Sunday morning right now so it's about 5 AM in Marietta...trying to think about the time change is strange because I'm so used to it here now. This week was fairly slow and full of ups and downs. I had my first pang of homesickness on Wednesday and it wasn't so much that I wanted to be home as I was frustrated with my situation here. It's really strange coming to a place where you know no one and then have to make friendships based on that. Who can you trust or talk to? People don't know your story here because you've known them for less than a month. It's frustrating when I actually think about it so I really try not to. I'm a fairly trusting person but here it seems hard to build trusting relationships because of differences in culture.
Classes are turning out well. First grades came out and I am where I should be in terms of my level and the grades I'm receiving. Different from the US, you really can't guess what kinds of grades people are getting unless they give the information willingly. Grades are SO unpredictable but it really makes you strive to do your best every single time.
Random culture notes: Salsa dancing is a HUGE thing here. Salsa nights are every Thursday. I thought this was interesting. Also, universities and high schools here do not have extra curricular activities. THey offer classes alone and that's it. It's up to the students to find opportunities to get involved. That is SO different from the US. One of the biggest sports here is Handball: France is doing really well in the World CHampionship. I watch it with my host father here.
Yesterday I had an excursion to the city of Angers. It is by far my favorite place in France so far : even better than Tours. There is an enormous castle there that has magnificent tapestries of the Apocalypse. It is the oldest and biggest tapestry in the world. I can't
even explain how amazing the tapestries are. They are absolutely enormous. It is missing over 1/3 of the pieces because after it was made, people would cut up pieces to make rugs or horse blankets. It makes me cringe to think about it. Back in the day, art really didn't mean that much so they had no respect for it. THe biggest basillica every created doesnt' exist anymore because the government of the city decided to tear it down to build a road. (This was in Southern France). The tapestry is a double sided one so all the knots are on the inside and both sides have well preserved colors (there are SO many colors). It's hard to believe that it is made of wool. Looking at pictures online just doesn't do it justice. We did a tour of the tapestries in French and later used the English audioguides that they offer. It was interesting because both guides had different aspects of the illustrations to point out.
Angers the town is wonderful too. THere is better shopping there than in Tours so of course I had to go shopping. RIght now are the "soldes" which I don't think I've explained yet. They are 5 week sales and there are 2 soldes throughotu the course of the year. Other than that, items in stores do not go on sale. I could have stayed in Angers a lot longer : perhaps for a weekend!!
The Paris trip fell through next weekend so instead I'm going up to Reims with a friend on Saturday to see the cathedral there. It is said to be twice the size of Notre Dame in Paris so I'm excited. :)
And I was also thinking about Carly's comment the other day when I was reading the newspaper. In more response to the comment, even when the news here reports on the American issues, it always links the issues to how it relates to Europe. I read an article yesterday about Obama closing the CIA secret camps and it related the news to how it effects Europe.
I thought I'd do a top ten (in no particular order) of what I really love about France:
1. Kebab :) Here's a pic but imagine the fries ON the sandwhich. :)
2. No classes Wednesday or Friday afternoons
3. Being able to travel somewhere really neat in just a day
4. HISTORY: there is virtually no history in the US. The conflict over Alsace area between now Germany and now France stems back to 864!!!!
5. Crepes: So delicious :)
6. Walking everywhere: I thought I walked a lot in Marietta...that's a joke.
7. International Friends
8. Pastries and chocolate: There is nothing like it in the US
9. Galette de Rois: How cool is it that there is a prize in the cake?? :)
10. Fashion Sense: My fashion fits in here really well :) And I LOVE scarves/foulards. One of my friends said yesterday that I always look like I'm going to a fashion show in France...funny comment since I was wearing jeans and boots to be warm...:)
That should do it for now. I love comments and questions so leave me some! :)
Pictures: Most of my group (minus 3!) at Angers, the castle and gardens at Angers (You can't possibly get a picture of all the castle in one because it is too big!), Me on top of the tower at Angers, Kebab.
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Blakely, I absolutely love Kebabs too! In Germany, they're called Döner Kebabs, and they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI do remember the link of US politics to Europe when I was there as well. In one of my other classes, we were talking about the social welfare system of France - the high unemployment rate, but also the health care system, the long maternity leave, etc. Do you think the French appreciate their welfare system, compared to the US which doesn't have a system as structured? And have you noticed the relatively high unemployment rate? (In France, it's around 10%. about 3-4% is normal for a healthy economy, the US is around 7.2% in some estimates). Also, do you think this could be because of a lack of global outreach and outlook from the French, or some other factor?
I hope you're having a blast, and I'm so excited to hear about your travels. Thanks for getting back about my other questions! Are you going to be traveling to other countries as well? (I recommend Luxembourg!)
