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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
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10:50 pm - Next Time You Point a Finger, I'll Point You to the Mirror
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So. I went and Saw the Envy for the third time on the 15th. It was ... awesome. Seriously I love this band. The first time I saw them Ang and I were so impressed and really I just continue to be impressed. At first the singer Shaun seemed really disconnected etc after the show but this time he chatted with Ang and I and seemed like he was in a really good mood. I did something really embarrassing with the Drummer though. When I meet people I always offer my name and my hand. So twice I looked/sounded like an idiot.
K: Hi, Izzy (Drummer) I'm K. (now we've already met but I don't expect him to remember me)
I: Hey, how do you know my name?
K: Oh I've seen you twice in Ottawa (and here instead of letting go of his hand, I cover our hands with my other hand in what I like to call the 'Granny pat' DEAR LORD.
Now... We have a chat and I go off to talk to Shaun.
K: Hi Shaun (here I say my name, but he's already talking over me)
S: Oh! Hi Shaun
K: No, my name is Kristina.
Ooooooo so smooth. He thought my name was Shaun. LOL.
When I talked to Bodan ( a guitarist) nothing embarrassing happened thank god. And later when I talked to the guys in the Stereos I just said ' nice show, like the music' and I also complimented the uber white singer on his rapping skills. Nice and simple.
Anyways, I am sure you don't need to read about the shows I go to for twenty minutes but before I go on I do want to mention Down In Ashes. Awesome band from here and they are really REALLY good. Like they have uber potential. I've seen them twice, the guys are really nice too. If you can check them out on nov 27th at the Capital I suggest you do!
Ok so to talk about something even more awesome. Me! haha jks.
I keep getting sick. I wash my hands like a mad woman. I still get sick. First it was very likely because I always put my hands near my eyes and mouth etc. Then I decided it's because I eat very unhealthily ( so I am eating more fruits, veggies and taking vitamins) and now I think it's because I stressed myself out and that weakens the immune system. I just want to be healthy for a full month! Its like IMPOSSIBLE.
School is almost done for the semester and frankly I CAN NOT WAIT. There is only one class that I am REALLY into right now and thats psych. My history class is kinda boring this semester. And english... well lets not even go there. Next semester I have an awesome psych, and the history of czechoslovakia and then sadly more english. But they serious can not be as bad as this semesters english classes. That is not possible!
Either way I am thankful I caught up on my homework now so I really can't complain much.
We built a foundation for a shed this weekend. I spent about two hours digging dirt, then another hour digging gravel and another hour carrying patio stones. It was a lot of work and those stones were way heavy but I felt good after and I was glad we accomplished something.
I do not know if I mentioned this before but I am going to learn Russian and I am actually serious about it. I am going to wait since school is so crazy... it might even have to wait until the summer. But I am going to learn it I have wanted to for so long!
Anyways I guess I am done for now!
current music: Down In Ashes
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| Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
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9:12 pm - Eyes on Fire
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Yesterday I applied for Grad School. Or maybe it can't be considered grad school, I'm not sure. I'll have graduated with a BA before I enter it, but I think the program is still considered an undergrad. Well you know what. My logic says that since I'll have graduated, and since I want to sound extra smart, I shall be calling it grad school. Spread the word ;)
It actually has made me all stressed, but I think I can work through this. I filled out the actual OUAC/TEAS application and now I have a statement of experience to send in with some references. But I really feel like I don't have enough experience that that is going to hurt me. Sure I did a summer camp and I worked in a school, but thats it. I've done other stuff, but AGES ago. It won't count.
The Mariana's Trench show is coming up. I am uber excited, last time I met the band (I am definitly going to marry the singer, mark my words. Each time I see him I seduce him just a wee bit more! he can't resist!) and had a really good time. This time Alli is coming with Ang and I so I KNOW it'll be a blast. I also bought tickets to the Three Days Grace concert, which I noticed after has The Used opening for them. OK SERIOUSLY? This is the best year ever. I saw the Used when the headlined Taste of Chaos two years ago, they were awesome and I saw TDG when they opened for Nickleback like 6 years ago. Also awesome. Plus Steff will be coming with me! It'll be like something cool we can do together!
So I actually just finished a close analysis of a passage from Chaucers general prologue, hopefully I'll get a good mark! We shall wait and see! I also had my first mid term today. Which I did ok on but I really felt cheated because I studied so much and then most of what I studied wasn't even on the exam, and then there were a few things that were on it and I was like... WHAT? So LAME
Other than this stuff there is not much going on. I have an essay worth 50% that I have to start due on the 28th. I have my topic and a few notes but I need to get SERIOUS. I also have a presentation in two weeks, I am going to get on that asap. I am going shopping friday and I am saving angie from herself on friday night by going to some kind of battle of the bands with her. (Long story short some creepy dude is stalking her and she was retarded and let him know she was going there on friday so now I have to go and make sure she isn't date raped or something)
And then yeah! That's it, life is pretty BLAH at the moment! Except I get to see Cass again! She's been coming to campus to hang with me! So sweet!
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| Saturday, September 26th, 2009
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11:23 am - I Can't Focus
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So yes, it has been a long time. I feel like I start all my entries this way. I think the last real entry I posted was to finish off my trip to France.
The summer went by pretty good. We moved, I may have talked about that actually. I worked full time as I got a new position at my work, and now I am fully finished my training and out there on my own. It's kinda scary because every single customer I talk to is different and sometimes they have the craziest problems that are so difficult to fix and I just feel stupid.
In face last night I dreamt about work and how a customer had a problem and I put them on hold for like two hours and just ignored them until they hung up. Clearly there are some issues here :D
I have been sick the past week and today is the first day I feel pretty could. I have no head, throat or nose issues. I can't believe I can breathe. I have a slight cough though. I only really cough because i think about it and then I feel like I have to cough. I'm psyching myself into coughing. GREAT.
Classes are actually going well. I have a medieval english class where we are reading the canturbusy tales and I am actually enjoying it! Actually most of my english classes are good. The only class I am not loving in my history seminar because I think what we are reading as texts has NOTHING- practically nothing- to do with the actual subject matter. And its a LOT of reading. Its retarded.
I have a psych class too, its child development and it's freaking me out! There are so many ways for a pregnant woman to mess up her child while it's still in the womb. In fact there are like ten ways to do it before you even know you are pregnant. I am so surprised that not everyone on the planet doesn't have a serious disease or malformity!
Today I am probably taking my sisters and Selina out for a photo shoot. Last fall I took a ton of pictures of them, and I was thinking it would be nice to do it again this fall. An annual photo shoot. It would be cool to see how much they've grown when we compare the pictures. In fact I think I am going to pose them the exact same as one of my fav pictures from last year and compare! I think it'll be cool!
Speaking of Fall, it is by far my most fav season! The chilliness is amazing. I want to jump on a hayride and then have some hot chocolate everynight! Seriously, you know how some people feel more romantic at certain times of the year? Fall is my time. It's the only time I actually want a boyfriend, because it would be so nice to go for a nice walk and then curl up and watch tv or something. :D
I am thinking of buying a new computer, a Macbook no less! But It'll take a couple of paychecks to pay for. Nonetheless, I feel like even if I buy a macbook I'll be keeping this computer. I'll want to be using them for different things anyways. but does that sound crazy? Having two laptops??? I also still need to buy a shelf, and I also need to buy a couch like thing for my room. AND Most of you don't know about this yet, but I have started learning the Russian alphabet and I intend to learn the language, so I am going to be buying a Rosetta Stone thingy (lol) which is quite expensive! But I am so excited, I have the first five letters of the alphabet down pat!
Anyways I have also planned a trip to Kingston for halloween! Yay! I am soooooo exctied. I am going to be spending the timew with Allison and Liz! Alli is planning on giving me a tour of campus and we're probably going to do a hike and go on a hayride! Woot!
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| Monday, July 20th, 2009
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10:11 am - Sing us a Song, and We'll Sing it Back to You
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Alright so jumping from a fabulous month in France, to where I am now.
When I got back to Canada it really only took about a week and a half to sell our house. From there it was rush rush to get all our stuff packed together. I was still trying to find a summer job on top of my regular job, but at this point it was getting hard since I had no idea where I might be living, hence its not very practical to accept a job that could end up being impossible to get to. I decided my best hope was to apply for a 'promotion' and my exsisting job while I kept looking for a second one.
In June I went to see Marianas Trench, who I know I lot of people don't like, but too bad I do like them and not only did I get to see them live, I also got to meet the band so it basically made my summer and now I have pictures to remind me. I am happy to say I did not act like a loser who met famous people, but a person meeting new people who did something awesome. I introduced myself, shook their hands, got a picture and had a wee bit of conversation while Ang stood awkwardly by, it was too funny.
