The title pretty much says it all. My BIG trip is finally here! I’m traveling to eight cities, in six countries, over the course of three weeks! I will be visiting Barcelona & Madrid, Spain; Porto & Lisbon, Portugal; Prague, Czech Republic; and Geneva, Switzerland! I’ll also be spending a day in Vienna, Austria, as well as two nights in Paris, France! This will include countless metro’s, five hostels, two hotels, a condo, six flights, four trains, four buses, & a boat ride! (and a partridge in a pear tree)

Before I get too carried away, I want to talk about what I did a few weekends ago. I spent April 11-13 in Paris and participated in the Color Run! It was absolutely amazing! It was my first 5K, and I wasn’t as prepared for it as I could have been, but I had a great time! There were about thirty of my fellow classmates from France Business School that participated as well which made it so much more enjoyable!

A group of us made our way to Paris on Friday night, and spent Saturday at Versailles. It was nothing like I had expected! I was so impressed with the grounds and the gardens! Unfortunately, our group got separated in the beginning and half of us went into the palace, while the others started in the gardens. We met as we switched and were all exhausted already! Making my way to the gardens, my friends and I headed towards a grassy area near the main pond. There were many people there having picnics and taking a break so we decided to do the same thing. Within 10 minutes, all 4 of us were asleep! We napped on the palace gardens on the most perfect day for an outdoor snooze! After our rest, we started touring the gardens and were impressed beyond words. The size of the garden grounds alone are almost impossible to cover in one day! There were lots of exhibits and fountains as well! I had a blast and am so glad I was able to make it to Versailles! I highly recommend that everyone goes while they are in Paris!

Sunday was the day of the Color Run. I woke up energized and ready to rock! It started at Hotel de Ville (which is like the City Hall), so many of the students from FBS agreed to meet near a fountain there and try to all stay together during the run, (even though it didn’t last long!). I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run the whole thing, especially going to Versailles and walking so much the day before! My knees, which I’ve had multiple injuries with the past few years, have been holding up well in Europe, knock-on-wood. I knew if I pushed too hard, I would be paying for it for weeks, so I took the slow & steady approach and it worked out perfectly! Kajsa was sweet enough to stick with me while the others ran ahead and got all full of color! For those of you who don’t know about the Color Run, it’s known as the “Happiest 5K on Earth!” At each kilometer, you get sprayed with a different colored powder and by the end of the race you look like a rainbow! It is a mixture of cornstarch & food coloring that is thrown at you as you cross each kilometer. The race is intended to promote happiness & healthiness, and I know it did both for me! I looked like a kaleidoscope by the finish line (which made for an interesting train ride home a few hours later!), and had a blast running through each kilometer knowing I was that much closer to the finish. It was even better that I was able to share such a fun experience with my friends! At the finish line, there is a huge party with a stage and DJ’s playing music. They hand out snacks and drinks, and you even get your own packet of colored powder to throw yourself! We had a blast and I can’t wait to get home and do it in Michigan! Any takers?

I was back in Poitiers for two and a half days before heading out again, but this time I would be gone for much longer. I would be leaving on April 16th and returning May 5th! Barcelona has always been a dream and Spain was always one of my top places to visit because of everything I’ve learned from years and years of Spanish class. There was no way I was going to come to Europe and not make it to Spain! Originally, I booked three days in Barcelona and three days in Madrid with my Swedish friend Kajsa. I told my Canadian friend Katie about our trip and she was interested and joined in as well. Kasja had to go back to Poitiers after Madrid for class, but Katie and I both had a few weeks off so we decided to keep going! From Madrid, we will head to Porto for two days, and Lisbon for four days. We thought it would be fun to fly into Nice and slowly take the train back to Poitiers, making lots of stops along the way. It was a great plan until we looked at flights and saw how insanely expensive it was to fly into Nice. We reevaluated and detoured ourselves to Prague, which we both really want to see! We will spend three days in Prague, and use one of those days to take a bus trip to Vienna, Austria! We will fly back to Paris together and spend the night there. Katie will leave to go back to Poitiers, and I will meet up with my friend/roommate Diego and we will head to Geneva, Switzerland for the weekend to close out my trip. Phew! It’s gonna be a lot, but it’s gonna be amazing!

As I’m writing this, (I’m a little behind) I’m already a week in and have seen Spain. It was everything I thought it would be and more. I wish I had spent more time there, but now I have something to look forward to when I come back!

In Barcelona, we stayed at the Feet Up Garden hostel. It was a bit out of the city, but was in a gorgeous neighborhood which most definitely made up for the extra travel we had to do to get to the main attractions. The hostel was great, but the people made it even more amazing (this seems to be a familiar trend wherever I go!). The employees of the hostel were great and went above and beyond for us. I also really enjoyed the rooftop terrace which provided a spectacular view of the surrounding city. While in Barcelona, we visited the Park Güell, went to see the Sagrada Família Church, and the Magic Fountain show.

We also spent a day walking down the Main Street full of shops, store, and restaurants. We found an awesome market full of fresh fruits, meats, fish, and more! We had an amazing lunch there at an organic stand and it was the best meal I had while in Barcelona! Veggie burritos, rice, and a spinach snack was nothing I would’ve picked off a menu, but it was so delicious because of all the fresh ingredients! I really enjoyed the market and was happy Katie found it when she did her Barcelona research. We also spend an afternoon at a pier off the main strip. We spent time looking at the water and boats in the harbor, and enjoyed some Paella and Bombas, and of course shared a jug of delicious Sangria! The city was amazing and I was a huge fan of the amazing architecture (which also seems to be a familiar trend).

One of my favorite times in Barcelona was spent in our hostel. Kajsa, Katie and I made dinner in the hostel kitchen to save money from constantly eating out. While eating dinner, we were joined by Erik, Kajsa’s friend from Sweden. We also met a man named Tomas. He is a politician from Brazil, and a really fun guy to hang out with. The five of us played board games and shared some wine. Things got interesting when we started playing “name all the countries of the EU” and then “name all the states in the US”. I was very proud they knew so many! The night was an absolute blast and I laughed until my stomach hurt! The company was amazing and made the night very memorable!

