I am alive - here is the proof

So I know its been awhile- and there will be a official write up on Wed- but until then, here are some pictures to prove my existence both to my grandparents and the rest of the world who was unsure :)

This last week my cousin John, who is studying in Germany, came and visited me! We did a lot a lot of walking and exploring! But it was all good and fun. All these pictures are from our time together and the places we explored. These first couple were specifically taken for my Grandma Alsop :) LOVE YOU!



Op! What is this?!? John and I in front of the Moulin Rouge! Shocker- the lady shows of France! (No, we did not enter- but not everyone knows that)


It was a great day!


Next was Versailles! And we got in for free!!! Yes for being a under 26 student who is studying in Europe- we found the benefits (in France) to almost be endless (... at least for cultural experiences)!




Hall of Mirrors




Everyone was taking photos of the gardens!





It was a windy windy day and the gardens were HUGE - but we later warmed up with some AMAZING hot chocolate!


Apollo, the Sun God- rising from the waters!


Outside Pompidou- the kids were fascinated by the bubbles! Very entertaining :)


Top of the EIFFEL!!! (first time! Both for John and I!)


Ok, thats it! More on Wed! :)

Wednesday HL- March 10

High and Low for the week, whew, here goes...

Low:

Eek, this one was a little scary but thankfully everything is ok now (big praise God)! What happened was while I had just finished some major homework and was in the midst of skyping my dad- my computer gave that "Blue Screen of Death" (thats what we call it in my family). And usually it will happen, be an inconvenience, but just restart back up and be fine.

Not this time.

This time it started back up and said "No Opperating Data". Op! Thats not good! So I was sort of bummed and a little nervous but surprisingly not too distraut or worried. (Which was great- another praise). I ended up getting a hold of my dad later (being up a little late and the day before our early morning day trip) but at least communicating with him how I might be hindered from communicating and more because of the issue. I could go into details but what was really cool was that THAT Sunday (it happened Friday night) at church, they talked about how David and Goliath and how God is larger than any problem that comes in our way (which of course at times we know these things - know - but they don't let it hit us). And I just returned home with confidence and more peace that everything was going to be all right. A few hours later they were. Definitely a trial of patience but it was all really great.

High

(Really for this week - other than my day trip - just really a couple small but lovely things)
1. I went for a walk with my roommate through the Luxembourg gardens (and we might continue to make it a weekly thing).

2. The guys at the crepe spot, even though I don't really get crepes any more because they = $, so enjoying stopping me when I pass by, say hi, and ask me how I am. Its so great! But its odd because sometimes I will pass by that area multiple times in one day, that I will cross on the other side of the street so that it won't turn into a huge why hello again and I already used all the phrases I know in French for the day with you!.... :)

3. I got marketed to on the streets of Paris! On my way to the grocery store, people in pink plastic dresses (it is fashion week- I don't know) were handing out some gum with a 5 for the logo! It was great - free gum! And being a marker (present and future tense) I just smiled at being a part of it. (Plus, the French see gum often as a very American thing- so it makes sense that in order for them to do well, they cannot just introduce a new brand in the stores- plus TV advertising is scarce).

4. I saw just a random act of kindness while in Carrefour (the grocery store). Nothing big- but a man behind me was only purchasing a block of Cheese, and so I persisted that he go infront of me. And it continued, the lady in front of me suggested he pass her as well. It just made his day and he left with smile and passed on a "bon soiree" (good night) greeting to us all.

5. I have started reading "The Catcher and the Rye" and just am fascinated by it. I will find my self loosing a laugh in the silent metros reading! So I am excited to continue to read and finish it up and then meet with my book club at the end of the month! (One item I notice though is that when I read a book that contains a character with such personality, I find myself taking on some of his traits as I go about my dad to day and the way I critique things... it sort of amusing :)

[tomorrow I leave for Italy for my spring break and return the following Saturday and then my cousin from Germany visits me for a little bit!! But I have one more midterm tomorrow- and another the week after break and had one today! Getting there! Life is good] Hope all you student managers and Dave are doing well!

p.s. I am glad you enjoy my stories at times :)

Day Trip to Loire Valley

Before I begin, let me start by saying it is not Thursday morning when I am doing this, rather it is 5 o'clock (17h in France)--- SUCCESS!!!

The pictures you are about to see though are from a day trip that was hosted by a group to the Loire Valley, south of Paris. This area is known for its abundance of castles along the, you guessed it, Loire River. And while, small tear, we did not end up seeing the castle that forever resides as the background to background to my computer- I temporarily got over my subtle sadness to enjoy the two castles we would end up seeing- The Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau d' Amboise.

Check out their websites to see a little more, and of course some beautiful pictures

http://www.chenonceau.com/media/fr/index_fr.php
http://www.chateau-amboise.com/

(one on my background...: http://www.chambord.org/ ; but a picture close to the one I have is: http://www.freewebs.com/mdvanzutphen/Chateau_de_Chambord_France.jpg)


BUT TO CONTINUE, this was the Chateau de Chenonceau...

