Well the play is finished. We worked round the clock for seven days memorizing, and tuesday it all paid off. We knew all our lines, I pronunciation was almost perfect and we were funny as hell. I have a recording of the play which I'm going to try to post. I'm in the second scene. I'm also posting it on Facebook so those off you who know me on Facebook can watch. Of your not a Facebook friend but want to see it leave a comment and I'll email it to you.
Well I really should tell you about what's been going on lately, and since I have at least another five hours to kill on my flight back to New York I will make it detailed. I got back to Paris last Monday and spent the day feeling blue a d resting up in the hotel. I burst into tears on the train platform when I was saying goodbye to Valentine and cried for most of the three hour train journey.
The next day my group and I headed to our first theatre class with our director, Jean Paul. We spent the morning warming up and in the afternoon did a table read of some of the plays we were considering, mostly by Feydeau. The next day we were handed our parts and told to start memorizing. For the rest of the week we were either pacing the garden in the back of the building learning lines or meeting with Jean Paul to block our scenes. By the time Friday arrived we were all tired and stressed from the hard work of the week; memorizing in French is no easy task.
On Saturday I woke up in a foul mood and I'm afraid I was a bit rude to some of my group members. I just wanted to go home and didn't feel like going to see the wall of love. I did go to see the wall of love which is a wall of blue tile with the word love written on it in almost every language. I cheered up a bit when we visited Sacré Cœur, a beautiful church that overlooks most of Paris, and sat on the hill side memorizing lines. But the best part of the day was yet to come. When we returned to the hotel our group leader Sarah said tonight we would go clubbing. All of the girls, Camila, Willow, Lea, Sadie, Amy and I hurried excitedly back to our rooms to change and do our makeup. I wore a silver sequin dress I bought ages ago but never had occasion to wear, and Willow( who is a genius when it comes to fashion and makeup) gave me daring smoky eyeshadow. We all looked amazing but our confidence was a little shaken when the first club we tried to go to wouldn't let us in. Fortunately the next club kept us waiting for only five minutes before they ushered our whole group inside and downstairs to a dance floor. The building was very old and the underground floor we were on was definitely over a hundred years old with low arched plaster ceilings, stone walls, and wooden beams. But with the music blaring and a strobe light flashing it was still a dance floor. We all put down our bags and joined the fun. Camilla who is Cuban had some salsa going on at one point, Sadie had us doing The Cool dance(her own invention) and Lea was doing some amazingly wacky moves. We all had fun dancing until two in the morning when we headed back to the hotel and collapsed into bed.
Sunday was a slightly lower key day. We all went to Luxembourg park and worked on our lines then set off for the Eiffel tower. The Eiffel tower was spectacular and awesome in the true sense of the word, but very crowded. When we got there the line for the elevator was at least a three hour wait. So up the stairs we marched, all 700 of them. By the time we reached the second floor we were all out of breath and our calves were cramping, thought the view was worth it. I took dozens of pictures and the same terms apply as for the video, if you want a slideshow leave a comment and I'll email it to you. Once we'd descended the tower we got back on the metro and headed to the restaurant, Dans la Noir, which has you eat in total darkness in order to heighten your sense of taste. The waters and waitresses are blind and we all had to hold on to each other as they lead us to our seats. The food was amazing but a little scary because I had no idea what I was eating. The darkness also made us a bit emotional and we were all talking about how much we loved each other by the end of the meal. Once we'd adjusted to daylight again we decided to walk back to the hotel. We passed by Notre Dame where a street performer was doing some beautiful dancing with fire. All in all it was a good day.
Monday we got up bright and early and went to the theatre. It wasn't a large theatre but it was a real one, and we're all happy to have the use of it for our show. Jean Paul handed out our costumes and I was a little startled when I was given a squin tube top, sequin skirt and leopard print leggings. We rehearsed the day away and that night Willow did a test run of my makeup and put my hair in several braids so it would look ridiculose for my character the next day.
Finally the performance had arrived. We all ate breakfast, rode the metro, and ran lines in a state of nervous anticipation. I finally got to rehearse my play, and all my group members watched. They were blown away by my transformation. Now usually I don't like to sing my own praises but these were their words. They'd never seen me onstage and were amazed at what a good actress I was. One of my group members even said he'd try to get me a part in a student film he was doing. Anyway, the day flew by and before we knew it the audience was filing in and the lights were dimming. We were amazing. The first scene, where two women talk about the crimes of one of the women's dead husband, was hilarious. My scene came next and throwing aside any thought of humility I was fantastic. The final scene, where a player chases a woman to her house only to discover her husband is his friend and have his wife arrive, was amazing. Unfortunately the audience was made up of the other experiment groups, and most of the French dialogue went over their heads. All my group members and I were laughing our heads off back stage, but the audience wasn't. in the end it didn't matter, we'd done a wonderful job and we were proud.
