It's Raining, It's PAU-ring

Well, I've been "living"/wandering/mooching/drinking in France for what will soon be three weeks, and I haven't started my strenious 12 hour work weeks yet. Therefore it seemed that I needed to do the French thing, and take a vaccation. Fortunately for me, Evan agreed and we decided to head south east, into the Pyrenees-Atlantique department of Aquitaine to check out the City of Pau.

We hoped we would avoid the bad weather in Bordeaux by going south, but that didn't entirely work out. But the views of the mountains were still incredible. So Tuesday we headed out to Pau, which is about 2 hours by train, and for the most part a fairly boring trip through pine forests and corn fields. But the closer to Pau, the prettier the scenery becomes.

When we arrived in Pau, we met up with another English assistant who will be living there, and we decided to check out the Chateau, which housed Henri IV, who is probably my favorite French king. So we took the tour, in French- which was kind of fun, even if I didn't neccisarily follow it entirely. After which we parted ways and Evan and I tried to find the hotel we had reservations at.... this is where it gets fun....

So, we get a bus map, and decide to take one of the ones that goes to the north side of town, where our discount 30 E hotel is located. We hop on the bus and promptly take it to the extreme south- get off- miss the next bus then wait for half an hour for the following one.

Finally headed in the right direction, we go the entire route north of town- and try to locate the hotel on foot. We must have taken the wrong bus to the north because we walked for nearly an hour until we located it (with some help). Well, at least the hotel itself sucked.

Lets see, it closed its gates at 10, it had an amazingly disgusting communal bathroom, no complementary internet, and no food anywhere nearby unless you took the bus (which of course stopped running at 8)--- this killed any chances of doing anything that evening. We got our revenge though, as we tracked a days worth of suburban hiking through our room with vigour. So, we checked out a day early and found a more expensive but well worth it, hotel in the center of town, and started fresh the next day.

(I should also mention we ordered a 5 cheese pizza, delivered- it was good- it had brie- sweet)

So, with one day to do Pau, I basically did what I was doing in Bordeaux, wandering. Stopping. Eating. Wandering.

I did get some really good Basque chocholates though- that was fun. Unfortunately the clouds never did let up completely, but that did create a nice effect, if difficult to reproduce photographically. We wen't out that night with Kate to get something to drink, ended up with a bottle of the local red wine, which was pretty good. I'm going to try to make a point of sampling the local stuff whereever I go, that'd be cool I think.

Unable to find the must see sights after the chateau and the Av. des Pyrenees, we decided to head out a bit earlier than scheduled. Back to Bordeaux- and then me back to La Reole. Its strange how quickly a completely foreign place becomes home so quickly. If only I could speak my neighbors language, eh? Eventually.

Next up, Back to Bordeaux again. May as well live it up before orientation on Wend. Then... the job actually starts on the 7th.

My Favorite Cognates- La Bieramide. (that and an update about La Reole)

Well, I haven't updated in a long time. But I have a good excuse. Maybe two. I have a ton of mixed emotions about things, and more recently, I have been quite busy running around Bordeaux. Since my last post, I have moved to my charming little village of La Reole- sat in my enormous and free room, and have wondered what the hell I was doing in France. At the same time, it really doesnt get much better than what I have going for me at the moment... And I do what I can to keep that at the forefront.

Its absurd to think that I am living in France, making decent money, and doing so for free. It doesnt seem right. La Reole is a charming place. The trainride into town last tuesday went through some beutiful wine country. I was pleasantly suprised with how hilly it is. That is until I tried getting my luggage into town. Oh well. The town is very picturesque, and the school is at the top of the hill overlooking the river. tres jolie. Since my arrival there, everyone has been so extremely nice to me. It really is so amazing. They have provided me with a place to stay for free- my own room in the boarding school, with the keys to access everywhere else I want, I am quite fortunate. While the boarding school itself doesn't have an adjoining kitchen, I am intitled to meals at the school for a mere 2,40 E a meal, which are really nothing like school food in the states. The teachers and I drink wine with them! Sweet.

