Its the journey.....

Since I have been in France, I have taken time to evaluate what I want in life. I still have not found a concrete answer, but being abroad has shown me options that I never really considered prior to my voyages. One thing is for certain, and it is that traveling in the future is a top priority for me. Whether I am traveling for a job, or I have a job in which I can afford to travel,it makes no difference to me. That is the bottom line of what I want. I have toyed around with the idea of teaching English in France, or maybe French in England for a couple of years after college. Doing Teach America for 4 years is another possibility. Now I do not want to be a forever teacher, but my reasoning for those two are that they would allow me to go somewhere new and different. Teach America would keep me in the States, but I could be assigned anywhere in the country, and I would love to share my passion of the French language and Culture with students who may not have great exposure to travel and culture. (Teach America places its teachers in needy areas, basically where no one really wants to go teach) These places could be very rural or urban inner city.
However, my ultimate goal in life is to become a history museum curator. My focus is on colonial and early american history. I love, love, love studying this subject, and one day I WILL be preserving historic homes and or artifacts for generations to admire. I have thought about altering this plan and heading towards Louisiana and focus on the French influence on American history. Nothing would complete my life more than being able to be the site manager for a big, old Louisiana plantation founded by French Colonists. Ohhh the possibilities.... In the likely event that I will not be landing my dream job soon, I have also toyed around with the idea of working for a sector of the government that needs historians or at least someone who works with archives. For this to happen, I need to get my masters in Public History, and I would like to work right up to my doctorate. I am looking at being in school for another 10 years, with a little time off to go work and save some money.
I have also decided that I will be doing a HALF MARATHON in November with my mom! We are going to start training together over the summer. I have been seriously running in France, but I do jog. However, once I step off the plane back onto American soil, its time to whip back into shape. I think that doing a marathon in November the same year I studied abroad is a very appropriate way to close the year. I will have accomplished two huge things that I was slightly of doing, and were difficult to prepare for. Granted, the process of studying abroad is a tad more enjoyable than running 13.1 miles, but the satisfaction I would gain from completing a half marathon is priceless. I am doing to less than two months, which is scary. Time has flown by here. I have fallen in love with France and Europe, and I will make every effort to make it back over here in the next few years. I may have not have contributed anything to world by being here, I could have done something like working in Uganda or India, etc, but I think that what I have learned here is valuable on a different level. I have learned how to move out of my comfort zone for extended periods of time (living with host family), I have learned lots of new history and augmented what I did know, and I have learned how to deal. How to deal with language barriers, deal with having a solid, set amount of money, deal with a sparse wardrobe, deal with people who are not my best friends,just to name a few obstacles I have faced. None of those vaccinated a child, or prevented malaria, but they made me a better person, and this stronger woman is now more capable of contributing to the world thanks to these lessons.

The Two Month Marker

I have been in France now for two whole months! That is completely unfathomable to me. It seems like I have been planning this experience for months and months, and is flying right by. But I am truly enjoying every minute of being here. Getting to a French town has been one of the greatest opportunities of my life, and I will always treasure the memories I have made here. I have thoroughly enjoyed making friends with and getting to know the people in my group. We all came from different schools, states, and backgrounds. I'm satisfied to have chosen a program where I would interact with people of different schools rather than choosing to go with my own school. My friends and I enjoy doing things such as going out for coffee, getting drinks, window shopping, or promenading. My friend and I particularly like a cafe called Pain and Cie- its rather large, has hardwood floors, unfinished brick walls, and high ceilings. The tables are thick and wooden with metal chairs. We love this place primarily because of the space, sometimes we tend to feel a little claustrophobic at some other places we have tried. The cafe here is delightful- I usually order either a "cafe" which is an espresso, or a cafe au lait- which is essentially milk and coffee steamed, and it is served in a big bowl rather than a cup. I love to splurge on this drink once a week- its just really yummy! This place also has divine desserts. Im serious on this one. Once my friend Ali and I slpit cheesecake- lovely. I had a cake once which was chocolate layers, with some sort of nutty, praline tasting bottom layer, and the chocolate was light and fluffy, and just melted in my mouth. It was delicious I must say. I have yet to have one, but this place serves waffles "gauffres" and they look wonderful. I really need to try one, the sooner the better! On Fridays, my friends Abbie, Ali, and I (triple A) enjoy going out for lunch. When I say go out, I mean we choose sandwiches or something to-goish. Recently, we have taken to having a picnic in the park with cheese, nutella, and a baguette. Simple as it may be my friends, there are few things as satisfying as this on a crisp, blue sky day.
I am now also fond of going out for drinks on the weekends since the drinking age is 18 here. Its really nice to meet up with friends and grab a pint or glass of wine, and just chat. I will say that I am always responsible with my drinks, and I always know my limit, and respect that limit. In return for this respect, my body happily wakes up on Sunday mornings to go for a run in the Minstral Park, which is a large park in Grenoble by the Stadium. The park is actually dedicated to people who killed and persecuted in WWII and to the Armenian genocide. People are always running, walking dogs, playing with children, or just relaxing on the benches. I love to come here not only for running, but for meditation and to clear my mind. My boyfriend Leo and I also come here and walk around the cirlces for hours, and sometimes sit on a bench and people watch. The Belledonnes mountains are in full view from here, and on claer days one can see the snow and rocks, and they the most gorgeous back drop anyone could want to run in front of.
Speaking of my boyfriend, his name is Leo and he is Brazillian. We met at a social for international students, and we hit it off amazingly well. I have gotten to know some of his Brazillian friends who live with him, and they are all nice and super welcoming. I envisioned making French friends here, but I am happy with what has happened. Im experiening and learning French culture with someone else who is doing the same, I get to learn some Brazillian culture, and I share American culture. I think meeting new people is a great way to learn new things. I have also tried learning a little Portugese (fairly unsuccessful, but Im trying!).
This is a little taste of my life at the moment- Im having a fabulous time, and once again, I am so thankful to have this opprotunity, and thankful for the support I have received at home from my family, friends, and advisors-without, I would not be here in France.

