Verona, Italy.....enough said

After months and months of planning the weekend finally came: me and Paige (friend and fellow Kappa from Mizzou, studying in Florence) were able to plan a trip together!  We finally decided Thursday afternoon that Verona would be our destination.  I knew nothing about the city other than it was the home to Romeo and Juliet (but who cares, right?).  So the next morning I boarded a train at 9:00 a.m. and headed on my journey.  After a long day of traveling, I finally arrived in the city around 5:00 p.m., but the journey was well worth it.  Our hotel for the weekend was one word: charming!  Everything about this little paradise, from the exceptionally helpful staff, wonderful rooms, amazing showers even the free guide books was easily worth the money.

After throwing down our bags we headed to the center of the city were we were AMAZED to learn this very weekend was the city's 1st annual CHOCOLATE festival.  The streets were lined with vendors from around Italy selling their wonderfully delicious delicacies and the aroma was enough to convince me I was officially in love with Verona.  The vendors had thought of everything from chocolate bonbons to fresh chocolate covered strawberries and we made it our goal for the weekend to ingest as much of the goodies as possible (after all we had to ensure the festival would be a success!)                                         

So after our quick little chocolate feast we wandered around the city falling in love with the beautiful winding streets and picturesque Palazzos.  We found a fun little bar where we were able to observe the happenings on the street while devouring free appetizers!

The next morning we woke up extra early and began our quest to conquer the city.  We started by climbing all 360 stairs in the bell tower, and although we were heavily perspiring by the end the views were well worth the hike.                            

After this we headed over to climb some more hills.  Now, apparently it is my duty while in Europe to find every perv on the continent.  We had just begun to ascend the stairs of one particularly steep hill (in the middle of the day, and in a very public area mind you) when what should I see.....a middle aged man playing with his.....  

                                                                                                         .

That's right folks, I couldn't believe my eyes either!  A man with his play things exposed for us to see!! (EWWWWW).  I started running up the stairs because I felt very awkward; however, Paige had not seen the ding-a-ling yet so she started yelling for me to slow down.  I turn around to grad her attention and there it is again, in all its naked glory (double EWWW).  Yet, we didn't let Mr. Peek-a-boo ruin our day; rather, we wandered around the city exploring just about everything worth seeing.                                    

We headed back to our hotel after an exhausting day then got ready for our big evening.  We grabbed a quick drink then headed over to the city's theater where for only 12 measly euro we were granted a private box (1st row) to a Mozart concert...soooo amazing!  Although we were defiantly the youngest audience members by about 53 years, the show was well worth the money.                                                                                                    After this we kicked it up a few centuries and wandered over to a live concert in Palazzo Erbe by an up and coming young singer (Syria).  It was such a high energy crowd and an awesome way to end the night.

Sunday morning is ladies day in Italy, which means that all museums are free for women.  (What a wonderful city, chocolate AND women's day).  We decided to check out Juliet's home (not worth spending money on) and then headed on the Colosseum (def. worth money).  By this point we had just enough time left to grab a little more chocolate then head back.

Now the ride back was an interesting tale.....

On my first leg to Milan a young lady decided to stand in between the two cars and belt out some Italian tune. I'm sure it is a wonderful tune; yet, her voice genuinely sounded like cats being murdered and our whole train car was in hysterics at the Shakira wanna-be.  On the next leg of my journey, I was fortunate enough to sit in between two larger Italian women who continually conversed across my lap and directly across from me was a Missionary's daughter who tried ever so hard to engage me in talk of my beliefs and thoughts on God....guess the headphones in my ears didn't clue her in I wasn't interested in life talks.....

All in all this was one of my favorite trips yet; and I would gladly talk longer to anyone willing to listen of all the tiny city of Verona has to offer!    

Kicking it in Cannes

After a couple of crazy travel weeks, I was so glad to have a free week in Cannes.  Thursday AIFS took a group of us to Grasse, France: perfume capital of the world!  When we arrived we got to learn all about making great perfumes and even got to make our own.  Although sadly it smelled like our rotting bathrooms, we were able to buy discounted perfume at the end of the trip.

