Good Morning,
Here it is 10 in the morning and today we have plans to go on a bike tour that was founded by a fellow aggie! WHOOP! Nothing much has happened today so the topics will be Thursday and Friday and since the talk about the host family is interesting some I will write more about the Frenchies.
Thursday- Tuesday and Thursday are our favorite days by far. This time around we visiting Roman and Medieval Paris, a continuation of what we did the following class day with Notre Dame. Today it was Arenes de Lutece an open air Roman arena on the Left bank not far from the Sorbonne. It is a well-hidden structure that if you are not local you most likely won’t stop by. Now the local schools as a playground and a yard for recess mainly use it. Most of our class time was spent at the Musee de Cluny, now called Musee du Moyen Age. Kali and I both really loved visiting there. The most famous pieces that are held there are the 6 tapestries that makes the Lady and the Unicorn set. Each tapestry was expertly made to depict the 5 senses and the 6th tapestries meaning being ambiguous to scholars even till now. We were in the room that housed them for I think an hour just looking and discussing what about them makes the so beautiful and how the small differences to the characters positions can mean a new lesson to the on looker. So if you have not guessed it, I fell in love with these tapestries they are truly magnificent. For lunch on this day we were so down about getting ripped off we were very weary about trying another restaurant, but we thought we would try again. I spotted a 10-euro set menu with some choices on it, thinking it was too good to be true we decided to give it a try anyway. The waitress was very nice from the start, good sign, and we ordered water in a carafe. When they handed us a carafe of water and not a bottle we knew we were in a good spot. We both had 3 courses and espresso to finish off the meal. With full bellies we walked in and out of libraries for a long while and then decided we would go to the movies. Sex and the City had just came out here and looking for a VO film of it was our mission. We found one with out any real snags (we aren’t getting lost near as much anymore) and watched our American film in English, with French subtitles. It was a long an glorious day.
Friday- Kali in her post mixed up the days. The day we had our placement test was Monday and Tuesday was the first art and arch class. We aren’t writing about Wednesday because it was our first day in French class and we are trying to forget that day ourselves. Both of us were not expecting what we had in French, which was a very hard professor that had us all speaking more French than I was comfortable with speaking on the first day of my beginner level class. Friday was the second day of class though and went much more smoothly even thought the whole time we were expected to speak one by one in French, we knew what we were going to. We are constantly repeating words over and over again until she gives us the ok to stop, she will write sentences on the board but reading them is not helpful since we can’t figure out why it sound something completely different than it looks. The people in our class are mostly nice but there are a few exceptions. There are two that are highly scrutinized by both Kali and I, one is a smarty pants girl that has taken 3 years of French but is still in beginner somehow and the other is similar but with out any smarty pants she is actually the dumbest person in the world, no really. I was paired with the first girl (smarty pants) the first day to practice what we had been saying in the large group meeting for class. She was correcting me every minute with what I was saying, now I know my mom is thinking right now “good I’m sure she was just being helpful”, but NO she wasn’t. She would correct me on a sentence by just repeating what I said. And miss I took French before but don’t know anything about anything girl, we just don’t like her because she seems like she smokes out everyday and is now brainless. Every time we sit in the circle and go around answering and asking questions we always let her go last so she can hear all responses possible and all she has to do is copy someone else but that task is too hard for her to handle so she sits with her mouth open waiting for something to come out magically. I think our professor must not like her either because she doesn’t offer much help to her when she forgets (every time she talks) what to say. Well that is French class in a nutshell.
Our home stay is good but still interesting. Netty has still not moved out, the date changes daily I think. Marie seems to be trying to be nicer to her and is continuously nice to us. The other night they had a cooking lesson that we had the opportunity to go to but didn’t because it is too expensive and I am doubting if she really is a good cook at all at this point. The class was here in the apt and cost 25 euro, which was way too much for us to afford, especially since they have to feed us anyways so we would be paying 25 euro to watch them cook. The Italian husband actually did the cooking and made pasta that was to die for, it was the first good homemade meal we ate in my opinion. The couple nights before we played music for Netty off my computer to show her what we listen to and the night after that Marie gave us a show with her own music tastes. I really think Marie is trying to be nice to Netty but Netty is adamant that Marie is not a nice person blah blah blah. Well now Kali and I are staying out of it more often, it is not as interesting to us. Well I really have to get ready for the day this blog has taken too long already. Don’t worry more too come soon since we finally have internet at home!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pictures
un cafe
Us in Montmartre
Happy, you cant see it but behind us is a view of all of Paris. We were at the highest point, the Sacre Coure
This looks crazy!
More Pictures
These pictures are from today when we went to Musee Cluny. This is a tapestry that is very famous, it is part of six and each one depicts a different human sense. The one above is the sense of sight which was then considered closest to God.
