My Last Month

I'm  afraid I lied in my last post. I really did have every intention of keeping up with posting regularly, it's just now that I'm in the swing of things here, it's been more difficult to keep up with the blog. But I promise (again) that I will strive to do better.

This post starts with my trip to England with Anna to visit some family friends. We had an awesome time and I really enjoyed all the sights and food. It was also really nice to hear English again. The Woolgars were the best hosts we could have asked for and took us to Windsor right after we arrived. We are also fairly sure we saw the queen, albeit from a distance and she would have been in a car. But still. The next day, we were also able to see Jane Austen's house which was really cool as well. I wish we could've spent more than just a weekend, and I really miss tea with milk now.

The weekend after that I went to LeMans, France with the other SMC girls and we met up with our professor from home. As always, times with Prof Kingcaid (Renee) were interesting, especially from the front seat, but the town was quite cute and we had fun together. We also were able to eat with the nuns of the original order that founded SMC and saw the grave of Father Moreau who founded Notre Dame.

The next weekend was spent in Nice and Monaco where I was met by my mom, grandma and Anna. There were some travel problems on their end (please ask them the story, you won't regret it) and so I spent my night in Nice attempting to find an open brasserie to buy a sandwich and watching NCIS in French. The next day we went into Monaco, which is possibly my new favorite country. It was a gorgeous day and we saw a lot of different things, including the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried and the Monte Carlo casino. The views of the Mediterranean were fantastic too and it's easy to see why it's such a popular spot. Unfortunately, due to the French train system I had to leave later that night, but my day with the family was really nice.

I was finally able to visit Rome and see where my sister's been living the last 7 months two weeks ago. As my mom and grandma were still in Rome and Anna had classes on Friday, I spent the day with the two travel fiends visiting several major go-to places, including the Capitoline Museum, Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Trevi fountain. It was a really fun day and I also got my first taste of gelato! (I got it two more times, as well. That stuff is addicting.) The next day Anna and I went to the Vatican where we saw the Basilica and the tombs of the popes. Later on that day, we went with some of Anna's friends and saw the Spanish Steps and walked around the main shopping district of Rome. I definitely want to go back and see everything else because there's way too much to do there for just one weekend. It also made me watch Angels and Demons when I returned to France.

This last weekend saw Anna coming to Dijon! We had some fantastic weather and Anna was able to meet some of the friends I've made here, both American and French. She was also able to meet my host parents and Aurelie, all of whom were very happy to meet her, as well. As Anna's train arrived later and we were both tired, Friday ended up being a lazy day, but Saturday we walked around centre ville and I took her to my favorite sandwich shop. She was also able to buy some mustard and a macaroon for her roommate. That night we went to our favorite bar, Byron Bay, and the discotheque, Le Chat Noir, both of which proved very entertaining. Overall, it was a very good weekend and I'm happy Anna was able to see where I've been living.

This weekend we're off to Provence, going to several different towns and just taking in Southern France. We're supposed to have fantastic weather so I'm hoping to come back significantly tanner than I am right now. I'm on the downhill slide of my time in France now and I'm trying to treasure every minute!

Windsor Castle

Anna and the Woolgars!

In LeMans

In a park overlooking the Mediterranean in Monaco. 

Anna!

Illegally taken photo of Mama and Mom in front of the real Marcus Aurelius statue. 

Forum

St. Peter's Basilica!

Anna's in Dijon!

The Start of Classes and Lyon

Hello again! Sorry it's taken so long to post and I promise my next one won't be as long or as late. These last few weeks have been a blur as I've been settling in and starting classes. My classes are all in French and it's been very interesting to hear all the different accents people have when they speak French. In my class there are 2 other Americans, 2 Russians, a Colombian, an Ecuadorian, and several Koreans, Chinese and Japanese students. Our teachers have fun pointing out what each nationality can and cannot pronounce in French. We don't find it quite as funny. Our classes are also held in a depressing, shack-like building on campus which, coupled with the weather, doesn't help. But it's starting to warm up a bit and everyone's starting to understand both our classmates and the teachers a bit more so things are looking up!

Caitlyn and I have really been fortunate in our host family. Both Robert and Catherine are the nicest people and we've started having full conversations now which are quite nice and fun. We've also become friends with Aurelie, their daughter, who is staying here until April and who takes great delight in mocking me for my dancing (and she's only heard about it). We've also met four of their other children (Philippe, Pascal, Christophe and Delphine) all of whom are incredibly friendly. Delphine's actually getting married in April so there's been a lot of wedding talk and we've seen her and her fiancé Alex several times. I was also sick for a few days, and as Delphine is a doctor, she wrote down a list of medicines to buy and which were the best and took very care of me, along with Catherine.

