tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41545601895809085482024-03-05T18:06:20.214-08:00Deezy All Aroundfreezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-17297600113435215562011-07-08T06:33:00.000-07:002011-07-08T07:38:48.375-07:00Paris of the PlainsApparently, I have been living in the 'Paris of the Plains'. A sobriquet of Kansas City because of it's vast number of boulevards, claiming to have the most than any city besides Paris. Kansas City is mostly known as <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">t</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">he City of Fountains</span>, because of the more than 200 fountains around the city- 2nd to Rome, so I was surprised that it had something in common with my beloved French capital. (ps. can you find a GRE word in that paragraph? good luck. ha!)<br /><br />I first moved to Kansas City in 1998 from Los Angeles, and I vowed to never love it as much as my hometown. In high school, I met some people that were Kansas City fanatics: In love with with it's sports teams, venues, history, culture, and BBQ- but I still never even considered it. I then moved to Milwaukee in 2007, where I truly first fell in love with the "Midwest". Now that I have returned for an x-number of months, I am opening my heart to possibility that this city might actually be awesome.<br /><br />But first, I took a trip to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Lawrence, Kansas</span><span>.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>A college town only 40 minutes away from Kansas City, known for it's Kansas University Men's Basketball Final Four appearances (because they've actually only won 3 titles!). To tell you the truth, I only went to Lawrence, because I was going to see <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Yeasayer</span>, a Brooklyn based psychedelic pop-ish band. I saw them at Lollapalooza 2010, but I knew that a show at the Granada was not to be missed! And just as expected it was a GREAT show. I don't think I've danced so much. They played a few of their new songs and some of my favorites. It was one of the best concerts I've been to in a while. It was great to enjoy the art of live music again.<br /><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4732.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 581px; height: 432px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4732.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4705.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 586px; height: 436px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4705.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Smith Westerns</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span>opened for Yeasayer-- a indie rock band from Chicago wooot! I was surprised that they were really really really good! After the catastrophic performance from HushHush, it was good to hear actual guitars and drums, not electronica weirdness.<br /><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4657.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 464px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4657.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I came back to Kansas City and decided to explore the wonders of the city (sarcasm). First stop was the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Nelson Atkins Museum</span>, because well... the building is friggin cool. The sculpture park is lovely on a breezy day. Pictured is the front facade and the Roxy Paine's Ferment Tree. Truly marvelous and a little like a monster.<br /><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4834.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 491px; height: 491px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4834.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4826.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 485px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_4826.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Second, I checked out one of the new-ish venues near the 'ultra cool' Power and Light District: the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crosstown Station Lounge</span>. I went with my good friend Eric to see the much acclaimed <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Civil Wars</span>. Joy Williams and John Paul White are gods. It's true, their voices are not from this time, they're beautiful. I cannot describe the music they make because sometimes it sounds country, then indie folkish, then just acoustic beautiful, and all I can think of is why John Paul White is so mysterious and if I could possibly be in love with Joy? A truly emotional experience. It was intense. I loved it. My favorite song is 'I've got this Friend' and their cover of MJ's Billie Jean is one of my all time favorite covers of any song. They're great.<br /><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5158.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 689px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5158.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The opening artist also had a remarkable voice. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Rayland Baxter</span> </span>was his name. What I loved the most from his performance was a song that he had dedicated to a woman he met in Paris. Basically anything that has to do with Paris, I will love. #handsdown (oh I guess this isn't Twitter)<a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5141.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 664px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5141.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Finally the other thing I dived into the Kansas City scene was <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">First Fridays</span>. Basically every first Friday of the month in the Crosstown Arts District, there are open art galleries, street performers, dancers, car shows [Back2theFuture!], amazing specials at nearby bars and restaurants. A promising good good night. I LOVED IT. I had never seen so much culture and conversations and drinks and people having a great time, not to mention the perfect weather.<br /><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5198.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 711px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5198.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5192-Version2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 894px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5192-Version2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5214.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 410px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/IMG_5214.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The truth is, I think I am liking this place a little too much. Next I will finally discover the night scene at the Power and Light District and hit up some coffee shops in Wesport.<br /><br />I'm crafting again. Making a t-shirt quilt & 5 scrapbooks. Eeeek I'm turning into a Midwest housewife without the kids and minivan. Whoops!<br /><br />With hugs,<br />Mayra.freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-34228085763913013172011-06-26T22:57:00.001-07:002011-06-26T23:04:45.203-07:00turning tablesChecking in for the first time in 2011!<br /><br />I'm back and happy to finally type away what I've been putting off for more than a year. I am living in Kansas City, Missouri- <span style="font-style: italic;">chez-</span>my parents. A series of events has led me to start blogging: the realization that post-college life sucks a bit, missing my friends dearly, one of my older brothers having life problems, and studying for the GRE that has proved to be dull and not yet intriguing. I hope that blogging will inspire me and create a constant motivational endeavor (again).<br /><br /><br />Here is a picture taken about a year ago in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Udine, Italy</span> w/ Luca Fierro. He is, and will always be my Italian love. I will never forget the two flights that were canceled and the 2 extra days I got to spend him with and the Udine/Italian public transportation, trains, and buses. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/0623101503-02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 397px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/0623101503-02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />With hugs,<br />Mayra.freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-20734196345924121352010-10-29T07:17:00.000-07:002010-10-29T09:10:56.959-07:00en parlant le francais...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHFgURMcPQKhOrjYi0kZlo5rzc0clNxHhVegRplq2R6J2l6xFgY3JSZsPM7dKzlj56mtovlbTLNvbf1DCdMZ4OEUbS4yRiC7gDdzg-bIX19N82oPp2Y4WBx9j9ObsGCpCnS7q59WwKZin/s1600/IMG_0494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHFgURMcPQKhOrjYi0kZlo5rzc0clNxHhVegRplq2R6J2l6xFgY3JSZsPM7dKzlj56mtovlbTLNvbf1DCdMZ4OEUbS4yRiC7gDdzg-bIX19N82oPp2Y4WBx9j9ObsGCpCnS7q59WwKZin/s200/IMG_0494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533500777501408610" border="0" /></a>(the east coast had me at hello)<br /></div><br />i can't keep away from blogging any longer.<br />expect a jam packed update soon.<br /><br /><blockquote>"le silence, c'est la mort—<br />et toi, si tu parles, tu meurs;<br />si tu te tais, tu meurs.<br />alors parle et meurs."<br />-Tahar Djaout<br /></blockquote>taken from a friends fb quotes.<br /><br />hugs,<br />Mayra.freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-71061828155904905752010-06-13T05:40:00.000-07:002010-06-13T07:03:07.374-07:00the World Cup begins!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6095591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 591px; height: 443px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6095591.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As I plunge into my last week of classes, I'm excited for "summer", yet so sad because it also marks the end of my stay. Not only does that make me sad, but also because all of the people that have made my Paris experience incredible have left!! Silvia, Gillian, Moriah, Meg, Hatziri (will be leaving), Cris&Tracy&Reina&Luis&Ally (left from their visit) and Joanne, my new Scottish friend is leaving next weekend! Luckily, I decided to spend my last couple of euros on a ticket to Venice. Yes, I am going one last time to the land of Italians to visit the Fierro's! But don't tell them, because it's a surprise!! Only Luca knows at this point.<br /><br />As I countdown the days left in Paris, my roommate Cristina countsdown the days until she leaves for South Africa!! But before that trip, she came and gave me a visit! I'm going to miss her so much at Marquette next semester. But I am learning to not let the sadness take over. Its going to be a good semester for the both of us, not just one way. ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5235358.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 546px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5235358.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Everyday that goes by, I find out about something new going on in the city and I quickly make plans to add it to my busy schedule. I love it. The week leading up to my departure it's the Foire de St. Germain ( a big street festival that supports all kinds of Art -pottery, photography, painting, light, music, dance, etc. ). Also the 18 of June is the 70th Anniversary of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Appel de 18 Juin</span> from Charles de Gaulle during the time of the Vichy Government in France. He called upon all the French to resist the Vichy Regime and to unite to create a <span style="font-style: italic;">France Libre</span>. There is a big celebration on that night at the Hotel des Invalides with a music & light show. Also, the World Cup has arrived and is very very very present in Paris. Here's a couple pictures to illustrate:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125627.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 519px; height: 388px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125627.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This was during the USA-England game last night. The atmosphere was of course American students chanting "U-S-A" and the jolly Englishmen throwing clothes around. It was just the way it had to be. A good game, but an upset. I am going back for the Mexico-France game! Can't wait!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 614px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125634.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After the game, Joanne and I saw another stage set up on the Champs de Mars, just on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. So we made our way over. And it happened to be the Russian National Celebration. An orchestra played under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 558px; height: 418px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6125677.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />About two weeks ago, Gillian and I went to the French Open. Although we didn't have seats in the big courts, we had seats to the other matches, mostly juniors. We got a feel for it though. There was a big screen set up showing the Women's Final, so we were content. I'm not a big Tennis fan, but Rafael Nadal makes me want to change that. Haha!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6055522.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 493px; height: 277px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6055522.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6055517.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 492px; height: 876px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6055517.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I had French Thai food for the first time in my life. At the time I thought it was the first time I was having Thai food, but then I remembered for my junior Prom I went to The Thai Place, and I also met up with Mr. Nguyen there during the summer. It was Moriah's Birthday/Goodbye dinner. So sad.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5124758.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 544px; height: 408px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5124758.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>She lovingly let me keep Rosie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6035495.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 493px; height: 876px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6035495.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In early May, I went to The Night of Museums, where most of the museums in Paris are open until 1am and are FREE! I chose to go to the Musee de L'Orangerie because I hadn't been there before and it holds Monets <span style="font-style: italic;">Nympheas</span>. What was special about this night was that there was a musical narration in the rooms. I wish there would have been less people, but it was still impressive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5154833.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 554px; height: 415px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5154833.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5154819.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 536px; height: 714px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P5154819.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This week was my last Connect! I can't believe it! I met up with an amazing group of people for a year and we discussed the Sunday service. What I loved about our Connect was that we prayed together and everyone genuinely cared about eachother. I am so happy that I was able to meet these individuals, they've taught me a lot about my own relationship with God. Thank You all for that.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6095580.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 643px; height: 362px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P6095580.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Until next time, I can't begin to express how much I am going to miss this city and all that it has done for me.<br /><br />Going home in 16 days.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">with hugs,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Mayra.</span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-9795560225192014312010-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:002010-05-27T16:14:32.755-07:00May Day May Day May DaySo it's almost June, and I feel guilty that I have not updated since March, but now I am updating and that's all that matters. Let it begin.<br /><br />Its been almost three months that I traveled to Brussels, Brugges, Amsterdam, and all the cities that were a part of my Spring Break trip (Rome, Athens, Delphi, and the Greek Islands of Poros, Aegina, and Hydra) Last time I checked, it was supposed to be March 1st. What happened!!!?