Paris/Barcelona...TAKE TWO

For those of you who might not be able to figure it out, the "TAKE TWO" is in the title because I have done a Paris to Barcelona trip on a bus once, in the past. If you remember, I mentioned it in my very first blog entry as being the voyage that inspired me to go to Europe on exchange.

Although the trip commenced in Paris and terminated in Barcelona both times, take a look at how they differed.

March 18 - 27, 2010: arrival in Paris, departure in Barcelona

February 19 - 26, 2013; arrival in Paris, departure in Paris... we live in France after all!

Whereas all 11 kids on my first trip came from the same middle school in Oregon, take a look at some of the places where the kids on this trip currently live.

From Lille to Cannes, La Rochelle to Strasbourg

I was the only kid from District 1510 on this trip, but that didn't vex me at all because I got to meet new people from not only all over France, but all over the world! There were 48 crazy exchange students on the bus trip, and we all had the time of our lives.

This blog entry will be an ultra-condensed, day by day account of the highlights of this trip for me. With pictures, of course!

Here we go.


Day 1: Tuesday, February 19

I saw the Paris Montparnasse train station for the first time and loved it. It's like a little airport.

That's not even half of it

I met up with my friend Clay again! He is another Oregonian on exchange in France, except he lives far in the south. We first met on the San Francisco Visa trip in July, and we were on the same flight going from Portland to Paris, and I hadn't seen him since. It was good to be reunited.

Us flying in front of the Eiffel Tower 'cause we're cool

We had free time in the Latin quarter that evening, so I went to a Paul (a typical French chain café restaurant place) with Clay, Eamon (Canada), Rikki (Australia), and Paolo (Philippines).

Clay, Rikki, Eamon, and me

Paolo, Clay, and Rikki

Day 2: Wednesday, February 20

We climbed up the Eiffel Tower! Completely opposite from the first time I went, it was broad daylight. The sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly above us as if it was smiling upon our being in Paris. Or my being in Paris. I'd like to think that. 

Rikki and me on the second floor

There is a renowned bridge across the Seine River in Paris called the Pont des Arts. All across the bridge, people attach padlocks with romantic intentions scribbled on them. The locks are most commonly placed by couples as a way of sealing their love, something along those lines, I don't know. BUUUT because I am absolutely in love with my exchange, I bought a lock for five euros and decided to write things on it to represent my exchange. After all, my exchange changed my life for the better, and it will stay with me for always. 

District 5100 outbound, District 1510 inbound, 2012 - 2013. Forever! (or at least until they clear locks out of that section)

Day 3: Thursday, February 21

I went back to Versailles! 

This time, I got to go down to the Apollo Fountain. While some exchange students and I were taking pictures with flags, a Chinese man noticed and ran up to us calling out, "Hi! I'm from China! Can I take a picture with you guys?" He was so entertaining, and such a good man. He introduced himself to us, and was very happy to be in our company for the picture. He even introduced his wife and son to us. Us exchange students were very appreciative of his friendliness.

Just look at him! He was great.

Day 4: Friday, February 22

We got to visit a fortified medieval town called Carcassonne. It reminded me a lot of Parthenay, only more touristy with a larger medieval quarter.

From the ramparts

We reached Spain that night. We stayed in a 4 star hotel that was way more fancy than anyone was expecting. During the free time before dinner, I hung out with Yuto (Japan) and we did some music together. I also heard him play guitar and sing in Japanese, and it was really good! (Really sexy too)

(Okay, a parentheses, since I'm getting into the habit of this. It's a French thing. There were 7 Japanese kids on the trip, and they were ADORABLE. I didn't realize how deprived of Japanese people I was, seeing as my district doesn't have any. But I love them. I practiced the little Japanese I know, and I'm pretty sure Japanese is the new French to me, I love listening to it no matter what they are saying! They would also endearingly refer to me as Amanda-chan, which were really moments that I relished. I don't really know why, but I just love the Japanese.)

We were on the balcony for a bit, but it got too cold...

Day 5: Saturday, February 23

We went to see the Sagrada Familia. It didn't look any more finished than the last time I saw it. 

Yuto, me, Clay, and Ryohei

I made a new best friend, Nyrika from India. I'm not going to go on about how much I enjoy her company, but let's just say our outgoing and bizarre personalities go very well together.

