Salut!


First of all, I want to apologize for the delay in the post. I try to do one every Sunday, but I was busy all day Sunday (which will be explained) and the week is typically hard to get a post done, with school and whatnot. Luckily, I had a short day today therefore finished my homework early and now I am making up for lost time!


Ok so after last Sunday's trip to the beach, I had a busy week of school and soccer. But, I found time last week to take pictures of my little trail that I love so much. I took about a billion pictures, and I am sorry if you get bored with them all. I tried to pick out a select few that I liked the best! It truly is amazing, and its just 5 feet from my front door. I love all the nature here in France.

My house can just barely be seen in this picture…it's the square/modern looking house right behind the tree. It looks really far from where I am standing when I took this picture, but in reality I walk across the street and it is all of a 5 second walk.

There are a lot of bikers and roller blader's (is that what they are called??) as well as runners! I am never lonely :) 

About a half mile down, there are horses. They are always out and are so beautiful. It is definitely a nice change from running in California and seeing cars...

This is my favorite picture! I took it right as the sun was setting.

The colors are so pretty in this picture! I can't wait to see how they progress through spring and the rain season.

During my week, I didn't do anything all that exciting. I went to school and came home and did homework…nothing I like to consider "blog worthy." But I had an awesome weekend.

Friday and Saturday we laid low and got ready for our (my) adventure on Sunday. Emma had a dance competition in Carcassonne, home of the Carcassonne Castle. Living in the United States, I obviously don't see many castles…so this was a very special treat. I went with Olivier, Nathalie, and Emma. Ludmila, again, had to study for a big test. She takes the Science track, that is very academically demanding, equivalent to an AP track. I take the Literature track, which is rather simple. I totally know what Ludmila is going through though, and I am happy for a semester's break of those long stressful days! But moving on, the Castle was enormous! We were there for hours and I don't think we even covered half of it. Again I apologize for the millions of pictures that I am about to put up (feel free to quickly scroll) but it was absolutely breath-taking. 

Ca c'est moi devant le chateau!

Emma had her dance right before, hence the makeup and slicked hair.

Another thing that I just love about France is how small everything is. I am used to streets that can fit 2 or even 3 cars on it. Here, you are lucky if one can fit! 

This is the other side of the castle.

During spring and summer, this area is filled with lush green grass…unfortunately the cold winter snows have killed off most of it for the time being. 

The four of us went on a virtually guided tour around the chateau. I debated having my guide in French, but ultimately found the English channel easier. However, I must say that in the last week I have started to realize a difference in my French progression. People would tell me it is better, and up until this week I hadn't of even realized! 

This is one of my favorite photos I took. It shows the different layers of the outside and inside, as well as a cool view of Carcassonne! 

The town is what I like to call "typical French" with the tiny streets, tall buildings with balconies, and orange roofs. Soo pretty!

The churches are just amazing. Emma put a candle under the Saint of good health, even though they do not believe. I still find it strange how this country can be full of so many gorgeous cathedrals and have so few church-goers! 

After hours of walking in the cold and rainy weather, we stopped for a coffee and hot chocolate. I normally am not a fan of hot chocolate, but France may have changed my mind…note my new ring :)

We soon drove back to the theater where Emma had her competition. Having dancers in my family, I have been to quite a few competitions. I was surprised to see how similar the whole thing was! Emma does classical dance, and is one of the cutest ballerina's I have ever seen! I have been telling her about all the different dances my sister does, and she is so jealous! I think the two would get along very well. 

This is at the end of day when all the dancers sat on stage and waited to see if they placed. Emma got a "prix seconde!"

Ok, I know this is awful photography. But I thought I would include it just to show you how cute she is!

After the awards ceremony, we drove home. We didn't get home until about 11 pm and therefore I didn't have time to update! Monday morning I got to sleep in and then I went to one hour of class starting at 3. Not much happens for me on Mondays…Yesterday, however, I got a little bit of shopping done. I went to the Polygon, the shopping center just across the street from my school, while I had a two hour break. I bought my best friend Hayley's birthday present!!! And then a few books to keep myself busy. I have been continuing to read and am now starting the Great Gatsby. My friend has it in French, so after I read it in English I think I am going to reread it in French and see if I understand. 

Today was bittersweet…for those of you that have read The Hunger Games I am sure you are getting excited about the film that comes out on Friday. I have read the books and am obviously a big fan. I was so excited to hear that the film came out today (two days before all you Americans!) in France, and had a whole day of lunch, shopping, then the movie with a friend. As we were going to buy our tickets, the salesman told us that they had made a mistake and were not showing the movie in VO (original version with subtitles) until the evening…unlike posted! I was very upset! But Sirine and I continued to walk in the rain and then eventually took the tram home. I am planning on seeing it with her on Friday after school. I took a few pictures of my little adventure today, but Sirine wouldn't let me get any of her! Sorry :/

That big tall building is the library where I bought my books yesterday. Walking around in the rain was a nice change!

The blue oval-looking thing is the "Polygone" where everybody shops. Around it is the Comedie, which is HUGE and full of amazing French designers and small streets and stores that date back to the Middle Ages. 

This is the ally where the cinema was located.

Our movie was supposed to be at Royal Cinema…but the Royal Cinema employees give out false information… :(

I got ONE shot of Sirine…from the side. She is very, very nice and kind of shy. She is in my English class and I, being new, know that feeling of shyness. But, I am obviously not a very shy person and invited her to be in my group for an assignment. We have been hanging out since!

So sad. 

After my movie mess up, I came home and did some homework for a little. AND THEN, my fabulous Aunt Vallarie called me from London! We chatted for a while and she always puts a smile on my face. Her and Uncle Jim are there for a few days, and we have been corresponding. Those two crack me up! She is in the midst of sending me a care package, so my excitement continues!

As you probably know, there was a man in Toulouse that shot a few children and a school guard. The whole country has been grieving over this, as it is the first time in France's history that children have been shot at, at a school. Luckily, early this morning, the man was caught and is to be imprisoned. Yesterday, in all the schools around France, we participated in a minute of silence in honor of the people killed. It was really sad. 

But, I do not want to end on a negative note! I am very excited for this weekend. I have an AFS retreat with all the students in the Languedoc-roussillon region. We are all meeting and spending a weekend together full of games and bonding! I am really looking forward to it, and as another friend in AFS told me it will be the first time that I can really breath. I only know 2 people in my region so far, but I can't wait to make more friends from all over the world. 

I hope all is well for everyone.

A bientot!