If I move to Marseille, will you guys come visit?

     Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Mediterranean city of Marseille with my host family; which lies about 75 km south of Mallemort, the Provencal village where I am living for the month! I wasn't sure how I would feel about the city, given the recent seedy history and CNN updates (Although my host mom mentioned that I live in the same country that Chicago is in, which she says " has both mafia AND cold winter" :)) 

     However, I absolutely LOVED it! The city itself reminded me a bit of Barcelona, but with a better atmosphere and overall vibe (I got a bit of a stare from a local who I compared it to; she was like "No, they are both Mediterranean but Marseille has French class"). Talk about an eclectic, diverse city: the second-largest city in France is harmoniously balanced with: French culture (they are extremely proud of both their wine and traditional soap-making), cultural diversity in general, Roman influence (Latin nerd over here!), lively nightlife, forts that date back to nearly-Biblical times, intricate Catholic cathedrals, mountains, the Mediterranean sea/beaches, a notable beachside university, etc etc etc. Seeing as how French universities are free, once I figure out how to maneuver a couple of loopholes (i.e. not being a French citizen), I think I know where I will be receiving my next degree ;)

     My host family took me along to a beachside fête for Caroline's (the host 'mom') work; which was about the most exciting work party I believe I've been to! They served hors-d'oeuvres and a local Provencal wine; which is a white, but has a slight pinkish tint to it-- very tasty! Caroline's friends were very vivacious, welcoming, and friendly, and taught me the rules of Pétanque, which is a game traditional to the South-of-France. I got the first point (beginner's luck, I suppose), and they were jokingly not happy that "Team USA" scored before anyone else, ha ha. At the party, when I explained to someone where I was from, she told me that she has a friend obsessed with Nashville and the country music scene-- and he even has it set as his location on Facebook (even though he is from Marseille). When she asked him about it, he responded that it was "better for launching his country music career." How wonderfully hilarious! 

Although I have loved everywhere I have visited thus far in France, Marseille is a city I can see myself spending far more time in. Despite is sometimes negative rep, it is a city with aesthetics, culture, class, and a balance of cultural awareness and French-ness. 

Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille 

Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde

Mountains and Sea-- how much better can it get?!

My awesome host family, Caroline and Suzy! 

Old Port in Marseille

View from the Notre Dame Basilique

Sittin' in a park in Paris, France...

"...Reading the news and it sure looks bad, they won't give peace a chance; it was just a dream some of us had..."

Love Joni Mitchell. Love listening to Joni via headphones even more; to drown out the temper tantrum of the little girl beside me on the train. ;) 

I'm sitting by a sweet American couple from Philadelphia, who had the bravery to bring their 3 and almost-2 year old girls to France with them-- I cannot imagine. The youngest is definitely over the train ride, but the 3-year-old is content coloring and chattering. When I asked her if she got to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle, she replied "yes, but the catacombs were my favorite part." Who would've thought, ha ha. 

Currently, I'm en route back to Avignon from Paris, before catching another train from Avignon to Senas; a small town outside of the even smaller village I am staying in. 

I arrived in Paris Thursday evening, and met up with a girl who is also participating in Geovisions Conversation Corps, although she is placed a few hours north of me. We spent Thursday night in Paris, then did Switzerland in a frenzy, spending two nights in Zurich and one day in Geneva. I absolutely loved Zurich especially: although it was crazy expensive (you realize it's insanely pricey when Paris is significantly cheaper), the people were friendly and the town beautiful, with its cobblestone streets and German-influenced architecture. We returned to Paris last night; just in time to catch the end of a weekend-long free music festival that apparently took place all over France! Side note: My travel buddy Emily wants to go to Venice in a couple of weeks-- who knows; tres possible ;) 

I had an awesome weekend of travel, seeing gorgeous old cities, vineyards, the Swiss Alps, going on a pub crawl, and just exploring in general; but have spent about 14 hours total on trains. I have to say I am sick of being on the crowded, non-air conditioned trains (what can I say, I'm an American:) ). So now, to return to the beautiful country-side in the south of France, where it is nearly 20 degrees warmer F than chilly Switzerland! C'est Bon indeed.

Country French, French French, and Louisiana French: Je Ne Comprends Pas all around!

Alongside re-reading The Outsiders (haha) in order to prepare for my 7th graders this upcoming semester; I am reading/thesis-writing on Kate Chopin for grad school, whose stories take place in the Victorian era, Southern Louisiana.