We took the train from Barcelona to Madrid which is about three hours. I got to experience running for the train, and barely making it. Then jumping off, because the conductor is yelling at you and making you think you are on the wrong train. It’s a miracle we made it, and another miracle I didn’t fall or lose anything!

Once in Madrid, we took the metro towards our hostel, and exiting the metro is always a fun time. You usually come up and have not a clue where you are, or what street you’re on, and in some cases, the surroundings are unexpected and you’re stuck looking at what’s around you. Madrid was no different, except for the fact that I know now what love at first sight feels like. I was immediately in love with Madrid. We found the street our hostel was on and thought it was too good to be true. It was like a scene out of a movie. The weather was perfect which made the blue skies, sunshine, and green trees add to the incredible atmosphere. We were looking for number 22 on the street buildings and couldn’t believe how beautiful our hostel was once we found it. I couldn’t even go inside, I had to stop and take a picture of this gorgeous place I would call home for three days! After checking in, we went up to our room on the 4th floor in an old, glass elevator! (Yes, we were a bit nervous.) We found our room and were thrilled to see a balcony upon entering. We also had turf, and swings hanging from the ceiling outside our room to make it look like a mini park in our hallway! The UHostel in Madrid is awesome! They also have a kitchen, a cinema room, and a great, large common area! I would definitely recommend and return!

After coming down off my cloud, we asked the receptionist at the hostel what she recommended for food in the area and wound up at a great sandwich shop. These sandwiches were 2-3 inches long and only 1€ each so you were able to order a few and try different things. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather on this perfect day! We spent the rest of the day exploring and walking the streets. There were so many beautiful buildings it was easy to stay occupied! We found our way to a gorgeous park and casually walked through this gem inside the city. There was a large pond in the middle where you were able to rent canoes and paddle around. Slowly making our way back to the hostel, we found some great shops, and we I did just as much looking as buying!

The next day was our only full day in Madrid (it’s just the way the flights worked), and unfortunately it was rainy and overcast. We planned on heading to the Reina Sofia museum, but never made it. We ended up just walking around all day, in and out of stores, coffee shops, markets and more. It wasn’t the best conditions, but we had a great time and I feel like I really saw much more of Madrid than I would have if I stuck with my original plan.

Spain was amazing and now that I’ve been there I can’t wait to go back! Madrid has made its way to #1 on my list of favorite European cities! I wish I could’ve spent more  time in Spain, but now I will head to Porto for two days, and Lisbon for four… Stay tuned for tales from Portugal!

♥This heart of mine was made to travel the world♥

It’s amazing to me how within 3 hours, I can go from one of the largest cities in the world, to a land with blazing sun, grounds made of sand, and men selling freshly squeezed juice. Although I’ve done some traveling in my life, it still impresses me just how pleasantly surprised I am at the quick change of scenery. From the description I gave, the image in your mind might include a beachy shore with swim suits. Let me set the record straight: take away the ocean & paradise scenery, and add a camel and loud markets. I’m talking about Marrakech, Morocco!

In February, my fellow American friend, Nina, introduced the idea of spending a weekend in Morocco. The idea of going to Africa was tempting, exhilarating, and… well, scary! I’ve heard of other student traveling to Morocco and it seems that many Europeans travel there, but I didn’t know enough about Morocco to know what to expect. For about 3 seconds, I debated not going. Until I reevaluated why I’m here: I’m studying abroad to experience new things and step outside my box. This was the perfect opportunity to do both of those things!

We departed on Friday morning with our destination set to cross continents into Africa. The three hours flew by (pun intended) and we starred at sand and palm trees as our plane descended. We departed the plane, collected our bags, exchanged some money, and set forth to find the driver who was waiting to drive us to the hotel. We were told he would be outside the gate, and holding a sign with my name. Pretty cool right?! I thought so, until I exited the gate and saw about 70 men all holding signs with names! We searched for about 20 minutes until we found the needle in the haystack that was our driver!

He took us to Hotel Cecil, which was recommended to us by other international students who had also traveled to Marrakech. It is quite inexpensive, includes breakfast, and has a great location. It is right outside the market square which is a large attraction in Marrakech. We dropped off our bags and immediately set out in search of food!

Initially, we were a bit cautious about our surroundings. Like any other place, I evaluated the environment, and slowly ‘got my feet wet’. Because we were three girls, traveling by ourselves, I was especially aware that we were typical targets for any one looking for prey. After doing a lot of research, I found that the town didn’t have a dangerous reputation, but the amount of people in the market made it easy for a pick-pocketer to have a field day! I just made sure I was constantly aware of who was around me and where my belongings were.

We found a nice restaurant next to our hotel and got comfortable in the wonderfully cushioned booth. (I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss how amazing it was to sit in a booth that felt almost like a couch. I didn’t realize until I sat down, how much I missed cushioned seating! I use my bed (which is a cot) in my apartment as my couch as well. So when I sat down on an actual cushion, it was the first time in three months that I remembered how good it felt for your body to sink into the place you rest. Okay, rant over!) We looked over the menu, and quickly loaded the currency converter app on our phones, because we had no idea how much any of the menu items were going to cost us. We quickly realized that the average meal at this fairly nice restaurant was going to cost us about 85 dirham, or 5€ which is very cheap for what we are used to paying for a nice, sit-down dinner (in France, a dinner entree will cost you about 15€). Knowing we had the financial freedom to order anything we wanted was a nice change and we took advantage of it! The three of us shared an appetizer, I ordered a chicken couscous for my entree, and we split an assortment of pastries for dessert. I also ordered a mint tea because I was starting to feel a cold coming on. The tea and appetizers arrived at the table and I was very impressed with the presentation. My tea came in a beautiful silver teapot, and when I opened the top, the aroma from the mint leaves became pleasantly overwhelming. I took a sip and immediately fell in love! The warmth was soothing on my scratchy throat, but the bold flavor was like nothing I have ever tasted before. I hadn’t known of the Marrakech Mint tea phenomenon before this trip, but since I’ve been back in France I am constantly seeing “Marrakech Mint” as flavors in cafés! (Not complaining!) I urged the other girls to try, and they both agreed with my positive review, in fact, they ordered their own pot with dessert! The appetizer was a type of pastry with chicken and a strong almond flavor. It was very good, but the sweetness of it caught me off-guard. It was a great dish to share with others! My couscous was amazing! I am a big fan of couscous, but I can never seem to make it as good as other people can so I don’t cook it often. This was delicious! Full of vegetables and chicken, the serving dish was like nothing I had ever seen. Little did I know, they were all over the market place and part of the reason the dish tasted so good. It’s like a Moroccan crockpot that sits on charcoal and cooks for hours before being served. The dessert we order was an assortment of pastries which we shared, however we all ordered a tea for ourselves because we knew that was too good to share! There were six different sweets and I would compare them to baklava with a twist. There was, again, a presence of almond flavor, but the combination of other ingredients made it a wonderful end to our dinner!

