This morning I write from the comfort of my cozy bed, with my window cracked so I can hear the light storm outside. This is one of the only times it has rained since I've been here, and it's Sunday, so naturally I'm lazing about sipping a cup of coffee and not leaving my bed any time soon.
MANY things have happened since my "sour grapes" incident - wonderful things, so here are some of the highlights of my come-back post:
Last weekend's expedition:
MANY things have happened since my "sour grapes" incident - wonderful things, so here are some of the highlights of my come-back post:
Last weekend's expedition:
A friend and I decided to embark on a last minute, weekend trip to Nice, Monaco, and Ventimiglia (Italy). By last minute, I mean we booked a hotel an hour before the train set off and bought our train tickets right in the nick of time. When we got to Nice, it was late evening, and we were both famished so we went to a Thai place near the hotel and scarfed down a big plate of chicken pad thai. Not the most French thing we could do, but it definitely satisfied a craving.
Along the Promenade des Anglais, which is a wide pedestrian walkway that stretches for miles along the ocean, people are just beginning their fabulous evenings. The Promenade des Anglais brings together all kinds: some are dressed to the nines, presumably heading to the opera or a fancy cocktail party on the beach (the kind where there's a commercial backdrop for you and your date to have your picture taken upon entrance, like you see on E! News - but on the beach). Others are casually strolling just to stroll, with no agenda (my friend and I fell into this category). Surprisingly many others are jogging or rollerblading, which I suppose just reinforces the trend that people who live in Nice are a stunning species and must maintain their perfect physiques.
On Saturday, we covered a LOT of ground. We took the bus from Nice to Monaco, which is a tiny principality bordered only by France and the Riviera. Home to a) the famous Monte Carlo Casino, b) a marina glistening with flashy yachts, and c) (no big deal) Prince Albert II, this country packs a punch for its size of only .78 square miles. The water was impossibly blue and clear, making it a huge attraction for boaters, fishermen, cruise liners, sun bathers, and any other maritime enthusiasts.
To see a glimpse of the life of the royalty that reigns over Monaco, we decided to do a tour of the Prince's Palace, which is most definitely fit for a prince (or princess!).
The Palace is heavily guarded, and we were lucky enough to witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guards. Unfortunately the Prince wasn't home (I guess I wouldn't be either if peasants like me were touring his house).
The Palace is heavily guarded, and we were lucky enough to witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guards. Unfortunately the Prince wasn't home (I guess I wouldn't be either if peasants like me were touring his house).
This is the marina, where you can see some world-class yachts preparing for the yacht show only a week away. A boater's paradise.
The mountains that stretch into the distance reach the end of France and the beginning of Italia, where we would be heading next.
Next stop: Ventimiglia.
Ventimiglia is a very small beach town, practically on the border of France and Italy. This was our third country in one day! Since we arrived during the European 2.5-hour lunch break, not many places were open, so we just went to the pebbly beach and people-watched. After a few hours of sufficient people-watching, sipping mid-afternoon drinks, and strolling around, we went to have a real Italian dinner - spaghetti and bolognese gnocchi, and of course a scoop of gelato. Our stomachs thanked us, and we were fueled to make the journey back home.
Language: Slowly but surely improving
This week, I've begun to notice that I'm starting to blend in a bit better with the French. By no means do I walk/talk like a native (not sure I'll ever get there), but it's progressing, and part of that has to do with the language.
The other day I was walking to school and I heard a man call from his car with his window rolled down. Normally I would have kept walking and not looked up, but curiosity got the best of me. So I looked over, and in French this man asked me where the hospital was, and I successfully gave him directions back in French! Because I had gotten so lost in the city on day 1, I was familiar with the hospital, because I had to ask them for directions back to my house. Funny how things work out! So that was cool.
The reason this made my day is that people have asked me for directions before, and I wished so badly that I could help them (like a native would), but just didn't know where they were trying to go (and didn't have the capabilities to communicate it, even if I did know).