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brussels</span></span><br />My first time in another francophone country! I traveled with Silvia and Alicia (Silvia's friend from Amherst) and we were on our way! It just so happens that my friend Margaret (from Hamilton College) was on the same bus as us because the TGV from Paris to Brussels was not running due to an accident that happened in early February. What a coincidence! Silvia and I had booked our tickets from Eurolines, the European version of the Greyhound for about 25 euros each. So we arrive in Brussels, and its gloomy, just like my cinematography professor had predicted. It turns out that Belgium in general is a cloudy, wet, and gray country. I'm not making a generalization or anything, but it's the truth! All films that take place in Belgium are in the rain! Its so true! At least Brussels had other things to offer that compensated its downer gloomy weather. Fries, beer, and comic books/cartoons! Jk jk there was the museum that holds the biggest collection of Flemish Art that equally holds an importance. Hmph, I know nothing about Flemish Art so I couldn't appreciate it whoops! Overall it was a good trip. We got our <span style="font-style: italic;">Moules et Frites. </span>Delish!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 572px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263046.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>the sun came out for a few minutes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 350px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263043.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 374px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263034.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 509px; height: 678px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263035.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/SPM_A0218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 370px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/SPM_A0218.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 629px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263072.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 614px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263094.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 386px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2263093.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bruges</span></span><br />On the same trip, we took a day trip to Bruges, which helped even out the gloomyness of Brussels. Although the city was not very different from Brussels, Bruges had the many many canals that made it look like a Flemish style Venice. Apparently when we went (a week after the start of Lent) they were still celebrating Carnaval and we saw their parade in full uproar throughout the town while we were on a boat ride. Splendid. We visited the Chocolate Museum and saw the relic of the Holy Blood. A few drops of Jesus' blood have been kept in this church (Basilica of the Holy Blood). It's crazy to think about. This relic is actually believed to hold 3 drops of Jesus' blood. AHHHH!! Little did I know that a month later I would see the Crown of Thorns at the Notre-Dame. I have been overwhelmed with the <span style="font-style: italic;">croyance</span> belief that exists in these other coutries. Historians and Theologians might say that Islam will overtake Europe, but I still belive. I'm not saying that Christianity will triumph over Islam, I am saying that both religions will remain strong and the Christian entity will remain, just like it has for the past hundreds of years.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 547px; height: 410px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273168.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 371px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273182.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 513px; height: 384px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273135.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 517px; height: 688px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273186.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Inside the Basilica of the Holy Blood<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 511px; height: 680px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273189.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 508px; height: 380px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273165.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 519px; height: 389px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273177.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 545px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P2273119.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amsterdam</span></span><br />Well, since I have some young readers I won't go into the detail about this city's history and what its known for. It was a beautiful city, don't get me wrong. The unforgettable image of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Neerlandais</span> on their bikes riding next to the canals is like nothing else in the USA (bikes outnumber the number of people in Amsterdam I believe), but I didn't think it was for me. I loved it, I really did. Maybe if I would have done a bit more reading, I would have apprecaited the city more, but I just felt like a little detached from the city. I did see the Van Gogh museum, so that was nice, but I feel like I have seen better Van Gogh collections in Paris. Silvia and I shared our hostel room with some Spaniards and we had fun hanging out and sightseeing with them. Silvia practicing her Spanish and me fighting about the proper way to pronounce words in Spanish, it was a good time. "Ahorita" apparently doesn't exist in Spain's Spanish. Whatever, it does in the rest of the Spanish speaking world. We also visited the Anne Frank House, which is where Anne Frank and her family were in hiding during WW2. It was completely unbelievable. I mean, I was in that apartment and I could feel the fear that draped the walls. The fear of the Germans arriving at any moment. When I was in her room, the pictures that hung on the walls were still in tact. I could see the young and high aspirations she had. It made me want to write in my journal. I'm starting again, I feel like I want to write more and read more. It will only do me good. We also took a look at the making of the Heineken beer, interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263777.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 365px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263777.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 689px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263768.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263652.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 570px; height: 427px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263652.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263626-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 561px; height: 747px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263626-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263631-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 573px; height: 429px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263631-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273834.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 374px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273834.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 534px; height: 401px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263701.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263697.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 383px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263697.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263794.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 658px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263794.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Our tour through the red light district. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 482px; height: 642px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3263809.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 493px; height: 656px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273815.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273824.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 625px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273824.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273836.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 642px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P3273836.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1% of Milan 25% of Rome 100% of Athens</span></span><br />So after the volcano in Iceland ruined my spring break plans to Italy, I at least made it to Milan & Rome on the same day. We arrived in Milan at 10am in the morning and took the first bullet train to Rome. We met up with Maria Fosarrello (my <span style="font-style: italic;">sorella)</span> and the following day Silvia and I flew out to Athens. A very very crazy weekend indeed. But, before leaving Paris, I was able to have <span style="font-style: italic;">enchiladas de mole</span> with my mexican-french friends (well almost all mexican). Hatziri, Ame, Leo, Guillaume, Martin, and I sipped some wine, maybe some tequila to reminice, accompanied by some traditional guacamole dip. The enchiladas ended up being half <span style="font-style: italic;">tacos de pollo dorados</span> with mole sauce. Yes, that's what it was like. Mmmm I miss the mexican cuisine! It is non-existant in Paris. There are some restaurants, but I have yet to try something outstandingly similar to my mom's cooking. In Rome, we saw the Colloseum and the Vatican (an urgent request of my mother), it was all we could fit in to the day. I did end up meeting with Steph, my POSC study partner who has been studying in Rome for the past semester, it was a good MU meet up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4184240-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 331px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4184240-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Hatziri getting the chicken ready and the sauce!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4204252-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 368px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4204252-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>On our way to a picnic on Ile de la Cite.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 412px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234359.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234308-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 513px; height: 384px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234308-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234319.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 511px; height: 383px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234319.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234325.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 388px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234325.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We're not in Paris anymore....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234369-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 533px; height: 399px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4234369-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Alright so Athens. I was equipped with the Rick Steves Athens Guide book, so pretty much Silvia and I were set. We are happy to say that we did almost everything that he suggested and boy did we have a GREAT trip!! Yes, go write his name on a post it and Google him later! I highly recommend it, thank you Dr. Quade for allowing me to discover his Paris Guide book! Alright so, on the first day we took the walking tour and we were able to see a majority of the city. It is true that the city is dirty and the poverty is present, but I loved it the same. The food was a huge component of this. The kebabs, gyros, greek salads, and feta cheese dips, I'm even craving some now! We actually ate twice at a fast food Greek food place, which was DELISH and a Noodle Cafe which had the most DELISH noodle soup of my life (who would have thought?). I want to go back!! We toured the Ancient Agora, the Acropolis, the New Acropolis Museum (just opened in the Summer of 2009) the following day. I have to say that this museum was my fav. Silvia and I ended the tour by having desert time on their terrace facing the Acropolis. Only in Athens would that be possible. We met a french man, who happened to sit with us because there weren't enough tables and of course he was amazed that we were living in Paris and traveling all over Europe. Our hostel had an amazing view of the Acropolis as well and the staff was great. I would def love to go back with friends some day especially during the time that we are students, because entry into the museums is free!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4244385-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 501px; height: 374px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4244385-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/maynsilvia4-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 527px; height: 395px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/maynsilvia4-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Getting my sandals fitted at the Poet Sandal Makers place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4294650-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 565px; height: 423px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4294650-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The National Archealogical Museum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284630-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 597px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284630-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4294639.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 356px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4294639.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/maynsilvia5-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 484px; height: 646px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/maynsilvia5-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The first voting machine ever maybe?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 334px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254433.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The terrace of the New Acropolis Museum<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254436-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 589px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254436-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254425.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 446px; height: 594px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254425.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254411.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 393px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254411.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254422.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 358px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254422.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254413.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 559px; height: 419px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254413.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254407.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 489px; height: 366px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4254407.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Poros, Aegina, Hydra</span></span><br />So Silvia and I decided that we wanted to see some of the Greek Islands during our stay in Greece, luckily we ran across a travel agency holding a sale for students and we were able to visit 3 islands in a day. In the end, we should have just chosen one island and explored it, but we agreed that we had fun. Hydra was by far the most beautiful out of the three and my favorite. Our ship was late on a few occasions so we were only able to explore Poros for about 45 mins. Sadness. Silvia and I decided that we would go back. It's been decided! Aegina was a bit cold, so we we didn't spend a lot of time walking around, at that point we were exhausted from sitting and doing nothing on the boat. haha. After a nap, we conversed with our neighbors on the cruise and we met quite a few interesting people, mostly the Italians. Everyone of course, thought we should be in school and not on a cruise ship, because everyone was at least 30 years older. Yeah, we didn't get on the booze cruise as one of them said. I enjoyed talking to the Italian group about my stay in Italy, it only made me miss it even more. Mi manchi!! Mi manchi!! I will always remember the Italy Christmas trip as one of the best of my life. The Athens trip comes in second.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274481.