That evening after all the makeup had been washed off we went to a french supermarket then had a picnic by the Seine. We ate, laughed, and reminisced about the best parts of the trip. We became very emotional towards the end as we talked a out how much we would miss everyone and what we would always remember. Finally, after midnight, we packed up our picnic blankets and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning was not a fun one. Everyone was rushing around trying to pack there bags and find lost items. The group had decided we wanted to get Sarah a gift, so Willow and I had to find an excuse to run over to a nearby jewelry store to pick out some earings. The bus was late and the day was hot. We sat on the sidewalk sweltering for half an hour before it turned up, then spent an extra hour in traffic meaning we were very late to the airport. Amazingly it didn't matter. We got through customs and security in under twenty minutes and plane wasn't delayed at all. Secretly I think we all wanted the plane to be late, we didn't want to say goodbye. The terrible thing about the experiment is that you spend a month of you life with this group of people discovering a new world together, having an adventure, and when it's all over, you might never see them again. All of us come from different states and although we can call each other, it will never be the same. It makes the end of the trip more painful. The plane ride passed uneventfully, except I received three very nice letters from my group members say how much they were going to miss me and what a wonderful person I was. I didn't feel that wonderful at the time but I appreciated the letters. The plane landed, we got off, collected our luggage, and went to meet our family members. Most of my group members ran into the arms of their parents, I felt a little sad seeing them hug each other and cry, I wished my parents were there too. Then it was time to say goodbye to each other. We didn't want to, and we all hugged each other more than four times each. We'd spent a month together that none of us would ever forget. We cried, promised to call each other, and went our separate ways.
I'll never forget this summer, and I know that the friends I made I will know for the rest of my life. I still don't know how to react to all this. I'm glad I went, and I miss Paris and my friends. But at the same time, I'm ready to have an adventure here. That's what this trip made me realize, adventures aren't just your summer vacations, the adventure is the rest of your life, and I'm ready to begin mine.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Sunday, July 29, 2012
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Sunday, July 22, 2012
Oh just throw it at the wall!
That's how I've felt about my alarm clock this week. I came back from my host family on Monday and cried for most of the journey. All week long I've been working n a scene from a Feydeau play called Le Circuit. It's completely in French which is very difficult to memorize. Right now I'm actually staying up late along with my roommates to help finish our memorization.
Anyway, I'll give a quick rundown of the important stuff and write a long and detailed description later.
Yesterday I went clubbing for the first time and had an amazing time. I brought a silver sequin dress with me to Paris and I'm glad I did. All the girls and I but on our very best, wore outrages and fabulous makeup, and the whole group danced to loud music till two in the morning. I finally understand why all that annoying dance floor music exists.
Today we memorized lines in the park, climbed 600 steps to the second floor of the Eiffel tower, ate at a restaurant where you sit in the pitch black so your sense of taste is amplified, then watched a fire dancer in front of Notre Dame.
I'm so sorry these post are so widely spaced but I have been crazy busy this week trying to memorize and I can only today say with confidence that I know my lines.
The trip is winding down and I'm flying back to new York on Wednesday. I don't know how I feel about this. I miss home more than I thought I would and I'm ready to have my own room again, but I love France, my group and I still miss my host family.
Good night dear readers.
Bonsoir et Bonne chance.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Anyway, I'll give a quick rundown of the important stuff and write a long and detailed description later.
Yesterday I went clubbing for the first time and had an amazing time. I brought a silver sequin dress with me to Paris and I'm glad I did. All the girls and I but on our very best, wore outrages and fabulous makeup, and the whole group danced to loud music till two in the morning. I finally understand why all that annoying dance floor music exists.
Today we memorized lines in the park, climbed 600 steps to the second floor of the Eiffel tower, ate at a restaurant where you sit in the pitch black so your sense of taste is amplified, then watched a fire dancer in front of Notre Dame.
I'm so sorry these post are so widely spaced but I have been crazy busy this week trying to memorize and I can only today say with confidence that I know my lines.
The trip is winding down and I'm flying back to new York on Wednesday. I don't know how I feel about this. I miss home more than I thought I would and I'm ready to have my own room again, but I love France, my group and I still miss my host family.
Good night dear readers.
Bonsoir et Bonne chance.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wait... What Day Is it?
Today is Friday which means I only have three days left with my wonderful host family. But before I start telling you about my goodbyes I should probably update you on what's been happening this week.
