Tea with the Queen

Hiya!

 

(That’s a typically British greeting, so I’ve learned).

So it’s been quite a while since I made a blog post but this one should be well worth the wait!

So this past week was Half Term, of which the North American translation would be that so highly desired and elusive Fall Reading Week that all Canadian university students to so intently crave. Apparently, it was also half term everywhere else on this continent so we spent the week waiting in queues with the rest of France, as well as Britain and Spain. Throngs of children were to be unavoided. And where did we go, you ask? London, England!!!

Our British chocolate collection- so yummy!

My wonderful and loving father flew all the way from Toronto to spend the week with me. We stayed in Colchester (60 miles east of London, about the distance of Waterloo to Toronto) at the home of my dad’s friend, Gordon, and his wife Anne. Gordon and Anne are the sweetest people and it was so nice of them to let us stay with them.

If you asked me what I did this week it would be best summed up by saying we rode lots trains whilst eating copious amounts of British chocolate. It also happened to be that magical time of year between fall and Christmas themed lattés at Starbucks, of which I also overindulged (lattés, along with carpeted floors, TVs and real beds are things you don’t appreciate until they’re gone).

So here is our itinerary from the week!

Saturday...

...we went into the city to get a lay of the land and walked by the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.

Sunday...

... we took a trip to the magical land that is Harrods! This is a department store like none other! After visiting Harrod’s, I finally discovered what I want to be when I grow up: rich. Hence, any possible Christmas and/or birthday gifts can be sent through a Harrod’s registry, s'il vous plaît.

View from the London Eye, with the
Houses of Parliament in the background

Monday...

...we went to the London Eye which is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was 9 and my father sent me a postcard from there. Unfortunately, being Half Term, we queued for over two hours but the view was worth it. It takes about 25 minutes to complete the circle and you get a panoramic view of the city and all its famous landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the afternoon we crossed the Thames to check out the Churchill War Rooms where Winston Churchill conducted the war. This was really interesting for me as I just finished a course on Britain and the Second World War.

Tuesday

Buckingham Palace!

I have always wanted to see Madame Tussaud’s and we finally got to go on Tuesday. I expected it to be a bit overrated but it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Each room in the museum is themed from a red carpet of celebrities to a haunted house of executioners to the Spirit of London that takes you in an old-fashioned taxi ride through the history of London. In the afternoon we made our way by Tube (the underground, a fabulously efficient way to travel) to Buckingham Palace. After traversing Green Park we arrived at the official residence of our queen.

@ Madame Tussaud's
with Usain Bolt

Wednesday...

Dad at Westminster Abbey

...we visited the famous Westminster Abbey! What I didn’t know is that there are over 3,000 people buried at the Abbey (no that’s not a typo!). Among those who call the Abbey home, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. While I’ve seen many churches since moving to Europe, this was by far the most impressive! The building was massive and the gothic architecture was overwhelmingly beautiful. It’s amazing to think that so much history, such as royal coronations, funerals and weddings have taken place here.

By this point in our trip we were a bit tired from trekking around the city so we decided to see a play. We saw Our Boys, which was about 6 military boys recovering from war injuries in a hospital. It was very comical, (the accents were indeed very charming) and it happened to star Matthew Lewis, who was Neville in Harry Potter! I was a tad star struck. 

Thursday...

Tower Bridge!

...I got to see the famous Tower Bridge and also the Tower of London! Here we queued for quite a while to see the Crown Jewels. I nearly went blind from the sparkling and shimmering of all the diamonds, gold, emeralds and various other gems on these ornate headpieces! As the sun set in the afternoon we visited Trafalgar Square and took a peek in the National Gallery and saw some very impressive paintings (given my lack of artistic ability, how art of that caliber is humanly possible continues to boggle my mind).

Friday...

