True Life: I survived my first French haircut

Okay, okay so it isn't a huge accomplishment but for this curly q going to the hair salon has never been simple.  I've had my fair share of cuts that were too short, had uneven layers, or an awful combination of the two.  I recently found a great hairdresser in the U.S. so I've been pretty nervous to get a haircut over here. I mean let's be honest, I waited for college breaks to have my haircut at home after two failed attempts in Maryland so the need to go for a chop in France didn't have me super excited.  Anyway, my last haircut was in December and so I have been well overdue for a trim.  I had been continuously putting it off and until finally, when I woke up and decided today was the day.  I had seen a cute little place near my flat called "Cocoon" and walked in to make an appointment around noon.  They had an opening at 5pm and I took it.  The woman who made my appointment was extremely nice and I told her how I was a bit apprehensive because my hair is so curly, layered, and I don't want it super short.  She told me that when I came back I could fully explain what I wanted and not to worry.  I already felt reassured.  Finally 5 o'clock rolled around and I went back to the salon.  The same woman who made my appointment ended up being the one to cut my hair.  I was nervous for no reason- she did a great job, was patient, and really listened to what I wanted.  She evened out some layers and suggested I cut off more than I initially wanted but in the end my hair is much healthier so that's fine.  We chatted away in French about the weather, why I'm here, what I think of Dijon, etc and she said I spoke great French so even if she chopped all my hair off I would have left feeling fabulous.  Ok, that's a lie but it is really nice to have someone compliment your second language, especially when you're using it in a brand new setting.  I gave her a five euro tip (even though they do not tip here and I was aware of this) and while she didn't expect it, I could tell she appreciated it.  She was really nice and so I'm totally ok with breaking cultural customs so she can go have coffee or something on me!  Little victories like this are what make life abroad so interesting and exciting-  they push you to your limits and make you realize you really can do more than you think!

My 'do.

Word of the Post:  Salon de Coiffure -- hair salon

Vive les vacances!

Remember how I said I had a two week vacation?  Well, it appears that it has been extended 3 days.  I never have class on Mondays (I know, life is rough) and my classes today and tomorrow have been cancelled!  With this bonus time off and the gorgeous weather in Dijon (in the mid-high 60s & sunny!) I’ve already been taking advantage of the “extra” vaca.  Yesterday I met some friends for afternoon drinks and tried my first Monaco:

YUM.

It’s simply delicious- a mixture of light beer, grenadine, and lemon-lime soda.  Perfect for a sunny, spring day.  It’s so nice to be able to sit outside at the cafés and bask in the sunshine with friends.

Today I went to Parc de la Colombière with Jamie where we had a picnic lunch near this "temple":

Pretty, right?

And then we walked around and fed cabbage to the animals in the park!

Donkey!

Goat!

Deer!

Doe!

There are so many other cute/weird/awkward/friendly animals and we’re already planning to go back!  Next time we’ll bring cut up carrots and apples though as the animals prefer those over cabbage.  How spoiled are they?!  Actually, the real question is how spoiled am I?  I know that in the very near future I won't have the free time to wander around a park or sip on Monacos mid-week so it’s times like these that I really appreciate how life here has given me a chance to stop and smell the roses- one of the many perks of my year in Dijon!  I think Alphonse de Lamartine says it best in his poem Le lac:

« Ô temps, suspends ton vol ! et vous, heures propices,
Suspendez votre cours !
Laissez-nous savourer les rapides délices
Des plus beaux de nos jours ! »

Translation:

"O time, suspend your flight! and you, fortunate hours,

Stay your journey!

Let us savor the fleeting delights

Of the finest of our days!"

Lamartine sure had a way with words, didn't he? :) Here's more about him if you're interested-- he was born in Burgundy so now as I'm quasi-bourguignonne I feel all the more proud of his work!

Word of the Post: poésie -- poetry

Genève, Suisse: Un monde en soi

The lack of blogging this month is due to a two week vacation that started February 25 and lasted until March 11! (French teachers really have it made when it comes to vacation time.)

For the first part of the vacation I spent a long weekend in Geneva, Switzerland with some friends.  Geneva’s slogan is “A world of its own” and it couldn’t be more true!  Geneva is a city surrounded by the Alps, includes Lake Geneva, is home to the UN, and every designer brand you can imagine- I have never seen a city like it!