Not long after selling our house, my parents bought another one, so I was no longer worrying about where we would be living. There was a slight chance at a time that we'd of had to stay in a hotel or something until we had something since the guy moving in really wanted us out asap and we were just not ready yet. It all worked out very well though and we were set to move for the 3rd of July.
I didn't get to see the house until the 1st, which really made me anxious, but in the end I loved the place. My room is painted this mustardy yellow colous which I hated becase it made the room dark, but now that I've lived in it for a while, I am starting to like it. It has to be the most unique colour in the house! Its all really basic colours in here so it's nice to stand out ;)
Anyways, I also have a walk in closet! Yes! It's actually the best place to store stuff, I love it!
Back to Canada Day: After seeing the house I made my way downtown for Steff's going away party. She left for Africa only three days after that. I miss her very much but she is sending me texts and emails so it's nearly like she is still here... she really is having an awesome time! We had gone to Patty Bolands for the party and afterwards we ended up on a parking garage downtown to see the fireworks. These guys came up and thought it was a good idea to shoot fireworks into the crowd at the market and so the cops came and questioned us (when I saw us, I mean more me because I am the only one the cop actually talked to) and then he left. Everyone had wanted to run away, but I didn't. I mean, that makes us look guilty. Hy would we run if there was no reason to go? Anyways we stayed and had a pretty good view! And then we chilled at steff's apartment for some time and I went home.
We moved two days later. That was when my new job started. I did get the promotion at work and so now I work 3-11 every weekday. It really sucks and you'll soon know why. The move took us over 24 hours and it was full of wonderful heavy lifting. UGH! But we were all really happy because we have this nice big new house... in the south end. If you are from here, you can probably guess where it is I live....
It takes me an HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES to get anywhere by bus basically. That is if i want to go back into the city. To go to work, to the east end, downtown, its so long! when I get off work at night, I don't get home until 12:15 am, or maybe midnight exactly if I am lucky and was able to catch and earlier bus. Its sooooo stupid.
But I will get used to it. I am just thinking of how long it'll be to get to 830 classes when school starts..... ugh god. At least I'll never have a reason to have not done my class readings with all that free time on my hands...
Anyways since the move not much had happened. I am trying to continue to drag my butt into town to see people, though it's so tempting to become a hermit... and I have completed two out of five weeks of in class training for my job. After that it's three weeks on the floor training and by september I'll be back to work as usual.
I can't think of anything else that is pertinant to say at this moment except that I am waiting for a letter from the Artic and it had better get here soon! Waiting for snail mail always makes me super impatient and excitable!
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| Thursday, June 4th, 2009
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10:20 pm - A Final Note
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I thought maybe it would be a good idea to finish up my trip!
On my last full day in Lyon I went out with Heather and some of the girls to the Carre De Soie, we did some shopping and I picked up some books for myself. Then we went to Vieux Lyon, we walked around and enjoyed ourselves and we picked up souvenirs for people and got some delicious ice cream/gelato. We ran into Sam which was nice, and I met her french friend. Heather and I returned to residence, made some pasta and then went out again to the antique fair and then finally to the zoo.
The antique fair was really a 'city of antiques' and it was indoors, not outdoors like I expected. It was basically a huge mall, only all they sold was antiques. It was really cool.
The zoo was right there near there, we were on Stalingrad and we needed to go like one street over. I loved the fact that the street was called Stalingrad. Loved it.
Anyways, the zoo sucked in the sense that the animals were all inside either because they thought it late (it was like 6) or because it was too hot, I am not sure, but there were in fact all in. We only saw like two things. But we enjoyed the weather and the plants and each other company (It was Heather, Ashley and Cristina and I).
After that I chilled out and basically went to bed said my goodbyes to a lot of people and woke up nice and early the next morning. Meaghan, Melissa, Sam H, Heather and I all took the same flight so that was nice. We were a little later than we wanted to be at the airport but in the end it didn't matter. The airport was retarded though, all the elevators were out of order which was STUPID, we had to walk a long ways with all our stuff.
Then we checked in as a group and everyone but me was over, and so they all had to use my kg's and then they sill ended up paying 60 euro extra charges which is quite insane!
Heather and I sat next to each other and the other girls were behind us, we were way at the back of the plane and it was quite nice. They showed better movies. I only watched Yes Man though, which I have already seen. I kept laughing before the funny parts happened because I knew they would happen. I think Heather liked it. Heather and I then watched like five episodes of The Office (the canadian version) I actually liked it quite a bit!
I actually slept a little tiny bit! Not a lot, cause Heather accidentally hit me and woke me up, but a little!
The flight home had way less turbulance during the flight, but the landing was WAY less smooth. I actually thought we might crash, and not because I was being paranoid, but because we were rocking like mad. It was scary. Melissa said something along the lines of " It had better be REALLY windy when I get off this plane"
SO we got off, went through customs, and then I hopped on a greyhound and headed home where my dad and K picked me up and I was then treated to a delicious meal. Unpacking was so easy it took me like five seconds-which was about as much time as it took me to pack ;)- and then I stayed up until ten and slept. By then it was 4 am LYON time, so I was in desperate need of sleep. I was only jet lagged for like two days, it was quite awesome.
I went back to work on tuesday (I took monday off) and spent all week with the kindergardeners. I overheard some awesome stuff! Kids say the funniest things.
Anyways, I'll update you with the rest later. I just wanted to complete the log of my trip!
Bisous!
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| Friday, May 22nd, 2009
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12:41 pm - Hallelujah!
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We had our last classes today, now we are free for... ONE DAY. lol.
This morning we got up bright and early and went out to the shopping centre and the industrial village to do our presentation. We had to speak into a mic so the prof could record us, that was pretty intimidating. But overll she was very pleased with us, we were the only group she didn't interupt and I think we set the bar for the others quite high. The problem was it took over an hour with the walking and the talking and then the next three presentations basically took that time too. And we had five presentations in total.
It was HOT and we had to go on buses, and metros and trams that were packed, overall it was quite unpleasant and people got tired of walking very fast. We eventually stopped for lunch in the Etats-Unis neighbourhood- named so because of the americans during the war, they uh did something and somehow no one in the neighbourhood ever got to see an american and so it was named.-
Anyways we had lunch, but it was 22 people to feed at this tiny little cafe and so that took AGES and then we were off again but this time to campus to do our last two presentations. After that there was some cake of which I did not eat- I spent my time drawing really bad pictures on the white board- and then we came back to res to send off our homework and fill out some survey.
Now we are about to leave to go out to the Bouchon. Bouchon is french for fancy dinner that will taste disgusting. ex: head of cow, liver, guts. Yeah that kind of stuff. I hope they have some normal chicken. Whatever I don't have to pay for it, so if I don't eat what I order no biggie for me. The thing is it's mandatory and it's our last few hours all together.
After that we are supposed to be going out, but I am not sure I am going. No I am not a party pooper, I am simply someone who already partied hard this week and who still hasn't been to Vieux Lyon which is supposed to be awesome. So why would I party when I can go do something new and exciting? We shall see.
Anyways, there is your quick update into the surprisingly boring life of Kristina in France. ;)
Bisous!
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| Thursday, May 21st, 2009
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5:48 pm - C'est l'Air
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So I haven't updated in forever and I am sorry about that. It has been a BUSY week! Hopefully my memory is good enough to give you a nice recount.
So I remember I told you about sunday so I will go straight to Monday. Monday was pretty chill. We had class all day so that kinda sucked, and as far as I remember nothing special happened. But seriously I am not sure it feels like ages ago! I am fairly certain I stayed in doing homework. Oh actually, we went to Carre de Soie which is the outdoor shopping centre we are doing a project on. So Heather, Rob and Sam F and I went out there, did some work, window shopped and then when we got back I was so tired I fell asleep while trying to do homework!
On Tuesday we had class in the morning, so again nothing special, but in the afternoon we got a special treat, and that treat is called the GHETTO.
Now this is what I thought anyways. We were taking a trip to Lyon's ghetto to see how life is there.
What a joke. My neighbourhood is more ghetto than their so called ghetto. The 'ghetto' looked like Ottawa. Seriously. It looked perfectly normal and as far as we were told had pretty low crime rates. But everyone in Lyon thinks this specific neighbourhood is the ghetto. Granted it's a little crappy looking cause it's under contstruction, but I don't think these Lyonaise people know what Ghetto means. I mean seriously. It had nice parks, a mini mall and clean streets. That alone is tons better than where we live, and yet this is not considered ghetto.
Anyways, after that scary and life changing trip we headed back to res, I did some more homework and then Zoe and I went to the theatre to see Antingonae and it was really good. The stage was very minimalist with only a few chairs and a table, and all costumes were modern and frankly very boring, but they stuck to the original script very nicely and I enjoyed it a lot! I even cried a bit, but that was to be expected! Anyone who knows how it ends knew I would cry!
