The last two and half weeks...

No, I did not expect to have so little time. Before I left I actually thought I was going to have so much time on my hands I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I was hoping to have time to stroll in the evenings and work on my creative side taking artsy shots but I barely have time to shower, eat, and crawl into bed. And my pictures are pitiful! My pictures are hurry up and snap something or you’re gonna miss it! I’m realizing more and more every day that I live in the outskirts (however pretty it may be) it’s difficult to get downtown or to school. The tram used to take me straight to school but there’s now construction so I have to switch trains which adds some time as the trams have begun to run slower because Frenchies go on vacation in July and August. But it also means lots of “soldes” in the stores. I should probably take advantage of that because I need new sandals so bad!

The weekend after Annecy, Annie and I did a little shopping on Friday night, went to Love and Mercy with French sous-titres, and out to dinner. On Saturday we took the bus to La Bois Français, a local lake. We met downtown and found a bagel place and I got a toasted Nutella bagel to take to the lake for lunch. And every day that we go somewhere we always have to stop by the marché en plein air and get fresh fruit. Annie gets her peaches and nectarines. I get strawberries. I got strawberries to go with my Nutella bagel. On Sunday we hiked up up up to the Bastille and le Grottes de Mandrin. Wooeee, was that a hike and half! At least for me!

Class has kind of been the sore spot of the whole trip. Our teacher pretty much sucks. She is not really good at talking and phrasing her sentences (her sentence structure) etc. for students. She does not give clear direct instructions for any work in class or homework. All of this adds up to a very very difficult situation that was already difficult. But I’m figuring it out. We also have an elective class after our grammar which unfortunately I chose Expression Orale that she taught as well. It was a difficult 2 weeks. Especially since my friends and I took Expression Orale hoping it would help us with speaking and it was the most random assortment of busy work that had nothing to do with nothing, pretty much a waste of time. But the elective class only lasted 2 weeks and then we could choose another one so now I only have her for grammar. I made the mistake of saying to my friend that the class was very difficult for me to understand one of the first days (after her strike) to which she heard and tried to tell me to go down a level. To which I responded with, well actually once I got used to how mixed up she speaks and had my program director explain what the heck she was doing, I’m doing just fine in class. I chose Civilisation for my second elective and I think it’s working out much better. I like the teacher. He’s got a dry sense of humor and a very hip way of talking except that today he told me accent was so hard to understand so he basically did my presentation for me. L  So that lead to me practicing pronunciation today with my program directors. I found out that because I’m very articulate in English that makes it very very difficult for me to pronounce my Rs in French. So we practiced and practiced until I was just coughing, spluttering, and downright embarrassed lols. Then I went home and told my host mom I was practicing so she was helping correct me tonight as well.

Last week on Tuesday was Bastille Day. Most of us went on an excursion to le Château de Vizille et le lac de Laffrey. This is the national museum for the French Revolution. We got to eat in a lovely park (strawberries and watermelon) and then tour the Château. We also got to cool off in the lake and visit Napoleon’s statue and take his route. Again before we left my friends and I met up and went to the marché en plein air for fresh fruit and to get some lunch (pastries, baguettes).

This past weekend I went out with Annie again on Friday night and on some excursions. Annie and I went and ate more delicious burgers with gruyere cheese! We then walked to Le Cafe de la Table Ronde. Before I came, I did a little research and had a small list of things to see/do in Grenoble and this was on the list. It is the oldest coffee café in Grenoble and one of the oldest in France having opened in 1797. We sat and chatted enjoying the ambience and food. My friends and I also went there for lunch yesterday and I had some DELICIOUS! raviolis with cream and basil. Raviolis are a Grenoble specialty! On Saturday I went on an excursion to Chartreuse: the mountain, the city, and the famous alcohol. We stopped for lunch and toured a church and ate lunch surrounded by the Alps. We then hiked up to the monastery (wish we could’ve gone inside!). Last we toured where they store and make Chartreuse, down underground in HUMONGOUS barrels! And boy does it stink! And the distillery smells even worse! Some pretty cool history though. The monks were given this recipe as a recipe for long life from the King in the 17^th century. Then there was a tasting which was completely wasted on me lols! I just wanted to eat the ice out of the shot glasses because ice is a rare commodity around here! Next was the excursion to Vercors. The grottes de Choranche were absolutely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen! I just wish we weren’t so rushed! So yeah look forward to those pictures once I get them done! Our excursions are so fascinating because we end up stopping in these little towns and seeing the most incredible things! Like the charming village of Pont-en-Royans!

During the week, our program directors do research and have us do some really neat local things. We went to this little shop called Nice Cream Lab. They make ice cream from fresh ingredients and liquid nitrogen! I had the best ice cream ever! I’ve already gone back there twice. I plan to go again and I will definitely be taking Aaron when he gets here! So deliciously yummy! We are also set up to do a pâtisserie tasting! Oh yes that’s happening!

This weekend Annie and I head to Saint Raphael and the coast! We are so looking forward to having a relaxing weekend, because it is just go go go around here. I am getting used to the slow pace of eating. Where you sit in a café for hours and waiters don’t bother you and you get to just chat with friends. There is that time that just kind of slows but then we’re up and off to the next thing. I am very grateful that so many of us have become such good friends. It’s really made this trip so worthwhile. Shout out to you awesome people! Surah, Annie, Maddie, Alex, Rebecca, Chris, Dallon, and Katie! You rock! Grenoble 2015!