Re-bonjour,
It has now been almost two weeks since I've begun to call Provence my home, and they have been some of the most relaxing, eye-opening, yet chargés (busy) days of my life. Finally I have a few moments to catch my breath on this lazy Friday morning, since I have chosen to forego Friday classes. Gotta keep my weekends open!
Last weekend concluded the Early Start Program, which was monumentally helpful to my transition to the French life, giving me three specific advantages to coming early:
1. An entire week to adjust to the jet lag and get on a normal schedule before classes start.
2. An opportunity to meet and make friends with 50 other students who also chose to arrive early.
3. Day trips and tours to attractions around Provence (basically an extra 7 days exploring France, why not?!).
This photo (right) is a group of us who ventured out into the cool blue Mediterranean off a beach at La Ciotat last Saturday. A special thanks to a very kind and patient Frenchman who took the photo!
And me (below) inching closer and closer to the edge to get the best possible view of Cassis down below.
It has now been almost two weeks since I've begun to call Provence my home, and they have been some of the most relaxing, eye-opening, yet chargés (busy) days of my life. Finally I have a few moments to catch my breath on this lazy Friday morning, since I have chosen to forego Friday classes. Gotta keep my weekends open!
Last weekend concluded the Early Start Program, which was monumentally helpful to my transition to the French life, giving me three specific advantages to coming early:
1. An entire week to adjust to the jet lag and get on a normal schedule before classes start.
2. An opportunity to meet and make friends with 50 other students who also chose to arrive early.
3. Day trips and tours to attractions around Provence (basically an extra 7 days exploring France, why not?!).
This photo (right) is a group of us who ventured out into the cool blue Mediterranean off a beach at La Ciotat last Saturday. A special thanks to a very kind and patient Frenchman who took the photo!
And me (below) inching closer and closer to the edge to get the best possible view of Cassis down below.
I promise, even though it has been a vacation thus far, there will be (and already has been) some studying involved in this fantasy French adventure that I have presented! La Rentrée is a buzzword I've been hearing and seeing around town for the past several days, because it means "back to school." You see it in advertisements for school supplies on signs in bookstores, hear the dread of it in the voice of young adolescents on the bus, and the relief of it in the voice of busy parents. It's that time of year, when the chill in the wind (in Provence, called le Mistral) blows right through your t-shirt, and you contemplate bringing a sweater and scarf with you on the walk to class, even though it's still early September. I could not be more excited to bring out the boots and scarves! Bring it on, Mistral.
The lovely thing about this week is that, like the leaves beginning to fall, I'm starting to settle into a routine, but each day undoubtedly brings something different and exciting. La rentrée for me consists of a brisk 25 minute walk to school, during which I pass bakeries, cafés, and mysterious, beautiful French people who are either taking a smoke or walking their dog (or both). My classes are in two different buildings: one, the original IAU building since 1958, has actually been around for over 400 years.
The lovely thing about this week is that, like the leaves beginning to fall, I'm starting to settle into a routine, but each day undoubtedly brings something different and exciting. La rentrée for me consists of a brisk 25 minute walk to school, during which I pass bakeries, cafés, and mysterious, beautiful French people who are either taking a smoke or walking their dog (or both). My classes are in two different buildings: one, the original IAU building since 1958, has actually been around for over 400 years.
It is made completely of stone, and the main hall looks like it was once a chapel. I go up a spiral staircase to visit the library, and even further up another staircase, where I have to duck my head because it is so small, to my classroom on the top floor. It has huge glass windows that open to let a nice breeze in during this wonderful transition into fall.
The other building, named Manning Hall, is just around the corner from the first building. It is brand new for IAU this semester, so our lucky group gets to be the first to break in the new classrooms. This one has its history too though, even though you can still smell the fresh paint when walking up the stairs. In these classes I'll be buried in books about Provençal History, French Linguistics, Contemporary French Identities, and many other things, I'm sure.
The other building, named Manning Hall, is just around the corner from the first building. It is brand new for IAU this semester, so our lucky group gets to be the first to break in the new classrooms. This one has its history too though, even though you can still smell the fresh paint when walking up the stairs. In these classes I'll be buried in books about Provençal History, French Linguistics, Contemporary French Identities, and many other things, I'm sure.
This weekend will truly mark the transition from play to work, since we have a day trip to Nice planned for tomorrow, as well as an afternoon exploration of Marseille on Sunday. Some time in there I will need to prepare for class on Monday, so this will put my time-management skills to the test.
I digress from la rentrée just for a moment to discuss food, undoubtedly a sacred aspect of French culture. I'm very lucky to have scrumptious dinners prepared my my host mother, Marie-Dominique, 6 nights out of the week. She is a fabulous cook; some of the highlights have been spaghetti, crêpes, pizza, quiche, and other homemade delicacies, ALWAYS accompanied by cheese - goat, camembert, brie, you name it. That leaves one night to go out to dinner, and let me tell you, this dinner from last Saturday was phenomenal. A group of girls and I went to a restaurant in town, famished after our long day of traveling, to treat ourselves to a big plate of pasta, wine, and dessert. I just had to share these photos:
The main dish is linguine with goat cheese and a delicious glass of the house red (wish I remembered the name), and the other plate in the background that my friend ordered is a lasagne aux trois saumons (salmon lasagna). The dessert was a fraisier, which the waiter talked me into ordering instead of just a simple café au lait. Best decision I made all night.
This entry barely scratches the surface of the wonderful experiences I've had so far; I only wish I could capture every second and squeeze it into a place where I could keep it and relive it for years to come. Thank goodness for the practices of writing and photography (and the internet!).
To conclude, I'm very enthusiastic about la rentrée and everything it has to offer. This semester is about learning just as much as it is about experience, so I look forward to sharing this process in the months to come!
A bientôt,
Holly
This entry barely scratches the surface of the wonderful experiences I've had so far; I only wish I could capture every second and squeeze it into a place where I could keep it and relive it for years to come. Thank goodness for the practices of writing and photography (and the internet!).
To conclude, I'm very enthusiastic about la rentrée and everything it has to offer. This semester is about learning just as much as it is about experience, so I look forward to sharing this process in the months to come!
A bientôt,
Holly