2 Weeks in France

Today marks the 2nd week that I've been in France. I feel as though I've been here for months, but for only a day as well. My French is still worse than French babies, but my comprehension is starting to improve.. I think? I've started school, and everything is starting to fall in place. I even made friends!

Teresa & I.. I think it was going to rain? 

This is Jasmine.. 

A story goes along with this odd, odd video. Wednesday, school is over and we're planning on going to my house before heading to rock climbing (just to check it out). We step out of the school, and the sky decides it's a good time to dump buckets of water on us. For a 20 minute walk. Fast forward, we arrive at the apartment, drenched. For some reason, we didn't think to bring umbrellas/raincoats/rain boots? Fast forward again, we're changing in my room, and Teresa's legs are black from her jeans.. Which brings us to this video, where for some reason that I do not know, Melanie is washing Teresa's legs. These are my friends. 

In other news, tomorrow our school is taking a weekend trip throughout Brittany (the region of France we're in). In French, it's called Bretagne (Brit-ahn-ye). We'll be visiting two different departments (that is how the region is divided), Finistère and Morbihan. Rennes is in Ille-et-Vilain. 

Have a great weekend!

Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

This weekend was cold and rainy, but it was nothing that a trip to Crêperie Ste. Anne couldn't fix.

This may have been the best hot chocolate ever. I also may be a bit biased.

Don't even bother with a menu. Nutella crêpe is the way to go. 

The days here all tend to be cold and rainy and damp.. Ste. Anne trips just may be a thing. And for the curious minds, crêpe is pronounced creh-p, instead of the often-heard cray-p. 

A Trip To The Seaside

Last weekend, my family took a trip to the seaside. But before that, I went to the largest flea market of my life.

On Saturday, Frederique, Gabriel and I walked a few streets past the apartment to the 2nd largest flea market in France. It is held once a year, for only one day. And it is intense. I wish I had brought my camera, but it wouldn't have captured the massiveness of this flea market. We walked up and down streets, turning right, turning left, always walking and occasionally stopping when something caught our eye. We were there for over 4 hours, and we didn't even cover the whole flea market. Can you picture it's size now? We went from city apartments to city houses, spreading farther from the center of Rennes. It was incredible. And to answer your questions, no, I did not make any purchases. I was looking for something particularly French, particularly different, but the differences between our cultures are deeper than the style of one piece of clothing, or the toys children play with. I'm starting to realize that it's the smaller things added up.

On Sunday, after the family went to church (they're Catholic), Bernard, Frédérique, Nathanel, Raphaelle, Gabriel and I piled into the European-sized minivan and drove to the seaside. I wasn't sure how the day would go. I had only been with the family since Thursday, and being trapped in a car, and then at the beach with them with no escape from social-awkwardness? I didn't know how it would end. The car ride there we listened to Michael Jackson. The B's LOVE Michael Jackson. You should see Nathanel and Gabriel dancing to his music.. That deserves a post of it's own, though.

The town by the seaside is this small, gorgeous village. The houses and buildings are roads have the antiquity and crookedness of a fairytale story. The cobblestone roads wound through narrow streets until it was all gone and you were left with the seaside. I say seaside instead of beach, because they seem like two completely different things. Seaside gives it a different feeling, a different look. And it was different.

The seaside.

At the seaside, we unpacked our Croques Courgettes - delicious sandwiches. They are made on crustless bread (they sell it here!), with both sides buttered and toasted. Then a creamy something-or-other is added, then cooked zucchini (the courgettes) and then ham! So good. After eating our packed lunches, Raphaelle and Gabriel proceeded to wrestle in the sand, and I was just plain uncomfortable. You know the feeling, where do I go, what do I do, I definitely can NOT participate in this? Yeah, that.  And then Raph, Gaby and I went on an adventure. See those rocks over there on the left?

Now you see them?

It was decided that we would climb to the top. So it first started as a walk, and then a leaning walk, and then a full-on climb. And these rocks? Covered in barnacles or something. The bottom of my feet were being ripped up, but I did not say a word. This was my initiation test. We climbed to the top, and when we got there.. We climbed back down. We reached the bottom, only one toe was bleeding, I would say mission successful. And then, right as we start heading towards Frédérique and Bernard, Gabriel throws a handful of sand at me. And that was my invitation. We chased each other down from one end of the beach to the other, with the sand moving around making running so difficult, kicking sand and tackling each other in the end, with Raphaelle close behind. For the rest of the day, we ran around and played games, communicating silently and in mixed languages with each other. We piled back into the van later in the afternoon, caked in sand and smiling. I was accepted. 