Friday afternoon I ended the week with a run when what should I happen to come across but an elderly man (about 65-70) on the beach, wearing a head to toe Nike jumpsuit (straight out of 1987) with a matching blue yamaka calm as can be, doing a perfect middle splits.  Ha, a sight to see!

So Friday night my friend Pepe (Mexico) had a party as his brother's au pair's house in Cannes.  A ton of students from the college went and it was a ton of fun to get to hang out with everyone outside the barbed wires of the college!

 

Saturday morning was a little rough, but being the out door's fanatic that I am (ha oh wait shopping takes places inside....) I was eager to finally hike the mountains! A group of 15 of us took a short train to Theole Sur-Mer and hiked up a pretty tough mountain but were rewarded by the views at the top!  It was like we were literally on top of France, it was out of this world! 

Saturday night we were exhausted but we still managed to find time for a great dinner at our favorite restaurant, La Piazza (the owner loves us and always gives us the best olives and lemocello) and then headed to the beach with some wine.  It was a great way to unwind and begin to deal with my sore bootay.

Sunday we were up at the crack of dawn (well 8:00) to catch the train to Nice for the final day of Carnavale.  I can really only explain carnavale as the one time a year the French allow themselves to go buck wild, and it basically involves a lot of silly dancing, confetti and silly string, and the creepiest floats I have ever seen!  Needless to say it was an awesome experience!  We had back to college so tired, and I thought it had been an absolutely successful weekend; however, as we were walking the tunnel back to the college I stepped in what I thought was a shallow puddle.  Turns out it was poop water up to my knees.....definitely awkward, I smelled for hours!

This weekend me and Paige are traveling together, can't wait!

Paix,

Leah

Barcelona!

Yay first big trip this weekend!  We just got back from Barcelona and had an amazing time.  I left immediately after school on Thursday with my roommate Maria and our friend Margaux.  We literally had to run to catch the bus, so unfortunately we had to throw some elbows at the old French ladies taking leisurely strolls but hey it's all in the name of traveling!  We made it as the bus was literally about to pull away.  As we climb on flustered and sweaty I attempt to make my way down the crowded aisle with my big bag.  However, I miscalculated the width of the aisle and literally nailed about the first 5 rows of passengers with my bag...awkward.  The plane out of Nice was super quick and easy and we landed in time for a late lunch in Barcelona.  Our hostel, Kabul Backpackers Inn, is located In Plaza Real which is a super fun square right off of La Ramblas and our room had a balcony looking over the square.  We rested before heading to get some tapas and hit up a flamenco show that was next door to our hostel.  The show was very reasonably priced and so much fun to watch.  It consisted of a live band, flamenco dancers, singers and beer!             

 

After the show we tried some local Paella and Sangria then headed to a couple of local bars (at Emma's recommendation!).  We were just headed home when who do I spot??? None other than Stephanie Hall a girl that graduated with me at Sion! Talk about a smallllll world!  We decided to head to one more bar with some of her friends then called it a night.

I woke around 8:00 then next morning only to discover that one of our roommates (we were in a 10 person hostel room) had decided to bring a girl home and........they were completely naked!  Alright so if it wasn't gross enough, they woke around 10:00 and started going at it again! Ewwwww we were all still clearly in the room and awake making plenty of noise but that didn't stop the hornballs!  Since we were thoroughly grossed out we decided to check out some sights. 

     

We explored all around La Ramblas and saw some awesome sights, the local market and got to interact with tons of locals.  Barcelona has a much busier vibe than Cannes and I loved the energy!  We rested for the afternoon then went to see the Magic Fountain show.  This was sooo much fun and I would recommend it to anyone.  It's a fountain show set to music and I must admit it beats out all of Kansas City's fountains!                                              

Saturday was full of touristy fun and we saw Gaudi's park (our favorite spot), La Sagrada Familia and other local spots.  I absolutely loved Gaudi's architecture and it was a perfect day! We indulged in some more delicious Tapas (our favorite was the spicy potatoes!) and left to go out for the night around 12:30.  This was a hugeee transition for us since people in Cannes go out around 10:00. We were pleased to learn that Carnivale was in full swing and basically consisted of everyone dressing up like Halloween and getting really drunk in the streets!  We went to a local bar then bought some beers and treats and found a spot in the middle of our Plaza to observe and meet people.  We saw one boy throwing up in the fountain and about a foot away two other boys were washing their feet in the same water eww number 2!  We called in a night around 4:00 or 5:00 since we had an early wake up call.  

