Un jour férié!

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. Do you know what that means in France? VACATION!!! No school today or tomorrow and all businesses are closed today. After celebrating my friends 21st birthday last night, I am just spending the morning being lazy. After breakfast this morning (coffee, bread, confiture (kiwi and banana jam, made by the grandparents using the kiwis that grow in their back yard...miam!!!!) I sat down on the couch and Im watching some good ole CNN. I know that I probably should be watching something French, but Larry King is on! And this afternoon Im heading to Paris to meet up with Greg and Jen!!! I can not wait to hang out with them in Paris :) Well, I better rest up for my mini vacation!

Oh and above is a picture of me that someone posted on facebook today...

Chateux!!!!

So I just got back from quite the adventurous excurstion! I went to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley with the rest of my program. It was amazing, each one was so beautiful and cool and full of history and secret chambers. Although not all the chateaux resembled Poulard (aka Hogwarts, im reading Harry Potter in French now, cause I just can't get enough of Harry in English!) they were all magical. Surprisingly, the weather held out; it drizzled a little bit, but it wasn't too cold, and I did see Mr. Sunshine every once in a while. Once people put up pictures of facebook from this weekend, ill post them on here (i lost my camera on the rue de la soif :( )

It was the perfect way to spend the weekend after our show! I was in a french play on friday night! We worked hard for weeks memorizing Moliere and other little french excerpts. It was so much fun, and every one else seemed to like it too! Instead of saying break a leg, in France they say Merdre! which I think I like a lot more than our little english saying.

Happy Mother's Day All!!!! The countdown has begun! Actually, wait, I don't want the countdown to begin!!!!! :(

Affreux

Hey all!

So, its been a while since i've written. I believe that I was in Barcelona when I last blogged. Well, yeah, about that vacation... I got pickpocketed, there was this volcano so I couldn't fly, then there was the strike on the trains in France, which made it practically impossible to buy train tickets without a credit card. So yeah, thats what happened, I never made it to Italy. I just chilled in Montpellier (and some other insignificant french towns) for a few days after I finally escaped Spain with Adelle.....

On to better things....I spent the weekend at my hostgrandparents house in Damgan, which is this cute little beach town on the southern coast of Bretagne. It wasn't the best weather, but I had soooooooo much fun eating good food and just chilling with my host family (Brigitte, Johann, Viktor, and the G-parents). Im really going to miss them, the date is fast approaching. I don't like to think about it.

Blog ya later

Barcelona!!!!!!

After a train ride from Rennes to Paris, then an aftertoon along the Champs Elyses, Adelle and I boarded a bus that would take us to the cheap airport outside of Paris. And finally, after a cramped Ryanair flight and a taxi ride later, we have arrived in our youth hostel! Right now, we are just getting ready for the day, and I am proud to say, wearing shorts!!!!! We havn´t seen much of the city yet, but from the cab drive last night, it looks gorgeous! Once we meet up with the rest of our friends here, we might be heading to the beach! The hostel were staying at is wicked cute. And clean, don't worry mom. The reception was so nice last night when we came in, we got a free map and some advice on where to go and how to get there. We got free breakfast this morning, typical european coffee and bread (im really beginning to like this) and of course, we wash our own dished here!
Okay, I just checked the weather, 60degrees today, short weather or not?
Bizzzz!

Vacances!

Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a great easter break!!! I was so thrilled that I got to talk to some of you! For easter, I spent the weekend with a friend of mine, Adelle, from PA, and her host parents at their beach house in Saint Cart. The weather was gorgeous, I collected so many seashells! We spent the weekend relaxing on the beach, eating wonderful food, talking long walks, knitting, and of course, speaking french all the time! It was so relaxing and a wonderful break from my somewhat crazy host family.

The week passed by as it normally does. I went to class, which is sometimes interesting, sat in cafes with friends, knitted, walked a lot, and other things of that nature. Friday was absolutely gorgeous here and I spent the day walking around the Parc du Thabor. All the flowers were blooming, I think I am going to miss the parc the most when I leave. Oh, and I also joined this theatre group here in rennes. Its just a few international students and were putting on a spectacle on May 7th. It is so much fun and the teacher, Pascal, is crazy in an awesome sort of way.

I don't know if everyone knows this, but I am on a two week vacation right now! My plans are as follows:

Paris

Barcelona

Rome

Florence

Venice

Milan.