Wednesday was another day full of class it was LAME! But we got through it! I think what held us together was the fact that we were going out!!! I was so excited because I didn't go to the bar last time since I was being a loser and did homework and the first time we attempted to go out it was a big FAIL. After class though Caitlin, Heather and I went on the boat cruise! I LOVE boats. Seriously. I love the feeling of being on the water and I enjoyed the cruise a lot. Our guide was some teenaged girl or uni student who was not enthusiastic at all, but whatever, she didn't ruin it all! Everything was so pretty and I got to see a new aspect to the city.
After that Heather and I went shopping a bit. I was looking for something small to give my sisters while they wait for their actual souvenirs and I was looking for something else I have in mind for my grandmothers. I had no success on either front, but I managed to buy myself clothes. Funny how that happens...
Anyways we got back, Chloe and I went for dinner and then we had to meet at the university for a 'wine and cheese' with our pen pals, only of course my rebellious,alkie and communist pen pal did not show up and so I just chatted with other people and their pen pals. Eventually we left back to res because we had better things to do... uh like get ready to party!
Only it only took me five minutes to get ready, so I did some more homework! Yay! In case you are wondering yes there is a LOT of homework. But I am technically all done now.
Anyways, we then went out, we were a BIG group, only five people didn't come... so 15 of us, and then Boubakar which is this uni student who follows us everywhere as part of his graduate thesis or something. I dunno.
We also had a bunch of the pen pals with us and we went to one of their houses (Her name was Audrey) and we met her boyfriend and his band. (WHO BY THE WAY LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND FOR A YEAR AND A HALF) Anyways, I found that they were all trying to be very enlgish. They were all into the clash and the who and danko jones etc and they were all dressed in the skinny jeans and the jean jackets and they had the beatles hair and they rolled their own cigarettes. It was very ironic and quite funny actually. The boyfriend (Simon) had a super strong New Zealand accent too which made it more funny.
We stayed there for about two hours I'd say, just talking and listening to music (Of course almost everyone was drinking, but there are actually four of us who don't drink! Woot solidarity!) My roomate was actually really drunk. She had actually drank two bottles of wine on her own and I was getting worried. She broke a chair and when we were leaving to go to the club she could not walk straight at all. I walked with her keeping her close so she wouldn't fall. Patrick was also quite drunk, he stole a license plate that was hanging off a car, but then he gave it up.
When we got to the club we were waiting outside and I noticed that Caitlin looked like she was going to throw up. I had already asked her if she wanted to go home and she insisted she stay, thankfully by this time there was no alcohol near her! She probably would have kept drinking! Anyways she very soon changed her mind and she and Meaghan went back to res. I felt really bad, but I mostly hoped she didn't throw up in our room....
Anyways, the club was a BOAT! It didn't move but it was still a boat which I think was pretty cool. We danced a lot and there were no problems, only at one point someone did something to Patrick and he almost got in a fight. I have no idea for sure what happened, all I know is one second I was dancing and the next three people including myself and restraining him. He calmed down in a couple minutes though, but that guy should seriously watch his alcohol intake. He was kinda scary.
Anwyays we left shortly after that, but not before the WOO HOO song came on, and of course being Canadian we rocked the boat! (haha no pun itended... or wait yes... it was)
The baot was really close to our res seeing as we live really close to the river. So yeah, I showered as soon as I got home though cause the lights made us all so hot. I don't get why they have SUPER bright lights on people when they dance. It was horrible. The point is to dance in the dark so no one can see how bad you are!
Today was a busy day. I was woken up by Melissa and Patrick banging on my door to tell me Sam and Rob had left for Grenoble, which I already knew! SO they scared me awake for nothing! But it was nice fo them to think of me - I have a project with those two due tomorrow- I spent the morning doing the last of my homework and then at three Heather and I had a meeting with some leader of a counter project to the Carre de Soie and so for two and a half hours he showed us around the neighbourhood. It was nice and cosy! I liked it a lot and we learned a lot about the history of the factory that was there. We also went to a small canteen thing where this guy asked me if all canadians had blond hair and blue eyes. lol.
After that we came back, I actually retouched up my homework- I am a perfectionist!- and then I went around getting pictures from people so I can make one of my 'famous' dvd's. Then Chloe, Zoe and I went for a walk and now here I am!
Tomorrow we do out last project and then we have saturday free to do whatever and sunday I leave back to Ottawa! What the project is- is to take our class around our neighbourhood and teach them about it. We have a neighbourhood, but mostly its the shopping mall so it should be fun! Then as far as I know we are going out again tomorrow night. Saturday I have a day full of market hopping planned and then yup, home it is!
Bisous!
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| Sunday, May 17th, 2009
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3:18 pm
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So I realised that I left out all day on Friday!
Friday was ridiculous!
We had a class from ten to 1 which was one of the trip classes. We went around looking at underground parking essentially. Now you might think this is crazy, but it's not. We were studying public spaces in Lyon. Obviously we didn't JUST look at underground parking, but you'd be surprised to hear that the underground parking was my favorite part!
What sucked about the day was that is was raining. And I am not talking about a little drizzle... or even steady rain. I mean POURING IN YOUR FACE WET TO YOUR KNEES RAIN. This was a problem.
I was actually wet up to my knees, I had gotten water up my leg and my shoes have now been wet for three days. They are not drying... I even tried a blow dryer on them...
Anyways, we started by looking at the Place des Terreaux which is this neat little square with the coolest water fountain ever. It is some goddess with a carriage of horses and they mist out of their noses! But not all the time, it's something that goes on intermittently, it's cool. I need to steal a picture (I didn't bring my camera that day).
After that we headed to underground parking. The parking is literally amazing. They do all sorts of things to make it cool and the architechs put a lot of thought into it. The first one we saw was actually built on city limits in the middle ages on what was called the 'fosse' which is basically a medieval garbage dump. So there are two walls that mark the city limits and the fosse... almost none of the people we asked actually knew the history of the parking lot, to them it was just parking. It was so well lit, and so nicely kept with security etc that I have no doubt that people feel completely safe. Its not sketchy at all, it's almost like a reception area.
There is also this huge place to part bicycles and scooters!
We then went to another one which had this huge tunnel in the middle with windows all around it and at the bottom it had this huge rotating mirror that reflected the people looking down on it from the windows. Way nicer than any parking garage in Ottawa!
This one was actually near a theatre and I noticed that it was showing Antigone! (Live theatre and for you english people out there its called Antigonae.)I really want to go and I was so sad cause I was thinking of how impossible it would be to find someone who wanted to go with me. And then.... Zoe mentioned it! I was like NO WAY! SO now Zoe and I are hopefully going on tuesday night! YES.
Anwyays class continued on, we were all soaked and dying, and our prof decided to take us to a cafe for the last half hour of class- or so we thought- instead she made us sit there for half an hour after class was finished talking to us while we were all soaking and shivering. I would not be surprised if someone got hypothermia. I mean really. It was stupid. She also tore into us about our projects, but really we have A LOT of work to do. I am seriously the only person who has done most of her work and that's saying a lot.
Anwyays obviously Caitlin and I did not go on our boat tour with pouring rain, so we postponed it until today but then didn't end up going because our school interefered with it you'll see why after.
Anwyays yeah that was basically all you were missing from Friday. Now if I jump back to today...
This morning we (Caitlin, Cristina and I) went to the maket and it was AMAZING. I don't think I've ever really been to the market so that was a fun experience! I got some baguette! woot! It was REALLY windy today though, like the blow super skinny people over wind. The bridge you had to walk on to get to the market was actually moving and so when I was walking it make me get that pit in my stomach. As a general rule I am not afraid of heights, what I am afraid of is not being stable while being in high places. It was not pleasant.
After that we walked by the river, then took the metro to Carre de Soie which is this new outdoor shopping mall. Everything was closed but I have to do a project on it. It was retarded, even though I had told my group we needed to go TODAY they all bailed and I was the only one who ended up doing anywork- Heather was not in Lyon so I don't blanme her, but both Sam F and Rob bailed even though the work needs to be done- but whatever I have the work and I don't intend to just give it to them, they still have to go tomorrow!
We then did not do our boat cruise because we had to go see a play for school. It was really good but I almost had an anurism because the play actuall has mentally challenged people in it, and they sing and there was this huge group of teenagers who LAUGHED continuously at them. That is so disrespectful and immature and as they were sitting right in front of me it was also annoying and I REALLY wanted to say something, but I didn't. I just fumed.
Anyways then yeah since I am the only one done her homework I am chilling in my room and about to go out for ice cream with Caitlin. Everyone else is literally working, so I have no one to hang with! Lame!
Bisous :X
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4:35 am - Geneva!
