Provence, how i love thee...

Well i have been having a great last couple of weeks.

I went on an excursion to Avignon. This was a lot of fun! We arrived at the old walled city at about 10am. Started out walking up a stone spiral staircase that was inside of a tower until we reached the top of the city wall. Then we walked on the top of the walls and up a hill to the highest point in the town. We got some great views of the city, the many cathedrals, the Pont(bridge) d'Avignon, and the Rhone river. And then we made our way over to a huge "place" where we could see the palace des Papes (the Pope moved to this city for a couple hundred years back in the 14 century). He built a fortress right in the middle of the town. pretty cool stuff. I had been here in 2006, so i did not pay to go inside with the rest of the group. Instead i just wandered the streets and got myself lost. I found a lot of cool things as i went. Passed a group of folk singers, saw a wedding in progress thru open cathedral doors, found a secret garden. I also stumbled into a crazy art gallery where i was given a glass of Rosé (don't worry it was already noon, perfect time for a chilled glass of wine in Provence). And i chatted it up with the artist for a little while. and then i got to find a big market to walk thru. The town was so cool. And i ate the biggest charwarma of my life! mmmm.

After Avignon we all took the bus to Pont du Garde. one of the most famous monuments in France. It is an old Roman Aqueduct they helped carry water 500km. It was really neat to visit this place again (i had went in 2006). I did a little hiking around the Pont and crossed to both sides. I even took a little nap. This place is a must see if you make it down to Provence.

So the excursion was awesome!

Just yesterday I went to "Les Calanques"=best hiking in my life! these are white stone finger shaped cliffs that span the 20km between Cassis and Marseilles. the water is the bluest that the Mediterranean has to offer. and the views are just spectacular. I will never forget this hike. and i have got to go back soon! When we stopped for lunch in En Veau, i looked around and i could not believe the place that i get to eat. It doesn't even compare to any experience i have had in Georgia. Oh yeah, and at lunch time, we got to see the French rescue team run some helicopter exercises right in front of us for like 20 mins. they were lowering people onto cliffs and then they would leave and come back and rescue them. It was pretty entertaining. Man, that was a great hike.

So... I also finally got to move into a new and renovated dorm! It feels like a 5 star hotel compared to that last place. I have got my own fridge, toilette and shower. Plus hardwood floors and an amazing view of the french countryside. you wouldn't believe what i get to wake up to.

So i have had a busy week so far. and my grandparents (Jojo and Papa Don) are supposed to be arriving tomorrow! cross your fingers that they can get on the plane (they are coming standby). But i have got a lot of fun things planned for us. If they get here, we will be going to a wine tasting, touring a chocolate factory, visiting Marseilles, and climb the famous Mont Saint Victoire. Of course we will be doing a lot of relaxing at cafés and checking out all the cool/historic places in Aix. So if you want to do all this stuff too, then get your butt out here!

Alright, that should keep you fascinated and jealous for a little while. I will try to post again soon. I hope your lives are all going well!

It is vacation time!

Man i am loving it here!

So the french schooling system makes no sense at all. I finished with all my classes last week and the exams are not until the first couple weeks of May. This means that i have got some free time on my hands. I guess you saw the pictures i put up instead of a story for my last blog. sorry. i was rushed that day. But as you can see, I went to a Wine and Chocolate tasting, went to the movies (3 times), watched the Tour d'Aix (bike race, and saw a crash), and spring arrived with a Harley on the Cours Mirabeau.

My fun has not stopped there! I have been going to the parks around town a lot lately (the weather here has been great for the most part, although it is cloudy today). I have hiked Mont St. Victoire a couple more times, and i have got a post Easter trip planned with the church here. Speaking of Easter, I went to a big pic-nick/egg hunt last Saturday. That was a lot of fun. Afterwards the university students grilled out at an apartment on the south side of town.

