The last few days have been… wow. Between our day trip to Italy, our goodbye dinner, and now finally arriving in Paris for the extension… I am seriously not sure where to begin so i'll break everything down as best as possible!

Italia: the day started early to ensure maximum beach time. We arrived in a small town just on the boarder of France and Italy and were treated to a day at a private beach. The sand, and atmosphere, was very relaxing. Lunch was offered at the beach club, some friends and I ventured more towards town to test the local cuisine. We found a small restaurant just a few minutes walk from the beach and were immediately impressed. Even the bottled water tasted better. Seriously, I wish I could ship home European water. Ive heard on many occasions that the reason for the better quality bread is actually because of the water being used… something about the minerals…anyway, the lunch was amazing. I ordered a spagetti dish. It was absolutely, 100%, perfectly al dente. We returned to the beach for a full afternoon of laziness. Dinner was served around 7 pm. I probably should have ordered something different from pasta for lunch, we also had a pasta pesto dish that evening; however, this too was irresistible and delicious. We finally made it back on the bus and arrived at the residence at around 10 pm.

Goodbye: The group was given free time for most of the morning on the 29th and was able to pack and have brunch at 11 am. We convened at 6 to head to our chef, Pearla's, apartment for a special home cooked meal and performance time by the staff and some of own. The night consisted of good food, dancing, music, and some laughs. I really liked Pearla's dish tonight. It was something that I may consider having for my last meal or maybe on my wedding menu. It was a potato but there was really nicely seasoned beef cooked underneath it and burnt just at the perfect amount. The night ended with a giant group hang out at the residence. It was a very tiring day all in all. But especially because of the packing. The process of fitting everything back in my suitcases basically consisted of sweating, sweating, and cursing at my ridiculous amount of clothing that I once felt obliged to bring.

First Day in Paris: Sad goodbyes at the airport were followed by a rush to the gate! Paris was reached in no time, just an hour and a half flight. Immediately, I showered as soon as I got to my room at the Mercure Hotel which is seated right next to the Eiffel Tower! Tonight, the group headed over to the infamous Moulin Rouge for an impromptu tour of the even more infamous red light district. Next was a classic French dinner at a classic French restaurant which was about a 30 minute metro ride away. The dinner was actually some of the best food I've eaten so far on the trip. I think i'll definitely eat well here! I am very tired from today and the last few as well. A demain!

Busy Couple of Days

Yesterday and today have both been very productive and packed with group activities. Wednesday morning started out as usual with classes at 9 am and some elective time in the afternoon. At 6 pm the entire group headed to an amusement park, "Antibesland", located in Antibes (just a few train stops away). It was your typical, run-of-the-mill, small-town, somewhat seedy, attraction just minutes outside of Nice. However, despite the old-school vibe of the rides and park itself, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Obivously, we had to try out all of the rides and attractions, including a life-sized hamster ball that sits in water… it's actually more difficult then it looks. Antibesland ended at around 9:30 pm and the group had another opportunity to participate in some competitive night volley ball on the beach. Everyone else had the choice to go to the residence for some much needed sleep. Thursday was also very fun, there were many things happening with the entire group and we had full participation in parasailing today too! The morning was a normal class time, except for my class - we had the chance to visit a local chocolate factory that produces some of the most exotic chocolates, jams, and candies I've ever seen. They have everything from candied oranges to jam made from roses. The afternoon consisted of going straight from lunch time to the beach for parasailing, possibly one of my most favorite activities so far on the trip, followed by beach time. Finally, the day ended with a walk up several sets of stairs to reach the top of a chateau, and finally to a park that overlooks the city. There, we picnicked on the grass and had some delicious dinner made by our favorite chef, Pearla. Rest time or another exhilarating game of beach volley ball came after dinner. There was also a time for "Arts and crafts" where everyone had the chance to make team t-shirts for volley ball or draw an outline of themselves on one huge roll of paper… its actually going to be the main decoration for our group talent show on Sunday night :) 

Everyone is seriously fried from the sun today and really needs some sleep, including me! Bon nuit!  

