Dear France,

We both knew this day was coming.  And now that it's here, I don't know what to say.  We've had so many good times over the last 9 months.  And now I'm leaving and not sure when I will be back.  It's a sad day in our life together. 


I remember when I first got here in September, I hated you so much.  I didn't know anyone, I was in a strange city in Normandy, I had no place to live, and on top of it all, I was majorly jet-lagged.  I thought I had never had a worse idea then coming here.  But luckily, things started to change.  I found a place to live, I found other assistants to hang out with and suddenly, being here wasn't so bad anymore.  And thank goodness, I started to like you again.  It could have been a long year if I felt that way the entire time. 


But more good things than bad started happening and I learned more about you.  For example, people really aren't lying when they say you have strikes all the time.  It was such and interesting experience to be with you during a major disagreement between the government and the people.  I saw people blocking trams with their bodies, marches through town with megaphones and giant posters, and people refusing to work until a change was made.  I experienced "the French way" of life when it came to anything of importance.  I would sum it up with this phrase: "it will get done".  Such a drastic change from my life in the US, and I loved every exciting minute of it. 


And when I was feeling down, you found some amazing way to cheer me up.  On Thanksgiving, when I was mad I had to work and sad about missing my family, it snowed.  My first snow on Thanksgiving and it was awesome!  Whereas everyone told me it rained all the time in Normandy, you gave us a pretty decent winter, with more sun than rain.  And even when I freaked out when traveling that the bad weather would keep me from getting to my destination, you never made it a problem for me (let's see if Iceland is as nice as you with that volcano).  And yes, it was incredibly cold most of the winter, but now I have some cute scarfs because of it.   So really, how can I be mad at you?


Of course, I have to mention the amazing friendships and memories we made together.  From the very first day I met the other assistants, when we did nothing but go from creperie, to cafe, to bar, to restaurant, I knew that we had made some awesome friends!  When Valerie first came to stay with me the second week I was here.  That was when I started to explore Normandy a little bit and learned that I loved this place.  Visiting my host family, Sue, and Valerie in Angers over a 4 day weekend.  I will never forget taking the train into the smallest town possible to find Valerie's great-grandfather's bakery, and then later finding her family's grave site in the cemetery.  Going to Deauville with Nadege and Thinh and discovering what a cute city it is.  Going to Deauville with Leah and Lindsay and using the phrase "trop de classe" every other sentence.  Going back to Angers to spend the weekend with Jean and Therese.  Going to the market in the morning with Therese, meeting up with Sue for lunch, joing Therese and Muriel for aperitifs at "Chez Toi", having dinner with just Jean and Therese, eating the BEST meals ever cooked in France, being so sad to have to say bye to my amazing family of people in Angers whom I love so much.  Having people come visit me in Caen and check out my little cute city in Normandy.


And naturally, I cannot forget all of our good times in Paris.  When I first visited Cory in Paris before I went home for Christmas, and we went to the Christmas market on the Champs-Elysees with her family and the kids she au pairs.  When Leah moved to Paris in January, and we decided on Wednesday morning that we were going to Belgium that weekend.  Visiting Leah in Paris during one of my vacations, staying out all night until the metro opened in the morning, dancing on Lindsay's rooftop terrace with a view of the Eiffel Tower and Sacre-Coeur.  Discovering the Marais for the first time, finding the best crepe stand in the whole city, finding out that most museums are closed on Mondays the hard way.  Meeting Leah at the Starbucks around the corner from her work, hanging out by St. Martin's canal with Cory, saying goodbye to Leah at a metro stop, her last night in Paris.  Creating "The Arrondissments" with Leah and Lindsay (think "The Hills" only set in Paris).  Being with Margaux when she finished her marathon, helping Margaux walk after her marathon, being around thoundsands of sweating, smelly, French people who had just finished a marathon.  Going back to Paris, just for the day, to have a picnic with Cory and Jaimie, walk around one last time, and taking a thousand pictures of the Eiffel Tower, as if it might change some how before I see it next. 


And lastly, all of our memories of just living together in Caen.  The multiple times I would be waiting for the bus to go to work, having to figure out when to re-charge my phone, deciding which way was faster walking.  Walking about the city and finding all of the little nooks and crannies that I love the most: the eerie cemetery, the church where I would like to get married, the Jardin des Plants. All of the little things, like having coffee with Margaux, Isabell, and Parisa every Wednesday at 3, going to the University for dinner with Nadege and Marthe because we were too lazy to cook, and eclairs on Mondays for the sole reason it was Monday.  Going to movies in "version originale" and being the only one laughing because the joke didn't translate in the French subtitles, buying shirts with stripes because that's what French people wear,  hearing my roomies say "mais yes, Elizabeth" every time I spoke "franglais".  Having a lawn party at the end of year with the other assistants, we probably had people from at least 7 different countries.  Having to say bye and trying not to cry because these are some beautiful people that I have come to love over this past year.