Us being chic on the streets

Us in Park Güell 

The lunch we had that day was one of the best I have had in my LIFE! I dined with a group of 14 (the 7 Japanese kids Yuto, Ryohei, Aya, Keiko, Kazami, Aoi, Kisako; the Korean kids Hye Soo and Shin Hae; the Americans Nicole, who is actually Japanese American, Genesis, who is actually Mexican American, me, who is actually Filipino American, and Hannah, who is white American; and Nyrika). We went to a little restaurant, and since Genesis speaks Spanish, she was able to negotiate a good deal for us. Since we all wanted paella, the waiters filled two large pans with chicken or seafood paella, and we served ourselves buffet style from them. It was SUBLIME.

Here it comes!

Serve yourselves.

Oh, and I had this glass of nice refreshing sangria too.

The perfect meal!

Day 6: Sunday, February 24

Once again, we had free time for lunch. I finally got to have another one of my favorites from the last time I was in Barcelona, patatas bravas.

Otherwise known as spicy potatoes.

I also found a new favorite tapa, Pimientos de Padron.

Otherwise known as Padron peppers.

Genesis, Hye Soo, Nyrika, Shin Hae, Aoi, me, Nicole, and Hannah

Later that afternoon, we were craving ice cream. We found a nice place that served a variety of flavors, so I tried the Catalan Cream flavor. It was really good, a flavor of the region!

Genesis, Ryohei, and I sitting in front of the steps of a cathedral eating our ice cream

Day 7: Monday, February 25

We spent a few hours in a very pretty Spanish town called Girona. After a short guided visit, we had about three hours of free time spent exploring!

And there was this fantastic bag store that had huge sales going on, so we exchange students profited from it. I got this backpack for only 12€.

The upward gaze of an explorer

Once again, lunch was amazing. I had this scrumptious carbonara with water for only 6,50€.

Happy with the taste and the price

Here are some more photos of the town we took before boarding the bus.

Postcard worthy? I think so.

Ah, serenity

That night, we dined in Millau, France. Here's our dinner, I liked it a lot.

The purée is that consistency because of the cheese. Mmmm, cheese...

Almost immediately afterwards, we set off on an overnight bus ride in a Mercedes bus. Despite that luxury, I didn't get to sleep very well at all. I just couldn't believe the trip was over, and I would be heading back to Parthenay without the company of the other exchange students in amazing cities. 

That got me to realize that my life here has really become normal and routine. I am French. I can even speak English with a French accent pretty convincingly. BUUUT more on that on my 6 month anniversary entry. I'll finish up this entry for now with...

Day 8: Tuesday, February 26

That's today. 

After getting back home, unpacking my stuff, and taking a nice shower, I got on Facebook for the first time in over a week (I am very proud of that fact, thank you, normally I'm on there way more often than I would like). This is what I found:

Well aren't I loved

I am extremely sleepy since I haven't really gotten the chance to sleep in in over two weeks, but I wanted to do a quick summary of my trip. Lastly, to wrap up this blog entry, I would like to pay homage to my travel journal.

I first got this journal in 2010 for my first France/Spain trip; thus, the beginning of this journal are the entries that belong to that trip. Since then, I have documented all my travels in between that trip and this one. Since I was nearing the end of it anyway, I decided to make the journal entries for this trip the last ones that will take up space in this travel journal. For the future, my mother has acquired a new travel journal for me for the rest of my voyages this year, and I can't wait to use it. So essentially, it starts with a Paris/Barcelona trip, and it ends with a Paris/Barcelona trip.

Isn't it peculiar what life can throw at you sometimes?

Antici....PATION.

First of all, I would like to point out that the title of this post is an allusion to a song. If you happen to know which one, bravo! You just gained a little more respect from me. If not, then ask the local eccentric-films-appreciating person in your area, and they would be likely to know.

This post is a post that will speak of "insteads." Instead of my usual "Obligatory Post on the 19th" post, I am posting on the 18th because, well, I won't be able to write an entry tomorrow and if you've been following me at all, then you should very well know why.
Furthermore, if I was still in Tualatin, I would currently be participating in the annual UC Berkeley speech and debate tournament with my high school team. This trip consists not only of competing but spending time with the team, getting a free day in San Francisco (my favorite American city: last year we watched the sunset off the Golden Gate Bridge, it was spectacular). This trip is the thing I missed the most not being Tualatin High School this year, but instead of spending time in the beautiful bay area surrounded by intelligent guys in suits, I had one of the most incredible, unbelievable weekends of my life so far.

