The Cote d'Azur

4:11 p.m.

In Nice the past two days has been phenomenal. Both yesterday and today, the weather has been beautiful and seven other girls and I have layed out for at least 4 hours each day. I'm getting a little color. The best part about laying on the beach in France (or any European country for that matter) is you get to lay out "European style. " I would rather not explain this if you don't already know! Tomorrow, we plan on going to Cannes for the film festival, and of course, lay out on the beach some more. Yesterday, my friends and I went up to the chateau in Nice. It had an amazing view of the coastline and the port of Nice.

One of the best parts of the beach in Nice; the airport is so close that the planes flying in soar right over you. I can't wait for tomorrow. More relaxation! Plus...maybe we will see someone famous at the film festival! :)

My Last Days in France

12:06 p.m.

It is getting down to the last two weeks in Grenoble. I am starting to get anxious, but also, sad. I want to go home and see friends and family, but I know that I am going to miss my friends and new family here so much. Things will never be the same back home. I realized I have changed a lot within the last four months, but I can't exactly tell you how. There are certain things, I have much different perspectives on in life. The only way I can describe this whole experience is "enlightening."

I feel like I will have a little trouble re-adjusting to reality. Because Grenoble has become home, I know I will miss it. My friends here are the only people I can ever imagine being in Europe with. They have had adventures right along with me, and not being around them will be a hard adjustment. They have helped to change my life, along with Annie, and Miranda. I am so thankful for this experience.

Traveling in France -Paris, Nice, Monaco (which technically is NOT France) and a lot of Provence

8:19 p.m.

I only have about 22 days left in France. It is unbelievable. I have been so busy the month of April! It has been amazing! Glen came to visit for spring break I met him in Paris. We did all the sightseeing things that I did before with AIFS, in addition to Centre Pompideu and Le Musée d'Erotisme-which was interesting. Everyday, Glen thought it was absolutely essential to get fresh baguettes. It was amusing that he was obsessed with them! Then we took at flight down to Nice and hung out on the Promenade d'Anglais by the Mediterranean and explored Old Nice. We, also, spent half a day in the country of Monaco. We saw Le Casino de Monte-Carlo and a million nice cars that I could NEVER afford. They were probably worth more than my life...by far! :) We saw the Port of Monaco and the Prince's Palace. Because Monaco is still ruled by a Prince, it is a little different when it comes to the government. We had trouble with getting back to Grenoble because the trains were on strike. We had to jimmy-rig our tickets to get to Lyon, the closest city with a train still going to it to Grenoble. By the time we got to Lyon though, the train from Lyon to Grenoble had been erased, too!

Annie and her uncle took us to Chartreuse, where the monks make the alcohol and Chateau de Vizille. We spent a day showing Glen those two places. I think he liked it! :) But then, there was all the trouble with the planes and the Icelandic volcano erupting. I got him to Paris the night before his flight, and we slept on the hard, cold airport floor with hundreds of other stranded travelers. The only reason he made his flight the next morning is because we cut in line, in front of about 500 people. But, he made it home, and that's what counts.

This past weekend, I spent with my AIFS friends in the region of Provence in France. It was probably my favorite trip other than Italy. We left on April 23 and returned to Grenoble on the 25th, but saw so many different and interesting things.

The first day, we drove to Chateauneuf-du-Pape and did some wine-tasting at 10:45 a.m. at the Musée du Vin. YUMMY! I bought a little wine, and then we were on our way to our next destination. Le Pont du Gard was where we ate lunch. Le Pont du Gard is actually, a ruin of a Roman aqueduct built in around 19 B.C. Pretty dang old. It is the tallest aqueduct still in existence in the world and was once around 50km! Quite the civil engineering feat, if you ask me. We picnicked on the rocks by the river, skipped stones, and played in the water. It was an absolutely enchanting place to have lunch! The last place we went that day was the city of Avignon. This is where the papacy was moved from Rome from 1309-1378. We visited the Papal Palace and Le Pont d'Avignon. The city itself was very medieval looking. The city walls from the Middle Ages were still intact and gave the city a romantic feel.

The second day began by driving to Tarragon. We visited the Chateau that was once inhabited by Le Roi René...I think. Miranda gave us a tour and explained what all the rooms were once used for. It was magical, walking around a REAL castle. Honestly, I think that it may someday be the setting for a book I may write. Inspirational, to say the least. Arles, the city where Van Gogh painted, where the Romans built an arena (which they still have bull-fights in) and was an important Roman outpost was quite and VERY "provincial." I saw the actual location of the cafe which Van Gogh painted that is one of his more famous works. :) This made me VERY happy. The small town Les Baux de Provence was next on our agenda. This is where the name Bauxite comes from (you know, the type of rock). The town was built into the rock and was situated on a hill that overlooked groves of olive trees and vineyards. The chateau on the top of this town was in ruins, but still had the fell of something very old, almost mysterious. I wish I could describe better what all of these places made me feel like. The best I can do, I would say, was that they were inspirational in an other-worldly way. At the bottom of the town, was a quarry. Miranda took us to La Cathedrale d'Images, which projected pictures and videos on the walls of the quarry. Music accompanied the images of Australia. It was similar to an IMAX theater, but made out of nature, in that the screens were rock. Once on the bus again, we were taken to Saintes Maries de la Mer, a city situated on the coast of the Mediterranean. On our way, we passed through La Camargue; the swampy marshlands of France. Here, we saw pink flamingos in the wild. Once we were all settled into our hotel, Miranda took us out to a Spanish dinner with a Spanish band and a flemenco dancer!

