Tuesday, September 28, 2010

First day of School!

As I suspected! I have already arrived in Paris and it is already Tuesday night! Many things have happened since my last post, but I will share the highlights!

On Thursday there was a strike in France! (My first one to witness!) Many people were against extending the age of retirement, so they decided to take the day off from work and walk down the main roads in one big group! It was, in my opinion, pretty anti-climactic. But, good to witness nonetheless (we saw them as we were getting lunch).

Friday was the last day of class in Tours and it was a bit bittersweet. We only had a half day so there was time to hang out with the friends we had made that were outside of our program, and also there was time to pack.

Saturday I left Tours, and although I was feeling sad, I was very anxious to get to Paris! Once we arrived at the train station, Jenna and I took a taxi to our foyer (French style dorm, though not located on a university campus, so people that go to several different universities will live in one building). Thankfully, our rooms were both located on the first floor (there is no elevator in the building so it would have been rather difficult getting up stairs). For the past few days I have had a French roommate named Ymanne. She is very sweet and is from Normandy! (But unfortunately will be leaving on Thursday to go back home.) She had already made my bed for me and was eager to show me in the ins and outs of our foyer.

Sunday I had the opportunity to go to Hillsong Paris and my oh my, it was such a blessing! Before I even arrived in France I had been praying that God would provide a strong Christian Community to plug in to, and He definitely did! It was pretty amazing to worship and learn more about God in French (and in English, it is a translated service). Words cannot accurately grasp exactly how I felt on Sunday, though the whole time I could feel God's love for me. I even met a few new people, Michael, Marco, and Alexandra. All three of them are students here in Paris (though they just met at church). I also met up later that day with my friends Roanne and Emily at a metro station called Opéra. There we walked around the 1st quarter of Paris and explored a bit! (They wanted to see one of CoCo Chanel's original boutiques.) I must say though, wandering around Paris is pretty fun. There are lots of things to see - interesting shops, buildings, and monuments, and of course, even more interesting people!

Monday the whole program went to obtain metro passes - FREEDOM! We all purchased unlimited rides for the week and for the next month. The metro/RER/bus system in Paris really isn't bad/scary at all. The maps are very easy to navigate and people are very helpful! A group of us went to a store called Tati (think of it as the French version of Wal Mart) for some odds and ends, and then to another store called Monoprix (the French version of Target). Later that afternoon, Dustin and I went to the Eiffel Tower! (yep, with these metro passes you can pretty much go anywhere within the city limits of Paris, and the subway runs so frequently you are hardly waiting for a train to arrive) It wasn't as pretty as I thought it would be, but still enormously impressive.

Tuesday (today) we started classes at the Catholic Institute. I only have one class on Tuesdays (la mode et stylisme) from 2pm-5pm. After class, Kelly, Emily, Dustin and I ventured out to the Musée d'Orsay, and to the Louvre (though we didn't go in . . . there wasn't time and there are days when students can get in for free).

Tonight I was able to meet many new girls that live in my foyer and I must say, they are all pretty nice! I even did laundry tonight and they were very helpful with tips about each of the machines.

Well, it's time to get my clothes out of the dryer, and also Ymanne is trying to sleep! (She told me to stay in the room while on the computer because it's cold outside of our room, how kind of her!) So here are the ending pictures. There are more on Facebook!




Last day of class in Tours

Leaving the Tours station for Paris

A random band that walked out of the Music Academy in Paris

Walking around - there are fun advertisements here!

Oh look! The Eiffel Tower!

Kelly, Emily, and Me over the river Seine

Oh hey! We're at the Louvre!




Wednesday, September 22, 2010

th1rt3en




What?

Believe it or not, my time here in Tours is coming to a close. That means, I am only going to be in France for 13 more weeks! My, if time is flying this fast now, Paris is going to be crazy!

So, what have I been up so since last post? Well. Let me share!

This past weekend was France's culture weekend! Basically, the country encouraged its residents (and visitors) to explore France's rich history: the castles, museums, towns, anything French in France! My friends and I took advantage of this weekend and traveled, by train, to another town called Blois to visit its château. We left around 10am that morning and returned about 4pm that night. I know that it may not seem like that was a long trip, but my goodness, we were walking up and down mini-hills and the sun was full bright! But because it was culture weekend, and my family packed me a lunch, the entire trip only cost 4 euros! (The train ticket to AND from, the castle was free) In Blois we explored the château, visited a small cathedral, spent some time by the Loire, and then hung out at a cafe before taking our train back to Tours.