The next day we checked out grabbed breakfast then headed to the airport.  We were expecting a pleasant ride how; however, it appears we had been booked on Lucifer Air for the return flight!  As we were waiting to board we noticed the room was getting incredibly hot; however, no one else in the room seemed to notice!  They sat perfectly calm in their stupid bubble coats and scarves, while we were sweating like pigs taking off as much clothing as decently possible! We were convinced that a lady sitting across from us (I'll refer to her as Madame Waxy Face) was putting some sort of devil curse on us by making the air around us awkwardly hot.  At one point I was sure we would have to belly crawl to the aircraft!  Once on board we were sure the temperature would drop but nooooo it was a balmy 98% in there and the air vents over our seats was apparently coming from a furnace!  We had quite a few giggles and I'm sure were very funny to observe!

We finally made it home and bought a ticket for the bus back from Nice to Cannes.  We had waited about an hour when we decided to go check and make sure the bus was indeed coming.  The kindly french man working informed us that nope, buses were busy with Nice Carnivale and wouldn't be coming.  Now, you may ask why would they sell tickets for a bus that didn't exist?? Oh those frenchies!

All in all Barcelona was a great weekend destination and I would recommend it to any of my fellow travelers!

oh those french....

During my time here, I have noticed many French funnies and I believe it is necessary to share these funny happenings with my friends in America, so here goes....

1. Oh that language....

Just when one begins to think he or she may possess a strong knowledge of the language, something happens to make him or her question if they are, in fact, still beginners.  Today in lecture, we were discussing genetics, designer babies, embryo research, etc.  One of the girls in my class was attempting to discuss how she had a fear of growing old, however, due to some flipping of words and incorrect vocab, she accidently said she was having {birthing} a bunch of old people!  Embarrassing for her, funny for us!  Our professor, Claude, loves to make fun of our Frenglish and point out exactly what we have incorrectly said...are you really hot sexually or rather, is it hot out?  Did you really sleep in his bed last night or did you rest in your own bed??  Guess we still have some work to do...

2.The French jog

Since I live next to some beautiful scenery, when it is nice out, I love to run along the beach.  There is a running path that is parallel to the beach and has some awesome views to enjoy during your jalk (jog/walk).  However, here is a question for ya...how do you pick out the American exercise enthusiast??  The Answer:  Clearly he or she will be the only one not wearing head to toe spandex and usually has about 5-10 pounds on the heaviest french man running.  So anyway as I am running along in my t-shirt and pants, I notice the cute old couples resting on a bench and the adorable children playing in the sand; yet, there is also a group that catches my attention.  For some reason every 1/2 mile or so there is a group of 3-5 people (typically elderly) who insist on walking in a straight line and holding hands.  Now you may be thinking well surely when they see a runner approaching them they will slip into single file line to make room, nope, it is as though they are inviting you to a game of red rover and challenging you to break through.  In some extreme cases I have had to physically duck down or suck in my stomach to fit by these resilient groups or risk stepping into the street and facing the wrath of the French driver.  Well I guess this exercise could also count for some plyometrics.....

3. Karaoke

There are a few local bars here that American students like to frequent, one of which is a karaoke bar.  Last wednesday I decided to check it out for the first time.  It was really fun, had a good vibe and plenty of opportunities to belt out your favorite tune.  However, there is also a surprise one is able to discover while performing, the French DJ who is in charge of finding and playing your request loooooves to harmonize!  A group of guys from my program were performing the classic Ricky Martin hit shake your bon bons when all of a sudden a much lower voice chimes in with shake shake, shake shake those bon bons.  Yup it was the DJ and while he did not quite have the correct beat of the song it was very entertaining none the less.

