Clemson in Paris 2011
samedi 16 juillet 2011
F.3 Paris, you will always be remembered!
I experienced so many cultural differences in Paris. I love the fact that the french go to the boulangerie every day and pick up a fresh baguette or go to the store for fresh ingredients for the days meals. Who knew that it is ok to not refrigerate your eggs? That was one difference I learned the first day I moved in with my host family. I bought a bunch of eggs and my host mother told me that they never refrigerate their eggs! Another cultural difference that I find really cool is the whole dining experience in Paris. The french eat much later than we do in the US, and meals are truly a social time filled with good conversation, good friends, and a good time. I love that the french never seem to be in a rush for anything. They are laid back and like I said in my cultural video project, "they have mastered the art of doing nothing and turning it into something." I really tried to embrace this concept of doing nothing and I feel that I accomplished this by sitting in cafes along St. Michel or near the Notre Dame and just watching people walk by while sipping a drink and talking with friends! C'est tres francais non?
I feel that my french definitely improved while living abroad. I now know so many key phrases that the french use on a daily basis! I think my favorite is, "Ce n'est pas grave!" I learned that its ok not to speak in perfectly constructed sentences. That was my problem before living in Paris. I used to try and perfectly plan out my sentences in my head before speaking. I thought that was the only way to get my message across, and if I didn't know how to say something I used to just not say anything at all! Now, I find that as long as I get the general point across of what I'm trying to say, it is ok. The french actually understood what I was trying to say! I learned short cuts for saying things and as long as I include some key words of what I'm tyring to say, then most people will understand what I'm talking about. I learned the simpler, the better. I was always trying to make things too hard and complicated. I am excited to get back to my last french class in Clemson and use the skills I've learned over the summer in class.
Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing about my time in Paris. Of course there were some trials and obstacles along the way, but you have to take the good with the bad and realize that its all an experience. I would even say that my hospital visit for my spider bite was one of the most interesting experiences I had in Paris! (haha) I feel that I am a different person than the girl who arrived in Paris 7 1/2 weeks ago. I feel like I've grown as an individual and I can handle any situation that life throws my way. Merci Paris!! I will never forget you! : )
F.2 L'Aeroport Charles De Gaulle
lundi 11 juillet 2011
Une Supplémentaire Journal
Une différence est que il y a beaucoup des grands peoples dans les États-Unis. En France, tout le monde est maigres. Sur le métro, il y a beaucoup des gens et pas de beaucoup d'espace, donc il est très bondé.
Dans les États-Unis, les gens sont très décontracté. J’habite à la plage, donc tout le monde est en un maillot de bain. À Paris, tout le monde est habillé. J’aime les chaussures!
Une autre difference est que, dans les États-Unis, tout le monde s’arrêtent sur l’escalier. En France, le gauche est pour les gens qui marché et le droit est pour les gens qui marché et le droit est pour les gens qui ne sont pas mouvement.
Dans les États-Unis et France, il y a un beaucoup des voitures, mais en France, je ne faisais pas conduite. Ici, j’ai une voiture et une vélo. En France, il n’y a pas une beaucoup des gens avec des voitures. Tout le monde marchent partout.
Il est bon à retourner, mais des différences sont grand différences. Les cultures sont très different, mais les difference est que est bon entre les pays.
dimanche 10 juillet 2011
F.3: My time (well spent) in Paris
For starters, I could not have been put with a better host mother, both for her general kindness and for my French knowledge level. She spoke fluent English but would say things in French and translate the bigger words she knew I wasn’t going to quite understand in English once she finished her sentences. This not only helped me with vocabulary, but it helped me with my long sentence comprehension I think. She was the nicest woman possible, which also gave me a good impression of French people overall. I don’t generally try to generalize people based off one person, but while living with her and getting such a good, positive vibe from her, it led me to get a good, positive vibe off other French people. I can’t remember ever having a bad experience with a French person who was rude or mean to me.
I enjoyed my time so much in France, from my host family, to my Sorbonne professor who was a very lovely, sweet woman, to the new friends I’ve made. Not only did I have good experiences with French people, I had amazing interactions with our Clemson group. I feel as though I have made some good, new friends for life.