Sunday I slept in and went running with my friend Dustin! (Though he didn't really run. . . I think he just sat and wrote in his journal.) There is a very pretty creek-ish type place in the southern part of the town (the Loire runs through the north side). An interesting observation that I made while running (sorry I couldn't take any pictures of it), not all French people finish their bread! Maybe because it was a Sunday, or perhaps this happens every day, but I saw more than a handful of families tossing old bread to the ducks! It was really cute to observe, though. Not only were the kids doing it, but the adults were also! Later, we joined some other friends for the Karate Kid (dubbed in French. . . . Jackie Chan speaking French?!). It was a good movie to watch in French, though I had already seen it twice before in English.

Monday started our final week of classes at l'Institut de Touraine. It was kind of sad to know that our stay was already halfway over! However, after class, Roanne, Emily, Chacha and I went to explore the Botanical Garden here in Tours! It was quite lovely! They have a plethora of different kinds of flowers, herbs, and they even have animals! (Wallabies, flamingos, turtles, and even an emu!) It was a lovely day, however, this is the day when I started to feel sick. During class I would be hot, and then very cold - and the cycle would continue.

Monday night, I definitely had a fever and Tuesday morning I was miserable. Thankfully, I packed along lots of Advil and Zyrtec (for runny noses and such. Mucinex if it got any worse) and a few prayers and several pills later, I was much better on Wednesday morning! (Oh, that was this morning!!!)

Despite not having felt well Tuesday morning (probably the drugs had kicked in by this time) I accompanied my friends to a little lake past the fleuve where I went running. It was a nice little walk, the sun was out and there were several people also out for a jog/stroll. The cool thing about this little man-made lake was that there were sailboats on the water!

Today, we did not have afternoon class. But there were several things to do! After lunch, my friends and I went to H&M! Afterward, Emily and I went to a bookstore, another Best Buy mixed with Borders type store called the FNAC, strolled down the wednesday/saturday market, and picked up a few odds and ends at another store on the way home.

All in all, my time here in Tours has been very interesting and enjoyable! (I suppose I write this because I think this will be my last blog from Tours) I have met so many different international students and have already learned a lot about myself! I can't wait for Paris! So, until then, I will say goodbye!

Oh, but please enjoy these pictures :)


Waiting for our Train to Blois as we eat apples from our host families  

scenery from the train ride back to Tours






First time riding in a Cabin - it reminded us of Harry Potter!


Finally! A group picture of the entire Paris Fall 2010 Program!


The Tours Botanical Garden

A very small portion of the Wednesday/Saturday market

Mr. Oscar Gnome writing postcards with me!

Friday, September 17, 2010

ce soir







Aimez-vous savoir qu'est-ce que j'avais fait?

The day after my last update (Sunday), my program journeyed to Tours, France for the two week language immersion portion of our semester. It was about a 45 minute train ride west of the city and the landscape was just beautiful! (But apparently it looks a lot like Iowa.) When we arrived, my host mommy and daddy were waiting for me, along with all of the other parents as well. It was really cute to see them standing there with their papers with each of our names on them. They would come up to you and ask if you were "so and so" (of course they would not say "so and so"). With my host family, I have my own room, and bathroom (ish) and also a small balcony! I have breakfast with my mommy and dinner with both parents around 8pm every night. Our house is about a twenty, twenty-five minute walk to school, but it's not too bad. My friend Emily and I walk together!

We started classes on Monday - four hours of intensive French per day (except on Fridays). My schedule in Tours on a weekday usually looked like this:
7:40am, wake up
8:15am, eat breakfast
8:30am, meet Emily
9:00am, start morning class
12:00pm, have lunch
2:00pm, start afternoon class
3:15pm, free
8:00pm, dinner

and sleep . . . . falls somewhere thereafter!

Some interesting things that we have done so far:
Tuesday, took a walking tour of the historic part of town
Wednesday, visited the castles Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry (in French, a castle is called un château)
Thursday, took a wine (the sweeter the better, for me) and cheese tasting class
Thursday night, experienced a bit of Tours night life - there are students everywhere!
Friday, booked my plane ticket for Fall break (where am I going!? we will find out in about a month!)