Tuesday: It was an indecently hot day and of course we spent the day walking around. My group and several French siblings attended le Mariage de Figaro, an opera. I thoroughly enjoyed this play, it was funny, energetic, the singing was beautiful, and the whole cast seemed to be experienced acrobats. My enjoyment was only lessened by the sweltering theatre. The entire audience seemed to flutter like a cloud of butterflies because they were all furiously fanning themselves. We had the chance to talk to a few of the cast members afterwards and were dismayed when they recommended not doing a play in another language because it is very difficult and doesn't leave a margine for error. If a company of skilled and professional actors thinks it difficult, how is a group of American teenagers with a slippery grasp of the language going to do it?
Wednesday: we had another mime class! Always a good time, especially in a shady park. We all had to line up like we were standing at an intersection and mime watching different types of people walking. Once that was over we headed into town to see a Molière play called Les Fourberies de Scapin, which translates as The Deciets of Scapin. I didn't really like it, but it was very hot in the theatre, my back was killing me in the little plastic seats, and their use of the fog machine was making me cough. It was an amazing piece of theatre, there was a crane on stage through the whole story and the main character, Scapin, swung and climbed on it like a monkey. In the end when all the actors came out and took of their masks we were stunned to see that there were only six actor in the whole thing, meaning the people playing the Scapin's( there were two for comedic affect) had also played two separate characters, the man playing the miser had also played a young man, and the women playing Hyescinth also played Sylvester. I doesn't matter of you don't know the characters but this was very impressive because half of these characters were on stilts and the other half wer climbing and jumping around the stage non stop. How they all did this on a hot day in masks and full costumes still mystifies me.
Thursday: another very hot day, this wasn't the best week to be spent walking around crowded streets and sitting in old buildings with no fans but we make the best of it. Yet another mime class, which I am actually finding very useful. One problem I have in theatre is that I forget to be big enough, on the stage you have to make every movement large and expressive, and mime really helps with that. After that we had a thrilling round of Party Quirks where Sadie turned out to be Kirk Cobain, if you ever meet Sadie you will realize this is not a surprise, and Amy had to be one of those robotic vacum cleaners that ends buying into the wall for half an hour then telling you floor is clean. We all went into town and saw our own mime professor's show, Monologue with a Suitcase, which was his own story of coming to Paris from Bulgaria and was very engrossing. It was funny and silly to begin with, then sad when the familiar rejection that comes with auditioning entered the story. All in all I liked it. When I returned home Etienne( my host brother who I might not have mentioned but he arrived on Monday from Spain and is lovely like the rest of the Daries family), Valentine and I played French pictionarry and then that game where everyone has a post it with someone's name on their forehead and they have to figure out who they are. Then Alice got home and we played a couple more rounds all together. I really love haveing siblings, especially these siblings. Valentine is a bit of a typical teenager but I feel like underneath she has a warrior in her, shes loving, and by no means stupid. Alice is clever, funny and doesn't seem to spend a moment thinking about what she looks like but is still gorgeous. Etienne is smart, very sweet, and really helped me out with French vocabulary. They all fight with each other but I could tell any of them would take a bullet for the other. I just wish they were my real siblings.
Friday: woke up feeling very low. By the time I woke up Etienne had left for London to see his girlfriend and Alice was packing her bags to go to the seaside. I also had a bad case of homesickness but it was still the middle of the night in California so I couldn't call my parents. Went in to town with Alice and Valentine to meet up with my group and then had to say goodbye to Alice. She won't be back in time to see me off back to Paris and I had to try very hard not to cry. To my chagrin we had an Avignon scavenger hunt. The way the day was going and after the unhappy conclusion of the last hunt I didn't feel like doing this at all but I met with my team and we managed to get our questions done very quickly. I passed the rest of the daylight hours in my own head, staying aware enough not to lose sight of anyone, but firmly intrenched in my own thoughts and daydreams. All I wanted to do was go back to the house and Skype my parents, instead I ended up riding the ferris wheel and feeling nauseated. That evening we went to see a play inside a large circus tent in a neighboring field. The play was called Indian Tempest, and was in fact the Tempest with Indian elements to it. I was still in a fowl mood but the pay was so good that I actually felt alright but the time we left. I hadn't thought about that aspect of theatre, that a good play can actually lift a person from a fowl mood. The evening continued to get better when I returned home and was able to talk to my parents for the first time in days.
Today: Happy Prise de la Bastille day! Overall a pretty good day. Slept in. Did some shopping in Avignon, then sat on the banks of the Rhone river to watch the fireworks, which were amazing since they were going off right across the river. Had to walk home but once valentine and I slid I through the crowds of peopl the walk home was quite nice, especially the castles.