The next day, we had a tour planned to see the Ouzoud Cascades, the tallest waterfall in Africa. I booked all of our tours through Marrakech Airport Transfers. They were affordable, and always picked us up and dropped us back off at our hotel. The cascades were two hours away by car, which we were fine with since we woke up to dark clouds and rain. We hoped that we would drive out of the weather, but no such luck. When we arrive, we hired a guide that took us to different locations where we could see the waterfall from the top, the base, and everything in-between. Our guide was great! He gave us a lot of information about the history and surrounding areas, and we even stopped at his house along the way so he could get an extra umbrella for a British woman who was getting soaked! Along the hike, I couldn’t stop taking photos. It was so beautiful and I wanted to capture as much as I could. While I was busy shooting the waterfall, I failed to notice the family of monkeys in a tree 15ft above me! There were other travelers that started to feed them, which brought them even closer! These are wild baboons! And they were close enough for me to touch! Our guide proceeded to tell us that hikers often feed them to get close enough to take photos. However, the animals are now becoming dependent on human help/food for survival and it will become a big problem very quickly if it is not stopped. Although I thought it was very cool to see them, I had no desire to come as close as I did. One even photobombed me! 

As the day went on, we got closer to the base of the waterfall and the clouds separated enough for the sun to make an appearance. Once we reached the bottom of the cascades, the suns reflection on the water created a rainbow and it was one of those beautiful moments where nothing else in the world matters. I was soaking in the pure beauty of the glorious environment around me, and simply enjoying the moment. We retreated back to the top of the waterfall where we ate tajine for lunch before the two-hour drive back to our hotel. 

That evening, we ventured into the market outside our hotel. The vendors were a bit overwhelming and very competitive, all trying to get you to come into their stores. Being the great barterer I am, I got some great souvenirs  including a teapot, a medium-sized travel bag, a decorative candle holder, and a few pairs of earrings! I would say 40% of the market vendors were selling freshly squeezed juice. Grapefruit, lemon, and oranges made the market colorful and added a citrus aroma to the air. We took the opportunity to get a few glasses while we were there and even helped behind the counter! 

The next day we had a tour booked to ride camels! When in Rome Morocco! Again, our driver picked us up and took us to the Palmeria (a desert land with palm trees). Once we arrive, we were immediately instructed to climb up on the camel! I thought we would at least get a little demonstration or something. The looks on my friends faces were priceless! Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous or scared. I can’t say the same for them! We rode around for about 45 minutes, with a guide of course. My camel had a baby with her who followed us and trailed behind at times chewing leaves off other plants. It was such a cool experience! After 45 minutes I was ready to get off, which was another adventure… Have you even been atop a camel when it sits down? I don’t recommend it! It requires strict coordination and amazing balance. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don´t possess either of those qualities. Luckily I didn’t fall, but it was hard to stay on! 

Once our camel ride ended, our driver took us for a ride though a part of Marrakech we hadn’t seen yet. It was a classier shopping district than we had been used to. We were tempted to ask if we could shop for a little (actually, my friends did ask), but we didn’t come all the way to Morocco to go shopping at Zara! I talked the girls into going back to the market to get something to eat and hanging out on the rooftop terrace of our hotel. We ate and walked around the market a bit more making sure we had all the souvenirs we needed. There were also street performer in the market, but be careful, if you want to take a picture, they will expect you to give them money, or delete the picture. There are women belly dancing, men with monkeys, and that day we even saw a snake charmer with real cobras! I chose to get a henna on my hand, and became known as “the girl with the Moroccan tattoo” back in Poitiers! After round two at the market and grabbing lunch, we packed up our things and checked out of the hotel. Our flight would leave that night and take us back to France.

Because our flight got in so late, there was no train available and we would have to wait until the morning to get back to Poitiers. This was not our original plan, but the airline had to change our flight and we didn’t have much of a choice. Being in our 20s, in college, and in Europe, we really watch where we spend our money. Seeing as how we would only be in Paris for less than 11 hours, we did some research and agreed to spend the night in the airport! (Another adventure!) There were lots of other travelers doing the same thing, and which was comforting knowing we weren’t the only ones. We found a spot, and pulled two benches together to make our bed for the night. It was definitely uncomfortable, and the noises in the airport made it hard to stay asleep, even with headphones and music. We were also cold, despite the layers of clothes we were using as blankets. We waited for McDonald’s to open at 4:30am and moved our location once the airport started filling with travelers. I think I got about 80 minutes of sleep that night. We decided that next time, it would definitely be worth it to split a hotel near the airport!

Our trip to Morocco was amazing! I can’t believe I can say I’ve been to Africa now! The way of life there is much different, but that is to be expected. Look at my pictures here: https://thetwentysomethingtraveler.shutterfly.com/. I hope I am inspiring some of you to travel and see the world that’s out there waiting for us! I will be in Poitiers for two weeks where I will finish a few more classes before I start traveling on my bigger/longer trips.

