On y danse (there we dance)

Finally! This becomes a travel blog as intended!

As previously eluded, I traveled with some friends to Avignon last weekend. I considered it the finale to visiting the trinity of 'A' towns in the south of France along with their famous draws: Aix-en-Provence (fountains), Arles (Van Gogh) and Avignon (the bridge/Pope's Palace). I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend with good friends, good food, and beautiful sights. Actually, my friends and I spent a lot of time standing and talking, sitting and talking, lounging and talking. The sights were easily visited in one day, but we wanted a more leisurely trip and took two. We started joking that we were falling in love with each other because someone would stop to take a picture, we would chat, and forget to start walking again. I guess that speaks for the company.

I will try to be brief and let the pictures speak for the rest of the trip, but I make no promises. Feel free to click on the pictures to view them larger.

The city of Avignon is walled-in and one of the most impressive sights is the Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace) from when the vatican was briefly situated in the middle of Spain, France and Italy (in Avignon) in the 14th century.


The other draw to Avignon is the Pont Benezet, or the Pont d'Avignon. There is a children's song which sings of dancing on the bridge. Unfortunately my friends and I were feeling a little too poor to shell out 7€ to dance on the bridge, but goshdarnit we did dance under it!


Saturday night we went out to this cozy little restaurant which served tartines (open-faced sandwiches). I got one with Ham, emmental cheese, tomato and béchamel sauce. It was so delicious. I also took a (blurry) picture of the restaurant because it was too cute.



Palais des Papes at night reminded me even more of a Disney castle. Love it!


And finally, a picture of the group (minus Valerie and Conor) inside the kitchen of Palais des Papes on Sunday.

Competitive Spirit

Lesser known Franny fact: Although I am a redhead, I have very few 'fiery redhead' qualities, except that I can be very competitive. I grew up with a younger brother and I think that started my competitive spirit. I did not realize this though, until in 9th grade. I would always fight with my friend Maya until our mutual friend Michelle started saying in a mocking tone "Hurry! Compete!" every time we would try to prove something.

Since high school I have also been a reason for cancelling a "friendly" Jeopardy competition between suitemates in college. I just get so intense, and its the one time I like to argue every little point. I try to apologize for it, and have a great personality otherwise, but I'm sorry you guys, I am obnoxiously competitive.

Now, I've never been much of an athlete, so I do admit to over-celebrating even with a Cheap Shot haha.

So, as I mentioned in my last blog, two weeks ago I decided to go out to trivia at the port at MaNolan's. The first time there was a table of over 10 of us split into two teams. My team got 4th place, the other half got 3rd. I was a little suspicious because the guys were playing dumb and happened to do better. Then, last week we were all split up on different sides of the restaurant and all of our teams did worse... a lot worse 27, 26, 23ish places out of around 35-40. So, I chalked the week before up to a fluke and thought this would be a good opportunity for me to play and work on losing graciously.

Well, this week the girls got there early and secured us a table all together. Again, we had a table of 7 and two different teams. Sandra, Alex (french teaching friend of Kiran) and I were team (you know you love me) XOXO. We did well in the 'pick the intruder' round and the general knowledge round. Current events, not so great, and movies and music was average. Actually the waiter offered the answer to a song, saying the artist was Snoop dogg but I stuck to my guns because I thought he was making it up. Oops, he wasn't. (who knew SD actually sang?)

Anyways, I had no idea how we did, but didn't really have my hopes up. While they announced the rankings, I kept my cool. They got to the top 10 and I was doubtful still. Then, he announced that our team had tied for 4th/3rd place with another team. Now, the top 3 places get prizes: 30, 60 and 100€ respectively. So, I had to answer a tie-breaker question against some guy that was like 40 years old... and I got it! Yess! Luckily, I was nervous and so didn't really gloat, but I am rather proud of our little team! Looks like the tab next week is picked up by the house :)



ps. My pictures loaded! So, expect another post soon about Avignon! (3 in such a short time, wow!)

la vie française

They say there is a curve of culture shock; once you move to a new place, you go through a little dip, eventually you start coasting, then the same thing happens when you go home again, you usually start good, theres a little dip where you miss the other place, and then you get back into your old routines and coast again. I think I am currently in the zenith of this adventure.

December was a bit of a special case dealing with the theft of my computer, then things started getting worse between my roommate and I. Two weeks ago I was stressing about my roommate, so I got out of the house and went to Pub Quiz at MaNolan's. That whole weekend I was out with different people, enjoying life. Sunday I went hiking around near Villefranche then up and over the colline (right near Elton John's house, btw) with Casey, Jane and Ursula. December and the beginning of January were the end to my little dip, and now I am just loving my life.