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Friday night we had a little party in Zoe and Chloe’s room. For dinner everyone was there (everyone who hadn’t already left for the weekend) but after dinner it was a more intimate group of people. For a long time it was Zoe, Chloe, Pat, Rob, Ashely and then two French girls that were invited over (they were someone’s pen pals).
We talked about a lot of stuff actually and it ended up getting political. Pat and Rob were interviewing the girls on strikes and then pat was talking about a general strike for universities next year and then I got all defensive on my point of view. No one ever shares my point of views; this is why I never talk politics.
Everyone then got ready to go out, but I was already ready for bed so like a party pooper I stayed in. Actually I wanted to go out but I knew I sholdn’t since I had a lot to do and we were getting up at 4 am. Sucks to be everyone who only got an hour of sleep. You know who you are!
What I did do was have an awesome sleep over with Adrienne! She invited me to stay with her because Lisa was gone to Geneva already. We chatted, had popcorn and watched half of Wanted before going to bed. It kinda sucked though cause we slept with the window open, and I honestly had no idea what kind of noise was made outside! Caitlin and I always have the window closed (I hate mosquitoes!). People were outside on our street like ALL night. These men opened up their store at like 3 am and just hung around talking LOUDLY. There were about 30 motorbikes all night just roaring by. It was ridiculous!
So at about 4 something am Adrienne goes to wake Sam F up and then we go bed until 5 am. From there I went down to wake Caitlin up and get ready. We made the Metro and the train on time and we were off to Switzerland! I think it’s really cool that I took a day trip to another country. It’s so la di da.
Somehow I ended up across from Rob which was a HORRIBLE idea since the guy is 6’4 and had no where to put his legs. In the end I had to put my legs up on the seat so he could have room. On the way back I made sure I was far away from him.
The ride was gorgeous though. The mountains were stunning, and the sun was rising on them and there was so much mist and cloud…
Geneva was wonderful. I noticed right away the smell ( or lack of it) and the cleanliness. Lyon smells like urine and cigarettes. The whole entire day I did not once smell urine, and only occasionally smelled cigarettes. It was fabulous. There was nothing on the streets by way of garbage and stuff, it was just so perfect. Nice and quaint as well.
The first thing we did was go up to the UN and we got a guided tour. I thought it was like a museum of something and no one informed me otherwise so I ended up looking like a complete retard when the guy at the counter asked me what I wanted. I also somehow ended up the leader of the group and I was appalled when I couldn’t find my credit card (I knew it wasn’t lost of stolen, I knew I had stupidly left it in my other purse) and then my debit wouldn’t work. Smooth Kristina.
Anyways the tour was awesome. We got to see the biggest UN room and some others, one of which was being prepped for a conference this week! I saw the little name cards of the countries etc. I also got some AIDS stuff for Steff! Premium quality! :P
After the UN we visited the Red Cross museum. (I feel like I should specify something here… WE… The people who went together were myself, Adrienne, Meaghan, Sam F, Cristina, Caitlin, pat, Rob, Ashley and Annie- Annie is Ashley’s friend who joined us…. Now as soon as we got to Geneva Sam, Adrienne and Meaghan all went somewhere. Cristina and Caitlin stayed with us until after the museum… so as of now in the story, it’s only Ashley, Annie, Pat, Rob and I, got it?)
Anyways after the museum we went to lunch which was the one downside of the day because it took forever to find something we’d all eat. I did notice that they have a lot of cultural foods, lots of Japanese, Lebanese etc. Swizerland borders Italy, France and Austria so yeah we expected some stuff but it was more than we expected.
After lunch we went down the touristy part, there was some kind of parade or protest but we never got close enough to catch it. We then ended up on the lake, which was gorgeous. There was the green green grass, the lake with HUGE ducks, the beautiful fountain, the old buildings and the ALPS. Like seriously. Can’t get much nicer than that.
We stayed by the lake for a while, got some ice cream, walked across the bridge saw the gardens and then went up into Old Geneva. We explored there, saw the big church and then headed back to the train station.
On the way back I mostly slept, and then when we got in we went to dinner and then yeah pretty much everyone went to bed. I read a book someone lent me for a while but I went to bed soon after too. The others (Sam etc) came home an hour after us as we had a train an hour earlier and yeah. That was Geneva!
Today I am all set to go to the market, I wanted to go on a boat cruise thing but that will have to wait as I simply to not have time! We have to go to a play at 2:45 so I need to be back at res and the first one is at 2.
I also have to go to this big shopping centre thing for a project. I am really pissed though because on Friday my prof told us to call this guy, who I have been calling ( on Friday I called 8 times and left two messages) and today I called twice more and he hasn’t answered. We need him for the project, and yet he won’t answer. Our prof was really bitchy about it too how we needed to get him NOW and she even said it’s his cell phone so he’ll answer. OBVIOUSLY NOT.
Also the rest of my group seems to have no interest in going to this place. BUT WE HAVE TO. It’s not my fault you all procrastinated and got behind in your homework, but you aren’t going to make me behind! *&^%
Bisous!
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| Friday, May 15th, 2009
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1:56 am - Rain Rain, Go Away
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Well today was definitely the most eventful day of the week, not to mention one of the most depressing days of the trip!
The morning was pretty standard. I woke up, ate and went to class. We presented our newspaper project and then we had another class where we had heated discussions about immigration, NATO and colonization. After that it got more interesting. We had lunch which was no biggie. I kept to myself a lot today; I guess it was just an off day.
We then went to the Resistance and Deportation Centre, which is a museum that talks about how Lyon was the centre of the resistance movement again Nazi Germany and of course the deportations that happened at this time under the Vichy government and the Nazi’s. I expected it to be sort of sad like our war museum is. I was completely naïve. Ottawa may have a war museum and Canada may have participated, but we were not completely touched by the war. This is the first time that history has bitten me in the face. The exposition was so shocking. You all know I am pretty emotional, I cry when I see sad movies and when I read sad books, well I cried in the museum. And it gets worse!
The parts that really made me cry was reading about the people being executed, the tortures, the suicides, and especially listening to the sermons that were given in churches during the occupation. These sermons were so touching and scary at the same time I couldn’t help myself.
After the museum we went to watch a movie. That was where it got worse. The movie was actually real footage from the trial of Klaus Barbie who was the head of the Gestapo in Lyon. It had the actual footage of the trial in 87 and the real witnesses and the man himself. I had no idea what we were in for. I had already been crying so it was not hard to start again when I heard the stories of the witnesses of how they were tortured and what they saw at the hands of this man.
There was this one woman who was 13 at the time of the war, she was beaten to prove a point to her mother who was in the resistance… and then they were deported. What came next is even more horrifying. She had been separated from her father and they had brought him in and asked her if the man was her father, when she affirmed this they let him go to her to hug her, and as he embraced her they shot him in the head…. While he was hugging her. That is so scary and the thought of another human doing that to someone else… All I can think about it that happening to me, my dad dying in my arms that way and I start crying right away. I am crying right now. There is something seriously wrong with our race.
Klaus Barbie was also refusing to comment on his crimes the whole trial speaking in another language (I am assuming German) and at then end before his verdict is pronounced he speaks in clear and FLUENT French that it was a war and he did what he had to do. The bastard could speak French the whole time, understood it the whole time and played dumb. That made me so angry. After the movie it didn’t take me long to compose myself because I was pretty much shocked into numbness by the end.
So the last thing we did at this visit was speak to a man who was in Lyon and who was part of the resistance. He was very old, but very willing to talk. He joined the resistance when he was 21 and was soon forced into the STO, which was forced labor in Germany, if he didn’t go they would have killed his family. He joined the resistance movement in Germany too but he was sold out by another man and was convicted and sent to a concentration camp near Czechoslovakia. He spent a year there, and he told us he got really sick and lost a lot of weight. He is sure that if the Americans had liberated his camp even a week or two after they did he would not have lived.
His story was really touching and I managed not to cry at all. That was because I didn’t want him to see my crying really. I was on my own at the museum and it was dark when we watched the movie. I also know I wasn’t the only person crying.
After this outing we were all super depressed but we had to go straight to a Chocolaterie, which is basically a chocolate store and learn how to make chocolates. We went to get the tram and as it pulls up, everyone is told to get off even though it definitely was not the last stop. They were going on strike. At the exact moment we needed them. And it just so happened to be pouring rain and REALLY windy. I have one of those super awesome umbrellas where it has to wind vents… well it flipped inside out and now it’s freaken broken, that’s how bad it was.
So we then had to walk forever and get the Metro. As far as I understood the Tram was doing the 59 minute strike. They can not strike for a full hour of they lose the whole day of pay, but if they only do 59 minutes then its ok. So basically they get a free break.