*Great things never came from comfort zones.*

As I sit on my train to Paris this rainy Thursday morning, I find myself thinking of all the things that are so different here in France. Specifically because I cannot get any wifi on this train! In fact, if you don’t have a data plan with a French phone, you can kiss your web surfing days goodbye! Wifi is pretty much non-existent in the majority of Europe. Although it was extremely hard to adapt to at first, I’m two months in and still alive so it can be done! So much of our lives now-a-days revolve around the convenience of having access to the internet with our phones. When you lose that convenience, you start to learn a lot of lessons… First, always look up directions before you leave your house, and take a screenshot of them. Secondly, when you make plans, they don’t change after you leave your house! The time and place of a meeting destination stays the same because neither party can get a hold of each other! My family was wonderful enough to send me a phone that was supposed to have global capabilities, however it just doesn’t seem to want to connect to the French network. Since I’ve been phone-less for 2 months, what’s another 3 months?! Besides, I will be traveling a lot in that time, and the network doesn’t work outside of France, so here I go…. without a phone for 3 more months! It’s actually not as bad as it sounds. The thing I have to say I’ve enjoyed most is that when friends are together, they are talking, and laughing and interactive with each other. They’re not on Facebook, or tweeting or snap-chatting. It has definitely been a breath of fresh air compared to how some people are in America. There’s so much to see and enjoy here, that looking down at your phone all the time seems like it should be a sin. It’s been a big change, but a good one. It’s allowed me to enjoy the experience of simply walking down the street, and taking in the architecture of Poitiers without my thoughts being interrupted by an alert that someone liked my photo on Facebook. With all of this being said, I will be much more grateful for the fantastic phone service I receive in America! (I’m sure the French students at UofM are loving this change!)

Lunch with Cécilia!

Beverages are also a bit different. I am not a big pop drinker. (Yes I say pop. I mean soda, but I’m sticking to pop!) I do enjoy juice, but I drink mainly water and tea. When I’ve been out at cafés and such, I’ve noticed that the 20oz. Coca-cola bottles have names on them. Talking to different people, I’ve learned that this is true through much of Europe and is used as a sales tool. It actually a great idea, if there was a coke bottle with “Jessica” on it, you can bet I would be buying it! (I’m on the lookout!) I think it’s quite fun though! Also, Limonade and Lemonade are not just spelling differences between French and English! I ordered a Lemonade at dinner last weekend and was brought a carbonated lemon-lime beverage. I thought the waiter had made a mistake, until I learned that Limonade is a soda in France. Curiosity struck when I was grocery shopping and sure enough, down the beverage aisle there were plenty of bottles of pop called Limonade! When in the store it’s easier to see the color and such, to tell if you’re getting the correct item you’re looking for. Before this, I had just thought they must not add many artificial ingredients, such as food coloring. Turns out it’s just Sprite! (Yes, I felt like a ditz once I realized that!)

Speaking of grocery stores, that is also something you have to plan ahead for… Since I don’t have a car here, I make many trips to the grocery store each week simply because I can’t always carry everything I need in one trip. (My fridge isn’t that big anyway!) There are two grocery stores that I can walk to from my house. They have most of your basic items. There is also a superstore (like a Walmart or Meijer’s) that I can take the bus to when I need more specific items. If I am going for more than just a few things, I usually take my backpack because it holds a lot, and it’s easier to carry home. One thing you should note when going grocery shopping in Europe, is that you need to bring your own bags. In America, you can get as many grocery bags as you want, (and I’m pretty sure everyone has a drawer in their house dedicated to these bags!). In an effort to be a greener continent, you have to pay for your bags here. They are not horribly expensive, and there are different kinds. The typical, disposal ones are about 0.04€, and one that is heavy-duty and reusable is around 2.00€. You also bag your own groceries. Because of all these reasons, many Europeans go to the grocery store several times each week. To go to the store and buy food for the whole week is uncommon. You may buy enough food for a few days because that is all your fridge can hold and all your hands can carry. Of course this is mainly in the cities where walking is the main mode of transportation for many people. There are obviously many exceptions to this, but from what I’ve learned thus far from living in Poitiers and talking with people from other towns, it seems to be quite common.

I think many people in America use these ‘disposable’ grocery bags as garbage bags. Here, they are like gold so we do not throw them away! Garbage bags are inexpensive if bought at the store, but you can also go to city hall and they will give you a roll of garbage bags, and a roll of bags for recycling for free! Garbage was not an obvious question when I first moved into my apartment, but became a concern quickly afterwards! There is no dumpster, or trash can to put my trash bag into. There are recycling containers abundantly all over the city where you can recycle your glass, plastic, and cans, but where does the trash go? Where I’m from, we have a large trash can, and once a week on our designated day, you roll it to the end of your driveway, and the trash man will come and empty it sometime that day. In Poitiers, we put our trash bags right on the street pavement outside our gate, and we have trash pickup 4 nights a week! You put your trash out after 6:30pm and they take it sometime in the middle of the night! There is also one day a week where they will take your recycling if you don’t take it to the bins in town yourself. It’s all very convenient! However, if you put your bags out too early, or on the wrong day, you get a fine of 76€! The garbage system here was very interesting to me. (I never thought I’d be writing a whole segment on trash!)

Most everything in Poitiers closes at 7:00pm during the week, and is closed on Sundays. However, there are certain things that are open longer, like the laundromat, and a school building where students can go to do homework. Since both of these establishments have extended hours, and neither of them have security, the doors have a special button to allow you to get in and out. There is a button, that looks like a doorbell, that unlocks the door. There are also similar buttons in hallways which activate the lights, since most lights are motion activated. If you find yourself locked inside a building, or roaming around in the dark, look for a doorbell type button to relieve your panic. It’s quite alarming to think that you’re trapped inside a dark laundromat by yourself at 9:00pm!

The last fun tip I will share with you is something I’ve found to be a benefit, but I still haven’t gotten used to it yet. In the past, I have worked a handful of jobs where I’ve depended on tips. Because of that, I always try to be a “good tipper”. In France, and most of Europe, it is actually insulting to tip! The wages here are much different and the waitstaff is paid much more than what is considered normal in the states. Their tip is figured into their wages, so employers have higher expectations from their staff. If you do leave a tip, you are implying that you don’t think they make enough money and you are giving them charity. This is the same for restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. Although I think it’s a good thing, I’ve found myself trying to tip more than once, then remembering that it’s not normal here! While sitting at dinner one of the first nights I was here, I learned this gesture. We had finished eating, and the waitress asked us if we wanted an espresso or dessert. After replying no, she walked away, and for about the next 30 minutes we continued to watch her walk by us constantly while we talked at our table. Finally, one of the girls said, “Her tip is going down by the minute! Why isn’t she bringing us our bill?” We soon found out that the phrase she just spoke was one of the most American things she could’ve ever said! First off, we learned that you don’t tip. Secondly, dinner (and all meals for that matter) are meant to be long and social. Lunch here is 2 hours long. The social aspect is the biggest and longest part if the meal. After you’re finished eating and socializing and you wish to leave, you have to ask for your bill, or, in many cases, find the counter with the register and pay there. A bit difference from what I’m used to, and definitely something that’s good to know!

