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! 

France in A Few!

Bonjour! My name is Alison and I entering into my senior year of high school this fall. I live in the surrounding suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, and I attend a small private Quaker school in the city. I have been studying French since 7^th grade and I am currently in French VI. I am looking to do the AP level course next year and I am particularly interested in French art and culture. This will be my first time in France and I am very excited to finally experience this cultural mecca. I was initially interested in a French immersion program because I was hoping to gain more exposure to the language in preparation for higher-level classes next year. When looking for a particular program, I already knew of Abbey Road through a Penn Charter alumnus who had gone on a trip to Spain with the group. Looking further into the programs offered, I was particularly drawn to Nice because of it’s extensive reputation of beauty and cultural prominence within the country. I attended an overnight camp for seven summers and last summer I traveled to New Zealand and Fiji for several environmental and community service projects. In addition, I participated in a diverse exploration of each country’s natural wonders. From my experiences in New Zealand and Fiji, I truly gained an interest in traveling and I knew that I could find similar, meaningful experiences with Abbey Road. As a junior, this is my last summer before going to college; therefore, I am hopeful that Abbey Road can provide me with the experiences and knowledge of a culture and language that I love. Hope to see everyone July 2^nd!