I've met many of the students, and we had a good time figuring out the best and most expedient way to communicate- with varying success depending on the topic. But they have been nice, and its been fun for the most part. Despite all of their openness to me, after a few days, I came to realize that I have nothing really to do in the town- as the job doesn't actually begin until October 7.

The language gap began to wear at me, and I began to feel more and more out of place since I had yet to take on any official capacity in the school, I started to get a bit bored, and a tad bit timid. I hope that my timidity didn't rub people the wrong way at the school, because they are more than wonderful , but I think that it caused me to keep from updating my blog...

So, as the weekend approached I planned on spending it with my friends in Bordeaux. The great thing is, my English teacher at the school lives in Bordeaux, and he even drove me into town- they really have gone out of their way to help me.

Since Friday I have been back in Bordeaux hanging out with Evan, and meeting new assistants in town. Although I had to spring for a hotel for the weekend, since no one had moved into an appartment for me to crash at yet, it was worth it to get to meet everyone. My first night in, Evan and I watch France DESTROY Ireland in rugby 25-3. During which we did the only appropriate thing and drink some Kronenbourg- the only decent French beer. Voila- la photo.

I stayed at an awesome and yet affordable hotel in Bordeaux from Saturday night to Monday morning which came complete with a kitchenette and cooking equipment--- and sketchiest of all-- the maid hadn't been to my room before i checked in, so there was food in the fridge. Salmon chunklets, and two chicken fillets. I hadn't as of then been able to show of my culenary genius, so this gave me my chance...

My friend Carolyn had some rice on hand... so we attempted to make a lunch of salmon and rice, with some fake butter (also from the fridge) as the only seasoning. I'm pretty sure that there's better catfood to be had. However dinner was a bit better, with the help of wine, galic salt and some bread, the chicken was pretty decent i guess. Niether of us got sick, which I suppose is the best that could have happened.

I have met with about 7 assistants in Bordeaux now, and its nice to make connections and be able to speak English, but I suppose it will make going to La Reole again a bit harder. Though I can feel that my French is getting better every day. Forstalling my return there, and because it seems neccisary to travel some before the job starts, Evan and I are traveling to the city of Pau, in the Pyrénées to see some more of the country before we begin our jobs. There will be pictures I assure you. That and I am sorry it has taken me so long to update. Don't hate me.

Quand Bordelais Eyes are Smiling

So, Almost a week into my French travels... and so much good has happened. I can even get people to almost understand whatever the hell it is I am saying when I speak the language.

For the past couple of days, the Rugby fans have made hotels so scarce that Evan and I had to backtrack to the Suburb of Merignac, near the airoport (and nothing else) to find a hotel. This looked to be a serious problem for us- the first day after we checked in, we tried to find our way to some sort of recogizable civilization- and somewhere to eat.... We easily walked 3 miles until we got to the Merignac centre-ville. We choose the first restaurant- which was a semi-creepy pizza place, where we split a pizza, which was really quite good.


(as an aside, and because I have made worse gaffes already, I need to explain the situation surrounding our bill)

After eating, the waiter approaches us and asks us If we are ready for "l'addition" the bill. Thinking that it had something to do with ordering more food, Evan says "no, merci", because I suppose in all honesty it would be better if we didn't have to pay. As Steve Martin said... Its like the French have a different word for everything.

Refreshed, we depart and continue trying to find something to do, so far from the city. It apeared that we would have to find out what the hell is up with the city's public transport. A ways down the road was the first stop in the tram line streaching from Merignac to Bordeaux proper. After fumbling around for a bit with the machine we finally unlocked its secrets--- for 1,30 E. you can get a ticket that allows you unlimited access to both trams and buses for one hour. For more money you can go longer, and so on and so forth.

It is at about this point we realize that there is a bus stop at the corner by the hotel. Damn.

For the past two days I have been traveling by bus and tram all over Bordeaux. Seeing new sites, and sometimes just going places already traversed just because its more fun when you arn't walking it. If only I had a bit more boldness in me I would have found out about this marvelous system earlier. Ah well.