4. US travel

During our time here we have surveyed every French person we encounter to see if they have ever been to the United States, if so where, if not where would they like to go.  Hands down the most popular answer has been....(drumroll).....MIAMI!  I mean clearly I can see why, who wouldn't want to strut their stuff with their gold chains, open shirts with exposed chest hair and party all night long.  Clearly Will Smith has put some ideas into the Europeans heads and watch out Miami they will be invading shortly. 

5. Finally, the cafeteria and those bathrooms

For the most part our living conditions here have been wonderful.  Our rooms are sufficiently big, we school is next door to us, etc.; however there are just a few things I would consider changing.  Alright so I know for a fact our bathroom stalls are cleaned every single day; yet, there has not been a time I have used them that they don't smell like you are reliving yourself in the middle of a petting zoo!  Not quite sure where the smell originated or why but phewww watch out!  

The other insy winsy problem is the food!  So I understand entirely that it is cafeteria food; however, I've eaten cafeteria food before that was decent, this however is soooooo bland and sometimes questionable of its origin that I have found myself enjoying many a cafe sandwich during meal times.  The quality of the food is only matched by the lunch ladies.  For some reason they have a personal vendetta against you choosing your own seat and while the Italiens are allowed to reserve entire tables the Americans can usually be found shoved into some corner nibbling on a piece of bread.  Dare you ask what exactly we are eating during a given meal you better be prepared for a severe tongue lashing in several languages! And god forbid you decide to be a vegetarian in France.  They act as though you have personally insulted their mother when you sit at the table that the 3 vegetarians are forced to sit at.  Clearly they don't understand dietary needs because they seem to thoroughly enjoy informing this table that they are not able to eat the dessert today (ha that will show them!).  Oh well, it often provides material to joke with after lunch

So there you have it, some of the more humorous things I have discovered while living in France...

you ain't seen nothing yet....my fairy tale trip to monaco, monte carlo and eze

The end of my first fairy tale weekend is near....

Although it was supposed to rain on Saturday, it ended up being extremely sunny and wonderful in Cannes so me and some friends walked along the beach for hours absorbing the sights and enjoying the sun on our backs for once!  That night we went to a really fun dance club in Juan les Pins (about 10 minutes by car) and danced the night away.

We had an early 8:00 wake up call on Sunday to catch the bus to Monaco.  It took around an hour by bus to get there; however, they sights were so beautiful along the way that we didn't mind at all.  Upon arriving we were able to explore the amazing gardins and find a spot to picnic with our sack lunches the school was kind enough to pack.  Monaco is absolutely stunning on a bad day but with today's amazing weather it was beyond words.  We were able to see the changing of the guards and explore the Oceanography museum which has a cool aquariu

Our next stop was a short bus ride to Monte Carlo.  I was amazed by the sheer opulence of the area.  Hardly a Mazda protege in sight!  We immediately headed to the casino where James Bond slaughtered some people and were actually able to gamble.  I can proudly say I won 10 euro in Casino Royale ha....again there were so many amazing views here I had to continually pinch myself.

Our final stop was a picturesque village known as Eze, which is built entirely on a mountain.  The hike to the top was really friggin hard, but I was encouraged by the sight of the lovely European ladies who were trekking it in their 9 inch heels!  By far the most amazing sight I have seen in my twenty-one years.  The green on the mountains and the blue of the sea were colors so intense that they looked unnatural.  There were quaint little shops all up to the top and it made for a perfect scene!

