First Week-First Post

I can't believe that I've been here for a week already. It's crazy to even think about. A little over a week ago I was frantically packing, saying goodbyes, and preparing for an incredible journey, and now, I'm sitting in my host mother's house, at my desk, in Montpellier, France.

Montpellier is absolutely beautiful. It's a pretty small city I would say, but it's the seventh largest in France. There are tons of different people here, and a lot of college students which is why they consider Montpellier a "college town". The city lies in the south of France right by the Mediterranean. Once it's warm I plan on taking the bus to the beach, but for now, they say on a clear day you can see the sea on the horizon.

Here in Montpellier, I live with a Odile, an older, single woman, whose children have all moved out of the house. She's a hat stylist or fabricant de chapeau which is pretty cool. During breakfast, I usually get to watch her as she and her twenty year old intern make hats. I seem to stare in amazement which makes her laugh, but I've never watched anyone actually make a hat before. They remind me of those hats one would wear to the kentucky derby, or I guess a wedding. I'll have to find a way to take some pictures of them. She's a very nice woman, but it does seem to get lonely when it's just me and her. It's okay though, centre-ville, or the center of town, is only a ten minute walk from her house, so I can find ways to entertain myself.

Not that I've needed much entertaining. There are tons of things to do here--lots of alleys to wander, tons of cafes to sit for hours at and "faire l'oeuf" (or people watch), plenty of stores to go in, and much more. And if there isn't anything much going on, you can always literally go to a cafe and sit...outside. Yes, the frenchies here sit outside even if it's FREEZING. It's just what they do. When I first noticed this I laughed because this would never, ever happen in the U.S, and I never thought I would do it either. But of course, I've sat outside a cafe for a prolonged period of time during the day, just sitting and drinking my chocolat plasir--usually with Laur, very slowly. The French people enjoy taking their time and not rushing things--something I'm trying to get used to.


So it's been a week and I've got a lot to say--this past Saturday, we went to the Fontain de Vaucluse and Avignon. Both were extremely beautiful little towns. Fontain de Vaucluse is a little town that has this water source that seems to come from nowhere. We went to see the "source" [pictured of the left] and it just seemed to flow from the rock. It was awesome. The only thing was that is was freezing, and being by water wasn't exactly helping the situation. After, we hopped back on the bus, leaving four people behind, and headed to Avignon. Of course, one of the buses had to turn around and retrieve the others, but once both buses arrived in Avignon, we strode up this tiny alley and there it was--le Palais du Pape [pictured on right]!Yes the pope's palace...and yes indeed I did say PALACE. It was huge, and beautiful! It was crazy to think about all the things that must have gone on there...and all the important people that have traveled the same hallways I was traveling. Once we completed the pope's palace, and saw le point d'Avignon, we had some free time. Laur and I decided to get some maxi pain au chocolat (a delicious croissant like bread filled with chocolate...maxi meaning it was bigger than usual) and go to a cafe where we got chocolat chaud. This is basically our favorite afternoon snack that you can find just about anywhere.

I started classes Monday and they haven't been so bad. My phonetics course is going to be hilarious. We basically just practice making French sounds and repeat French phrases to ensure our pronunciation is correct. It's hard not to laugh...really. Today I had grammar and the professor seems really nice. She actually smiles and laughs which is something you don't see a lot of French people doing. Word for the wise: Don't smile on the bus or tram...I swear they will automatically know you are American.

All in all, France is great!

More pics to come!