MISC Pictures

So what do we do when we're not in class and we're not at chateaus?

Well for the most part we hang out at cafes, wander the city, watch stupid youtube videos that we then quote for days, and hang out with our new friends. It's amazing how quick we bonded with other people. There is a group from Wake Forest and from West Georgia that we have become friends with. Our group is kinda split into two groups, not that we don't like eachother because we really are one big happy family, but the other group is a little more touristy and my side is more content to just hang out with friends.

But most days we go see Dr. Persels at his office hours and then sometimes we'll meet up after dinner and go out for a little while. Tonight we're going to watch the France and England football game at a pub. Wednesday we're going to get Morrocan food with the whole USC group and Thursday we're doing a wine tasting at the university. This weekend I think we're going to Amsterdam for Morgan's birthday!

Morgan hiding from the rain after school.

At Dr. Persel's office hours (raining again)

Typical Saturday night at "The Spot"

Jess, Maria, Lara, Morgan, Austin (West Georgia), and me

Our first night at a discotech

Me, Austin, Cody (visiting from US) and Morgan

Me, Arthur (our new french friend), and Morgan

One night at the Loire

This was at Clos-Luce

Zach being weird.

Daniel's 21st Birthday

Marshall, Lara, Whitney, and Austin

And onto the next town

Bonjour!


So I'm currently trying to type this on a French keyboard and I keep hitting the wrong keys, so it's taking twice as long to do. I'm in the computer lab at school, waiting for a couple people to get out of class. 

Classes are going well. I have an oral professor, Christelle and a grammar professor Julie. Although tomorrow, I'm moving up with Lara to a high level. Christelle will still be our professor, but we'll also get a new one. Morgan, Daniel, and Maira are all in the new class we're moving to, so that should be fun. 


Our group has been going to "la Place" most afternoons and spending an inordinate amount of time at cafes. Dr. Persels has his office hours at Au Bureau (the office), and we've been to them most days, not because we have problems, but because its fun.


Tours is a nice town. It took a couple days to figure out where everything is, but we have the hang of it now. It's apparently one of the safest cities in France. I live about 5 minutes walking from the institut. Lara lives the closest and Jess is about equal distance as me. 

 

 This is the front of the institut

 

 This is the road behind the institut

 Saint Martin

 The center of town

 Lots of cafes

The Loire

My house mom is very nice. She is retired and its just me and her. She doesn't speak any english as all. Sometimes things get lost in translation, but for the most part it's just really good practice. I'll post later about the Chateaus that we saw this weekend.


A bientot

Getting to Paris

Bonjour!


This past Friday our group met up to talk about what we will be doing when we get to Paris and how we will be getting to Tours. I'll be flying over with 3 (possibly 4) other women in my group, which will be nice so we can all travel into town together. Because we'll be in France for uner 3 months, we don't need to get student Visas, so we will technically be traveling as tourists. Once in Paris, we'll be staying in a hostel called the MIJE. It is catered to students, and is right in the heart of the Marais. We will have 2 meals a day while staying there. Apparently the "cafeteria" is pretty good. Our rooms won't be ready until 3, so we'll drop our baggage off and head out on the town since it will only be 8 or so when we get into town. While in Paris, we can pretty much do whatever we would like. The group doesn't have many set plans. I'm getting together with the girls on my flight so we can discuss what we would like to do that first day. I'd love to hit a couple of the museums that first day in hopes that they will be a little less busy on a Friday than on a Saturday. Of course I also want to see Notre Dame and Montmartre (where there is apparently a very cool cemetary). Otherwise I think I'll be happy just being in France. On Friday, once we've all checked in and gotten settled, the program is paying for dinner, so we'll all be going out in a big group that first night to a local creperie.

On Sunday, we'll leave Paris via TGV at Gare Montparnasse. We'll meet at the MIJE in time to bus over to the station as a group. We're also booked as a group on the train, so we will all be together. It will take about 55 minutes to get to Tours, and apparently once we're there, the train will be stopped for about 3 minutes, so we get to hustle off. Our families will meet us at the station and take us home, and then the real fun begins!


I can't believe that the semester is almost over and that in exactly a month, I'll be in Paris!

Housing

I got my housing assignment today! It doesn't look like I'll be too far from the university, and I'll get a nice walk every morning! The woman is retired from SNCF and the man in a mechanic. They don't have any pets and like food, travel, and flamenco haha. Now that my school semester is almost over, I'm getting very excited about leaving. Anyways, that's the only update for now!

I'm the Pink one and the l'Institut of Tourine is the red with the dot.

Street View!

How to Pack: Part 1

How to pack for a month when you're a fashionable person and a nitorious overpacker.

Sacrifice//

You carefully think about what items you can sacrifice. I think I can get by without boots, and without an everyday jacket. These are all bulky or heavy things that I can do without. I won't even think about leaving behind my laptop, camera, and I'll have to get a phone when I get there. Sure they are heavy, but I am willing to give up some space to bring these with me.

