Aix-en-Provence

Finally just a few pictures of Aix:

Classes

We started classes on Monday and so far they haven't been too bad. On Monday we just had 2hours and then on Tuesday we had 3 hours so luckily we got to ease into it. Then, today we have 6 hours of class 3 hours this morning and then 3 more hours this afternoon. It isn't too bad though because it's actually more interesting to learn French IN France (and they aren't too hard of classes, just long).

The weather here isn't as warm as I thought it would be (or anyone thought it would be). No one brought warm enough clothes so we are all freezing. Luckily, we only have to make it through this one month maybe two and then it should start warming up. The people who live here are also absolutely FREEZING with their big winter jackets, hats, mitten, and boots. It's supposed to snow here for the second time later this week (I bet they will cancel classes again).

We are in the process right now of deciding what classes to pick for the semester and so far I have NONE picked out. It's much harder than it seems. There also aren't as many classes offered as there are in the states and to pick these classes it's very confusing because you have to go through each of the specific websites looking for course descriptions and then after you find the course description you need to look up the schedule and then you need to see if any of the scheduled class times are specifically for students in that major. It's all very confusing and it takes a long time to figure out what any class really means. So, I'm slowly picking my way through each website. Luckily, I don't pick classes until Monday so I have a few days to find my classes (and internet for that matter).

Luckily I found somewhere that offers free internet. But, it's also a bar later at night so we can only be here for a certain amount of time on our computers before the music gets louder and more and more people come.

We have yet to figure out the information for the internet yet other than that it will be expensive and take a while to get. We are crossing our fingers that our landlady will hopefully get it so that we don't have to! But I doubt that will actually work out.

Pictures of Aix are soon to come --just waiting for a non-rainy day so that you can get the real feel for the city. The streets are as big as our alleys and the cars just zip right down then whether there are people walking in them or not. There are a million tiny stores throughout the entire town. It's a gorgeous, and confusing, town with windy roads and beautiful old buildings. The university that I will be going to is unfortunately not very well kept up but who cares about school right? Just kidding. It's an extremely interesting town and once I get a chance to take pictures and put them onto my computer I will right away.

Day 6

Today is my 6th day here in Aix and tomorrow we start our intensive French course that includes up to 8 hours of class per day plus homework on top of all of that. It will be a lot of work in two weeks but definitely worth it. It’s normally a 3 week course that they have condensed into 2 weeks.

Everything with the apartment is going great. We don’t have Internet quite yet so getting onto my blog, e-mail, facebook, or anything like that is a struggle. Although, my roommate and I are going to look into getting Internet in the apartment for ourselves so we don’t have to travel to the office every single day. We won’t be able to get it for about 3 more weeks.

Right now, the University is in finishing up their finals because earlier in the week they cancelled classes because it was supposed to snow. It turns out that that day and the next it rained and the next day if finally snowed 1 inch. They don’t normally get snow here in January (only in February, if that) and so for it to snow even 1 inch they cancelled classes and everything. Our landlady was telling us that if there’s any kind of snow even ½ inch the traffic is horrible and they cancel school.

My schedule for the next week looks something like this:

Lundi 11.01.2010 13h-15h Reunion a l’adademie (to pick classes)

16h-18h Mme. Ferradou, Salle Voltaire _

Mardi 12.01.2010 10h-12h Banque (to open a bank account)

15h-18h Mme. Paquie, Salle Blondel _

Mercredi 13.01.2010 9h-12h Mme. Ferradou, Salle Voltaire

14h-17h Mme. Ferradou, Salle Voltaire _

Jeudi 14.01.2010 9h-12h Mms. Ferradou, Salle Voltaire

14h-17h Mme. Paquis, Salle Mistral

17h-18h Mme. Paquis, Labo 2 _

Vendredi 15.01.2010 9h-11h Mme. Paquis, Salle Mistral

11h-12h Mme. Paquis, Labo 2

12h-13h Mme. Paquis, Salle Mistral

This first photo is a photo right as you enter into the apartment. On the left hand side there is the entry way to the kitchen. The first door on the right is my roommates bedroom and the second on the right is my bed room. Straight ahead is the bathroom (or 1/2 of it with a shower and a sink) and the entry way to the left that is the other 1/2 of the bathroom with the toilet.

These three pictures are the kitchen area where we have our mini fridge, mini tv and our two chairs that we set up ourselves.

These are pictures of my bedroom.

Hope you enjoy and a bientot!

Finally Here!

We finally made it to Aix. Fortunately there was NO flight delay today so we left right at 2:30 pm like they promised. Unfortunately...they lost my luggage on the way and said that they will be sending it to me. BUT luckily I packed extra clothes and toothbrush and everything like that in my carry on so I should be ok for a few days.

I met my roommate today and we both had lunch with my landlady who picked me up at the TGV (train) station which made everything so much easier than trying to find a taxi and pay for a taxi and what not. After lunch we went out to figure out where the study abroad office was and we FINALLY found it after a long trek (or forced march as some people like to call it). After this the two of us are going to head to a grocery story to stock up so that we have something to eat tonight for dinner.

All the people here are fashionable and my roommate and I both feel like we stick out like a soar thumb, but we figure we can fix that. So, we will see how the next few days go. It will be nice to have the orientation tomorrow so that I'm able to better familiarize myself with the town in general (which is much bigger than I had anticipated).

There really isn't anything too exciting other than the fact that I landed! So, I will get back to you with more information and exciting events when I have something new.

2nd times the charm

Jarell and I sat at the airport for 6 1/2 hours today just for our flight to finally get cancelled (or delayed as the flight attendants said and then thanked us for flying United). So, instead we will be flying from O'Hare into Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris) tomorrow at 2:30 pm and from there we will be taking a train into Aix and FINALLY into my apartment after my landlady picks me up at the station.

2nd times the charm? Hopefully!

Departure

Tomorrow I leave for France. My flight is at 6:30 pm leaving out of O'Hare and we land in Paris around 9:40 am (flight number 942 United)--an 8 and a half hour flight! From there Jarell and I will be taking a train (TGV) from Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris) to Aix en Provence where Jarell's host family will be picking us up and drop me off in the center of town. I'm going to be living in an apartment with another student for the University of Indiana which is in the basement of a house towards the center of town (perfect location!).

I have everything packed up. My whole semester put into one bag! Hopefully, right when I get that I can buy a cell phone and once I have that I will send out my phone number to anyone who wants it. Otherwise, I have my Skype account up and ready if anyone wants to Skype with me while I'm away.

Here's my schedule for the first few days:

Monday

Tuesday January 5th and 6th:

Arrive in Aix and get settle in my apartment and around town.

Thursday January 7th:

10:00: Guided tour through Aix-en-Provence

14-16:00: 1st informational meeting

Friday January 8th:

14-15:00: Placement exam

15:30-17:00: 2nd informational meeting

Saturday January 9th:

8-20: Field trip to Vence and Antibes (Picasso's museum)

Sunday January 10th:

Day off