Canal du Midi

I'm finally back from my vacation in the south of France with Sam. I would have done my blog the whole time, but I had neither computer nor internet. Where to start?

Sam and I took the train to the airport to fly to Marseilles. We were flying RyanAir, which is the cheapest airline in the world. After drooling after all the duty-free MAC makeup and incredible chocolates, we got on the plane. It was, to say the least, an interesting experience. The guy beside me ordered about 12 cognacs, which came in little baggies. I tried to do some sketches for the mural that will go in Sam's room of Baron Le Croix, but I didn't have much success. We landed, and I finally stepped foot onto the country that I will be spending the next 9 months of my life living in. My brain is going frantic searching for every scrap of French that I know. Customs were absurdly quick and we took a quick shuttle to the youth hostel which was the Hôtel Louisiana. There was no air conditioning, but the place was still pretty nice. We settled in our room, and I went downstairs to ask it there was any place to get food, like a vending machine or something.

"Excusez-moi Monsieur, où est-ce que je peux trouver quelque-chose à manger?"

"Avez-vous une voiture? C'est deux km d'ici."

Well poo. Apparently I needed a car because the nearest place was 2 kilometers away. They didn't even have a vending machine.
Enough with this hostel, on to my adventure.
We took the bus the next morning into Marseilles to wait at the train station. The scenery reminded me of Southwestern America. It was hot and dry, with scruffy foliage. The buildings were very industrial and concrete. I was getting a little disillusioned with the beauty of France when Sam pointed out that Marseilles was a very industrial city and to not compare it with the rest of the country, as would be much prettier. The train station was incredible and after securing our tickets that were très cher, we left the station to find something to eat before our train left. I sat in a bar/cafe outside of the station while waiting for Sam to return from making a phone call. I went to the bar to order an orange juice, and felt like an idiot. As soon as I approached the bartender, all of my french went out of my head.

"uh...um....um...yeah...jus d'orange?"

"something indiscriminate in French that I didn't understand a single word of"

"......"

"more French and a kind smile, and I understood that he wanted me to sit down outside"

"oh....merci."

Blushing, I went to sit back outside at my table. I felt like a moron. I literally could not understand a single sound that left the guy's mouth. He was however, incredible nice and took care of my drink for me with a wink and a smile.
Sam came back and we got up to find lunch in the city. We wandered around the Arabic ethnic part of the city. There were several beggars on the streets with children, poor immigrants from the Middle East.

I want to make a side note now about my impression of the poor and homeless in the UK/France. There are nothing, nothing compared to the homeless and poor in America. Yes, they have no money and are suffering, but the difference was astonishing. They were all fairly healthy. They had bags of stuff with them, and fairly decent clothes. Their faces aren't horrifically weathered and it doesn't look like they're about to keel over. I then realized it's because of the health care. It doesn't matter that they have no money or that they're homeless, they can still go to the hospital and get medicine if they need it. I am NOT saying that the homeless and poor here are fine, well-off, and pretty much ok with stuff. It is very grave, and they live an extremely tough life. It was just something I noticed. I wouldn't have pegged any of the people sitting on the streets as homeless by how they looked.

Back to my story.

The shops were enchanting and I felt extremely cool meandering though the streets with my backpack and the love of my life in the heart of a French city. We got a baguette at a bakery and found a tiny shop that sold various food items. They had a refrigerated section of cheese and dairy. I was astonished to find that real, amazing, fantastic cheese was only a couple of euros. I bought a huge chunk of pure edam for €2,30 that would have cost $8-9 in the States. Even for that much, it's likely it still would have been processed nasty crap that passes for cheese. I wanted to buy every piece of clothing I laid my eyes on, but passed it on as we found our way to a shady spot outside the grand entrance to the station. I felt very French eating my baguette and cheese with Sam.
The train ride was long but enjoyable. We ended up in Carcossone, and the city took my breath away. It is a very touristy place, but for good reason. In the distance, you could see a massive medieval city with castle walls complete with battlements. The streets had warm-colored tarp-things stretched artistically between the buildings. We got picked up by Dude and Pascal (Pascale?..) and they drove us to their boat on the canal. It was a beautiful green and white creation, with a wood table and shade umbrella on deck. We sat at the bar outside and had a glass of rose wine together. It was extremely delicious. We got settled on the boat and started to get dinner ready. Sam's uncle and aunt were so friendly and nice. Dinner was awesome, and I fed my bread scraps to the ducklings that were swimming about in the canal.
We set off the next morning for what would be a magical 5 days. It was very hot but very fun. The first lock we had to pass through was an incredible experience. I had never seen a lock before, and it was so cool. Every morning we had fresh croissants with apricot jam and tea. We bought two baguettes a day, and lunch was usually bread and cheese with white peaches and nectarines. While in France, I have tried and now love:

• green olives
• red wine
• Perrier water (mixed with pretty much anything)
• sheep cheese
• white peaches
• rose wine

Our following day in Carcossonne was magical. We visited La Cité, which is pretty much the most amazing place ever. It was extremely surreal entering the fortress the walking on top of the battlements and over all the inner city streets. I wanted to be in a Renaissance gown (and maybe have Sam dress up like Westley from Princess Bride). I wish I could have wandered through the castle by myself with the whole city empty for the experience, but obviously that is and will never be possible.

By the way, there are pictures of all these adventures that I'll post into this entry as soon as I can find the camera cord.

Another significant moment was the morning Sam and I went to get breakfast. We woke up to a glorious sunrise on the canal in a rural area of France. We took the bikes on the boat and road them to the local town. We coasted (I say coasted, the tires on both bikes were pretty crap) though unbridled sunlight between sunflower fields and vineyards. The boulangerie was amazing as always, and Sam insisted on buying me some sort of sweet French pastry. We got two petite tartes au pommes and ate them in a little courtyard that we had parked out bikes that had flowers flowing out of the fountain instead of water.

I'm going to stop for now because it takes a long time to write my blog and I want a break. <3

Crunchies, rocky, cape rose, and Koala Cookies

So I'm in England!
The flight over was oh-so-lucky first class fantastic! I was so exhausted from not having slept for 48 hours...I slept the whole way. Once we landed, I got the Gatwick Express to London Victoria, then from there to Canterbury. There was a short taxi ride to the campus, and my taxi driver was this incredible lovely guy to didn't grumble when lifting my ridiculously heavy stuff into the trunk. And then the glorious reunion I've been dreaming about for the past few weeks happened! I ran into Sam's arms and we spent the next 5 hours laughing and cuddleling. Yes, it was nauseating to anyone withing a 5 mile radius, but like we cared.
Sam and I ate lunch in the cafeteria. The campus is incredibly beautiful, and has a point that overlooks all of Canterbury. I'll be sure to post pictures. I've been sleeping so much because of jet lag and exhaustion, but I'll be settled into the schedule of things before too long.
My plans for today include:

• clean the dorm room and pack everything (mostly Sam's stuff) because we leave tomorrow
• eat stuff (I need the energy)
• try to Skype family/friends back home
  
• finally go hoop!!!

Although I'm very sleepy, I'm really trying to force myself to not sleep until nighttime and get up in the morning.
Sam's gifts for me are incredible. He got my a gorgeous jewelry box filled with 3 dichroic glass necklaces and a matching set of earrings. They are absolutely breathtaking and I looove them. He also got me a beautiful sterling silver chain for my amber necklace that he had gotten for me from Turkey for my birthday.
I'm incandescently happy and can't wait to share more of my adventures.

The Sad Goodbyes

I said goodbye to Kathryn tonight. We had an amazing time with mom and Amy at a restaurant and the drive in the hot, summer night air was glorious. We hugged and kissed and said our goodbyes on her doorstep when the night was over. I didn't cry as I left, but I found lots of tears on my face the drive home.
I will miss everyone more than I can say.

T-Minus 34 hours

Well

In about 34 hours I will be in England with Sam. My plane leaves a little after noon tomorrow to start my long journey across the ocean. I say long, it's accomplished in a few hours. I think about how long the ordeal to cross any ocean was in a wooden ship. Or any ship, for that matter. Loooooooong ass time.
I cleaned my bathroom, and my room is almost 100% put together for when I leave. I'm making copies of all my important documents for my parents to have, and double-checking everything. I think I'm ready...I know I'm ready.
I have really missed Knoxville this summer and there's a part of me that's very sad that I'm not going back this year. I will return at some point and thus wreck havoc on Ktown.