A Typical Day

Today started with French class at 9 am until 12 pm followed by our usual two hour lunch break. Today, my class revisited the future tense and future simple tense with a focus on topics surrounding the environment. The group headed out for about an hour to explore the many ways in which our small portion of Nice utilizes the growing trend of green energy. Within a few blocks, there is already a few completely natural grocery stores and almost every food market will carry "bio" products. There is also a wide variety of transportation methods around Nice that support a low carbon footprint- for example, the tram or the many bike paths around the city. After class and lunch the entire group went over to St. Jean Ferrat for our third time cooking in a hotel kitchen together. Everyone usually pitches in making the appetizer, main course, and dessert. Our chef, Pearla, instructed us on making salmon with tomatoes, lemon, rice, and several provencal spices. The dessert was a delicious tiramisu and there was also home made lemonade. For night activities, there was a choice between "light painting", a form of photography instructed by the photo elective leader, Maxim, or beach volley ball. I didn't think that I had much to contribute to the volley ball game, but cheered everyone on anyway :) 

We are finally home now and have a very busy day tomorrow. À demain!  

The French Alps

Today was absolutely beautiful! We woke up early to get a head start on a 2.5 hour bus ride to the French Alps, arriving via public coach transit, the group walked a short distance and arrived at something resembling The Sound of Music. It's summer here, so the snow and ice wasn't a problem. Tourists and many French people simply come to the Alps to enjoy the summer weather and hiking, along with several other activities such as horseback riding, swimming, and rock climbing. Lunch was a picnic on the base of a sloping mountainside that overlooked the entire ski resort, which boasted all these activities plus tennis, a skate park, and a high ropes course even. We had the option to do the high ropes course and some zip lining, I saw the tennis courts and actually got a chance to play with my friend… he won 6-4 but I let it happen because I'm out of shape… 

Although we didn't have much time at the resort, the scenery is something that i will definitely remember. The mountains surround you so it almost feels like you are standing in the middle of a crater. The day ended with a long bus ride home and some sore walking back from the bus station to the residence. 

Matisse and More

Today we started early at 9 am with a short class and an outing to the world famous Matisse Museum just a few tram stops away! There was a no cameras allowed policy at this particular museum, so unfortunately I won't have any works to post. The entire group was there from around 12 to 3 with a picnic lunch on the museum grounds. There is a beautiful park area that is just outside the mansion for visitors (by the way, I am pretty positive that admission is free!) The contrasting works of Matisse and Chagall was something that I thought about regularly during the visit. I noticed that Matisse utilizes the diversity between warm and cool colors along with line and shape. Chagall predominately uses free shapes as well but draws less attention to the distinction between color as warm and cool often intermingle in his pieces. The most interesting concept that I noticed in the Matisse collection  however was his simplicity. In addition, all of Matisse's works include a progression of some sort; this is mostly found in his sculptural work. I realized that his sculptures show the many complicated, human emotions and their expressions. Within the progression of sculptures for a single person, there is the abstract or interpreted perception coupled with the literal first glance- which I believe is the "big picture" of their look. After the museum we had the option of returning to the residence or shopping at the Galleries Lafayette. A small group of friends and I headed to the shopping portion which is unbelievable during this time of year. The summer sales are really great as well as the brands… many not found in America! Shopping ended at around 6 pm. We finally made it back to the residence for a hamburger cooking workshop, split up in to multiple groups throughout the residence for an easier flow of things. I was so full from my late lunch that I couldn't even look at the burgers! The day ends now with a night in the residence, considering most the head staff leaders are enjoying a much needed night off. Bonsoir!!!  

An Update on French Class

Bonjour! So far, the program has been going very well. French class is something that I have yet to write about. So here it goes: every morning at either 9 am or 10 am (depending on the day) myself along with 7 other girls sit down with our instructor, Julia, and go over our activities from the night before, how we are feeling this morning, etc. Here's a list of some example class agendas: 

- grocery store terms 

- how to buy and ask for items at the grocery store 

- possessif pronouns 

- how to express likes and dislikes 

- conjugating reflexive verbs in the present tense 

- body parts (for the face) 

- practice dialogues for asking for directions 

- féminin vs. masculin adjectives 

- féminin vs. masculin verbs 

- horoscope and astrological terms (just for fun :) )

- buying clothing and learning international size charts 

- colors and their meanings in different countries 

- describing weather 

- beach safety in Nice 

- imperative form 

After our class (typically lasting around 3 hours total) we go on outings and practice what we learned that day. For example, if we are going over how to buy clothing, Julia may ask us to go to different stores and inquire about sizing, colors, etc. The other day, we were assigned to ask random strangers for directions to several churches in the area! 

Busy Day!