These are the heads of the Kings of Judah that were on the Notre Dame until the French revolution when the revolutionaries cut off all the heads thinking that they were representing the aristocracy. They were found and put on display.
outside the Musee Cluny for a photo op
Pictures
Beautiful even when it rains
Very Nice!
Ok this is in the Notre Dame it is some Saint that died and he is the one in the coffin and standing behind him is DEATH scary!
This is us and Netty at our place in Boulogne
Us being cute
On top of the Eiffel Tower, some creepster took the picture so we had to run after this one! lol
me eating like I do
Kali with an antique tinge to her, sexy old time style
Trying to get internet
Willy sad there is no internet
Start of Class
Kali wrote this a while ago but we have been without internet since then so here is her first post!!!!!!
(Tuesday) Hello everyone, we miss you all! Well, today was our orientation at the Catholic University of Paris and we got to meet everyone. They all seem really great and Savannah and I got some phone numbers to add to our new rental phones. You can call us at the numbers listed below. So, we first had an orientation meeting, which we of course got lost on the way to, then we went to have lunch at a nearby café. It was fantastic! After lunch we had to go back to the University and take our French placement exam, which we couldn’t answer a single question. We then had to head to over to the ISA office for a homestay meeting. We got lost, again, on the way there but stumpled upon the beginning of the Jardines de Luxembourg and found a really huge, beautiful fountain.
(Wednesday) Our homestay is OK, but some things are just confusing to us. There is a Japanese 40 year old women also living with us who we call “Netty.” She has been getting sick because she thinks that our hostmom doesn’t like her and wants to move out this Wednesday. Then, Marie grew up in the Cordon Bleau but we are yet to have an amazing meal. And, her husband Victor is never home. But our room is really cute and there is a great Boullengerie down the road where we get a baguette to take to us to school in the morning and I get a merengue or beignet on the way home from class. Savannah even found peanut butter at a corner store! Except it is way expensive (almost 7 Euros for ½ a normal jar) so feel free to send us more!
Today was our first day of Art and Architecture and it was amazing! On the way we saw the Our first stop was a St.-Julien-Le-Pauvre, a Romanesque church that had very simple architecture and no ornate detail. We then crossed the road to the stunning Notre Dame. None of our pictures can truly capture just how breathtaking it was. It was absolutely stunning and inside was just as beautiful and orate as the outside. We stuck with our Professor while walking through the church as she described more in detail when, why, and how everything was made. We didn’t get to today because it was pouring rain, but we still need to go to the towers and get a closer view of everything. After the tour we were hungry and just walked into this restaurant. We definitely got ripped off. Our fault for going to eat somewhere touristy. First, we tried telling the women, who spoke English, that we wanted tap water and she brought us 4 Euro bottles of water. Then, we ordered our meals and she asked if we wanted salads and we said no and she brought us some tator-tot things which we were charged way too much for. We have had really good luck in restaurants and waiters have been so nice except for this place. Now we know better, do not eat right by a very touristy area. After being disappointed by our meal we walked around the area and found this really great church with practically no one in it. It wasn’t as grand as Notre Dame, of course, but it was so beautiful and looked just as old and built in the same style.
We miss everyone and feel free to call or mail us at the numbers below. Also, don’t forget to comment!!
(Wednesday) Our homestay is OK, but some things are just confusing to us. There is a Japanese 40 year old women also living with us who we call “Netty.” She has been getting sick because she thinks that our hostmom doesn’t like her and wants to move out this Wednesday. Then, Marie grew up in the Cordon Bleau but we are yet to have an amazing meal. And, her husband Victor is never home. But our room is really cute and there is a great Boullengerie down the road where we get a baguette to take to us to school in the morning and I get a merengue or beignet on the way home from class. Savannah even found peanut butter at a corner store! Except it is way expensive (almost 7 Euros for ½ a normal jar) so feel free to send us more!
Today was our first day of Art and Architecture and it was amazing! On the way we saw the Our first stop was a St.-Julien-Le-Pauvre, a Romanesque church that had very simple architecture and no ornate detail. We then crossed the road to the stunning Notre Dame. None of our pictures can truly capture just how breathtaking it was. It was absolutely stunning and inside was just as beautiful and orate as the outside. We stuck with our Professor while walking through the church as she described more in detail when, why, and how everything was made. We didn’t get to today because it was pouring rain, but we still need to go to the towers and get a closer view of everything. After the tour we were hungry and just walked into this restaurant. We definitely got ripped off. Our fault for going to eat somewhere touristy. First, we tried telling the women, who spoke English, that we wanted tap water and she brought us 4 Euro bottles of water. Then, we ordered our meals and she asked if we wanted salads and we said no and she brought us some tator-tot things which we were charged way too much for. We have had really good luck in restaurants and waiters have been so nice except for this place. Now we know better, do not eat right by a very touristy area. After being disappointed by our meal we walked around the area and found this really great church with practically no one in it. It wasn’t as grand as Notre Dame, of course, but it was so beautiful and looked just as old and built in the same style.
