Day 14:
Friday, April 3, 2009: Today we had to get up early for history class. It was fine. We talked about the Hundred Years’ War again. We watched a movie about Joan d’Arc and the prof stopped it every 5 seconds! It was awful!
We had another literature class in which we talked about the founding of the city of Marseilles. The prof had Rachel explain what virginity was… in French! After class, we bought more wine in preparation for the night. There was a rendez-vous with everyone’s French correspondents at a bar at 8pm. A little early.
We had dinner and Shawna and I went to Lance’s for a drink. We got to the bar at about 9pm because none of us had correspondents to meet there. Mine is in Marseilles this semester for an internship.
Also, I don’t think I’ve mentioned this but the university is on strike. Everything is closed. All the doors are blocked with desks and chairs. Students loiter in protest to new rules about to be imposed by Nicolas Sarkozy increasing the cost of attending university. Currently, it is completely free for anyone to receive a university education all the way up to the doctoral level. Students don’t even have to buy books. But Sarkozy wants to make France more like America and require students to cover part of the cost of their education even though taxes cover everything.
And so we got to the bar and Lance, Shawna, and I sat inside; away from the American. We met a group of French soldiers. They were headed to Afghanistan. They were very diverse. One was from Russia; another from Brazil; another from Estonia; the rest French. They were all about our age too. They bought the three of us drinks and we talked (in French) about the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. They hated George W. Bush and loved Barack Obama – us too. The Russian told me that he loved America because we were rich and Russia was very poor.
As it got later, we were ready to move to another bar… consensus – the discotheque! We drank on the way there and five of us went in. It was cool and they played a lot of hip French techno music. Youtube: Day N Night, Ca m’enerve, One 2.3 Four. We danced all night and headed home around 3am. Good thing I have a door to my room on the outside and I was very quiet coming home. It was a really fun day!
Google; Youtube.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Day 13
Day 13:
Thursday, April 2, 2009: Today we had our first creative writing and oral grammar classes. Creative writing was first. Mlle Mathis is very nice, but she has a little b.o. We used adjectives for each letter of our name so she could get to know us. Then we read a poem about the authors likes and dislikes and we wrote our own. I would post mine but it is in French.
After class, I drunk Skyped and we decided to keep drinking. We had more wine and then it was time to get home for dinner. Good thing I was toasted because we had fish… not a favorite of mine. We also had artichoke and mayonnaise too. After dinner, I fell asleep watching the news and was sober enough to go back out.
I walked to Melissa’s so we could go back to Lance’s. I had a café with her host mom and we were off. We went to Lance’s and had plans to meet friends at the Pub but we didn’t leave until midnight.
Once we got to the Pub, we realized that none of our friends were there and I was pissed. So then we just walked home.
(Google)
Thursday, April 2, 2009: Today we had our first creative writing and oral grammar classes. Creative writing was first. Mlle Mathis is very nice, but she has a little b.o. We used adjectives for each letter of our name so she could get to know us. Then we read a poem about the authors likes and dislikes and we wrote our own. I would post mine but it is in French.
After class, I drunk Skyped and we decided to keep drinking. We had more wine and then it was time to get home for dinner. Good thing I was toasted because we had fish… not a favorite of mine. We also had artichoke and mayonnaise too. After dinner, I fell asleep watching the news and was sober enough to go back out.
I walked to Melissa’s so we could go back to Lance’s. I had a café with her host mom and we were off. We went to Lance’s and had plans to meet friends at the Pub but we didn’t leave until midnight.
Once we got to the Pub, we realized that none of our friends were there and I was pissed. So then we just walked home.
(Google)
Day 12
Day 12:
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Today we didn’t have class but we had to meet at the Palais des Papes for a tour. We had to be there at 9am!
The tour was guided and mildly interesting. The Popes lived in Avignon 700 years ago so the building was constructed in the 1300s. It had many uses over the years and is a museum now. We saw the Pope’s bedroom, etc.