In the past two weeks, there have been a few American events that I’ve embraced 100%! Every few weeks, Aloha (a student-run group within the school) organizes a party for the international students, and we get to vote on the theme. The last party was an American Party! Obviously, I went all out, (as you can see from the picture), and even got my friends to join in! It was so much fun and we had a great time! The Olympics have also been a big thing here. Since none of us have televisions, we have been going to the sports pub in town to watch many of the events. Men’s hockey was a big deal for me (shocker!), and living with a Canadian made it much more competitive! I was also a big Sweden fan since many of my favorite players (and best friend here in Poitiers), are Swedish. Obviously, I was disappointed in USA’s last few games, and upset that Zetterberg is out for the rest of the season, but CANgrats to my Canadian neighbour! (See how I added the ‘u’ there!) A big thank you to my Aunt Sue and Uncle Tommy who got me a Winter Classic sweatshirt for Christmas before I left. I was unsure if it would fit in my suitcase, but it has come in very handy, and my Canadian friends absolutely love it! (And I’m slowly turning my Columbian friends into ice hockey fans as well!)

The American Party!

I am very excited to announce that I am signed up for a 5K! On April 13th, I will be running (more like walking), in The Color Run Paris! This is my first 5K, and although I will not be able to run the whole thing, I am just excited to be a part of the experience! I’ve wanted to do The Color Run for a few years now, but never had the opportunity. To be able to be a part of it, (and in Paris!), is simply amazing! There are about 30 of my international friends who are doing it as well, so it will make for another memorable weekend and Parisian adventure! Now I am off to enjoy my first weekend in Paris!

*Tourists don’t know where they’ve been. Travelers don’t know where they’re going*

I’ve officially been living in France for an entire month. In that time so much has happened, and I can really start to feel all of those endless opportunities everyone (including myself) is always talking about. Although I have been very busy, I have also had a lot of ‘me’ time to enjoy the quiet, go wandering, and start to rediscover who I am. A big part of this entire experience are things like the short stories I will be able to tell about the interesting person I met on the train, the day trip that turned into a weekend get-a-way, a group of my friends in the corner of a cafe laughing until we’re all crying, and the joy of a simple conversation with a frenchman practicing his english. Well… here comes a few of those stories!

A few weekends ago a group of international students went to Tours (about an hour away from Poitiers). While exploring the town, we noticed one of the big cathedrals was under construction and looked to be closed completely. As the 5 of us stood, taking pictures and contemplating whether we should try and go in, a man approached me and said “Excuse me, do you know if we can go inside?” Although the man’s stature was intimidating, what surprised me the most was the perfect english he spoke… definitely his first language, and a very welcoming sound for my ears! As the group of us ventured around the cathedral looking for unlocked doors, the man, whom was in his 60s, followed along. After some short conversation I learned he was from Florida, and came to France simply because he ‘wanted to learn how to make a good macaroon’! He was an analytical chemist who was tired of the complexity of his job, so he retired and took up french baking. He came straight to France in order to learn properly! How cool is that?! He was such a nice gentleman, all by himself, doing what he wanted to do! It was one of those feel-good moments of seeing someone light-up about living their dream, and getting to see the world at the same time! Definitely one of the biggest highlights of the day for me!

One day last week, I ventured out into this great town I’m living in, simply to wander around and take a few photos. While setting up my tripod at the Notre Dame Cathedral here in Poitiers, a man approached me and started saying something in French which I think was “I can take your picture if you’d like” since his body language was referring to my camera. (It was either that, or “you have a really nice tripod”. We’ll go with the first.) I apologized to the man and told him I didn’t speak French, but that I was ok and thanked him for his offer. I’m sure he could hear my english accent through my horrible French conversation skills, and he became almost animated. He asked where I was from and I told him USA, Michigan. He told me his daughter was living in Los Angeles and was going to school to “be like Steven Spielberg”. I realized the man didn’t speak much english, but he was excited to have someone to practice with. We stood there and talked for about 20 minutes, mostly about American music. He is a big fan of Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys, and he got really excited when I mentioned Johnny Cash. He was such a cool guy who was just happy to make some conversation with an American. He was planning on painting by the river that day (because that was how Monet painted), but the weather was very overcast and called for rain. Instead he went to a record store and purchased “The Adventures of TinTin”. Although I got caught in the rain before I could take my photos, it was worth it to talk to this man who was just filled with joy because he could practice his english with an interesting American.

This past Saturday I took a trip to the city of Angoulême, which is known for their comic strips. On this particular weekend, the town was hosting their International Comics Festival. It is the largest in Europe,and second largest in the world (next to Comiket). The train tickets were not expensive, and although I’m not really into comics, it sounded like a fun time (I mean, come on, have you ever been to a festival and not had a good time?). For a 7€ train ticket and a 10€ festival entrance pass, I had a blast! I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I really had a great time! Most of the comics they had were from Europe and did not look familiar, but they also had a few things I wasn’t expecting (like 8′ figures of the Avengers – so cool!). The  entire city was dedicated to this festival, and there were tons of expos all around the town. 

Sing-A-Long Time!

At one point, we were walking from one expo to the next, just window shopping and people watching, when we heard music. There was a group of people who had formed a circle and a few guys on accordions just having a concert in the street. Okay, it was more of a sing-a-long than a concert, but it was still cool. They were handing out song books to people who stopped to watch, and were getting the out-of-towners involved! I, of course, grabbed a book and was ready to join in when I realized I had no idea how to pronounce the words in the book (that darn language barrier again!- it is getting better though!). I managed to get the chorus down pretty good before the song was over. Although all my international friends thought I was completely crazy, I think they secretly had fun as well!