The last day, we woke up and went horseback riding in the Camargue on the traditional horses of the region. The horses in southern France are born with darker colors and when they get older, they turn white. After horseback riding, I spent the rest of the afternoon laying on the beach and soaking up the sun with my AIFS friends! What a wonderful weekend! :)

Barcelona, Spain

10:55 a.m.

My weekend was spent in Barcelona, Spain. Excellent choice! There was so much to take in because the city is full of modernist art and gorgeous architecture. The only problem was, I only spoke about three words of Spanish (Gracias-Thank You, Por Favor-Please, and Losciento-Sorry), but I suppose those are the only words you REALLY need to get by. I drank a lot of Sangria while we were there. Also, I got some sun! Really, it was more of a sun-burn than a tan, but I'll take what I can get.

I was with two other guys the majority of the time, Ricky and Tomasz. We saw a lot of architecture by the famous "Gaudi" which was amazing because it is so different than anything I have ever seen. Casa Mila, Casa Ballto, Park Guell, and Sagrada Familia were the big things we saw. Also, we went to the Port of Barcelona and hiked up to a castle/fortress that protected the city from invaders on the Mediterranean. I took a little nap on the beach, and then, we walked around the city discovering Park de Ciutadella and the Arc de Triomf of Spain.

The main difference between Barcelona and France that I found, was the colors. There were colorful mosaics and curvy, crazy monuments everywhere. Even the street lamps were artistic. I can't wait to go back to Spain!

A little frustration...

5:40 p.m.

I just got back from a much need run. Listening to music and burning some energy got my mind off of home, the 8 page French paper I need to write, and my homework. Blah... Things in Grenoble are slowly wearing me out. I am not as excited about France as I was at first. Little things are starting to bother me. For example: Annie. Don't get me wrong, she is a great "host-mom," but I am not crazy about little things that she does. For one, she LOVES to gossip about who is sleeping with who, who is being scandalous with married men, and who is in love with who. I don't really care. She acts like life is a soap opera. It doesn't have to be. Another thing that has been bothering me lately. It is starting to bother me that I can't be more "independent." I want to make my own coffee in the morning. I want to wake myself up in the morning. I don't need to have a babysitter to do these things for me. I am twenty years old. I would never be okay with having a maid. Help every once in awhile is great, but I like to do certain things my own way.

The French as a whole bother me. French fashion in Grenoble is a joke. I just want to scream at the people on the tram every morning, "It wouldn't hurt you to wear some color! You are boring!" Gray, black, and brown are not the only colors that exist on a color palate.

I don't feel as free and as carefree as I do in the U.S. partly because Miranda has warned us over and over and over again to be careful. I find myself being overly cautious, which is not a lot of fun in the grand scheme of things. I want to be able to go for a run without being stared at. Apparently, French women don't think running is cool.

I like my experience here, on the whole, but there are just a few little things that are starting to drive me BONKERS!

Geneva, Switzerland

10:17 p.m.

Yesterday, I was in the Swiss Alps instead of the French Alps! I went with my AIFS group to Geneva. We left early in the morning, and we visited the United Nations building first. It was really interesting. Then we visited the Red Cross Museum. Not my favorite thing in the world, but nice to learn a little history, I suppose. Then, we went to the center of Geneva. The "old" Geneva. It was a very clean and cute city, but expensive. I have NEVER seen so many porshes, BMWs, and Mercedes just cruising around! I bought some Swiss chocolate, because I was told it was absolutely necessary. After I bought it, I understood why! :) DELICIOUS! Jenn and I ventured out on our own and visited St. Peter's Cathedral and got an amazing view of the city from one of the towers. Then we strolled down a few narrow streets until we were walking along the lake. We got some great pictures of "le Jet-d'eau" which is a huge jet of water that sprays up from the lake. Apparently, it is a huge civil engineering feat. Pretty cool to look at! All in all, a good day!

PARIS!!!

March 19, 2010

8:52 a.m.

BONJOUR! The past week has been a crazy one. From, going to the Opera "Don Giovanni," to ice-skating, to hiking the Bastille, to being sick. And now as I am getting over my cold, I am in Paris, France.

Yesterday, I got here at around 1:15 p.m. with the rest of my group by train. We got to our hotel, which is near the Gare de Lyon/Bastille. Miranda, our Resident Director, took us on a mini-walking tour by the Bastille (or where it stood before the French Revolution) and around the Marais quarter. We saw the Chapelle St. Louis, the Place des Vosagês (which is where Victor Hugo lived in addition to be a gorgeous little park), and walked into the courtyard of the Musée Carnavalet, which has a lot of fun history behind it. After, strolling around for supper and looking at all the fun shops, we met back at the hotel to go to the musical "Zorro." The dancing and singing were amazing. It was, of course, in French, but I understood what was going on the majority of the time! Sometimes, certain songs were in Spanish. At this point, I had NO idea what they were singing about, but it was a good time regardless.