On a more international note, I watched my first rugby match last night. Ireland (the Irish more or less own the city at the moment) vs Georgia. Not the state, but the cetral asian country--- at first I rooted for Georgia as the underdog, until I realized that the hotel I'm at would be filled with drunk angry Irish--- I quickly changed my allegences out of fear.

Rugby seems to be a very interesting sport, but since it was announced in French, which I can only slightly understand when spoken at normal speeds, and am hopeless with at sportscaster speed- it took a while for me to figure out what was going on.

From what I could tell, it was a good, close match and a bit of a defensive struggle. Kind of like the FSU game, because it would apperantly be imposible for the Noles to break 20 against the likes of Colorado. In both games, the good guys won- and the Irish are happy drunks today.

Next up... I've got to figure out the train situation since I am off to La Reole on Tuesday. Here's hoping that my next post will be from a permenant situation, since living out of my suitcase is starting to become a bit expensive. Cheers.

moi, je suis americain.

I have heard that you can spot a tourist because they are always looking up. If thats so, than thats just another way that I can be identified. My french is a bit rusty... as the woman who took my lunch order found out. At one point I made the claim that I arrived in France tomorrow- the laws of physics seem to disagree.

But things are generally pretty agreeable. I met with one of the English teachers at my school, and he has been extremely helpful with everything. Apparently, my school can offer me a place to live at the bording school if I so choose. The teacher, Pascal, who I met with advises me to commute from Bordeaux, which is what he does. However, I think I would much prefer the convenience of living in La Reole and then doing the commute into town whenever I want the city atmosphere. We'll see.

I'm scheduled to meet with everyone at the school on tuesday at 11ish, hopefully I can make my way through the train station decently. Unfortunately for me and Evan, we don't have hotels lined up from Saturday through Monday night. I suppose thats what is on the agenda tomorrow.
If everything goes the way that I want I will start living in La Reole soon, so hopefully I won't be living out of hotels. That would be nice. Then I will actually feel like I have a life here, and will be a little less touristy...

Well, thats all for now.

Play La Marseillaise, Play it.

So, I'm in France. I'm in my little hotel room in Downtown Bordeaux, which is swarmed by rugby fans, and I am finding it difficult to believe that I am here.

What's perhaps more shocking is how smoothly everything went in my travels. Everything from drinking up as much wine as Air France would offer me, to me actually being able to navigate through Charles De Gaulle and make my connection. I even found my hotel without much difficulty, walking around like a stupid and fatigued tourist in a brand new city/country/continent/language.

Along the way I met some helpful and interesting people, not the least of which was the old man in Place Gambetta, who pointed me (mostly) in the right direction to my hotel.

But the day was not without its failures, even though it mostly went perfectly. I have done what I can to use French as the first option when engaging people--- however, for the most part, the response has been a slight smirk, and a response in English. J'espere que je peuvais parler francais juste un peu comme les francais...

Tomorrow I meet up with one of the English teachers at my lycee, and meet up with Evan, who is another assistant with whom I am splitting hotels. That and I hope I'll be able to get out and see more of my new city.

My Last Weeks Here- A Review

I really had hope that I would have had reason to write an entry concerning how great FSU was doing on the football field this year. Ah well, reality threw a wrench in that one, and its going to be a long year.

Despite the let downs in Clemson and Tallahassee, I remain optimistic that the coaches will turn it around as the year progresses, I suppose time will tell.

All that aside, My waning time here in the states have been quite pleasant. I've been with my family for most of it, and its been great being back home in Jax before the adventure that is France. My mom and step dad have been very accommodating, and I have spent a great deal of my time either sleeping, drinking or watching scrubs- got to get in as much American culture as I can.

Also, I've been able to see a lot of my Dad and Step Mom as well- he just turned 50... Accordingly there was quite the celebration, which allowed me to see the extended family before I left.


However, I did get one last go around in Tally, and got to see most everyone I wanted to one last time. I really will miss that place, and can't wait to get back next year. Well, I head to France tomorrow, so who knows when I will be able to post again. Whats worse, who knows when I'll be able to watch the Noles. I'm off to be French for a bit.


A bientot mes amis...