Now, my dear readers, I'm afraid I must retire. Tomorrow I have cookies to bake and a farewell song to sing. My parting words tonight are, it's wonderful thing to have a family that loves you.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Tuesday: It was an indecently hot day and of course we spent the day walking around. My group and several French siblings attended le Mariage de Figaro, an opera. I thoroughly enjoyed this play, it was funny, energetic, the singing was beautiful, and the whole cast seemed to be experienced acrobats. My enjoyment was only lessened by the sweltering theatre. The entire audience seemed to flutter like a cloud of butterflies because they were all furiously fanning themselves. We had the chance to talk to a few of the cast members afterwards and were dismayed when they recommended not doing a play in another language because it is very difficult and doesn't leave a margine for error. If a company of skilled and professional actors thinks it difficult, how is a group of American teenagers with a slippery grasp of the language going to do it?
Wednesday: we had another mime class! Always a good time, especially in a shady park. We all had to line up like we were standing at an intersection and mime watching different types of people walking. Once that was over we headed into town to see a Molière play called Les Fourberies de Scapin, which translates as The Deciets of Scapin. I didn't really like it, but it was very hot in the theatre, my back was killing me in the little plastic seats, and their use of the fog machine was making me cough. It was an amazing piece of theatre, there was a crane on stage through the whole story and the main character, Scapin, swung and climbed on it like a monkey. In the end when all the actors came out and took of their masks we were stunned to see that there were only six actor in the whole thing, meaning the people playing the Scapin's( there were two for comedic affect) had also played two separate characters, the man playing the miser had also played a young man, and the women playing Hyescinth also played Sylvester. I doesn't matter of you don't know the characters but this was very impressive because half of these characters were on stilts and the other half wer climbing and jumping around the stage non stop. How they all did this on a hot day in masks and full costumes still mystifies me.
Thursday: another very hot day, this wasn't the best week to be spent walking around crowded streets and sitting in old buildings with no fans but we make the best of it. Yet another mime class, which I am actually finding very useful. One problem I have in theatre is that I forget to be big enough, on the stage you have to make every movement large and expressive, and mime really helps with that. After that we had a thrilling round of Party Quirks where Sadie turned out to be Kirk Cobain, if you ever meet Sadie you will realize this is not a surprise, and Amy had to be one of those robotic vacum cleaners that ends buying into the wall for half an hour then telling you floor is clean. We all went into town and saw our own mime professor's show, Monologue with a Suitcase, which was his own story of coming to Paris from Bulgaria and was very engrossing. It was funny and silly to begin with, then sad when the familiar rejection that comes with auditioning entered the story. All in all I liked it. When I returned home Etienne( my host brother who I might not have mentioned but he arrived on Monday from Spain and is lovely like the rest of the Daries family), Valentine and I played French pictionarry and then that game where everyone has a post it with someone's name on their forehead and they have to figure out who they are. Then Alice got home and we played a couple more rounds all together. I really love haveing siblings, especially these siblings. Valentine is a bit of a typical teenager but I feel like underneath she has a warrior in her, shes loving, and by no means stupid. Alice is clever, funny and doesn't seem to spend a moment thinking about what she looks like but is still gorgeous. Etienne is smart, very sweet, and really helped me out with French vocabulary. They all fight with each other but I could tell any of them would take a bullet for the other. I just wish they were my real siblings.
Friday: woke up feeling very low. By the time I woke up Etienne had left for London to see his girlfriend and Alice was packing her bags to go to the seaside. I also had a bad case of homesickness but it was still the middle of the night in California so I couldn't call my parents. Went in to town with Alice and Valentine to meet up with my group and then had to say goodbye to Alice. She won't be back in time to see me off back to Paris and I had to try very hard not to cry. To my chagrin we had an Avignon scavenger hunt. The way the day was going and after the unhappy conclusion of the last hunt I didn't feel like doing this at all but I met with my team and we managed to get our questions done very quickly. I passed the rest of the daylight hours in my own head, staying aware enough not to lose sight of anyone, but firmly intrenched in my own thoughts and daydreams. All I wanted to do was go back to the house and Skype my parents, instead I ended up riding the ferris wheel and feeling nauseated. That evening we went to see a play inside a large circus tent in a neighboring field. The play was called Indian Tempest, and was in fact the Tempest with Indian elements to it. I was still in a fowl mood but the pay was so good that I actually felt alright but the time we left. I hadn't thought about that aspect of theatre, that a good play can actually lift a person from a fowl mood. The evening continued to get better when I returned home and was able to talk to my parents for the first time in days.
Today: Happy Prise de la Bastille day! Overall a pretty good day. Slept in. Did some shopping in Avignon, then sat on the banks of the Rhone river to watch the fireworks, which were amazing since they were going off right across the river. Had to walk home but once valentine and I slid I through the crowds of peopl the walk home was quite nice, especially the castles.
