MES HISTOIRES PARISIENNES:

I have returned to my blog 2 years later,
because there are too many stories to share...


"
If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man,
then wherever you go for the rest of your life,
it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast
"
-Hemingway



Saturday, September 6

CARCASSONNE

Random city on a hill...there are many of these :)



A lot has been going on the past week and a half! This morning I took my final exam of the pre-stage intensive course, so that’s over and I’m now looking towards my integrated courses. The craziest part about taking classes here is that they don’t register until 3 weeks or so into classes and some classes don’t actually start for 2 or 3 more weeks. To give you one more example of their registration, my host sister was going to go to the University of Toulouse, but THURSDAY she decided to go to my university…so she’ll start classes next week with me. So next week, when classes figuratively start, I’ll have my methodology course (lots of French writing) and pronunciation course. I’ve semi-registered for my Spanish Literature course and I’m looking to take Contemporary History, French Cinema, International Relations, and Grand Democracies…I have to go around to each departments building and look on cork boards for their course offerings, while some departments don’t even have class times or postings at all. It’s way too confusing.


(My own "tasting sink" for my culture course):

Last weekend, I went to the last “Les Estivales”, which is a huge wine and food festival of regional venders, so I’ve been to quite a few wine tastings already. It’s mainly for the many travelers of the summer. Saturday I went to the Musée Fabre to see the Jacques Courbet exhibit, who was a realist painter.


SUNDAY we went to Carcassonne (above), the largest fortress in all of Europe. The city was built in the 6th century before Christ, but the fortress wasn’t until the 13th century A.D. The city truly captures the military and religious architecture of le Moyen-Age. It is now a city classified by l’UNESCO (United National Education, Science, and Culture Organization). We also saw Le Canal du Midi, which is the canal running from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean during the reign of Louis XIV. The canal is 240 km long with 64 écluses (gates) that have to be cranked open, water fills up the area, and then the ships can go through. There are 9 “écluses de Fonseranes” that are the most spectacular because it’s just a big staircase for ships! - This is what I saw.

Ariel et moi at Carcassonne:


Tuesday, my host brother Charli left for Ecuador, so Monday night I went out to eat at a restaurant for the first time in France…we went to Buffalo Grill, which is a more Wild West version of Lonestar. I felt right at home with the country music blaring, everyone eating French fries, and pictures of Native Americans everywhere.
(Night of Charli's departure with my family and Armond's...Caroline, my sister in black turtleneck, Julienne in black button up T, Matthieu in white T-shirt, and Charlie in white button up.)


Wednesday I heard Elie Wiezel (the Auschwitz survivor and writer) speak at the Opera house. It was mainly a big “sondage” (Q & A session) about his new book, his thoughts on humanity, why he didn’t accept Israel’s offer to be their next president, and finally who he wanted to win the American elections. He was very diplomatic about the last question saying that either one would be a good choice, but everyone should pay attention to the elections because they’ll affect us all.


Church in Carcassonne:

That was a small recap of my week…we’re going to Avignon Sunday for our last group excursion. I’m also running in the Paris 20k in October with George and Sarah (two others from UNC) and 4 more are coming up for support and to see what Paris has to offer :D I’m SUPER excited about it!

1 comment:

  1. easy on the grape juice ;)
    I'm glad to see those new kicks are getting some good use!
    Have fun learning Spanish in France!!

    ReplyDelete