And then on Sunday Carnival hit the streets of Aix! It was completely crazy here. The opposite of what you think of when you think French village life. There was confetti and silly string covering all corners of the street (and all over everybody). The little kids were dressed up in crazy costumes, and a lot of the adults too. There were more people in the streets than i have ever seen. And then the bands and floats came down the cours. It was all followed by a group of about 200 people all dancing in unison. The atmosphere couldn't have been more jubilant. There is still confetti all over the place.

And then on Monday, I climbed Victoire in the morning, hung out in the park during the afternoon, and went to a rooftop BBQ at dusk. What a great time that was. To be right in the middle of town and on a rooftop terrace. seeing the clock towers and cathedral steeples lit up at night. Drinking wine and eating shish kabobs with friends.

Well i am not quite sure all that lies ahead of my these last 3 months, but i am ready for it!

march madness

Spring is officially here!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I am sorry it has been a couple weeks since my last post. I didn't do too much worth while since then. I climbed the mountain here twice. And the second time was definitely the most fun i have had On Mont Saint Victoire in the 8 or 9 times i have climbed it. I went up the difficile (difficult path) which involves a little bit of rock climbing. Then just chilled at the top with the friend that went with me. After we woke up from a mountain top nap we went and hiked the ridge line for a mile and then decided to bushwhack our way down to a village we saw. This seemed like it would be easy as pie. But oh no, it was not. took about 3 hours to get down and to this village (Vauvenguardes). We ran into cliffs and walls of bushes and trees. But we pushed thru and finally made it back to flat land! It was great. And we still had time to check out the village before the bus left for Aix.


(the way up)


(the way down)

Other than this. I went into Marseilles again and had a charwarma by the Mediterranean Sea. Got lots of rest. Finished Harry potter number 5. I just started number 6 today!

I went to my friends 41st birthday party on Saturday. It was a blast. We started with a little petanque tournament and some grenadine. My team made it to the finals. And then once more people showed up and night fell. we lit up the grill and started opening up the bottles of wine. There must have been 50 people at this house out in Tholonet (about 15 mins drive from Aix) Great atmosphere and great food. And then at about 11 some friends from Tunisia came over with there drums and put on a show for like an hour and a half. so things got loud and crazy for those of us still there. Oh, yeah the birthday boy is a huge cigar guy, and someone gave him a box of cubans. So I got to try a Cuban (don't worry, they are legal here). And then as the night really wound down I got to talking to a guy there about a possible job opportunity here. So cross your fingers for that. But yeah i got a ride home from a french guy at the end of the night. It was a good time, and i am sure we will have a few more outings there. Especially when they open up the pool!

So i also got thrown into a petanque group that meets every week. And so i went and had some fun this Sunday with them. I schooled a couple old french guys, always fun to do. We played 3 rounds. And now i am so hooked on this game. It is the French equivalent to Bacci, i guess. But since i do not have my Koob game here, this is a great replacement, and classic french. i will have to buy a set and bring home to share. (maybe we will get a game going at the Backyard BBQ?)

well that should just about catch you up. I have only got 3 more weeks of school here, so right now i am trying to plan my 2 months free time (french schools make no sense). I will try and keep you updated on that. And if anyone wants to come for a visit, just let me know and we can start figuring it out. I already have Jojo and Don, Mark and Angie, and my household coming over. But i got plenty of time for you too.

Have a great week everybody. I know i will in this 60 degree sunny park weather!

Spring time is here

Hey everyone!

So i am still having a great time here in southern France. The sun is out and we have gotten a couple of 50 degree days already. I just finished my last class of the week, and now i have got a vacation week. Since i have last talked with you I have climbed the mountain 2 times, met a few french people in my new classes, and started to really understand my new classes also. I still have not recieved any of my grades from fall term, but i am registered for classes at GSU this coming up Fall. I think i did fairly well tho. Oh, the trip to Cassis was great. It really is a beautiful little coastal town. There are a lot of vineyards there and i hope to tour some of them soon. unfortunately i am having to postpone the hiking trip until more people have got time to go, But i still have got high hopes of completing this feet before i leave.