Now, my dear readers, I'm afraid I must retire. Tomorrow I have cookies to bake and a farewell song to sing. My parting words tonight are, it's wonderful thing to have a family that loves you.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Monday, July 9, 2012
I Really Need to do This More Often
Friday: another mime class! Yes, and what could be better than a beautiful day in a French park pretending to walk like Barbra Stanwick. I'm not sure Valentine enjoyed it but I did. We all had to walk back and worth like the femme fatal in a 1940's noir film, then a police officer, and finally a sport player. After that we all headed to the heart of Avignon and took shelter in an air conditioned grocery store where we took more time than necessary to buy our lunch. We sat in a the square by a carousel and eventually three of my American group members and I bought tickets and climbed on. We sat in one of this teacups that you can spin and I was tempted to punch my fellow teacup rider when she wouldn't stop spinning it. When the ride was over and we'd all regained our equilibrium the whole group walked down to the main avenue in Avignon to watch the parade. The parade officially starts off the Avignon Theatre Festival and it was spectacular. All the plays, of which there are thousands, dress up as characters or creatures from their show and walk in the parade handing out flyers; I collected at least fifty flyer during the parade. There were teams of drummers, people n stilts dressed as giant bugs, princes and princesses, gorillas, and even a giant wolf on a motorbike. It was a lot of fun but I couldn't stay for the whole thing because I goes on for almost three hours and it was about 90 degrees out. So after an hour Valentine and I returned home, took cold showers, and collapsed on the couch for some good French reality TV, which makes abut as much sense to me as American reality TV.
Saturday: Valentine woke up with a cold so I spent the first half of the day just catching up on my sleep and talking to Alice, my orders host sister, who I quit like. When Valentine I eventually felt better we went swimming at her friends house. At the request of the friends mother we hiked up a nearby hill and collected wild thyme. On the way down the hill I noticed lots of little white things clinging to the weeds and grass. So I stopped and bent down to have a closer look. To my amazement I realized they were tiny white spiral shells, containing very tune snails, and there were hundreds of them in the grass. This might not seem that exciting to most people bu I love snails and had to resist the temptation to take home a bouquet of snail filled grass.
Today: I might have forgotten to mention that on Friday Valentine and Alice's uncle and his friend arrived, I was little nervous at meeting more people who I had troubl to communicate with. But like the rest of the Daries family the uncle and his friend were very nice, and like Alice and her father they spoke English. So if all else fails I can ask for a translation. This morning we all ate breakfast on the houses roof top terrace which has a spectacular view of the Palais des Papes and surrounding country side. Then Alice and I had a music exchange. Our tastes in music are more similar than mine and Valentine's so I really enjoyed this. Alice and I made a cake and talked about movies, then I went over to my friend Asher's hous to use his pool because it was a scorchingly hot day. In the evening the mily took me to a play about mentally challenged boy who loves to drum. Got a little lost in the dialogue but over all it was very good. I'm having fun over all, and my host family is amazing.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
P.S. I can't believe I forgot to mention this earlier but while I was in Paris I came with in spitting distance of Emma Thompson! The Emma Thompson, as in the amazingly talented British actress. It was near the Arc de Triomphe, a larg section of sidewalk was roped of and a small crowd had gathered. I worked my way to the front and was delighted to see Emma Thompson conversing with a beautiful French woman who must have been the star of the movie. I think Ms. Thompson was doing some sort of off screen function, maybe directions or producing, either way she looked fabulous and I only wish I could have talked to her.
Saturday: Valentine woke up with a cold so I spent the first half of the day just catching up on my sleep and talking to Alice, my orders host sister, who I quit like. When Valentine I eventually felt better we went swimming at her friends house. At the request of the friends mother we hiked up a nearby hill and collected wild thyme. On the way down the hill I noticed lots of little white things clinging to the weeds and grass. So I stopped and bent down to have a closer look. To my amazement I realized they were tiny white spiral shells, containing very tune snails, and there were hundreds of them in the grass. This might not seem that exciting to most people bu I love snails and had to resist the temptation to take home a bouquet of snail filled grass.