From the beach, we drove to Saint Malo. Saint Malo is this gorgeous, old city (basically all of France is gorgeous and old, get used to it) on the coast, with high stone walls surrounding the city. We walked around the city and just took it all in. 

Raphaelle on the bottom right. 

And Nathanel is the small boy on the right!

We walked through the city, too, and got ice cream. French ice cream is different than American ice cream. It looks different, it tastes different.. but it's good.

You see?

It's a cup AND a cone!

Rennes.

I have fallen in love with this city.

Parc du Thabor

Across Parliament Square

The view from Palais Saint Georges

Casual bookstore. Note: Librairie = bookstore. Bibliothèque = library.

L'Opéra

On the steps of l'Opéra. Bonjour!

An Introduction.

My host family:

When Frederique picked me up from the SYA school, we took my two suitcases (one carry on, one checked (at 70 pounds.)) and lugged them across the gravel (seriously, SYA? A gravel road for the meet-up? 60 kids with 9 months worth of luggage..) to her car (a mini van, but shrunken to European-size). The carry-on went first and fit nicely in the trunk. The checked suitcase, not so much. After we lugged it into the car (did I mention a handle was broken on it?), it wouldn't fit in the trunk! Not upright, or sideways.. so we took the carry-on out and shoved that suitcase in so hard, and slammed the trunk door shut (numerous times) until it closed. The carry-on went up front. We drove 5 minutes to the center of Rennes, where my host family lives. For the sake of their privacy, we'll just call them the B's. How's that sound?
So we arrive in front of the apartment that I may or may not have already seen on Google maps.. (About to invade some privacy..). If you know Rennes, then you'll know that this is the top spot to be, basically. We live in Parliament Square. My room overlooks Parliament Square, and to my left and ahead, I see gorgeous, old buildings with shops on the streets and apartments above, and to my right there is Parliament. It's the center of Rennes - you can tell just by how loud it is.. all. of. the. time. So we are at the apartment door, and I drag my suitcases into the hallway to be greeted by a little boy and a dog. And a LOT of French. And then there was angry French as a younger girl and slightly older boy came running down the stairs and Frederique made them carry my 70 pound bag (with no handles, remember) up the stairs. And these are old stairs with very high ceilings, and 3 floors worth of them. They loved me..

Who are the B's?
Bernard: The father. The nicest man, with a round stomach and mostly-bald head. He makes sure to speak very slow, and re-explain in English sometimes. I love talking with him.
Frederique: The mother. A kind woman who intimidates me. She's coming to treat me as her own, which means yelling my name and making me clear the table. I like it. (:
Marie: The first daughter. She is 21, and is taking one of the most rigorous courses of education for French students, and majoring in art! She speaks fast, but it's great to talk to her (especially since her English is very good!).
Jean Baptiste: The first of three sons. He is 17, and not around much. I don't know if he's really into the whole American-who-doesn't-speak-French-comes-and-lives-with-you thing, but I'm working on him.
Gabriel: The second son. He is 13, and is always doing something. Singing or dancing or humming or tapping. He loves the Beatles and piano, and I am the most comfortable with him. He loves American music (most French do!) and we bond over sharing music and wrestling. It's normal.
Raphaelle: The second daughter. She's 11, but she acts like she's 14. She is much more mature for her age.. Most of the time. We've had a few great conversations, and she reminds me of Emily (my sister) so much.
Nathanel: The youngest son. He's 7. He was my first friend in France, from the second I dragged my suitcase through the door. He is small with blonde hair, and loves to dance like Michael Jackson (he gets very focused when he dances), and is always pulling my hand to show me something, or tossing a ball in my direction. He's amazed by eye-crossing and tongue-to-nose touching. He's the sweetest.

I cannot believe that I've only been in France for a week. I feel like I've been here at least a month. I'm already so much more comfortable with the family, and Rennes is coming to feel like home (maybe. Some of these French cultural things..). I walk the streets daily - I walk everywhere! - in amazement, looking at the architecture, and the people, and the language that surrounds me and I'm just in awe. I can't believe that I'm actually here, in France.

I'd like to apologize to everyone for not responding to emails/letters/facebook messages/texts. My internet is ethernet, so I don't get it on my phone at home (only at school). As you know, I'm in France. It has me a bit busy. I apologize for the lack of blog posts, and I hope to fill you all in on my life here in France shortly. Keep reading!