We were also able to take a day trip to Lyon with the program. Lyon is a very interesting city that has a lot of history to it. Unfortunately we were only there for the day, but it'd definitely be a city to go back to. We had some fantastic food and also were able to meet some other Americans from the program, who we are now making plans to hang out with. It was a very nice trip and we're very excited for the next one.

There are also some big travel plans in the near future for me. Friday I leave for England with Anna to stay with the Woolgars, who are close friends with my grandma. The following weekend, our program coordinator is coming and the SMC girls are going to Mans, where the Order of the Holy Cross (which founded Saint Mary's) was founded. While there, we'll see Father Sorin's grave and also eat with the nuns of the original order. The weekend after I'm spending with Anna, my mom, and grandma in Nice and Monaco as they'll be here for my mom's spring break. And then I finally go to Rome to eat a lot of pasta and gelato and see the sights. And Anna. I've got a busy couple of weeks ahead but I'm very excited!

Lyon Pictures

Old Lyon

Basilique de Fourvieve

This was just in front of some store. We didn't question it, but loved it all the same. 

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was from Lyon so he was included on this mural with le Petit Prince.

My friends on the trip; Caitlyn, Maggie and Maddie

There isn't one in Dijon, but I very much wanted to go in. 

J'arrive!

I'm in Dijon! After multiple phone calls, emails and facebook messages, my group finally arrived in Paris and took our train to Dijon. However, as my friend Maggie G. and I ended up being the only ones to arrive Friday, we were able to spend a day in Paris. That day we went on a Seine River cruise and saw sights and we also made our way through the old city and down the Champs Elysees with our guide, Stephane. The next day was spent almost entirely at the airport waiting for the others to arrive on their various rescheduled flights. And finally we took the train to Dijon!

The first night we were here we only had time to eat a little and meet our host parents for the first time. And after we'd slept most of the next day away, Catherine and Robert took us on a basic tour of town including our bus stop and the centre ville, where most of the good shopping is. That night we also met their daughter, Aurelie, who is living here this semester to finish classes at the university. Since then we've been to the school to take placement tests, been to the wine capital of Burgundy (Beaune), shopped, found a cookie place!, and slept a lot. Tomorrow we go back to the university to receive our schedules and placement and then start classes Monday! We're all getting very excited for those to start!

These are typical buildings in Dijon. If you turn right at the street in front of them, it leads to centre ville. 

We stopped at a vineyard outside Beaune and this is some of their best wine. 

This is in Beaune. I thought it appropriate to take a photo. 

Our group plus our tour guide! It's (L-R) Maggie G., Maddie, Stephane, Me!, Caitlyn, and Maggie K.

Burgundy is actually known for having really bright rooftops. A majority of buildings here are like this and the colors are also the regional colors of Burgundy. 

Ready to Go

It is finally time! Tomorrow I leave at 5:20 to land in Charles de Gaulle airport at 8:30 a.m. I've been fortunate to escape the weather delays and cancellations along with Maddie who got the same flight, although I have a friend (Caitlyn) going who has been delayed to leave until the next day. Upon our arrival, we have been told that we wait at the airport for the girl who arrives after us (Maggie G.) with the girl who arrives before us (Maggie K.). After that, apparently we just have a day in Paris!

On Saturday we leave for Dijon and to meet our host families. The family I'm staying with is the Preuliers and their home is fairly central in Dijon. They have several children, all out of the house, and hosted several St. Mary's students last year. We've been told the parents, Catherine and Robert, are very nice and we will have the opportunity to learn how to cook several French meals and dishes, something my mom is very excited about! Robert is also apparently a big fan of Star Wars, and when I found this out Caitlyn immediately got a look of horror and I smiled gleefully.

I'm incredibly excited about this adventure and can't wait for tomorrow so I can get back to France!

My suitcase, purse and backpack are all that are making the trip. They're each completely full. 

Starting to Pack!

Hi. I'm Allison. This will be my blog during my study abroad time in Dijon, France. I'm studying at the University de Bourgogne where all of my classes will be in French. My friend Caitlyn and I are staying with a host family, while several other friends are staying with another host family. Several current plans for our time abroad are to visit my sister Anna in Rome, a friend studying in Dublin, another friend from Germany, and traveling throughout France using our, hopefully significantly improved, French.
We're all just starting to pack our bags and prep for our stay in a foreign country. These next few weeks will pass quickly and I'll be arriving back in the land of bread, wine, and cheese!