On the Metro things got sketchy. It was really busy because it was rush hour, but also because the trams were on strike so every one was in metro. We get on the metro and it starts to go and then like two minutes later there is this huge jerk and we stop and the lights all go out. I thought there was some serious accident or something. I was with Chantelle and Patrick and Chantelle and I were pretty freaked. But it was nothing apparently because after a minute we moved again and the lights came back on shortly. But still, how sketch.
Anyways finally we get there and they make these chocolates in front of us, it was pretty good but they kept making alcoholic chocolates, which I assumed had enough for it to make some kind of difference since the guy wanted to make sure we were all legal before we could eat them, so I opted out. Apparently they were not good anyways because a lot of people made unattractive faces.
So then we make it back to residence, I didn’t manage to get on the internet because it died while Caitlin was using it. In fact it’s still not working so when you see this it will actually be way after I’ve actually written it because it’s saved on my computer and ready to post when the elusive internet comes back. I mean I knew there would be problems but I had no idea that it was that bad here! These residence people can get their crap together! They are so useless and never help us!
BTW, Caitlin is so drunk. She is drunk almost every night. I am beginning to wonder….
Good news though, I think we are going on a boat cruise tomorrow (Friday). I have wanted to from the first day and so does she, so we might actually get some roomie bonding!
It’s only eleven and our class was pushed to 10 am tomorrow, so I am probably going to go up and chill with some people, but I know they are all working right now. I am so ahead of this game, I already finished like all the homework. I am such a loser! But I also have no stress!
Saturday morning I leave for Geneva! Yes Switzerland! I am so excited to visit another country. Although apparently they speak French so it might not be as exciting as I hope!
Next week is going to be crazy though. Getting ready to leave at the end of the week. Another big project is coming up, but we can’t start until Monday, and then a few little things to do. Plus I still need to visit certain places in town but it’s hard when no one else wants to and I can’t go out alone. I also need to decide if I am going to the opera the night before I leave. We actually go this weekend, I hope it’s good! I know it’s funny, but I hope I like it as much as when I was reading it!
Bisous, love you all!
p.s: Its pouring rain today so maybe no cruise anymore!
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| Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
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4:27 pm - I Don't Know What I Want
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Yesterday we had so many internet problems, so sorry that there was no update!
I will do my best to give you a detailed account of what has gone on.
Yesterday we had class almost all day instead of an excusion. It sucked so bad! The morning was french and 'solidarite' which wasn't so bad, but the afternoon was murderous. It was so hot and there were like no windows because the prof insisted they be closed. We had to sit there and watch a movie on immigration and then we went to the immigrant area of the city and we ended up being in class for 45 minutes longer than the class was supposed to go. We then went to the mall and got some Advil for my throat then we got some Haagen Daz and we went back to Rez where I tried to work on a project but I felt so fried so mainly I just lied on Chloe's bed while Chloe, and Rob worked and Sam and Zoe chilled.
After trying to get internet working forever I went and chilled with Patrick, Melissa, Sam and Rob in their room, eventually everyone left and it was just Rob, Pat and I. Pat did this hilarious impression of Mme. Weinberg (our prof from Canada) and then yeah I went back to my room, my internet worked so I watched ANTM. Yeah.
This morning all went smoothly except the internet didn't work again! Class went well we did some work and Rob and I present our mini project tomorrow. Then we did another hisotory class and then we went to the Lumiere Institute, it's all about the Luniere Brothers and their father, they actually invented the movie basically. They had the first moving picture, first instant photo etc. I took no photo's cause I forgot my camera, but it's ok cause it's not reall cool stuff to look at, only cool stuff to know so don't worry I will replay all my super cool camera and film knowledge to you! The host guy was hilarious actually and I enjoyed the trip very much.
After that we threw a surprise birthday party for Chloe today because it's her birthday, she seemed really happy!
Now Heather, Zoe, Chloe, Rob, Sam, Adrienne and I are chilling, Chantelle was here but now she's gone. She came in to complain about Caitlin, who is drunk... again. She's an awesome roomy. She totally said something super rude and unnecessary about how I don't recycle. UGH! One a week and some left with her!
We worked on our profject tonight, so tomorrow morning Meaghan, Chloe, Rob and I are presenting a satrical newspaper tomorrow, it should be good, the newspaper is hilarious.
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| Monday, May 11th, 2009
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3:16 pm - Pictures
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Ok well apparently these can't be put under cut cause they are in an album or what not. To see a bigger version just click on them. And there were more and now they are mysteriously gone, so look through the small album to see them.
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2:00 pm - Body Like An Hourglass
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Bonjour!
I have a fairly detailed update for you, or so I hope. I had a reb bull today so it should carry me through to the end of this entry.
Saturday morning I was up at the crack of dawn, and by that I mean 5 am, which in Ottawa is really only like midnight but I am officially frenchified via my internal clock. And so I got ready to go. We headed out to the train station and had some good times. And by good times I mean some lady from Grenoble who was about 85 years old came up to us and talked to us. It was a little painful to understand and converse with her, but it really wasn't a big problem. On the train I sat by myself since my Meagan was on the floor above me and Lisa and Melissa were way way way far away in another compartment. It was a nice train ride there- I basically slept and looked at the French country side.
When we got off the train I found out that the Paris metro system really isn't that confusing at all, and Meaghan and I found our way around without any problem. We always got on the right train, and we never ended up int he wrong direction or anything. I was pretty proud of us!
Our first stop was Notre-Dame. Honestly, I am not really sure why that place is even famous, other than the actual Notre Dame story and the fact that it's got some really detailed architecture. I am going to look it up, because seriously, on the inside it was not that impressive....Ok well I wikipedia'd that and apparently it's well known because of some events that happened there, like King Henry VI of England being crowned King of France there, and Josephine and Napoleon being crowned there as well. Ok well, that is cool. I wish I had known that before! But whatever I saw it all! I have some pictures too! It really was impressive from the outside.
After Notre Dame Meagan and I ate breakfast/lunch and even though it was 10 am the chef cooked us french fries because we were canadian. ;)
After that we went on the metro to go to the Louvre. It was quite amazing but we quickly found out that just because we weren't being monitored, didn't mean we should switch back to english. As soon as someone heard us speaking english they would talk to us/latch onto us.
First this americain family latched onto us in line, and we helped them it was no biggie, but as we were entering this Indian guy asked us if he could stick with us. I told him just for a little bit, so we took a few pictures on his camera for him and then ditched him. (It sounds mean, but really, I didn't go to I could take pictures of some guy and go at his pace etc.)
The Louvre really is the biggest building I think I've ever been in. It was just amazing. The whole time I was waiting to see a statue of Octavian and sadly I was disappointed. They had a whole hall ( on the way to see Mona Lisa) full of roman emperors but not him! Later I was so sure there was one that was him, but the plaque didn't specify who it was so I wasn't sure in the end. Very upsetting!
We saw the Mona Lisa and please don't hate on me for this... but meh. She was small. And it was hard to get a good picture cause there was glass which caused a glare. And yeah, I never really liked the painting that much. She's not my kind of girl :P
We went and looked at Other Da Vinci after that and by that time we were almost done our tour. Soon we left and it had started raining so we walked the gardens in the rain. At this point we realised we couldn't speak english because some lady who 'hardly spoke english' came up to us begging. Later her daughter did too. So once we started speaking French these kinds of people left us alone.
After the gardens we went to the Place des Concordes which is where everyone got their heads chopped off in the revolution including the King and Marie Antionette and 1000 other people. Crazy.
After the Place des Concords we went up to Sacre Coeur, one of the three largest basillica's (and most important ones) in France (the others are here in Lyon and in Marseille). We were not allowed to take pictures inside, or even talk and you had to be completely covered to be allowed access, so not shorts, no t shirts or tank tops etc. They were super strict.
At Sacre Coeur we ran into those guys who try to force braclets on you and pay for them. We avoided them pretty well and kept our arms close to us. But I find it really stupid that the police don't try and stop such scams.
After Sacre Coeur we went to our hotel which was amazing. Two bed, Bath etc. SO nice and SO cheap. No bed bugs. It was very enjoyable, the only bad thing was that the metro station ran under the building so like every 5 minutes we shook a little but it didn't bother me at all.
At this point we worked a little on our project and then headed out to the Eiffle Tower. The metro near the hotel was REALLY convinient and it went right to the tower. It was still light out and honestly that thing really isn't that beautiful during the day, I can totally understand why the French were against it at first. BUT at night, at night it's a whole different story. It is beautiful! And I know it makes them tons of money!
I get afraid of heights only when I feel like I am not on stable ground. The only time I felt dizzy or afraid was when we were in the elevator. A t the top I felt pretty good! There were some Irish teens there and it throughly amused me to listen to them speak. Though they were too young for me, it steeled my resolve to move to Ireland to find my future husband. ;)
After the tower we went back to the hotel and slept in! Ah mon dieu! C'etait incroyable!