What I am NOT enjoying is being back in the United States…Yes, I admit, I missed home a little, but right now I miss Paris more. Even though my last week in France was spent in a rather un-luxurious hotel room with my fiancé, we still enjoyed it so very much. And it IS nice to be back in a normal sized, comfortable bed, but I’d sleep on a hard, tiny bed any day of the week if it meant I could be in Paris for a little while longer.
F.3 Return to "Normalcy"
After I arrived back to the United States, everything was so different. The adjustment has been a little weird. I know everything is normal, and what life should be, but it is so different than the life I have been living for the past month and a half. When I first got on the airplane, the first thing I noticed was how loud everyone was. The stewardesses were shouting across the aisle. Also, everyone was much more talkative. Americans are so willing to talk to one another and make fast friends. The French are a little more respectful of your personal life than to ask you a bunch of questions about your journey. Either that or they just don’t care. I’m not sure which one it is, but I think I prefer the French style. Don’t get me wrong, I love conversation, but sometimes airplane chats can get a little intrusive—just because you’re sitting next to me for 9 hours doesn’t mean you need to know my life story.
When I arrived in Dallas, everyone was still loud. It was really uncomfortable. Also, I feel conditioned to speak in French to everyone. Every time I asked someone a question, I spoke in French and quickly had to change to English. It was so weird.
Back in South Carolina, I started driving again. One has to drive to get anywhere! One of my first trips was to Publix with my mom. WOAH. Supermarkets are SO LARGE! I have been so overwhelmed with the selection of food. Every time I go to a grocery store the feeling comes back. There is no need for such a huge selection of food. I think there were like 60 Yoplait light raspberries in the grocery store. Seriously?! That many?? Are people going to buy that much before it expires?
I don’t know if I am ready to switch back to American life. I am looking for a job in France when I finish school. One woman in my Sorbonne class is helping me find a family to be an au pair for! I am very ready to be back in Paris.
Journal F.3: Looking Back on Paris
samedi 9 juillet 2011
F.3: I'll Always Have Paris
vendredi 8 juillet 2011
F.3. Looking Back
Well! I already want to go back. Although I was in the 357 French class, I am going to write this journal in English because I want to be sure I am expressing all I have to say clearly and intelligently. I have taken my time in posting this blog because I wanted to be sure I included everything I could. I probably still won’t; there is so much to talk about!
The experience in general was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. If I had gone by myself, and I had seriously considered it, I would have missed out. All the excursions, especially those with Christina, were brilliant and I learned so much! She is fantastic. I want a mini Christina to keep in my pocket. Not in a weird way. She’s just so smart! If anything changes in the program next year, please keep her! The first weekend, as well, was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It was whirlwind, but I loved visiting places I had not yet seen.
That was one thing I was worried about when signing up for this trip. I wanted the group experience, the Clemson credit, and the facility of finding a place to live and acceptance to the Sorbonne; HOWEVER, I was nervous that, since I had already been to France, I would be repeating a lot of site seeing and experiences. First of all, unless you’ve lived in France or have been once a year since birth, re-seeing sites is not a hardship. Seeing sites for a second or third time is fantastic! I caught so many details and more historical information this time around and I think that was because I wasn’t so awed by the grandeur and could really pay attention to the history and intricacy of the building (or whatever it was.)
The experience as a whole is something I will remember for the rest of my life, but there are two specific things I am taking away from it: a majorly increased level of French communication, and two best friends.
My aunt is fluent in French and we have several friends of the family who live in my hometown for several months of the year and France for the rest of the year. When I came home, I understood almost everything they said as they were casually conversing, which is a major feat! My oral comprehension was my weak point, but after training myself to really listen I think my oral comprehension is equivalent to my levels of reading comprehension and speaking. I definitely have the Sorbonne class to thank for this; we did several oral comprehension activities per week, and our final test had an oral comprehension section so I really tried to prepare for that.