Last week I felt light and happy, the weather has improved and I spent an hour and a half out on the beach soaking up the son. It was around 60° and the weather returned again today. Hopefully the weather will continue to get better and better as spring comes, ensuring better moods from me too.

Additionally, this past weekend I got to get out of Nice for the first time since arriving. My friends and I went to Avignon, and although the weather was grey and cold (there was a pile of snow by the bus station) I really had a great time. I will post more later, but my camera did not want to let me upload my pictures tonight.

This lifestyle is just too great. Sure, I miss my family and friends, and American food (sometimes) but I am so happy to be here. Last month I was very tired of Nice, I feel like I've seen all the sights, but today I was wondering if when I leave this will just be another home to me. It's hard because my friends leave when I do, so all thats left is the ocean. But on the other hand, when I leave, I will have lived in Nice for a total of 12 months. And this time I really feel like I am living here: Im getting paid to a French bank account, I pay rent, I have to deal with social security and all types of things. It feels like a much more authentic experience.
From where I am standing right now, May is going to come too soon :/

Shoesies

I wrote a post earlier, but I don't really like it, I was not as articulate as I wanted to be. So, instead you get a short but sweet one about shoes.

BUT, I did have a marvelous day today. I walked around and found out the shoes I've had my eye on for a month were on double-sale (and thats why I love sales month) so I had to get them! They're precious and I want to wear them all the time.


I'm heading to Avignon this weekend, so there will surely be a lot to update about when I get back. I'm super excited because I have yet to leave Nice, which is horrible.

Also, Im trying out a new layout for Wouldn't it be Nice, but I can't decide if the bubble gum is really me. Better than the last one? Hmmmmm...

Just Call Me Scarlett O'Hara

So, I don't have an update about the roommate situation yet; we both (?!) were out a lot this weekend, so we haven't really had time to talk. But, I did talk to a mutual friend which confirmed a lot of my original thoughts and should make it a little bit easier.

But, I am supposed to go hiking tomorrow unless it rains (comme d'habitude) so I wanted to tell you this story tonight.

Last night, I was walking to my friend Sandra's house and this guy came up behind me, almost peripheral vision, and started trying to talk to me "bonsoir mademoiselle, vous etes belle, etc etc." At first, I just tried to ignore him, but he continued to try to talk to me so about a minute in, I turned around, put on my best southern accent, and said "Oh, I'm sorry, I don't speak Franch." Obviously he then was like "Oh, American" and tried to continue to talk to me in broken English.

I let him try to talk to me for about 2 blocks until I had to turn up Gambetta, but the highlights were when he asked me my name and I said "What do ya wanna know that for?" he gave me a confused look, so I repeated and he said "whaddaya.... oh, its long name." Hah! Then, he asked for my number/wanted me to give him mine and I told him my phone was back in America. And, when I got to Gambetta, he tried to get me to go get a drink or something and I just said "you have a good night" and left.

Although he continued to try to talk to me, I think the Scarlett O'Hara ruse to get out of talking to creepers is something I will keep in my back pocket. It was just fun to play that role and see the look on his face.

Courage Fail

I've been waiting all week to give an update on the status of my resolutions. Unfortunately, I was waiting until I initiated a certain conversation as part of my "stand up for myself" resolution, and I just can't. I'm a coward. I know in my head that I should not have to buy a new computer on my own, since I was not the one to answer the door and give it away. I even came up with a very reasonable compromise, but I just can't get up the nerve to pitch it. Our apartment is the scene of a Cold War-- we have barely talked since the incident. I don't know why I'm the scared one, but I get nervous and chicken out just before the words slip out of my mouth.

How come I cannot stand up for myself? It's so true; I will inconvenience myself almost to the point of pain before confronting others. Sometimes it's not even scary things that I avoid, just uncomfortable. I have nothing to be scared of with my roommate. She is super sheltered and has not handled anything with the apartment. I am tired of being her mother and always buying toilet paper and taking out the trash. Yet again, I would rather handle these banal activities than have an uncomfortable conversation. What does that say about me?

Almost daily though, anger boils up in me, caused by her laughing on the phone, or my sponge on the floor. At those points I want to burst into the room and ask her what her deal is. She will not sit in the same room as me and she talks on the phone for so long I seriously wonder if her family has jobs or hobbies, or if they just sit around waiting for her phone calls. What kind of life is it living in a different country to learn the language and spending every moment not at school, tucked in your bed talking to people from home?

And yet the anger is swallowed by cowardess when I convince myself yet again I want to talk to her. I have enough sense not to stoop to the passive-aggressive note-writing method, but it's not really a note-worthy conversation anyway.

