It is official, I am in LOVE with France.  It is such a beautiful place and so fun to be.  This last week we were able to go to Cannes during the Film Festival.  I have never seen so many dogs in one day in my life! I loved it though, the beach was amazing, people and cameras everywhere! It was so fun to be able to be there during the festival.  Before coming out to france I had always heard the French people are not friendly but after 2 weeks in southern france I feel as if it is the exact opposite! They are always so incredibly friendly and helpful.  We walked around the city some and napped on the beach walked around the market and then were able to go to a film at the festival, it was very strange but at least we can say we've been to a movie at the Cannes Film Festival!

French Culture: True or False?

Before we left, we were assigned to read the book, French or Foe, by Polly Platt.  She writes about what to expect in France, and why Americans think the french are rude and vica versa.  We were supposed to come up with 5 questions from that reading, (or inspired by that reading) that we wanted to try to answer while in France.  These are mine:

1. Is it true that the french eat a large dinner?
2. Is it true that the french are more interested in relationships than business deals?
3. How would that be verified, what would that look like?
4. Are dinners more formal?  Is conversation a large part of the enjoyment of dinner?
5. Do the french really not smile at foreigners?

I will make comments on what I have observed so far, and what I continue to observe not only in Nice, but Paris.  I imagine that there may be a big difference in what I find in Paris, than in Nice, but ... time will tell.

So far I have not witnessed a large dinner, quite the contrary.  However, several of the other students who are staying with other families have, including true french cuisine, like escargot!  I have had some lovely french dinners: quiche and a soufflé-like roll.
Conversation at the dinner table does seem to be an important part of the culture.  I enjoy it very much.  I also was honored to be invited to visit with my hostess and her family when they had her birthday toast of champagne (and my orange juice).  It was delightful to listen to the family interact.  They were very polite and kind to include me in the conversation and make sure I understood what was being said.

As far as relationships .... I mentioned to our professor, Tammy, when we were eating a late lunch in the plaza, that what we were doing was much of what I saw the book trying to express about the french.  The plaza is open, with shops and restaurants all around, yet the most wonderful part of it is the conversing that is taking place.  People sit outside of the restaurants, where they can see and hear what is going on all around them, and interact as they choose.  A great, and I think very french experience!

Enough for now!

One Week

This place is awesome!! I've only been here for a week, but I don't ever wanna leave! Every day we have done something cool, and each day has been better than the one before it. And I feel like my French is getting a lot better too. It's like in school I was learning French language theory or something, like how French is supposed to work, but being able to talk to people on the tram, or in the streets, or where ever I find them, has been teaching me how to apply the what I've learned in school and has been teaching me new things too. Here's a random pic of a corn cob pipe some guy gave me on one of our first days here.

I Survived........ one week!

It's been a full week since we arrived in Nice. And we have been on the go ever since. There are so many things to see and everything is tres jolie! 

 The view from our window

 Not only is the scenery amazing, so are the Eclairs......

 and the chocolate Meringue....... this was my pickles!

 There are also Natives in France as well! ;-)

<3 Kaye

P.S. Shout out to Marianna!! Thanks for working hard and taking care of us! Wish you were here!! 

Entreveux

Today we were able to head up to Entreveux in the Alps.  It was amazing! The little town had so much character and the views were gorgeous.  I loved getting up to the top of the citadel and looking in every direction.  After exploring a bit we found a little cave to climb down in and it led us to a different exit.  It was incredible.  It's so interesting to think about all that must have happened there since it was used in past wars.  I love everything about France so far and each day has gotten better and better! And of course, we couldn't leave without a little planking and tebowing at the top!

Put Me On a Bus & Take Me Anywhere

Samedi, we took a bus with Professor Blandine to a town tucked away on a hill called, Saint Paul de Vence. 

At the end of the road there is an overlook that shows out to the cemetery

This town definitely has a lot of character. 

Vence reminds me of a little village that would be featured in Godfather, it has a definite Italian spin. 

Or maybe it's just because I was chilling with an Evian outside of a little bar in front of this fountain (like in Godfather III)

I was obsessed with this little Italian place the group stopped to eat at, the piano was attached to the ceiling upside down--J'adore! 

I have to say one of my favorite moments was the short bit I got to have alone with Professor Blandine, when we got on the "short bus" (lol! because I'm a gimp with my sprained toe) she asked the bus driver to take us up to the "Hollywood sign" (which I think is credited towards Travis) to snap a photo. It is the Vence sign that is a little version of our Hollywood sign back in the states. We barely got it, but watching Blandine so proud of capturing it and her smile were just simply priceless. 

Right before this though, we had the chance to go through the Matisse Chapel that is really interesting. Cameras and taking photos are not allowed... well, leave it to one in the group to be the rebel. Don't judge!! Lol. 

I simply could not resist. 

Travel Often-

Alle

all photos taken by me

Une soirée niçoise de samedi

Some of us joined the opera-loving population of Nice and acquired seats in the upper reaches of "Paradise" in this belle-époque style opera house.  Besides the heat (la chaleur) and the seats intended for shorter legs, it was a wonderful musical evening in which the incomparable virtuosic instrument of the human voice enchanted us in the ranges of tenor, bass, and soprano (mostly in Italian).  

Nice Opera House ceiling (plafond) and gigantic & impressive crystal chandelier

We were then entertained on the Square Masséna by some break dancing (with some Brazilian capoeira influence) and then followed the crowd and fumes to the street artist painting with spray cans, airbrushes, and razor blades.  Finally we topped the evening off with Amorino gelato (afterall Nice is quasi-Italian).

Une merveille!