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 537px; height: 402px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274481.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The island of Poros<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274511.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 625px; height: 468px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274511.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Island of Hydra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 462px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274541.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Rick Steves!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 517px; height: 387px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274544.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274538.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 559px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274538.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274487-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 526px; height: 394px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4274487-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Delphi</span></span><br />Located in the southern center of Greece, Delphi is an interesting town. Its primarily just an archaelogical site, the city itself has about three main roads to give you an idea. We took a bus early in the morning from Athens (surprise right?) and we get to the city. I was already hungry at 10 am and I was fortunate to have the most DELISH gyro of my life. Probably because I was the first one (the meat was still cooking when we arrived at the restaurant, and we had to wait about 30 mins before it was ready). I will never forget that gyro with the feta cheese. MMMM. We then moved on to the archeological site which was the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena, the gymnasium, the Theater used in some of the Olympic Games and the Museum on the site. We were so happy to be out of the city and enjoy the calmness of the small town. I was even able to sit under the sun and bronze for a bit. Unfortunately on our way home I lost my phone. A bad ending to a good day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284580.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 631px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284580.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284589-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 473px; height: 629px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284589-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284587.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 323px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284587.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284602-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 433px; height: 324px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284602-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284596-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 509px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284596-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 476px; height: 356px;" src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/deezyallaround/P4284600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So after a week in Greece, I was so ready to come back to Paris. I missed my home. Cristina, Tracy, Luis, and Reina all came and visited Paris this past week and it was great to see familiar faces, but now I'm back to my solitary life in my parisian apartment for three weeks and I'm out of school. For my last week and a half in Paris I will be touring Paris & London with Drew, my Ohioan friend (as I like to call him) who's coming to visit! Its almost over, but for now I know I will come back to this city, it means too much to me now. I've made Paris a part of my life, a big big part. A part that I will remember forever, a part that has changed me.<br /><br />I just bought two books that I am IN LOVE with: Alice et le pays de langage and Jean Cocteau's Orphee. I'll give a resume later.<br /><br />As for now, I'm getting ready for a weekend full of work work work. Two papers for my Cinema class on "what is the narrative voice in films". One history exam on Indochine. One paper for my writing class on "being cultivated means being different" and of course two dance classes this week before my membership expires.<br /><br />I'm almost coming home everyone!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">With hugs,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">Mayra.</span></span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-57218374607574257552010-03-03T14:34:00.000-08:002010-03-19T14:01:18.338-07:00and Lent begins... Part 2<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br />After reading my last entry with a friend (an English speaker- </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">anglophone</i></span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">- ps. from now on anything in italics is in French) we both realized that I had made quite a few spelling and grammatical mistakes- very very obvious ones. I am fully aware of the mistakes (now) and I am really hoping that they won't happen when I'm writing any papers in the fall. I do think my spelling of "symbol" as "simble" is a result of my French phonetics class, so I'm putting all the blame on Madame Raza. Enjoy the spelling mistakes!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Flight to Munich</span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >So as you all know, I visited my friend Julie in Salzburg in early Feb. One of the easiest ways to get to Salzburg is by flying to Munich and then taking a 2hour train to Salzburg. So I booked my flight and I was on my way. My flight to Munich was canceled unfortunately and then the rescheduled flight (2 hours later) was about 3 hours late. So I spent a looooooooong time in Charles de Gaulle, which just happens to be the world’s 6th busiest airport. ALSO, my trip was 2 days after the French suburban trains had gone on strike (the train needed to get to the airport). AND, my entire trip was only a week before all Lufthansa (the largest European Airline) workers went on strike for about three days. It couldn't have been planned at a better time. Info about Salzburg: birthplace of Mozart, Red Bull, The Sound of Music, and other very important things =).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152919.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 525px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152919.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;" >Munich to Salzburg</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I arrive in Salzburg and of course I had completely forgotten to tell Julie about the flight delays and not only that, but I had been so oblivious about the drastic climate change. Great. I was so tired, but excited to be in Austria. So Julie introduces me to her host mom, but before I tell you about that.....I couldn't remember what she had told me about her home stay so on the way to her house I kept on trying to remember what Julie had told me. I couldn’t remember anything in particular so I was automatically thinking that it might not be the best situation, considering that many of my American friends haven't had the best experiences with their own host families. So I am nervous, because I don't know how Julie's family is going to be and of course I can't ask her when her host brother is driving... So Julie introduces me to her host mother.. and I take a deep breath because she ends up being sooooooo incredibly charming and welcoming! Sigh! And this night marked the first time I bit and endulged into a berliner, krapfen, jelly donut, however you wish to call it! delicious!!</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142878-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 355px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142878-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Salzburg Day 1- Wandering around the Old Town</span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >Julie doesn't have class on Friday's either, so we first had lunch at her school, which by the way only has about 27 students? and they get free lunch? I’m mildly jealous here!! After lunch we escaped into the semi frozen Salzburg and headed to climb to the fortress. Now I can't tell you all of Salzburg's history, but it is important to know that it was at one point enclosed by a wall and the fortress is one of the biggest in Europe. I've taken a couple snaps of the fortress so you call all get a good view from the front and back. After the fortress, I had the pleasure to sit down in a little cozy cafe and taste the authentic apple strudel (apfelstrudel) with white hot chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Earlier in the day, we also had gone into the Cathedral which has semi-survived the bombs of WW2. The center altar was completely destroyed, but as I saw the pictures of the bombing and the present day status, I would have never known. We also walked through the cemetary right next to St. Peter's Basilica, which was featured in The Sound of Music =) .</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122719.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 436px; height: 582px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122719.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 556px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122718.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122737.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 497px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122737.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122742.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122742.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122744.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 485px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122744.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The center dome of the Cathedral. The beauty of the Holy Spirit!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 522px; height: 390px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122761.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">View of the Cathedral from the fortress.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122744.jpg"><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122731.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 611px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122731.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122729.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 482px; height: 642px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122729.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Salzburg Day 2- The Salt Mines</span><br />Salzburg, literally means "salt castle", so naturally it is a must to visit the local salt mines which have made the city so famous. So we catch a train, and a bus and we make our way to the mine. It was probably one of the cheesiest, corniest, ridiculous tour's I have ever been through, but it was great. The tour guide gave the tour in German, then Italian, then pulled me aside and told me in English although by the time he told me in English I at already semi understood what he had said. There was a series of videos that we would watch, with dry jokes and dramatic music. One of the coolest parts was seeing the transportation within the mine; they used slides and little wagons to get from cave to cave. Slides, that could probably kill you if you went down improperly, but I got to slide down TWO of them... ah!! I was so nervous!! Little souvenir: mini salt container.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2132798.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 533px; height: 399px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2132798.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2132800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 350px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2132800.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Salzburg Day 3- Valentine's Day with Julie</span><br />I almost forgot that it was February 14th, I mean there is no Hallmark cards everywhere to remind me! Julie and I celebrated by taking a nice walk around the Old Town. On our way there, we saw a cardboard cut out of something hanging from one of the walking bridges. Pic below. I guess there was a group of people that were against the Olympics and wrote 10 Reasons to boycott the Olympics on the side. Interesting reasons I must say. We then stopped and warmed up at a tea-house and had a sachertorte, a chocolate cake traditionally made in Salzburg and Vienna. Originating in the Hotel Sacher by Franz Sacher, this chocolate cake has apricot jelly in the middle, and it is sooooooooooo sooooooooooo good. I want to go back to Salzburg just for that cake and the berliner, which see the picture below. The Berliner or krapfen is a typical pastry that is eaten before Ash Wednesday so Carnival time. Jelly donuts & chocolate cake. I looooooved Salzburgmmmmmm! It was calm Valentine’s Day and Julie is probably the only person who has been my Valentine more than 3 times, I mean we have gone to school together since 4th grade! Thanks Julie, you've been a great Valentine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142843.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 500px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142843.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 621px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122710.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Walking through Getreidagasse (the Champs-Elysee of Salzburg)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122711.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 504px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2122711.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Check out the ornate signs =)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142867-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 582px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2142867-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Salzburg Day 4- The Sound of Music Tour</span></span><br />My last day in Salzburg, so sad. I decided to leave the best for last, the Sound of Music tour! For those of you who have not seen the movie, it is a must so please go now. Since I am nice, I will give you all a synopsis anyway: It’s the story of the family Von Trapp who accept Maria to be the nanny and she falls in love with Mr. Von Trapp and they start singing songs and then the Nazis come to get them because Mr. Von Trapp doesn't want to work for them and the escape into the mountains, even though in real life they went to Italy! So I tell Julie that I am really nervous because I hadn't reserved my place on the tour, and that chances are it might be full already. So I brace myself for disappointment. As it turns out, not only did I get a student discount, but I was the only one! Private tour for me!! Which means that I got to see more things and I could ask questions when I wanted and sing along as loud as I wanted to. My tour guide was actually from Spain so the tour was in Spanish/English/French/German. I love Europeans. I got to see so many beautiful parts of Salzburg and Austria as a matter of fact. So we went to the some of the important parts in the movie like: the Maribel gardens, the mansion where the Von Trapp’s lived in the movie, the convent where Maria was, the hills that are alive with the sound of music, Wolfgang Lake, and other places.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152892-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 346px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152892-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pegasus Fountain at the Maribel gardens.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152899.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 361px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152899.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152900.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 343px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152900.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152912.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 506px; height: 378px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152912.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152942.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 406px; height: 304px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152942.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mozarts' mother's home and sister's birthplace.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 385px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152953.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152966.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 559px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2152966.