We took a leisurely breakfast, checked out and headed to Versaille where we waiting in line for just over and hour. We started with the Dauphin(e) appartments (so the royal children) and then headed into the Chapel where Marie Antionette and Louis were married. After that we did their royal chambers.
Then we did a promenade in the gardens. I have never seen anything like that in my life and I doubt I ever will again. It was simply amazing. So many fountains, so many statues, so many bushes! And they played music! I could clearly picture them riding horses around or the women frolicking while the men played sports...
After we visited the Queens Hamlet which had two smaller palaces- or hideaways- that belonged the Louis' mother and Marie Antionnette and later the Emperors (Napoleon) mother.
On the way back to Paris we met Erica and Katie two girls from Calgary and we chilled out with them for a bit, they actually were staying in a hostel right near the Gare Lyon (train station). Then We got the train back to Lyon and voila! There was my weekend in a nutshell!
Then today I woke up barely able to speak. I have been trying to pretend there is nothing wrong with me but I am clearly sick. This is VERY FREAKEN Annoying. I want to swear here, like actually not with some crappy substitute but I won't. But since wednesday my ears have been poping non stop and my throat keeps getting more and more inflammed. I keep taking advil and it helps a lot, gets me through the day, but I need something else! Whatever, this stupid retarded low immune system I have will not stop me from having fun!
So yeah we went to YET ANOTHER new class today and were also annoyed when strikers put glue in the locks so the doors couldn't be opened. These people are ridiculous man.
Class was class, it wasn't boring but it was also not very amazing. At lunch Meaghan and I interviewed some dude selling pamphlets about polic brutality on his opinions about immigration and then we did some grocery shopping.
Then we headed to the museum of fine arts where we looked at a smattering of french, finnish and italian paintings and analysed their religious messages and content and how the depictions changed over the years.
After that I headed home, finished my presentation with Meaghan, tried to help Sam F (Who is back from St Tropez, which is good cause I missed her!) with her computer as it literally will not work at all. I think she has a virus which really sucks extra in a situation like this and now here I am!
Rob, Chloe, and someone else who I can't remember need to work on a different project for thursday. So badically I have my plate full right now! But I am happily graced with some free time!
Tomorrow I really need to do some laundry or I will be clothesless soon, not a great prospect!
So now I am going to go chill with Rob and zoe and Sam F probably seeing as it's only nine here and I have nothing to do!
Bisous!
(oh before I go I'll see what I can do about some pictures under cut here for you)
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| Friday, May 8th, 2009
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3:12 pm - Push Me
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Alright so I am sorry, it's going to be another 2-dayer.
Ok so, Rob, Sam F Zoe and I all went down to the riverside and it was gorg. These guys kicked a soccer ball into a little pond this right in front of the river- You'll see it in my pics- and were trying to get it out. It looked for sure like they would fall so Zoe got her camera out and they caught her taking pictures of them so they thought it was a great idea to kick the wet soccer ball at me. It hit me of course, I got all wet and then they started to come towards us. It was when the guy practically fell on top of me that I realised he was drunk. Nice.
We sat there for a bit reading our play but very soon we couldn't see so we took a walk down the river. Then we went back and as far as I can remember we went to bed then.
The morning was pretty much the same as everymorning. I always leave before Caitlin is ready, she likes to take her time. We walked to the university and there was when things got fun. We got there and there was a blockade which was in the way. We waitied for our prof because they would let us pass with her. However while I was standing next to it some guy on a bike came and wanted in, they all started fighting and then it got kind of violent with some other guy trying to push the gate open, he was forcing it open onto some girl who was blocking it. It was very intense.
Anyways yeah somehow everyone was calmed down and we went into our new classroom. The first class was frencha nd went by very fast but the next one was basically economics and I was falling asleep. I hardly got any notes done. Thankfully I don't need to pay attention to that one because there are no tests and none of my projects are about that stuff. If i could I would skip! ;)
Anyways after that we went to lunch which was basically to come back to res and make stuff. It was chill, I took some down time for myself. I also continued to read the play. I didn't actually finish, but I am going to because it's really quite funny.
Then back to class only this time someone was in our class- its really stupid how they can't get organized here- and so we had to wander around for fifteen minutes looking for a room. Thankfully the guy who worked at the office was very goodlooking so I didn't mind, nor did anyone else.
The arts calss was really good. We just talked about the play and read some of it aloud. Much fun.
After that we came back and I did two things I had to do for homework... (which is good cause I still have three to go!) and then I went upstairs and chilled with Rob. I also chilled with Zoe, Heather and Chantelle and such but mostly with Rob. It's sad that Sam F isn't here. She left thursday afternooon for St. Tropez. Sad for me, lucky her! She'll be back Sunday and I will have my chill buddy again.
Anyways, I was trying to figure out what to do last night, I wanted to go walk aroiund Vieux Lyon but in the end I decided to go clubbing with 9 other girls. So we all got ready, it was complete chaos. First of all people were running around not really earing anything, borrowing clothes and looking for straightners etc. Rob was in his room and Pat was gone, so whatever, but there are still other guys living on their floor so I guess they got a treat if they happened to look out into the hall.
Anwyays, finally we were ready... And it started to THUNDER STORM. But did that deter us? Hellz no. With some pre drinking on the way (of course not me) we ventured out into the street, each of us had a buddy. Within seconds (seriously) we were being catcalled. We later found out that we basically looked more like prostitues than the actual prostitues of Lyon did... again not really me since I was just wearing a dress, some of the girls though...
anwyays we got lost in like five seconds. And the reason this happened is because Melissa thought she had good directions. Well when I finally got a hold of them they were the worst ones ever! So anyways we asked a lady at the Tram station to help us, she did but she told us the club was sketchy and that we should go on some boat thing on the river. So we continued on and we ran into these two women on a corner. Melissa sees them ( one fo them all dressed up skanily the other in jeans and a hoodie) and she says "KINDRED SPIRITS"... yeah they were prostitutes. Melissa asks them if they are going out and the skanky one replies "I'm working". Fab. So then there was a short conversation with them and we moved on.
We went down by the river and there were boats but they were all fancy dinner party ones, so basically Adrienne didn't want to stay out. One of the reasons I went is because she asked me to go with her because she didn't want to be out until 2 am. So I spoke up and said she didn't want to continue farther on and did anyone else want to go. Now remember, it's raining this whole time and we don't have umbrellas...
No one wants to go back, finally Ashley says she'd like to. Then I have to re-orient Melissa bacause she thinks for some reaosn that we are north of res when we are actually FAR FAR SOUTH. Now I know she had some shots and stuff before, but man!
Anyways we Tram it back to res. It was my first time on the Tram. Seriously, why doesn't Ottawa have a good system like that!?
And yeah I changed into my pj's and then hung out with Heather, Rob, Zoe and Chloe for a while before heading to bed.
This morning we had a new routine. It's the celebration of the armistice today so it's a holiday. NO breakfast for us! And no school!
We all piled onto a bus and headed to Burgandy for the day! First we visisted one of the most important Benedictine monasteries ( Cluny), which is actually almost all gone, it but was cool nonetheless. Then we went off to see a castle which was actually pretty cool. The majority of it was all the old stuff and OMG there was a painting of OCTAVIAN! I couldn't get a good shot of it thought because of the light over the bed. But who cares!!!!
Then it started to rain on us so we had to run, i didn't get to see the cool gardens and Octavians 'slogan'. Damn.
After that we went to lunch where some guy openly flirted with us even though he is married. Seriously, it's disgusting.
Speaking of disgusting... I love this day in the country. Not once did I get smoke in my eyes or lungs from someone cigarettes and not once did it smell like urine! It was so nice.
At one point we were in the armistice pararde. And there i was walking along minding my own business when my prof yanks me back and tells me that I am walking with the mayor. I think I had a mini heart attack.
Oh something about this outing, it was cool because it wasn't just us. I actually chatted up some Korean guy and a Chinese girl whose name was Jo. Rob was hitting on some Australian girl and then there were also Colombian people. It was a nice mix.
After that we saw another church with an AMAZING view, pictures to follow... and I will get on that I swear!
And then we went off to a third church. This church was INTENSE. The organ played some scary music that actually makes you feel like you're damned. It also had a crypt that we visited. Freaky.
Then our final stop... the wine tasting! There were soooooo many vines of grapes I was actually shocked! I seriously had no idea! I didn't have any wine, but I learned about how it was made and I was told to 'SLOW DOWN' on the orange juice consumption. lol
Overall the trip was awesome. It started to rain on the way back which sucked, so we walked back in the rain again without umbrellas and then I came back to res. I am now preparing some homework that I intend to complete this weekend in Paris. I have to interview some people!
