A Day in The Life of Audie

I find myself not wanting to leave France at all while I'm in my classes. I wonder why, too. It's a room with several long wooden tables and chairs, tile floors, one white-board and three windows with wooden shutters that overlook the town of Pontlevoy, France. In the mornings and early afternoons, the sun shines so brightly. When the weather is warmer than usual, our teachers open the windows and let the clean, French air go deep into our lungs.

Yesterday was probably our first warm day since we've been here for just over a month. The 55 degree sunny weather instantly puts everyone in a great mood. The professors are more energized, we're more intruiged to learn and everyone in town seems to be going for an afternoon walk.

Its an amazing energy that I haven't seen elsewhere. I spent part of the afternoon hanging out with other Abbey-ians in the gardens, which are located in the "backyards" of the Abbey. It was just warm enough to not have to wear a jacket.

We're all also so excited for our upcoming Paris/Normandy week and our 2 week spring break. We leave for Paris this Saturday by bus. This is the first year they're getting us hotel rooms instead of hostels (HALLELUJAH!). Our days will be spent with small groups of 7 and an assigned professor to give their own walking tour that corresponds with their classes. As a treat, the program is taking us on a boat cruise on our last night there. HOW COOL IS THAT!! We are also spending two days in Normandy. We're seeing the American cemetery and Omaha Beach (I'm most excited for this). One day will also be spent in Versailles.

Tuesday, March 31, Lindsey and I are jetting off from Paris to Dublin, Ireland. We're staying in a hostel downtown. After two nights, we're leaving April 1st early in the morning for a quick flight to London. We're staying 3 nights. We're meeting up with my good friend Alexis' parents and gonna do all those touristy things. Of course I signed up for the Official Beatles Tour. Easter Sunday, we're flying to Rome and staying there for 5 nights. We're staying on a river, near the Vatican. On that Wednesday, we're going hear the Pope say mass. I think we may do a day trip to Florence because we're there for so long!

Finally, on our last weekend, were going to the coast of Italy and staying in an area called the Cinque Terre. Hopefully it'll be warm, cause we're right on the beach. Sangria and gnocchi are complentary. We're renting out a cheap apartment for six of us! After an afternoon in Pisa, we arrive back to Paris on April the 11.

It's going to be amazing, long, tiring, nerve wracking, stressful and downright everything I hope and more. I look forward to trying to navigate the London Tube, drinking local beer with the Irish, trying authentic Italian food, getting lost in Rome and meeting up with my friends for a relaxing weekend trip on the beaches in Italy.

It'll be funny to re-read this blog entry after I come back. Will I be exhausted, stinky and sunburned, yet accomplished and full of stories to tell? Or will I look back wondering why I did this or why I didn't see that? Either way, it's an experience I'll never be able to experience again.

I'll never again in my life be a young 20 year old with a backpack, a few friends and basically a empty wallet. When I come back, I know I'll either be older with my own family or husband. Maybe my parents and I will go. Or maybe I'll go again by myself on a work trip? Either way, this trip is pretty freakin' insane and I cannot wait to let you all know how it goes.

See y'all in a few weeks! :)

Yes, yes I did....

So this weekend i stayed in town. A whole group of us decided to go and get tatoos and piercings. So we took a trip to Blois and found a place to get it done. When we got there it was a little hard b/c they didnt speak much english, but it was enough for us to understand each other. I ended up getting my labret (lip) pierced. It didnt hurt at all and it hasnt really hurt since. It was really cool to have a whole group of us there getting stuff together. After we left we headed to the pharmacy to get all of the cleaning stuff we needed. So I had to get Diaseptyl and Glycothymoline 55. He made sure we knew what we had to get before we left so all we had to do at the pharmacy was show/tell them what we need. At first I was a little nervous about getting a piercing in France b/c I dont speak that much French, but it turned out to be great and the group of us that went really got close and experienced it together. This was one of the best things I have done since ive been here. I think everyone should step outside of their comfort zones and get something done.

"Just remember: No matter how stressed you are, you're still stressing IN FRANCE." ;)

Je suis fatigue. No really.

That past week I have averaged about five (cinq) hours of sleep per night. NOT FUN. I decided to apply to Rice University, and it's been even harder than I expected. International communication is EXTREMELY difficult, especially since I don't have a phone. Everyone has been really great back in the States though, really helpful and understanding :)

So we went to Loches last Saturday. It was not the most elaborate and ornate place I've visited, but it was my favorite so far. I found it refreshing- it was so REAL. It was not about pampered nobility, but about the uglier side of French history- a side that all societies have. We visited the dark, damp prisons, and saw the remnants of a place that was once filled with a yearning for freedom. The sun barely made it through the sorry excuse for windows- our tour guide mentioned that prisoners would fight for a spot closest to the light. The staircases were narrow and winding- a perfect defense against intruders. Walking around, it was like I was part of the past, like if I closed my eyes I was really there.

I have been in France for a month now. I was looking at old pictures, and I hardly recognize the person I used to be. Even a year ago... It's like another life. Incroyable.

I was listening to a conversation between two French people the other day (eavesdropping is bad, I know) and I was able to make out most of what they were saying. How much something costs (C'est combien?) where she went last night (Je suis alle au montrichard!) I love this culture, the compassion the people show for complete strangers... I hope that I can take some of this kindness back to the States with me, and that people will see a change in my demeanor. I hope that they will see me and say, "Wow, what do the French know that I don't?" I want people to ask me questions, so that I can explain all the wonderful things I have been able to experience. I want them to know that THEY can see and do great things too, if they truly believe in their dreams.