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Church were Maria Von Trapp got married with the General... hehe.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leaving Day =(</span></span><br />The last day in Salzburg the sun comes out, and it only makes it that much harder to leave. I wasn't really tired, but for some reason I felt sleep deprived. Hm? So I thought I was going to leave early, but Julie's host mom convinced me to stay a little longer, after all it was Mardi Gras. ITS MARDI GRAS! CARNIVAL! Well I did leave, and after arriving in Munich taking my flight to Paris I decided to go to a Mexican restaurant and eat my last meaty meal for a while. I ordered mole =) I had found this restaurant, Anahuacali, online which had received a lot of good review. Well it was alright. I mean, I am a little picky when it comes to how I like my mole done, but it was alright. The tortillas were fresh; I will go back and try some of their tostadas. I won't give up on them. It was through them that I found Mex & Co, a restaurant/Hispanic grocery store in Paris!! Look at what I bought myself:<br /><br />Oh yes. It cost me 22 euros, but so worth it. I have missed these jalapenos oh so much! I eat them at almost every meal.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2192994.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 494px; height: 370px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2192994.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">That weekend, I also celebrated Chinese New Year & David's 21st Birthday (a friend of mine from Middlebury) by going to a Chinese restaurant. That bamboo stuff is my new favorite, I don't know why but I have a loss for everything at the moment, I don't remember the name of restaurants and the food I've eaten.. it must be a phase. It is also midnight, so that might be it.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2202996.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 398px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2202996.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2202999.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 343px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2202999.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, I still have to update about my weekend in Belgium, so that is coming up!!<br />Also I have great news, my friend Luca and his family whom I stayed with in Italy is coming to visit me for Easter break!! I am so happy that I will be able to spend time with them on one of my favorite times of the year. I can't wait!!!</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">With hugs, Mayra.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </p> <span style="font-size:100%;"> </span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-49912099702521821912010-02-18T11:31:00.000-08:002010-02-19T16:59:48.288-08:00and Lent begins.. Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 373px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0167.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Paris finally has sunshine! After three weeks with foggy and cloudy skies, I saw the blue! Classes start on Monday and I have a feeling that it is going to be a really really great semester. The picture above is from rue Mouton-Duvernet, the street I take everday for the Metro stop near my apartment. I walk by a park that is full of little kids in the afternoons and old men playing "<span style="font-style: italic;">la p</span>é<span style="font-style: italic;">tanque" </span>during the day. I love my neighborhood!<br /><br />I'm so happy to be updating, there are so many things I want to share with you all. So let's get started.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Musée d'Orsay</span><br />I visited this museum in late January and I was surprised that I hadn't visited it yet. I mean, I have been taking it slow with the tourist attractions because I've always told myself, "I'm gonna be here for a year, it can wait" but then I started realizing there are still a lot of things that I want to do. Minor panic attack: I only have 4 months left now. [Insert sad face here] So my friend Silvia and I met up to take the Rick Steves' Musée d'Orsay tour. And for anyone that has never heard of Rick Steves, please never visit a European country without him. He will guide you, teach you, and make jokes all in one book. I've added to my collection his Athens, Italy, and Vienna/Salzburg books. Alright, so back to the museum. This museum houses everything art from 1849 to 1915. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Not to mention that this museum used to be a train station-<span style="font-style: italic;">gare. </span>I love it, however there is a lot of renovation going on so you can't fully see the upstairs. Either way, it is beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162319.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 603px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162319.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 526px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162339.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162341.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 451px; height: 337px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162341.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I also had an interesting incident inside with one of the museum keepers. Silvia and I couldn't find one of the paintings by Degas and I decided to ask one of the keepers if they knew where it had been moved to. I asked in French. The keeper responded in French. Then another keeper that was standing next to him started talking to me in English and explaining that the painting was on loan in Barcelona to another museum. I just simply nodded and kept listening with a blank look. Then I proceeded to speak in French and said thank you. After I started to walk away and I looked at Silvia, making that face of "I am annoyed that I had started the convo in French and then they proceeded to talk to me in English, why the heck do they do that? can't they just pretend that I am a native speaker?" all captured in this face I make. So all of a sudden, after I gave Silvia this look the museum keeper (the one that had spoken to me in English) comes to me and starts apologizing for having spoken English. She said to me, "I thought you spoke English, I am so sorry" and i just simply smiled and said "<span style="font-style: italic;">pas de probleme- au revoir" </span>and walked away giving Silvia an ultimate satisfaction Mayra smile, just like the one that the Grinch made.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/grinch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 261px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/grinch.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comédie Française</span></span><br />For my birthday, my host family had bought me a ticket to a show at the Comédie Française, the 17th century theatre that has its own troupe of actors. My family got me tickets to <span style="font-style: italic;">Les Joyeuses Commères de Windsor</span> in English <span style="font-style: italic;">The Merry Wives of Windsor</span> by William Shakespear. It was interesting to be seeing a production by a very important English playwright in the house of a very important French playwright Molière. After the show, I realized I missed going to shows and I have promissed myself to go more often from now on. There seem to be nosebleeds for 5euros!? Accompanied by my host brother and host sister, I think I followed along pretty well, there were some things that I completely missunderstood, but they explained it to me at the end. The pictures I took were all very dark, so sorry for not having better ones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 489px; height: 380px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0156.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1132287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 357px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1132287.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chartres Cathedral = Gesu Church</span></span><br />I remember I had read on the Gesu Church Wikipedia page that it was designed and modeled after a church in Chartres, France. So when I saw the Rick Steve's Chartres Day Trip tour in my Paris book, I decided it was a must. Considering I knew almost nothing about this town, I read ahead on the tour and found some very interesting and fascinating facts about this little town outside of Paris. It just so happens that the treasured jewel of this town is Mary's veil. Yes, ladies and gets, Mary as in the virgin mother of Jesus. The veil has been tested and examined to see from what time period it came from and sure enough it did come from the time of Jesus' birth. Isn't that CRAZY? I mean, I didn't even know that it was garded and kept all of this time. How exactly do they know it was Mary's veil? I am not sure, but it was a gift of Constantine to the town's bishop and they built the burnt down cathedral in order to showcase the veil. The Cathedral was rebuilt in less than 90 years! It's almost as big as the Notre-Dame! And the Notre-Dame took more than 600 years!!! How is this possible!? Well my friends, that is the French for you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242378.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 555px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242378.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242418.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 517px; height: 387px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242418.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242399.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 613px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242399.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 347px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242396.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 426px; height: 565px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242396.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 408px; height: 543px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242447.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242471.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 519px; height: 388px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1242471.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The last picture is of a labyrinth in the gardens behind the Cathedral. The labyrinths were a simble of sinners praying either the rosary or by themselves all around the labyrinth and finally meeting God in the middle. I loved loved it, one of my favorite parts of the Cathedral, there was actually a labyrinth in the navel of the Cathedral, although it was too dark for a picture (most Mideval churches are).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;">Climbing Eiffel</span></span><br />The end of January was full of goodbye's as many students returned to their home countries after finishing their semester here. Ashley, Maddy, and Anna all had to say goodbye to Paris. Ashley & Maddy returned to their universities in the USA and Anna, an Italian student I had met on my train from Venice to Paris back in early January was going back to Italy. It was all very sad, but they had a good time. So I went along with Ashley on some of her goodbye adventures in Paris: the most important was climbing the Eiffel tower. It was nice to be regne of the city, but I believe it was Guy de Maupassant who ate there everday so he wouldn't have to see it. Also I thought this was pretty clever pronouncing Aw'Ful for Eiffel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1212373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 345px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1212373.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Good bye Ashley!! I miss you!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162348.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 374px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1162348.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Bye Maddy!!! (on the left) I miss you too!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272499.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 502px; height: 376px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272499.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A view of Trocadero from the tower. Second level.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272505.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 350px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272505.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Gillian came along! Lovely welcome to her in Paris.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272501.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 383px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1272501.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Apartment Life Continued</span></span><br />So now that I am living alone with a kitchen, I've started cooking! The menu has been: lemony risotto with broccoli, salmon omellets, guacamole n' chips, farfale pasta with tomato sauce, chiken chausseur, breaded chicken breasts, and bresaola salad. I am so happy to be able to cook now. I do cook everyday, most often something simple, but every now and then I try a new recipe. It is nearly impossible to find ingredients for some of the mexican cuisine I would LOVE to make... so I will just have to wait and try those when I am more accessible to them.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why The Turtle Can Fly</span></span><br />My host sister Constance is brilliant. She has just launched her childrens clothing line which is all biodegradable and fair trade wear. I went to hear launch party at this childrens cafe called "La Pousette" which means little flea in french. This cafe was absolute cuteness, it had small baby chairs and a play area and the pictures will just explain everything. It made me want to be a babysitter so I could bring the kids there and teach them how to read while sipping really good hot chocolate and eating an eclair. Mmmmmmm!!! Here is their website so you can have a peek!! If anyone is interested, let me know!! http://www.whytheturtle.com/<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 295px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0173.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 597px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0174.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 327px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0177.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0178.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 351px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0178.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Château de Malmaison</span></span><br />On every first Sunday of the month, all museums in France are free. This is the time where I will be taking advantage to visit some Chateau's near Paris. For the month of Feb, I went with my newly acquired American friend, Moriah. Who I had met at my host-sisters launch party the week before. So Moriah proposed to visit the Château de Malmaison, I had never heard of it before and so I googled it. It was at some point headquarters for the French government during the time of Napoleon I. Most importantly it was formerly the residence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9phine_de_Beauharnais" title="Joséphine de Beauharnais">Joséphine de Beauharnais</a> (the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte). It was small, but there was still a lot to see. The room's weren't very over the top, but there was a certain class to it, I knew someone important lived there. The very famous picture of Napoleon is also housed there (pic below, you'll recognize it). This was the first country house I had visited, so I guess you could say, I hadn't seen anything yet-- considering I went and say Versailles a week later.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072555.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 570px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072555.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072559.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 355px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072559.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 476px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072578.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072595.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 622px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2072595.