Colchester Castle

...we took a quick tour around Colchester before heading into London. Colchester is the oldest recorded town in Britain, as evident by the ancient Roman wall that can be found in the main park. There is also Colchester Castle, which was built by the Romans about 1,000 years ago. We headed into the city in the afternoon and saw the Marble Arch as well as Speaker’s Corner at Hyde Park, a famous point of free speech, which had been frequented by the likes of Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and George Orwell. Friday night we visited the British Museum, which was so impressive!  The exhibits feature every corner of the globe and we saw everything from Egyptian mummies to world currencies to trinkets from when the Romans ruled Britain. And best of all- it’s free! (London has a tendency for being très cher).

Saturday...

All aboard! An intrepid Eurostar traveler :)

...we traveled from London to Paris via the Eurostar train. This was something that always fascinated me. The actual traversing of the Channel Tunnel (or the “Chunnel”) was rather quick! The lunch (which, being typically French, included a petit bottle of wine) was a nice touch as we cruised through the countryside. Once in Paris, we took the metro into the city to see a few landmarks. I wasn’t letting my father leave the country before seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe!

Sunday

Dad at the Eiffel Tower

And here I am today! I took the TGV from Paris to Tours this morning. I’m having a relaxing day (enjoying the wonderful North American goodies my parents packed for me such as Kraft Dinner and Second Cup coffee) before I’m back to my routine tomorrow.  I’ve had such an exciting week with my dad crossing items off the bucket list and I’m so thankful that I got to see everything I did.

Until next time,

Z <3

Luck of the Irish- Dublin!

Hello there!

Yours truly at Dublin Castle

I am back from the unbelievably gorgeous and cheery Dublin, Ireland! We left Friday afternoon from the Tours airport, just north of the city and it was by far the smallest airport I’ve ever seen: basically a shed with some lawn chairs and a runway. Still, for €20 each way, we had a smooth flight off to Ireland!

The first thing we noticed upon arriving in Ireland, was that the corner store, Spar, sells Tim Hortons! I’m not sure the Australian and American joining us eight Canadians understood the cultural significance of this mecca, but needless to say we instantly felt at home.

Personally, I fell in love with Ireland. It was, however, a bit of a culture shock to return to a country that speaks English! We traded in our “bonjour-s” and “merci-s” and lapped up everything we missed. For me, a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks and some good square, homey meals did the trick. Ireland very much reminded me of Canada, particularly the east coast. The people were exceptionally friendly and aren’t as fussy and prim as the French. It was silly things like seeing people wearing sweatpants in public and celebrating Halloween that made me warm & fuzzy inside. For some inexplicable reason I missed tacky Halloween decorations. It’s so easy to embrace a country that celebrates much of the same culture as your own.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

One of my best decisions was the City Sightseeing bus tour. You know those red double decker ones? They took us right to all of the main sights and were quite informative. So we spent Saturday and Sunday touring around. We visited both the Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which were both hauntingly beautiful. I’m convinced that I can never get tired of visiting cathedrals or castles. The experience was made even better by the lovely orchestra that serenaded us through our walk about Christ Church Cathedral. I also learned a lot about their historical significance. Religion figures prominently in Irish history, and isn’t my typical interest point, but from visiting the cathedrals, Dublin Castle, Trinity College and various other sites I learned something I never would have sought out on my own.

Of course, museums are always on the agenda. Dublinia adjoins Christ Church Cathedral and is a Viking and medieval Dublin exhibit. I knew very little of Irish history before this journey, and it was quite interesting and educational to see how everyday people lived in historic Dublin. I also took a quick jaunt to the National Museum of Archeology and History which was likewise informative, but perhaps the best was the Kilmainham Gaol. It is a former prison and the site of the execution of the leaders from the 1916 Easter Rising. It was rather gruesome but certainly intriguing, and our tour guide was super knowledgeable.

Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

And, being Ireland and all, we had to visit the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Whiskey Distillery. Guinness is a huge operation and there were swarms of people waiting in “queues” when we arrived Saturday, but fortunately we had booked our tickets online and got the VIP treatment, walking right through! As I had zero knowledge of beer nor of its production, Guinness was an enlightening experience. At the ancestry exhibit, I found Hilliards that once worked for Guinness. Now I need to perform some investigative historical research and make the connection! By far the best part was the Gravity Bar, the highest point in Dublin, at the top of the factory, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire landscape. Top that off with my first pint of Guinness and that trip was a smashing success. Sunday saw a trip to the historic Jameson Whiskey distillery. We started by sampling a dark chocolate truffle bar as well as a milk chocolate caramel bar, both infused with Jameson. Delish! Our tour guide had a typically Irish sense of humor and took us through the process of distilling whiskey, which again was something of which I had no prior wisdom. At the end of our tour we got a glass of whiskey, and I admit I rather like it. When in Ireland.

Last night in Ireland with the other students from Tours!

Another keen cultural point of Ireland is the bar scene. The Irish are very jovial and Dubliners kick back in the Temple Bar district and embrace some live music. Ireland has such a cheerful atmosphere, despite the fact it apparently rains a lot (fortunately Sunday was our only drizzly day). 

All in all, I had a great weekend in Dublin and can't wait to return some day to see the rest of the country!

Z <3

La Pluie à Paris!

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening all!

After a whirlwind all-nighter 24h trip to Paris, I'm not actually sure what time of day it is at the moment! ;)

Outside the Musée De Louvre!

Many of us international students flocked to Paris Saturday to scope out la Nuit Blanche ("sleepless night"- apparently we have these in T.O. & Ottawa as well!). The premise is an all-night festival where museums, galleries and venues are free & open to the public. Despite the promising description, Nuit Blanche Paris was a bit of a bummer. Many of the really awesome sites (think: Musées de Louvre or d'Orsay) weren't open and many of the attractions that were open closed early (midnight or 1am, definitely not all night). 



Something else raining on our parade was the weather- it poured the entire time! I'm sure you've see the 1877 oil painting, Paris: A Rainy Day, by French artist Gustave Caillebotte (if not, it's situated à la gauche <--). Unfortunately, Paris isn't nearly this romantic in the rain. But despite this setback, we trekked across the city (with a little help from the metro) and hit all the big tourist attractions. Eiffel Tower! L'Arc de Triomphe! Champs-Elysées! Notre Dame de Paris! Because Paris is so iconic, I found it difficult to know what to expect. However, I was still in awe of everything I saw & can't wait to go back to see everything else! It's surreal to think I hopped on a train and pulled off my first all-nighter in Paris, of all places!

On another note, this weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada, and I'm a bit sad that I'm spending my favourite holiday so far away from my family. As the traditional turkey dinner is evidently not a global phenomenon, the best I could do for a pumpkin pie was a raspberry tart. At the end of the day, I have to remind myself that for everything I'm missing back home, I am having some amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything- not even a Canadian feast of epic proportions. Joyeuse L'Action de Grâce à tous mes canadiens!!! :)   

Z <3

Of Food, Fashion & la Fac

Greetings friends!

I've had a bad bout of writer's block lately, but I'm back! 

The beautiful Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
 Seems to me something out of a storybook!

I’m starting to get into a bit of a routine in regards to classes, though there is much that continues to boggle me.  I’ve learned that in France it’s not unusual to show up for a class that doesn’t exist, or that has unbeknownst to me, changed times, or has been cancelled with no prior warning. Their classes are less time-consuming than in Canada, hence I’m taking 8 classes instead of my usual 5 at Laurier. I’ve been biking 3.2 kilometers each way to class, which really gets me moving, especially at 7:30 in the morning!

