switzerland, and some other ramblings

It’s been four weeks since I landed on this oddly wonderful continent that is Europe, and I cannot believe how fast it’s gone by. I was placed in the upper-intermediate semi-intensive level for my French classes, and have found this title to be wildly understated. My courses meet a total of 26 hours per week (compared to an average 18 hours at Cal Poly), with ten classes meeting once a week for two hours, my eleventh class four hours per week (this one’s in English), and my cooking class that meets once every other week.

The results of our first cooking class: sashimi (raw beef, yikes), duck with peach sauce, and chicken stuffed with chorizo. Yuuuuum.

The classes themselves aren’t super difficult, but what is hard is listening in French for up to six hours per day. In the U.S., I often find myself zoning out during class while still being able to mindlessly take notes. The classes are less structured here though, without a lot of guidance in terms of note-taking and course outlines (none of my classes even have a textbook). So basically in France if I ever zone out, I really don’t have much to go on.

Something else that has definitely been an adjustment is just the way things are [un]organized here. Formed lines are practically non-existent and things just move much more slowly than they should (except for the crazy drivers), the lack of efficiency drives me insane.

I like to think I’m organized in the sense that I have a rough idea of what I’ll be doing each day, but am able to change plans around when necessary and just go with it. Regardless, I like knowing what I need to get done and how I can do so. Here however, there are few directions given and somehow you’re expected to just know how things work. While the way of life isn’t necessarily in step with my own, I can appreciate the difference in culture and know that it’s grooming me for life.

I’m happy to report French people do have a sense of humor.

I feel like I’ve gotten into a groove though, I know my way around the city pretty well, I’ve gotten the hang of the metro and feel more comfortable with all the independence. It’s only the second week of school and I’ve already had four classes cancelled, so I guess I can’t complain about people being flaky in cases like these when it works so greatly to my benefit.

Given that classes are so tiring, it only makes sense to get away on the weekends, which is exactly what some friends and I did this past weekend. After some difficulties at the train station and a bit (a lot) of swearing, we were finally able to get our tickets and board the train to Geneva on Friday night. And yes, I did make several Geneva/Genovia Princess Diaries references while there, and even sang the Genovian national anthem after dinner one night.

Let me tell you, Switzerland is freakin awesome. It’s beautiful, and there’s so much to do and see, I really wish we had gotten to stay longer. We used Airbnb to book an apartment for the weekend, and it was just a fifteen minute walk from the main hub in the city.

Saturday, our day began with coffee and pastries (as most European days do), and of course getting lost on public transportation. After several buses and a tram, we made it up to Mont Salève, which overlooks the whole city and lake. God really did it big there, it’s incredible. We hiked along the mountain for hours and just enjoyed the surreal panoramic views.

The gorge[ous] gorge as we now like to call it.

While at the top, we ate lunch and did a lot of spontaneous exploring. It was really nice not to have a schedule or anywhere to be, we could just keep walking as far as we wanted and take it all in. We walked a total of 13.6 miles Saturday (thanks Fitbit!), got to hang out with some cows and even witnessed a double rainbow as it started raining on our way back.

YAAAS.

Then came Sunday, the day of our departure…sad. Thankfully our train didn’t leave until 7:30 at night, so we had the whole day for tourism and what not. We started with another pastry and coffee breakfast, but this almond croissant (a bear claw as we might say in the U.S.) was no lie the BEST I have ever had, I would not shut up about it (I even brought one back with me). I can still taste the heavenly deliciousness now.

A. Pouly Boulangerie, your pastry has forever changed me. And yes, I’m that tourist who takes photos of every meal, it’s fine.

From there, we headed to the United Nations (!) which was unfortunately closed, but still an incredible sight to see. You can get anywhere with the bus system there, which I would highly recommend. We got lucky and stumbled upon a giant street food festival, with 20-30 food trucks set up outside selling to the masses…and I mean literal masses. I purchased and inhaled a piadine, which is basically a salad in an Italian flatbread. Geneva itself (food and amenities) is expensive though, so if you’re ever there be prepared to spend more than you might elsewhere.

An obligatory travel-buddies picture at the UN.

We ended our weekend with a boat tour on Lake Geneva, which was just as pretty and touristy as you would imagine. I like playing the tourist though, it gives me an excuse to look weird, which I do a lot. We definitely packed a lot into the two days, but it was incredible to be independent and plan things spontaneously, and just see where the day would take us.

Yes Geneva, yes.

saturday markets, you make me swoon

The French don’t mess around when it comes to their food and their walking. In fact, I don’t believe you can have one without the other. No bread, no need to walk, no walking, you may want to consider laying off the bread. And so, we walk. Maybe that’s a bit oversimplified, but you get the gist.

Outdoor markets here in Lyon are just one of the many things that make France being France so unfair. Since being here, I’ve observed that the French shop more often, but buy only what they need for a short amount of time. The produce is almost always ripe or near ripe upon purchase.

I freakin love peaches…

Catherine (my Idahomie as I will thus call her) and I left at 9 a.m. for the market in Vieux Lyon, which is about a mile walking from our quarter near campus. Initially it was a lot to take in, and we had to do a lap through the whole stretch of vendors before we could even begin to narrow down what we wanted to buy. They have everything here, from fresh cheeses and wine to different meats butchered to order.

Note the colored cheeses on the right. And yes, I plan on trying them at some point.

