Une Pâques Français (A French Easter)

The year I got to experience my first French Easter! Julie LeRoy, the Rotary exchange student from France to Parksville last year, invited me over to her parent's house in Longuyon. She studies in Nancy (about 1.5hrs west of Strasbourg) so I went to visit her there first, and then we took the train up to her parents house. I spent a relaxing 3 days with her family (of course speaking French the whole time). They currently have a Rotary student living with them from St. Louis, Missouri so it was neat to be able to speak to each other in a language other than English! I was really spoiled with such great food and yummy chocolate!

Here are some pictures of our fun times:

The Non-Snowy Ski Trip

Last Monday I went for a skiing adventure to "les Vosges" which is a mountain about 2 hours outside Strasbourg. In the past, the skiing trip had been canceled due to a "manque de neige" (lack of snow). It was quite amusing, becuase when we arrived I thought we would have to turn around and go back...the mountain literally looked like this:



But alas, we did not return...how did we ski you might ask? Well it just so happens that they piled snow on a few runs forming a sort of mud-snow pathway. It was really hard to ski becuase it was really slushy and then turned to ice. My friend Jessica came with me and she had only gone skiing a handful of times. We were told that there were easy runs higher up the mountain...but then we found out they were closed. Poor Jess had to take off her skis and walk down have the run! It was fun all around though.

Here is a glimpse of our mud-snow pathway:


Me being wet and...well wet.


I'm glad we went, but man...next time I'll head for the Alps!

James My Hero

So finally mid-term exams are over! I'm pretty sure they went well, but I'll have to wait and see after I get the results back. It always works out that if you think you did good, you probably did horrible and vice versa. Lets hope for the best!

Tonight to celebrate (the end of exams) I went to a James Blunt concert. It was soooo great! I went with a few other Canadian girls and we had such a blast! I've posted 2 links on the right had side of videos I took of James Blunt singing two of his most popular songs: Beautiful & Goodbye My Lover. I was pleasantly surprised at the upbeat-ness of the concert. James Blunt's songs are usually more mellow, but he was definitely rockin' it in Strasbourg!

Here is a photo of the man himself:


Today I also died my hair! I decided to do something a little different (but not too different) so it's died really dark brown/almost black. For me it's a big change, but I know I'll get use to it.

This week and the weeks to come are pretty busy so expect frequent updates!

À plus tard!

Take time to drink "un café"

"le café, le soleil de ma vie!"

That is a scary thought since before I came to France I never ever drank coffee, and now in between classes I can't wait for our "petite pause" so that I can go and buy a 50 cent espresso from the little machine in our university building! The institution that is "le café" has such a presence in France. Some people spend hours and hours just sitting in their little neighborhood café. I have one of my favorite cafés just a bit of a walk from my house.



This upcoming week is going to be a bit stressful for me as it is mid-term time. I'm sure it will be alright, but at the moment it all seems a little overwhelming!

I am also in the process of planning my 2 week break in April. I know what you are going to say...how is it that I get 2 more weeks of holidays? All I have to say is, for all that I complain about the French Administration etc. at least I get sufficient holidays! I am planning a trip to Germany to visit some family friends, and then I will hopefully get to Krakow, Poland and Budapest, Hungary (the 2 cities I think I've chosen in Eastern Europe).

I am also thinking of heading to EuroDisney in Paris! I'm so excited to talk to Mickey in French! haha.

I hope everyone is doing well! Don't forget to take time to enjoy life...sit and drink un café and contemplate la vie!