Blakely,
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous that you are in France! That must be the best adventure! I am sure that you are making friends for life and memories that you will have for a very long time! Like you said, there is so much history in France and I'm sure it is very very interesting! In class we started talking about different "flatteners" in an economy such as outsourcing and the increase in technological advances in an economy, and I was wondering, and maybe even your host family can answer, if they have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for technology and for different companies to rapidly implement technology both in business and the everyday person's life.
Stephanie Hammond
Blakely,
ReplyDeleteFrance sounds amazing. I have been thinking of doing my study abroad there and I have had a question for some time. I have heard many comedians poking fun at French people and calling them rude and obnoxious. However, from your blogs I have come to see that your host family seems to be perfectly friendly. Have you been treated rudely sense you've arrived? Do the French really see Americans as pig headed? I don't want to offend anyone but I am curious as to the real situation.
Justin
Salut Blakely! I'm completely jealous that you're in France, too; I'm taking French 101 right now, which is more a review for me than anything, but I'm thinking of you in class! I forget if it was this entry or the last, but I was very amused when you described how there is no regard for time in France. I think that's a common trait in Europe's culture. I've heard Europeans, in general, tend to be much more laid back about work and life. It's so completely different from our American culture, where we wouldn't know what to do without our busy schedules. Do you find that in France? Do you think the work environment is more laid-back? Or the school environment? Does it affect productivity?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a blast, Blakely, I can't wait to hear more!
Sarah
So much history! That must be so cool. I can imagine after a while it will begin to feel old hat and you'll take on less of a tourist-y approach and feel like one of the locals. The pictures you must be getting are fantastic I can only imagine. Are the sales during these times extra good since there aren't any the rest of the year? How do sales a department stores in the states compare with those abroad? It sounds so great. Be safe and discover all you can!
ReplyDeleteHi Blakely, I'm sure you are having a wonderful time as well as studying hard. Back here we are currently learning about the flattening of the world and one of the ways the world has become more flat is through internet and communication techniques. I was just wondering if the French used the internet for communication as much as we do in the US.
ReplyDeleteHey Blakely! First of all, your new pictures are beautiful! I was wondering, does the amount of history in France as compared to the United States intimidate you at all? It seems like they have a much richer history and more respect for their history, allowing buildings to remain standing rather than tearing them down to make room for something new. Also, I was very intrigued by their use of sales in their stores. Do you think that having only only a few sale periods rather than just random sales helps the economy at all? Do you think using that tactic elsewhere would be beneficial?
ReplyDeletePs. I love that walking in Marietta now seems like a joke, cause I always thought that walking around Marietta was a lot too!
Blakely,
ReplyDeleteThis blog is fantastic! I knew you would fit into France just fine - it's so you. I look forward reading so many more of these, although I do miss having you in my lead classes to study with :).
I was actually intrigued that the idea of the constant sales. I realize a lot of people have commented on this. This made me wonder if France has had American "box" stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, move in yet, or if there is a French equivalent? In our reading for Dr. Perruci they constantly discuss how Wal-Mart is all over the world. Maybe in France there is a Wal-Mart equivalent, but they had to create a strategic alliance with a French company and it's called a different name(?).
Also, there is a lot of discussion about outsourcing. Do you know if in France outsourcing is the "solution" like it seems to be in the U.S.? Or, maybe the U.S. outsources work to France?
I hope you don't mind me asking all these questions, but I am genuinely interested! I guess my final question, and less serious one, is if "googling" is a verb in France like it is in America. :)
Once again, this is fantastic. I love your photos. I cannot wait to read more!
Hi, Blakely! I'm glad to hear you're doing well, both in school and otherwise. I actually have a question about your studies, though. Clearly, French school is much different, and it sounds a lot more challenging. What I was curious about, though, is if most students who attend college are studying some type of humanities major, or if they're more focused on technology and business. In the book we're reading for class, the author has been discussing the fact that many of the areas Americans choose to study in college are being outsourced to other countries, and that there will be a large need for people to have advanced technological knowledge and skill if they'd like to keep a job; I realize that this is a trend that can already be seen in Asia, and I was wondering if it was the same in France. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBlakely,
ReplyDeleteI understand how difficult it must be to not have anyone to confide in, sometimes that can be difficult even in your own country! In our Lead 203 class we started the DEL program where you are partnered up with an international student. You get to go out to eat, watch movies, and just sit around and talk with your partner. However, the girl I am partnered with seems to be really opening up to me and sharing some of her personal problems and issues. Do you think it would have been helpful to have a French student who you were partnered up with so that you could confide in them and ask them questions during your first few weeks?