The whole day was a lot of fun and I’m glad I was able to see and experience everything with good company. You can visit https://thetwentysomethingtraveler.shutterfly.com/ to see more pictures from my day trip to Angoluême!

Seeing that I have been here for a month and things are settling down, everyone from home is starting to ask me what my favorite/the best part is. Since the first week, it has been the same answer: the people (if you couldn’t already tell from the stories above). Specifically all the other international students I’ve met.

I came to France on my own, by myself, with no family, friends or other UofM students. When I told this to people back home, the reactions I got were priceless! “You’re going where?! For how long?! BY YOURSELF?!” Many people thought I was crazy! But I didn’t find it to be that big of a deal. Yes, I was going to a foreign country where I knew no one, and didn’t speak the language, but I knew it was going to be such an amazing experience I really didn’t care that I was going alone. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am ridiculously independent and have no problem doing things by myself. This situation was no different than any other.

After arriving in France and meeting other students, I realized a lot of people were in the same position as myself. Because of that, everyone is very open, and friendly, and talkative. To make friends here, you really don’t have any other choice. I can honestly say that I have met some of the nicest, funniest, and most genuine people since being here. Everyone has a story, a different way of doing things, a ‘weird’ eating habit, a family tradition, etc. Learning about these different ways of life, and meeting these people has been one of the best experiences of all. Everyone else left their family to step out into the world and embark on this adventure in life, so all of our attitudes are the same: we’re doing it, we are living the dream! A few of us have already started having ‘family dinners’ with each other, which leads to a few glasses of wine (duh, we’re in France!), and some amazing heart-to-heart conversations about life, family, love, ambitions, etc. To think that just one month ago I didn’t know any of these people is almost impossible to believe. I love the fact that I can walk down the street and usually see someone I know and stop to chat, or walk into a cafe and see a few friends having an espresso. The idea that I know I have friends all over the world now is amazing to me. I now know people from the US, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Sweden, Lithuania, Slovakia, Scotland, Greece, Taiwan, China, Japan, Turkey, the list goes on.

When I moved to Alaska in 2010, everyone I knew there was in the Air Force. One of the first people I met, who is still my best friend to this day, is someone who grew up about 20 minutes away from my home in Michigan. Our high schools were rivals and yet we meet each other 4,000 miles away from all of that! (One of life’s jokes I suppose!) She told me, when I first arrived, that the military lifestyle will introduce you to some of the best people you’ll meet in life, that you’ll never see again. Although this is harsh, unfortunately I found it to be true. Because everyone is so far away from home, and everything they know and love, you immediately become close with those friends around you. They become your family. Then once the time is over, life completely changes. Despite plans and promises, you may never see these people again. Although I will do my best to keep in contact with everyone… should we lose touch, I am just honored and blessed that I was able to share this experience with the people who are here. I can’t wait to see where the next 4 months takes us!

♥Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring ♥

“Travel is little beds and cramped bathrooms. It’s old television sets and slow internet connections. Travel is extraordinary conversations with ordinary people. It’s waiters, gas station attendants, and housekeepers becoming the most interesting people in the world. It’s churches that are compelling enough to enter. It’s McDonald’s being a luxury. It’s the realization that you may have been born in the wrong country. Travel is a smile that leads to a conversation in broken English. It’s the epiphany that pretty girls smile the same way all over the world. Travel is tipping 10%, and being embraced for it. Travel is the same white t-shirt again tomorrow. Travel is accented sex after good wine and too many unfiltered cigarettes. Travel is flowing in the back of a bus with giggly strangers. It’s a street full of bearded backpackers looking down at maps. Travel is wishing for one more bite of whatever that just was. It’s the rediscovery of walking somewhere. It’s sharing a bottle of liquor on an overnight train with a new friend. Travel is ‘maybe I don’t have to do it that way when I get back home.'” -Nick Miller

I came upon this quote a few weeks before I left for France. I was looking for something to represent my excitement for my future time abroad, and stumbled upon this quote by Nick Miller. Because of it’s length, I didn’t originally stop to read it, but something drew me back in. I immediately fell in love with the idea of travel that he portrayed. Even though I hadn’t left yet, I had some type of understanding that this is how my life in Europe would be. It’s been sitting on a digital sticky note on my desktop for about 2 months now, and I’ve fallen more and more in love with it every time I read it. I’ve had a few of my fellow international students also read it, and it’s unanimously favored as a perfect description of what we expect out of our time abroad.

The ‘slow internet connection’ couldn’t be more true. I do have pretty decent wifi in my apartment that I can’t complain about, but once I leave, that’s it. There is no wifi in stores, malls, restaurants, coffee shops, anything. Even in the biggest airport in Paris, I was only allotted 15 minutes of internet before I had to start paying… internet is just not a priority here. It really is a great way of life… until you’re lost and need google maps :-/. My advisor from UofM commented on how amazed all the French students are at the abundance of wifi hotspots in America. I can honestly say I completely understand their enthusiasm!

After a very busy couple of weeks, things have started to settle down. Orientation is over and I’m onto my schedule of classes I’ll be taking while I’m here. Not knowing exactly how heavy the schedule & work-load was going to be, was a big worry of mine. In America, you really have to prioritize your time, and set aside time in your schedule to study, do online homework, research, etc. I was very concerned at how much of my ‘free time’ would actually be spent doing things I wanted to do. Turns out…. a LOT! I had to enroll in 5 classes here to get my Certificate. After viewing my schedule (and talking about it with numerous students and faculty to make sure I understood correctly), each class only has 5 meeting sessions of actual class time. And these 5 days of class are spread out over several weeks. For example, I started a class called ‘Advertising in Europe’ this week. I had class Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30am-12:30pm, then lunch, then again from 2:00pm-5:00pm (a total of 6 hours a day). I will have this class again February 13th & 14th, then that’s it! I will take an exam on the 14th and the class is over! All of my classes are scheduled the same way so I will have class 2-3 days in a row, then a break for a few weeks, then finish with another 2-3 days. With the exception of a French class I have every Monday and Wednesday night for an hour and a half, I’m pretty much a free woman! For someone like me who works full time and goes to school full time…. I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do with all this ‘me’ time! Yes, I’m in Europe, and you can bet I will travel immensely, however, I am on a budget so flying to a different country every 4 days isn’t exactly realistic. I’ve already come up with a few things I’ve always wanted to ‘get around to when I had time’, well now is that time! Reading that book that’s been downloaded on my nook account since last April, and sharpening my photography skills are among a few of the things I am looking forward to working on. When I first got here, I was talking with another student and we were sharing some of our life goals and ambitions. He stated that someone once told him, “you will really discover your passion for life as you travel because it gives you time to think without all the commotion of life’s stressors in the background”. I can already see how this statement can be true and am excited to see where the next few months lead me!