After the tour, we went to the Pont d’Avignon. It was used to traverse the Rhone River in ancient times but part of it has collapsed and now it is a tourist attraction. After that a small group of us: Lance, Shawna, Zoe, and I. we had lunch at an outdoor café and then the girls left to go shopping.
Lance and I walked down Rue de la Republique and sat on a bench and had a bottle wine. Afterwards, Lance had to use the public restroom. It is completely automatic and self-cleaning. When you are finished using it, the door closes and it hoses itself down from top to bottom. Very high-tech!
After that, I needed to go to the Post Office to buy postcard stamps. The Post Office has the most bureaucracy in France. We could not use the automated machine to buy stamps because it would not take my Mastercard. Note: when you come to France, bring your Visa; they are accepted everywhere! So I had to take a number like I was at the deli and wait for service like you would for a pound of salami.
Finally, they called my number and I got my stamps – 12 for a little more than 10E or 0.85c/each. So then we called it a day and I went home. I had dinner, did homework and went to bed.
(Use Google)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Today we didn’t have class but we had to meet at the Palais des Papes for a tour. We had to be there at 9am!
The tour was guided and mildly interesting. The Popes lived in Avignon 700 years ago so the building was constructed in the 1300s. It had many uses over the years and is a museum now. We saw the Pope’s bedroom, etc.
After the tour, we went to the Pont d’Avignon. It was used to traverse the Rhone River in ancient times but part of it has collapsed and now it is a tourist attraction. After that a small group of us: Lance, Shawna, Zoe, and I. we had lunch at an outdoor café and then the girls left to go shopping.
Lance and I walked down Rue de la Republique and sat on a bench and had a bottle wine. Afterwards, Lance had to use the public restroom. It is completely automatic and self-cleaning. When you are finished using it, the door closes and it hoses itself down from top to bottom. Very high-tech!
After that, I needed to go to the Post Office to buy postcard stamps. The Post Office has the most bureaucracy in France. We could not use the automated machine to buy stamps because it would not take my Mastercard. Note: when you come to France, bring your Visa; they are accepted everywhere! So I had to take a number like I was at the deli and wait for service like you would for a pound of salami.
Finally, they called my number and I got my stamps – 12 for a little more than 10E or 0.85c/each. So then we called it a day and I went home. I had dinner, did homework and went to bed.
(Use Google)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Day 11
Day 11:
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Today was my long day. I have six hours of classes. We started with grammar again. Christophe has a good way of explaining grammar; he made it seem easier. We read and discussed the first part of the play and that was class.
We met Monsieur Boura for history next. Lots of students were overwhelmed and scared because he speaks quickly and with a Provencal accent. I did not think he was too hard to follow. We will be discussing the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. We also talked about Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, en Francais). French professors do not give syllabi of book lists.
After a cafeteria lunch for 3E, it was internet time! I started by Skyping with my Dad at 8:30a.m. Ohio time; 2:30p.m. in France. It was good to talk to him and then I called my Mom and Grandma. I updated this blog and checked my lifelines – Facebook and email – then it was time to go back to class.
The next class was literature with Monsieur Bory. We began by talking about Charles Baudelaire and reading one of his poems, Le Vin. He was pretty easy to understand as well. We ended class by indulging in the wine and cheese he brought to welcome us.
I returned home for dinner and the news once again. Bernard left to go skiing in the Alps with a friend so it was just John, Jacqueline, and me. After dinner, we went to the Pub again because we don’t have class on Wednesdays!
Note: My name is extremely hard for native French-speakers to pronounce. Introducing myself if extremely difficult. I need a French name (thanks parents! JK!). Ninety-five percent of the time, it becomes Blad; not Brad. The French ‘r’ is really different and it’s placement in the middle of my name causes the difficulty. I have to say: “My name is Brad, like Brad Pitt!”
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Today was my long day. I have six hours of classes. We started with grammar again. Christophe has a good way of explaining grammar; he made it seem easier. We read and discussed the first part of the play and that was class.
We met Monsieur Boura for history next. Lots of students were overwhelmed and scared because he speaks quickly and with a Provencal accent. I did not think he was too hard to follow. We will be discussing the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. We also talked about Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, en Francais). French professors do not give syllabi of book lists.