For me, culture shock – both with the language and the city lifestyle – wasn’t a problem. I have traveled before, to France several times and to Azerbaijan where I spent several weeks teaching English. I LOVE being in places where the culture is different because I love learning about others. I am currently in the process of applying for a Fulbright grant to return to Azerbaijan to teach English and to learn Azeri, the local language. I love learning languages, and this program taught me that I can do it and that immersion is key. You really can’t learn a language completely without being immersed in it. If I am granted this Fulbright, I will be living in Azerbaijan from June 7, 2012-June 22, 2013. I should be reeeally good at Azeri by the time I leave! Hopefully.
In my opinion, this trip prepared me for going to Azerbaijan, which may sound weird to most. The longest international excursion I have ever taken was 3 weeks, long enough to immerse myself in the culture, buy some awesome presents for my family, and go home. Around that 2-3 week point here, in Paris, I started to feel homesick. By the fourth week I was pretty much back to normal, but it was still a shock to me to feel homesick. I go to school 11 hours away from home and I had traveled before; before I left I thought there was no way I would feel homesick, but I did and now I know how to deal with it. This trip was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone looking to improve their French.
mardi 5 juillet 2011
F.3 Paris, je t'aime
dimanche 3 juillet 2011
E.3: La Cathédrale de Notre Dame
Après l'office, je suis allée au sommet du clocher! C'était marveilleux! J'ai tout vu! Les gargouilles ont étés très drôle, mais les autres statues étaient très bonnes, aussi. Mon gargouille favori resemblait Dumbledore de Harry Potter! J'ai bu l'école et le jardin l'à côte de la Sarbonne, aussi.
Après Notre Dame, il faisait très chaud, donc j'ai achété de la glacé de Bertillon! C'est super! J'avais fruits de la pasion, myrtille, et sorbert framboise. J'ai mangé mon Bertillon et marchait à côté e la Seine. Il était très tranquille. J'ai regardé des magasins aussi parce que je vais retourner aux États-Unis vendredi. :(
Hier soir, j'ai suis allée un autre mass à Notre Dame avec un cardinal. Il était très vieux, mais il était un bon mass aussi.
J'ai aimé Notre Dame beaucoup. Elle est très vieille aussi, mais elle est très historique. J'aime l'architecture et les très beau fenênetres vitroux. Le sommet de la cathédrale était fantastique. J'ai aimé le mieux que la Tour Eiffel. La Tour Eiffes est trop touristique et trop bondé, mais la vue est jolie. La vue de Notre Dame était super parce qu'elle est près du choses familières. Hier a été une bonne journée! :)
E.2: Le Musée d'Orsay
Mais quand j'ai été au musée, j'ai été décu. J'ai aimé l'architecture du musée, mais, je n'ai pas aimé l'organisation du musée. L'architecture du musée a été très magnifique. J'ai aimé la grand horlogue! Après le promenade, je suis allé les toilettes, et j'ai tès perdu! Je ne suis pas revenue, et je ne l'ai vu pas sortie. Il étais très frustrant.
Je pense que ma tête et fatigué. Les musées sont très instructif, mais il est difficile à tout comprendre.
J'aime voir oeuversde Monet et les oeuvers de Gogh, hier. J'ai voudrai prendre les potos, mais ils n'ont été pas ok avec le musée. :( Les photos m'aident apprécié l'art.
F.2: Le Dernier Jour
Après le magasin de bagage, j'ai eu à ma pâtisserie favori à acheter des baguettes et des tartes au chocolât pour le voyage. J'ai retournais à ma maison à finir mes valises.
J'ai mangé une salade et parti pour Châtelet pour le RER B à CDG. J'ai eu deux valises, mon cartable, et mon sac! Il y avait un beaucoup de gens qu'aidez moi avec mes bagages!
J'ai arrivé à l'aéroport et réarrangé mes bagages. J'ai eu mon billet pour le aéroplane et parti pour les États-Unis! Le vol étais très longue! Neuf heures! J'ai vu trois films et prendre un petit somme, mais, j'ai eu un beaucoup de temps. La cuisine de l'aéroplane était bon. J'ai mangé du poulet avec un baguette, chevre, et une tarte de citron.
Après le matin de stressant et un longue vol, j'étais très fatigue émotionallement. Il étais un jour triste, mais je pense qu'il sera bon étre à ma maison.