So I have been here for FIVE MONTHS. And I guess when I say it, it doesn't sound like a very long time. But when I put it in perspective (a semester is just over 3 months), I am proud of myself. A couple of weeks and I will be on over halfway!
There has been no grand excitement lately. At school on Friday we took out "examen blanc" (practice test) for the writing portion of the DELF, and will hopefully get our results back this week.
I went and saw "The Descendants" on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a deal going on at the cinema where tickets were only 3 euros from Jan 25-31. I have found going to the movies over here to be a LOT cheaper than at home. Especially at places like Bridgeport.
I have also been working a lot lately. Last week Mrs. S's parents were in town and so the girls ate lunch at home instead of at school, meaning I had to pick them up midday, etc. Also today Lu's teacher was on strike, so I had to watch her all day, and then I have both her and Sa all day tomorrow. Tomorrow also happens to be Lu's 7th birthday. Her party is on Saturday and the parents want me to be super involved. They want me to teach the kids English (I am sitting there thinking "kids don't want to be taught English at birthday parties they want to run of their birthday cake sugar high!") and they also wanted me to come up with an "American" party game. The hard thing is that there is very little space in the house and no yard or anything. Most of the games I thought of require these things. We finally settled on 'pin the tail on the donkey' even though they play it over here too.
Sa has been calling everyone "grosse patate" (fat potato) lately and I am not really sure what to make of it. Besides the fact that is probably not very nice but is so funny when I translate it in my head. Meanwhile Lu's upcoming birthday has her even more hyperactive than usual.
I am still feeling pretty sick but am faring OK. It is getting SUPER cold, though, which doesn't make it better! Today it was below 0* (Celsius, that is)
However I did splurge today (even with all my resolutions to save money for my upcoming trip) and bought myself an electric kettle for my room and some high quality chocolate (ginger and lemon ganache filled dark chocolate. Oh goodness it is heavenly).
In other news, I am tres tres tres excited for my vacation with Mia to Vienna and Budapest at the end of the month!!! I have been to Austria, but briefly and not to Vienna, and I have never been to Hungary! That will be as far east as I will ever have been!
Also, James, a Whitworth grad who is teaching in Germany, is coming to visit Paris next weekend. I will get to make yet another trip into one of my all-time favorite cities, AND see a fellow Whitworthian/American. :)
Hope you all survived January!
Lots of love,
Natalie
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Missing Jan Term
Hey everyone!
First of all, I am seriously missing jan term and all my family and friends right now. Although January can be a rather depressing month, I have ALWAYS had a SUPER trip-the-light-FANTASTIC jan term. There is a special spot in my heart for those months at Whitworth.
Over here there is no snow. I honestly don't know if we will get any this year. Usually they get a couple days and then it melts off quickly. It got really cold for a while, but it has been pretty mild the past couple of days. Which turned out to be a good thing because I went into Paris this weekend to spend some time with Mia and two girls from Whitworth, Kristina and Savannah. Kristina was my sister's roommate last year and they were both on a Jan term trip in London taking a weekend trip to Paris. We did tons of stuff and explored a looooot of Paris. Of course made some of the usual stops (mostly having to do with food), but I also went to the Arc de Triomphe, walked along the Champs Elysee, and visited the Musee d'Orsay for the first time since I have been in France this sejour.
Here is a pic of me in front of the Arc de Triomphe (for you, mom)
I had no hot water all last week and was looking forward to finally being able to take a shower in my own bathroom again Sunday night. Unfortunately now there is NO water in my room, and I can't even use the toilet! Sigh. Hopefully it will get fixed by tomorrow - as it is a two minute walk through the house to the nearest bathroom.
New news! I get the last week of February off because the family is going on a ski trip. Luckily for me, Mia has the same week off! We are going to go to Vienna and Budapest - two places I have nee been - and I am quite looking forward to it! Although I have been straining to control myself and save my money around all these soldes! (Soldes are sales. Twice a year all the french stores have ridiculous sales for two weeks).
Also, in another 3 or 4 weeks I will be at my halfway point! It will be so nice to be on the down-slope-side.
Miss you all, and it would be lovely to hear from you, even just a little note to say "hi" :)
First of all, I am seriously missing jan term and all my family and friends right now. Although January can be a rather depressing month, I have ALWAYS had a SUPER trip-the-light-FANTASTIC jan term. There is a special spot in my heart for those months at Whitworth.
