American Night

Every week a country's students will plan and cook a traditional meal. On the 10th, it was American night. The other cultures joked about Mc' Donalds and friend food. We the Americans did not want to diappoint. Our American meal was not Mc'Donalds. Instead it was Fried Pickles, Potatos, Burgers, Smores and Fried Oreos.

I baked the potatos using only a microwave, which is very time consuming and difficult. I managed though. Nick flooded the kitchen twice trying to thaw the meet. Catelina mopped and cut food. Brandy and Mariam, although Mexican, set up the food, cut, and grilled.

Doran and Rebecca were in the other kitchen cooking up those pickles and potatos. Once the party started, I continud to work on the Fried Oreos since they are better fresh. It was a huge hit. EVERYONE CAME OUT!!! There was about 30 - 40 people. It was great until the mean bald man kicked us out for too many people and beer.

We offered to get rid of the berages but then he was  like too many people and shut us down. Overall the night was a success, 60 burgers, 44 potatos, and dozens of fried cookies and pickles. YUM!!!

Boys Will Be Boys

Girl's Nights are the best. You get to hang out with your ladies and just dance and have fun! NO BOYS, no stress, no problems. Most guys do not understand the concept that sometimes girls go out just fro fun and look cute just case. On February 4th, I had the opportunity to use the Jenna Marbles Face.

A few girls and I went to a new bar. The bar or club was pretty much empty except to our misfortune a few old, persistent French men. We were dancing by ourselves and they awkwardly danced behind us and tried to break up our circle. They had a group. The circle breaker -- who jumped in and danced in the middle. The grabber-- who attempted to spin you around. The bathroom stalkers.

A HUGE DIFFERENCE  between America and France is the bathrooms the girls and guys are in the same room! This blew my mind when I first saw this. I kept asking where the girls bathroom was cause I saw the "guys" but no everyone goes together. So weird! Oh and it is not just at bars it is EVERYWHERE! I think this is how girls going to the bathroom in groups originated too.

The bathroom stalker kinda cornered you in the bathroom and chat you up as you are trying to leave. Catelina even told them to go away in French! She also asked some girls that were giving us dirty looks if they wanted to dance. I LOVE HER! If they were jealous the girl could have the creepy guys.

The highlight of the night may have been poor Hilly getting yelled at for stepping on some ladies shoes. A) you are at a bar what do you expect and b) don't walk through our circle. We were the only ones dancing so we were easily avoidable. Hilla is by far the cutest little drinker ever. She forget everything! She is always losing things and forgets she told you she lost it. So I heard she lost her key and thinks its at Riias about 10 times. haha.

On the way home it started flurrying again! YAY!!!!

Laundry Abroad < USA Laundy

I hate doing laundry. It is by far the worst experience I have encountered. I rather take on a creeper. I mean I disliked it in the US but if only I knew how good I had it! It is such a process. There are 2, yes 2, washers and dryers for the entire building so you have to sign up for a slot. That would be fine if you just came back and everything but no there is more. You have to go to the receptionist and pay the washer fee. You have to know which washer you signed up for cause you get a special coin to put in. You can only go between 12- 2 on Saturday and 12-5 Monday through Friday. I have paid for laundry so I was OK with this I just dont understand why you can't put your money directly into the machine. It is 3.50 euro too. So Expensive! I rather try doing it by hand lol. Also the size of the washer and dryer could easily have two loads. The dryer is forever. I started the dryer at 5:45 and it was finally done drying around 9! This is after multiple cycles. I am seriously thinking of just buying new clothes. =P

First Creeper!

I have a unfortunate habit or finding really creepy men. I do not know how I was blessed with this gift and truly hoping it went away in France but no it didn't. I was minding my own life as always when suddenly someone talks to me in ENGLSH! Do I look American? He was asking about the bus, etc. I felt bad -- first mistake. Actually the first mistake was answering period. I did tell  him the buses are unreliable on Sundays and this one was coming at this time. Unfortunately for me that was in 16 minutes and now he wanted to talk like we were old chums. He wanted to know where I was from, what I was doing here, how long am I going to be here, and lectured me on the importance of learning a second language and how he teaches himself. I don't know where he was from but I am a big tooth person and his were not white! I don't know if it is his thing to not brush or his culture but they were soo yellow. Finally, the bus arrived. I got on and thought this was over-- WRONG! He sat right in front of me and continued the lecture. He started asking my career goals and said I should have some. I am not telling this stranger my life story. he did give me tips on learning a new language so that was semi useful. Finally, I arrived at my destination the train station, which was where he was going. Thank god for walking fast cause I ended up loosing him. So unfortunately, creepers are a universal problem!