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;">Château de Versailles</span></span><br />Rick Steves says that this palace is the one to see in all of Europe. It is the biggest, most embellished, and of course the most glamourized palace. The gardens themselves are so vast, its almost too much to take in. This single place represents so much about France, it is the symbol of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV and also the beginning of <span style="font-style: italic;">la Republique</span>! The gardens were my favorite part of the ensemble of the palace. I can't wait to go have sunday picnics there. Fabulous! The Hall of Mirrors was another favorite, but the palace itself was amazing. Every room had a different velvet colored wallpaper. The gold ornate chandeliers and high ceelings. Its not hard to imagine that poets, playwrights, and painters filled the walls of that palace, who would not accept the invitation. Well as a matter of fact some did, like Jean de la Fontaine. And I guess it was under different circumstances it's wasn't like being invited to the White House, more like a not so guarded jail. Isn't that how things were? I mean it was an absolute monarchy... well seeing Marie Antoinettes estate set me in the ultimate french mood. Enjoy the pics!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 502px; height: 375px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092609.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092645.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 354px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092645.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092625.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 589px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092625.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I know this guy! It's Jean Racine, read some of his works in my literature. Oh la France.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092653.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 597px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092653.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092659.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 351px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092659.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092694.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 355px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P2092694.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 536px; height: 402px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0198.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Lent has started and I celebrated <span style="font-style: italic;">Mardi Gras</span> by going to a Mexican restaurant that I found online by many recommendations and had some mole as my "last meaty meal". It was called Anahuacalli and it was alright, I mean of course I am going to think that the mole my mom has been making for the past 20 years of my life is better, but it was alright. The staff was really accomodating and it was nice to be in a restaurant where I knew every item on the menu while the French around me thought they knew that they were. For Lent, I gave up meat and soda. I have done this for the past 2 years and both years I have learned a lot from abstaining from soda and all meat. I mean everything, chicken, hot dogs, everything all the time. However I will be finishing the meat sauce that is in my fridge because I don't think God will appreciate it if that goes bad. It's going to be a good 46 days I feel. I am really happy that a lot of my french friends are keeping in mind my eating restrictions when they invite me for dinner and lunch. Considering not alot of French people actually practice the Lenten giving up tradition... Thanks guys!<br /><br />Well, I think that is enough for today.<br />I still have to update you all on my trip to Austria this past week. I start classes on Monday, so hopefully late next week! Stay tuned!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >with hugs,<br />Mayra.</span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-1340685557515398822010-01-15T11:19:00.000-08:002010-02-01T07:54:02.202-08:00Winter Break in Italia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 388px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0140.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;}</style><span style="font-family:georgia;">Alright, it’s been too long again. I keep making false promises to update every two weeks and nothing shows up. Alright, well since it is a New Year (today is the 30th- alright a good chuck into the year already....) I am really really going to try and update with my adventures, thoughts, and photographs every two weeks.<br /><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Let's get started!</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC241754.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 385px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC241754.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So as many of you know, I spent Christmas & New Years in Italy with two great friends from high school (Italians not Americans). Luca Fierro and Maria Fossarello. I spent most of my time with Luca & his family in Udine, (Northeastern Italy) but before I say anything else, I must say that I am blessed to have great friends all over the world who are very willing to host me. I can't get over how amazing my stay with the Fierro's was. I mean, towards the end, Luca did want to get rid of me, but that's because I almost got the entire family sick. Sorry again!!</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;" >22-25 December in Udine</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So I arrived in Venezia Maestre and then took a 2hour train to Udine. Luca & Mariella waited for me at the station, and surprisingly I was not that tired from the 14hour train ride from Paris + the 2hour train ride from Venice. So I was ready for a day out! We went directly to "The Pizzeria" as we all called it. I didn't get any pizza that day, but I would soon return to indulge in my Italian pizza dream come true. Luca's sister, Linda, is currently in Uruguay- doing the same thing her brother did 3 years ago- however, I guess in Linda's case, she chose the right language to learn (ha-ha-ha). Luca's mother, Anna, didn't speak much English so most of our conversations were Spanish + French + Mayra's Italian + English. Salvatore, or as I called him Francisco, is Luca's dad. He is such a jolly man. He knows almost everyone in Udine (because of his pizzeria) and has a smile that would cheer anyone up. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC231708.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 367px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC231708.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC251768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 396px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC251768.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;">For Christmas, Luca got me a ½ Italian ½ French book, which illustrates different writing styles (ex. Odes, Past Tense, Hymns, Ignorance, Negatives etc.) Very amusing to read, and I get to learn Italian while reading! Love it! Christmas dinner was great, we had invited over Tia Maria who made this incredible “crostata con marmellata di albicocche” everyone knew it was my favorite and let me eat all of the leftovers (which was half). We went to 10pm mass and then took a walk in downtown Udine. We went ahead and did some window shopping. I was so happy to be able to do those things, it only reassures me that I want to live in the city in the future.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC261831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 591px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC261831.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">26-30 December in Sappada</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;">Before heading out for Sappada, the day after Christmas, I stopped to get my first pizza! Made with love, as they put it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1032264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 631px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1032264.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yes, it was very delicious. So, Luca’s family owns a house in Sappada which is a small town near Austria high in the Alps. The drive was only about 1hour30mins. So, I was by no means prepared for the snow in Sappada (as in shoe-wise). Thank goodness there were a pair of moon boots waiting for me; they saved me from frozen toes.</span><br /></p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC291996.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 355px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC291996.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC291995.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 624px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC291995.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC302014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 388px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC302014.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The house was very cute and cozy. What made everything even better is that Luca had a lot of family in the small town that also came for the holidays. We usually had coffee with them in the afternoon and met up during the day. I met two of Luca’s cousins, Eleonora & Davide, who were complete sweethearts. In Sappada, I went “skiing” for the first time. The reason the work skiing is in quotes is because I only went down the slope 1.3 times. Skiing was just not for me. So after two hours, I gave up. However, I didn’t have to pay for the rented skiing equipment because the shop keeper felt sorry for me, and since it’s a small town, everyone is nice to FAR away foreigners. So “skiing” in the Alps is something I can cross of my life of things to do before I die.</span></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">Besides the skiing, that same day I got to ride in a helicopter for the first time. Nevelandia, the snow game park in Sappada had helicopter rides around the city & mountains for 35euros, but because Luca’s cousin’s fiancée was the pilot, we got to ride for free!! The helicopter ride was one of the coolest experiences in Italy, I simply couldn’t believe that I was in a helicopter in Italy in Europe with some of the coolest people. I took a video during the ride and is uploaded at the end of this post.</p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 367px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0121.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sappada had such a warm community atmosphere. It makes me want to live there when I retire. Sappada = Big Warm Hug.</span><br /></p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 504px; height: 377px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312039.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="MsoNormal">31 December - 02 January in Savona</p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">Anyone that knows Maria Fossarello, knows that she does things at the very last minute. Just like she planned her New Years Eve reunion. I believe that we got a hold of her on December 29<sup>th</sup> and headed to her place on the 30<sup>th</sup> at night. Yup, that is right. Luca and I bought our tickets the day of and made our way to Savona, Italy. Three trains later, we arrived at 9:30am. Maria, was of course late to pick us up, but only by about 15 min, so we forgave her. We then made ourselves comfortable in her brother’s room (Martino, who was out skiing for the week). Maria’s house….. is from a book. Spiral staircases, big windows that look out into the sea, ceilings that are actually works of art, marble, more spiral staircases, several entrances, and everything else. It was also another home. </p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1012142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 514px; height: 384px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1012142.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 372px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312059.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Joining us for the New Year’s festivities were Margherita, Luca, Marco, Cris, and Maykol. We are all of the same age, and we all helped in the dinner preparation which by the way was one of the most best awesomestestest dinner I have had in Europe! It was that delicious and scrumptious. Cheese soufflé, lasagna, spinach rolls(?), and brownies!! Did I forget to mention that Margherita is studying Italian Gastronomy? Yeah pretty much, a dinner to die for.<br /></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">It was great to be with two friends that I’ve had held close for three years. Although I might not talk to Luca & Maria every month, they still are a big part of my life and who I have become. I know they’re two real lifetime friends. I’ve got some Italian love in me.</p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 359px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC312102.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">02 January in Venice</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">So the day after New Year’s Day, Luca and I were off to Venice. It was a rainy day, but nonetheless Venice had something to offer. We met up with Ele & Davide who live very close to Venice. We had an adventure trying to find Plaza di San Marco. A beautiful plaza with il Duomo di San Marco, and beautiful Venetian buildings. I bought some masks & glassworks because they’re the two symbols of Venice. The masks are worn during the festival in February and Venice just has some of the best glass makers in the world, beautiful beautiful things. We left after about 5 or 6 hours because we were so tired from traveling, but I hope I will get to go back once it gets warmer. See you later Venice!</p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022210.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 384px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022210.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 491px; height: 366px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022236.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 580px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1022202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>03 January back in Udine and night train to Paris</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">One last pizza, some souvenirs later, Anna’s amazing packing skills and 2 bike rides later, I was on my way back to Paris. It was such a sad departure, because I had no desire to leave Italy… the Fierro’s actually. I had made a home in Udine in the past two weeks. Luca as my brother/guardian always reminding me to drink my cough syrup, Anna always teaching me Italian and never giving up on me, Salvatore always trying his hardest to speak in French. Why would I leave Udine??? Well who said I wasn’t going back? Shhhh! Don’t tell them, it will be a surprise.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">04 January moved into my new apartment!</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">I arrived in Paris at 8:30am and got to Joinville at around 9:30am. My host mom told me that they would probably drive me to my apartment that night. I was a bit surprised that I moving would have been so fast, but at the same time I was very excited about my apartment. So I immediately start packing. 3 suitcases, 10 shopping bags, 1 computer bag, and 1 duffle later, the car was packed and we were on our way to rue Maurice-Ripoche. I arrived at the apartment at 11pm. Let’s just say that the first impression my fellow apartment residents got of me was not at all a good one. I live on the second floor, with no elevator, so getting everything upstairs was a little noisy for a Monday night at 11pm. It was such a long day, that I didn’t have the energy to unpack for at least 4 days. It was not until my friend Silvia came that FRIDAY morning that I decided to unpack and get fully settled.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 623px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152303.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Apartment Life</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">So I had been in a “long transition” state of mind for the month of September and October and I didn’t want to have that same “long transition” for all of January and February. Unfortunately, it kind of had to be that way. Silvia stayed with me for about a week and a half,<span style=""> </span>and semi-forced me to get going and move on. I guess this “long transition” is just the getting used to and getting used to living alone, with no-one around all the time. It’s my first time living on-my-own. Completely. 100%. In Paris. In France. In Europe. In 2010. So it took a while for me to get in the rhythm of things. It didn’t help that I didn’t get my reimbursement check from Marquette until a couple days ago. So I was “sans argent” for the entire month of January. NOT a good thing considering it’s the Soldes in Paris! The Sales! Don’t worry I have caught up. I didn’t enough of the window shopping to go in for the kill!</p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 638px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 484px; height: 645px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152299.