Over here there is no snow. I honestly don't know if we will get any this year. Usually they get a couple days and then it melts off quickly. It got really cold for a while, but it has been pretty mild the past couple of days. Which turned out to be a good thing because I went into Paris this weekend to spend some time with Mia and two girls from Whitworth, Kristina and Savannah. Kristina was my sister's roommate last year and they were both on a Jan term trip in London taking a weekend trip to Paris. We did tons of stuff and explored a looooot of Paris. Of course made some of the usual stops (mostly having to do with food), but I also went to the Arc de Triomphe, walked along the Champs Elysee, and visited the Musee d'Orsay for the first time since I have been in France this sejour.
Here is a pic of me in front of the Arc de Triomphe (for you, mom)
I had no hot water all last week and was looking forward to finally being able to take a shower in my own bathroom again Sunday night. Unfortunately now there is NO water in my room, and I can't even use the toilet! Sigh. Hopefully it will get fixed by tomorrow - as it is a two minute walk through the house to the nearest bathroom.
New news! I get the last week of February off because the family is going on a ski trip. Luckily for me, Mia has the same week off! We are going to go to Vienna and Budapest - two places I have nee been - and I am quite looking forward to it! Although I have been straining to control myself and save my money around all these soldes! (Soldes are sales. Twice a year all the french stores have ridiculous sales for two weeks).
Also, in another 3 or 4 weeks I will be at my halfway point! It will be so nice to be on the down-slope-side.
Miss you all, and it would be lovely to hear from you, even just a little note to say "hi" :)
Monday, January 16, 2012
It has been a while
Hello, world.
First of all,
So sorry I haven't written in a long time. Its been a busy couple weeks back.
I have been back for nearly 18 days! It has been a bit of a transition (jet lag, baby carrying muscles back in action, having to deal, yet again, with crazy CRAzy tantrums) but I am determined to adjust my attitude and have a good time. To make mySELF happy, and have FUN by doing things that bring me joy.
Ok, for sure I have already failed at this a couple times, but I'm human so I can forgive myself.
Currently I am feeling a little under the weather. I am hoping it is just a lack of sleep mixed with cold-ness. You see, I was home today with Louise who was vomiting all day. Poor thing. But she was a trooper despite it all. But now I hope that my not feeling well is only the aforementioned and not me actually catching what she has.
This weekend Julia and Mia and I went to visit Amiens. I went because I was invited to come by a guy I kind of knew from Whitworth - he is from Rwanda but has been living in France for the past five years. Anyway, we were quite unprepared for the frigid weather so that caused a couple touring ideas to be thrown out the window, unfortunately, but it was still good to get out and see another city! There were some pretty cool things to see (my favorite being the Jules Vern House) and our host was very nice, showing us all around town when he probably had better things to do, going for Thai food even when he didn't like it, and providing us with a free place to stay all on our own (he borrowed a friend's apartment). Here are some pictures of Amiens:
LAST weekend (the 7/8) I stayed in Rouen and had a nice, relaxing, fun time by myself. I went and saw the movie "Time Out" (which in America was called "In Time") and I actually enjoyed it. Now I know people all over the world and back have panned it, but I thought the concept provoking. Also, it was dubbed in French so I didn't have to deal with Justin Timberlake's girly voice. Also, it was exactly what I felt like seeing and met my expectations (which were not that high). The fact that it met those expectations, I guess, made me feel pleasantly surprised.
Then that same weekend I went and visited the Joan of Arc Tower. It was where she was imprisoned during her trial. It seems as if everything here has to do with Joan of Arc, which is actually ok because she is a pretty kick-ass historical figure. Anyway, I have already been to the Joan of Arc Church, the museum, all up and down the street, and by the statues. Here are some pics of the tower:
Next weekend consists of a trip to Paris where I will meet up with my sister's old roommate and her friend. They are on a little side-trip from a Jan term trip in London. Looking forward to showing them around Paris, a city that I love!
First of all,
So sorry I haven't written in a long time. Its been a busy couple weeks back.
I have been back for nearly 18 days! It has been a bit of a transition (jet lag, baby carrying muscles back in action, having to deal, yet again, with crazy CRAzy tantrums) but I am determined to adjust my attitude and have a good time. To make mySELF happy, and have FUN by doing things that bring me joy.