And yes, tomorrow I TGV it off to Paris for the weekend! So on Monday night you'll get three days worth of posts!
Je t'aime!
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| Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
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12:52 pm - Tuesday and Wednesday
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I have two days to write to you about, and once I have done that you will see why I didn't write last night...
So tuesday morning I woke up, showered and went to breakfast. My roomate Caitlin likes to get up later than me and also likes to take hour long showers so I don't see much of her in the morning unless its after the shower (which means for like five ten minutes max). We then made our way to school and we got our actual classroom as the protesters weren't there yet. On the way there my penpal maxime walked with us- he didn't talk to me but he was with us- and then later he kept shooting me looks... maybe he was making fun of me? I don't know and I don't care. I have to email him tonight though to ask him some questions about the french media again because we are doing a project on a french newspaper.
Anyways, we got there and we did our first class on the Sodalarites in frace... basically what this is is like social support, so what kind of retirement plans they've had etc. It was actually much more interesting than I thought it would be, I only sort of fell asleep! ;)
Then after that we had a break and so Sam F (I will distinguish because I am actually on the trip with another Sam who I worked with last summer at Camp Awesome!!!) Rob and I made our way to Presque'ile (This means 'almost island') which is basically the core of the city. (I will post a map after.) Anyways the point of this outing was to go to FNAC which is basically the french version fo Best Buy/Future Shop so we could buy adapters. Sam F fried hers and Rob only had a converter. Anyways, it was awesome, Angie would die at the sight of the Manga section (Ok I guess FNAC is more like a best buy/hmv/chapters combined) and the store made no sense because it had an escalator going up, but not down. They have an elevator like hiding in some random corner...
After that we went to what is called Croix-Rousse. It is a neighbourhood which is actually the most densly populated one in France, even now when it has lost a lot of it's population. It basically in the past housed what were called the Canuts, which were tapestry makers, but like VERY INTRICATE tapestries that take FOREVER to make. The lower Croix-Rousse was inhabited by merchants. Now a lot of it is subsidised housing, but it's also a kind of 'NCC' heritage protected neighbourhood. Anyways, we walked through all the 'secret passages' the quick ways to get through town which are called the Traboules.
After that Sam F, Rob and I went down and saw the opera house (which we will be visiting next weekend)and then we got on the metro. - Digression on the Metro here- The metro is AWESOME. I seriously mean it. If we had metro in Ottawa I would never get a car. It goes really fast and is super huge, easy to navigate and also it holds a lot of people.
Anyways we got on the metro but as we were getting on the doors closed on Rob- it was rush hour- and I mean I know he's a guy but I as nearly in a panic. I know if it was me that was left behind I would have not liked it. So we told him to get off in two stops (through hand signals) but then as soon as we started moving we saw the map and realised that we were going the wrong way. So then I was wondering if Rob would notice and not get off in two stops or whatever. We got off and waited and thankfully two minutes later the next metro passed and he got off. We went around and got on the other side and went to our residence stop. The problem here was that we had only been to that stop the first day we got off and we had got off at another 'exit' at the same stop. And so we started going to wrong way. It only took us a few minutes to realise we were going the wrong way, but man we were tired and we just wanted to get back to res! So anyways, Genious that I am, I navigate the map and find Res.
About ten minutes later or so Lisa comes down asking me what we're doing for dinner because she and some of the other girls were going out but we had a project to do. Then Rob came down and we decided to go to dinner so I told Lisa I'd meet her at 8 (it was 6). So Rob and I went to get Lisa ( we are clearly becoming a little group) and we went to get some pizza at a pizza place a few blocks away. We got nthe Marguerita pizza (which is basically cheese and sauce) and it was pretty good, very thin crust. So we did take out and chilled in Lisa and Molly's room.
Then I went down at like 7:40 to tell Lisa I was starting on our project. So she joined me, but the internet wouldn't work so we had to go to our prof's room and use her computer, internet and printer. We made a powerpoint presentation which took about two hours. We literally didn't leave until ten. It was STUPID. Lisa is awesome, SERIOUSLY AWESAOME, however we have different ways of doing our work, and we clashed. Not in a bad, arguing way or anything, but in the way that got us both frustrated and stressed. After the powerpoint was done we still had no writing done for the actual presentation. We worked in my room for like five minutes before my Caitlin asked us to leave because she needed to go to bed. Lisa was going to blow up, she thought Caitlin was very rude to us, but I told her not to creat drama for me. Thank god she respected that.
Anyways we went up to Lisa's room then and worked until 1 am!!!! Seriously, thats how bad we couldn't get our crap together. It took us like THREE extra hours to do something that should have been done in two. It sucked BIG TIME.
Then I went to bed. The end of that day!
This morning I woke up so tired because I had only gotten five hours of sleep and since I am still adjusting the the time zone change that really sucks. We went to class and it was actually quite awesome. We had our first class with our Prof (the one from Ottawa who came with us and whose room we used) and her classes are very fun. We do vocab and fill in the blanks etc. Then we had a history class (YAY) this is where Lisa and I presented. We actually presented first, before even the prof and he was actually really nice to us so I guess we did good. Because I was told by the man who organized the project that he was REALLY MEAN. But he wasn't!
This morning I sat with Chloe and Zoe (lol) and I actually like Zoe a lot! I plan to hang with her more in the future, maybe she'll make our threesome a foursome!
Oh! I forgot to mention. When we went to class that morning our way was blocked by the protesters. They were all like YOU SHALL NOT PASS, and then we were all I AM CANADIAN and the way magically opened itself for us. yeaaaaaah.
Anyways we had a short lunch break and while we were eating on the campus groun the protestors were demonstrating and they freaken counted us among them. They count the people to tally how much surrport they had. We were all sitting there like... UH NON. But no one said anything, we thought it best not to make them more mad. I did not see my pen pal out there, perhaps he is in jail again... LOL
Then the History teacher came back again to take us out for the afternoon. We were doing obviously a more historical tour of parts of the city. The first place we went was an old church that was really pretty. It was actually a Basillica with a chapel attatched. I took tons of pictures of course! Then we went to the Basillica that we saw the other day, but only to talk about it for three seconds we didn't go back in or anything. After that we went too.....
SQUEAL!!!!!!
OMG can't you guess???
THE ROMAN RUINS!
Yes we did. They were pretty awesome except for the fact that I decided to lean on part of it that was crawiling with these little red bugs and in consequence got red bug guts on my arm... and who knows how many bit me...
Anyways it was the two roman theatres, one for plays and one for poetry with the public washrooms in between. - DIGRESSION ON PUBLIC WASHROOMS- while I am on the subject I would liek to inform you that Lyon only has - so far- THREE public washrooms and one of them you have to pay 50 cents to use... Its bad. I don't drink anything in the afternoon because I know I can't pee... therefore my options are fainting, or peeing my pants...- Anyways back to roman ruins. They were seriously breath taking. And to Think Octavian probably stood there....
After the ruins we made ou way down the the first cathedral we saw on the first day, the very first day we arrived. We had never gone in it, and it was the one they showcased in the Lyon DVD so I was pretty excited. One part of the wall was built in 800 and the next part over was in 1000 and then finally the rest of the cathedral in the 1300's. It's VERY old. I took pictures of course.
-DIGRESSION... Caitlin just cooked some nasty mushroom ravioli and left... when I even said I wanted to cook... she didn't clean her dishes... even though I cleaned hers two nights ago... she like doesn't bother and it's frustrating. She also left the room and didn't bother to close the door. I am never going to have a roommate again-
The cathedral was the last thing on the list for the day. So then, Rob, Allison, Sam F, Heather, Patrick, Caitlin and Adrianne went to the Part Dieu train station to buy our tickets for the weekend trips. I got my tickets to Paris and Geneva. I am going to Paris this saturday and staying overnight with Meaghan and then we are returning on sunday night. Geneva is going to be next weekend and I am going with Adrianne, Sam F, Patrick, Allison, Lisa, Melissa and some others. I can't really remember it's a big group.
So this weekend in Paris Meaghan and I plan on doing the eiffel tower, the louvre and some other thing I can't remember on sat, and Versailles on the suday before we leave! I am excited!
IN geneva we are going to the red cross musuem, the UN stuff to see the alps up close and some other water oriented stuff! Super excitant! That is only a one day trip though. I am not sure what I plan to do sunday. Maybe Avignon? Maybe Lille? Who knows!
Anwyays after getting the tickets we came back here where I immediatly typed this and now here I am! I am starving and want to cook but I guess now I have to clean the ONE POT that is now dirty. I also need to go get some digits so I can call the other people in this building if I ever need to.
Tonight I plan on eating, and then getting someone to come sit on the riverside with me and do our homework!
A demain!