So before I describe how I feel about the fact that I'm going to see Paris again tomorrow, let me tell you about my weekend in Versailles.

Ever since Christmas break ended, I have been planning the six weekends afterwards before the next break. I have very well succeeded, having done something worthwhile (that doesn't involve staying at home in little old Parthenay) every weekend. About five weeks ago, I had originally planned for this weekend a trip to Bourges, a city in the center of France, to see my friend Lydia (another American that I met in the San Francisco Visa trip in July). She asked her host parents right away, and we were okay with me staying Saturday and Sunday night. I found all the buses and trains necessary right away. However, about two or three weeks ago, she told me that plans had changed, and asked if there was a way I could get to Bourges earlier to make a trip to Versailles with her family. At first I thought it was absurd; there was no earlier way to do the five hour trip to Bourges, and there was no way I was gonna buy another train ticket to Paris. I am chastising myself a bit for thinking "No, it's all too far and it can't happen," but that's what comes from living in the middle of nowhere, I guess. Because really, after discussing what I should do with her host mom, it was all so simple. Instead of going to Bourges, they would pick me up instead at one of my layover cities, St Pierre des Corps, and from there we would go to Versailles.

That's exactly what we did.

On Saturday morning, I arrived in St Pierre des Corps, where I was greeted by Lydia and her host family. We crammed ourselves into the car- her host mom Anne-Katherine drove, and accompanying us were her host sisters Thérèse and Bénédicte, and her little host brothers Etienne and Charles. I will write about her host family later because I appreciate them so much, but for now I'll say that we all drove to Versailles and stopped to eat lunch in McDonald's.

(If you want to skip this part, then go ahead, it's just a parenthèse about French modern culture that has nothing to do with Versailles.
...
SO IN MCDONALD'S
I had a meal that was actually really good and I'm not afraid to deny it. You know how fast food chains have these seasonal items on the menu? Yeah here in France, they had the McBaguette, and now they have these specialty "burgers" that come with a certain cheese.

For example, when I was there, I could choose between either goat cheese or raclette cheese, and previously there was a choice between camembert and some other fancy French cheese. Obviously, I chose the goat cheese, and it was DELICIOUS. I love how classy things are here, I really do, and did you know I also really love the cheese?
...whereas in the United States, the advertisements show people going gaga for the sloppy looking McRib... oh vive les rednecks.)

After lunch, we spent the afternoon in the palace.

Upon descending from the car, I was in complete awe over all the glorious, magnificent splendor that everything there, from the most unassuming tiles on the floor, to the ornate gates fabricated from real gold, glistens with. It was dumbfounding. Human hands built this site worthy of the heavens. I could just imagine all the royalty that used to occupy it, the drama among aristocrats and monarchs from all over Europe, the soirées, the military procedures, so many amazing things in human history happened on the ground where I was standing. Also, French was the language spoken by the elite in Europe at the time, so being able to go around speaking it made it feel even more authentic.

Because Lydia's host mom's nephew is a tour guide in the castle, we were able to get a private tour from him, and he showed us places that the public isn't allowed to go to. (Lydia and I felt really special...ahem, like queens.)

Us and our prince tour guide. We really appreciated his good looks passionate knowledge about Versailles.

 For example, we went to this chapel that the other visitors couldn't enter, so we were the only ones there.

Everyone that wasn't us had to stay behind the barrier

After the private tour, we continued walking around, taking in the sights of each ornately decorated room, the busts of famous figures in French history, the elaborate paintings present on a myriad of walls and ceilings, the many-tiered chandeliers, the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the vast grounds of the palace, the finely set silverware, EVERYTHING. My pictures don't do it much justice, but I figure that they will make this entry more interesting so enjoy!

"For all the glories of France" ♥

A very famous painting of Napoleon Bonaparte

Oh, him again

Another site I was able to see was Marie Antoinette's domain. I believe it is where she had her "play house" and pretended she was one of those poor countryside peasants, and also where she had some fancy parties. We rode a small train (just a chain of golf carts) to get there, and it was like another world within another world. It was deep within a forested park, but oh my was it gorgeous. There was a large pond, and her country houses were so quaint. It was the perfect environment to take a small, tranquil vacation, right within the palace grounds. I found it pretty spectacular. It reminded me of the isolated countryside environment I currently have to live in now, even though it was only a few kilometers away from Paris.