Sorry for another late posting! These last few days have been very packed and its been difficult to even get enough sleep with everything going on. Over the last few days, the photography elective ventured to Monaco again for some exploration in movement. Several day trips to beaches and regular class days have followed. Today was exceptional, however, because we started out early with a trip to the Marc Chagall Museum in the town over. Not only is his art worldly renowned and respected, but also extremely close to my heart. My grandfather, Irving Borowsky, has been an avid collector of Chagall's works and my family has always enjoyed the vibrance and meaning behind his pieces. Following the museum was lunch at Garibaldi Square (a 2 minute walk from the residence), and some downtime of course. The photo elective headed to a park for panoramic views and portrait practice with different colored filters. I think the most important thing I've learned through portraits was always to capture someone who you believe is interesting. That being said, I wasn't sure or very comfortable with asking my friends to pose. In my own way, I caught a few candids of park-goers… hopefully they didn't mind or see. After our park excursion, the group reassembled for a picnic on the beach. The residential chef, Pearla, made an excellent Mediterranean rice and vegetable salad. After beach time, we headed over to a castle which was converted into a drive-in movie theater. "Forever Rock" was showing tonight (Rock of Ages starring Tom Cruise). The language was dubbed but it was still somewhat enjoyable to listen to some of my favorite songs butchered by Hollywood; the outdoor setting and beauty of the castle made up for the lack of screenplay and acting skills. The movie didn't end until 12 pm, and we're finally home! It's pretty late and I am VERY tired. Bon nuit for now!

Antibes Day Trip

It was really nice once again today to get out of Nice and explore more of France. Antibes is a beautiful beach, although it was extremely crowded (it being Sunday, and most stores being closed) the water remained warm and the atmosphere relaxing. The day started with lunch followed by a group tour of one of the most famous museums in the world: the Pablo Picasso museum! Seeing his work was really an experience I won't forget. Picasso's paintings, as well as ceramic work, is very simple yet dynamic - there are a multitude of ways to view each piece. After exploring the chateau and walking more of the grounds the group split off for individual activities. A choice between a more touristy train ride throughout Antibes or to walk around and go to the beach was given. There are also many local artisan shops in the area. Locally made jewelry, preserves, and art is displayed in a market at the center of the town. Although I was unable to go to the market (it closes at a very early 1:30 pm) I was still able to pick up a sample trio of jam preserves. Antibes definitely caters more to American's; although there are many tourist attractions it doesn't take away from the cultural experience. The atmosphere remains French, and of course the food was delicious. A group of friends and I ventured to the beach for the rest of the afternoon. The walk to the nicer part of the beach would seem to be worth it; however, as soon as we got there we realized that everyone else had the same idea! People's towels and umbrellas were basically on top of each other and if we were in America, I do not see how anyone would be able to function or relax with one another. The French, however, do not seem to care about overcrowding. The simple pleasures far outweigh the vast amount of people around you, and honestly when I looked around, no one seemed annoyed at the excessive amount of people or even the fact that every once in a while, someones ball game might extend into another's territory. From the beach, our group reassembled and headed back over to the center of town for dinner. We were given about 45 minutes of free time afterwards, and from Antibes, we tiredly, but quickly, hurried back to the train just in time to arrive in Nice at 10 pm. The day was exhausting from being in the sun, but I would definitely recommend a visit to Antibes for anyone. 

Cannes Day Trip

Today, a much needed sleep-in allowed everyone to be refreshed and ready for a day trip to Cannes. The group left for the train and arrived at around 1:30. Myself and a group of students ate lunch immediately. It was quite possibly the most delicious hamburger I've ever tasted! The food in France is definitely something I will miss. Lunch was followed by some shopping in some of the more affordable stores in the area (ex: Zara, a higher-end H&M in my opinion) Next, my friends and I adventured to the beach for a couple of hours. The water was once again clear and warm. The beach itself was crowded however not too noisy and very clean. The scenery was amazing, it was a mixture of a tropical island and a yacht emporium! The extravagance of Cannes itself is enough to blow anyone away, as soon as you see a family arrive in helicopter to the beach your mind usually wanders away from the natural beauty around you. The group reassembled in front of the beach entrance to enjoy breakdancing by the local young people. Their enthusiasm and talent for the sport and crowd definitely shows- somewhere around 75 people were watching. Next, a pizza picnic with the St. Laurent group on the beach took place just where we had spent the afternoon. Our group had the option of seeing a Latino dance flash-mob; however, we had just missed the performance when dinner was ending. Myself along with friends ended up walking around Cannes and enjoying more of the sights. Although the evening activity wasn't as lively as it usually is we entertain each other and take the opportunity to get to know our surroundings. 