Ok, for sure I have already failed at this a couple times, but I'm human so I can forgive myself.
Currently I am feeling a little under the weather. I am hoping it is just a lack of sleep mixed with cold-ness. You see, I was home today with Louise who was vomiting all day. Poor thing. But she was a trooper despite it all. But now I hope that my not feeling well is only the aforementioned and not me actually catching what she has.
This weekend Julia and Mia and I went to visit Amiens. I went because I was invited to come by a guy I kind of knew from Whitworth - he is from Rwanda but has been living in France for the past five years. Anyway, we were quite unprepared for the frigid weather so that caused a couple touring ideas to be thrown out the window, unfortunately, but it was still good to get out and see another city! There were some pretty cool things to see (my favorite being the Jules Vern House) and our host was very nice, showing us all around town when he probably had better things to do, going for Thai food even when he didn't like it, and providing us with a free place to stay all on our own (he borrowed a friend's apartment). Here are some pictures of Amiens:
LAST weekend (the 7/8) I stayed in Rouen and had a nice, relaxing, fun time by myself. I went and saw the movie "Time Out" (which in America was called "In Time") and I actually enjoyed it. Now I know people all over the world and back have panned it, but I thought the concept provoking. Also, it was dubbed in French so I didn't have to deal with Justin Timberlake's girly voice. Also, it was exactly what I felt like seeing and met my expectations (which were not that high). The fact that it met those expectations, I guess, made me feel pleasantly surprised.
Then that same weekend I went and visited the Joan of Arc Tower. It was where she was imprisoned during her trial. It seems as if everything here has to do with Joan of Arc, which is actually ok because she is a pretty kick-ass historical figure. Anyway, I have already been to the Joan of Arc Church, the museum, all up and down the street, and by the statues. Here are some pics of the tower:
Next weekend consists of a trip to Paris where I will meet up with my sister's old roommate and her friend. They are on a little side-trip from a Jan term trip in London. Looking forward to showing them around Paris, a city that I love!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Retour en France
Hello everyone!
Well, I'm back in France. As of over two days ago. The family has been gone and I haven't seen them yet, but they are supposed to come back today. I am relishing my last few moments of peace before they arrive. My break and time back home was so fantastic. Not because we did unusually crazy things: just because I was back with the family I love and have missed so much! My new year's resolution is to try and make the most out of the 7 months I have left. I am going to try and ask for time off during the kid's school breaks in feb/march and april/may (pray that they let me take the time off! I don't see the requests going over very well...) so that I can maybe travel somewhere a bit farther away. And if that doesn't happen, well, then I'll just have to make sure and schedule as many little weekend outings as I can. Trying to be as cost effective as possible, of course. I already have 2 weekend trips planned in January (to Amiens to visit a previous Whitworth exchange student) and Paris, where I will meet up with my sister's old roommate and her friend on a little side trip of their own from the London Jan term program.
While I believe my sejour at home has done me loads of good (gave me something to look forward to the past couple months!), it has also once again reminded me of how much I miss my dear family and friends. This all said - send me an email! Leave a comment! Skype me! I would love to hear from any of you :)
Love,
Natalie
Oh, and here are some pictures of Rouen in the Christmas spirit :)
Well, I'm back in France. As of over two days ago. The family has been gone and I haven't seen them yet, but they are supposed to come back today. I am relishing my last few moments of peace before they arrive. My break and time back home was so fantastic. Not because we did unusually crazy things: just because I was back with the family I love and have missed so much! My new year's resolution is to try and make the most out of the 7 months I have left. I am going to try and ask for time off during the kid's school breaks in feb/march and april/may (pray that they let me take the time off! I don't see the requests going over very well...) so that I can maybe travel somewhere a bit farther away. And if that doesn't happen, well, then I'll just have to make sure and schedule as many little weekend outings as I can. Trying to be as cost effective as possible, of course. I already have 2 weekend trips planned in January (to Amiens to visit a previous Whitworth exchange student) and Paris, where I will meet up with my sister's old roommate and her friend on a little side trip of their own from the London Jan term program.
While I believe my sejour at home has done me loads of good (gave me something to look forward to the past couple months!), it has also once again reminded me of how much I miss my dear family and friends. This all said - send me an email! Leave a comment! Skype me! I would love to hear from any of you :)
Love,
Natalie
Oh, and here are some pictures of Rouen in the Christmas spirit :)
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