Today: I might have forgotten to mention that on Friday Valentine and Alice's uncle and his friend arrived, I was little nervous at meeting more people who I had troubl to communicate with. But like the rest of the Daries family the uncle and his friend were very nice, and like Alice and her father they spoke English. So if all else fails I can ask for a translation. This morning we all ate breakfast on the houses roof top terrace which has a spectacular view of the Palais des Papes and surrounding country side. Then Alice and I had a music exchange. Our tastes in music are more similar than mine and Valentine's so I really enjoyed this. Alice and I made a cake and talked about movies, then I went over to my friend Asher's hous to use his pool because it was a scorchingly hot day. In the evening the mily took me to a play about mentally challenged boy who loves to drum. Got a little lost in the dialogue but over all it was very good. I'm having fun over all, and my host family is amazing.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
P.S. I can't believe I forgot to mention this earlier but while I was in Paris I came with in spitting distance of Emma Thompson! The Emma Thompson, as in the amazingly talented British actress. It was near the Arc de Triomphe, a larg section of sidewalk was roped of and a small crowd had gathered. I worked my way to the front and was delighted to see Emma Thompson conversing with a beautiful French woman who must have been the star of the movie. I think Ms. Thompson was doing some sort of off screen function, maybe directions or producing, either way she looked fabulous and I only wish I could have talked to her.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Il Fait Chaud!
The title means, it's hot, and it really is. My host family seemed unbelievably tan to me when I arrived, but no I see why. It's about 90 degrees every day, sometimes worse. I'm not complaining though, hot weather is easy to dress for, and my host family is taking me to the sea this weekend which should be wonderful.
Anyway, here's an update. Tuesday Valentine, my constant companion and guide, took me to the Palais des Papes (the Popes Palace). I must say the Pope knew how to decorate. My favorite part was the Pope's bedroom, the walls were covered with a mural of a dark blue background and gold vines. The dinning hall was a very impressive, about thirty feet wide and twice as long with tall stone walls and a curved wooden ceiling. We walked through gigantic rooms with vaulted ceilings, tiny cramped passenger ways, and up and down countless spiral staircases. We also went to the Pont d'Avignon wich is the remnaints of a famous bridge. The Rhône, the river that runs through Avignon, used to be quite fierce and flood the city regularly as well as destroy all bridges in sight. Now it's been controlled with dams but the damage had already been done to the Pont d'Avignon and only half of it remains. It's a large stone bridge supported by arches and with an actual chapel built on to the side of it. These were amazing sights to see but the heat was making my want to close my eyes and got to sleep against one of the display cases.
The next day Valentine and I went shopping. About twice a year in in France almost every store has a huge sale, their called the soldes, and luckily for me they started in Avignon this week. After that the Experiemnt was holding a picnic so all us Americans could celebrate the fourth of July. Valentine and I went. All of us there whose first language wasn't French sang the start spangled banner very off key and couldn't stop laughing the whole time. I think the fench might have though we were a little insane.
Finally, today. Valentine was planning to take me to the Pont de Gard, an ancient roman aqueduct, but when we woke up it was ranting so we spent the day in Avignon with her friends. I love France, and am very grateful to be here, but I kinda miss home at times. I'm never quite get what's happening in a conversation. Like today, while I was walking around with Valentine and her friends, they were all speaking to each other in rapid French and I just trailed behind them like Valentine's tall mute ghost. I like making people laugh, and now I can only make them understand me. I miss being able to have an in depth discussion of something or make a clever joke( which is a rare enough occasion even in English). So I'm going to enjoy every minute I have in france, but I won't be sorry to go home. I miss my family.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Anyway, here's an update. Tuesday Valentine, my constant companion and guide, took me to the Palais des Papes (the Popes Palace). I must say the Pope knew how to decorate. My favorite part was the Pope's bedroom, the walls were covered with a mural of a dark blue background and gold vines. The dinning hall was a very impressive, about thirty feet wide and twice as long with tall stone walls and a curved wooden ceiling. We walked through gigantic rooms with vaulted ceilings, tiny cramped passenger ways, and up and down countless spiral staircases. We also went to the Pont d'Avignon wich is the remnaints of a famous bridge. The Rhône, the river that runs through Avignon, used to be quite fierce and flood the city regularly as well as destroy all bridges in sight. Now it's been controlled with dams but the damage had already been done to the Pont d'Avignon and only half of it remains. It's a large stone bridge supported by arches and with an actual chapel built on to the side of it. These were amazing sights to see but the heat was making my want to close my eyes and got to sleep against one of the display cases.
The next day Valentine and I went shopping. About twice a year in in France almost every store has a huge sale, their called the soldes, and luckily for me they started in Avignon this week. After that the Experiemnt was holding a picnic so all us Americans could celebrate the fourth of July. Valentine and I went. All of us there whose first language wasn't French sang the start spangled banner very off key and couldn't stop laughing the whole time. I think the fench might have though we were a little insane.
Finally, today. Valentine was planning to take me to the Pont de Gard, an ancient roman aqueduct, but when we woke up it was ranting so we spent the day in Avignon with her friends. I love France, and am very grateful to be here, but I kinda miss home at times. I'm never quite get what's happening in a conversation. Like today, while I was walking around with Valentine and her friends, they were all speaking to each other in rapid French and I just trailed behind them like Valentine's tall mute ghost. I like making people laugh, and now I can only make them understand me. I miss being able to have an in depth discussion of something or make a clever joke( which is a rare enough occasion even in English). So I'm going to enjoy every minute I have in france, but I won't be sorry to go home. I miss my family.