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152296.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 506px; height: 378px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/P1152296.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Having a studio is going to help me a lot. Its going to teach me how to cook for myself every night, to be very clean, to do a lot of things I normally wouldn’t. I am excited to be able to spend time alone and “reflechir” on what I will be doing a year from today. I want to read a lot of books, watch a lot of theatre productions, films, and visit many museums. I want to be fulfilled with the philosophical spirit of Paris. Now that I am actually in the city, it’s a completely new chapter for this year in France. I have to pay the electric bill. I am going to start babysitting for a French family. I am never let down with this city (well except that everyone goes to sleep at 10pm). Well anyway, I am very excited for this semester, I know there are many more amazing things to come.</p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">February Vacation = Reading and Planning</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">So I am on break until February 22, so what am I going to do? Well since it’s cold outside, I plan to do a lot of reading for my literature class next semester. I am very very very excited because we will be studying XIX and XX century French literature! I am continuing my classes so I will have: 1) XX century French History 2) XIX and XX century French Lit 3) Essay Writing 4) Intro into Linguistics II 5) Contemporary French Cinema. I can’t wait for my classes to start, I loved all my professors and I will have the same ones next semester. Also, I won’t have any classes on Friday so that is an A+++++.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Well now that I have semi-updated everyone I will try to do it again in the week because I have already gone to Chartres and seen more of Paris. Keep tuned.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" class="MsoNormal">With hugs,</p><p style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" class="MsoNormal">heart Mayra<br /></p>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-53597853376158632262009-12-17T03:03:00.001-08:002009-12-17T08:16:23.820-08:00First Snow & Notre-Dame de Guadalupe :D (another long one)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 505px; height: 377px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0035.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;">I brought Wisconsin snow with me!</span><br />It's the first snow in Paris today!! However, since I have come down with a cold, I am not going to class today and I will not be able to capture Eiffel, the Champs-Elysee, or other sights in the snow. Tear tear. I will get them later, I promise. In the mean time, enjoy the pictures from my house! Also below, that would be Jean-Pierre, who loves to hang out with me now... I guess he knows that I'm leaving and that's why he's happy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 347px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SPM_A0018.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So today, I'm staying indoors and watching a couple movies (<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Mon Oncle</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> by Jacques Tati</span> and <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cléo de 5 à 7</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">by Agnes Varda</span>) for film class and getting a start on my extensive reading list for this winter break (<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Belle du Seigneur</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> by Albert Cohen</span> and <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">Désert by J.M.G. Le Clézio</span>) both which are in french! Also, my host family and I are decorating the Christmas tree today! It's called a "sapin" in french. I probably should be going over some notes, but most likely I will probably get a start on my Italian phrasebook/pictionnary. But here's a picture of the tree inside the Galeries Lafayette. Pretty in Pink.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB141270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 538px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB141270.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Notre-Dame de Guadalupe</span><br />Alright, for those of you who are Catholic and know about Our Lady of Guadalupe (in spanish: La Virgen de Guadalupe) you know that she appeared to Juan Diego on Dec 12th 1531 almost 480 years ago, as the story goes. Our Lady of Guadalupe is an icon of Virgin Mary in the Hispanic community, mostly Mexican because she appread in the city of Tepeyac near Mexico City today. So every year on Dec 12th, there is a special mass in commemoration to her. Considering I am living in a city with a church dedicated to Mary aka. The Notre-Dame (Our Lady in French) I figured that there would be a mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe. AND YES THERE WAS!! Not only was there a mass, but there was also a Mariachi Band that provided the music DURING the mass! I can't explain how excited I was. So last saturday at noon, I witnessed the most beautiful mass dedicated to the Virgen de Guadalupe in my life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 471px; height: 627px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071835.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Outside the Notre Dame. Followed by the small chapel inside dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071844.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 603px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071844.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC121877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 340px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC121877.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I felt like I was home. I felt like I really really belonged there. The mexican music, mexican food, mexican people, even the priest was mexican. The mass was in spanish and french, the two languages that my heart beats to. (alright I know that last part was a little cheesy, but its true).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SP_A0029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 355px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/SP_A0029.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/RSP_A003477.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 369px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/RSP_A003477.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I had an epiphany during the mass. I realized that I had been depressed for the last couple of weeks because I missed my family and friends. I realized that this was not an easy transition. I had been naive to think that everything would have been easy, and I feel that it was the perfect timing for me to "wake-up" and see things for what they are. 2010 is arriving and nothing is better than starting new and making the best of it for the new year. To top it off, I was interviewed by one of Televisa's reporters so hey if you're in Mexico and you saw me.. let me know!! Her question was " Are you Mexican? How do you feel to be here in Paris celebrating la Virgen de Guadalupe at this historical church? " wowowowooww.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Paris Winter Wonderland </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071855.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 630px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071855.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Above: Place de La Concorde (where Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette got their heads chopped off marking the beginning of the French Republique).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051714.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 665px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051714.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Above: The Champs-Elysee. You can kind of see the Arc de Triomphe at the end there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051721.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 587px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051721.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Everyone is in the Christmas spirit. Below is the building in detail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051722.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 434px; height: 578px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051722.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071871.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 514px; height: 387px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC071871.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Above is the Champs-Elysee which has all the Christmas Creshes. Nativity little stores, its hard to explain so I hope you know what they are. Anyway, I have seen them in every city that I have visited. Paris has quite a few streets that have these. Barcelona did too. People, this is where your presents are coming from. haha.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">My own little chic apartment in Paris</span><br />I got the keys to my new apartment last night and I think it's really gonna help me 100%. In my studies, in my faith, and in the search for what I want to do with my life. Incredible right? I move in January 5th, just after I return from Italy. I'm sad to leave my host family because they were great especially because they've helped me a lot in finding the strenght when discovering a new culture and way of life. I definitely know it was worth it, but I know I need this new apartment to finish what I am meant to learn.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">The Louvre (finally)</span><br />Last week, I made my way to the Louvre for the first time with my friend Eric. Alright I know, I have been here for more than 2 months and I hadn't gone yet. Well, I finally did. THE LOUVRE IS HUGE! It was the first sunday of the month so it was free, but that also meant a 2hour line. It was alright though, I only felt the presence of all the people when we were taking a look at the Jaconde (Mona Lisa). I then returned later than week on friday after 6pm when its free for those 25 and under. It was a part of the Louvre Nocturne, which is basically a group of students that present paintings or other artifacts. It was really nice to learn about the museum that way. Yet another reason why I love Paris, being under 25 has sooo soo many benefits.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC061785.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 351px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC061785.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Wait, what is everyone trying to take a picture of? Oh yeah... only the most visited painting in the world right....? The Mona Lisa! ahaha.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC061788.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 626px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC061788.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oh by the way, some of the museums and the suburban trains have been on strike for quite a while. What does this mean? That means it takes 2 hours for me to get to class everyday and 2 hours to return. Also it means that Eric couldn't see the Musee D'Orsay when he was here last weekend. That is France for you. Proof below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051705.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 433px; height: 577px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC051705.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;">Cooking Class</span><br />My friend Meg Mahon, who I met this summer at Midd @ Mills invited me to a cooking class last week. The instructor is so nice and the class was in her apartment which had a panoramic view of Paris. It is my dream to have an apartment like hers. Also, I think I'm her favorite student because I payed a lot of attention and I resemble one of her cousins. (haha) On the menu: Courgettes Croquants, Marget de Canard Grilles, Salade de Mache aux coquilles St. Jacques, un Tarte Tatin, et des champignons farci. If you want, you can translate the menu yourself, because it won't do it justice if I do it. I'm taking three more classes, so I will keep you updated on what we make.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031693.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 612px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031693.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031694.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 353px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031694.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031700.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 347px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PC031700.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Doesn't that last picture (the Marget de Canard Grilles) look so delicious!? Well it was, I can tell you that.<br /><br />I'm wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! I think I will be able to update while I am in Italy, but if now. Happy New Year 2010 as well!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">With hugs,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Mayra <3</span><br /><br />Ps. Here is a clip after the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass when we made the circle to the Chapel and sang songs for her. Incredible!!<br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dypmjf5AWSYXMWbYt5drikxX7AijQNB1tti52IepOyaJRe-ClAaS6BjJas-TB8DStTXAJVCBT6QkUYa85EV' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-69920279391810930682009-12-07T13:59:00.000-08:002009-12-08T15:48:40.000-08:00starting with London & Oxford ending with Barcelona (warning: its a long update..)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201279.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 481px; height: 361px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201279.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Eurostar to London</span><br />The weekend of Nov 20-23rd I took my first EuroTrip to London. I took the Eurostar, the train that goes straight to London across the Chunnel!! It was approx 2h30min. Rountrip price was only 60 euros! Of course, I had the earliest trains at 6am both ways, but either way it was worth it! So I'm of to an english speaking country..... woooo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 473px; height: 354px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201299.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">London and Barbican Jill.</span><br />Jill met me at St. Pancras and I was directly on my way to my first London sight the minute I got off the train: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Platform 9 3/4</span> at Kings Cross! It took us a while to find it since the train station is under construction (for the Olympics 2012 & stuff) but when we found it, I was bit dissapointed. Don't worry I still love you Harry!! Jill and I then saw New Moon (it was my second time watching it since it came out two days earlier in France) and since our day had started so early we had so much time on our hands. We then met up Kristin and they both took me on a "Historic London" tour. Including <span style="font-weight: bold;">Buckingham Palace</span> (pictured above), <span style="font-weight: bold;">St. James Park</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Picadilly Circus</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oxford Circus</span> (the shopping equivalent of Champs-Elysee?), <span style="font-weight: bold;">The London Eye</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Ben & Parliament</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Tube </span>experience, <span style="font-weight: bold;">fish n chips</span>, and so much more.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB201315.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>During the grand tour of London, I realized that I knew almost nothing about this city, not even what the big tourist sights were or anything. I'm happy that I was able to have two great great city guides with me. However, I feel like my visit of London wasn't that long (so I have promised my friend Silvia that I will return- and spend all the pounds that I have left over-- like a bag full!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB211390.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 501px; height: 668px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB211390.