After an hour drive home we were all exhausted, yet still in a state of bliss thinking of the weekend we were able to enjoy and all those to come!

ps.  My new language trick of the week....read French magazines! They are super fun and sometimes easier than newspapers

Paix,

leah

The quirks of living abroad

So I have completed my first week of foreign classes.  I can not even begin to tell you how different classes are here.  To begin with, as I have stressed before, there is absolutely no english spoken in class or ever in the presence of the faculty and staff, so you pretty much have to get over being nervous/scared to talk asap.  Also, the teachers use an entirely different teaching style....while in America, teachers are constantly applauding our efforts to answer questions and speak in another language, here the teachers are quick to tell you what mistakes you made and hardly even comment on your bon travail.  It's not that they are mean at all, but they think the best way to improve is through practice and correction.  Additionally, pretty sure no teacher hear has every heard of letting class out early and you better utilize your 15 minute break because class is pretty intense.  Also, it has been an eye opener to realize that it is super hard to have a fun personality when you don't speak a language!!  When we go out with our friends it is so much fun to listen and hang out with them and I have so much to say, yet I can't always find the right words and end up sounding pretty simple.....oh well I'm sure my french personality will be fascinating some day. 

With that being said, I love my classes here!  Unlike in America where it can take years to improve your french and you hardly ever have the opportunity to practice what you've learned, here you see vast improvement daily and are able to practice all day every day if you choose.  In fact today something wonderful happened to me!  I was walking home from getting a few things in town wearing my sleek black rain coat and tall flat boots (a Europe staple) and some middle aged french woman approached me to ask directions to the nearest train station.  Yup friends, she thought I was a local!!! I was able to give her directions (in french) and she thanked me and told me to have a good day.  I have also master the grocery store checkout line and even conversed for a time with our waiter about where all the young french students hang out in Cannes.  

Another fact I've noted is how inadequate American education is.  Today at lunch, I sat by two really cute German girls who were here to learn their fourth language!!! I am struggling to learn my second.  However, they are all soooo friendly and love to talk with us and help us with our french.  

Our group heads to Monaco for a day trip this weekend, Nice next weekend then on to Barcelona!  Should be a busy next couple of weeks, but I can't wait!!

Paix,

Leah

Ma vie!

So now that I've had more time to adjust and explore I feel ready to tell you more about my life in Cannes!  After getting settled in our rooms, some of us decided to explore the area.  The weather hasn't been great (very rare here) with a lot of rain; however it is still absolutely stunning to see.  We walked up and down the beach area called La Croisette and were able to see the beautiful mountains which house the older area of Cannes.  On the opposite end you have the newer(still hundreds of years old) area which houses the Hotel de Ville, or town hall and the Festival!  There is so many little streets and different areas to explore I already feel overwhelmed that I have to do it in a semester! 

 Below is the view that I am able to see out of my dorm window!  Yup I can see the Mediterranean every day!

We have become pretty good friends with some of 

the international kids here.  They are sooo much fun and are great about helping us with our french.  Our friend Edwardo is from Roma so last night he and some other guys drove us (they have cars, a HUGE plus!) to an Italian restaurant where he was able to recommend some amazing wines and delicious pastas.  After this, they took us to the beach to hang out and see Cannes at night.  They are such gentlemen, always opening car doors and making sure we are al

right- however they drive like my mother which is to say with a lead foot! Finally they took us to Morrisons which is an Irish pub with a really cool vibe, always playing live music, so we listened to the band and had some beer to celebrate Edwardo's birthday!  It is so funny to see them learning English. We tried to teach them how to rhyme, but they still insist food and wood rhyme.  This is my roommate Maria with our friend Jeremie from Reunnion, an island in the Indian Ocean, and Edwardo who is from Roma.  

Today we took our placement tests for our classes.  After this we were supposed to take a tour of the city on le petit train; however, as it is an open train and it was still raining, we decided to do the tour on foot with our trusty umbrellas!  Regardless of the weather, we saw absolutely stunning sights.  Cannes really is as beautiful as the pictures if not more so.  After the tour we were able to divide and conquer the shopping district for much needed supplies like a straightener!  I even got a cell phone-very European of me! I have been surprised to learn that mannny people here do not speak English or very very little so its a great way to practice my french! All in all we hiked for about 6 hours today, and contrary to some guide books, it would take many ice cream cones to see all of Cannes.  We have begun planning our weekend trips, and this weekend we are heading to Monaco!  

I still can't get over that this is my new home!  I am far from homesick (sorry parents), but I'm sure when the time comes I will be ready to come home....well or not but the money will run out eventually!

Paix,

Leah