After a cafeteria lunch for 3E, it was internet time! I started by Skyping with my Dad at 8:30a.m. Ohio time; 2:30p.m. in France. It was good to talk to him and then I called my Mom and Grandma. I updated this blog and checked my lifelines – Facebook and email – then it was time to go back to class.
The next class was literature with Monsieur Bory. We began by talking about Charles Baudelaire and reading one of his poems, Le Vin. He was pretty easy to understand as well. We ended class by indulging in the wine and cheese he brought to welcome us.
I returned home for dinner and the news once again. Bernard left to go skiing in the Alps with a friend so it was just John, Jacqueline, and me. After dinner, we went to the Pub again because we don’t have class on Wednesdays!
Note: My name is extremely hard for native French-speakers to pronounce. Introducing myself if extremely difficult. I need a French name (thanks parents! JK!). Ninety-five percent of the time, it becomes Blad; not Brad. The French ‘r’ is really different and it’s placement in the middle of my name causes the difficulty. I have to say: “My name is Brad, like Brad Pitt!”
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 10
Day 10:
Monday, March 30, 2009: Today was the first day of classes! Well really just one class – grammar with Christophe. The day began at noon with all the students and their host families meeting at the university for authentic Provencal cuisine and wine! An aperitif, en Francais.
After meeting, socializing, and mingling (and getting a buzz to help my language confidence) we began class at a later time. He gave the syllabus and book list and called it a day. There is also the Résistance class about World War II but I was not taking it because it requires a higher level of French. I’m taking everything else – 20 hours this quarter!
So Katy (Christophe’s squeeze), Jenny (the grad student assistant), Shawna, Kelby, Lance, Melissa, and I went into town to buy the books. We are reading three plays by Marcel Pagnol, set in Marseille. They cost 16E. I skipped lunch.
The group gradually broke apart and we were left with Lance, Melissa, and me. We walked to see Lance’s house because he and Kelby live in a guest house in their host family’s courtyard. It is really cool, but no internet here either. France might be behind with the wifi service. I walked Melissa home and went home for dinner.
We had a casserole with cheese and the leftover sausage from last night. We also had leftover cauliflower. I watched the news again then had to do grammar homework. Grammar is two hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, not what I am used to.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Monday, March 30, 2009: Today was the first day of classes! Well really just one class – grammar with Christophe. The day began at noon with all the students and their host families meeting at the university for authentic Provencal cuisine and wine! An aperitif, en Francais.
After meeting, socializing, and mingling (and getting a buzz to help my language confidence) we began class at a later time. He gave the syllabus and book list and called it a day. There is also the Résistance class about World War II but I was not taking it because it requires a higher level of French. I’m taking everything else – 20 hours this quarter!
So Katy (Christophe’s squeeze), Jenny (the grad student assistant), Shawna, Kelby, Lance, Melissa, and I went into town to buy the books. We are reading three plays by Marcel Pagnol, set in Marseille. They cost 16E. I skipped lunch.
The group gradually broke apart and we were left with Lance, Melissa, and me. We walked to see Lance’s house because he and Kelby live in a guest house in their host family’s courtyard. It is really cool, but no internet here either. France might be behind with the wifi service. I walked Melissa home and went home for dinner.
We had a casserole with cheese and the leftover sausage from last night. We also had leftover cauliflower. I watched the news again then had to do grammar homework. Grammar is two hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, not what I am used to.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 9
Day 9:
Sunday, March 29, 2009: Today was very chill and relaxing. After breakfast with John, he and I walked to Melissa’s house. She lives the closest to us. Breakfast consisted of fresh bread with butter and raspberry jam and a cup of coffee.
We decided to walk around the city some more to see what was up. We walked to the Place d’Horloge at the end of Rue de la Republique again and around the Palais des Papes. There is a park nearby so we went there too. It overlooks the Rhone. The day was overcast but the Mistral was really strong. These are really strong, cold arctic winds that whip down the river valley.