Alice, Me, Amanda, Jim, and Laura in front of
the famous Water Sprout on Lake Geneva

This trip allowed for my first view of the Swiss Alps! I had to pinch myself every time I saw the beautiful mountains as I never truly got used to walking around and seeing the Alps pop up over the city buildings.  It was breath taking!  We could also see the top of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.  It lies on the French/Italian border and both countries claim it.  (Obviously I’m siding with the French on where Mont Blanc is.)  As someone who is rarely around mountains seeing the Alps so frequently was one of my favorite parts of the weekend!

The Swiss Alps!

Lake Geneva is much bigger than I thought it would be!  So big that part of the city’s public transport even includes multiple boat lines across the lake! (In addition to buses and trams on land, of course.)  One day it was so windy it felt like we were at sea and not on a lake…a wave even spilled into the boat!  Needless to say we got more adventure from this public transport than anticipated!

Part of Lake Geneva with a rainbow over it

View of Lake Geneva (and the Swiss flag!)
from the back of a public transport boat

As cliché as it may be, there really were watches and Swiss Army knives everywhere!  Our hostel even sold Swiss Army knives which was slightly unnerving but honestly you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing these two items in a store window.

Swiss Army knives and watches galore

The streets of Geneva had designer brand stores everywhere.  No, seriously.  Name any designer brand and it could be found there.  I mean it is one of the most expensive cities in the world so I suppose it only makes sense that the products being sold are top quality.  I was going to take pictures of the designer stores but quickly realized that would mean I’d just be photographing almost every store….insane.

Geneva is hands down the most clean city I have visited.  The air smelled fresh, the streets were spotless, and the lake was crystal-clear.  I was constantly having to remind myself I was in a city!

Lake Geneva....not quite like the Charles River !

And it's home to many international organizations, including the UN!  Althought the Palais des Nations was closed due to meetings it was still really interesting to walking around the UN grounds and gardens.  Amazing to think of the various political figures who had been to this very same place!  The Poli Sci major in me was quite pleased.

Me outside of the UN

The UN

Aside from the sheer beauty and the delicious food (cheese and chocolate- Switzerland is like France and Belgium's love child!) one of the most remarkable aspects of the trip was how at ease I felt about traveling to another Francophone country-  it was a nice reminder to appreciate my French.

Words of the Post:  Un monde en soi -- A world of its own

On language

One thing I did not expect to get out of this experience was the realization of how lucky I am to be a native English speaker.  But, after some reflection it seems a bit silly to me that I would not have seen this realization coming.  As a native English speaker one is already ahead of the game- English is in the top three of most spoken languages and has quickly become a global language, some even considering it lingua franca.  The bottom line is that English is everywhere and to have grown up speaking it makes me, and all other Anglophones, really lucky.  As I’ve witnessed various people struggle to try and learn my mother tongue I have found a whole new appreciation for English.

I see my students struggle every day to remember how to construct simple phrases and questions, or get stuck on certain vocabulary words.  One major issue students have is with sounds including (but not limited to) the hard “r” sound, the “th” sound, and the “h” sound.  English does not come easily to most of them but with some encouragement they continue to try.

A science teacher at the high school offered me a small tutoring job to help her improve her English as part of the new curriculum is requiring certain science classes be taught in English and she wanted to get certified to be able to teach these courses.  I would consider her to be almost fluent in English (although she would disagree!) but one of her trouble areas is with our use of prepositions.  For example, she will say “I will explain you” instead of “I will explain to you” and every time she gets so frustrated with the tiny words tripping her up.

Through my tutoring at the university in Dijon I met some students who needed a native English speaker for an interview project they had to do.  They had to make a video interviewing a native English speaker about certain issues to their class.  They sent me the script to review it and as I made corrections to little errors here and there (mainly verbs) it really hit me how lucky I am to just know simple things like English verb conjugations without thinking twice about them.

I know anyone can make these comments about their native language but being fluent in English, and especially being a native English speaker, has the potential to open so many doors in today’s global community due to the constant use of English worldwide.  And while many Americans are lucky to have English as their first language I still strongly encourage and support Americans to study other languages.  Learning a language is a direct gateway to learning about another culture and way of life.  The world is only getting smaller and the more we learn about each other the more united our world will be!  As I’ve been on this journey in France I am so thankful to continue learning about French language and culture but also thankful for the time this has given to reflect on my native language and culture, too.