Sincerely,
Drama Queen
Monday, July 2, 2012
Welcome Home Lana!
I know I'm behind by a few days but I have a cold and I've been trying to recover from that. Here's an update.
2nd day: we met our theatre director who seem very interesting and talented, but spoke in very rapid French and I only caught a few pieces of what he was saying. Basically, we're going to do several excerpts from different French comedies and he wants us to let our American culture reshape them a little, I don't know why. Then we went to a mime class with a very funny and sweet man who actually studied with Marcel Marceau! I had a bit of trouble trying to mime anger because I kept choking on my own breath. As we were walking back from mime class we stopped in front of Notre Dame and went inside. Im not religious but that church would have been worth joining the catholic church. It was so beautiful. I have pictures which I can't post yet but as soon as I figure that out I will. It had high vaulted stone ceilings with intricate carvings in the stone, statues of lovable looking saints, and stunning stained glass. The carvings on the outside of the building were a little graphic, especially the ones of demons taking people to hell, but It was amazing what the stone carvers, architects, and builders of Notre Dame had accomplished. Finally we went out for dinner and I tried escargot! It's actually very good, a bit like mussels. And from our restaurant we saw the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle. Oh, and I also walked over an air vent wearing a dress and did a Maryland Monroe.
3rd day: we went to the Louvre! It was spectacular and I really wish I could post the pictures. I think my favorite part was Napoleans apartments. They were preserved just as they were and are ridiculously lavish. I also saw his throne which just screams power hungry. I saw Greek and romain statues, paintings and tapestries. I saw Egyptian sculpture and a whole hall way of Da Vinci and similar artist's paintings. I saw the Mona Lisa. It's very small, and truthfully I dont think it's the most amazing painting I've ever see. I think the technique which was used to paint it is masterful but the painting it self isn't stunning. At the Mona Lisa Is where it all went wrong. We had divided into two groups and were supposed to leave Louvre and begin a city wide scavenger hunt. Two of my group wer still in the Mona Lisa's room so another group member and I though we'd look at the rest of the paintings then return for them and start the scavenger hunt. Because of the Mona Lisa, that wing is the most crowded part of the Louvre so we couldn't find them again. Finally we decided to start the scavenger hunt and see if they were doing the same. We got within six blocks of the replica statues of liberty, but once we called are group leader she said to go back to the Louvre to meet our other members. So back we went not to find they weren't there. By then it was to late to do any of the scavenger hunt so we went to the finish line which was l'Arc de Triomphe. We finally met up with the rest of our group and we all went on a boat tour down the Seine river. We got to see the Eiffel Tower up close as it sparkled.
On Saturday I woke to find the day of wandering the metro had given me cold. Most of the day was a miserable train ride and then the nerve racking introduction to my host family. My host mother and my host sister, Valentine, met me at the station. I felt my stomach sink as I realized two things; one, my host mother and sister spoke very fast French and hardly any English, and two, I was a foot taller than both of them. They took me back to their house and thankfully gave me cold medicine and put me to bed.
The next morning things weren't so bad, I was still sick but well rested and I'd discovered that my host father and older sister both spoke English. My host mother, as it turns out, is a naturopath and had a variety of natural cold medicine for me. I sat and talked with my host sisters, Valentine and Alice, and the longer we talked to more I began to understand them. I began recognizing certain fraises that were usually lost on me in conversation. Valentine showed me the dance game on her wii which was actually fun and then we showed each other the favorite music on YouTube. I went to bed not as terrified as I had been.
Today the experiment had a kayak trip planned. My throat and chest no longer hurt but my nose running nonstop. I didn't want to miss the trip though, so I packed several packs of tissues and headed out the door with Valentine. The Kayak trip was actually very fun, but the water was very cold and that might not have been the best thing for my cold. The town where we kayaked was so old and quaint that I could see Napoleons armies marching in any minute. We walked a ways up to the base of a stunning cliff which reminded me of my class trip to Yosemite. We looked down into, now empty but usually underwater, caves. Then we hiked back down to the kayak rental place and got our oars, life jackets, and kayaks. I shared a kayak with Valentine and together we paddled our way down the long, beautiful, and very cold river. Valentine, though she won't admit it, is strong for her petite size and very brave. Several times, to prevent me falling in the water, she climbed up of the kayak and waded knee deep in the freezing river to dislodge our trapped vessel. The entire group reached its destination after only one wrong turn and one particular kayak tipping over several times. We changed our drenched clothes and caught the bus back to Avingon.
