I love France.

But I am ready to come home.

Leaving for Paris

Saturday we're leaving for Paris. I'm so pumped. I think we're going to try to rent bikes and run around the city for a while. I'm soo excited. Today was the last day of class and the last community service project. We did slave work again, but it wasn't too bad. Tonight we're watching Saving Private Ryan to go along with our DDay week. Yesterday I got super sick at the WWII museum. It sucked. I lied when I said it was the biggest in the world. It's just the biggest in Normandy. Tomorrow we're going to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery.

Wednesday I get to see Fabienne and Saturday I get to see Amandine! I absolutely cannot wait. Then I'll be home the following Tuesday (the 10th). Plan accordingly.

This will probably be my last post until I get home. Unless Fabienne or Amandine has to work and I have a bunch free time alone at the house. Amusez vous bien!


Ciao

I write poems in deux langues.

For some reason, I've taken to writing poems during class when I get bored. They're all ridiculous and in two (sometimes three) languages. This is the last week of class. Today was the last 7 hour day. It was super long. And I was in a horrible mood. You know how I am when I wake up in the morning, and I don't really form words, I just grunt? Yeah. I was like that all day today. It was so bad.

We have just three classes left. Tomorrow after school we're going to a cidery. That should be fun. I hope it smells better than the fromagerie. Then we start our D-Day stuff. We're going to the biggest WWII museum in the world, I think. If I remember right, I went there the last time I was here, but I probably didn't appreciate it then. I'll try harder this time.

Someone is playing the piano in the next room, and it sounds terrible.

Eventually this week, we'll go to Omaha Beach. That's where I broke my camera last time, so this time I'll be careful and take some pictures.

Saturday we leave for Paris. We'll be there until Wednesday morning, then we all go our different ways. Kids from the earlier groups told us that everything is really rushed in Paris and that we only have an hour at each thing we go to. I'm really glad Daniele, Rachelle, and I have all been there before. I think we'll be alright with not having a lot of time to spend at each place, because we've already done all the touristy things in Paris.

I bought my train ticket to go to Brest next Wednesday. I leave at 8 in the morning. I should be in Brest by 1. I'm SO excited to see Fabienne! It's been three years since I've seen her, but I bet she hasn't changed at all.

I am so tan right now. It better stay until I get back home.

I'm almost done with everyone's gifts. I'm super excited! I can't wait to give everyone their French treasures. I have a real gem for Jared. I'm going to have to leave some tshirts here in order to fit all this stuff in my suitcase. Not excited about trying to fit everything in there.

It's dinner time, and I'm starving. Bonne journee!

Je ne comprends pas.

Today, we went to Honfleur. That's the town where Samuel D. Champlain sailed from to found Quebec. It's super cute and has lots of tiny stores and boutiques. We got there in time for the market, so I found lots of wonderful things for my friends and family. Get excited! After walking around for a few hours, we went on a boat tour. You should all know that I get motion sick, so the boat ride was not enjoyable at all. We left the town right after the boat ride, and Madame Haskett refused to open the window in the minibus because she didn't want her hair to get windblown. I nicely proposed to her that it was either going to be the wind or my vomit in her hair. She then gladly opened in the window.

Last night I went to the town council meeting. It was three hours long. Rachelle, Daniele, and I sat on a 90 degree angle wooden bench the entire time. We tried to pay attention, but it was kind of hard to understand what was going on. I ended up writing seven poems during the night, and I've decided to share one with you all.

"Je ne comprends pas"
je ne comprends pas
c'est toujours comme ca
ils parlent trop vite
i can't stand the heat

get out of the kitchen!

if it's too loud
you're too old

je ne comprends pas
they didn't win, the Pays-Bas
it's a rather large shame
soccer's a stupid game

Be aggressive
B.E. aggressive!

nintendo off
friendship over



Don't judge me. If you were sitting in a 90 degree room with 19 angry French town council members for three straight hours, you would have written horrible poems too. Chip, maybe we can incorporate this into my poetry this year?