Being in Paris didn't really sink in until after the musical. A couple of us ,who had not been to Paris before, decided to go see the Eiffel Tower at night. I can't even put into words how pretty it was. We sat and stared for about 40 minutes until it did the sparkle show. Absolutely amazing! J'aime Paris!

March 20, 2010

10:05 p.m.

Wow. My feet are so swollen from walking, walking, and more walking. But, I am in Paris, so I really can’t complain. Yesterday, Miranda took us to Palais Garnier, the famous opera house of Paris. This is where the story of the “Phantom of the Opera” originated. The Palais Garnier was decorated with ornate decorations, huge mirrors, and twelve different colors of marble. The intricate chandeliers and lighting made the receiving rooms breathtakingly beautiful.

From the opera house, we walked to Place Vendôme. The Ritz Hotel was in this square. The very same Ritz Hotel that Princess Diana left before her tragic car accident. It was at Place Vendôme that we found the first “meter.”

The Jardin des Tuileries was near the Place de la Concorde. Miranda took us through the gardens to Concorde, and we had a nice view of the Eiffel Tower in the day near another famous square.

The Tour Montparnasse has 56 floors. The skyscraper of Paris offered an exceptional view of all of Paris. It reminded me a lot of the Empire State Building in New York, or the Sears Tower in Chicago.

The Louvre is free for students on Friday nights after 6 p.m. (incase anyone was every planning a trip to Paris!) We went to the museum in search of the Mona Lisa. I was actually impressed with the size of her. Everyone complains she is so small, but I thought she was a normal portrait size. What I was disappointed with was the huge crowd around her. I couldn’t even appreciate the painting, just a glance, and then I had to get out of the way for the next tourist to get a picture of the subtle smile behind the thick glass protecting her. I saw a few other famous works by popular artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Canova, Véronèse, and ancient Greek and Roman statues, like Vénus de Milo. I was really impressed with the pyramids that were recently built in front of the Louvre.

Our last stop of our night: Harry’s New York Bar. This bar was where the “Bloody Mary” was invented. For 13 euros, one could buy an original Bloody Mary while being surrounded with British and American people. The piano player and guitarist in the corner created an ambiance that one could only experience in an English-speaking bar. Classy with a twist of down-to-earth style. An excellent choice for something a little different and un-Parisian. The story is that Ernest Hemingway frequented this bar, against his wife’s wishes. The bartender would make Hemingway a drink with tomato juice and spices and/or tabasco-hiding the scent of vodka. I wonder if Hemingway’s wife, Mary, ever figured it out.

Today, the day started with The Sorbonne-the Université de Paris. We sauntered over to the courtyard of the Musée du Moyan Âge and then saw the Pantheon…amongst other things I cannot remember.

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame was enormous. We toured the interior of the church. Next time, I hope to up to the towers. Miranda pointed us in the direction of the most interesting bookstore I have ever been to. “Shakespeare & Co.” I bought a few of the classics like “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

The Luxembourg Gardens were beautiful. The weather was nice, but I wish that I my feet weren’t so swollen. Around when we got to the gardens, my feet were in so much pain that I wasn’t enjoying myself.

The Musée D’Orsay, in my opinion, was way better than the Louvre because there was Vincent Van Gough, Monet, and Renoir. (A few of my favorite artists).

The Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe were a picture stop. My feet hurt WAY too much to continue. Tonight is a chill night at the hotel, just trying to recuperate from the past few days.

Busy Weekend!

10:27 p.m.

This weekend was extremely eventful! I kept myself busy on Thursday night by catching up on current American films in the movie theaters. I watched Avatar, 2012, and The Princess and the Frog (which helped with my French because ‘il y a un peu de français dans le film!’). On Friday night, I went out to eat with Jenn’s parents, Jenn, Eva, and Laura. Jenn’s parents were visiting for the week and bought us dinner. It was delicious! They were so nice! It makes me miss the little things…like how most Americans are likable because they are much more outgoing than the French.

On Saturday, I hiked to the Bastille with Eva, Jordan, and Laura. My butt is still sore. It is 2.1 kilometers up…basically straight up steep inclines and stairs. By the time we made it to the top, we decided we needed to treat ourselves to some dessert, so we went to a boulangerie for a little pastry. Then we went back over to the Musée Dauphinois and learned about the people who have lived in the Alps and the means in which they moved around the mountains (skis!). It was really interesting to see antique skis and ski lifts. Some skis were from native tribes who lived in the mountains before European settlers. After the museum, we strolled down to a local café and I bought myself some “vin chaud”=hot wine. It is spiced red wine, that in every other experience of everyone in my group has been wonderful. Mine was not, unfortunately. It was WAY too strong. I asked Annie why mine would have been as terrible as it was, and she explained it was because the wine they must have used was probably a poor quality wine.