The

London Aleigha Style

This blog post is intended for the enjoyment of those you who truyly know me well. If you fall into this category, you would know that I have a knack for making the wrong decision at the worst possible time, run late when I had the best intentions of being on time, I will inevitably lose something, trip, get lost, or some odd combination of all of the above. We all know it could not have truly been an Aleigha Weekend without one of the above occuring.
Let's commence with Friday. I was supposed to leave my house at 6 am, in order to catch a bus at 7, to get to my plane by 9. No problem- I never oversleep, and I responsibley set my alarm for 5:15 am in order to allow plenty of time for me to drag and my feet and double check my baggage. I woke up to the sound of someone using the bathroom, rolled over to check the time, and GASP. It was 5:54! I leapt out of my bed, threw on my clothes (which had been pre-laid out the night before) and dashed our the door. I made it to my tram stop by 6:06, got to the bus with no problems. I could now breathe, everything was under control. I made it through customs, no worries, got on the plane, safely landed in London, and life was good. I was even smart enough to pre-purchase my train ticket at the airport. I located my platform, and hopped on the train. Unfortunately, when arriving in London,I discovered that I took the wrong train, and was forced to purchase a new ticket. So I shelled out another 20 pounds. Which for me, is a small fortune that could have purchsed quite a bit of food and Brittish treats. But no. That went towards my "train ticket". Located my subway to where i stayed, made it to lodging, no problems at all. The rest of the day was just lovely, and I met up with my friend Ali. We went to dinner at a traditional British restaurant, and I had what is called "hunter's chicken." It was a chicken breast covered in bacon with melted cheese on top. Delicious. Saturday rolled around, and went smoothly for the most part- until I realized that I had misplaced my book. It was gone. Saturday managed to go smoothly, went to the National Galleries, Brittish Museum, Buckingham Palace, and St. James Gardens. Lovely afternoon. And I had a nice lunch of Country Vegetable Soup and a Mustard/Chicken sandwich toasted on Ciabetta bread at a tiny restaurant that specializes in serving seasonal food. I spent the afternoon walking around London, taking in the city I have always dreamt of seeing. The city where so much history has happened. I had to leave that night, and took the train back to the airport around midnight. I then had to spend the night in the airport aka. worst night of my life. I basically got no sleep. Made it back safely to Grenoble around 10 am, missed the 10:30 bus back to the city. Waited around, exhausted and hungry, until 1:45. I ate overpriced, horrible airport food, and attempted sleep. Finally the bus came, and I made it back to home sweet home. And that is how an Aleigha style, whirl-wind trip to London is done.

MADAME! THIS is Versailles.....

This blog really is not about Versailles, its just a quote from the movie Marie Antoinette that I found amusing. Life in Grenoble has been pretty quiet the past few days because we are on spring break and everyone is off exploring Europe! I am leaving for London this Friday, and unfortunately, I will only be there for the weekend. But I am very happy that I am going, even if it is for a short time. Its more London than I had before! The last two days I have gone running in the morning, which I think is a great way to start the day! Yesterday I went to the museum of the Resistance and Deportation of Grenoble during WWII, which I found very interesting. I never really realized how divided France was during WWII- the Vichy government wanted to collaborate with Germany, and there were French Gestapo and secret police, much like the Germans. Anti-semitism was present and alive in France. Thousads of French Jews were also sent to the concentration camps. But there was also a group called the Resistance, and these people (as their name clearly alludes) wanted to resist Germany. Thousands more French died rather fighting in battle for France, or were arrested and executed for being Resistors. Ok kids, thats all the history for today! Don't forget to read Ch.5 tonight in your social studies book! Really- I do apologize for my inner history nerd interrupting my blog. Point being, Grenoble had a significant impact on WWII, and was heavily impacted. There is an Italian district here, and it was formed after WWI when Italians wanted to escape the growing Fascism in Italy, and they continued to emigrate after WWII. As a result, Grenoble has an entire street of pizzarias. My host father's father was Italian, and my host mother's mother came to France from Germany after the war. Neither of their parents ever returned to their homelands. After my historic rendez-vous, I met up with Leo, who I am now dating, whatever that may mean, and we strolled around Grenoble. It was super cold yesterday, with horrible winds, but we I still love the company! He and I met at a social for inernational students, and we have been inseparable ever since. I am cooking him and his friends a traditional American meal tonight. I have no idea what, but I will figure something out!! Until next time, xxxxx