Sir Quacker

I recently purchased the BEST souvenir ever! Meet Sir Quacker! I found him at a little boutique and feel in love <3

SNOWWWWW

Everyone thought I was crazy but I had faith in the weather cause today, IT SNOWED! I woke ua at an ungodly hour to go to class. Again noone was there., not at the bus stop, downstairs, tram or hallway. It was not till I was in the wrong class I realized I was an hour early. That is actually positive cause it gave me time to take pictures. The snow was just flurries but Catalina and I were the only ones excited. We sat through class and shocker another project. I had to go home cause a) I had to make sure CAF was settled b) get warmer clothes c) get my buss pass ( I thought I was running late and left it so I was planning on sneaking on the shuttle .. mission accomplished btw) d) see if the toilet was fixed.Caf was ok but my toilet is still not fixed. While finding warmer clothes, I heard the fire alarm, which sound lie band pipes. lol.

I built a mini snowman and took tons of photos with Catalina. I love snow!

Nantes Trip!!!!

 So I survived my first week and ready for my weekend in Nantes!

I woke up amd wen down stairs at the time we were supposed ti be meeting. But, no one was there. I was afraid I would miss the train and left. Once I got there I easily found my train terminal since it is not as massive as Paris! I saw many farmilar faces too shivering cause it was redicoulously cold!

The train ride I slept the majority of the trip. Once we arrived, HIlla and Rita told me we had to stay and wait for the hotel people. The hotel people are the group of us staying overnight. There were 8 of us 5 were coming by car. After an hour, I wanted to leave. We would miss everything! In France, things close at 7 and it was going on 11! I would say we could go tomorrow but everything is closed Sundays so we can't stay here all day!

Once we left the station to start walking to the hotel we found a gorgeous park. I think it was more of a garden since you can't walk on the grass but it was beautiful!.After a long photoshoot, we continued to the hotel while snapping photos along the way.

Finally we got to our hotel! Everyone at one point in their life has stayed at a ghetto hotel. If you haven't , you're either lucky or missing out on stories for years to come. This one bets anything you have gone to! First, it is a door entrance. It kinda looking like the house from the full house except with stores.Anyways, they ahve a huge staff of one guy! He checked us in  and out, cooked and cleaned. He did it all!

The actual room was okay. The beds were normal. They did make look Days Inn look classy and nice. The lights were just light bulbs and the TV was a 20 inch hanging from the wall. The bathroom though. It was a few wall put together and a curtain. It also had not roof. so it was similar to a bathroom stall. Noone wanted to use it cause its awkward.

Finally settled in with a game plan, we went to get food. I had a sandwich but bought an okay dessert. Tartes are not my thing though. We also get to shp before the Hotel people contacted us. We left our numbers with the frint desk or one guy since most of us just got phones and had no numbers. We would meet in an hour since they were going to get lunch. So we killed time and were outside waiting again for them. When they called and said to go see the castle since they already did. At this point, we have to do our own thing cause this was getting ridiculous.

The castle was so pretty!It is amazing to see centeries of history. The castle was built inside a military fortress in the 1400s, when religious battles were going on. One of thier kings signed a treaty, after 80 years of war. The town also went through a mermaid and carnival phase and how their king was one of the key people involved in the slave trade, He stopped supporting 3 years before it was shut down. It also showed how the Nazis took over and implemented rules. Most people in the city were jewish so the town was deserted after 13,000 people were taken into France.

Once we got through the museum. We toured the cathedral. The church is as big as the castle, When I first saw it I thought it was the castle. Our night at Nantes was spending time playing Ring of Fire and drinking wine. We did try to go dancing but ended up at a Isih bar again.

This tip taught me a few things. Big groups travelling never work. People cancel etc. ( i forgot to mention meeting up with the group.) I am much more fast paced that other cultures lol.

This is how we found them. We meet at the church and they told us what happened. One girl backed out after they waited for her even though they were late. So they left late and didn't have a way to contact us. The girl who backed out told them to meet us in the wrong place.

Dinner was fun! We got Kabeb and the cashier had a crush on Hilla, a pretty blonde. A co-worker told us as we were leaving. I understood but HIlla didn't s I told her. The man offered a soda for a kiss on the cheek. It was hilarous! Once we got home  after a park trip, train and bus ride, my toilet was broken. fml. So I have to get it repaired and figure out how to say it in French.

I talked to Cameron the longest yet! We did absolutely nothing together! It was perfect!