Today, I woke up this morning to snow. It was pretty to look at, but cold and wet to be in. Our group went with Miranda to Chateau de Vizille and the gardens of the Chateau. Vizille is a small town near Grenoble and the Chateau was turned into a museum about the French Revolution (because it began in Grenoble and then the people retreated to the chateau in Vizille for protection. It was really interesting. We didn’t get to see a lot of the gardens because it was so cold outside. I may go back on a nicer day.

Tonight, I went to a Grenoble “football” match. The football here is really American soccer. It would have been a blast except for the fact that my fingers almost fell off! It was freezing! The atmosphere at the game was a lot of fun regardless of the cold. The French really get riled up about soccer (as do all Europeans).

I came home and found Annie and her friend who is an English teacher to French middle school kids trying to correct essays. I helped. It felt good to actually know what I was talking about and having someone ask ME for help instead of the other way around. It was funny, because I imagine the papers I hand in to my French teachers look very similar to the papers I helped correct tonight. Red marks EVERYWHERE! But, that is fine with me. I’m learning.

8:29 p.m. (March 3, 2010)

I have occasional spouts of homesickness. I was listening to my IPOD on shuffle tonight and Garth Brooks started playing. I almost started crying! It was the strangest thing. I suppose it reminded me of the summer and singing at the top of my lungs with friends from Nebraska. It is the really little reminders of home that get to me. I could look at pictures of people, talk on the phone, or write in my journal about my memories of home, but when a strong memory is triggered by a smell or a song, it really gets to me.

The weather is rainy and wet. I hate it; it makes me tired and depresses me. I hope it is sunny again like it was for the past three days. Maybe, I was just too spoiled. I was walking around in short-sleeved dress yesterday, and I was almost too warm. Although, I suppose in March, there is no such thing as “too warm.”

I taught my French students today. It was really fun, because I brought my computer and played a few songs, and they knew them. America has a HUGE influence on other countries. They knew who Lady Gaga, Flo Rida, and Ke$ha were.

It is amazing how much one can get done without the internet. Tonight, I was without internet, and Annie was without a phone line or cable. I thought it would take me forever to do my French homework because I didn’t have my hand-dandy translator. I used a dictionary (like I am supposed to), and I learned more and finished much faster than if I would have done it online. I blame Facebook! In any case, tomorrow is my last day of class for the week. WOOT WOOT! I’m going “out” tomorrow night and on Saturday, I am planning on going skiing. Bring on the snow! (You will never again catch me saying that!)

9:01 a.m.

So I definitely woke up on the RIGHT side of the bed this morning! The sun is out and the sky is blue. Today looks like it will be amazing. Yesterday, I had a wonderful afternoon taking a run in beautiful weather. Then I went downtown and did the window shopping thing. I did buy two French dresses for 13 euro. AMAZING DEAL. And now, hopefully, I will look a little more "French" when I walk down the street. I did a lot of window shopping because the weather was perfect for it!

I have gotten back into the swing of school and I love Grenoble more now, than before I went to Italy. I think it has something to do with the fact that I was exposed to a culture that didn't utter a word of a language that I knew. At least with French, I can understand what people are saying!

I want to go skiing next Saturday. A couple of friends and I (who aren't as skilled at skiing) are planning to go to one of the more "family friendly" ski resorts so we don't kill ourselves in the French Alps. I cannot wait!

This weather has me excited. I've decided I'm going for a walk in the park by my house, going downtown to grab a panini for lunch, and going to spend as much of the day as possible in the fresh air. HOORAY!

1:58 p.m.

So the day didn't turn out as beautiful as I would have hoped, but at least I got in a good run. Then at 4, I am meeting up with my friend Hannah to plan our Barcelona, Spain trip over Easter. :)

Italy Feb. 11-Feb. 21

I just got back from Italy last night and I am beat. I was in Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Venice, and Milan in a total of 10 days. I saw so many wonderful things...because I saw so much. I think it would be easiest to use list form.

Rome:

1. The Colosseum-which was much bigger that I imagined! I couldn't believe a civilization that existed 2,000 years ago would have the technology or engineering skills to build it.

2. The Roman Forum/Palatine Hill-An amazing sight! You see columns, and the ruins of the main part of the city for the Romans. It was a little eerie, because when you think about it, the Romans who used this area probably never imagined in the future that their city would have such an impact. Here, the pre-Romans founded a thatched-hut shantytown in 753 B.C.

3.The Arch of Constantine-A gorgeous and intricate arch that was erected to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in A.D. 315.

4. Monument of Vittorio Emmanuele II

5. Michelangelo's Piazza di Campidoglio

6. The Pantheon-Erected 2,000 years ago, it is still a mystery how this temple was built. It is a perfect half-sphere made of poured concrete without the support of vaults, archs, or ribs, making it the largest of its kind. The light that enters the roof was used as a sundial to indicate the passing of the hours and the dates of equinoxes and solstices.