To carry on my self-proclaimed obnoxious tourist syndrome, I of course had my GoPro in hand, slyly (or so I thought) taking photos as I strolled through the market. One of the vendors however, saw right through me and called after me to stopped taking photos. He was smiling, so naturally I smiled back, apologized and continued taking pictures (hardcore, I know).

No number of photos can do it justice…

After a few laps and many deep food-related thoughts, I made it out of the market with some prime produce:

• 3 peaches, which were unfortunately smushed after being jostled around all day (I still ate them, and they tasted even better)
• 2 kilos of apricots, all for the fantastic price of €2 (although how I plan on finishing them all I haven’t yet figured out)
• 5 golden delicious apples, too cheap and delicious to resist
• 1 bag of pre-chopped veggies for soup (too much effort, I seasoned and roasted them in olive oil instead)
• 1 jar organic, local honey

Casually discovered some California almonds.

The market required a lot of walking, so in order to rest and recharge for a bit, we stopped in at a pub to sit and chat over coffee, or a double espresso in my case.

I’ve taken to plain espresso and it makes me a little crazy, but I love it.

After our espresso, chez Jules was just daring me to stop in. You haven’t experienced genuine irresistibility until you’ve attempted to pass by a French boulangerie-pâtisserie. Once you’re in there you either buy something, or spend the rest of the day thinking about what a fool you are and the pastry that could’ve been. I surrendered, took the easy way out and tried my very first chocolate brioche roll. I don’t think anything can quite fill the shoes of the pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant), but this did come within spitting distance.

I swear I can smell the heavenly baked goods from here.

From there, we continued exploring different pockets of Lyon, adventures from which will be told in an upcoming post…

Six hours, nine miles and 154 pictures later, I made it back to my cozy studio, exhausted but ready to get back out there next week. Look out camera-shy vendors, I’ll be back for you.

settling in etc.

Since taking my first French class in the seventh grade, I have been dreaming about and exploring the idea of doing a study abroad trip, inspired by the tidbits of French life and culture I had insight into. Seven years later and here I am, in Lyon, France. I think it’s safe to say I’ve come a long way, at least for someone who was mistaken for being under 17 at the movies less than a month ago…

Still not over how blue the Mediterranean is. Taken on our boat tour in Marseille. All photos are my own, unless otherwise stated.

Preparing to study abroad was definitely a lengthy process. My biggest fears mostly had to do with leaving my family and comfortable home and college life, because in all honesty, I’m a wuss. Since being in college though, I have found that I grow and learn so much more when I push myself to be independent and outside of my comfort zone, so I figured I would try to see the world and improve my French all in one fell swoop.

My adventure began with a ten hour flight from SFO to Frankfurt, Germany. The plane was disturbingly cramped, definitely not what I had foreseen considering the length of the flight. I had a window seat because of course I had to get a prime view of the goings-on outside, but when I recall having to climb on top of the arm rests in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and stretch my legs, I really question whether or not this was the right decision.

I felt pretty good on the plane about how much I had packed, until I found out that the guy sitting next to me had brought just two ten-pound bags for his eight month stay in India…I’m just going to tell myself that he was unusually low-maintenance, because I’m pretty sure my toiletries alone weighed around that much.

While the flight itself was unpleasant, we were able to see the Northern Lights from the plane’s window in the middle of the night, which was a crazy and exciting experience to say the least.

A pretty underwhelming photo of Germany, but I was sort of excited about it…

First landing in Germany was pretty surreal. It was somewhat rainy but oddly sticky and warm, but I was in awe nonetheless. As we exited the plane they gave everyone a Toblerone bar, which made me feel pretty guilty I wasn’t really there to visit Frankfurt, but rather was stuck there for a six-hour layover.

View of the French Alps before landing in Marseille.

The tour was fantastic. Being in Marseille gave me the opportunity to go in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time (a hot tub compared to the icy Pacific Ocean), and get a firsthand taste of what life in France is really like. After two and a half days there, we went on to Arles for a day, and then Orange. I would say of the three Arles was definitely the most in step with my pace of life, I would’ve loved to spend more time there exploring.

One of my favorite views so far. Les Baux de Provence.

Arc de Triomphe. Orange, France.

On Tuesday, we arrived in Lyon, which is where the “study” portion of this experience takes place. The city is incredibly beautiful, and my university is located right on the banks of the Rhône river. International students are required to take written and oral placement tests to determine their language levels, so the past two days we have been doing that and just familiarizing ourselves with the city through tours and exploring what’s around us.

Right outside the gates of campus.

I’ve been (and will continue to be) an unapologetic tourist so far, and have taken my camera everywhere and been getting some awesome pictures. People in our program have actually referred to me as “GoPro girl,” which is obviously because they don’t know my name, but I’ve been called worse.

Arles, France.

Hiking at Les Calanques.

I miss my family and friends at home of course, but I’m really striving to be present and enjoy this unique opportunity to adventure and be spontaneous. The pace of life here is much more relaxed, which has definitely been an adjustment for my annoyingly impatient self. It still shocks me how long people spend out at dinner, I’ve found that people who have finished their meal when I arrive are still sitting and talking when I’m on my way out. Something to get used to for us grab-and-go types…but then again, I know I could use more patience.

Yeah, I did. Orange, France.

I finally have pictures up on my wall, and my elective courses start on Monday, so it’s really starting to sink in that I’m here. I’m so excited! I know my many avid followers will be anxiously hanging on to my every word, so as I continue to observe and adjust, I’ll do my best to record my strange and innermost thoughts.

Ciao for now ya fools!