I don't expect anyone to even see this post. But I kinda like that thought. Anyway, this post will deal with Italy and being back in America. I have been home for exactly one week and I figured giving myself one week to adjust back was a good idea before I posted *dun dun dun* the last post. Well, let's get to it then!
Italy: beautiful, breathtaking, astounding, awing, inspiring. Yes, that's it. Italy was inspiring. Thinking about that you where standing where Renaissance geniuses stood and saw roughly the same landscape leaves you breathless. These are the places I visited in Italy: Turin, Milan, Florence, Cinque Terre, Sienna, Luca, Lake Como, Pisa, and (I know this is horrible misspelled but) San Giomaggio. So, the photos I post on this will be from those cities.
My favorite things which I saw while gracing Italy were: the view from the top of the Doma in Florence, the view from a med-evil tower in a tiny town in the Florence country side, and the inside of the Baptistry of Florence. There you go. Of course there are countless other places I could describe but if I did that I'd be here, probably literally, all day. I don't fancy the thought of sitting on my couch tapping away at my computer all day so I'm sorry but you'll have to be content with those three places.
Well, now I want to touch on something else. Quiet honestly, I don't really know what I want to say next. I have this irrational fear that once I submit this final post, my trip to France really is over. It's a strange thought. It's a scary thought.
A friend I've had for 9 years summed up my feelings about being back in the US perfectly. Here's the conversation we had after seeing each other for the first time in over a year:
Her: Welcome back!
Me: Thanks, it's good to be back!
Her: Don't lie. You'd rather be there. You're just glad to see these people.
Me: Haha, yes.
Yup, there's the truth. Side note: aren't these pictures of Italy gorgeous? Answer: yes.
Since I've been back in the US for 1 week now here is what I miss about Chambery, France: walking everywhere, the international friends, the sound of French swirling about you as you walk, the fashion (yes, I know, it's mostly black but it's nice not to worry about matching...), and the Alps being in your backyard practically.
Okay, I start back at UT again tomorrow. In less than 24 hrs. When someone asked me how my semester abroad went I'm going to tell them that it was "good". Why will I be so generic, you ask? Because I don't think I'm up to the task of fulling describing how amazing it was. I can't do it justice. Also, I'm dead positive that no one wants to sit and listen to me drone on while struggling with words for multiple hours. I'll guard this experience and remember it. I am thankful I had it.
One last thing: I want to thank my readers for reading this. I don't care if you read it once or every single time. Thanks. I think I'll keep blogging but I'll do it under a new blog. Also, I don't think I'll be telling the domain to people. So, if you're an avid blog reader, maybe one day you'll read my new blog again. If not, I hope you have a wonderful 2014.
Well, I have officially passed my last day of uni here in Chambery, France. I honestly cannot believe that I have spent the last semester here--time has just flown by. You know what's weird, dear reader? I don't know what to say to you. For that matter, I don't know what to tell myself as I'm winding up this chapter of my life.
I keep saying goodbye to people but I'm in denial. Why, you ask? Because I keep saying au revoir, but I honestly expect to see some of these crazy kids again and it'll be weird not making the 25 minute trek up to university and seeing them. Or stranger yet? Not going to bar and chilling for hours and laughing so much it hurts. Any, I've just finished packing and cleaning my room so I guess it's done. It's strange that this room will retain no trace of me--I was just like a shadow passing through the day. Strange thought. Well, I get to see my family (my dad and two sisters) tomorrow! With them, we'll be exploring Italy together. I'm sure we'll have arguments but I can't wait to argue with my family!
Hey you guys, so today's post is going to be mostly pictures. All the pictures posted (excluding the very last two) are of either Strasbourg or Colmar, France. I just got back from Alsace this past weekend. I went for the Christmas market seeing as how they have the most famous market in Europe--I was not disappointed. It was so quintessentially European that I felt as if I was in a fairytale.
The trip: well, getting there was crazy because it was a very long bus ride and we left at 3 a.m. We arrive in Strasbourg around 9 a.m. and had the entire day to explore the town for ourselves. And go exploring we did. I saw so many amazing creations, ate delicious food--including traditional German sauerkraut (choucroutte in French) and several types of bretzels (that's how it was always written--but they were pretzels), and saw gorgeous buildings--including the Strasbourg cathedral!). That night, I stayed in a castle which had been renovated into a hostel. How cool is that! The next day was Colmar, France. How to explain Colmar . . . hmm. That's a hard one. It's basically a mini-replica of Strasbourg. So, after a busy Saturday and Sunday, I returned to my home in Chambery around 23:00h.