James Dean Buttons and European Onesies

Sorry I've been so lazy with the blog! I'm always super busy and it costs money to get on the internet.

Here's what I've done in the last few weeks:

We went to the city where Joan of Arc was burned. We saw an awesome wax museum of her life. There were some really creepy people in it. I also bought a fox keychain at the museum. It was so strange, but I couldn't resist.

The other group has left now, and there are only seven girls left in the house - too much estrogen. We get sick of each other rather quickly, so we need lots of alone time. It's cool though, because I really enjoy going to the beach alone after dinner and hanging out in the dunes. It's rather nice.

Last weekend, we went to Swiss Normandy. We hiked in the mountains, then Rachelle, Daniele, and I rented a paddle boat and hung out on the river with some boyscouts. They tried to tip our boat over, but we prevailed. We thought we found a beaver, but it was actually more like a large squirrel. Stick around for a few weeks, and you'll see all the pictures we took that day.

A few days later, we went to a cheese factory. It smelled so bad. There was a lady selling jewelry in the exhibition hall and it was all so pretty. I probably spent too much money there.

Today, the girls and I went to Cabourg to do some shopping. I bought a European onesie. It's the coolest thing I've ever bought in my entire life. I can't wait to wear it every day in America. Everyone should be so jealous of me.

Grammar class started this week. Little did we know, it is also a composition class. We have to write an essay almost every night. About really dumb stuff. The class is really hard, and it's mostly stuff I've never seen in my entire life, but I'm learning. I'll survive, with the help of Mama Danielle and Elvira.

Tomorrow will be the third day this week that we had class for seven hours straight. It's kind of horrible sitting in the same seat all day - taking an hour to eat then returning to study some more.

Anyway, I'm still doing well. I'm not sick anymore, and the strange white thing growing in my throat has disappeared. Yesterday I received a box from my mother. It contained a bunch of James Dean stuff for Mama Danielle, some of my favorite snackes, and Erik's surprise. Of course it made me cry, but I loved it.

Fabienne called me tonight. She's got another student coming this week, and he'll be there while I'm there. That should be interesting. I think she said he's Russian, but I'm not sure. Tonight I'm going to buy my train ticket to visit her after the program. I'm sooo excited to see her. It's been far too long.

I think that pretty much sums up everything going on right now. I'm pretty sure I'm getting fatter, but that should change when I ride my new bike all over the mountains in Tennessee. I hope.

Bon Soiree!!

Dinner Theater at Breakfast

This morning during breakfast, Rachelle and I were the only two in the dining room for a while. We had the pleasure of watching this big nasty cat chase a tiny mouse around the yard. I opened all the windows and tried to distract the cat so the mouse could run away, but it didn't work. The mouse hit the cat in the face at one point, and that made the cat very angry. The cat finally picked the mouse up in his mouth, jumped up in the flower box hanging in the window, and devoured it right in front of me, coffee in my hand. It was the most terrible thing I've ever witnessed.

This afternoon, we went to the city of Rollond, some viking dude, and the site where Joan of Arc was burned. We went to a wax museum depicting Joan's journey through life and her imprisonment and death. It was one of the creepiest things I've ever been too, but it was so much fun!

We've started a Chez Vous Glee Club. We're singing the national anthem's of France, USA, and Canada tomorrow night at a party celebrating all of our national holidays. The first practice was last night, and it was probably the most fun I've had since I've been here. I laughed so hard I threw up. Twice. I've been dubbed Mercedes, for those of you who've seen Glee, you should be proud.


-Breeze

Je Suis Noir

Today, Daniele and Rachelle and I decided we wanted to go to Cabourg, which is the city right next to us. In order to get there you have to ride the bus. We missed the bus. Twice. So, we decided to go to the beach instead. I am almost black. It's awesome.