I've been going over a lot of options I have for jobs while I'm over there. Sam thinks I can be an English tutor. I suppose I'll try, but I'm still going to hit up all the talent and modeling agencies while I'm in Paris. No better city to do that in, right? Of course I'll be street performing for plus d'argent. Also, I noticed there are a ton of MAC makeup stores and I want to apply to every one. I freakin' love that stuff.
I didn't sleep at all last night because I want to beat the jet lag. I figure I can make myself tired enough that I'll fall asleep early this evening, which is normal late-ish bedtime for England/Paris.
Sam has this wonderful tea chest that he left at my house when he went back home. I'm going to try and take it with me, but I don't know if I have the room...I do love it, though.

In other news, I watched 'Taken' last night due to my father's adamant request that I see it. I really liked the movie, but it did not scare me into not going to Paris (sorry, Dad). I promise I won't share a cab with some creeper who's going to sell me to human trafficking. In all seriousness, that is a big fat awful issue that I feel needs more global attention, so I'm glad the movie came out. I do feel a bit safe (and maybe a bit concerned?) that I can call my dad if I'm ever in some deep sh*t and he can be over in a few hours to rescue me.

I'm really bummed about not being able to take Poison Apple or Secret Admirer (my hoops) with me...I'm sure I'll make a non-collapsible one while I'm there, it's just that those are so pretty and I love them...

GOD SO EXCITED. *squee!* can't even hold it in...Hopefully my next post will be from across an ocean!

~love~

Cocoa almonds

So I'm finally starting a blog to document my adventures. I got my visa in the mail today (about TIME) and I'm all set to go (almost) to the City of Lights. I was doing my many hours of Rosetta Stone when I realized that my blog should start before I leave, not when I get there. I know I'll miss home when I leave...but I can't hardly take the anticipation and excitement of getting off this continent, and to completely immerse myself in a different world.
I was thinking about my year in France, and I feel one of three things is going to happen. I will
a.) Love, love, LOVE France/Paris/Europe so much that I will not be satisfied with my life until I can permanently live there.
b.) I will love France, but realize that America is a fulfilling place for me to live as well and will be content with just visiting France
c.) Absolutely dislike the city and try to spend most of my time in England with Sam.

Obviously, option C is not very likely. I'm leaning towards B, but in the back of my mind...I really feel like I'll find Europe to be where I want to stay. I love America (well, some of it), and I am incredibly attached and dependent on all my friends and family. But I think in the end of things I'll want to stay somewhere in a culture more suited to my own personality and tastes.

Anyway

That's just a though and I won't know anything until I get there. For now, I'll continue to hermit myself in my room to avoid my uncle. I've had all my bags packed and organized by my door for days now. I even took B'Dazzle and Inferno*, coiled them down, and wrapped them in bubble wrap for travel. I am so excited...I can't even articulate. Every time the image in Rosetta Stone pops up of a woman taking her picture by the Arc de Triomphe with the phrase La femme visite Paris I literally squee with excitement and wake all the animals up that are sleeping in my bed, which usually includes Uga the bulldog, Lily and Nytro the cats, and Boo the retriever. This next year will change my life more than anything, or at least quite a lot than most years of my life.
I've been preparing like nothing else. I do Rosetta Stone for at least 4 hours a day. I've only been listening to French music, and almost everything I say, I try to repeat it in my head in French. I've been reading Paris for Dummies and check blogs online about French culture, music, language, and politics. I plan to start refreshing my French history so I won't seem like such a dumbass when I get there. I'm desperate to not be a idiotic, obnoxious, and ignorant American. I don't feel I am any of those things, but who knows?
My sister's been gone just a few days in South Africa, but I already miss her. I can't wait for her to visit me in Paris, but the lengths in between are going to be difficult. We've really gotten closer (if that was possible) this summer.
Counting down the days until I can leave and see Sam. We're going to Marsielle together before I start school.
I need to get back to Rosetta Stone. I'm almost done with Level 1! (hey, it's a really long program)

*B'Dazzle is my LED PSI hoop and Inferno is my fire hoop