7. Bernini's Trevi Fountain-my favorite part of Rome, besides the Colosseum and Roman Forum! This fountain emerges from the back wall of Palazzo Poli.

8. Castel Sant' Angelo/Bernini's Ponte Sant' Angelo-Built by Hadrian (AD 117-138) as a mausoleum for himself and his family, this mass of brick and stone has served as a fortress, prison, and palace. When the city was wracked with the plague in 590, Pope Greogory the Great saw an angel sheathing his sword at the top of the complex; the plague abated soon after, and the edifice was rededicated to the angel.

9. Rome's Pyramid

10. Appian Way-Since burial inside the city wall was forbidden during the ancient times, fashionable Romans made their final resting places along the Appian Way.

11. Villa di Massenzio-The most random ruins that we stumbled across. It was near the Appian Way and there were large towers, bridges, and a castle like structure.

12. Piazza del Popolo/Obelisk of Pharaoh Ramses II-Was once the most popular place for public executions. The obelisk in the center is 3,200 years old, which Augustus brought back from Egypt as a souvenir.

13. Spanish Steps

Vatican City:

1. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums-The Sistine Chapel has served as the chamber in which the College of Cardinals elects new popes. Michelangelo's ceiling depicts different stories from Genesis. "The Last Judgement" fills the alter wall. Interesting facts: Michelangelo did not paint the Sistine Chapel flat on his back, but standing up and craning his head backwards. He never recovered from the strain to his neck and eyes. Also, in "The Last Judgement," Michelangelo painted a self portrait of himself. He is portrayed as a flayed human skin that hangs symbolically between the realms of heaven and hell.

2. St. Peter's Square-Above the collonade leading to the basilica are 140 statues. The obelisk in the center is complimented with two fountains on either side.

3. St. Peter's Basilica-The basilica sits on the tomb of St. Peter and above are the statues of Jesus, John the Baptist, and 11 apostles (not Peter...he has his own statue in the front of the basilica). Michelangelo's "Pietà and Arnolfo di Cambio's "Peter" are both within the basilica.

4. Pope Tombs-In rooms underneath the basilica are the tombs of all the popes (minus the ones on display within the basilica).

Siena:

1. Piazza del Campo/Fonte Gaia-A shell-shaped brick square that was designed for civic event. At the top of the square, the fountain is still fed by the same aqueducts used in the 1300s. At the bottom of the Piazza is the Torre del Mandia bell tower.

2. Duomo in Siena

Pisa:

1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa-Constructed in 1173, the tower began to tilt because the soil beneath it suddenly shifted. The tower is presently considered stable after a 15 (?) year stabilization effort.

Florence:

1. The Duomo-Santa Maria del Fiore-In 1296 the city fathers commissioned Arnolfo di Cambio to erect a cathedral so magnificent that it would be "impossible to make it either better or more beautiful with the industry and power of man." The people of my group-Jenn, Eva, Laura, and Ricky plus me, climbed the 463 steps to the top of the dome to get an amazing view of Florence.

2. The Uffizi Museum-houses Bottecelli's "The Birth of Venus" and "Primavera", and a DaVinci painting called "Adoration of the Magi", Michelangelo's "Holy Family with the Infant St. John the Baptist", Raphael's "Madonna of the Goldfinch", Titian's "The Venus of Urbino", and Caravaggio's "Medusa."

3. Boboli Gardens-A beautiful garden full of geometrically shaped hedges, cypress and holly trees, bubbling fountains, and marble statues.

4. Ponte Vecchio-oldest bridge in Florence that has survived since the 1300s and the bombing during the wars.

5. Museum Accedemia with Michelangelo's "David-the most gorgeous man in the world. A truly amazing piece of artwork.

Venice:

1. St. Mark's Basilica, Square, and Bell Tower-Basilica di San Marco (Saint Mark) has gold mosaics all over the marble walls. It was built in the 9th century to house the remains of St. Mark. The Tower was built on a foundation of Roman ruins and in a 1902 restoration project, completely collapsed into a pile of bricks. It was rebuilt in 1912.

2. Rialto Bridge-Named after Rivo Alto, the first colony built in Venice. It was originally built of wood, but after its collapse in the 1500s, the new structure was built.

3. Titian's and Canova's Tomb in Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari-Began construction in 1340, the church has two painting by Titian and his remains lie within the walls. Also, Canova, the sculptor's, tomb is across from Titian's. The giant pyramid tomb is almost as big as Titian's monument. This church also had an alter of relics. VERY CREEPY. Old hands, fingers, teeth, etc. kept in glass jar like things. So weird!

4. Doge's Palace which housed "The Rape of Europa" by Veronese and "Mars and Neptune" by Sansovino-Once the home of Venice's "doge" (mayor), the palace now holds tons of art and beautiful rooms. "Mars and Neptune" flank the Stairs of the Giants, which was where the new doges were crowned. The Golden Staircase leads to the Senate rooms and The Bridge of Sighs leads to the prisons on the lower levels. Casanova walked across this bridge to his term in the prisons.

5. Gondola Ride/Grand Canal- A wonderful 40 minute ride through the canals of Venice. Only 80 euro (split 5 ways was 16 euro/person...not bad!)