We walked down to the river and crossed it to the island. This is the largest island in a river in Europe. There is a free ferry that makes the ten-minute journey at least 20 times a day. There is also a little restaurant on the island that looks toward Avignon that would be a good place for lunch one day. It was closed today. Almost everything is closed on Sundays (except for bars!).
We walked around the island and crossed back to the city via the traffic bridge (Pont d’Europe, I think it is called). There are also the ruins of Pont d’Avignon which was built by the Romans in like 40 A.D. (more on that and the Palais des Papes on Wednesday).
We walked home and had a dinner of sausage and cauliflower with a cheese cream sauce and vegetable soup. We again had wine, cheese, and bread. One thing you hear about the French and dinner is that meals generally are drawn out for hours savoring delicious course after course. Well at least not true with the Zemmits. They devour dinner! The food is delicious but I find myself struggling to keep pace.
After dinner we watched the news again. I received a text that a group was going to the Pub in preparation of our first day of classes, so naturally, I partook too. John followed along. The Pub is really cool because you can sit on the patio/sidewalk and socialize when the weather is good. It was also Zoe’s birthday and her mom was buying the drinks; what more could I ask for (at almost 6E a beer!)
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Sunday, March 29, 2009: Today was very chill and relaxing. After breakfast with John, he and I walked to Melissa’s house. She lives the closest to us. Breakfast consisted of fresh bread with butter and raspberry jam and a cup of coffee.
We decided to walk around the city some more to see what was up. We walked to the Place d’Horloge at the end of Rue de la Republique again and around the Palais des Papes. There is a park nearby so we went there too. It overlooks the Rhone. The day was overcast but the Mistral was really strong. These are really strong, cold arctic winds that whip down the river valley.
We walked down to the river and crossed it to the island. This is the largest island in a river in Europe. There is a free ferry that makes the ten-minute journey at least 20 times a day. There is also a little restaurant on the island that looks toward Avignon that would be a good place for lunch one day. It was closed today. Almost everything is closed on Sundays (except for bars!).
We walked around the island and crossed back to the city via the traffic bridge (Pont d’Europe, I think it is called). There are also the ruins of Pont d’Avignon which was built by the Romans in like 40 A.D. (more on that and the Palais des Papes on Wednesday).
We walked home and had a dinner of sausage and cauliflower with a cheese cream sauce and vegetable soup. We again had wine, cheese, and bread. One thing you hear about the French and dinner is that meals generally are drawn out for hours savoring delicious course after course. Well at least not true with the Zemmits. They devour dinner! The food is delicious but I find myself struggling to keep pace.
After dinner we watched the news again. I received a text that a group was going to the Pub in preparation of our first day of classes, so naturally, I partook too. John followed along. The Pub is really cool because you can sit on the patio/sidewalk and socialize when the weather is good. It was also Zoe’s birthday and her mom was buying the drinks; what more could I ask for (at almost 6E a beer!)
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Day 8
Day 8:
Saturday, March 28, 2009: Today we started with breakfast at the hotel. It was basic but good. We had time to shower and pack up before moving our bags to the lobby. We would be meeting our host families there at 5pm.
Christophe, Katy, and Jenny took us on another tour of the city to orientate ourselves at noon. It was insignificant. We were on our own for lunch so a few of us had Italian. I had lasagna. It was excellent. The French really know how to eat. Afterwards, we had time to shop on Rue de la Republique but I wasn’t really interested. Shocking, I know.
So we found our way back to the hotel by 4:45ish and waited for the selection. Some were terrified, I was anxious. Basically, it is like an orphanage full of Americans. French families would come in and demand a name and you would go. I was selected first! (and my housemate, John; more on him later).
My new dad, Bernard Zemmit, walked in and we went with him. He put our luggage in his car and off we went. He did not live far, but of course: it was raining. We turned a few times and we were at our new house, pool included.
He helped us with our bags and we walked through their yard to the front door. Jacqueline, his wife (the French have no word directly translating to wife. The closest they get is calling her “his woman”. Sorry feminists) opened the door with a smile. We gave her bisous (kisses on the cheeks the French way; three in Avignon) and she sat us down for first impressions.