Tu me manques!
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| Monday, May 4th, 2009
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2:58 pm - Day One
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Oks o today was a very full day and I am surprised I have energy to get on here and write about it!
I went to bed at 7.... woke up at 2 but fell right back asleep, woke up once more and 4 but went to bed again until 7am. It was perfect. Not bad at all.
Had breakfast, it was very good, I have special K and it tasted kinda funny, but I think I'll have it every morning anyways since I didn't add any sugar etc so it's fairly healthy. I also had a croissant and cold 'hot' chocolate that was gross!
Afetr that we went to the university for our first meeting and a problem presented itself. The school was back on strike after being off strike for THREE DAYS. Jeez, way to be picky. ;)
So yes our meeting place had to be reorganized but it was all good. The protestors don't bother us because we are international students.
After that we walked to the Gare Part Dieu which is where we can get our metro passes. It is kind of a shopping mall, a small one. We did however pass a HUGE on which is near the "Crayon" a big building that looks like a crayon. That mall is huge, Rob ( a guy on the trip) said it reminded him of west edmonton mall. Thats how fancy and big looking it was.
Anyways we then headed down to the old cathedral in the medieval part of town for our next class. We went up to the more modern Basillica, had a class, then looked at the city ( it's the highest point I believe) and then went into the basillica. After we went for a walk through the forest and then class was over so we headed back to residence for a good old 15 minutes before we had to head out to an outing with our pen pals.
I met mine, his name is Maxime. he is tall and skinny with black curly like hair. From his emails I already knew he was artsy and liked working with kids. Almost as soon as I met him he left because he had something to do with a play so I talked to this girl Laure. She was very nice and helpful. I have a feeling she's a lesbian because after when she gave me her email her friend was teasing her about exchanging numbers...
Anyways Maxime came back after and we talked awhile more. One of the girls in my group Adrianne thought he was cute ;) Anyays we talked some more and then he left again for I don't know where. I did find out however that he was arrested at the protest this week and spent the night in jail.
SO yeah then we went grocery shopping and came back here. I am presently eating.
I have found out that french men are actually worse here than they are in PQ. I knew in PQ they always hit on you, because my customers do it to me over the phone. Here they are just crude! They don't touch you or anything but the remarks they make are disgusting and I don't get how they think that is the right kind of attention. Some guys today when we were at the metro just stood across the street hissing at us. HISSING! Seriously.
My plans for the weekends seem to slowly be coming together. A lot of peiple are going to paris this weekend, but I'd like to find maybe one or two people who aren't too picky about what they do. I think the best way to see it is to just go and walk and see what happens. Find the lourve and eiffle tower of course, but nothing too planned because then problems arise about who wants to see what etc.
I may also go to Avignon with Robert and anyone else who wants to join. (this weekend) I haven't made up my mind, all I know is that I don't want to do overnight trips. I want to come back here everynight.
Next weekend though, I am 99% certain that I am going to Geneva! Woot! it should be a fun trip.
Lisa should be getting here soon so we can work on our project (she went to dinner with her pen pal) and then I shall be hitting some hay. For now though I have some reading to do!
Aurveoir de France!
Bisous!
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| Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
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11:26 am - First Impressions
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Now Lyon is lucky it's got some beautiful old buildings and heritage because oh my goodness.... there is graffiti EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. Somehow it's even on the roofs of certain buildings...
And everyone here smokes. I am going to get so irritated by it. And I;ve noticed it sometimes smells like urine. Good thing my favorite spot so far is the river. There are these beautiful walk ways and seating areas, I will post pics when I take some.
We did a two hour walk or just a small part of Lyon, overall I was happy with what I saw (not so much smelt) but the problem is I am so jet lagged and nothing is open so it really wasn't that fun, so five of us came back. I really want to sleep, but it is still only five thirty here. Way to early to do that. But I can't read cause I start to fall asleep! Maybne french tv? Probably not.
Lyon or maybe france in general I am not sure, is like new brunswick. Nothing is open Sunday. Only its worse cause at least NB opens stuff at like noon.
Tomorrow we go to the university and we visit a catherdral, we saw the outside today, it's huge and very inricate. We also buy our metro passes, meet our pen pals, and get our student id cards.
LOve ya'll and miss ya'll.
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7:26 am - Bonjour de la France!
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Hello ya'll!
It has been over 24 hours since I have slept. It sucks. And I can't sleep because in an hour or so I have an outing. I am now sitting on my DOUBLE BED because my roommate decided to take the single. I am all showered (thank god) and I am also starving.
My converter thing that Alli gave me doesn't work here so I have to go buy one asap or this computer will not work.
So here's how its all gone down so far:
The bus left after three, it wa sa long bus ride, I mostly just read my homework and near the end i began to fall asleep a little. There were five other people on the bus with me who were on the trip.
WE got to Montreal, checked our stuff in, had dinner and then went into the terminal. Of course, I beeped going through the metal detector and so they made me take my shoes off so they could scan my feet etc. I was the only one.
Then we waited a little over an hour, we played Spoons, only we did it with highlighters as no spoons were on hand. I was the first one out, I lost every single round. I clearly have no reaction times.
We boarded at 9:05, so late.... but it wasn't so bad. I was really nervous for take off. When we did take off I was actually surprised, it felt slower than I remembered it (even though it was at 300 km/h) Everything went well, I did not lose my hearing or anything. Woot.
The movies they played were Marley and Me and Twilight, neither of which I watched. I didn't want to cry, or see that movie again. I tried desperately to sleep but I really just couldn't. My leg was really bothering me. I couldn't keep it in one place for more than two minutes.
As soon as I felt I might be falling asleep the guy beside me asked me to get up. Then after that the sun began to rise. It was really weird having the sunrise happen when you know it's 1 am.
On the decent I was in a lot of pain. Something weird happened, my left ear would not pop. I chewed gum, I swalled and I tried blowing out nothing worked. It hurt so much, then I thought for sure I was going to injure myself or something. After honestly ten munutes of this pain and trying and trying to get it to pop it finally did. It felt so good.
We got off the plane, went to get our luggage, then found our way to the bus station. The first thing that happened to us was a case of road rage. The bus driver was cut off by some idiot in a green station wagon thing and then they had a honking and speeding up war. I was kind of scared, they were both driving like maniacs!
So our prof got off a stop before us to take a taxi to whereever she is staying, so then we had to make it on our own from the train station to the residence. This wasn't so hard, but it was confusing at first. we got to ride the metro station and it was so fun and FAST! I almost fell over!
(I forgot to mention that I by FAR have the smallest luggage of the group so I can get around easier.)
Anyways, we got off, it took us maybe ten minutes to find our res. My roommate and I were kinda ticked off because we are the only ones on the first floor... everyone else is on 2nd and 3rd. THAT IS until we saw our room. It's not a room, it's a studio! Only one person has a room bigger than us, everyone else has this tiny little box room. I feel so bad for them, but so good for me! Hello I have a double bed! We also have a desk with a flat screen tv and just tons of room. The only thing I dont like is that the windows don't have screens and there are like dumpsters near us so within three seconds we had flies in our room! GROSS!
So yeah, nothing has really happened yet, updating this was the first thing I did!
Aurevoir!
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| Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
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9:35 am - Leaving on a Jet Plane
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Alright so today is the day I leave for France. Yes I know my updates have been lame lately and that is because I have been busy. I will continue to be busy of course, but not too busy for all of you!
So far my suitcase is packed and ready to go, it is just my carry on that I need to worry about. I do not think my computer, and binder, and shoes, AND food will all fit, not to mention my camera, ds, and such. I think I will put the electronics in my purse instead.
The plane ride, I predict will be very boring seeing as it is overnight and I am sure I will sleep. I plan to read a play for two hours and then go to bed at about eleven. Once we get in France we have to get to residence and then a few hours later we are supposed to meet up witha professor and go somewhere. That means everyone is going to be so dead and jet lagged. I think that part is going to suck, but hey, I didn't really expect them to just give us a whole day to settle in.
I am a little nervious to be on the plane, but when I think about it, I remember take off was basically just like an amusment park ride... and I love those. When we went to Florida I think I just laughed all through take off, but that might have been either nerves, or also because my sister was making hilarious faces (It was her first time on a plane).
Everyone I know seems to be going on some kind of trip. I know a few people who are in Europe right now, and Kiki is going to England this summer, Steff Africa and Alli is going to the Artic! I know someone who is on a plane to Australia as I type this. It must really be the season. But really I don't ever remember a year where I knew so many people who travelled. It must be THE year.
Anwyays, considering this is a bunch of stuff about nothing, and the fact that I still need to do laundry, shower and finish packing I should probably go!
Talk to you in France!
current mood:  hungry
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| Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
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11:42 pm - I couldn't resist sharing this with you...
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