Milan:

1. The Duomo-One of the largest churches in the world. Construction began in 1386 and ended under Napoleon's command in 1809. The cathedral has more than 3400 statues, 135 spires, and 96 gargoyles. This cathedral also claims to house the relic of one of the nails that pierced Jesus' hand on the cross.

2. Teatro Alla Scala-Theater of Snails-Helped Milan to claim the "Opera Capitol of the World." The acoustics are said to be the best in the world, comparable to New York's Metropolitan, and one other (sorry, I don't remember!) There is a museum inside that shows the theater's rich history.

3. Castello Sforzesco-Castle and fortress that was constructed in 1368 as a defense against Vencie. It was used as a horse stall, army barrack, and storage house before it was turned into a DaVinci studio. It is surrounded by the canal for a moat and the reconstruction of the drawbridges leading to the interior courtyard.

4. Chiesa (Church) di Santa Maria Della Grazie which is home to DaVinci's "The Last Supper" in the Vinciano Refectory- I didn't go into the actual church, but just the refectory to see "The Last Supper." It was amazing, and HUGE. Our tour guide informed us that originally, the painting was not protected from anything because it was exposed to the sun, snow, rain, etc. The painting actually faded within the first 30 years. Then once a room was built around it, it was bombed in WWII and is a miracle it survived, as the ceiling, and walls next to the painting were almost completely demolished. This painting is one of the most famous in all the world because of the symbolic interpretations one can take from the "moment" of which it was painted. Oh, and it isn't an actually oil or acrylic painting, but more similar to a fresco, which surprised me!

I am most likely missing a few things...but here is the majority of it! I took some of the information from "Let's Go Europe 2005 Travel Guide"

11:53 p.m.

I have been so busy with school and life in general! I love it! I am leaving for Lyon in two days and then on Thursday morning, I will be in Rome, Italy. I can't believe it! I still have to plan all the things I am going to do while I am in Italy, in addition to homework, and packing. Also, I booked my flight to Barcelona, Spain, in April. I feel extremely lucky to have this experience. In Italy, I am planning on going to Rome, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Venice, Verona, and Milan, in the time span of 10 days. It is going to be rough, but I want to see everything I can while I am over here! :)

Lyon, France

3:36 p.m.

What a weekend! Thursday through Saturday night wiped me out completely! I went out on Thursday night and went dancing and drinking. It was a great time! It was so strange though, the music the bars played was mostly American music. I guess our Beyonce and Lady Gaga are popular in France as well.

On Saturday morning, I took the train with eleven other people from my group. We went to Lyon, France. I didn't really know what was in Lyon but once we got there, I found it to be an amazing city. Vieux Lyon (or Old Lyon) was the part of the city we went to. My favorite part of the trip was going to le basilique Notre-Dame by funicular (and inclined railway), The Notre-Dame basilique was a HUGE basilica that had breathtaking architechture and art inside. The colors and the intricate design made me believe that God really had to have had a part in building it, because there is no way that human beings could have made something so beautiful. I had a spiritual moment while inside, and it is something I will never forget. Also, the Amphithéâtres Gallo-Romain were ruins of an old Roman theatre. It was amazing to think about the time in which it was built, roughly 2-50 A.D. My group and I had an amazing time taking pictures and goofing off here. What was amazing to me was the idea that there had been over 2,000 years of history that has passed since the huge stone theatre was built. The link between the times is astonishing when you imagine what it would have looked like then, and then to see how the ruins look now.

I explored le Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) and saw paintings by Monet, artifacts that dated back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Paintings from the 10th century to the present day were displayed. I was in shock to see the detail that artists used in the past, and the color. It was so refreshing to see art that was so different from our time. Looking at the actual paintings is so much more rewarding then when you see them in a book. I was amazed at the size of many of the paintings; some covered entire walls, while others were no bigger than a textbook.

We rode the Ferris Wheel at Place Bellecour once it became dark outside. The lights in the city were beautiful. The buildings were illuminated in colors and the view of the city was spectacular; even in the dark, it was painted in color. By the end of the day, I was exhausted from all of the walking! The train ride home lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, and the minute my head hit my pillow when I got home, I was out cold.

6:56 p.m.

Hello, all! I am just waiting for Annie to finish cooking supper. She is a wonderful cook…I feel myself gaining weight already! I just finished planning a trip to Lyon, France for eleven other people and myself from AIFS. We are going on Saturday and going to see the sights and go shopping. Right now, there are HUGE sales in France (up to 70% off some things).

Today, I had class at 8:30 to 10:30. It was so interesting because I found out there is a boy in my class named Andrew. The crazy coincidence of meeting Andrew is that he is from Nebraska. On top of that, he knows people from Norfolk that I know. What a small world! I couldn’t believe it!

I have been extremely tired and cold lately. Maybe the two go hand-in-hand. The weather here has gotten progressively colder every day this week. It isn’t the same kind of cold as Nebraska or South Dakota, though. It isn’t as bad as in the US. I guess I was just spoiled with the nice weather the first week, and now, I am expecting it all the time.