Monaco Day Trip

The second day of our classes began with some simple vocabulary review for clothing and it's various locations. The class was sent out after the lesson to the narrow alleyways and street vendors to practice some speaking. There, you can find really good sales and the popular flowing skirts and dresses that are comfortable for this hot weather. Next, a short break allowed everyone some more time to relax and get away from the heat! Lunch today was quick for myself and a few friends because we had to make the train for Monaco! The Nice photo elective met up with the St. Laurent photo elective there and did a walking tour of the famous casinos and of course, the royal palace. Because the heat did not seem to let up, my group was unable to see the casino portion of the walk. However, I think we will return Monday and hopefully get some more shots for the class. Monaco reminds me of something from a movie. Everything there is bright and clean looking. The richness of the country itself and its densely packed streets is probably why I thought we were still in Nice for a second or two. The group reassembled at the train station and headed home for an authentic French dinner. I cannot remember the name, but i'll try to post it later in time! It was a rice and cheese dish with vegetables, I am sure that there are many other variations on the recipe. For the rest of the night, we had the option of attending a jazz festival in one of the squares, or karaoke. Myself, along with most of the other students, opted out and simply walked the streets again enjoying the city's vibrance. 

royal palace- Monaco

Happy 4th of July!

Désolé pour mon retard! Happy 4th of July everyone! And secondly, Happy Venezuelan Independence Day to all of the Venezuelan students on the trip! America's birthday couldn't have been any better. Today a few friends and I ate chocolate croissants for breakfast with café. The chocolate, bread, butter… it literally melts in your mouth. After a quick breakfast, our group assembled to hear some more instructions about the day. A language placement test was given and we are now officially divided for instruction. Having some free time, Dani, Kara, and I ventured into a French mall (Now, it may not be a mall to them, but to me it was definitely giving off that vibe!). Although surrounded by a variety of stores, there was a supermarket right in the middle, and obviously many dogs all around us and the food, which is definitely not American! Seizing the opportunity, we stocked up on some essentials for our apartments and headed back to the residence. Lunch is usually very leisurely here so a few friends and I took some time to cook in our apartments! The teriyaki chicken and rice was delicious, and cooking on our own doesn't seem to be a problem for anyone in the program. Thankfully, no fires. Lunch was followed by our first elective class. I am participating in the photography course here, along with about 20 other students. Although a large group, we were still able to accomplish some basic understanding of famous French photographers at a contemporary exhibition just a few blocks away. Our instructor, Max, informed us that everyone has a different point of view; therefore, there is no one correct way to take a photograph. We were able to split off into small groups shortly after and given more time to explore Nice and experiment with our cameras. On the way, we obviously had to stop for some gelato. The group reassembled to make our own picnics and have a Fourth of July celebration on the beach. Note to all: the beach here is rocky! However, it does come with a lot of positives qualities. Because of the absence of sand, the water is clear, warm, beautiful, etc. The beach was followed by an adventurous night to a DJ concert in a popular square just a few minutes walk from the residence. My group and I, as well as many others, did not stay for long but continued to walk around the city and learn to navigate the streets at night. Nice is a very lively place with all ages gathering in different areas. One thing I have noticed here so far is that age does not dictate where people might hang out. Au revoir for now! 

C'est la vie

Traveling always has it's downsides...especially when you're going international. However, I encountered very few problems on my way to Nice. Besides ridiculous airline baggage fees for some extra weight, getting to France seemed like a piece of the delicious tiramisu from our first dinner tonight. As soon as we arrived, everything seemed to flow so easily. The French truly do work to live and not the other way around. Eager Americans might dislike the nonchalantness of the French mentality, but I think I can live with this for the next four weeks! Our day consisted of preliminary introductions to the amazing Abbey Road Staff and quick get-to-know-you games with individual groups. Afterwards, my group took a walk through central locations in the city. While seeing small alleyways with flavorful businesses, owners, and products my group also got a glimpse of the spectacular coastline and icy-blue waters. We returned just a few moments before leaving for our first dinner, although the cuisine seemed primarily Italian, I could sense the French influences from the heaviness of cheeses and richness of the dessert. Everyone seems extremely tired, but excited to begin this adventure. Bonsoir!