slideshow

some pictures from my trip

Aix-en-Provence, France - Bouches-du-Rhône (13) A quintessential street scene in the Old Aix district. From the flawlessly blue sky to the rose colored roofs of the 18th and 19th century apartments with shops on street level, the narrow rues of Aix inspire one to explore the surrounding beauty. Originally designed by the Romans, Vieux Aix has intertwining streets perfect for wandering aimlessly.

First Entry from France!

I'm never going to Australia or Asia. Long flights are so horrible! On the flight to France, we hit tubulence zhile over the Atlantic. I felt like the plane was a maraca.

But the flight went as well as it could have. The hôtesses were quite sweet and the pilotspoke beautiful French.
...

The plane landed. I had been chewing gum furiously to cope with the changing altitude. I had gotten on the plane at 18h10. On 30 May at 8h36, I took my first step in France. Despite my severe distaste for airline staircases, I was happy to descend - or at least go outside for a few minutes before being ushered into a bus that takes me to building.

Roissy - Friggin' huge! That airport is bigger than Luxembourg.

Fashion - No one here looks ordinary. Everyone seems to have spent 8 hours deciding what to wear this morning.

The people in my program are really nice. Today, someone called me "The Police" because I (forcibly) encouraged us Americans to speak - parler français! I like it. We won't we fluent if we don't use it. After all, this is FRANCE.

Observations

• sidewalks don't exist. they are merely roads with no moving vehicles for a few moments
• fresh bread is awesome! esp. Emile BEC - 0.75 € baguettes
• people here are or more than kind. very helpful, polite
• the food's better

Places I've Been

Tour of Aix - Place de Quatre Dauphins - Cours Mirabeau - Monoprix - Office de Tourisme - Palais Archipescopal - Hôtel de Ville - Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur

perfectly calm....not

I leave tomorrow.

I'm scared scared scared scared scared scared!

last time, i PROMISE

I have done this at least 98 times. Here are the FINAL travel plans for Europe.

1 jour - Aix-en-Provence -> Paris
1 j - Paris <-> Caen
2j - Aix-en-Provence <-> Avignon et Arles/Fraxinetum
2j - Aix-en-Provence <-> Florence (Firenze)
1j - Paris <-> Strasbourg
__________________
7j au train!

Xtras:
Chartres - R/T - 20EUR
London - R/T - $100
Bâle (Basel) - R/T - 40EUR via Strasbourg - peut-être

I'm not doing it again. It's too much work.

Oh yeah....I got a home today! I received the address for my homestay. I am a short walk from the Institute. I'm rooming with another American student from a different program. But don't worry....on va parler en français seulement.

unofficial map

Google has a new feature! It added My Maps to the regular maps site. You can add placemarks and images to your own custom map of the world.

I decided to play around a little.

packing lists

Let me take the time to advocate a cause that I strongly support.

Not saving endangered whales - packing lists! Lists help me organize and keep track of everything I need to take with me to France. I have an official France packing list taped to my door. I divided it into 4 categories: Things I Need to Pack, Things That Can't Be Packed Yet, Things I Still Need to Get, and Things I Might Want to Buy.

The last two groups are causing me some grief, my heart competes with my brain. My bank balance competes with my desires. Should I get a new French grammar book? The shipping seems frivolous but my French is pretty friggin' awful right now. Should I wing the entrance exam or study like a psychomaniac? Ack, more choices between now and May 29!