustard here is WAY stronger than the stuff they have in the states, it clears your nostrils right out. Anywhoo this weekend should be nice to get away with my whole group and I don't have to pay for it which is always a plus. My mom is coming in exactly one week from today and we're going to be traversing France together for about 10 days. I cannot wait to share this experience with her, it should help my french too because she barely speaks a lick of french. Sorry for the delay on posts I'll make sure to keep up with my blogging from now on I promise!

The Man Who Licked My Shoulder

Bonjour tout le monde!

I feel like I haven't addressed my social life enough since I've been here. If you're all sitting at home picturing me gyrating with french men at discotheques until the wee hours of the morning, you couldn't be more wrong. I consider myself to be pretty cool, hip, fun to be around...but I don't know how these french kids do it.

A typical saturday night involves eating dinner until about 9:30, heading out for "drinks" around 10. At this point you drink copious amounts of overpriced booze at a somewhat sketchy bar that doubles as a dance club, all the while trying to enjoy yourself while 8 different peoples sweat are mixing on your skin because the place is so crowded. Am I painting a good enough picture?

Did I mention a french man licked my shoulder. Some of you might shudder, others might gasp but apparently this is normal here? I've gotten cat calls before and had to tell a guy to leave me alone but no ones taken it this far. I guess it's my fault for wearing an off the shoulder dress, but after telling some man non merci for about the fifth time I turn away and he LICKS ME! Full on tongue meets shoulder people.

Luckily, that night we left promptly after I was salivated on. After the bar we went to the discotheque. More like a buidling full of discotheques, 4 different ones with coat rooms, smoking rooms, bars, people having sex in the bathroom etc...We danced our butts off for a good three hours, it only took me until I went to order a beer from the bar to realize why everyone gets so drunk at the bar before the discotheque. They wanted 5 euro for half a pint, thats like 8 dollars for a small cup of beer, thats highway robbery! For me however this wasn't a problem because I love to dance regardless of whether or not I've been drinking.

At around 4:30 we called it a night and took a taxi home. The next day I found out that french bakeries open at 4:30-5 oclock every morning and thats the best time to get fresh, hot, steamy, delicious french pastries. I'll have to do the night club thing at least one more time while I'm here just for the bread afterwards. So if you think you can handle the nightlife better than I can please come visit me. I'm having a blast, heading to Geneva this weekend with the girls, I'll post when I come home!

Elation

Hello everyone! Coming in on a month here in Grenoble! It is FLYING by. I'm already bummed just thinking about having to leave France. I'm obsessed, this place is everything I wished for and more. I am elated everyday just living this life, it's like a dream!

I know it sounds corny but its true! I've met some amazing people both American and French and I really feel like I'm putting roots down here. I can't imagine being home again. Don't get me wrong, I miss the comforts of my own home, laying on the couch with my puppy and playing with my little brother but if only one could feel how I feel right now. It's incredible. I'm taking in all of this experience as best as I can.

This weekend I am going to Geneva, Switzerland with three other girls from API. It barely cost us 20 dollars to get there by train and we're staying in a hotel right in the center of the city. Just a casual trip to another country for the weekend! It's crazy that people actually do this here!

I'll write again soon, I know it will hit me soon enough how much I miss my family and being at home but right now all I can think about is waking up tomorrow and living each day to its fullest while I'm here. If you're reading this I most likely love you and miss you very much! Talk to you all soon!

Grenobloise

Sorry for the delay my avid readers, lifes been crazy busy! I've started school, been settling into my dorm, going out on the weekends and getting coffee with friends practically everyday. Unfortunately I can't write that much today because I have some homework to accomplish.

I love Grenoble, this city is so beautiful. Every street you walk down at the end it opens into a cobble stoned courtyard full of restaurants and cafés all complete with breathtaking views of the french alps. School's going pretty well, I was placed into an advanced section and I'm struggling a bit but I think it is better to be challenged. I love my teacher her name is Béatrice and she's a nut, she claims she eats 3 pain au chocolat (the most amazing french pastry) a day, yet she's still a size double 0. All the women here are SO skinny and so fashionable, I strive to be like them everyday.

Occassionally someone will come up and ask me for directions thinking I'm a native of Grenoble, often it's americans who do it too and I'm very flattered. I think the fact that I wear so much black is the main reason why people think I'm french.

My friends and I have been trying to stay active because all we do is eat SO much bread. Our favorite bakery is so perfectly named "pour l'amour du pain" literally for the love of bread in english. Couldn't be any more perfect right? We've done a couple of hikes to burn off all the carbs and discovered some of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Just the other day we started off on a hike in the woods and about 30 minutes in the woods opened up into rolling hills in the french countryside with the mountains as their backdrop. Around the bend we stumbled across a castle! Is this real life? I feel like I'm living in a fantasy world, I half expected the Vontraps to come running out of the castle singing.

I'll write again soon I promise! We're trying to plan a trip to Geneva, Switzerland this week and my mom comes in about a month and we're going to traverse France together!

Oddities

Here's the start of a list that I will be compiling to describe some "cultural differences" between France and the U.S.

1. Instead of pulling open a door to go inside you push instead (poussez in french, prounced poosay haha)
2. At school there are only holes in the ground for toilets, they're very clean and my quads get a good workout each time but my question is...what happens if you have to go number two?
3. The so called world wide web isn't world wide. A lot of the sites I use at home only work in the U.S.
4. When drinking tea, tea bags are put directly into the tea pot with the hot water instead of putting the tea bag in your cup first then pouring the hot water over it
5. It is polite to say Bonjour and Au Revoir to literally every single person you see, yet if a woman with a stroller runs over your toe on the bus, causing massive amounts of bleeding and some choice swear words in both french and english, she will NEVER say excuse me
6. Smiling too much is considered weird. If a girl smiles at a guy in a bar in france that's an open invitation!