Internship: Vermillon
Last week I interviewed with a few different companies to do an internship while studying here, and am excited to be starting one with Vermillon. This company manufactures and sells interior design products, and they're looking to expand into the English-speaking market, which is why they hired me. I had my first day on Friday, and it was an intense French-immersion day.
The mountains that stretch into the distance reach the end of France and the beginning of Italia, where we would be heading next.
Next stop: Ventimiglia.
Ventimiglia is a very small beach town, practically on the border of France and Italy. This was our third country in one day! Since we arrived during the European 2.5-hour lunch break, not many places were open, so we just went to the pebbly beach and people-watched. After a few hours of sufficient people-watching, sipping mid-afternoon drinks, and strolling around, we went to have a real Italian dinner - spaghetti and bolognese gnocchi, and of course a scoop of gelato. Our stomachs thanked us, and we were fueled to make the journey back home.
Language: Slowly but surely improving
This week, I've begun to notice that I'm starting to blend in a bit better with the French. By no means do I walk/talk like a native (not sure I'll ever get there), but it's progressing, and part of that has to do with the language.
The other day I was walking to school and I heard a man call from his car with his window rolled down. Normally I would have kept walking and not looked up, but curiosity got the best of me. So I looked over, and in French this man asked me where the hospital was, and I successfully gave him directions back in French! Because I had gotten so lost in the city on day 1, I was familiar with the hospital, because I had to ask them for directions back to my house. Funny how things work out! So that was cool.
The reason this made my day is that people have asked me for directions before, and I wished so badly that I could help them (like a native would), but just didn't know where they were trying to go (and didn't have the capabilities to communicate it, even if I did know).
Internship: Vermillon
Last week I interviewed with a few different companies to do an internship while studying here, and am excited to be starting one with Vermillon. This company manufactures and sells interior design products, and they're looking to expand into the English-speaking market, which is why they hired me. I had my first day on Friday, and it was an intense French-immersion day.
The office looks like a workshop, with paint/tile/ceramic samples all around, and people are buzzing about. I was greeted by the lovely and stylish Delphine, who fixed me a cup of coffee and showed me around the office. I share an office with two women - Marine is a graphic designer, and Myriam is the web master. I'm going to be working with them to translate and localize their website and business presentations.
I'm the only American there, and even though I have a decent level of French, they probably think I'm extremely quiet and awkward because it is just very difficult to keep up with the speed of their speech.
At lunch (which is a full hour, accompanied by lots of conversation, coffee, and for some [not me], cigarettes). I joined about six or seven of the employees outside to dine, and it took me a solid 15 minutes to feel like I understood exactly what they were all talking about. It turned out, Delphine was entertaining the group about her family dynamics, particularly with her mother-in-law. Oh la la.
This company offers training sessions for decorators, and next week they want me to come so I can see hands-on what their business is all about. Who knows, maybe I'll learn a thing or two that I can apply to a future home! I'd love to know how to add little French flair.
That's all for now, it's probably time for me to get up and do the Sunday usuals of laundry and homework. Thanks for reading, and until next time,
Bisous!
Holly
I'm the only American there, and even though I have a decent level of French, they probably think I'm extremely quiet and awkward because it is just very difficult to keep up with the speed of their speech.
At lunch (which is a full hour, accompanied by lots of conversation, coffee, and for some [not me], cigarettes). I joined about six or seven of the employees outside to dine, and it took me a solid 15 minutes to feel like I understood exactly what they were all talking about. It turned out, Delphine was entertaining the group about her family dynamics, particularly with her mother-in-law. Oh la la.
This company offers training sessions for decorators, and next week they want me to come so I can see hands-on what their business is all about. Who knows, maybe I'll learn a thing or two that I can apply to a future home! I'd love to know how to add little French flair.
That's all for now, it's probably time for me to get up and do the Sunday usuals of laundry and homework. Thanks for reading, and until next time,
Bisous!
Holly