The “Hotel DeVille”

Now that I’ve had a few days to ‘play around’, I’ve gotten to discover the town of Poitiers. It’s so immensely beautiful I still find myself blinking repeatedly to ensure that I am not, in fact, dreaming. Walking down the streets, and window shopping as you pass by the boutiques has become a daily occurrence. Just as you turn the corner, and round yet another bakery, a giant cathedral stands before you holding so much history it’s overwhelming to try and comprehend. These amazing masses of architecture are literally in my backyard, and although it makes me an obvious out-of-towner, I can’t help but stand and gaze at them constantly. I made it a goal this weekend (now that I have some free time, and grocery shopping & laundry isn’t as much of a priority as it was last weekend), to get out and take some pictures of this gorgeous town I live in. To see all the pictures of my adventures, go to http://www.thetwentysomethingtraveler.shutterfly.com

Over the past few weeks I’ve gotten to experience so much that I was never previously exposed to. In the same respect, I also have missed many of the ‘luxuries’ I’ve selfishly taken for granted throughout my life. A few of them being a good cheeseburger, a dryer, peanut butter, ranch dressing, and hair serum. As this all comes out, I mean no offense to anyone and I hope everyone can understand that there’s nothing wrong with the way of life here, it’s just different than what I’m used to and that is one of the best parts of this whole experience. 

The food here has been absolutely amazing. Being a huge sandwich fan has definitely had it’s advantages. You can literally walk anywhere, and within 5 minutes come across a sandwich shop with the most delicious bread you’ve ever tasted. I’ve also become a croissant connoisseur and am doing a fairly decent job of trying all the different croissants around town! With that all being said, the comforts of home like a PB&J or greasy cheeseburger, are hard to find around here! There is no peanut butter in the stores which comes to a huge shock to all the Americans, seeing as how we put peanut butter in everything from cereal to brownies! Here, Nutella is life! I’m not complaining :-), but my family was awesome enough to send me some JIF and Hidden Valley!

The quote above really is true, you do start to respect walking everywhere, and McDonald’s does sound like a luxury right now. When you put the two together… you see a “walk-thru” at Mickey D’s!

Can’t have a drive-thru when everyone walks!

Grocery shopping here has also been quite an experience! There are a lot of familiar brands, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the food is familiar. I thought Pringles might be a good comfort food to have when that craving came along, then I realized the flavors included “Paprika” and “Prawn Cocktail”! They do have most things we have in America, you might just have to look a little harder for it. Would you like a little “American Sauce” (1000 Island) on your salad/burger?

Also, look closely at the vending machines in airports and train stations. They don’t all necessarily have food in them. On one of my first trips, I had to be to the train station around 7:15am. Not knowing when I would eat next, I ventured toward the vending machines before our train arrived, only to find complete necessities… guitar strings! I’ve seen beauty products, iPods, phones, etc. in vending machines, but never musical instrument accessories. Not only was this machine loaded with strings, but it also had a variety of tuners and picks. It was one of those moments that you couldn’t help but laugh and take a picture 🙂

I’ve already had such a great time here, and now that I know my schedule, I will be planning trips soon! As of now, I will be in Bordeaux on February 8th for a wine tasting class with a few great friends. I am looking forward to being able to start planning some trips around Europe very soon! Until next time… Merci, et Bonne Soir!

I’m here! It has been a while since I’ve written so we have a lot to catch up on! I’m so sorry for the delay but I’m sure you can all imagine how busy things have been. I will try to start from the beginning… I have so much to share!

Shortly after my last post, I started the “Beecher” page of my website. I was honored to be asked to mentor a few French classes in a local Flint high school while I’m abroad. I will be sharing my experiences with them as well, and hope to show them all how important studying abroad is. Now that I am here, I am appalled at the lack of students that get to study abroad. Although I am only 2 weeks into my journey, it has already been such an amazing experience I can’t imagine not doing it. Although it’s not realistic, it should be a degree requirement! I am very excited to be helping these classes and sharing my journey with them as well!

Packing my life into a suitcase was an adventure in itself! I ended up with a 54lbs checked bag, (thank goodness the lady at the check-in counter was nice and let the 4lbs slide;-)). I also had a 40lbs carry on, and a 35lbs backpack.

All packed up!

As I started packing, I really thought I was in great shape. I had even closed my suitcase and weighted it with no problems. It wasn’t until the last minute that I started remembering cruicial items that ended up putting me over my weight. I packed a lot of plain, solid colored shirts that I would be able to mix & match easily, and dress up with scarves and jewelry. Since I will be here from January until June, I had to consider packing for different seasons as well. It was quite fun packing my shorts and tank tops during the recent Michigan “snowpocalypse”! 

While I was passing through all the clothes in my closet, I made a “must take” pile, and a “wish” pile. I wanted to see how much room and weight I had left after I packed everything I must take, to see how much room was left for the things I wanted to take but didn’t necessarily “need”. Knowing that I was the only student coming from Michigan, I wanted to bring something to represent where I’m from, and deciding which pile those clothes fell into was a tough decision. Luckily I had enough room to bring almost everything I wanted and didn’t have to eliminate my Detroit sports attire! 🙂 (Anyone who knows me well, knows how important that is to me!)