I also got my first haircut since being in france! and i went to an american football game not too long ago. I also went and watch OM (the soccer team in Marseilles) play against Twente. We lost. Oh and the fair is in town for a few weeks.

So durring this vacation period i have finally dicided that i am going to explore the Bouches de Rhone rgion of France (this is where i live). I would like to see a village a day. here is the bus route, just to give you an idea of what i am talking about. http://www.lepilote.com/img/_info/CG_PlanReseau2008.pdf so hopefully it will be a lot of fun!

So do you have any questions for me about life here in France?

Another week in south France

so this week i have been keeping busy. Sunday night some friends and i went to a gelato place right on cours Mirabeau. this place it awesome and i will definitely take you there if you come and visit.

On Monday i went to an underground dance club with a group of friends (i was the only American in the crowd). That was so much fun. we danced to all sorts of music (not country of course) and drank and talked til about 2am.

On Tuesday i had a friend turn 26 here. Her name is Loni. There were 16 of us that went out to celebrate at this new Italian restaurant in town. we were there for over 3 hours having our meal. mmmm it was so good too. I had the duck in a honey sauce. you would die for this food. Another place i will take you.

And tonight, Wednesday i am going to a wine tasting in town. Its me and like 20 other people (maybe 3 of us will be guys. i like those odds. lol), six types of wine, and a whole lot of fun. I can't wait. It was a great time the last one i did in the fall, so i have got high hopes for this one. My friend Hilary runs this tasting business, and she is a great person.

This weekend i am planning on going to Cassis, a small coastal village about 45 minutes away from here. It is supposed to be really beautiful. I will be checking ou the site there and also meeting with someone at the tourist info building to discuss my upcoming trip in march. I am going to hike from Cassis to Marseilles along the coast with some buddies of mine. We are planning to take 2 days one night to complete the 25k journey. It should be a great time. Look up the Calanques if you want to get a glimpse of some of the breathtaking views that are in store for me.


well, that is it for now. i got to get heading to that wine tasting. I will try and update you again next week.

The Semester is underway

So i have been in my new classes at my new school for a couple of weeks now. It is going great. My classes are generally britty big (all are taught in theater size rooms, the teachers have to use microphones, and i sit in the middle of at leaste 100 french kids). It is about as opposite as it can get from the school i was in last semester. But i understand a good bit of what is being taught. Actually in some of my classes i think i understand a little better than the french kids, and yes everything is taught in French. A couple of my teachers pass out some note sheets to help us, one uses powerpoint, and then a couple of them just sit on the stage and talk for 2 hours (and we are expected to sit quietly, understqnd, and take notes at lightning speed), but the french kids have a lot of trouble in these class as well. So you might be wondering what i am taking this semester: French constitutional law 2h, Market Economics 5h, Accounting of entreprises 5h and Demography 3h. It is proving to be a good size load. But i am welcoming the challenge

I am still staying in contact with my friends from last semester. In fact i want to a party with some of them the other day. Also, my grades are starting to come in, and it looks like i did pretty well (lots of 15's or higher).



um interesting story. So i am currently looking for work here in Aix (i will be looking for a job when i get back to america too, if you know of any). The only thing i have found so far was to help a doctorate student with her research study. So i called her up and set up an appointment. She is doing a study on how people from different mother maguages apprend the french language. So i met her at the hospital in town to get tested. Sh e proceeded to hook all sorts of electrodes to my face and then an electrode cap on my head. She hooked all of these up to a big computer. She thyen left the room and i had the test. For the test i starred at a copmuter screen (blinking was not allowed, as it would interfer with the signal from my brain) and i watcher sentences in french go by very fast word by word. at the end of each sentence i had to push a button saying weather it was correct gramatically and comprehension wise. The whole process took two hours, and boy was i tired after it ( i had stayed awake til 4am the night before watching the SuperBowl, but that is another story). So she told me the results. I am average in my knowledge of weather words are correctly written in feminine or masculine form. And my common sense and comprehension is a little above average. So all good news. I took my 15 euos and was on my way.



Well that's all for now, let me know if you have got any questions.