The Last Best Place in Europe

A time magazine article from 2004.... and I totally and completely agree with everything it says.

http://www.time.com/time/europe/secret/nantes.html

Joyeaux Vendredi!

I know it has been a while since I last posted- mid-terms have been keeping me busy! So I will try to update you on everything that has happened since. The other weekend there was a tasting market that only comes once a year to Nantes so a bunch of us from IES went. It was amazing- they were selling anything and everything and you could taste whatever you wanted!

Candied fruits at the tasting market- of course I had to buy some. They were absolutely delicious

Wine

Cheese

These past 2 weeks have been midterms, which take twice as long to study for than in America because, since they are in French, I first have to got through all of my notes and look up any words that I might not know in a dictionary. Which is tedious and takes hours. Then I have to start studying. But I am finally finished with my midterms! 

To celebrate the end of midterm we decided to experience saint patricks day in Nantes. I never would have guessed how big of a deal it is here! It was basically a huge party in the streets and you couldn't move. There were fireworks and they were throwing prizes off of the roof of an Irish pub (I caught a fan). Then we found a place that would put on the Wofford NCAA game and watched that for a while. Unfortunately we lost but they did a great job and played a great game!! 

Well that is it for now... we are going out for pasta tonight!! A Bientot!

Crying Carolina....

This week and next week we are having all of our mid-terms and I can't believe that this semester is halfway over. I have had an amazing time and I will be the first to say that I never ever want it to end. But recently us IES students have been talking about "the first thing we are going to do when we get home..." So in light of those conversations, I am making a list of the things I miss most about the United States.

Sweet Tea
Not having to pay for shopping bags at the grocery store
Wearing sweatpants and t-shirts
Taking showers that last longer than 5 minutes
Soft drinks/bottled water that cost less than 3 euro ($5)
Paying with dollars
Speaking English
Cheap restaurants
Driving
Television
Fast food
Wofford

And most of all...
My family and friends!!

xoxo love you all!

Just another night in Nantes...

My new favorite song about my new favorite city...

"Nantes" by Beirut

Vacances d'hiver!

Well, I know it has been a while since my last blog post, but I just returned from a week in Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, Holland for winter break!! The trip was so much fun.

Out trip began early last Saturday morning. I woke up at 4 AM because I had to walk to the train station and our train left at 6. After a train layover in Paris, we were in Brussels by noon that day- but the weather was rainy and miserable. We walked to our hostel in the rain so that we could get cleaned up and rested up before going to "Museum Night Fever"- a party that happens once a year where you get access to 20 different Brussels museums and each museum has set up concerts and activities inside. Well, the concept was really cool but we were all absolutely exhausted so after one museum we decided to head on back to our hostel. On Sunday it had stopped raining, so we just walked around Brussels to see all of the sights. There is Grand Place- A beautiful square where tourists and Belgians alike hang out; and my personal favorite place- The Brussels Bourse aka the stock exchange and my future work place. We spent the next few days seeing all of the important Brussels sights. Manneken Pis stature, Palais de Justice, Palais Royale, The European Union building, touring the Cantillon Brewery, and of course eating typical Belgian food- lots of waffles, chocolate, and fries.

Standing in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange

Grand Place

The most delicious waffle on the planet- chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream

Meeting room of the European Union

Me and some friends in front of the French flag at the EU (Everyone would take pictures with the flag of their country. Obviously the US flag wasn't there so we decided to use the French flag instead. 

Palais de Justice

Manneken Pis- Yes it is what you think it is, a little boy peeing. Most famous statue in Brussels. The first time we tried to find it, we got distracted by waffles and the statue is so tiny we walked right past it without even realizing.

On Wednesday, we left Brussels and took a train to Amsterdam. It was absolutely freezing but the city is beautiful! There are canals everywhere and I loved the architecture. While in Amsterdam, we visited the Van Gogh museum, the Heineken Brewery, and Anne Franks hiding place. The weird thing about Amsterdam is that there are bicyclists EVERYWHERE. Every street has a bike lane and I really believe that I saw more bikes than cars. The problem is, if you are walking you have to be careful and not stray into the bike lane or they will run you over in a heartbeat. 

The outside of Anne Frank's hiding place... it was amazing to see where they actually hid from the Nazis. 

A typical street name in Amsterdam. It took us 30 extra minutes to get anywhere just because we had to pronounce the street names.

Beautiful Canal!

Bikes.... they were parked EVERYWHERE

Heineken Brewery- The tour included horses, a simulator ride, and videos

All in all, winter break was amazing and I didn't want to leave. But then I remembered that this whole semester is an adventure! I have resolved that now that I am back in France, I am not going to waste any time. I want to see and do everything that I possibly can while I am here. Well, I am sorry that this post is so long but I wanted to recap my break! A toute a l'heure! 

Devoirs, vacances, et autres choses

So, I apologize for not updating this as often as I used too. I had always heard that the schoolwork for study abroad is easier because they want you to experience the country. Well that's a LIE. Especially if all your classes are in a different language...

Other than my loads of homework, everything here is going pretty well! I am finally in a routine and hearing a different language 24/7 doesn't even phase me anymore. However, I am heading to Brussels and Amsterdam in 3 DAYS... and from what I have read there are a lot of English speakers in those regions which will be nice!

This morning I had my OFII immigration doctors appointment which wasn't really anything special- it's required if you live in France for longer than 90 days. But I made another American friend while sitting in the waiting room. She is here teaching English to high schoolers for a year- which is something that I would definitely consider doing after college! Also, they took an Xray of my lungs- which they gave me to keep... I'm not really sure what to do with a giant Xray of my lungs sitting in my bedroom, but they said not to lose it (I don't know how you could).

Well thats about all that is new in France land at the moment! The weather gets prettier and prettier every day (except for the days that it rains). I am ready for springtime! Well... I better get back to studying "Marketing International" (Yes, it is spelled the exact same, but the words are flipped around and said with a French accent). A tout a l'heure!

1 month later...

Another week has come and gone... and it's hard to believe that I have already been here for a month! I have enjoyed my time here more than I ever could have possibly imagined. Contrary to popular belief, most French people do not hate Americans...at least none that I have encountered anyway! They seem to be fascinated by us. My professors and host family are constantly asking about English words and seem so interested in American traditions!

However, while that stereotype may not be true, there are many very true French stereotypes. They are very fashionable. I have yet to see a French person wearing a t-shirt or sweatpants. They tend to wear dark colors and scarfs and their style is very classy. I definitely hope to bring some French style back to the states when I return home :). Another stereotype that is true is the DELICIOUS cuisine. I haven't had much food here that I haven't liked. But, the French are so skinny! This is because they walk EVERYWHERE and do not snack between meals. They eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and nothing else throughout the day. So different than in America!

Tomorrow, I am hoping to walk around centre ville with some friends. The weather is starting to be beautiful and what could possibly be more amazing than France in the springtime? Outdoor cafes, lots of shopping, and beautiful gardens. Coming here is no doubt the best and most exciting thing that I have ever done and I do not want to waste one minute!

Well, it's out to town for me to night, so until next time.... Au Revoir mes amis!