I am continuing to enjoy (possibly too much) the delights of French cuisine. I’ve set a goal of trying a new French cheese every week, and every time I succeed in beating the French administrative system, I award myself a wonderful flaky and buttery pastry. While French women may not get fat, Canadian ones do, so thank goodness for my bicycle and “butt, thighs and abs” classes! I’ve also managed to find a few home comforts as well. Last night my neighbor Chelsea and I made homemade mac & cheese (as Kraft Dinner sadly isn’t a French food staple), and finding cheddar cheese was surprisingly a great struggle! However, I did purchase some “American-style” bread (I can only devour so many baguettes a day) and (*drumroll please*) a precious bottle of Canadian maple syrup! Nevertheless, it is evident that I will not go hungry in this beautiful land of abundant, deliciously and affordable food!

Yours truly at the Botanical Gardens of Tours

I also wanted to comment on French fashion choices. As I’m clearly a contender for What Not To Wear, I’ve been casually observing the French dress. The scarf is a chic fashion must and I’ve been slowly adding to my closet a few of these trendy and versatile accessories. A few other curious things- everyone owns a denim jacket! I’ve always thought of this as a moms-stuck-in-80s clothing item but clearly it’s making a comeback! I’ve also been rather confused by boots as a fashion item. Personally, I’ve only worn boots when it’s minus 20 with the wind-chill and I’m thigh-deep in snow. Yet, I am now in possession of both new boots and a new coat, european style, so I am ready for autumn!

Tour Charlemagne and Basilique St. Martin

It was one month ago today that I arrived in Tours, I can’t believe how fast time has gone! I have about 8 more months to create as many wonderful experiences as possible and cram as much French into my brain! I’m so looking forward to the month of October as I will be heading to Dublin, Ireland with some of my new friends, then Mont. St. Michel on a school trip and finally London, UK with my dad for fall Reading Week!

Yours in cheese & pastry,

Z <3

Back to School!

Bon week-end à tous!

Best gelato of life! (with my Estonian friend, Maarja) 

I have officially survived my first full week of school in France! I almost kinda sorta maybe have my classes selected (pending approval) and I’m so relieved! Unfortunately, due to my abysmal knowledge of the French language, the only French language classes I am taking are essentially French for foreigners, but hopefully next semester will go a little smoother! I quickly realized that taking third year history classes was not feasible as the content would be difficult enough without being spoken to in a foreign language. Without flashy power points and other North American pedagogical staples, comprehending lecture-style classes was a recipe for failure with a side order of stress.

Nutella cookbooks! <3 I don't know
how I'd get through my day without Nutella ;)

The school system here is so maddening because there isn’t an academic calendar like we have in Canada so all the courses I have I heard through word of mouth or through countless rendez-vous with practically everyone employed at the Fac. After endless emails, desperate phone calls and the occasional tears, I was reassigned a new coordinator, Carine, who was an absolute angel and helped me figure out my courses. There have also been many instructors out there willing to lend a sympathetic ear to a confused and overwhelmed exchange student. God bless them!

lookout from the Château d'Amboise 

This week I also started my Pack Sport, which for y’all reading in North America means- for only 20€- you can register for up to three physical activities as well as sign up for “stages” or special trips (I’ve signed up for the Mont St. Michel trip in October, so stay tuned!!!). Wednesday was my “remise en forme” (fitness class).  As I didn’t have a schedule until this week, I signed up for whatever few classes were available, not having a clue what they entailed. It couldn’t have worked out better! Two days later, I am still excruciatingly sore from the all squats, lunges, planks and crunches!  This was made all the more wonderful by my clearly delusional plan to bike uphill to my volleyball class this afternoon (in the pouring rain, no less). Apparently traveling to a facility called “Grandmont” (big mountain) wasn’t enough of a give-away. I hadn’t played volleyball in over three years so it was a lot of fun to get my competitive edge back and meet some more students. I’m also picking up some sports-specific vocab, which is great!

On that note, I do believe my French is slipping! I’d never realized how easy it is to live in a country and not speak the language. Most of my friends here are native English speakers or are Europeans with a fantastic grasp on the English language. My comprehension of French is fairly decent but I get very tongue tied when speaking! It’s not coming as quickly as I had hoped but every day is a step closer :)

Thank you to all the awesome & beautiful people reading my blog. A bientôt!

Z <3