Word of the Post:  l’anglais -- English

2005-2012: A love story

“Paris is always a good idea.” –Audrey Hepburn

Let me just say that Audrey Hepburn knew what she was talking about.  I often joke that Paris is my “first true love” but in reality that is the complete truth.  I’m feeling especially nostalgic about Paris since my first to trip to the City of Light was around this time in February seven years ago; so, in honor of Valentine’s Day and the marking of a seven year anniversary here’s the story of Paris et moi:

2005: A weekend

2005
This is taken on a cold, foggy February morning from a
disposable camera! Almost looks fake!

I was lucky enough to visit Europe for the first time in 2005 as a sophomore in high school.  A friend had moved to Germany and her family generously offered to have myself and some others visit during our February school vacation.  As if 10 days in Germany wasn’t enough we were given the chance to go to Paris for the weekend.  I remember barely being able to contain my excitement- since my first French class I had been intrigued by France so the chance to see it firsthand was a magnificent opportunity!  It was a whirlwind weekend, and everything seemed to blur into one memory, but I will never forget how I felt when I first saw the Eiffel Tower.  We had driven to Paris (only a 6 hour drive) and as we drove into the city we were crossing a bridge and the La tour Eiffel suddenly appeared.  Cue instant butterflies: it was love at first sight.

2007: A week

2007
This was taken on the walk from the métro stop
Bir-Hakeim to the Eiffel Tower.  It was a hot April day!

After that weekend spent in Paris I knew I had to go back.  In 2007 my parents generously offered a week-long trip in the City of Light during April vacation of my senior year of high school.  It was an extraordinary graduation present.  Not only did this allow me to have more time in Paris, I was able to spend this time with my mom, too!  It was a magical week exploring and rediscovering a city I had only seen so briefly before.  Upon seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time in ‘07 I once again got butterflies.  This week confirmed what I already knew to be true- Paris would forever be part of my life.

2009: A semester

2009
This is taken the last day of my semester abroad.
I was lucky enough to experience a snowy, December day!

After two fabulous stays in Paris I was itching to get back.  There was no question that I would study abroad during my junior year of college and I knew it had to be in Paris.  When I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time in ‘09 I was greeted with some butterflies but overall I felt a comforting feeling. During this amazing semester I was no longer a tourist, but able to experience true Parisian life: experiencing the good and the bad while taking in the loveliness that is having all that Paris offers at my fingertips.  I discovered so much about French culture but also so much about myself. I left that semester completely and utterly in love with Paris.

2011/2012: A day trip here and there

2012
Me and la tour on a typical cloudy Parisian day.
This view is from Trocadéro.

Now, as a resident of Dijon, I visit Paris for day trips and transportation: to see a rugby match, to go to special shops, to spend New Year’s, or to take a shuttle to CDG airport.  I no longer get butterflies in my stomach when I see the Eiffel Tower but it doesn’t mean I love her, or Paris, any less.  My love for the City of Light is simply a full on commitment now: I accept the dreadful smell of the Châtelet métro stop just as I accept the beautiful grand boulevards and historic sites.  And as lovely as Dijon is, I will always love Paris most.  I know Paris better than I know any other city and as big as it may be it feels like home to me.  If I had to choose my “happy place” there’s no doubt that it’d be sitting in a Parisian café.


                              -----------------------------------------------------------

bisous!

I realize how unusual it is to have been able to visit Paris every two years since my first time and I do not take it for granted.  This city has given so much to me: a desire to explore other cultures, lifelong friends, a better understanding of myself, a deeper appreciation for history, and a serious baguette addiction.  As they say "your first love never dies" and I wouldn't have it any other way:  Paris, je t'aime. 

Word of the Post: l'amour -- love

Fleeting Moments

Today it randomly hit me that my time in France is in fact limited/definite/coming to an end.  Perhaps it is because I recently booked an official return flight home, or maybe because I need to purchase a TGV train ticket to Paris/CDG airport soon, or simply because whenever I look at a calendar I am instantly reminded just how quickly May will arrive.  Whatever the reason may be, today I couldn’t escape the ever present sound of a clock ticking away my moments left here.