They both are very nice and willing to work with us on our French. Jacqueline wants to use us to improve her English too. They have two sons and a granddaughter. One son works for L’Oreal in Paris and the other is an English professor nearby in Aix-en-Provence. He is moving to New York City in July to teach French. They have been hosting foreign students for ten years.
We took the tour of their house which is very un-French. Normally, it is an extreme privilege to be invited to a Frenchman’s house for dinner and guests are never given a ‘tour’ like in American; that is seen as bragging. They explained at dinner that we were now a family so there were mutual expectations and boundaries. Next, we were shown to our new rooms.
John went first and got the upstairs room; smaller and more loft-like. I got the spacious downstairs bedroom with a huge window looking into the garden and my own door to the pool! We were given about an hour to settle in and relax by ourselves before dinner. Normally, I am a picky eater, but I knew that would not be possible here. It is seen as very rude to not eat what is put in front of you.
Dinner began with a fresh salad. Salads in France usually consist of only lettuce and tomatoes and in the south they generally use a balsamic dressing. The main course was a vegetable soup with carrots, potatoes, and chicken. We had bread, cheese, and wine for dessert.
After dinner, we watched the news and afterwards, Jacqueline and John went to bed, but I stayed up with Bernard for a while to watch the French soccer team play Lithuania. The Blues won 1-0 but I only watched about half the game and went to bed.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
Saturday, March 28, 2009: Today we started with breakfast at the hotel. It was basic but good. We had time to shower and pack up before moving our bags to the lobby. We would be meeting our host families there at 5pm.
Christophe, Katy, and Jenny took us on another tour of the city to orientate ourselves at noon. It was insignificant. We were on our own for lunch so a few of us had Italian. I had lasagna. It was excellent. The French really know how to eat. Afterwards, we had time to shop on Rue de la Republique but I wasn’t really interested. Shocking, I know.
So we found our way back to the hotel by 4:45ish and waited for the selection. Some were terrified, I was anxious. Basically, it is like an orphanage full of Americans. French families would come in and demand a name and you would go. I was selected first! (and my housemate, John; more on him later).
My new dad, Bernard Zemmit, walked in and we went with him. He put our luggage in his car and off we went. He did not live far, but of course: it was raining. We turned a few times and we were at our new house, pool included.
He helped us with our bags and we walked through their yard to the front door. Jacqueline, his wife (the French have no word directly translating to wife. The closest they get is calling her “his woman”. Sorry feminists) opened the door with a smile. We gave her bisous (kisses on the cheeks the French way; three in Avignon) and she sat us down for first impressions.
They both are very nice and willing to work with us on our French. Jacqueline wants to use us to improve her English too. They have two sons and a granddaughter. One son works for L’Oreal in Paris and the other is an English professor nearby in Aix-en-Provence. He is moving to New York City in July to teach French. They have been hosting foreign students for ten years.
We took the tour of their house which is very un-French. Normally, it is an extreme privilege to be invited to a Frenchman’s house for dinner and guests are never given a ‘tour’ like in American; that is seen as bragging. They explained at dinner that we were now a family so there were mutual expectations and boundaries. Next, we were shown to our new rooms.
John went first and got the upstairs room; smaller and more loft-like. I got the spacious downstairs bedroom with a huge window looking into the garden and my own door to the pool! We were given about an hour to settle in and relax by ourselves before dinner. Normally, I am a picky eater, but I knew that would not be possible here. It is seen as very rude to not eat what is put in front of you.
Dinner began with a fresh salad. Salads in France usually consist of only lettuce and tomatoes and in the south they generally use a balsamic dressing. The main course was a vegetable soup with carrots, potatoes, and chicken. We had bread, cheese, and wine for dessert.
After dinner, we watched the news and afterwards, Jacqueline and John went to bed, but I stayed up with Bernard for a while to watch the French soccer team play Lithuania. The Blues won 1-0 but I only watched about half the game and went to bed.
(Google proper nouns that you do not know.)
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