Well that's what's been happening, and tomorrow I'm going to explore Avingon so I'll keep you posted on that. Sorry for the post delay but fighting a cold while abroad isn't a fun experience.
Sincerley,
Drama Queen
2nd day: we met our theatre director who seem very interesting and talented, but spoke in very rapid French and I only caught a few pieces of what he was saying. Basically, we're going to do several excerpts from different French comedies and he wants us to let our American culture reshape them a little, I don't know why. Then we went to a mime class with a very funny and sweet man who actually studied with Marcel Marceau! I had a bit of trouble trying to mime anger because I kept choking on my own breath. As we were walking back from mime class we stopped in front of Notre Dame and went inside. Im not religious but that church would have been worth joining the catholic church. It was so beautiful. I have pictures which I can't post yet but as soon as I figure that out I will. It had high vaulted stone ceilings with intricate carvings in the stone, statues of lovable looking saints, and stunning stained glass. The carvings on the outside of the building were a little graphic, especially the ones of demons taking people to hell, but It was amazing what the stone carvers, architects, and builders of Notre Dame had accomplished. Finally we went out for dinner and I tried escargot! It's actually very good, a bit like mussels. And from our restaurant we saw the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle. Oh, and I also walked over an air vent wearing a dress and did a Maryland Monroe.
3rd day: we went to the Louvre! It was spectacular and I really wish I could post the pictures. I think my favorite part was Napoleans apartments. They were preserved just as they were and are ridiculously lavish. I also saw his throne which just screams power hungry. I saw Greek and romain statues, paintings and tapestries. I saw Egyptian sculpture and a whole hall way of Da Vinci and similar artist's paintings. I saw the Mona Lisa. It's very small, and truthfully I dont think it's the most amazing painting I've ever see. I think the technique which was used to paint it is masterful but the painting it self isn't stunning. At the Mona Lisa Is where it all went wrong. We had divided into two groups and were supposed to leave Louvre and begin a city wide scavenger hunt. Two of my group wer still in the Mona Lisa's room so another group member and I though we'd look at the rest of the paintings then return for them and start the scavenger hunt. Because of the Mona Lisa, that wing is the most crowded part of the Louvre so we couldn't find them again. Finally we decided to start the scavenger hunt and see if they were doing the same. We got within six blocks of the replica statues of liberty, but once we called are group leader she said to go back to the Louvre to meet our other members. So back we went not to find they weren't there. By then it was to late to do any of the scavenger hunt so we went to the finish line which was l'Arc de Triomphe. We finally met up with the rest of our group and we all went on a boat tour down the Seine river. We got to see the Eiffel Tower up close as it sparkled.
On Saturday I woke to find the day of wandering the metro had given me cold. Most of the day was a miserable train ride and then the nerve racking introduction to my host family. My host mother and my host sister, Valentine, met me at the station. I felt my stomach sink as I realized two things; one, my host mother and sister spoke very fast French and hardly any English, and two, I was a foot taller than both of them. They took me back to their house and thankfully gave me cold medicine and put me to bed.
The next morning things weren't so bad, I was still sick but well rested and I'd discovered that my host father and older sister both spoke English. My host mother, as it turns out, is a naturopath and had a variety of natural cold medicine for me. I sat and talked with my host sisters, Valentine and Alice, and the longer we talked to more I began to understand them. I began recognizing certain fraises that were usually lost on me in conversation. Valentine showed me the dance game on her wii which was actually fun and then we showed each other the favorite music on YouTube. I went to bed not as terrified as I had been.
Today the experiment had a kayak trip planned. My throat and chest no longer hurt but my nose running nonstop. I didn't want to miss the trip though, so I packed several packs of tissues and headed out the door with Valentine. The Kayak trip was actually very fun, but the water was very cold and that might not have been the best thing for my cold. The town where we kayaked was so old and quaint that I could see Napoleons armies marching in any minute. We walked a ways up to the base of a stunning cliff which reminded me of my class trip to Yosemite. We looked down into, now empty but usually underwater, caves. Then we hiked back down to the kayak rental place and got our oars, life jackets, and kayaks. I shared a kayak with Valentine and together we paddled our way down the long, beautiful, and very cold river. Valentine, though she won't admit it, is strong for her petite size and very brave. Several times, to prevent me falling in the water, she climbed up of the kayak and waded knee deep in the freezing river to dislodge our trapped vessel. The entire group reached its destination after only one wrong turn and one particular kayak tipping over several times. We changed our drenched clothes and caught the bus back to Avingon.
Well that's what's been happening, and tomorrow I'm going to explore Avingon so I'll keep you posted on that. Sorry for the post delay but fighting a cold while abroad isn't a fun experience.
Sincerley,
Drama Queen
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