Less Bulky//

Since the weather will be between 50 and 80, I don't need things for super cold weather or worry about burning up everyday. But I will try to packed a little bit of everything inbetween—shirts, shorts, pants, dresses, skirts. But the trick lies in packing less of some items and more of others. I only plan on only packing my rain jacket, but I will pack several cardigans because I can layer them if I need to, and they'll keep me warm in moderate weather. I'm packing only one pair of jeans because pants take up so much room in a suitcase, and honestly I could wear the same pair of jeans for a week with different tops and nobody would notice. I'll probably packed a lot of dresses because they’re so light and easy to pack a bunch without taking up much room at all. They also work in warm and cool weather if you have tights/leggings and a sweater to throw on top. Not to mention dresses are just fab.

Versatile//

They key is to pack items that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. For example, a good thing to have is a top that will go well with a skirt and jewelry to go out on a date, but can also be worn with shorts and flipflops to the beach. I'm going to try to avoided taking anything that could only be casual (think a sporty Nike top) or that could only be dressy (think sequined, silky top). I'm not sure about shoes yet, but I'll probably have to take a few pairs. I'll looks for ones that can with jeans and a dress (excluding my sneakers [or confortable activity shoes], which I wouldn't wear with a dress).

Neutrals//

Not packing things that don’t match with a lot of pieces in your wardrobe. Yes, that means leaving your abstract 80s shirt and fuchsia heels at home. Luckily, I own a lot of neutral colors like black, plum, olive green, and white. Sorry I don't vary much on colors I wear. This helps you create the greatest amount of different outfits with your limited wardrobe for an extended time. Neutral shoes, neutral tops, neutral belts, neutral accessories. 

Accessories//

Accessories—don’t feel like you have to leave them at home because they’re extra baggage. They really help you jazz up an outfit that you feel like you’ve worn a dozen times too many in the last month. Just pack the thin chain necklace, not the chunky ones.

Extra Bags//

In addition to a suitcases, I'll have a messenger bag for my laptop and to take to school. I'll either take a small backpack or a versatile purse for day trips or nighttime activities. Now I'll have one suitcase, one messenger bag/purse, and one backpack. 

This is the goal. I'll fill you in on what I'm actually allowed to pack when my mother gets a hold of her list!

Some Fun Facts

In preparation for leaving for France, I'm dedicating a little time each week to learn more about the area that I will be visiting. It's weird to think that I will have to pack and prepare for a month! This seems a like a daunting task for me, as I am a notorious over-packer. I will have help with a check list from USC as well as many travel tips from various travel-blogs that I follow, to guide me through this task. I'm sure my mother will be my good judgement on this as well. So this week I did some research on the weather for the month of June, any local places that are must-sees and some various local favorites, starting in Paris.


P.S. The cafe Au Bureau in my title photo is my professor's "office" where he said we can find him during several office hours a week. He said he would be willing to help with tips, classes, or advice. He did however say he would probably be found sipping on a drink. It is summer vacation after all.

I can handle this weather. It's been so hot everywhere already, that I'm hoping it will be on the higher side of this. Another site I looked at has the predicted average around 69 degrees this summer. As long as it's sunny I'm happy.

Places to see in Paris:

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Located at the summit of the butte Montmarte, the highest point in the city.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Most popular tourist site in Paris, 13 million people visit annually.

I would love to make it to Versailles. This most likely won't happen in my 3 days there, but perhaps I can convince someone to make a weekend trip to see it with me!

Fun Fact #1: You have to ask for your check when you want to leave in Paris. If your waiter brings it to you before you have asked, it is considered very rude. L'addition s'il vous plait.

 With chocolate shops, bakeries, and cheese, I would worry about gaining weight. Luckily, I'll have to walk everywhere! I really don't mind this since it will give me lots of time to take pictures and explore the cities that I will be in.

Montmartre: many people I have talked to have told me to go here because I like the arts and city-subcultures. We'll see if this is true, but I hope to dedicated some time wandering around here.

I'm going to have to get used to using these. Hopefully I don't get lost anywhere. I'm sure Dr. Persels will help with getting us acclimated and show us where to go.

Fun Fact #2: Located on the lower reaches of the Loire River between Orléans and the Atlantic coast, Tours (pop. 142,000) is the largest city in the Loire Valley.

Fun Fact #3: The surrounding Touraine region is known for its wines, its châteaux, and for the unaccented perfection of its spoken French. 

This is good for practice, but I know I'll have an accent (je suis tres desole!)

Fun Fact #4:  St. Martin was the Bishop of Tours from 371 to 397. Gregory of Tours was a church historian and bishop in the 6th century (he kept a history of the buildings and people that were wiped out in the Revolution).


Wines in Tours
Most of the wines from this region, red and white, are light and crisp, and easy to enjoy. Bubbly wines from this region are considered by some to be the great value in Sparkling Wines. Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are the predominant white grapes and the Red and Rose wines are almost always made from Cabernet Franc.

Next time, I'll focus more on Tours, the chateaux, the food, the culutre. Until then...

à bientôt

(Photos from Google Images, Mr. and Mrs. Globetrot)