That brings us to today. Let's see, well, nothing very exciting happened. I have a final in my course of civilization tomorrow so I really should be studying for that but this blog and The Hobbit soundtrack are rather distracting.
Oh, here are some other random tid-bits:
*I ate liver for the first time. It looked like poop. It tasted what I imagine feces would taste like. All in all: gross.
*France doesn't believe in peanut butter: it's like they don't comprehend the creamy--or crunchy if that's your thing--goodness that is also known as peanut butter.
*square pillows: they are stupid. Every
single pillow I have yet used in Europe--which include France, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland-- has been square. I don't like this.
Also, I've been asked several times, both in France and also back in the States, why/how I landed on a humanities major and what I want to do with it. Well, I never knew how to put this into words but after being asked dozens of times, I think I might have an answer. Ready?
I am a humanities major because I want to help people. If you know me, you know my ultimate career goal. I wouldn't be able to reach that goal if I had taken a science route. In essence, I am a humanities major because we have enough science-minded people who are daily striving to make scientific breakthroughs, etc. But I don't think we have enough people striving to help other people. Sure, with our scientific community, our world has phenomonal medicine, nuclear power, cell phones that can be turned on by another computer, etc. But we don't have enough people desiring to help the helpless--because what good is a cell phone going to do a starving child or a sexually trafficked mother? As fantastic as our cell phones and modern luxuries are (and trust me, I enjoy them), I dislike the thought of others suffering while I have the ability to help them. So that's why I am not a science major--not to mention the fact that science is practically Greek to me. With this being said, I don't think science majors are wrong for having their major, society needs them. But I am saying that society also needs a realignment of values.
Anyway, enough of that! I didn't mean to go on that sidebar but I'm thrilled that I can finally semi-articulate myself on that subject. Moving on, you see that photo on your right? That's the Cathedral de Strasbourg. Absolutely breathtaking. It towered so high that the top of it was obscured in the mist. Umm, another interesting fact . . . oh, people kept thinking that I was German. Instead of speaking French to me, I guess that when people saw the semi-blonde hair and blue eyes they automatically assumed that I was German. Unfortunately for them, I always responded with a quizzical look and they quickly switched to either French or English.
What else? Oh, you see that picture of a road and mountains in the background at sunset? Yeah, that's the view from my campus. I know, it's beautiful. That's why I don't want to leave. That and also the very last photo on this post. You see the photo of me with a group of people all sitting around a table? Yes? Well, let me tell you, this group of kids is one of the strangest I've met but the best. We range from 20 to 26 years old and our sense of humor includes laughing at bathroom jokes, imagining bizarre scenarioes for how one can die, Mean Girl jokes, and puns. As I'm coming to the end of my stay in France, I can say I've seen some stunning places, learned about other cultures more than I thought I would, but most importantly I've made some pretty cool friends and it's thanks to them that my stay has been as great as it has. Alright, now I really do need to study for my exam tomorrow so bonne nuit a tous et toutes!
Oh my gracious, I don't even know where to start. Basically I've complied a list of the banal things I don't want to forget. You see, I figure that I'll remember the big things, but I don't want to forget the small things. So here is my list:
*the word "cool": the french say "c'est tres cool" to say something is interesting. And they say it with such a cute accent and it sounds like 'kewl'--it's adorable
*tu vs. vous: trying when to figure out when I need to use the formal vs. the informal
*smoking: my morning tradition was this--to wake up, drink coffee, step outside and inhale a massive breath of smoke
*old building: when I look up and realize I'm standing beside something that is hundreds of years old. Months later? It's still breathtaking every time.
*people always being in a relationship: I've asked the French and they admit that they often define themselves based on whether they are dating someone or not...interesting
*thursday night party: I still don't understand why the French college students always party on Thursday night and go to Friday classes hungover/still drunk
*winking: people here just wink at you to signify a joke, a laugh, etc. I'm probably going to start doing this in the States and people will think I'm flirting--but I won't be
*bisous: when you stare at someone for more than 2 seconds, it's obligatory to do the French bisous (kiss) greeting
*burning cars: people here burn cars (by burn I mean the car is beyond recognizably burnt) just for fun
*men peeing everywhere: seriously. I have seen way too many men peeing in the streets--even in broad day light
*dog poop: ah yes, this is everywhere. When walking, you are obliged to look down at your path in order to assure that you aren't stepping in dog crap
*beeping the horns for marriages: a caravan of cars full of people sticking their heads out of the windows while screaming, blasting music, and incessantly beeping obviously signifies a marriage. I'm just curious why they make so much noise for a marriage but nada for all the divorces . . .