Ha, but to be more honest, that was a picture of a professional picture! Op, gotcha! The ideal... I know. This is what it looked like when our group went there -


And what it looked like coming down the path (the front of it was under construction). And to add- the long area over what used to be just an arched bridge- is actually a long hallway with close to nothing in it (not to disappoint). In WWI it was used as a hospital space, but otherwise it was a gallery.


View from the inside, looking down the Loire River.

These were the royal symbols for Henri II and Catherine de' Medici. But get this, on the floor as decoration the two royal symbols, just like they were bonded in marriage, were on top of one another on the floor textiles. However, when such happened, the layering of the two created what looked like a D. IT JUST SO HAPPENED that Henri II's mistress and actual first owner of recipient of the castle, Diane de Poitiers. Henri found this pretty funny... but Catherine, not so much.



The library wall


One of the downstairs eating areas... I got excited because it (oh goodness) made me think of potterybarn...


They had SO much pot wear, I just had to.


Some of the framed prints of the castle. This was Catherine de' Medici's exhibition room.


You must meet the group that I went with!!


From left to right you have: Patrick, Sam (on of my roommates!), Alex, Dot (Harry Potter wiz extraordinaire), Sarah (I will be taking a cooking class with her later), and Katelyn.


This is a picture after we had a race through the castle's side labyrinth- Alex one, so is taking a "victory shot" brushing off his shoulder...



We were the losers...


Striking a pose as I climb the center object!


Next we went and visted Leonardo Da Vinci's final manor. He had a studio here, did some work here, and eventually died here.


So... one of the ideas he thought of was the precursor to the helicopter. At the manor they had built a life size replica, and being the kids that we are HAD A BLAST with this convenient learning tool! Sorry to say, there was no lift off- but we did fly off a couple times!


View from part of his manor.


The sun had JUST come out and everyone was just soaking it in!



Two of my beautiful friends enjoying beautiful France. :)
(That is part of the Chateau d' Amboise in the background)




Some bundled up kids enjoying a day out on the town near the Chateau d' Amboise.


An amazing town clock... one which we actually found a secret door to climb up it! It was a beautiful view from the upper windows!




Once we got town, we walked a little more an ended up coming to the Loire River and taking a final view of the Chateau.



Back on the bus :)

Important Dad Bulliten

So while the rest of you may find this completely uninformative in any matter, I must to some great degree announce to my dad how ..... (drumroll please.)

I HAD LUNCH WITH MONICA!!!!!!!

Ha but she said the picture will have to wait for next time! :)
But, nonetheless, we have met at last! (I will have to tell you more later!)

Wednesday HL- March 3

Again, I am so bad at doing this late. Its funny because there will be days where I am like, ah I just need to write this out, post it up, and share this story- and then something else happens, and it comes to 12:15 Thursday morning, and I just rush out what I can. But I promise a well composed story is coming soon. I skyped with my parents one night and after sharing a story they go, "Oh thats one you have to put on the blog!".... its funny hearing that from people who just got facebook :)

So a "blogworthy" (?) story is coming soon, but until then, here is a quick high low and maybe even a few pics... but I have two morning classes tomorrow (ah and a quiz in one).

Onward!!!

Low:
My water got slipped over at the end of art class today. We were just finishing up a quiz and as one person was walking out, their bag knocked over by open water bottle onto out answers! It was a little set back at first, but she quickly went to the bathroom and got some paper towel while the teacher lectured us on the policy of no liquids in class and she taught us the method of blotting our papers so as to save as much of our work as we could. It was sort of funny afterwards, but we had just come out of the daze of trying to understand/ appreciate abstract expressionism.... so were trying to come back to realtiy! (Ha that is the hardest for me to grab significance in- they are the art pieces everyone looks at and says, "my two year old brother could do that"- and we were trying to grasp the greatness and history and creativity in it..... AH a black square on a white square!! Now a circle!!!! Op, now a chevron!!! (p.s. for those of you who do not know [p.s.s. also me before this day] a chevron is in simple standards a two sided triangle- fascinating I know)---- but I will (possibly) lighten up to this matter. ha, in due time.

High:
I talked to my good friend Steph/ got an email from her and it was so good to just hear from her/ see her and all (ahh thank you skype). I also met this amazing neighbor woman of mine today (details later... I am fading). I went to my first connect group (church small group through Hillsong in Paris) which was great- I was late because I had talked to my neighbor for so long but it was good to get to meet some Christians my age! They all seem like awesome people and we discussed encouraging one another in the gifts and resources that God has placed in our lives. And lastly, not that this trumps, just coincidence I am writing it last- ahhh I might, yes almost positive, join a book club in Paris composed of people from all around the world. It is once a month and for March they are reading "The Catcher in the Rye" - since author J.D. Salinger just passed away in the end of Jan. I am super syched though! Ok.... and pics tomorrow! ha, maybe even homework review tomorrow. My bed is taking me in. And I am not putting up any fight.

Goodnight friends :)

(I must put three pictures, ha!)




I went to the Louvre quite some time ago now, and need to go again. But failed at putting any of my pictures up- so this is a glimpse of items to come.

Amazing works there.... this one was particularly beautiful


An amazing park in Paris, incredible actually- I will put more up later!


My handiwork- note last post... oh gosh