Saying goodbye to family is the hardest part about leaving home. Sure you will miss sleeping in your own bed and having your own shower, but the lack of time spent with the people you care most about is the hardest part about being separated from home. My dad, mom, and sister drove me to the airport with lots of time to spare due to the large snowstorm that hit Michigan the previous day. We ate lunch at Leonardo’s near Detroit Metro Airport (and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a bite to eat before grabbing a flight!). Although the goodbye at the gate was extremely difficult and hard to even write about, I am mentioning it because it is what will help me get through my 5 months abroad. While saying goodbye, my sister handed me a bundle of stationary wrapped with a bowstring. She had written letters for me to have while I was gone and in different situations: “Open on the plane ride to Paris!”, “Open before your first “French” adventure”, “Open when you’re tired of being a grown-up”, “Open when you need motivation”, etc. This gift came as such a surprise to me. The effort and time my sister put into this generous gift was so unexpected and thoughtful. I have only opened two so far, but her words of support and encouragement are also accompanied by a picture she included. Not only will I have these letters to remind me of home and help me through hard times, but the pictures are just as special and will be placed all over my room. This is truly one of the best gift’s I’ve ever received and is one of my most prized possessions while I am here. I can’t wait to open them all!

Thankfully, I made it to Poitiers with no problems. I had a direct flight from Detroit to the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. From Paris, I took the train an hour and a half to Poitiers and was picked up by a member of the school who drove me to my apartment. Simple enough right?! Well nothing that has this much potential for complication can be done flawlessly… The day before I departed, Michigan received 14 inches of snow in what would soon be called the “snowpocalypse” or “snowmageddon”. I was lucky enough to be one of few planes that flew out of Detroit that day. As the door to the plane closed, and the engines started up, they just as quickly were turned off. Michigan had a wind chill that day of -22°, and the water lines in the plane froze. All of the restrooms on the plane were now out-of-order! On an 8 hour flight, with 200+ passengers, repairing this problem was pretty high on the priority list! 2 hours and many announcements later, we left Detroit and were headed for Paris! The flight itself was perfect, there was low turbulence and since it was an overnight flight, most passengers slept the whole way. I was concerned I would miss my train from Paris to Poitiers due to the delay but we actually made pretty great time and only landed in Paris 40 minutes late despite our 110 minute departure delay. I was relieved and had confidence that I would be able to get off the plane, get through customs, find my baggage, direct myself to the train station, and find my train before it left. That was, until, the pilot warned us that since our flight had left so late, our gate was no longer available and we would be unloaded on the tarmac and bussed to the terminal. Okay… so that left me with 40 minutes to get through customs, get my baggage, and get to the train. Since there were many other travelers in the same predicament as myself, things were moving at quite a rapid pace and surprisingly I made it to the train with 10 minutes to spare! Who knew things moved so fast in Paris?!

I’ve been settling into Poitiers and my apartment quite nicely. The town itself it gorgeous and I can’t wait to explore it more! I’ve been so busy with orientation and classes, that I haven’t had much time to really see the town. My first weekend here, a trip was planned by a student who has been here since September. He found a deal on train tickets and for 7 euros (about $10), we got a 2-day train pass to use anywhere within the Poitou-Charentes region. On Saturday we went to Tours, and Sunday we went to La Rochelle. They were both extremely beautiful towns and we had a great time both days! I was so excited to be traveling so quickly!

Cathedral in Tours

Tours was my first french exploration and it was everything I thought it would be and more! We arrived in Tours around 8:30am after the 45 minute train ride from Poitiers. There were 35 new students that came, so the excitement of new towns and traveling filled the train cars!

35 students is a large number of people to try and keep together, so 5 of us ventured off on our own. We walked along the River Loire, exploring and taking pictures while the morning turned to early afternoon. We grabbed a sandwich for lunch at one of the many ‘boulangerie’s’ (because we’re in France and that’s what you do here!). Although I did miss being with all my other friends, it was nice to have a smaller group where we could each be part of the same conversation. It allowed us to get to know one another better throughout the day and gave us a nice bond early on! 🙂

Organs in the Cathedral

We then visited a photography exhibit in a nearby museum and then made our way to Saint Gatien’s Cathedral. As we approached, we could hear the organs playing through the open doors. It truly set the mood of the entire experience. After taking multiple pictures of the breath-taking architecture on the outside, we entered the Cathedral and I was immediately overwhelmed. The combination of the loud organ playing, and the size and beauty of what the inside of the Cathedral held, is more intense than I am able to describe. I remember looking at my friend Michael and both of us, with our jaws dropped, being completely consumed with the phenomenal magnificence that we had just walked into. It was honestly a life changing experience. Knowing how historical the building was and the meaning it held was a lot to take in. It was one of the biggest high’s in life I’ve ever experienced and I can only hope to achieve something comparable again. Having this feeling on my first weekend, on my first trip, gives me a very optimistic view of what the next 5 months will hold. 

“Rapunzel’s” tower

We visited La Rochelle on Sunday, January 12th. Being right on the west coast, there were many marina’s, so we were able to walk around and see the different boats, as well as towers in the area. Having never seen anything architectural like this before, a few of the other students and I laughed about how it looked like it could be Rapunzel’s tower! Since it was Sunday, most things were closed. This was one of the first french lessons I learned… everything closes at 7:00pm daily and nothing is open on Sundays! There is nothing 24-hours, and I have yet to find a store open past 7:00pm any day of the week!

 

 

On the west coast of France in La Rochelle

In search of the beach, we got a map and started heading towards the water. Although the temperature was in the 40s, the scenery was beautiful and the beach itself was quite busy! We then walked to a nearby animal farm where there were all types of birds and farmyard animals such as goat, chickens, etc.

It was such a fun day and even though we were only there for a few hours, I felt like we really saw a lot and we will be sure to go back to the beach once the weather gets warmer!

I’ve created a ‘share site’ through Shutterfly where I will post albums of all my trips and adventures! To see more pictures, please visit: https://thetwentysomethingtraveler.shutterfly.com/

I’ve been in France for 12 days now and have already experienced so much! The past two weeks have held a lot of traveling, meetings, and classes, along with adjusting to life in a foreign country! Now that I am somewhat ‘grounded’, I will be able to share things more often and can’t wait to tell you all about life in Europe! Until next time… à bientôt!