Little town- it's a quite village...

So we left Paris last Wednesday. It is hard to believe that we have been in Angers for a week. But I love my new home in Angers and I am excited to explore more.

First lets start with the train ride. So trains are actually a really great way to travel in Europe and the train station was hoppin’ in Paris. Everyone looked like they knew what they were doing- so that was a bit intimidating. We finally figured everything out and then drug all our crap to the train and got on board. Boy were we a sight with all our huge bags.

So the train was really nice, even in second class. We had big seats and everything was nice and clean. I wish the states had more efficient trains like Europe. When we left Paris it was nasty and rainy, but maybe 20 mins into the train ride it was blue skies as we traveled through the French countryside. It was nice to be out of the concrete jungle and see some green =) I wrote in my journal about how happy and how blessed I feel to have been given this opportunity to see Europe again. It really it me on the train ride that I was finally in Europe and free to explore. Oh yeah- and a guy came around to punch out tickets- made me feel like I was going to Hogwarts. lol

When trains stop, they only stop for a few mins. So as soon as the train stopped in Angers I threw all my bags out onto the platform, and then we meet one of our teachers there. Also one of the French girls who studied at UCF last year, Anne, meet us there. We got in a van and headed to our dorms. We got to see part of the city on our drive and it was really cute. We even drove past the castle =)

Once we got to the dorms and paid and what not I made the hike to the 5^th floor (top) to my new room. With the help of some stranger in the hallway, b/c there is no way I could have carried all my bags. Any ways I found my room. Let me tell you about my room. Imagine the smallest cruise cabin you have ever seen- now cut that in half and you have my room. Hahaha. It is bright orange to top it all off. My bathroom is so small that you can hypothetically brush your teeth, take a shower and go to the bathroom all at the same time. But really- my room here is about the same size as my science drive closet.

So first observation of the dorms- LOTS of Americans. This kinda disappointed me. I was hoping for more of a mix, but oh well don’t get me wrong- there are plenty of international kids too, there are just more Americans than I thought there would be.

I live at one campus on the outskirts of town and take classes in town, so this means I take the bus- a lot. It works really well but can get really crowded. And let me just tell you about town. The first time we took the bus into town and got off, we were in front of a fountain; there were old buildings all around and the river too. I was just waiting for people to start singing like in beauty and the beast. This town is really something out of a book.

We have been busy since we got here setting up bank accounts, getting French cell phones, getting stuff with school squared away and what not. It feels good to finally use my French, but it is also very tiring. I feel useful though.

I really think my favorite part has been getting to know people from all over and getting to speak French. It has been so fascinating hearing about other people’s countries and cultures. It is crazy when everyone gets together and you hear a ton of different accents. It just makes me smile.

We were quite spoiled with good food in Paris before we came to angers, so I have been kinda disappointed with the Angers food. We eat a lot of Kebab sandwiches (I think it’s Turkish- lamb maybe) we have tiny fridges in our rooms and a kitchen on the floor to share (but it’s just a stove top and microwave) so my diet has been consisting of a lot of soup, and bread. I think I am addicted to nutella and baguettes. Baguettes seem to disappear in my room. They look quite big, but when you eat a good bit of it on the way home from the store (and the BIG Wal-Mart like store in a 30min walk away) you are left with some to dip in you soup, cheese, and nutella. I hope it warms up a little bit soon so I can go run- lol.

Speaking of running let me tell you about the lake. So like 2 mins from my dorm there is this really great lake with trails all round it. It is pretty big and I tend to get very turned around with running there. But anyways- It’s beautiful. There are GOATS that just hang out, and then a waterfall or 2, and a really big beautiful house that I think is a castle. On Sunday when I went I felt like the whole town was there. Everything (except pizza hut) is closed in Sunday. So families spend time together (what a concept). I thought that was really cool, simple- but everyone looked like they were having a good time. Kinda made me just a little home sick =/ I’ve spent every birthday ever with at least someone from my family- and I turn 21 tomorrow- no family here =/ but I’m sure it will be good.

The past few days

On our second day (rainy) in Paris was started out by going to the Louvre. Everything there was amazing of course and we only saw a little tiny bit. But was saw the biggies like the mona lisa =) we headed to a nearby café for some lunch. We ate on the second floor in a little area and had the cutest view =) we got some sandwiches on baguettes and enjoyed each other’s company.

We decided we were all museumed- out for the day and needed to do some shopping. We headed to galleries Lafayette. This happened to be one of the biggest sales of the year. So it felt like back Friday. I ended up getting a little purple longchamp bag =) I am very pleased with it. We also went to H&M (which btw is on every corner here) and I got a few things.

That night we made dinner at home. We went to the store and bought stuff to make chicken alfreado and of course wine to go with it. Cahal and I cooked and it actually turned out surprisingly well. It was nice to have a really filling meal. The portions here are just a lot smaller and we have American sized stomachs =)

We decided to see what night life in Paris is like so we tried Le Wax, a near by club. It was cute and very retro looking inside. There were not too many people there when we got there but it picked up quickly. Drinks were really expensive. We meet a lot of nice French people and joked round. We danced to a lot of American music. The French dance a lot different than what I am used to seeing in the US. It was kinda funny. We were well received as Americans and everyone wanted to talk to us. I felt popular =)

Yesterday we work up early, despite our late start and went to the Notre dame for mass. It was amazing. I know I had been there before, but it was still amazingly breathtaking. The church is just so beautiful and big. Mass was really good. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I understood and how much I enjoyed it. I just usually hear the word mass and get a bad taste in my mouth =/

After we meet up with Elizabeth (one of the girls from angers who studied at ucf last year) and Cahal meet up with Lucie (one of his former exchange students). We walked to Ils st. louis and got sandwiches for lunch and ate and walked. I think this is when I fell in love with the city all over. It was just a beautiful walk enjoying friends.

