Blogs from Alsace, France, Europe - page 40

Onpa lammin vuosi menossa. Ensin Manauksen helteet ja nyt Strasbourgissa aurinko paahtaa. Jos en olisi sattumalta vilkaissut Suomen saata, niin syyttaisin ilmastonmuutosta, mutta ilmeisesti Suomeen on tulossa valkea vappu. Olen pahoillani teidan vappujuhlijoiden puolesta, nautin auringosta teidankin puolesta : ) Meilla on nyt menossa parin viikon kevatlomasta ensimmainen puolisko. Luulin ehtivani Stuttgartiin ja lahiseuduille ja vaikka minne, mutta viela mita, olen pakertanut markkinoinnin projektin kimpussa koko viikon ja vapaa-aikana opiskellut geopolitiikkaa tuleviin tentteihin. Pahuksen ITI-Ri kun vie ihmisen koko elaman! Mutta ainakin markkinointi on nyt hyvalla mallilla, hyvassa lykyssa saadaan koko homma valmiiksi jo talla viikolla tai ainakin viimeistaan loman loppuun mennessa. Ensi viikolla tosin hengailen nostalgisissa tunnelmissa Pariisissa, shoppailen vahan ja ehka siina ... read more

Strasbourg has changed so much since I arrived. It’s incredible to think that I arrived here in the cold, bare winter, and now, just over three months later, it’s spring. The whole place is green, there are flowers everywhere - it’s just so beautiful. To be honest, I really didn’t want the warm weather to arrive. I know that sounds strange because everyone knows how much I hate the cold, but I just thought that this gorgeous city would never suit the warm weather. I loved it bare, and I especially loved it covered in snow, but this greenery with flowers blossoming everywhere has made it more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Just the view from my room is different. Comparing the view from my room now to the one in my first blog ... read more

Did you eat a clown this morning? (Tu as mangé un clown ce matin?) Absolutely, without a doubt, the funniest French phrase I've ever heard! Meaning; oh, you think you're so funny, what did you do - eat a clown this morning? I may have too much time on my hands but that saying just doesn't get old for me! It's been a while since the last blog because all I've really done since I got back from Amsterdam is go out. I go to uni for the measly 8 hours I have per week, do the measly amounts of homework needed to keep up with the class while at uni, and for the rest of the time it's party o'clock! Yes, I know I'm supposed to be here to study, but the way I see ... read more

We collected the car and somehow navigated to Nancy with a few tolls on the way. Not too stressed by the drive or by my directions and navigations. We head for the main plaza and find street parking, my reverse parking - on the opposide side of the road is not great. The actual plaza of Nancy was spectacular at night to say the least. The French really know how to show something off. By Day 2 we are already looking a little frazzled trying to find our way around the centre of the city, while looking for parking etc. Hence, the investement in TomTom our GPS system. To make Gary feel right at home, I have chosen Jane the voice, so Gary still has a woman piping commands at him. Jane has now directed us ... read more

Last weekend my Civilisation Française class went on an excursion with our nutty professor (nutty in a good way!) to 'Le Salon de Viticulture'; a big travelling wine exhibition that tours most of France displaying the latest wines from vineyards all around the country. Now that's my kind of school excursion! And Laura decided to tag along too even though she's not in my class, but my teacher's so loopy he'd never notice! I wasn't really sure what to expect, but when I saw that it was twice as big as any hall I'd ever seen and jam-packed with wine stalls from all over the country I went weak at the knees. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I also realised that here was my chance to find a decent French white - so ... read more