Funny story: Annie was asking about my family and I went down the list of everyone who was important to me. When I got to Vern, she asked what he did. When I explained that he was a manager of a factory that made cheese, she was instantly excited. (The French LOVE their cheese!) She began asking about what kinds of cheese they made, and I told her the only two I knew; cheddar and Colby jack. She went on a rant about how she LOVED cheddar and how hard it is to get in France. She told me I had to send some of the cheese Vern’s plant made as soon as I get back to the states. Don’t know how that will be possible…but the fact that Annie was so excited over cheddar cheese amused me. Especially, since the French have much better cheeses than cheddar!

6:11 p.m.

I need a break from doing French homework. So far, my homework for tomorrow is extremely easy. I don't understand why I had such a hard time understanding my teacher on Friday.

My weekend has been very low key, which I am grateful for. Yesterday, I went to lunch at a creperie and had a crepe with chicken, red peppers, and Italian cheeses. It was amazing. Eva, Tammy, Katie F, Jordan, and I felt it was neccessary for a little "retail therapy" and went to "Grand-Place." You must say "Grand-Place" with a French accent! If you say it with an American accent, no one would understand what the heck you are talking about. Grand-Place is the centre-commercial (or mall) of Grenoble. In order to de-stress, I thought it best to buy an American brand of tennis shoes (Asics) and some jogging tights. So far, I am positive this has been the best investment I have made since coming to Grenoble. After the mall, I went for a long jog through a beautiful park near my apartment. Before I left Annie's, Annie told me how "American" I looked. I had on my tennis shoes, jogging pants underneath my running shorts, a long-sleeve shirt under a short-sleeve shirt, and my iPod attached to my clothing. Throughout my jog, I realized she wasn't joking. People were staring at me. They COULD tell I was American by how I was dressed. It was bizarre to be the outsider. It really didn't bother me as much as it would have if I was in the states; I figured, I don't know any of these people, and will most likely never see them again, so I might as well just ignore the confused stares.

My run helped clear my head, put me in a great mood, and gave me a boost of energy. I came back to Annie's apartment with a much better attitude! Annie had friends over and they helped her put new light fixtures up in my room. Along with pretty, green drapes, my room got a make-over in the time I was gone. We had pizza for dinner and I got drunk off of three glasses of wine and a glass of champagne. I love France. Annie made me show her friends the naughty French book I got for Christmas. They were entertained and wanted copies of the book sent to them when I go back to the U.S. I am glad I could be a part of the dinner entertainment! It was exciting to fit in...well, as much as that is possible for the time being.

Thank God it's Friday! This week, classes were really tough and I think I have had a little bit of a culture shock. I had a minor break-down this morning, but I ran to Miranda's office and explained my dilemma. The problem I had was my teacher for my language classes was extremely difficult to understand. One minute, she would be explaining something, then, she would jump to something else. I felt like I couldn't understand a word she was saying, so I had to tune her out in order to not start crying right in the middle of class. It was AWFUL! Then, after I had spoken with Miranda about it...actually sobbed to her about it...she totally understood. She explained her concern with me being with that teacher even before I had started class. Miranda's thoughts about that teacher were that the teacher was much better at teacher upper level French classes. Apparently, she is a few French fries short of a happy meal. I love Miranda! She did her magic and had me moved out of that teacher's class to a class with a more structured teacher. That takes a huge load off my shoulders!

After that little cry session, I came home and slept for a couple hours and then met up with Jenn and Eva for a beer. It was a relief to just hang out with some girls who spoke English! I never realized how much I really love talking in English. I didn’t know how much my brain could hurt because French! I’m sure it will get easier…well I hope so anyway! :)

10:24

Class is so much more stressful that I could have imagined. I felt like an idiot a few times today, but that is life. To make my day a little better (after four hours of only French), I needed a "chocolat chaud"-hot chocolate and it made me feel a million times better. It snowed today, and the snow was strange...huge, wet flakes all day long. People use umbrellas to protect themselves from the snow. It was really pretty, but not very comfortable to be wet.

At the moment, in addition to my school work, I am planning out trips to Barcelona, Marseille, Morocco or Portugal, and Florence/Milan (in addition to the already planned trips to Paris, Geneva, and Provence). It is super cheap to travel around Europe-once you are here anyway! I can't wait for my first trip, which will potentially be next weekend.

Tomorrow, NO SCHOOL pour moi! I am going to sleep in, study, relax, and possibly go out with some friends! Can't wait!

9:19 p.m.

I haven’t had a moment to myself since I got to Grenoble. Sorry it took so long to make this entry.

Grenoble, France is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The mountains surround us and when I ride the tram to school, it looks as though I am looking at a backdrop from a movie set. The view is breath-taking! There are so many things about Grenoble I want to explain. For one, tomatoes taste so much sweeter here than in the U.S. I have figured out why the French are so much healthier than Americans. They eat food that is grown in the nearby countryside and nearly everything at the markets seem to be organic. They eat tons of fruits and vegetables! They walk up stairs to stay in better shape and don’t take the “lifts” even when they are there. I walk or take the tram EVERYWHERE!