Once we were done visiting Versailles, we went to Lydia's host grandma's house in St Germain, a suburb of Paris. We were there to celebrate her host dad's 48th birthday. I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful Fayet family right here. First of all, even though I was a guest, not even a guest of any of their kids but of their exchange student, they were still extremely kind and generous and really made me feel welcome. It was a family event I participated in, but despite the fact that this was my first time meeting them and only my third time meeting Lydia, I felt completely like a part of their family. Some families just immediately exude that sense of unity and hospitality, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that this family was one of the best examples of that that I have ever met, not just in France, but in the world.

Lydia with (part of) her host family

Lydia and I prepared the happy birthday song for her host dad François. To greet him, we sang it, and the rest of the members of the family who were there enthusiastically joined in, resulting in a joyful, musical atmosphere. Just the kind of environment I cherish being in. I was so happy to sing songs for them, especially so when they really appreciated it. It was the least I could do for them after they graciously took me, a former stranger, in during a family outing, to VERSAILLES of all places! Furthermore, Anne-Katherine and François have nine kids, and yet all the ones I met were exemplary examples of well brought-up children. I was astounded. I have had unpleasant experiences with kids of "that age" here, but the Fayet kids were polar opposites of what I had known. Sure, 7-year-old Charles whined and got involved in spats with his siblings, but it was understandable. That didn't matter because he was a SUPER sweet, adorable, affectionate little boy. 12-year-old Etienne was already a young gentleman and just as caring towards me as he was towards everyone else in his family. Bénédicte and Thérèse were the two eldest of the four youngest left in the house, and they gave me the impression that they were amazing older sisters to the two boys. They also really made an effort to get to know me, and it almost felt like they treated me like I was their sister as well. They're all so darling, and I miss them. I am very happy for Lydia that she landed in such a family, and I could tell that the siblings are very happy to have her in their home as well.

I also met the oldest sibling, Jean-Marie, and his fiancée Bérénice (who studies law at the Sorbonne in Paris wowowowow!). They were one of those beautiful couples that one can't help but want to be like, and I know that they're going to be so successful in the future and have a family just as incredible as the one that raised Jean-Marie.

I felt so close to them that I even had them sign my exchange notebook. They were all so excited to sign it, and they even asked me when they would see me again and if I would go to their house at another time. It made me sad to say that I didn't know, but I know it's unlikely. However, I will make it a point to see them again in the future after exchange, because I really would like to see the kids again, especially to see how they have grown up.

I would continue on a philosophical spiel and commentary on the meaning of the word "family," but I have other things I prefer to talk about.

Around noon on Sunday, Lydia and I got the chance to explore the city of St Germain. It was a perfect day outside; cool, sunny, with a slight breeze. We went to the city center, where the market was located. The sidewalks were bustling with people, the vendors of the market were lined side by side, people sat on the cafés on the sidewalks, and there was all that noise and activity of the city that I have missed SO MUCH and almost forgotten. I loved it. I wished I lived in that environment every day. Even though it was Sunday (and France is dead every Sunday, nothing is open), there weren't any empty streets. I mean, Parthenay has empty streets even on weekdays. There was so much to see and explore. Lydia and I turned on a random street and we ended up facing the office of tourism, a small building tucked between other businesses. I wondered why it was called "Claude Debussy Office of Tourism," but then I looked above and saw a sign that shocked me...

"Claude Debussy House, Office of Tourism"

"Here, on August 22 1862, the composer Claude Debussy was born"

OH MY GOSH
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL
WITHOUT INTENDING TO,
We had stumbled across the birthplace of one of the classical composers I had known for the duration of my 13-year career as a pianist. I didn't even know St. Germain was his hometown! I was extremely giddy with surprise. Just another one of the hard-to-believe moments of this weekend.

Currently, my mind is kind of in a limbo. En route on the five hour voyage from Bourges (we spent Sunday night there), I started this blog entry in the train station of Poitiers.

This was my view from the Gare bar/restaurant.

