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!