Another thing about the French; they don’t wear bright colors. I’m sure I stick out like a sore thumb and they realize I am a foreigner. But, when I open my mouth, all of their possible doubts are confirmed. When I ask someone a question in French, like “Ou est le Place de Notre Dame?” they respond to me in a language I have named FRENGLISH. The French are extremely helpful if you just try to speak their language. I have not had anyone be “snotty” to me, yet. Yet, being the keyword.

The French don’t use normal pillows. They use body pillows, but they are round body pillows. They look like a long cylinder. When I first got to l’Hotel des Alpes, I found this little quirk very interesting. Also, the French don’t seem to believe in heat. Especially, my host mom, Annie. She is a firm believer that cold air keeps one looking young. A Brazilian friend of hers told her that little fact. Annie does, indeed, look younger than her age so maybe it is true. She is a 45 year old, unmarried/no kids woman who has traveled the world. She lived in Singapore, was an au pair in London, has been to the U.S. (apparently, once for a Bruce Springstein concert), and has relics from all over the world. Her parents are Muslim. She is atheist. She is “French” but her roots are “Bastille”-don’t ask me exactly what this is. She is a bilingual secretary. At dinner, sometimes we listen to African music, which is actually very entrancing. Annie is a great cook and is extremely open-minded for being a French woman. She, herself, described French women as being too structured and a little snooty. She is interesting to talk to, especially, when she tells all her stories of her travels around the world and about different cultures she has experienced.

In my bedroom, I have a bed, a desk, and armoire, and a Moroccan rug and a rug from Afghanistan. I love the mesh of different cultures within her fifth-floor flat.

I have had orientations since I got here. Miranda, my resident director, has taught me everything from how to eat in front of my host family to how to use both a fork and knife at all times. She has taught us how to stay away from French men and how to not offend French people. They are a lot different from Americans but this has been a learning experience.

My first French class was a bit of a disaster. I only understood about 25% of what the professor was saying, and it was exhausting to try to keep up. I ended up zoning out a couple of times-if I didn’t, I would have broken down. An LONG hour and a half later, I wanted a stiff drink. My new motto, “Try your best.” I am going to do the best I can, but it isn’t the end of the world if I do poorly. I am sure my French will get better, but for now, I just feel a little lost. I know things will become easier!

London, England Sightseeing and My First Day in France

10:37 p.m.

It seems like years since yesterday morning when I was on a tour bus, discovering all of the treasures of London. Our tour guide, Shawn, had a Scottish accent and was hilarious. He was bald and made fun of himself constantly, and of the British people walking on the streets in addition to many crazy facts and historical references that involved the sights we drove by. I saw Westminster Abbey, drove over London and Tower Bridge, was on Fleet Street and Drury Lane (where the muffin man lives). Buckingham Palace and Big Ben were a lot bigger than I had imagined them to be. Laura and I went to the British Museum and saw the Rosetta stone, Egyptian artifacts-including the mummy of Cleopatra, medieval artifacts, Ancient Greek and Roman statues, and an Easter Island statue. The history and culture of London dates so far back and the architecture is so different from anything that I have ever seen in the US, it is hard to imagine what things would have looked like in the Victorian era, the Renaissance, or the Middle Ages. I felt as though I was in another world and I wish I would have been able to stay longer to explore more of the city. The historical implications of London were fascinating to me; I hope to go back someday-maybe even while I am still in Europe on a weekend trip.

France is a whole different story. I have already caught on to the laid back vibe the French express when eating or speaking while only being here for a total of 12 hours. All day today was more or less an orientation within the hotel with our Resident Director, Miranda. She is wonderful and has already been very helpful in conveying information that I was worried about. I discovered today that I meet my host family on Saturday night and move in. Sunday is a day to myself/with my new family, and Monday, I will take a placement test that is the determining factor for the classes I will take. Classes start on Tuesday. The whole process is very nerve-wracking.

Today, I had my first real conversation with a French woman. It was a little intimidating but I communicated with her well enough for her to understand. I asked her for my room key, but she didn't have it so she asked me if I wanted her to open my door for me anyway. I told her yes. We went up the "lift" and she asked me if I was from the United States. I told her I was, and then she asked if I was tired. I told her I was because I had only 2 hours of sleep last night. She asked where I was from in the U.S. and I told her South Dakota/Nebraska. She had no idea where that was so I just told her it was in the middle of the U.S. It was an exhilarating feeling to be able to speak to a French woman in French. :) Our group went out to dinner and I met a couple other students who have been here since the fall. Dinner was okay, but dessert was fantastic. It was a pie-like dessert but the berries were on top of the crust and there was no filling. Simple but delicious! I can't wait to meet my family and get a normal routine. Also, I think I will be traveling most weekends to different parts of Europe with people in my group. I would like to go to Spain or Marseille for my winter break. Some of the people in my group were even thinking about going to Morocco! There are so many opportunities here and I don't want to miss out on anything. My main goal is to see as much of Europe as possible in four months! Wish me luck!