Now I'm on the bus going back to Parthenay. I can only think of all the things I need to do to prepare to leave again tomorrow, this time, to Paris. I say I'm going back tomorrow, but I don't think I fully comprehend that it IS tomorrow. I left Paris the first and last time I went on March 2010, knowing I would see it again one day in the future. That day is tomorrow.
I'd rather not imagine how I'm going to react when I see it again; I'll write about it next week. I'll just let the excitement build up inside me until it is nearly unbearable and I won't be able to sleep.
Paris...
The city of lights, love, art. Only the subject of so many works of renowned artists, the hangout of important figures in the history of literature, a city saturated with inspiration, the subject of countless dreams, and, as I heard it put once, the "marvelous collection of human treasures." Treasures not only in the artifacts located in its countless museums, or in the boutiques along the Champs-Elysées, but the treasures that are stories the city has to tell, and stories everyone who sets foot in it will have to tell about it.
(Yes, I am a romantic, in case you couldn't tell, though I rarely admit it.)

If aliens one day visited our Earth and asked to see the capital of this world, where they could gain a tremendous understanding of human history and the development of our society, the Ambassador of Extraterrestrials would definitely direct them to Paris.
(Yes, I am a science nerd, and proud of it.)

For now, here is a song that I can't stop listening to whenever my mind is in this state, the day before something I have been really anticipating.

"Demain sera parfait," the name of the song, means "Tomorrow will be perfect."
I can't imagine it being any other way.

新年快樂！

No, I did not suddenly voyage out of France to China or anything.
But I guess you could say I came pretty close.

"Are you going to La Roche sur Yon on Saturday?"

This weekend of the 9th to 10th of February was the weekend of the Chinese New Year! One of the Taiwanese girls in the district, Grace, had a party in her house in La Roche sur Yon. Along with her French friends, there were several other exchange students as well. I love my Asian buddies...

David (Taiwan) and me on the bus

Grace and me

Gio (my Indonesian twin) and me

Barbie (Taiwan) and me

It goes without saying that any opportunity to see other inbounds is gladly taken; however, that wasn't the only reason this party was spectacular.
One thing I will bring up about myself is that, while I thoroughly enjoy eating food from all over the world and tasting new dishes (the French call this kind of person a gourmand), Asian food will always reign supreme in my book. Don't even make me choose between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Indian, Thai, Filipino, etc. food. Anything hailing from that region of the world is scrumptious.
So of course, when I heard that Grace would be cooking Chinese food, I was ecstatic. I was also more than happy to wrap the dumplings in preparation for them to boil (seeing as that's as far as my culinary skills go).

Set on the food table were Taiwanese appetizers (I really liked the dried meat),

and, once it was ready, out came a large crock pot of curry, served with rice.

After most people were finished with the main dish, we had some homemade bubble tea!

Last Chinese New Year, we learned about the Chinese New Year in my Mandarin class. This time, I was able to bring up some of what I had learned last year with the Taiwanese kids. I have come to realize that, to me, one part of "living my exchange to the fullest" is being able to speak every language I am capable of speaking with people, and holding conversations (however short and simple they may be). Now that I pretty much have French down, I might as well attempt to keep up the Chinese I have learned.

Speaking of languages I am capable of speaking, I am making remarkable progress in German class. I take both LV3 (beginner's German) and LV2 (with classmates who are on their 4th year of German) at the high school, and at the beginning of the year, I understood nothing in LV2. The teacher spoke almost exclusively in German, and most of the time I didn't do anything in that class but write a few sentences (that had to do with whatever I was learning in German LV3), but SOMEHOW, I've gotten to the point where I can now keep up in both my German classes, and I've even done a speech in LV2 and gotten a good grade with it. I remember one instant where I had a classmate tell me, "Tu fais des progrès en allemand!" I don't know if you find it as mind-blowing as I do, but I had somebody tell me I was making progress in German, a language I just started learning, in French, a language I once had to learn in class. I'm not too proud of the way I phrased that sentence, but just know that I felt proud of myself after hearing that compliment.
And after receiving these test results. (In LV3, hahaha)

I named all those neutral, masculine, and feminine household items from memory!

Yes, those are preposition words translated from German to French 

Anyway, as of today, I have exactly 20 weeks left in France; the date is finalized, and I leave on Sunday, June 30, arriving in Portland at about 11:48 in the morning. My first full day in France was August 29 (noon August 28 was when I arrived), and my last full day will be June 29, which pretty much makes exactly ten months. I'm pretty satisfied with that fact, but it feels weird to have a "real" date of departure.

Rather than think about the 20 weeks I have left with my life in France, I will think instead of the 9 days I have until I see Paris again.♥ Or maybe even the 6 days I have until I see the Château de Versailles (think: Marie Antoinette grandeur) for the first time, on a trip with one of my exchange student friends and her family! It is all coming up so quickly.

I can't wait.