And voilà, France.  Our past 9 months together.  And now I sit at one of my favorite cafes writing you this letter.  We aren't breaking up, I'm just saying bye for now.  You know I will be back, I know I will be back; we just don't know when.  But before I go, I need to thank you.  Thank you for this year.  Thank you for the amazing teachers I worked with and the students I taught.  Thank you for the experiences in teaching, the good and the bad.  Thank you for helping me learn about myself, and helping me find some sort of direction of what I want to do with my life.  Thank you for improving my French, even if it will be hard to keep up in the US, I promise I will try.


Don't you ever change France (as if there was any chance of that), you are perfect just the way you are.  See you soon. Je t'aime.     

Dreaming of a summer's day in May...

After a very mild winter, filled with many sunny days, not a lot of rain, it was just starting to get warmer in Caen. Then, two days ago: wind. rain. cold enough temperatures for jackets and scarfs.  What's up with that Normandy?  It's the end of May, this is when the really warm temperatures should be coming out, so everyone can start wearing their summer clothes with sun-dresses, shorts, and cute tanks.

But even if the weather is not particularly nice, I have my two "May" songs that can brighten my day anytime.  Why have I deemed these two my "May" songs?  Well the first one, "Love" by Matt White, I found a couple of years ago and it talks about love in "a summer's day in May".  So every May, I listen to this song as much as I can and I get a warm, happy feeling inside.  The lyrics and the melody make it impossible to not smile.  The other song, "Le même que moi" by Gary Fico, I recently discovered.  It is a French song, but even if you don't know the lyrics, you can tell it's a happy song and I'm sure you will be just as happy listening to it.  I've been walking around in the rain, listening to it on repeat, pretending I'm frolicking in the sunshine!

Without further adieu...

"Love" by Matt White

"Le même que moi" Gary Fico ft Leo Rispal

Enjoy! 

Rome

Well, this is certainly taking me long enough to finish this epic vacation but nonetheless here it is.  Where do I even begin with Rome?  I got there on a Thursday afternoon and had the rest of Thursday and then all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to explore.  I really didn't have a plan when I first got there, so I decided to be the classic tourist and buy a 48 hour pass for one of those on-off bus tours.  It was totally worth it because it the 2 hours it took to make the circuit, I already kind of knew my way around and had seen where some of the big sites were.

That night, I met up with Vanessa who I had met in the Cinque Terre.  She was going to get pictures of the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain at night so I gladly joined up with her for this little adventure.

loved this fountain

fountain by dusk

gorgeous

tomb of the unknown solider

colosseum

loving rome already!

The next day, we agreed to meet at the Colosseum to take a tour of the inside.  My roommate in my hostel, Alana, came with me to go meet up with Vanessa and some of the girls from her hostel as well. The inside of the Colosseum was amazing.  It had a very interesting history and I just couldn't believe how old the structure was.  We took an audio guide tour and it was very informative.  Not to mention that I bought my ticket after Alana and got the same EU passport holder discount, whoo hoo!  After the Colosseum we went inside the Roman Forum to see more Roman ruins.  I couldn't believe there are still structures standing from 2,000 years ago!  Then, we went back to the Trevi Fountain because we hadn't yet thrown in our coins, ensuring that we will one day return to Rome.  After that, it was the Pantheon, and the famous Piazza Navona.  A good day with a lot of famous Roman sites.

interior of the colosseum

colosseum

walkways in the colosseum

roman forum

throwing a coin in trevi fountain

pantheon

interior of patheon

piazza navona

yummy gelato! 

   

The next day was my designated day for Vatican City.  I organized a tour to go with because I didn't want to wait in the lines, and I really wanted to know what I was looking at instead of just glancing at everything.  We started by going in the Vatican museum and spent about an hour there.  After that, we made our way to the Sistine Chapel.  This was probably what I was most excited to see and with good reason.  I couldn't believe the amazing ceiling or the beautiful scene on the front wall.  It was even more mind-boggling to think about how Michaelangelo would have had to work on that, lying upside, so high off the ground for years.  I found it very moving.  We then moved on to St. Peter's Basilica which was also spectacular.  I was very happy to finally be inside this magnificent church.  Predictably, there were tons of people there, and it was actually quite distracting.  But then again, I was in Rome on a Saturday in high season; there was no way around it.  Very happy with my experience in Vatican City this day.  I got to see a lot, and it was simply beautiful. 

overlooking the Vatican gardens

marble lobster from the 1st century

pinecone courtyad in the Vatican

stairs coming from the Sistine Chapel

St. Peter's square behind me

interior of St. Peter's basilica

close-up on the architecture

michaelangelo's Pieta

Pope John Paul II's burial place inside St. Peter's

closeup of the main altar

St. Peter's Basilica

fountain with the Papal Apartments in the background

Then came my last day in Rome.  I was by myself this day, Alana had left and so had Vanessa.  I went to Vatican city again in the morning because the Pope gives a blessing over the square every Sunday at noon.  I met a very nice older couple who I talked to and stood with while we were waiting in the square.  After that, I walked about to find the Spanish Steps, just as it started raining.  After taking a quick picture of the steps, I went back to the hostel for a nap and to pack up my things.  When I went back out for dinner, of course I naturally ventured over to the Trevi fountain area.  I had a great dinner, and then had one last gelato by the fountain.  I met another couple when I offered to take their picture by the fountain.  They were from Scotland and probably two of the nicest people I have ever met.  As we were parting they said, "Well, we will say a prayer for you, that's what we do."  They were so sweet.  I'm always fascinated by the people I meet when I'm alone, and even if it's just meant for those couple of minutes, I go home with another great memory. 