Do you, dear readers, have any tips? I so wish I were one of those people who is aggressive-aggressive and gets what they want. In my mind, this conversation is followed by guilt for upsetting such a helpless soul, and maybe thats why I chicken out. How do you do it? I don't want to make life more miserable for someone who clearly hates it here anyway.

I'm not in the mood anymore to tout the triumphs of my other resolutions. Instead, I will sit here, liten to some Coldplay:Fix You, avoid contact with the roommate, and go about as usual.

A page from Kelly Kapoor

"Fashion show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch!!!!" haha I love that moment. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to watch more of The Office (not the moment, but my other favorite Kelly quote).

So, January and July are the 2 months during which the French government declares SALES! I guess it's kind of like end-of-season sales in the US, but more organized and govt regulated. Woohoo!

I went shopping a little bit on Saturday and wanted to show you guys what I bought:
This pretty tunic from H&M



This flowy shirt from H&M

These sunglasses from Ten (also notice recent purchase of earrings, cute and cheap, but not on sale, from Six)


And lastly I got a Longchamp handbag on super sale!!! yay!


I can consider them half-birthday presents to myself. But, now I have to be extra diligent with my money for the next 32 days because my Dad officially booked his ticket and will be here in that much time! I'm so psyched! We're planning on doing Carnavale and such around here, then doing a quick little trip up to Paris to see the Eiffel, etc. I cannot wait!

**Note: I'm normally not that into myspace type pictures, but am trying to embrace my inner diva **

Things that Made My Day

Welcome to the new year, where I blog a lot.

Today was rather icky and rainy, and I had to wake up early, but there were several things that really brightened my day:

° On my way home, it was raining but then the sun came out and it was so pretty! As per usual I tried to find the most direct route from the tram to the Prom, and I made it with plenty of beautiful sunlight and RAINBOW left :)









°Upon arrival, I found a package in my mailbox from my college roommie which was so sweet! She sent me the Elf soundtrack! Which is music that I love and made me feel so good.

°I realized my dad will be visiting during Carnaval which is a very fun time in Nice! And, it's my dad, visiting!!! I'm psyched.

°Naudy found the video where Angela popped out of the trashbag to scare Kim. A terrific prank from junior year.

°Kimmie found this video, and I cannot explain why, but it is SO HILARIOUS. Maybe I have become a crazy cat lady!
I'm a Kitty Cat

And it's not even 7pm, the night is young. Tuesday is the new friday, you know.

Talkin bout a Resolution

Bonne Année to my friends and family.

As I mentioned in my end of the year post, this coming year is going to be (another) transition year. Many of my resolutions for 2010 have to do with me becoming a 'real adult' and living in the 'real world.'

1. There are several things that I need to accomplish this year. First of all, I hope to have a real French teaching job this fall.

2. I want to force myself to have better posture. Cat told me 2 years ago that a leading cause of belly fat in women is bad posture. Plus, sometimes I get the feeling that I am super-slouchy and that is not a good image.


3. I want to stop eating like a 14yr old boy, at start eating like a 23yr old woman. I still eat whatever and however much I want. I just want to start eating with more moderation, and adding many more veggies.


4. Perhaps counter-intuitive to the previous resolution, but I want to make something worthy of the website this is why youre fat . com Its usually pretty gross, but also pretty impressive the things these people come up with.

5. Cook a Julia Child recipe (thanks for the idea jessica!) Loved Julie & Julia, loved My Life in France by Julia Child; thus, I would like to try at least one of her recipes.


6. Stop buying clothes at Target. I'm a sucker for cheap stuff, but I would rather start buying quality over quantity. That's another 'adult' thing that I need to work on. I've already recruited the bests (leila and ginny) to help me pick out an awesome interview suit when I get back so that I can be the stylish young teacher.

7. Try a new restaurant and discover a new city/town/place every month. While Im in France I need to do some traveling!!! I've only really been to Villefranche and St.Paul so far, and they were super close. I need to do some more traveling while I can! This could pertain to back in the US too; thats why I said place so it could be as simple as a parc or trail or whatever that I haven't been to before. Same thing with restaurants. I want to try new foods and I just love eating out with friends and family. Eventually I will probably be moving to a new-ish city (Richmond or Nova, preferably) and want to find some great new eats.

8. Also, I want to come up with a personalized playlist for 2010. I got the idea from another girl's blog that I stumbled upon. The rules are at the end of each month you add one song to the playlist that you were obsessed with that month; and it can only be ONE song per month. Then, at the end of the year you have a great playlist to use until the 2011 one is done.

Alright, I think 8 is a good number of resolutions for this year. Again, I wish you all a very happy 2010; I hope this year brings you happiness and exciting new happenings :D