The apartment. From the 3rd floor and up, and 2 more windows to the left.

Parliament.

I Have Arrived.

In France. I have arrived in France.

 

Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start, according to The Sound of Music). My trip to France was only slightly interesting. After saying goodbye to my parents before entering security, I was alone! Independent! Flying internationally all by myself.. plus 57 other SYA students.

Teresa and I at the United States airport. 

Our flight was supposed to leave at 5:30, but it was delayed a glorious 3 hours, and the gate was moved twice! (See Gate 12? That's the 3rd gate. We were also at 41, and 3). By the time I sat down on the plane, my feet were blistered (what a bad idea it was to decide to break in my new shoes on that day..) and I was exhausted, and I promptly fell asleep before the plane took off. Almost 8 hours later with a 6 hour time difference - we're saying about 10:30 am, here - we landed in Paris. Customs was simple, and more waiting ensued as the SYA students gathered to board the bus to Rennes.

The bus ride to Rennes was about 4 hours long, but we didn't leave until 12. I slept on that ride, too. We stopped for a small picnic lunch, and it was the most unordinary school lunch I've ever had. You know your typical lunch the school gives you when you're on field trips? The Saran-wrapped dry bread filled with what should be turkey, and maybe cheese? Well, I had a baguette (it was huge! Longer than a foot long, and covered in flour!) filled with salmon and avocados and cheese. It was the most delicious and gourmet school sandwich I've ever had. I get a little bit worked up about these things.

I would post more beautiful and artistic and wonderfully timed photos of my bus ride into Rennes, but my phone died. Apparently if you leave your American phone on in an international country, it doesn't stop trying to search for service? It must be very tiring.

And then.. I was THERE. In RENNES. The bus stopped by our school (but not AT our school, notice the difference), and we carried our too-large suitcases from the bus across gravel and down a cobblestone street (in very blistered feet, mind you) to meet... a swarm of host families. They were bringing us to the slaughter house. The French! The FRENCH! There was an invisible line between us, as they gathered on one side and we gathered on the other. Prior to this meeting, prior to Rennes, I had not spoken to my host family at all. I did not know what they looked like, I did not know what to expect.. how would my host family find me? I had two suitcases with me, and I had been travelling for more than 24 hours. I was a bit of a wreck. But my host mother found me!

Her name is Frederique.

But more on that later. ;)

P.S. Feel free to comment right below when you think I'm especially charming. It makes my day, basically.

Do you smell the nostalgia?

Maybe it's just my overly-sentimental sense of smell, but it's there. Not quite summer, not quite fall. Not ready to end, but not ready to begin either. It's like the earth is right on the edge of diving into a whole new world of orange and yellow and red. It will be brilliant.

Do you smell it? 

On another note, I've been tasting the dreams of pregnant mermaids all day. Pretty fancy stuff.

Host Family Update!

Thanks to Facebook, I've been able to talk to all of the other 59 students who are going to France with me! Not only that, but students who went to Rennes last year are on the Facebook group too, giving advice, telling us about their host families, seeing who has their host family this year. It's been so helpful. I never expected to talk to the student who had my host family last year. It just never crossed my mind, but when the 1 in my message box popped up and I read "I had your host family last year!" I was so excited, and so relieved.

So what have I learned about my host family that I didn't know before?
Well, firstly, I have the jackpot family. They're called this for two reasons: 1. They live in the perfect location - the center of Rennes! They have easy access to everything, and they are right across from Parliament Square, where there will be different events all of the time. 2. The second reason why they're the jackpot family is because of the kids. Kids?! What? I thought I didn't have any host siblings! Well, it turns out, not only do I have host siblings, I have 5. That's right, 5! For those who don't know me, I only have one sister, so an addition 4 siblings will be quite the change.

I am so excited to move to France. I leave in 5 days! I've been packing and shopping and freaking out, and I can't believe that the day is finally coming. For those who would like to write to me, my address will be:
Elizabeth Ollero
5 Allée Sainte-Marie
35700 Rennes, France

For those who would like to email me, my email is: Elizabethollero@gmail.com
Add me on skype to chat or video with me: ElizabethOllero
Or, if you have an iPhone/Android, add the Viber app (and my phone number!) so that we can text and talk for free!
Keep in touch! Remind me what English is! Send me stickers!