Oh, and P.S. the title of the blog is my favorite french word, and each entry has a different fun french word of the day. Joe, aka Papa Roth aka Dad tells me that I should probs explain (cause he didn't get it, but I think everyone else is a little more with it...)

Une Mega Teuf

Wow am I tired, last night was a lot of fun. I kinda learned how to make crepes, well, actually I just ended up burning my hand. Aiee! The injury was not helped in any way by crew practice today. Yup, I joined a team here because I just can't seem to live my life without it. All jokes aside, I really am enjoying it (besides the erging because I detest that in France aussi). Today was cool because I got to row with the other girls on the team. Im learning a new style of rowing which is a difficult. Chez moi, we practice sweep rowing, which is rowing with one oar. But here in France, skulling is more popular (rowing with two oars). So im pumped to be able to learn how to skull, but its a lot more technical and im not used to being the newbie at crew, so I have lots of blisters now.

I am on vacation this week! Pas de cours!!!! Whoot whooot! My friends and I have decided to explore Rennes this week. We plan on going to tons of museums and other cultural things. Also, we just want to walk the city and look for little secret places. And then next weekend Ill be going to Paris to catch up with some Scranton friends and Greg and Jenn! Im wicked pumped. Speaking of wicked, Im teaching my host brother (who is awesome btw) Boston slang. He has some trouble with the accent though...

I think that sleep is definatly required right now. My lenten promise is to write on this thang more, so more details and photos to come!

Un Vignoble

Wow, it has been a while since my last post! I am soo sorry! Now that I am on vacation I imagine that I will have some more time for bloggin'

Currently I am just lounging with the cat and planning some spring break adventures! Today, we got the brilliant idea to try to go on a Mediterranean cruise! I will keep you updated!

Tonight, a french friend will be teaching us how to make gallettes! So, I dont have much time to blog! But I promise, promise, promise that I will write soon!

Bisous!

Peek-a-boo on the beaches of Saint Malo!

the beaches of Saint Malo! More pictures to follow once I figure out this snapfish thing...

Une Pamplemousse

I have caved in and created a blog! Hopefully, I will remember to post something at least once a week! It is mind boggling to think that I have already spent an entire month in France. In some ways, it feels as if I have only been here for one day, but in so many other ways, it seems as if months have passed since I left home. However, I believe that I am now over the initial culture shock. French life is so different from American living in so many ways. I am still learning about the little subtleties in their daily life. And the language! It has been difficult and frustrating trying to communicate our personalities to others, in French! We (meaning myself and the other American students in the program) frequently lament the fact that we feel as if we do not have a personality when we speak French and that our intelligence is hidden by our communication problems. But I think that we are gradually seeing improvements in our language skills, at least, I know that I am.

My French journey started in Paris, and it was AMAZING! We saw Sacre-Cour, Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, l'Arc de Triomphe, and we took a boat ride along the Seine! I plan on going back during my week break at the end of February. Rennes is also an amazing city. It is crazy to think of how old everything is here. There is so much history here! For example, yesterday we went to a beach town along the northern coast of Brittany, Saint-Malo and then we went to a Monastery known as Mont-Saint-Michel. Some of the rooms and architecture at Saint Michel has not been touched since the 11th century! It was an amazing day, we joked that we traveled back to Middle Earth and visited Hogwarts!

My host family is amazing. I live with a woman and her two kids. Johan, is 14 and Victor is 9. But Victor lives with his father during the week. Madame is a French and German professor who is artistic, outgoing, talkative, and a connector! Within the first week, she has got me in contact with a crew team and I have started rowing!

I hope all is well at home, and I hope to post again soon!

Bisous!