We miss everyone and feel free to call or mail us at the numbers below. Also, don’t forget to comment!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
New Contact Info For Kali and I
Kali and I both got french phones that are free for us when someone calls us and we pay less or the same to call the US and way less to call inside of France. So these phones will be on and with us at all times; call if you want to.
Kali- 011 33 681844106
Savannah- 011 33 681844468
We were also told today that all mail should be sent to the ISA office with ISA written on the package/mail and addressed to us. Now if you want suggestions as to what to send these poor, homesick girls here it is; PEANUT BUTTER!!! and shampoo you wouldn't believe it but shampoo and conditioner are 6euro a piece and you get half as much as a regular bottle of american stuff.
ISA France
Attn:<>
75. bis rue des Pantes
75014 Paris, France
Well my last comment is thanks dad for commenting on our blog! I love you and thanks for sending me here!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
First Days in Paris
Hi everyone,
I'm sure that you are all wondering where your bloggers have gone with no blogs popping up every few min. Well it turns out that we can't get an internet connection at our homestay yet and we haven't found an internet cafe until now, and it is the most limited internet cafe in the world. We will try to find a better location close to home.
But here is what has happened to us so far. When we got on the plane to leave for Paris Kali and I were amazed at how nice the Air France seats were, there was bottled water at our seat, fancy lights by our head and the best part was the seats had a sign that said we would be able to lay the seat all the way down! The stuardess had already asked for our coats and we were settleing in for our long flight. Moments later a man came up to us and asked if we were in his seat, well we were..... so we had to move all the way in the back from our first class seats to our lowly economy seats. Cute!
Once we got to Paris, we were greeted by a tall, dark and handsom man, he was our taxi driver. One thing about Paris is the men dress in suits all the time, and very very nice ones at that. So our driver didn't speak any English, of course, and we still made it to the homestay. What we are coming to find out is no one really speaks English, no one, SUPRISE!
The first day was filled with excitement mixed with a little fear. We found our selves asking what were we thinking a lot during the day, or at least I was. Next week met the host family, first the woman. She is very nice, also doesn't speak much english but she cooks well since she has grown up at the Cordon Bleu that her grandmother founded! Our room is small but very nice with a big window that looks out on the yards of the apartment complex. There is a small stone path with a lush carpet of grass on either side and patches of roses bushes as tall as me scattered in grass. The view is perfect, we open our window every morning to catch the breeze. We are living with one other student. I don't remember her name but she is from Japan and also speaks very little English so at dinner we all struggle to speak to one another. We met the man of the house later that night. He is very nice and of course another nationality, he is Italian. We try to speak to him in Spanish since he knows almost NO English. The house is a hodge podge of hillarity!
Now our first real day was at la Tour Eiffel! We woke up late since the metro lines during the weekday are supposed to be busy during "rush hour", the first task was to secure metro passes for ourselves. LOL. fun. At the counter we struggled through and recieved 10 tickets. When we were getting ready to board we forgot to find out which train takes us where, as in which way on the line does a certain train go, north/south whatever. The trains are by number and after that there is a name of a location that is the last stop for that particular train. So all you have to do is know which way you want to go and find the ending stop name on that numbered train. I'm sure you all think this sounds very easy but since I have never been on a subway I thought it was really hard. Finally we get to the Tour Eiffel. We waited for hours to get up and hours to get down, but was a view, Paris pulls your heart strings, and my stomach ones too; after waiting so long I thought I was going to die at the top of the tower! We placed our feet on the ground and went in search of food right away. First stop lunch! We found a little cafe on an off street that was full of only Parisians and plopped our bags down. I orderd a quiche and Kali had a fabulous sandwich made of ham and cheese but you guys should look it up on wikipedia its called croque-monsieur, it looked good. To drink we of course orderd wine. After filling up we headed out to find the Metro to get home since by now we have been to two places in 4 hours and were ready to nap. We got a little lost but stumbled on an ice cream stand to make us feel better and ease our frustrations. Pistachio and vanilla for both of us. We found a spot in grass to hang out and figure out where we were while we ate and enjoyed our views of the Eiffel Tower.
That night we went out to a cafe, had drinks and spoke to our French waiters in broken English. They were very helpful by pointing out how to get to the bar we going to go to until we got lost again looking for it. The day was all in all a success. I feel like every time we get lost, which is often, it lets us see something new that we hadn't planned on. We have accomplished a lot and it is only sat! Well we have to go soon this cafe is as expensive as it is crappy.
We love and miss all of you and think of you all often
Kelly I miss you the most, and I am trying hard to find a way to get a scheduled talking session! I love you sooo much and take care of your teeth.