This morning before all that happened, we had another excursion. We went to a fine arts museum and then walked around another huge market in Caen. I bought my dad something. He told me not to buy him anything, but it seemed so cool, I couldn't resist. Now I just have Mom and the kids left. And Zack - kind of.

My mother should be sending me a box soon. I'm pretty pumped. There should be a suprise from Erik in there. And I miss poptarts. And there should be James Dean stuff in it for Mama Danielle. She's the lady that cooks and cleans here at the house. She's also taking care of all the sick girls, including me.

Our grammar class starts this week. I'm so excited. I realize that's really nerdy of me, but I don't care. French grammar is fascinating to me. I think it's because I never really learned very much. My high school teacher skipped a lot of things, and I tested out of the first two years at college - and that's where you learn most of the grammar. So, I'll finally learn how to speak correctly!

Someday, I want to bring Annie here. She'd find so many things to write about in her fashion blog.

Bon journee a tout le monde.

-Breeze

Cool Hand Luke

Today, we had our first service project. We went to this fort close by on the beach that Louis the sixth had built. The town is trying to restore it. It's really cool. Have you seen Cool Hand Luke? I felt like I was in the movie. The guy in charge made us get rid of all the weeds pioneer style. He handed the other four girls rakes, and I was given a machete. He told me that I was the biggest girl and he tought I could handle it. After we got rid of all the weeds, we had to get rid of all the rocks. I am now a pro at loading and unloading wheelbarrows. If you ever need yard work done, I'm your man. I told the man in charge that I found my inner man, and he told me he thought there were three or four in there, after watching me work so hard.


I never liked history much, but France is old and there are so many stories behind everything. Everywhere we go, there's something 1000 years old and it's so cool to see it and read about it. Sunday, I walked where Richard the Lionhearted had his last meal before he left for the Crusades. America is a baby compared to France.

I have to ten minute speeches in my class tomorrow. Again, thank you Chip Hall for preparing me for all of these stupid speeches.

I'm going to eat dinner now and try to gain back the ten pounds I lost this morning, sweating in the sun with my machete, wheelbarrow, and the spiders, crawling in my hair.

Bon nuit.

Steve got us lost.

Yesterday, I forgot to say that Steve got us lost on the way home from school. We took a detour, then ended up in the middle of nowhere.

Today has been awesome. We looked at a 300 foot long piece of tapestry embroidered by old women 1000 depicting the story of William the Conqueror. I tried to find Zack a tshirt, but there weren't any cool ones. Then we went to a medieval festival. It was so cool. I looked everywhere for a little nativity scene for mom, but I couldn't find one. BUT I have five more weeks!

We played frisbee last night on the beach during sunset. That was wonderful. I've watched the sun set every single night at the beach. Be jealous.

Tomorrow, I think we're going to some huge market and a Catholic Mass. After we get back, I'll probably spend the rest of the day doing homework. That's just about all I ever do. But it's ok, because I'm learning a ton.

We're getting ready to watch a movie now, so I'll be going. Facebook doesn't work here right now, so I may not be alive on there for a while. Enjoy your weekend!

Breeze

Laughing Cow

I don't know how I ever lived without cheese at every meal. It's so wonderful.

So far, I have run every day this week. Operation: Don't Get Fat is still going well.

Today, we were in class from 9-5 in the hottest classroom ever. I almost threw up because it was so hot. Gross.

Tonight, I meet my French buddy. I think she's on town council. I'll have to tell her about Grandma. I hear she's nice. Steve told me she didn't have a first name, so I just have to call her Madamme. I'm excited to meet her. Tomorrow, we're going to be out and about France all day. I think we have some excursion thing on Sunday too. It should be a good weeked. I had to give a 15 minute speech in class today over yogurt. I think it went well. Monday, I have another speech. Thank you Chip Hall and the forensics team for making these stupid things easier.

