Today is one of the first days that feels like autumn. Outside, rain drizzles down onto fallen leaves and bobbing umbrellas, leaving a temporary sheen on Aix. It's the type of day that requires the spice of a hot chia tea, a cozy sweater, and a good book; and it reminds me achingly of home.
Looking at the seven months still ahead of me is like looking straight up at the Eiffel Tower from the very bottom. It's a monstrous amount of time at first glance, but the days are going by like stairs. Already there have been many beautiful views along the climb.
On October 4th, we had our first wine tasting class at IAU taught by Professor Amy Mumma, one of the best wine tasters and connoisseurs in the world. I was lucky enough to help her set up, choose wines, and pick her brain. Then in the class, we sampled four different wines from the region of Provence: two reds, one white, and one rosé. We swirled and sniffed and swished and swallowed and spat. I was surprised by how amazing and thorough the course was, but also by how little I retained. But I did learn this: there is way more to choosing a wine than the price tag.
Then, on October 7th, my French Culture class meandered through the streets of Aix only to land on the doorstep of Dolls in the Kitchen. Instead of conjugating verbs, we learned how to make a provencal soup called Pistou. Somehow with our horrific french, we followed instructions given by the cook, and through team work, created quite a delicious lunch. Cooking is a great way to learn new vocabulary, like: pommes de terre = potatoes, carottes = carrots, oignons =onions, ail = garlic, etc. It was a great class, but then again, I love anything that involves food.
Looking at the seven months still ahead of me is like looking straight up at the Eiffel Tower from the very bottom. It's a monstrous amount of time at first glance, but the days are going by like stairs. Already there have been many beautiful views along the climb.
On October 4th, we had our first wine tasting class at IAU taught by Professor Amy Mumma, one of the best wine tasters and connoisseurs in the world. I was lucky enough to help her set up, choose wines, and pick her brain. Then in the class, we sampled four different wines from the region of Provence: two reds, one white, and one rosé. We swirled and sniffed and swished and swallowed and spat. I was surprised by how amazing and thorough the course was, but also by how little I retained. But I did learn this: there is way more to choosing a wine than the price tag.
Then, on October 7th, my French Culture class meandered through the streets of Aix only to land on the doorstep of Dolls in the Kitchen. Instead of conjugating verbs, we learned how to make a provencal soup called Pistou. Somehow with our horrific french, we followed instructions given by the cook, and through team work, created quite a delicious lunch. Cooking is a great way to learn new vocabulary, like: pommes de terre = potatoes, carottes = carrots, oignons =onions, ail = garlic, etc. It was a great class, but then again, I love anything that involves food.
October 11th was a ladies night involving a french film, a beer, and some much needed chocolate ice cream. It was the perfect end to the week and beginning of the weekend.
October 12th, I caught a bus with some friends to Avignon where we spent half the day sneaking around and exploring Le Palais des Papes, and the other half of the day at the Fountaine de Vaucluse. The Palais des Papes is huge, filled with wonderful historical exhibits, secret passageways, and strange art exhibits. The Fountaine de Vaucluse is essentially a whole in the ground in a grand cave, that, in the summertime, bubbles up, fills the cave and becomes a rather large river. The water is crystal clear and you can see straight down into the depths of the crevice.
October 12th, I caught a bus with some friends to Avignon where we spent half the day sneaking around and exploring Le Palais des Papes, and the other half of the day at the Fountaine de Vaucluse. The Palais des Papes is huge, filled with wonderful historical exhibits, secret passageways, and strange art exhibits. The Fountaine de Vaucluse is essentially a whole in the ground in a grand cave, that, in the summertime, bubbles up, fills the cave and becomes a rather large river. The water is crystal clear and you can see straight down into the depths of the crevice.
October 18th we had another wine class feature the wines of Bordeaux. It focused on wine temperatures, fermentation processes, flavors, and food pairings. Fun fact: If you want to serve a white wine with your dinner but you have one guest who prefers a mellow white and another that prefers more tang, try serving the same wine less chilled for the mellow person and more chilled for the tangy person. The acidity of your wine changes with the temperature it is served. Another fun fact: If your wine is too dry for your taste, drink it with a fatty food. This will make the wine feel more smooth.
Later that evening, I went with a few of my lady friends to the local wine bar to try and test our new wine tasting abilities.
Later that evening, I went with a few of my lady friends to the local wine bar to try and test our new wine tasting abilities.