If anyone wants to ask specific question to each of us just email us and if you want to let us know what you think in general or just let us know you like our blog just comment!
Au Revoir
Savannah and Kali
I'm sure that you are all wondering where your bloggers have gone with no blogs popping up every few min. Well it turns out that we can't get an internet connection at our homestay yet and we haven't found an internet cafe until now, and it is the most limited internet cafe in the world. We will try to find a better location close to home.
But here is what has happened to us so far. When we got on the plane to leave for Paris Kali and I were amazed at how nice the Air France seats were, there was bottled water at our seat, fancy lights by our head and the best part was the seats had a sign that said we would be able to lay the seat all the way down! The stuardess had already asked for our coats and we were settleing in for our long flight. Moments later a man came up to us and asked if we were in his seat, well we were..... so we had to move all the way in the back from our first class seats to our lowly economy seats. Cute!
Once we got to Paris, we were greeted by a tall, dark and handsom man, he was our taxi driver. One thing about Paris is the men dress in suits all the time, and very very nice ones at that. So our driver didn't speak any English, of course, and we still made it to the homestay. What we are coming to find out is no one really speaks English, no one, SUPRISE!
The first day was filled with excitement mixed with a little fear. We found our selves asking what were we thinking a lot during the day, or at least I was. Next week met the host family, first the woman. She is very nice, also doesn't speak much english but she cooks well since she has grown up at the Cordon Bleu that her grandmother founded! Our room is small but very nice with a big window that looks out on the yards of the apartment complex. There is a small stone path with a lush carpet of grass on either side and patches of roses bushes as tall as me scattered in grass. The view is perfect, we open our window every morning to catch the breeze. We are living with one other student. I don't remember her name but she is from Japan and also speaks very little English so at dinner we all struggle to speak to one another. We met the man of the house later that night. He is very nice and of course another nationality, he is Italian. We try to speak to him in Spanish since he knows almost NO English. The house is a hodge podge of hillarity!
Now our first real day was at la Tour Eiffel! We woke up late since the metro lines during the weekday are supposed to be busy during "rush hour", the first task was to secure metro passes for ourselves. LOL. fun. At the counter we struggled through and recieved 10 tickets. When we were getting ready to board we forgot to find out which train takes us where, as in which way on the line does a certain train go, north/south whatever. The trains are by number and after that there is a name of a location that is the last stop for that particular train. So all you have to do is know which way you want to go and find the ending stop name on that numbered train. I'm sure you all think this sounds very easy but since I have never been on a subway I thought it was really hard. Finally we get to the Tour Eiffel. We waited for hours to get up and hours to get down, but was a view, Paris pulls your heart strings, and my stomach ones too; after waiting so long I thought I was going to die at the top of the tower! We placed our feet on the ground and went in search of food right away. First stop lunch! We found a little cafe on an off street that was full of only Parisians and plopped our bags down. I orderd a quiche and Kali had a fabulous sandwich made of ham and cheese but you guys should look it up on wikipedia its called croque-monsieur, it looked good. To drink we of course orderd wine. After filling up we headed out to find the Metro to get home since by now we have been to two places in 4 hours and were ready to nap. We got a little lost but stumbled on an ice cream stand to make us feel better and ease our frustrations. Pistachio and vanilla for both of us. We found a spot in grass to hang out and figure out where we were while we ate and enjoyed our views of the Eiffel Tower.
That night we went out to a cafe, had drinks and spoke to our French waiters in broken English. They were very helpful by pointing out how to get to the bar we going to go to until we got lost again looking for it. The day was all in all a success. I feel like every time we get lost, which is often, it lets us see something new that we hadn't planned on. We have accomplished a lot and it is only sat! Well we have to go soon this cafe is as expensive as it is crappy.
We love and miss all of you and think of you all often
Kelly I miss you the most, and I am trying hard to find a way to get a scheduled talking session! I love you sooo much and take care of your teeth.
If anyone wants to ask specific question to each of us just email us and if you want to let us know what you think in general or just let us know you like our blog just comment!
Au Revoir
Savannah and Kali
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Address of our homestay!
Good news we just got our homestay assignments. I am so excited this is actually happening!
So for you all to know where we are here is what my email had in it
Name of the family: Consigny
Address : 59, rue des Peupliers, 92100 Boulogne -Billancourt
Phone Number: 01 46 08 21 12
So I google earthed the address and the home is located on the outer southwest rim of Paris, which considering the fact that our school is in the southeast the train ride in shouldn't be too bad.
S
So for you all to know where we are here is what my email had in it
Name of the family: Consigny
Address : 59, rue des Peupliers, 92100 Boulogne -Billancourt
Phone Number: 01 46 08 21 12
So I google earthed the address and the home is located on the outer southwest rim of Paris, which considering the fact that our school is in the southeast the train ride in shouldn't be too bad.
S
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