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Oxford and Eric</span><br />After spending all of Friday in London, Jill-Kristin-and I were all off to Oxford (about 1.5 hours from London) to visit my friend Mr. Eric Rucker studying at Oxford this fall. Yes, like Oxford as in the oldest university in the English speaking world (according to wiki). We visited the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Museum of the History of Science </span>& the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oxford University Museum of Natural History</span> & of course <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christ Church</span>! For those of you Harry Potter lovers, the Christ Church dining hall, is indeed the Great Hall in HP. Wowzaa! The museums had Darwin expositions because it was the anniversary of his findings/research so that was interesting. I sometimes forget about what I learned in high school. Wow, I did learn something! In the end, I have to say that Oxford was a bit toooo tiny for me, but I loved the history that is attached to that town. The entire weekend I was unable to speak english correctly, or any language as a matter of fact.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB261475.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 559px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB261475.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">One week back in Paris, and its Thanksgiving!</span><br />So the Thanksgiving spirit was completely absent in Paris. Except for my fellow american friends that are also living here.. no one wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I think ONE person from back home sent me a message (my brother- who is probs the last person I would expect it from). Anyway, I was invited by my friend <span style="font-weight: bold;">Margaret Schultz</span> from Hamilton College to their program's Thanksgiving dinner. It marked my 4th official Thanksgiving dinner. Yes because my first was with Alicia Zhang who delivered her own cooked meal to my house junior year of high school- second, when I decided to do it myself at home, but with boxed stuffing and mash- and third, last year with my ex Michael and his family (which is more accurately the first). Voila. It was amazing, and I loved being with all the students like me, studying in Paris from the States. Margaret has invited me to Brooklyn for Thanksgiving, and I am so not going to forget, so that's what I'm doing next year!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB271496.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 549px; height: 411px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB271496.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Barcelona and the Mediterranean</span><br />While my fellow Americans were getting their sleep in preparation for Black Friday, I was on my way to Barcelona. I had been waiting all week for this trip, because of course I was very excited to finally speak Spanish freely and incorrectly (my Spanish has gotten rusty with the whole Americanisation and Frenchisation thing over the years). Anyway, I have completely fallen in love with the city. The first day, Margaret & I took the cable car ride across one of the ports, and it was incredible, it reminded me so much of Mexico (there is a cable car in Zacatecas, MX that rides across the city- one of the longest in the world). Saturday was above all my favorite day, we did so much (thanks to Mandy and her lovely planning).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB281605.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 664px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB281605.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Everything Gaudi</span><br />If you don't know about Salvador Dali, alright that's fine. If you don't know who <span style="font-weight: bold;">Antionio Gaudi</span> is, then you are not a fully cultured person (face it). Gaudi is the emblem of Barcelona where also the language is not Spanish, but Catalan. And don't you dare say Castellano. We visited the major works of Gaudi: La Pedrera (house-now apartments designed by him), La Sagrada Familia (catholic church), and Park Guell (awesome park with houses designed by him again). Simply incredible. La Sagrada Familia-pictured above- is probably my favorite of all, only because its been in construction for about 120 years and still has about 50 more to go. I promise myself I will be there on its inaguration day! We also ventured into La Boqueria, the huge market off Las Ramblas (party streeet). The girls and I bought grapes, champagne, cheese, bread, plastic knives (very important) and had a party. Lovely! I can't wait to do that again once it gets nicer in Paris.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB281649.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 591px; height: 442px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PB281649.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jaime!</span><br />Barcelona would not have been Barcelona without my friend Jaime Viteri. Ohhhhh how much I have missed him! Although we haven't hung out at Marquette a lot a lot a lot, I feel like we're tight and I could go to him for anything. Jaimeeee you're the best!! He invited my friends and I to a party (which actually overlooked the market we had been to earlier) and I felt like I was able to be a real college student there. (okay I am not talking about the drinking part) I mean, the part where you meet people from all over the place and they have really really cool aspirations and you just want to tell them how cool they are. Yup that's what it was like. Not to mention the group of francophones that were there who spoke spanish/french/english probably the first time I have ever encountered anyone with those abilitiessss. Sigh**** haha!<br /><br />Well overall, I loved Barcelona (I am now a Barca fan!) and I will go back to London in Jan/Feb. My two eurotrips were a successss and I'm happy to tell you that I'm going to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Italy</span> for Christmas/Winter Break/New Years to visit my friends Maria & Luca! ahhhH! Wowwowowowowowowoww! Sorry for the long update, but atleast it had pics... right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">with hugs,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><3 Mayra.<br /><br /></span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-74069384117305439342009-11-19T12:59:00.000-08:002009-11-19T14:55:21.803-08:00first exams, first presentation, and first weekender trip! (preview)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt24FfHNI0Pe00cgq3SqC9Pe4mvCnMsTmL6ZbCe3UCYmSuzZETyg8IxgkNg3rNSQbK-QfUDgp8IeNj2Wg2sI9VvQtWfZaqjRQkHaVYm3oykQAptYX4RnSSVL9Y5unqb38LRv4o1isZD3Pe/s1600/PB141267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt24FfHNI0Pe00cgq3SqC9Pe4mvCnMsTmL6ZbCe3UCYmSuzZETyg8IxgkNg3rNSQbK-QfUDgp8IeNj2Wg2sI9VvQtWfZaqjRQkHaVYm3oykQAptYX4RnSSVL9Y5unqb38LRv4o1isZD3Pe/s400/PB141267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405949245206228402" border="0" /></a><br />Last week, I got to see my freshman year roommate <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jill Hackmaster</span> and some of her London buds, and this weekend its my turn, I'm on my way to visit her. Not only will I be visiting London, but I will also be visiting my good&close high school friend <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Rucker</span> in Oxford. So pretty much a very very exciting weekend awaits me. (the 6am train not so much)<br /><br />Updates to come:<br />1) I had my first test in Literarure. We didn't have class this week so I still don't know how well I did, but I think its in the higher teens. France grades out of 20. Pretty much french teachers dont give out perfect grades... so I'm aiming for a 17 or 16.<br /><br />2) I gave my first presentation in History class. It was over the consequences of WWI. I think it went extremely well, considering I had some help from my host parents (who have had their share of post WWI article-writing).<br /><br />3) My first weekender trip to London & Oxford.<br /><br />I promise I will have a detailed post as soon as I come back from London&Oxford!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">With hugs, <3 Mayra.<br /></span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-63003053088944166542009-11-06T02:46:00.000-08:002009-11-06T12:49:14.610-08:00Hello November!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA281109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA281109.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, starting the post with a beautiful picture of La Seine is always an attention getter so now that you're tuned in... here is what I've been up to these past two weeks. (by the way you can click on the pictures and it will take to you a full scale size of the pic)<br /><br />1) I was on vacation for one week and Julie, a dear friend from high school visited me. My usual list of things visited.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">2) Georges Centre Pompidou</span><br />It houses all kinds of Modern Art. Some Picasso come Braque. The building itself is a piece of Modern Art because of its exoskeletal structure. Julie and I pretty much saw the entire place and after 4hrs we had enough.... Art fatique maybe?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA291140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 509px; height: 383px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA291140.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">3) La Defence</span><br />Voila the business district of Paris. Its a bit on the other side of town.. but worth the bus/metro ride. Julie and I didn't do much there, just visited La Grande Arch not pictured above (which is the twin of the Arch de Triomphe, a Modern Version) google it! 20 year anniversary of its unveiling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA301179.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 533px; height: 398px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA301179.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">4) Musée Quai Branly</span><br />This museum is dedicated to the art of Africa, The Americas, Asia, and Australia. We were there to see the Teotihuacan exhibit, which was a city next to today known Mexico City. Of couse I dragged Julie to see it, hellow if you didn't know already I AM MEXICAN. I think Julie enjoyed it... right?? Most of the artifacts have not been shown in Mexico or any part of Europe. Call that exclusive! At the museum there is also another exposition on Iranian Photography.. which I will probably return to see in the future.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA291135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 492px; height: 368px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA291135.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">5) Le Marais/ L'As du Falafel</span><br />So after being soo sooo hungry, Julie and I headed to the oldest part of Paris (aka Le Marais) which a part of it now is the Jewish Quarter. So why not get some falafel while we're there? If you ever make it to Paris please stop by and buy it! The restaurant is called L'As du Falafel and its only 5euros.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA301180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 504px; height: 377px;" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/mi_coco/PA301180.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">6) Laduree</span><br />You can call it a bakery, but I prefer to call it the house of Macarons.<br />They're yummy and as you can see them in the window, very very popular in Paris. Fun fact: macarons originally weren't two of them with the cream filling inside, but rather only one. It was Monsieur Laduree that invented this well known macaron!! I have not only decided to go there everyweek, but I've also bought a bag to go grocery shoppin in.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">7) Cemetary Pere La Chaise</span><br />The most visited cemetary in the world is in Paris! Great right? Well since the French don't really celebrate Halloween, Julie and I celebrated by visiting some of France's most visited tombs. In the cemetary are Abelard & Heloise (their story resembles Romeo & Juliette), Moliere, La Fontaine, Jim Morrison!, Edith Piaf, Yves Montard, Oscar Wilde, and so on. It was a peaceful visit and its only the 3rd cemetary I've ever been to. I'm glad we went.<br /><br />Voila! It has been a week full of museums, a lot of walking, macarons, crepes, cafe's, and picture taking, but classes have begun again so I'm back to work!!<br /><br />As for classes, I had my first exam this past thursday! YES believe it or not, it was in 16th century french literature. Monday I have my second exam for history and also a presentation on the consequences of the First World War. Fun stuff! I believe I've finally started to really become a part of french culture. Not only am I watching french classic films, but I'm reading Hiroshima Mon Amour by Marguerite Duras and going to see L'Avare at the Comedie Francais in the near future (one of the pieces by Moliere). Oh it feels so good to be doing all of these things!! I love it! Learning about this country that has such a rich history is so refreshing and I will not get enough of it! As for other news.. I still have not heard back from Sciences-Po (the university I have applied to for next semester) but I have officially accepted on my apartment in the 14eme Arrondisement!<br /><br />Well have a good weekend and <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Happy Birthday Mom</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> & </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Luca</span>!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;">with hugs,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;">Mayra.</span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-53655276157480326792009-10-24T01:08:00.001-07:002009-10-24T01:47:26.991-07:00I'm Mexican-American-Parisian?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deezyallaround/4039383106/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/4039383106_fb5dd00016_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deezyallaround/4039382486/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/4039382486_38b31d9ac2_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deezyallaround/4039383106/">PA181049</a></span><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/deezyallaround/">deezyallaround</a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Being abroad makes me think more about where I come from, than where I am. Well atleast for now...</span><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.bicentenario.gob.mx/">Mexico 2010!</a></span><br />200 years of being proudly mexican.<br />Everyone get ready!! The mexicans are going to celebrate their bicentennial!<br />And just to think that the USA is only 33 years older.. wowza!!<br /><br />You never realize how much you know, until you tell someone. I've been sharing my Mexican culture with my host family. The more I tell them about it, the more I realize... wow I know a lot. And to think that I used to have identity crises.<br /><br />Events of the Week(s)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">1) Went shopping at Galeries LaFayette</span><br />Well it was a fun experience. I went with my friend Amandine who is a 3rd year student at the Sorbonne and who wishes to study in the states at some point. Marshall Fields can be thrown out the window! Not to mention the beauuuutiful buildings its in.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">2) Watched L'etoile du Nord, Casque d'Or, and Madame de...</span><br />Like I mentioned earlier, for film class we watch a movie each week. My professor is amazingly good at the "wow, i never in my brightest dreams would have thought of that" thing. Everytime we talk about the films and their meaning, I'm baffled by the wonder and talent that is put into all of them. And to think that when we watch movies we have no idea of it. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;"><br />3) Found an apartment in the 14eme arrondisment!</span><br />I'm subletting for a 23yr old graduate student at Sciences-Po who is going to be doing an internship in Rome. She's so cool! Did I mention that I'm so thankful for all of these random people I am meeting?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">4) Was lost for 45 min by the Hotel de Ville looking for my connect group</span><br />I think it was partly because it was night time and I was tired. But by the way... Hotel de Ville is an astonishing building and at night the lighting hits it just at the right places.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">5) Host dad brought me a necklace from Uganda.</span><br />Yeah he was in Uganda writing a report in unison with UNESCO on the children soldiers. He got to meet someone important that manages the Invisible Children Org.. I'm not sure, but I'm going to watch the movie tomorrow!<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">6) Finally received my money from the US and my carte bleu!</span><br />So in France credit cards don't swipe. Instead you get this "carte-bleu" which has a chip in it and all you do is "plug" it into machines. How come we dont have that in the USA? Well the french ask themselves the same thing about our cards.. believe me!