The weather has been rather pleasant, it has only rained once! (And not even rain by my definition. More like a light drizzle.) The other days I have found myself to be rather chilly! (Many, if not all, of the houses are without A/C because the weather is so pleasant! They just open their windows in the mornings/daytime and close them at night!)

In the morning, my friends from the program, and a couple of new British friends that we have made will venture out to visit more châteaux! However, this means waking up very very early to meet with the rest of the group. Thus, I bid you all goodnight!


Jenna and me on the TGV à Tours!
What if you woke up to this every morning? (Un jardin du Château Villandry)
Some of the girls in the (massive) Villandry garden
There are some funny car names here!
Emily and Me with our new friend Tom! Oh, and some strange frog-looking figure.



Saturday, September 11, 2010

Je suis arrivée!

Bonsoir! Je suis arrivée à Paris!

My flight landed at Charles de Gaulle airport at 8:15 am Paris time (1:15 am back home) and the airport is beautiful! Albeit, the landing was a bit rough. But, I had Heidi there with me one row ahead!

After we landed, I took the Air France bus to Montparnasse where the hotel was. However, after the bus dropped me off I was lost for a good half hour! Just walking around the area with two huge suitcases and a giant backpack. The Parisians weren't very helpful. I'm pretty sure I looked very lost and confused, but only one man stopped to ask me if I needed help - another tourist! Thankfully though, I made it to the hotel very soon after that.

My roommate for tonight, Jenna, and I soon went to explore the 14eme arrondissement! There was a cute little market that happens every Saturday and we had crêpes there! There were other things as well - fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, seafood, clothes, shoes, FLOWERS! Everything looked extremely delicious (or wonderful, if it was inedible).

At 3:30 pm we met up with the rest of our program to open up French bank accounts! After, we walked around the area some more, and then had dinner at about 7 pm. Did you know that French people usually have dinner around 8? By the time we were heading out, the once empty restaurant (more crêpes) was completely packed!

After dinner, we were all pretty tired, so we went back to the hotel! Hopefully tonight Jenna and I will be able to get some sleep so that when we head off to Tours tomorrow and meet our host family, we will be able to be wide awake! (dinner tonight was kind of hard, everyone was a bit on the exhausted side) Once in Tours, we will begin our two weeks of language immersion. Everyone speaks so quickly. Hopefully I can keep up!

Here are some fun pictures from today! Enjoy!
FOPs: Fresh off the Plane (see it in the background?)

 The French want to make sure you know where you are

Oscar Gnome to accompany on the bus to get lost


The river Seine from the bus! (see my arms in the picture?)

The Saturday market. Look at those pretty flowers!
Saying bye to Heidi and Hannah. Thanks for coming!

So many motorcycles. But where are the drivers?!


Friday, September 10, 2010

today's the day!

Is it time to go already?

Well . . . looks like it! Today, my flight leaves at 3:40pm and what do you know, but Heidi will also be joining me! We are only one row away from each other, so it looks like there will be a party on the plane!

EEEEE!!!

I'm pretty nervous, and also kind of sad to be leaving friends and family. But, I know that this experience is going to be great!

Thankfully, the hotel that we are staying at tonight has wifi, so I will update later tonight!

Thanks for reading!


Courtney


ps. Would you like a postcard? If so, please email me your address!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tuesday Night

Hello and welcome to my blog!

I will be using this online journal as a way to communicate with friends and family about my semester in Paris! Please feel free to subscribe to this blog to receive email updates when I post, or stop by and visit at any time!

I leave for Paris on Friday, September 10th. Yep, that's three days away and I have not yet started packing! So, before I begin packing, I will leave you with a few requests.

1) Please keep me in your prayers while I am abroad. Pray that I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and that I will fully rely on God at all times.

2) Ask me questions if there is something that you would like to know more about! Or, if you have any special requests, just let me know!

3) While I share my updates with you via blog (or email, if you choose to subscribe), please let me know how you are doing! I would love an email update, or even a real letter! Once in Paris (I will be in Tours from September 12-September 27, and then in Paris from September 27-December 22), my address will be:

Courtney Ng
FOYER PROTESTANT
63, rue Pernety
75014 PARIS



Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! These next 3 months are going to fly!

Courtney