I've had massive writer's block for this thesis paper, and am writing it probably two sentences at a time. Love my girl Kate Chopin, but I hate pilfering through scholarly articles. Bleh. So anyway, while I'm reading some Cajun French all about some Fais do-dos and Tete-a-tetes,  I'm also trying to comprehend the torrent of French French around me. Yes, I admit I'm that jerk American who goes to another country not knowing the language; who relies on "Parlez-vous anglais?" for the majority of the time. However, the spoken French is so quick and blended together (especially in the country, where I am); that it is tres impossible to decipher-- true cultural immersion. I've picked up a few words/phrases here and there, and have to try to tone down my Southern accent as best I can so the family can understand what I'm saying (sometimes). 

The family I'm staying with, the Sabatiers, is absolutely wonderful. They live in a large Mediterranean-style house in very rural village (at least eight centuries old) about a twenty-minute bus ride outside of Salon-de-Provence, and close to an hour from Marseille. On their farm, they have a pool, horses, hens, fresh fruits and vegetables, and another accommodation house (a "gites") which Caroline rents out to boarders from around the world wishing to experience the French countryside. Last week, there was a family from The Netherlands staying there. The village is set along the Luberon Mountain Range; and looks like a place from The Garden of Eden (The Hemingway novel, not the Bible story :)). They are known for growing lavender, olives, apples, and lemons; and the Provence-area is associated with traditional soap-making. Yesterday, I went to a soap factory that has been in operation since the early 1800s. 

On Thursday, I'm headed up north with another girl from my program: we are spending two nights in Paris, one night in Zurich, and one in Geneva. There is a country-wide music festival across all of France that begins next week, so we will be back in Paris in time for that. I have to say, it will be nice to be able to speak English at my usual speed for four days! :) 

Leaving on a jet plane....

Since my car has been in the shop for about 27,000 years, my mom has graciously lent me her Honda while she has been out of town; which has been highly necessary since I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off getting everything I (think) I need for my travels. I have to majorly give a shout out to my awesome group of friends who have put up with my stressful frenzy over the past couple days-- you guys rock! Anyway, she has Sirius radio; which typically I have no interest in, but I sometimes guiltily listen to the 60s, 70s, and 90s stations (never the 80s. With God as my witness, never the 80s).  So today as I was rocking to 60s on 6 with my windows up so no one would hear, that "Leaving on a jet plane" song came on and I've had it in my head ever since.

Tomorrow, I am finally leaving on a jet plane, with my passport (I've quadruple checked), French atlas, and EU plug adapters in tote  (I realized that other day that is probably something I will need, what with wanting to use things that require electricity and whatnot). While I am excited for traveling a bit while I'm there (here I come Switzerland!), I am most ready to meet my host family, and am intrigued to see what teaching in a more one-on-one setting will be like-- and ESL at that.


 Bonne nuit!

I don't know why my computer thinks I'm in India...

Because I am most definitely not. However, I noticed my computer now automatically directs me to "Google India," and my blog has a ".in" after the dotcom. Whatever. Maybe globe-trotting (well, western-Europe trotting anyway) in the upcoming weeks will somehow reset it.

Anyway, while I'm not India-bound anytime soon that I know of, I am viva-la-France-bound in just four days! :D My nerves are in a bundle as I attempt to pack (ha-- just kidding, I haven't started), finish this term of grad school in a paper-writing frenzy, and plan lessons for a 13-year-old ESL student: something I have never done! I am not worried about traveling alone, hosteling, camping, and what-not (been there done all of that): I am mainly worried that I will offend my host family/locals by committing some sort of major etiquette-faux-pas; something that always stresses me before visiting a new culture. When I studied abroad in the UK, I remember experiencing that cringeworthy "Did I say something wrong/too 'American?'" feeling a few times. As progressive and eclectic as the Brits are (well, the younger generation anyway), their regard to societal norms/prim-and-proper mentality is still very much alive! :P Luckily, my French host family seems awesome, and I think we will get along well. They both know quite a bit of English, and I hope that by staying in such a small, very French town, I am able to really immerse myself in French culture and language. If any of my Facebook friends have ever stayed with a host family, I would enjoy hearing your story/advice! I would love to bring them a small gift from home, but I am a super uncreative gift-giver (as my two older nieces who receive iTunes gift cards for their birthdays could attest to, haha); so any ideas on that matter would be awesome as well! 

As a little pre-Europe excursion, I was able to visit my beautiful friend and former roomie Cara with my other beautiful friend and former roomie Emily in NYC this weekend for the Governor's Ball music festival. Even though Bonnaroo has Gov Ball beat on a few levels; we had a blast as per usual; and it was pretty refreshing to be able to wash the layers of mud off in the evening! After the festival each night, we hit up some of our favorite swanky Brooklyn/LES night spots: and swanky to us means The Trash Bar and Bushwick Country Club because they have complimentary Cheetos, and you can't go wrong with that. 

"Now and Then" pic, as is our standard pose at festivals.

Roomies. Belmont Uni grads. Fictitious bandmates.

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