Italian Weekend!

This past weekend, Thursday the 6th through Tuesday the 11th, IES didn't have any classes scheduled, so three friends and I took off for a weekend in Italy! Here's the link to pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037384&l=c5067&id=17703396

We had to take a train to Paris Mont Parnaisse (during which time there was a French train strike, but luckily our train was one of the few that was running), then the metro to the shuttle bus stop in the middle of the city. There we took an airport shuttle bus to the Beauvais Airport which is actually about 1h15mins outside of the city. (we got super cheap 30Euro plane tickets so it made the travel work worth it.) From Beauvais we flew to Bergamo (a cute Italian city and hour outside of Milan). We got in really late, so we took a cab to our very nice hostel. Then the next day, Friday, we took a city bus and another shuttle into Milan, where we had lunch and saw all of the fancy, haut-couture shops. That evening we took a 3-hour train from Milan to Venice, where we stayed for 3 nights/ 2.5 days seeing the sites and hanging out. Monday, when we went to catch our train out of the city, we discovered there was now an Italian train strike, but luckily we were able to squeeze onto a later train by sitting on foldout chairs in the isle. We spent Monday night in Bergamo again so we could catch our 6am flight back to Paris Tuesday morning. Tuesday we spent in Paris for the day. I explored the Latin Quarter with my friends Laura, from my program, and Devon, who I know from UPS who is studying in Paris. Overall, it was a very lovely and tiring weekend! Make sure to check out my pics! (you don't have to have facebook to see them even though the album is hosted by facebook)

Bonjour Paris!

ahh so turns out I'm not a good blogger.
sorry about that!

I've done a ton of stuff this past month! I've had an amazing time including a weekend with friends in London, taking a trip to Mont St. Michel, going on a weekend trip to see the Chateaux de la Loire, participating in a Fest Noz (crazy galic sqaure dance) at the Aumonerie (Catholic students' club), and, this past weekend, a Parisian adventure!

Here's a link to my facebook album of photos from the weekend (photo uploading on Blogspot is incredibly slow and frustrating!)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2036958&l=bf333&id=17703396
I stayed with my friend Devon from UPS and Theta. We also hung out with our other friend Abbey, who is also a Theta!

I'm happy to say i've been making French friends at the Aumonerie as well as bonding with other American girls from IES. My midterms for my classes are spread out all month, so I've been trying to focus and study hard, but I just have so much free time that it's hard to focus any time, if that makes sense. My friend from IES Laura and I have been going to Aquagym (Water Aeriobics) classes on mondays which is fun! The instructor is not too nice, and we always miss the cue to change legs, so we're both going to come back to the US with one giant right quad and one meager one.

Wednesdays I spend the evening at the Aumonerie. It starts at 7pm with Mass, followed by a picnic dinner consisting of what people bring in-- usually frozen pizzas, quiche, bread, cheese, and dessert! French people never forget dessert! Then After dinner, at about 9pm we start the topic of the week which ranges from anything from the economic crisis to a guest speaker young Priest to a study of St. Paul. Last week we actually just played Cranium! It is much harder for me in French! like word puzzles and such... very difficult. Anyways, the night usually ends at about 11 or so, after we've washed all of the dishes (usually we try to use as few as possible) from dinner. The Aumonerie typically has about 20 students from week to week. Usually a mix of new people and weekly returning people. It's fun. I like talking to people, though I've gotten quite tired of telling my story ("my name is Emily (aaee-meeelll-eeeeee).. yeah, sorry i can't say it with a french accent....i'm here with an american program taking classes both at the university of nantes and at my program itself.... i live with a host family.... my parents live in colorado (a center state) but my university is in Washington state (no, not DC.. and yes, there is a difference.... it's on the east coast.... no not california.... blah blah blah")

This upcoming weekend I am going to Italy! We have our Fall break from classes at IES, so me and 3 girls from IES are jetting off to Milan and Venice! I'll be sure to write back later to tell all about it. (hopefully!)