This feeling of time running out completely overwhelmed me: as I rode the bus into the city center I wondered how many more times I’d make this same ride until I’d be faced with my last.  As I sat in a café enjoying a chocolat viennois and conversation with friends I couldn’t help but succumb to a voice reminding me that these moments are in no way unlimited.  As I wandered Rue de la Liberté and popped in and out of shops I tried to ignore the realization that it wouldn’t be all mine anymore in a few months.  And as I walked home from the city center I pondered how many more times I’d race across certain crosswalks at Place Wilson or if I’d remember the smell of each boulangerie on Rue d’Auxonne.

While I'm not certain what caused this hyper-awareness that I have less than three months of living in this enchanting city it made me appreciate the time I do have all the more.

Word of the Post: pensif/pensive -- reflective

Super Bowl Monday

Yes, you read that correctly: Super Bowl Monday.  The Super Bowl started at 12:30am here in France during the wee hours of Monday February 6, 2012.  But, that’s not to say that Sunday the 5^th was a calm day for me.  After arriving home from a fun day in Paris late on Saturday I realized that the running water in my flat had stopped working.  I went to bed hoping a pipe was temporarily frozen but when I woke up there was no change: no kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet, or shower water.  I called my landlady and she advised me to ask around the complex and see if it was just my flat or the entire building.  After speaking to a few neighbors it became quite clear that it was just my flat with a water problem.  My landlady decided it would be too expensive/difficult to find a plumber who would come to my flat on a Sunday (remember, everything closes here) so she offered to put me in a hotel for the night.

The hotel room

Now, the plan had been to have some friends come over to my flat to watch the Super Bowl and luckily because the hotel room was big enough we could still have a “Super Bowl party” à Dijon.  An added perk was that my hotel room had a TV so we were able able to watch the Super Bowl on a French channel.  After settling into my hotel room, I met Jamie and Jim to have a coffee late in the afternoon (to ensure we’d be able to stay up until 4am!) and we planned what to get for Super Bowl snacks.  This is what we came up with:

Coke, biscuits & jam/nutella, cookies, chips,  candy,
peanuts and of course, coffee! ;)

We even bought red, white, and blue candies in honor of Pats colors:

Red Tagada candy and Blue and White Smurfs candy

After shopping we just had to wait for 12:30am to finally get here!  In the meantime I used MacDo’s WiFi (my hotel room didn’t have WiFi) to Skype briefly with my Mom and Dad.  I told them I didn’t have a good feeling about the game – I couldn’t explain why but my gut was just leaning toward a loss.  This feeling was further strengthened when I left MacDo and saw two different people drop their baguettes. TWO! I’ve never seen one person drop a baguette and then to see two people, in one day, withtin 5 minutes of each other?  Bad omen.

Finally, midnight rolled around and friends came over to cheer on the Pats!  It was bizarre to watch a NFL game with French announcers but amusing nonetheless!  Of course the announcers were pro-New York because the French have an obsession with NYC but we put up some decorations hoping our Patriots support would go all the way to Indy:

Signs courtesy of Jim!

Me, Jim, Charlotte, Clementine, and Jamie

But it was not enough.  I'm fairly certain that if you’re reading this blog you know all too well how the Super Bowl ended.  Ugh.  Needless to say we were a sad, tired, broken hearted bunch at 4:30am.

After sleeping for a few hours after the game (I went to bed at 5am!), I woke up, checked out of the hotel, and headed back to my flat to contact a plumber.  The plumber came promptly and fixed the water problem pretty quickly so I was thankful for that!  Throughout the day I continuously attempted to process how the Patriots crumbled for a second time but to be honest a majority of the day was spent in a sleepy-state listening to Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” and eating Nutella.  (Hey, we all mourn in different ways.)

It should be known that there were two positives to come from Super Bowl XLVI, though.  The first is that Jim (from England) proclaimed he is now a “Patriots fan for life”.  (Nice to see 'Old' England and New England come together via American football- haha!)  And the second is that Madonna’s lyrics from her song "Give me all your lovin", which was performed at halftime, gave Burgundy wine some press.  As reported in Le Bien Public, a local Dijon paper, the lyrics state: "we can drink some wine, Burgundy is fine, let’s drink the bottle every drop".  (The Madonna article was one of the few post-Super Bowl news pieces I could handle reading.)

No matter how much I love France, American sports are a constant reminder of how I could never live in Europe permanently: you can take the girl out of Massachusetts but you can’t take the Massachusetts out of the girl.

Word of the Post: la Nouvelle-Angleterre -- New England