October 19th my friend, Jasmine, and I joined another class on their excursion to Arles for a religious studies course. We went to the Musee de l'Arles et de la Provence antique where we learned about the Roman occupation of the south of france, Christian influences on crypts, and saw the only sculpture of Caesar in France. Later that day we went into town and saw the Arles amphitheater, the Church of Saint Trophime, an enthusiastic accordion player, and had a wonderful meal.
The week of the 21st - 25th was midterms here at IAU... Although this semester's midterm week was slightly more laid back than some in the past, it was a week of exams and papers none the less, and I was a little stressed, sleep deprived, and emotionally absent. On top of that, I had a last minute housing change. Now, I am living with an older French couple, who are absolutely wonderful, and my french seems to be improving dramatically.
The week of October 28th - November 1st was spent roaming around Venice and Milan with my friends Dixie and Sonja. We spent the first half of the trip in a hotel just outside of Venice in a town called Mirano. It was a place where the ancient walls whispered, faucets mysteriously turned on, and items were moved when no one was around to move them. It was perfect for halloween! And despite all the spookiness, we felt very safe and happy to be in such a beautiful place.
While in Venice, we spent out time losing our way among the twisting streets, eating gelato and pizza, and trying on ornate, Italian masks. In Mirano, we visited the local market and dedicated the day to shopping and italian haircuts.
The second half of the trip we rented a cute studio apartment in Milan. During our stay in Milan we visited Peck (an amazing Italian food store) and tasted some fancy wines, saw the Duomo Cathedral (where there are mummified bodies of Popes and Priests), saw the very first and largest Prada store, toured through the Sforza Castle Museums, and cooked a healthy meal every night. My mother would be proud: we had lots of salad.
The week of October 28th - November 1st was spent roaming around Venice and Milan with my friends Dixie and Sonja. We spent the first half of the trip in a hotel just outside of Venice in a town called Mirano. It was a place where the ancient walls whispered, faucets mysteriously turned on, and items were moved when no one was around to move them. It was perfect for halloween! And despite all the spookiness, we felt very safe and happy to be in such a beautiful place.
While in Venice, we spent out time losing our way among the twisting streets, eating gelato and pizza, and trying on ornate, Italian masks. In Mirano, we visited the local market and dedicated the day to shopping and italian haircuts.
The second half of the trip we rented a cute studio apartment in Milan. During our stay in Milan we visited Peck (an amazing Italian food store) and tasted some fancy wines, saw the Duomo Cathedral (where there are mummified bodies of Popes and Priests), saw the very first and largest Prada store, toured through the Sforza Castle Museums, and cooked a healthy meal every night. My mother would be proud: we had lots of salad.
November 6th, was a busy day. On wednesday mornings I teach English to a handful of wriggling 3-5 year-olds at a school called The English Bubble. That day we learned about fall colors while making paper cutouts of leaves and trees. Then in the afternoons I tutor a french family, who I meant by beautiful chance. That day we went to restaurant
And on November 9th, I took a bus with some friends to Ville d'Istres for the 26th annual Salon des VIns de la Gastronomie. There we spent the entire day sipping, slurping, and tasting expensive wines of every sort and variety, munching on gourmet food samples, and petting animals at a petting zoo. I have to say, it was probably one of my favorite days so far in France and definitely worth the 2€ bus ride and the 4€ entrance fee.
It's amazing to look back and see how fast the days go by. It's silly to sit here and sigh about how the future is always beyond the fingertips, when in reality what was once the future is now in the palm of my hands. Right now, at this very moment, I am living a dream that I've dreamt about since I was a little girl, and I am so incredibly, beautifully, wonderfully happy.
And on November 9th, I took a bus with some friends to Ville d'Istres for the 26th annual Salon des VIns de la Gastronomie. There we spent the entire day sipping, slurping, and tasting expensive wines of every sort and variety, munching on gourmet food samples, and petting animals at a petting zoo. I have to say, it was probably one of my favorite days so far in France and definitely worth the 2€ bus ride and the 4€ entrance fee.
It's amazing to look back and see how fast the days go by. It's silly to sit here and sigh about how the future is always beyond the fingertips, when in reality what was once the future is now in the palm of my hands. Right now, at this very moment, I am living a dream that I've dreamt about since I was a little girl, and I am so incredibly, beautifully, wonderfully happy.