I leave on Monday and I am literally jumping up and down, im so excited to go! Sunshine, warmth, and new places...my kind of vacation! Not like France really hasn't been one big vacation!

The really crazy part is that when I come back I have four weeks left! A part of those four weeks will be spent studying for finals, and the rest we will be traveling around France whenever we can get away!

Oh, and I also have to find a dress for Pat and Jana's wedding!!!!!!!

I'll try and pop into an internet cafe to let you all know how my travels are going!

As the italians would say....Ciao!!!!!

Fromage...

For dinner tonight I had these baked pastries stuffed with cheese, bread, more cheese (others put butter on the bread as well but my American stomach can not handle that), and a couple of veggies. Also, for desert was this really weird ice cream gateau type deal. I didn't particularly like it.

So, what did you have for dinner?

Devoirs

Hello! So im taking this seminar with my program called "Living and Learning in France". I wrote a paper for this class last week and I thought that I would share (don't worry, the paper is in English but its the first english paper that i've written in a while, so please excuse any errors!). Also, im currently watching Harry Potter in French!!!!!

Colleen Roth

25 March 2010

Cultural Literacy Assignment

Before arriving in France, I was aware of how much the French people admired President Obama. However, I soon found out that the word ‘adore’ more accurately describes the sentiments that the French feel towards the President. Through watching the news, meeting new people (including friends and extended family members of my host family), and general discussion, I have discovered that the French society pays great attention to the goings on in the United States, and what is more, everyone has an opinion on them. For example, one Sunday after the regional elections here in France, my host mother took me to a victory party for Le Drian. It was here that I met many different French politicians and politically conscious people. I was introduced as ‘my little American’ and therefore, the first question that most people asked me was what political party I belonged to. I found this question to be rather intrusive, because, in the United States, such information is not usually demanded or giving during an introduction. Just when I think that I am completely beyond shock, France continues to surprise. I was introduced to one woman who, immediately after learning my name, asked me who I had voted for in the last presidential election. This question I found completely rude and I had trouble formulating words to express my point of view. So, as is natural when trying to speak a foreign language, I came off as an inarticulate and uneducated American, which if far from the truth.

After this encounter, I began to reflect on the differences between politics in the United States and politics in France. I also wondered why I was asked such questions. I think that the answer lies in the value of French conversation. Here in France, people believe in the art of discussion. Over dinner, among friends and acquaintances, the French will discuss such topics such as politics, religion, money, cultures, sex, marriage, drugs, and many other things that would be considered taboo in certain American homes. As lively as these discussions may get, each person is free to share their own opinion, and respect is given to those who are able to clearly state and defend their own opinion. (It is at this point when many of us non-native French speakers encounter difficulty). France’s love of discussion and debate represents a part of their cultural identity for which they are most proud and this love is passed down to their children. So, what may seem to as outsider as an inappropriate conversation between a parent and their child, may actually be the passing on of an important aspect of French culture. Another love of the French is politics; everyone is aware of the current events and possesses their own opinion. This is why, I believe, that I have been asked such seemingly rude political questions. French society is just curious about our American culture and our political opinions. It is a strong possibility that these questions were just the openings for a discussion. After all, isn’t a political setting such as a victory party ideal to bring up debate and discussion? As a philosophy student, debate is not a foreign concept to me. However, it doesn’t inhabit a place in my day to day life. The French value and appreciation of a healthy debate is something which I would like to bring home. I expect that it will be quite refreshing to be able to fully and intelligently express my opinions in my native tongue. I have also noticed how much the French society follows politics and cultural events. My house mother reads the paper daily, as well as many political and interest magazines. She also watches the news frequently. In fact, her fifteen year old son also watches the news, and it is shocking in a good way to see a teenager so interested and concerned about cultural events.

This political encounter was quite an eye opener into French culture. Through talking about the experience with my American friends and my host mother, I was able to gain some insight into the experience and I learned some very valuable lessons. First, I learned that the French love to discuss, and if they do ask a question that seems impolite to me, I should first appreciate the fact that they are merely eager to discuss (perhaps they have even chosen a topic that they believe I would most knowledgeable about). Second, if I do not want to answer I should learn how to get over my shock quickly enough to construct a polite answer. Lastly, I need to become an active American citizen who is knowledgeable about current events and political happenings. I need to be able to clearly form and state my opinions so that I can bring the love of discussion back home with me. Perhaps one day, my French language ability will be advanced to the level that I will be able to clearly form, state, and defend my opinions in French.