*walking everywhere: ah, yes--walking a few miles every day is nothing now. What's stranger? I really enjoy this.
*French people are obsessed with their image: I've actually had several conversations with my teachers and French friends. They all admit that the French are overly obsessed with their body image--it's fascinating to ask why they are like that though because they give so many different answers.
*france is the #1 country in regards to an increase in meat consumption: I actually just find this interesting . . .
*being able to hop on a train and explore other countries: seriously America, why haven't you jumped on board with this idea yet? It's lovely to spend a weekend in Switzerland and then return to France.
*hearing a swirl of languages about you: it's like you're catch in a whirlwind of chinese, spanish, french, etc. It's lovely.
*how people can just walk away from goodbyes: somehow people just can walk out of your life without acknowledging that you'll never see each other again. They say "au revoir" which literally translates to "till the re-seeing" but you know you'll never see them again.
*religious symbols but lack of religion: there is a massive cross that overlooks the city and the entire town shuts down on Sunday but there is no alive religion to be found
*strikes: I think the French people just sincerely enjoy going on strike. Yesterday I walked by a strike against Hollande and his policy on horses--no joke.
*the police: I've never seen the police do anything useful. Even the people in Chambery say that. The one time I saw them at work was when they were stopping traffic so that the people who were striking about the horses could take up the entire road . . .
*delicious tarts: need I say more? just yum
*bars: I'm going to miss how bars aren't pick up joints but they're just a place to hang out with friends--and I might add that I have some pretty great friends here
Well, I'll probably add more later but that's it for now! Oh, I saw a guy do an amazing dance tonight with a yo-yo. Seriously--it's too awesome for words and I don't know how to upload videos on a blog so oh well! Bonne nuit a tous et a toutes!
It doesn't matter where you are. If you are a collegiate student, the week of finals has arrived. However sadly, this still holds true in France. But that's not dwell on that unsavory little tid-bit.
Today is going to be crazy--I'm writing this at 7 am instead of studying...--but it'll be the good type of insanity. Today: I have an exam in uni, go home and study, then climbing class, follwed by meeting up with some friends, and then meeting up with a different friend later, only to come home and go to bed due to the fact that I have two more exams on Thursday. Alright, let's do this.
It is now 10 p.m. My day has passed and it was excellent. My exam was okay--not super difficult so I count that as a win. I have two exams tomorrow and then I'm done until next Tuesday with tests! But anyway, I had my last climbing class which was amazing. Why? Because we did: blind climbing (when you use a mask and you cover your eyes so you can't see and have to climb "blind"), single-handed climbing (it's when you bind your two hands together with a type of exercise band so that you basically are only climbing with one hand), and other things but those two were the most interesting. And then I met up with two friends at our local bar and it was just lovely:) And that brings us to now: me sitting at my desk writing this.
Well, I need to hit the hay because I have those exams tomorrow and also more things to do! Tomorrow after course I'm meeting a friend and going to the home of a lady from the church I go to and then I'm meeting up with some friends to go watch a dance recital.
I'll try to write about some differences that I've noted since I've been in France. I hardly notice them anymore but I'd like to recount them to y'all so that I can better remember. But!--Bonne nuit a tous et a toutes!
P.s: Only ten days left in France :(
Yeah, I don't really know why I have a Gandalf quote as my title. Except for the fact that The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug comes out in 8 days!! That's exciting. Anyway, I have a test this coming Wednesday and two others scattered in these next two weeks so three tests left until I'm done! I feel like I just got here but I'm about to leave. Strange.
Anywise! Climbing class yesterday was extremely fun since I have friends in it now. There wasn't anything extraordinary about climbing that made it special--it just was. And judo is today! :D I'm writing this section in the morning so we'll see how I feel about judo once I come back and finish this post. However, right now, my 20-25 minute walk to campus is calling me.
Alright, the day is winding down. Judo was okay--I have homework to do for this class so that's kinda dumb. Anywho, I was grappling with a girl and got hurt a bit but the rest was good! I think I'm going to go out and grab a beer with a friend tonight. And then tomorrow I have afternoon class but I leave at 17:00 for the Lyon Light Festival and don't get back till 3am! Crazy! So, on the next post, expect pictures of the festival!
p.s: you want a good song to listen to? Artist: The Devil Makes Three and the song is called Old Number Three.