Then we were off to the champs =) we got LaDuree, which are the best macaroons EVER. So yummy and very fancy. Went in to louis viton to dream =) the up the Arc de Triumph we went. It was a great day to climb the 400 stairs (ugh) and see the city. It was very clear out and you could just see everything very well. We finished up our day on the champs by watching a guy dance like Michael Jackson (he was actually really good) and a little shopping. Nicole and I got some McDonalds too =) Ok- it was just sodas but we did it =)

We ate dinner at a Lone Star like place near the apartment. (The French really are in to the whole cowboy thing) burger and fries =) yummmm.

Today we took a boat tour of Paris. It was a really good way to see the city. We took a lot of pics, but it was kinda cold. We decided to walk to musee d’orsay (about 2 miles in the cold) only to find out it is closes on Mondays- lol. We all laughed.

So we ended up getting on the metro and going to my old neighborhood I grew up in. It was so crazy being back. I got all teary-eyed walking down the street. Saw where we went shopping each day and saw my old apt building. Took lots of pics. We ate at the Boulangerie by my old apt. Had a yummy piece of quiche =) then we were off to my old park. That was really great to get to see the swings I loved so much and the grassy area where my dad and I would play catch. Then we did some shopping at the mall near my old apt. Got some cute French cloths.

We wanted legit French food tonight, so we ate at the café by the apt we are renting. I had a yummy stake and everyone tried escargot =).

Tomorrow is our last day in Paris =/ then off to Angers =)

Bread, cheese, and wine

We have now been in Paris for a full 24 hours. And I just can’t put to words how happy I am to be here and how much fun we are all having together. Everything thing is perfect =)

Sooooo Thursday was the most mixed emotion day of my life. Once I said my god byes and got in the car to go to the airport my stomach got that nervous feeling and my hands were shaking I was so excited. Once I got to BWI and said my good byes to my mom and sat down at the gate, minutes felt like hours. I just could not wait to get to Paris. I ended up sitting next to an old Spanish woman who was married to a man from Belgium. We spoke French for the whole hour I was on the plane =) She re assured me that I spoke good French and that I would be fine. She also to me to find a French boy friend, lol- because they are the best lovers =) hahaha- we will see ;)

Once I got to Philly I meet up with the other girls. I was really happy to be united with the rest of the UCF girls who flew from Orlando (Megan Katie and Nicole). There were a few other girls on our flight who were going to study abroad. We all made our final phone calls and got on the plane =)

Some of the girls slept for a while on the plane (we all took sleep aids) but I think I only slept for 2 of the 7.5 hours. Oh well. I just was too excited =)

Customs was way easier than expected and our bags came out right away. Then we ventured over to the other terminal to find Cahal (the guy from TX) and our driver. I was really proud that we did not get lost. We meet Cahal and got in the shuttle to go to our apartment.

I was really exciting to be in the city and find our apartment. It is really small but it will work for the 5 of us for 5 days. It’s on a little side street and in a very French residential part of the city. We feel ligit.

After we got settled and made some calls home we ventured out into the neighborhood. Walked around for a while in awe, smiling ear looking all around. We kept on reminding our selves that we are in Paris. We love our neighborhood and finally walked in somewhere to get something to eat. They spoke no English, which was fine; it was just kind of hard to get some ideas across. So we ordered “sandwiche fromage” it was really funny eating it- the bread was really hard and we just laughed a lot.

We got some wine from the store. I bought my first bottle =) and went home had some wine and then went to the Eiffel tower =) It was so exciting walking up to it for the first time in a really long it =) it was beautiful of course and we all admired it for a while and took tons of pics.

We decided we needed to warm up with some more wine. So we found a Cafe/ Pub thing by the Eiffel tower. And had to more wine bread and cheese and some meet this time too =) It was so fun and we just talked about how great the day was and how happy we are with everything.

I am so happy with who everything is going. Everyone is really cool and having a blast.

Can’t wait to see what today brings =)

In 2 days...

I will FINALLY be on my way to PARIS =) It has been 11 years since leaving and I really have been dying to go back since the day I got back to the states. It really does not feel like it is really happening yet- but it is hitting me slowly.

Right now my biggest stress is packing- and fitting everything I want/ need for 5 months into 2 50lb bags. So I guess one of the first big lessons I am learning is about living simply =) I will just have to get over it and deal with the fact that I will be wearing the same outfit often. lol

I have been filling my last days in the states with all my favorite American food- chic fil a, wawa coffee, and crab cakes =). I've been soaking up a good deal of American tv as well. And of course large doses of time with family and friends.

I'm so excited for Paris. There are 5 of us who are renting an apartment in the city for 5 days before we head to our school in Angers. Most of them have not been to Paris before so we are gonna hit up all the big sights. ooooooo I CAN'T wait!