Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Mont St Michel






Oh, where to start? So last weekend I went to Mont St. Michel with my Rotary club. Since we had to leave from Paris at six in the morning, I spent the night with another Rotary student named Victoria who lives with a wonderful Swedish family (their daughter, Susanne was in New Jersey last year) and drove with them in the morning. As the bus pulled in Saturday morning, there were a few students already on it (the Lille district came with us) and looking into the windows, I thought for sure I saw Marissa, one of the three girls from my New York district to go to France, on the bus. I shrugged it off while loading my stuff because I have often seen people on the street here who look quite a bit like people from home and so I figured it was just another time like that. It was not. Walking onto the bus I saw the girl again and it WAS Marissa! After a jumpy, excited hug we sat down next to each other and talked with each other and with the many other rotary students on the bus for the five hour bus ride.
We arrived and unpacked all our stuff for the weekend. We stayed in a bungalow with about six students to each. They were really cute, like little, mini, French houses, but unfortunately, they had no bathrooms. There was one large building with toilets, sinks and showers for everyone to use and it was UNISEX (as many bathrooms are here) and I have yet to get over it. There’s just something so odd about coming out of a stall and washing your hands right next to a guy. It’s not something I’ve ever experienced in the US and it’s just very…different.
While on the bus, Marissa and I wondered out loud to each other about Anne, the other girl from our district, and thought about how she was doing. After unpacking, we walked to lunch (lunch was a “pique-nique” provided by the hotel which included: a salami sandwich, a ham sandwich, a piece of bread, some cheese, an orange, a stick of chocolate…AND AN EGG? ) and low and behold – THERE WAS ANNE! It was so fantastic and all three of us shared yet an even JUMP-IER, EXCITED-IER hug. It was so amazing to see both of them, as I thought the next time I’d see them (after the plane) would be the welcome home picnic in August! They are both doing so well and I’m still over the moon that we got to hang out all weekend.
Saturday afternoon we drove to Mont St Michel and proceeded to WALK around it in the windy, cold rain…barefoot in the mud and freezing ocean water for FOUR HOURS. But it was really, really beautiful. There’s a big debate about which is the most visited tourist attraction in France – the Eiffel Tower or Mont St Michel. I’m not sure which is the true winner, but I can say that Mont St Michel is one of the most beautiful, historical structures I’ve ever seen. The pointed abbey sits on top of a little island that makes the most majestic scene, especially come sunset. It’s absolutely incredible.
That night, there was a big Rotary dinner with traditional folk dancers for entertainment. After they were finished, all the countries got up and sang their national anthem. There was Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Slovakia, Russia, Germany, Canada, USA and a few more countries represented with all the students. After that, there was a dance till around 2 in the morning (what is it with Rotary and dances :]?). It was really, really cool to meet everyone from all the different countries and all over the US. All in all, I think there were 6 or 7 districts there, all from the north of France.
Sunday morning, we went back to the abbey and had two hours to tour it. History geek that I am, I wish we had had a week to explore it! It’s such a beautiful structure and I’m in awe of how it was built and the history behind each and every room in it. After we finished, it was time for a quick lunch and then the bus ride home. Although everyone was incredibly tired, we all stayed awake and talked the whole way home. There was a lot of giggling and laughing, which I’m sure was due to our slap-happy exhaustion, but it was a wonderful weekend that I can’t believe was only two days – it feel like it was so much longer, but so much shorter!
So, now I’m “home”, still tired, but happily reflecting on everything. Today is my 42nd day here, and I just can’t believe I’ve been away so long! It’s been a little difficult to switch back to French after two days in mostly all English, but I’m doing really well and am really happy.
Hope all is well with everyone! Bisous!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A letter to my country

Dear America,

Hey there, it’s Kristen. How’re you doing? I’m doing pretty well, thanks. I’ve been having a great time lately, and have been keeping busy. I went to Park Astrix, an amusement park near Paris, two weekends ago with my host family and that was fun. We hosted a German “correspondent” for a week in our house which was interesting. His name was Matthius and he was very kind, and just as confused as I was at the beginning of this exchange. I went to a modern dance class with a girl named Marie (which was fun, but nothing like a Donna Decker class) and am looking around town for a ballet studio. I went to a talk with an American journalist who live in France (Ted Stanger) about the upcoming election and babysat a few more times. I’ve gone shopping and bought some cute new fall clothes and a new camera (mine wouldn’t charge here) and have been reading and writing (I just finished my second journal!). Busy, busy, busy.
Last weekend I went to Belgium with my host family and it was really beautiful. The scenery was breathtaking, and the Belgian people are SO NICE. I didn’t have any waffles or French fries (which, as a side note, apparently were invented in Belgium and they are VERY TOUCHY on the subject of American’s calling THEIR fries “French”). I know, I know, I can hear your astonishment -“Kristen, you went to Belgium and did not eat their world famous Belgian waffles or their equally alluring fries? What exactly did you DO there, then?” Well America, what I did was eat their chocolate; their marvelous, manna-like chocolate. I don’t think I will ever look at a Hershey’s bar the same. Ironically, I also celebrated my one month anniversary in France in Belgium. It astounds me that I’ve been away from you for so long.
I miss quite a bit about you, America – especially your New York autumns. The trees change here, and everyone loves to point out the prettiness of the newly turned red leaves, but it’s not the same.. I miss the sunny but briskly cool days where nothing is more soothing than a walk outdoors contemplating the changing colors of the season followed by a steaming cup of tea. I miss the apples and the cider, the Fly Creek Cider Mill donuts, the scarecrows, the pumpkins – all the traditional fall things. There’s just nothing that can be compared to an upstate New York fall, not even beautiful, romantic France with its lovely countryside and history. And your pizza...oh, how I miss your pizza. Don't get me wrong, the food here is beyond fabulous, but Otown is the only place in the world you can really get a little slice of heaven. This new town is nothing like my “city of the hills”; it’s both different and wonderful in its own way. I’m curious as to what I’ll miss of it next year at the same time as now.
Now, America, I’m a bit confused about what’s going on with you. I’ve heard some rumors that I don’t really understand. First I was shocked by Sarah Palin; that was quite a curveball from McCain, eh? And now I’m hearing something about the stock market crashing? America, what’s going on? I think about you all the time, mainly because I’m always introduced as “Kristen, the American”. I never really thought of myself as American until now (I mean, obviously I knew I was, but I didn’t wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say “Good Morning, self, you’re an American!”). You’re making it a little difficult for me with all this silliness. I'm trying hard to intergrate myself into this new culture and it's hard when I constantly have to worry about you. Please, pull yourself together, dear.
Well, that’s all I have to say for now. This weekend I’m going to Mont St Michel with Rotary which I hear is absolutely beautiful. I’m quite excited.. I really do hope all is well, keep in touch.

Bisous,

Kristen