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deezyallaround/4039383606/"><img style="width: 277px; height: 207px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4039383606_e65fd56c9c_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">6) Went to the local Joinville le Pont "Sidewalk Sale" and bought an old Chocolatier Ad.</span><br />On my way to Mass at 11h15 (ahem ahem I still go to Mass) I ran across the annual Sidewalk Sale, basically a Garage Sale on the sidewalk (duh). It was great to see all the locals, but I couldnt really buy anything because a) i don't need a toaster b) i dont have any kids c) and i'm saving up my money for the "Soldes" in January. aka. Sales in January. They are very important because its the only time when stores have sales, because its too complicated to have sales at other times of the year (too many papers to file). Basically Paris has the January sales and the July sales. I'm starting to plan.. RIGHT NOW! Sorry everyone but your Christmas presents will be late.<br /></p><p>So far that is all I've got for you, but be aware that JULIE BATES is visiting me this week! For those of you who don't know Julie, I've known her since 4th grade. She is currently studying in Salzburg, Austria and is studying Art History & German??? Correct me if I am wrong please. I'm on fall break this week so we will be exploring the city.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">with hugs, Mayra</span></p>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-13586829473263370122009-10-13T08:29:00.000-07:002009-10-13T10:02:04.986-07:00i don't want a label...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxkEZJ642-rZqCRfXDEIYOTPoQ_fEBVM_e5dKR5AmaDuRbEVOWOZNcHTQZ_uVEQWFQawKj66a3DZvnVg9jTPQEheDuQgFzSBzM4g2SzZXpGsC6Hcw68rS9_hMUhTuzrep01kOeP_2lKV/s1600-h/P9250839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxkEZJ642-rZqCRfXDEIYOTPoQ_fEBVM_e5dKR5AmaDuRbEVOWOZNcHTQZ_uVEQWFQawKj66a3DZvnVg9jTPQEheDuQgFzSBzM4g2SzZXpGsC6Hcw68rS9_hMUhTuzrep01kOeP_2lKV/s320/P9250839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392126184061326898" border="0" /></a>I've had something on my mind for a while. Let me begin....<br />As I had mentioned before, I have joined the <a href="http://www.hillsong.fr/">Hillsong Paris</a> community. For those of you who don't know about Hillsong, it is a Pentecostal Church based in Australia. It has now spread to cities like Paris, London, Berlin, CapeTown, and Stockholm. I first found out about Hillsong from my good friend Eric in high school. This summer, it just so happened that I met Meg (bilingual assistant @ Middlebury), who is now living in Paris and invited me to the Hillsong Paris happenings. Now let me backtrack....<br /><br />According to wiki:<br /><b>Pentecostalism</b> is a renewal movement within <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christianity</a> that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" title="God">God</a> through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_in_the_Holy_Spirit" title="Baptism in the Holy Spirit" class="mw-redirect">baptism in the Holy Spirit</a><sup id="cite_ref-pewforum_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostal#cite_note-pewforum-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> which is evidenced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia" title="Glossolalia">speaking in tongues</a>. The term <i>Pentecostal</i> is derived from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost" title="Pentecost">Pentecost</a>, a Greek term describing the Jewish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Weeks" title="Feast of Weeks" class="mw-redirect">Feast of Weeks</a>. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit" title="Holy Spirit">Holy Spirit</a> upon the followers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ" title="Jesus Christ" class="mw-redirect">Jesus Christ</a>, as described in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Acts" title="Book of Acts" class="mw-redirect">Book of Acts</a>, Chapter <a href="http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Acts&verse=2&src=31" class="external text" rel="nofollow">2</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-columbia_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostal#cite_note-columbia-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> and Pentecostals tend to see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power, worship styles and teachings that were found in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_church" title="Early church" class="mw-redirect">early church</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPHY5XJU3-y66Xa7ZZwms_c8VIpgJ4SsEl32DM40toY-Cuh1Oy9pgwsZqH1EKAYOrK-BaSe2arSFLxQlmGleBlKLUkjVOcgqzxCkCrB4b7ao9sIGY6KEiGe2YD2b1rh22zht5AFdgUSo/s1600-h/P9250859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPHY5XJU3-y66Xa7ZZwms_c8VIpgJ4SsEl32DM40toY-Cuh1Oy9pgwsZqH1EKAYOrK-BaSe2arSFLxQlmGleBlKLUkjVOcgqzxCkCrB4b7ao9sIGY6KEiGe2YD2b1rh22zht5AFdgUSo/s320/P9250859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392128524590745938" border="0" /></a><br />Now, I grew up Catholic and I still am Catholic. However, I am attracted to Hillsong because of their charismatic services and their love for God as well. That means that's alright...right? I still believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Catholic meaning universal. There is no reason for me to feel in between two walls!! I just feel like when people ask me my religious affiliation... they stereotype too much. Basically, if you ask me what my religious affiliation is I will answer with this: I love God, I praise Mary, the Saints, I pray the rosary and I have a relationship with God----> you can classify me the way you want.<br /><br />Phew! I really wanted to get that off my chest.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Belle_et_la_bete.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 367px;" src="http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Belle_et_la_bete.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Things I have accomplisted this week:<br />1) Watched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_%281946_film%29">La belle et la bete (1945)</a> for film class. I highly recommend it!!<br />2) Took a <a href="http://www.salsadanse.com/new/accueil.htm">Danse Africaine</a> class. I will be signing up for a 6 month class! Yay for working out!<br />3) Attended my first Hillsong service on Sunday.<br />4) Met the Connect Group at the Bois de Boulogne (during daytime).<br />5) Saw Up! in french.<br />6) Missed Paris Fashion Week 2009 happenings. (haha, next year though!)<br /><br />I have already scoped out some great expositions that will be happening in Oct/Nov so I will let you know all about them.<br /><br />But in the meanwhile, I am taking it slow, now doing many tourist-y things if you couldn't tell!! But no worries, I will make you all Paris experts by the time this year is done!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">With hugs,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Mayra.</span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154560189580908548.post-91340796480668634322009-10-04T03:54:00.000-07:002009-10-04T07:20:27.400-07:00the first two weeks in ParisBonjour tout le monde!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlOzFv-IDle7FX4wjLvVr3dgsmbQU-i1nevi7n7tOKuOu9pceDoMnPMx_yAmGtGCavFJdv6oBcJ186tygXfUAe0v0ftlHCKP6DbyuI-z7Vx8aEXBgcTOz3lk0cFMKz7YuPBiiUV7JR9S/s1600-h/PA030906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlOzFv-IDle7FX4wjLvVr3dgsmbQU-i1nevi7n7tOKuOu9pceDoMnPMx_yAmGtGCavFJdv6oBcJ186tygXfUAe0v0ftlHCKP6DbyuI-z7Vx8aEXBgcTOz3lk0cFMKz7YuPBiiUV7JR9S/s320/PA030906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388707639524207186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have arrived in Paris safely! It is exactly two weeks that I have been here, however it still hasn't sunk in that I am actually here. I'm so grateful to finally have completed this dr<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ70Z4VhmJZxqzNXHTlVDVQtXE3vgJ6aG2cJGhpitn26FfgG_Iuhbh-TNg__qE5mXyfbnFi_AzSZsInNGBHAdljdMS54q1BNxjN2ZzFKAxzd1Wm19DP3z3vsY3BNlgiWxDsg1wsnMjQBU6/s1600-h/P9250881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ70Z4VhmJZxqzNXHTlVDVQtXE3vgJ6aG2cJGhpitn26FfgG_Iuhbh-TNg__qE5mXyfbnFi_AzSZsInNGBHAdljdMS54q1BNxjN2ZzFKAxzd1Wm19DP3z3vsY3BNlgiWxDsg1wsnMjQBU6/s320/P9250881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388707986956675026" border="0" /></a>eam that I've had for many years now. I can't wait to see what God has in stor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x0vnIzJ15yByXrYtzqZrLw_XOTcQ4IXUpJqh88_tRsW68uJxEtwRC-I910WUMQ4h5V8Bt4uwyysOGyCs_WW7xnT1hwU2dtPymtDwLjW1vQwbUlZD6vr0eGXVO7tWpOl_YVRqHe6OKr5h/s1600-h/P9250880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x0vnIzJ15yByXrYtzqZrLw_XOTcQ4IXUpJqh88_tRsW68uJxEtwRC-I910WUMQ4h5V8Bt4uwyysOGyCs_WW7xnT1hwU2dtPymtDwLjW1vQwbUlZD6vr0eGXVO7tWpOl_YVRqHe6OKr5h/s320/P9250880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388708802323545522" border="0" /></a>e for me! (ps. don't worry I do miss everyone back in the states)<br /><br />Voila, pictures of my house. I am living with a host family in Joinville-le-Pont which is a suburb "banlieu" of Paris. Two journalists (one retired) who own about a million books and who will teach me so many things I wouldn't learn anywhere else. <span style="font-weight: bold;">M</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">arie-Christine</span> (mother) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phillippe</span> (father) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Axel</span> (22-son) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Constance</span> (23-daughter) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean-Pierre</span> (the cat). Both the son a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplj6Hr3EJU1qlKo5i8nlWyxUKURbik2jEw1LgU_GxyKlQMYkl4Iue6w72_yGAkj5391nrk8vTzQmIZG4rES-OEotVeZw9WOY-8iMz7lUuxVl8FTy-uqv28dERdZOFLHpBJZnaa7QblqZ8/s1600-h/P9260883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplj6Hr3EJU1qlKo5i8nlWyxUKURbik2jEw1LgU_GxyKlQMYkl4Iue6w72_yGAkj5391nrk8vTzQmIZG4rES-OEotVeZw9WOY-8iMz7lUuxVl8FTy-uqv28dERdZOFLHpBJZnaa7QblqZ8/s320/P9260883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388709666456744802" border="0" /></a>nd daughter don't live at home, but have their own apartments in the city. I am about 35 min away from Paris by train. (from top: Front of the house, view looking out from my room, the view before intering my room, my desk, and my pull out bed)<br /><br />The first two nights were overwhelming. A combination of the jetlag, no euros, and no straightener made it stressful. Alright I'm kidding about the straightene<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLwXVNKFXHjEcG3xAc-wNtBCh1Ah9-Z0KpB-8QM89uFVn2zBP9jG-ajyfZoTqlljPs7j4pxhh9OBNinruqibc0w-p-xlzIdcndVG44fXtgYea9uI4-9t-IImWjkCxEtQUJg7xDRMW7gFu/s1600-h/P9260882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLwXVNKFXHjEcG3xAc-wNtBCh1Ah9-Z0KpB-8QM89uFVn2zBP9jG-ajyfZoTqlljPs7j4pxhh9OBNinruqibc0w-p-xlzIdcndVG44fXtgYea9uI4-9t-IImWjkCxEtQUJg7xDRMW7gFu/s320/P9260882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388709678478803874" border="0" /></a>r, but you all know that I can't live without my Chi.<br />Anyway, the differences in the cuisine were the first to hit me, literally. I feel like I'm eating at a restaurant every night. The meals are so exquisitely presented and they're so good! My fav so far: muscles w/ white rice on the side.<br /><br />I'm gradually getting used to drinking red whine with every meal, but I know I have some time!<br /><br />To the reason why I'm here: <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">School</span><br />I'm studying at the Institut Catholique de Paris aka. la Catho. Classes started on Sept 28th. I have a class each day from 2pm-5pm. They're 3 hrs long! With the exception of my History of Cinema: La Nouvelle Vague which is 4 hrs long! I will survive. Taking the train everyday isn't a hassle, at least I get to read. However, coming back SUCKS since its the time everyone goes home. Whatevers. Classes (all in french) include: History of France 19th century, History of Cinema: Nouvelle Vague, Phonetics, Argumentation, and Philosophy.<br /><br />I have turned in my application for Sciences-Po second semester. We will see what happens. (Ahhh!)<br /><br />Things I have done in the two weeks:<br />1) Opened my bank account with the french bank Societe General.<br />2) Visited the Saint Chapell<br />5) Became a part of <a href="http://hillsong.fr/">Hillsong Paris</a> w/ a Connect Group!<br />6) Went shopping all around Paris- bought a Longchamp <a href="http://www.longchamp.com/fr/collection/femme/lignes/lm-nylon/showroom-14.html">bag</a><br />7) Started Reading 1 out of 6 books I have on my list to read<br />8) Partied with my host-siblings next to the Notre-Dame<br /><br />Last night was my host-mother's get together completed with Champagne a la Peche, Red Wine in a box, White wine in a box, and various other fruit juices. Towards the end of the night I "plunged" into a conversation and tried out my French speaking skills. <blockquote>I was trying to say that before arriving in France, I had heard that the French are private people and its often hard to make friends. However the translation from Eng-Fren didn't go so well, so now I have a group of people that are under the impression that I believe the French are deprived of something.... fml.</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote> Here <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVU9ZMG0UF09BWR0uRjVWQrz2DTO7xZ8hERB3qdrbFl8uJvL7NFOWHljWs9LAmmDS-BaiMHMk4qCGWNvD849hQhBor9L337-Mex7SVHtasx0pdubfUAnic9i5v097d_O6E_AjnXdygetW/s1600-h/PA030927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVU9ZMG0UF09BWR0uRjVWQrz2DTO7xZ8hERB3qdrbFl8uJvL7NFOWHljWs9LAmmDS-BaiMHMk4qCGWNvD849hQhBor9L337-Mex7SVHtasx0pdubfUAnic9i5v097d_O6E_AjnXdygetW/s320/PA030927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388740455134890002" border="0" /></a>are some pictures from the epic night.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUhFudsI_AYZQahbTKPig816zhmQE2r8pzyUiRYQQ16a5dBEumgffWL8Qsb5NQoRWIpIJa5zzU8UzFy571dlnQkJrn22cS3Cr7_qEs1ItqYXNqtOI6JJNgC7IXQ-PhxXg0-E86p9g-ekn/s1600-h/PA030930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUhFudsI_AYZQahbTKPig816zhmQE2r8pzyUiRYQQ16a5dBEumgffWL8Qsb5NQoRWIpIJa5zzU8UzFy571dlnQkJrn22cS3Cr7_qEs1ItqYXNqtOI6JJNgC7IXQ-PhxXg0-E86p9g-ekn/s320/PA030930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388740448038634498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOscCnRRMSsXstCsR95sXSyARgkOGZ_9GSv-zIwljKI1qaCo2-MAt2YXURlOPp7EC_gTRh6GiQfVBBF2TFXCDQSszmuwMF-NhUr88nH1y6qfM9MZn28PcjG4BWWj3-WQQ5t-DyEMrjcheJ/s1600-h/PA030971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOscCnRRMSsXstCsR95sXSyARgkOGZ_9GSv-zIwljKI1qaCo2-MAt2YXURlOPp7EC_gTRh6GiQfVBBF2TFXCDQSszmuwMF-NhUr88nH1y6qfM9MZn28PcjG4BWWj3-WQQ5t-DyEMrjcheJ/s320/PA030971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388740442141147170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8FfSqP5_9rP5pqLcrSdrTt_AmbpI4KOchAhExYz_LL4iCDaGDV3jW9vDlgSrxbaTg8O_AwZJnaNIEGX2uoNh77NGVQAr872w81M9wlDOxZPmM7lV3FE7KAWVRl-bLeP7DdAyEkbmHK3m/s1600-h/PA030940.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8FfSqP5_9rP5pqLcrSdrTt_AmbpI4KOchAhExYz_LL4iCDaGDV3jW9vDlgSrxbaTg8O_AwZJnaNIEGX2uoNh77NGVQAr872w81M9wlDOxZPmM7lV3FE7KAWVRl-bLeP7DdAyEkbmHK3m/s320/PA030940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388740445755209666" border="0" /></a><blockquote><br /></blockquote><br /><br />The "Pain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd89iPUXzIm2eUXkkcOfAsEoSFlJu3Y8MpmE36TKrpJn5jl23MBvVkKeV_6nXF9SMCv-0SKJO92cHEEHwH5d3OXArmn3bM9bTA7VbLWjsH_BC3hJ0o_srr_CFhRyHGfovw2_Dw4wwcjLO/s1600-h/PA030947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd89iPUXzIm2eUXkkcOfAsEoSFlJu3Y8MpmE36TKrpJn5jl23MBvVkKeV_6nXF9SMCv-0SKJO92cHEEHwH5d3OXArmn3bM9bTA7VbLWjsH_BC3hJ0o_srr_CFhRyHGfovw2_Dw4wwcjLO/s320/PA030947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388739159410909298" border="0" /></a> Surprise" which was a bread with tiny sandwiches inside. Then the Champagne that was being prepared. The host siblings. Then the donut looking pastry is actually <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/ParisBrest.html">Paris-Brest</a> delicious- we have left overs so there goes my diet. And lastly me trying to teach Axel how to swing dance. I'm not the best person for that.<br /><br />I've got homework so I should get going, but I promise that I will write at least once a week. I hope its not tooo boring. This is just my intro post, so I do think my post's will get more interesting and not just retelling what I've done, so please come back and read!!<br /><br />Picture of Paris are coming soon!<br /><br />I love this city.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">with hugs, Mayra.<br /></span>freezydeezyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11819239915958782150noreply@blogger.com0