I only sleep about 6 hours each night, which is about half of what I'm used to, so I'm going to go take a nap.

I still love France.

I miss Annie Cheek and Jessica Adams.

A tout a l'heure!

I love Canada.

There are five girls here from a school in Canada, and I promised that I would include them in my next blog title.

I just swam in the English channel for about an hour. It was freezing, but a ton of fun. "Operation: Don't Get Fat" is going well. I am only drinking water, and the occasional coffee, and running every day. Today, we got quite a bit of homework in class, but it's nothing that I can't handle, of course.

I am getting my bronze on almost every single day. I am going to be so dark when I get back. I called Fabienne today, and she cried when I told her I was coming to see her. It was nice. This weekend, we're going to some viking museum and the William the Conqueror's castle. I'll take plenty of pictures for Zack and try to find him a nice t-shirt or something.

I'm sick of thinking in English, so I'm going to return to the French-speaking world.

Au Revoir!

P.s. Steve hasn't really said anything funny lately, but he continues to bark at my group.

P.p.s. I have two teachers at the university. The first was wonderful. The second doesn't shave her armpits and wears a lot of tank tops. It's awesome.

Cultivating my French garden.

I have been in France for three days now. The first day was a bit overwhelming. I waited at the airport in Paris for three hours for someone to come get me and got sick on all of my three flights. Steve, the director of my program, is a terrible driver, so I got even sicker on the way to Normandy.

Right now, there are only seven of us here. Two have been here for three weeks, and the rest of us arrived Saturday. There is a group of six in Paris right now. They get back tonight, so we'll finally meet them tomorrow. I'm getting along with everyone really well. Four of us spent four hours at the beach today lying in the sun and getting to know each other. I think we could all be total BFF's.

Today was our first day of class. We have two professors at the University of Caen. One is absolutely awesome. She's a ton of fun and makes class really interesting. The other has a really thick accent and is really hard to understand.

This blog is going to contain all of the funny things that Steve says to us. Yesterday during the first of six orientation sessions, he spent 20 minutes talking about how we need to cultivate our French gardens. Every time we ask a question about something, the response is always "We'll cover that in 4A." We cannot wait to hear everything in 4A. In another session yesterday, he taught us how to reject the advances of aggressive French men. During the session, he turned extremely girly in showing us, and then barked at me. Steve is my new favorite person.

I'm doing very well in France. I picked my French back up almost instantly when we got here. It's like I never left. :) We have to speak all French from the end of breakfast to the end of dinner, then we can speak whatever language we choose. There's not much to do in this tiny town of Franceville, but there's a beach, so I'm totally getting my bronze on. I'm still feeling a little jetlag, so I haven't started running yet. BUT tomorrow I will commence the "don't get fat" plan. It's going to be hard because French food is so wonderful, but with the help of Steve and my girls, I think it can be done.

I'm done for now - I have to go clip my fingernails. Enjoy the United States for me. I'll be back before you know it.


Breezey

P.s. I forgot to mention the mirrors in my room. If Lord Voldemort had a decorating business, these would be his top sellers.

P.p.s. Also - I peed in the English Channel today while wearing a big, floppy beach hat.

Leaving for Paris

Today is Wednesday. This afternoon, I'm going swimming with my boyfriend. Tomorrow he and I are going to the zoo with my whole family. Friday morning, I'm going to get on a plane. A plane that will eventually take me to a few other planes. One of which will take me to Paris.

I will be spending the rest of my summer in Franceville-Merville, France. I'll be taking a few classes and getting college credit for it. But, more importantly, I will be spending 46 days in my favorite country, speaking my favorite language. While I am there, I will probably gain weight, meet some more incredible people, and visit my two favorite French(wo)men - Fabienne Touarin and Amandine Lustrement. I will have little internet access, but I will try to keep everyone updated through this blog (that as of right now, two people know about).

I hope everyone has a fabulous summer.

Love, Brianna