Tonight I went to the local pizzeria with Charlotte and Lindsey. The owner was all smiles as he took our order, and the smell from the kitchen was heavenly. They even had a pizza "vegetarien" :) J'adore champignons et fromage! For dessert, we went to le commerce for creme glacee. Caramel with whipped cream and chocolate = FANTASTIQUE :)

the misadventures of flap jack....lol

monday 3-1-10: we went to the local grocery store called the utile.....me and ashley did the normal shopping for junk food and candy. By the time that i went to check out i went to talk to the lady. Forgetting that she do not speak english i talk to her in my language. she did not understand that i was asking her where is the bread, when i realized it i said c'est ou un pain

tuesday 3-2-10: i went to my host family host. they wanted me to come over to eat.... when we at some pretty good food. so after we are done eating they told me that i had ate pig intestines, i felt so sick. after that they helped me pronouce certain objects like le cachier(notebook) and la table (table) la chaise (chair) and le crayon (pen).

wednesday 3-3-10: nothing really happened except i met a local and had a small converstion with him with small talk with the little french i knew, such as: bonjour, cava au verior etc.

March 2nd 2010

I had my first encounter of young french men in Pontlevoy. At the party @ Le Commerce I met Julien's brother (Maurice)Mo, we hung out with him most of the night just laughing and talking. Then we picked up a new phrase from some of the locals, J'en nai rein a foutre. We learned that from two locals and they taught us exactly how to say it and what it means. We sat at the bar, when one of those locals told us we were beautiful and asked if we had boyfriends. Kaila said yes I said no, then he said J'en nai rein a foutre and asked if we wanted to french kiss. At first none of the locals said anything to us, but when we started talkin to one its like they all gradually start comin over trying to join in the conversation. I think thats really funny. And its also funny how no matter what you start talking to them about french kissing always come up in the conversation. The night was fun, we danced with Mo, and Alban(Pamela's husband). And always we learned that @ the disco or a party they say...you gotta pum pum pump it up...Mo taught us that, and the point to this journal was that I've learned that alot of french people are down to earth people are are very nice to talk too (if they speak english).

Bonjour tout le monde!! :)

This experience is about getting out of my comfort zone; trying new things. I have been in France for more than two weeks now, and I am completely in love. Manners are extremely important in the French culture- When you meet someone, you always say, "Bonjour, ca va?" When the French ask how you are, they actually MEAN it. If you do not speak French (like me!) your best bet is to learn: s'il vous plait (please) merci (thank you) desole (I'm sorry) and pardon (excuse me). As long as you are polite, the people of this beautiful country are more than happy to help.

Last Wednesday, I watched La Vie En Rose, the biography of the famed French singer Edith Piaf. Edith faced many trials throughout her life: she was raised in a brothel, then traveled with her father (a contortionist). She began singing at a very young age to supplement her father's act. She met her best friend, Momone, when they were both teenagers. They were inseparable until Edith's untimely death at the age of 57. The other key figure in Edith's short life was Marcel, a famous French boxer who died while en route to see her when his plane crashed. I downloaded some of Edith Piaf's music, and though it was recorded well before my time, even I can appreciate the amazing talent this incredible woman possessed.

Last weekend, je suis allee a Blois with my new friend Pauline. She speaks very little English, so at times it was difficult to communicate, but neither one of us ever went more than a minute or so without laughing :) Most French people drive EXTREMELY fast. However, Pauline was a little more cautious because she just got her lisence a few weeks ago (in France it costs one THOUSAND euros, sometimes more, to get it!!). We went shopping, and stopped by Mcdonalds after to get dinner. In France, you can choose to have a beer as part of your combo meal... for the same price as a soda ;) As we were walking out, I asked her about the sticker I had seen on several cars, including hers. It is a white circle with a big red A. She explained that all new drivers had to have one; it's kind of like a heads up for other drivers.

I have learned SO MUCH already... I can't wait to see what the next 2 1/2 months has in store! :)

second week

Monday 02-22-10: we went to la commerce for dinner and we had the cordon blue for and I had never had it before so when i tasted it i told the lady ((tres bonne)) which means very good in french. after dinner we had dessert which was ice cream(( glace)) it was strawberry....when I went to go pay for everything this weird man was like talking to me and told me he would help me learn french.... he also begged me to taste this french drank.... well i just thought of it being friendly....but in france by laughing and smiling while talking to them is a sign that u like them....so now i think the man thinks i like him....ugh!! lol

Tuesday 02-23-10: well i met my host family on this day. well my host family hardly spoke any english the women and the children didnt speak any english and the man speaks a little english. they took me to see their little boy footbul game which is soccor is france. they took me to there house and taught me to say rouge which is red and i read english books to their little kids

Wednesday 02-24-10: went back to la commerce for lunch and saw the same creepy man and when me and my friends started to eat he was always staring at me i promise he could be mii grandfather lol. i dont think i learned any french that day.

Thursdays 02-25-10: i called up mii host family and spoke to them in french i said bonjour...cava.... them i told them that i wanted to come over for friday vendredi .....they told me oui oui....i couldnt wait to show them things from and about america.....