Sapnish Steps, not particularly spectacular on this day

last view of my favorite site in Rome

pretty colors on my walk home

And with that, I was on my walk back to my hostel where I woke up at 3:45 am to get to my bus to get to my flight. I made it back to Caen around 2 pm and did not move from my bed for days!  After all of that walking, my feet were happy to finally be taking a break.  And now I have been back for a week, I have uploading all of my photos, this blog, and I made one last trip to Paris yesterday to say goodbye to one of my favorite cities in the world.  I am off in a week (that is if the volcano in Iceland is being nice) and back to the states.  I don't know how to cope with the end of this wonderful adventure.  I'm ready to come home, but not ready to accept that this year is over already.  One week left to live it up in France! 

C'est la belle vie! :)

Assisi

Assisi was a very important place for me to visit for a lot of reasons.  First of all, I went to St. Francis High School and St. Francis was from Assisi.  I have been learning about St. Francis for most of my life, even before I went to high school.  Another reason, my mom was born on St. Francis' feast day.  I also did a report on St. Clare when I was younger, who was also from Assisi.  When I was planning my trip to Italy, I researched where Assisi was and how easy it would be to get to.  Turns out it was relatively easy, and thank goodness for that because I was then able to visit one of the most charming, intriguing cities in Italy.

The train station in Assisi is not actually in the city.  The city is up on a hill about 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the train station.  The hostel I was staying at was somewhere between the two.  I ended up getting a taxi to my hostel because I wasn't sure my directions were going to be the best, and it honestly looked like I was in the middle of nowhere. My hostel was a converted farm house, just below the city with a wonderful view of Assisi. The first night I was there, I went into town to explore a little and then went to daily mass at the Basilica of St. Francis.  The Basilica was absolutely breathtaking.

view of Assisi from my hostel

Basilica of St. Francis

Basilica at night

The next morning, I planned on taking a day trip to Sienna.  Unfortunately, that didn't work out.  I then tried to go spend the day in Perugia, but that also did not work out.  So I simply went back to Assisi, where I would stayed for the next day and a half.  However, I did get an awesome video while I was walking to the train station.  This will give you a little glimpse into what my surroundings actually were. 

Assisi didn't seem to have any sort of information center, so I bought a small 4 euro tour book at one of the many souvenir shops and took to the city on my own.  It was actually quite helpful.  The first day, I saw the center of the city, the church where St. Francis' parents' house was, where St. Francis was born, San Rufino which held the basin in which St. Francis and St. Clare where baptized, and I went back to the Basilica to go to daily mass again.  

medieval streets of Assisi

clock tower in the center of town

fountain in the center of town

church at the place where St. Francis' parents lived

pax et bonum: peace and goodness

where St. Francis was born

loved the tiles with pax et bonum everywhere

Basilica at sunset

The next morning, I went a little outside of Assisi to see San Damiano.  San Damiano is the church that St. Francis often visited.  It is said that God talked to St. Francis here, asking him to rebuild his church.  St. Clare also lived here for a large portion of her life.  It was a short walk outside of the city, but amazing to see.

courtyard in San Damiano

exterior of the church that St. Francis rebuilt and where St. Clare lived

walk to San Damiano from Assisi

path to the church

I also visited the Basilica of St. Clare this day.  And just walked around, relaxed, and took more pictures before heading back to my hostel for dinner. 

Basilica of St. Clare

only picture of me in Assisi, looking out from the city

one last picture of Basilica of St. Francis

That night, I had dinner at the hostel with 5 older French people who were on a pilgrimage to Assisi for St. Francis.  They had been walking from city to city and spending the night once they got there.  They were telling me all about their trip, it was fascinating.  I really hope when I am their age I have the energy to do something like that.  I saw them the next morning, getting ready to head to their next city.  They had about 20 kilometers to go and they thought it was going to be a tough walk.  I wished them luck and they were off!  Soon after, I was off to the train station myself.  It was a nice morning, and I had time so I walked there, capturing this last photo of Assisi.   

Ciao, Assisi

I feel very lucky to have been able to visit Assisi on this trip.  It was a lovely little city and I'm so happy with time that I spent there. 

Last stop: Rome.  

C'est la belle vie!