Skiing Tales

Okay. I am pathetic at posting in this blog. I admit it. Therefore, I am punishing myself by writing this blog after a long day of skiing. And all for YOU! A.k.a. those very few who are even attempting to still check my blog for the merest chance that I would have possibly posted a few words. Again, my apologies. I would say I will try to be better in the future, but alas that would be an empty promise as I am having way too much of a blast to sit on this blog every week and pour my heart out. I would much rather be drinking that 3 euro wine in Europole with my wonderfully international friends. Oh and which brings me to an extremely important, dare I say earth shattering, mind boggling, apocalypse-esque point: I may....like wine. My famed Bordeaux (in which I believe I have bought so much of I have sold out the store around the corner, sorry fellow Bordeaux lovers) has started to taste semi-non-disgusting, in fact possibly.....good! Shocking, I know. I won't go on about it forever because this breaking news will be hitting all the major newspapers tomorrow with a scintillating insiders look at my new love affair....with wine of course! Silly blog-readers.

But I digress, skiing on the other hand was fab fab fabulous today! It was my second time out on the slopes and this time the group went to Les Deux Alpes - infinitely better than Chamrousse (our first ski outing) in my opinion. There were amazing views of the mountains and the town in the valley was very quaint. Especially at night when it was lit up with various shades of blue lights reminiscent of Christmastime. I know its February, but I am certainly not complaining. Erin, Orla, and I opted for the kiddy slopes (we will pretend for a second that this wasn't our only option), while Trish, Simon, and Amelie went for the more advanced stuff a.k.a. not at the bottom of the mountain on a sledding hill. So us beginners took a lesson with a lovely Italian ski instructor and learned tons! How to move sideways instead of slowly inching straight on down the hill with no control of direction whatsoever was a step up for Erin and I from last time's fail (more to come on that, never fear). He even set up a challenging obstacle course down that rigorous hill for bunnies such as ourselves and we somehow made it out alive and are fully prepared for success at the 2014 Winter Olympics - we made some time at the end of the day for the important stuff like practicing our surprised face and gallant wave from the gold medal stand. Oh and crepes, divine crepes. All in all a lovely day and I absolutely cannot wait to go back for more!

So, as promised I will give an account of our first ski outing, which will be by far more interesting/mortifying depending on your perspective. This is an excerpt from my travel journal on January 27. The context begins with me explaining how there's nothing to do in Grenoble, but drink really (which was fully disclosed above with the wine news). Anyway, here goes:

Since we are in the Alps there is also skiing, which Erin and I so daringly ventured to do this past Sunday. It was very, very fun (falling on our ass and all) and we are tres pumped for our next skiing adventure. I paid like 100 euro for the damn clothes, so I have to get my money's worth. Although I shouldn't really complain, as anything that requires buying a new outfit of any sort is a friend by my standards. So, highlights of the outing include:

• Erin sliding down a mini hill face first into a pole which then proceeded to dump snow on her head from the impact of the collision. Imagine her arms wrapped around it and skis at all angles and me ra-ha-ha'ing it up. Especially when a French woman, who spoke no English, was trying to turn her around and push her back up the hill, all while yelling directions in French to a confused American.
• Next, I took quite the tumble when I was on the ski lift. It was a metal bar you held going up the hill. Just at the top a little girl had fallen (this is what you get for being a beginner) so of course I'm freaking because I'm probably going to ski right over her and then get caught in in some nasty lawsuit for 10 bazillion years (oh wait, we're not in America....low blow, I know). However, I admirably managed to dodge her and then end up flying over a mountain of snow. So I lied on my back for a minute contemplating the propensity of what just happened (my upcoming Nobel Peace Prize for my calamity-preventing heroics, of course) and then someone informed me that my catapult-esque move had put a halt on the whole ski lift. I then realized how truly graceful my life is when I finally stand up and see the masses of people holding onto bars up the hill and all staring at me, myself, and I. But I brushed myself off and skiied on to successfully not falling the rest of the day! Quite a feat, considering I was really craving some more embarrassment paired with a splitting headache and exquisite violet bruises.

By the end of the day we were complete icicles, but it was well worth the freezing temperatures. Especially for the views. Taking the bus back, we were above the clouds (obviously not at the bunny slopes...). It really doesn't get any better than that. I can't even put into words how unreal it was. Absolutely out of this world. It might be totally lame-o, but it reminds of the movies at Epcot in Disneyworld. The ones in the big, circular rooms where you have to keep turning round and round to see it all. There was one in the France section of Epcot and I always remembered how magnificent the Alps looked when this paraglider soared through them up and down and through and above the wispy clouds. I thought it looked like the best place I could ever imagine. And oh, how it was.

So guys, I think I have suffered enough for one night. HA, only kidding, you know I thoroughly enjoy entertaining you. I promise (but seriously, I promise) to have posts of my travels in Geneva, London, and Dublin soon. Maybe even tomorrow perhaps if you're lucky and give me rave reviews on this one?

These pictures are from our skiing trip today!

Bonsoir les amis!

Grenoble thus far!

So. Its been awhile. Toutes mes excuses! (my apologies) My experience so far has been thrilling. Surreal is the best word to describe everyday life. I stroll down the rues (ha) to get my favorite trois fromage panini and wonder how I got so lucky to be here. Mountains are in view at all times. And always breathtaking. Last Sunday, Erin and I hiked the hill to the Bastille and were absolutely in a trance (and it wasn't the altitude and the 2.5km straight up to the sky). The view is out of this world, every day we discuss how we simply cannot believe we get to wake up, open our window, and see a panorama of the alps. How chic are we?
Grenoble is an ideal location for study abroad. Its extremely manageable to get around the city; not too big, not too small. We are actually learning quite quickly how to get around by tram. Take A to Fontaine La Poya for the Geant Casino (aka Super Wal-Mart), A to Denis Papin for the city's center with tons of shopping (my domain) and eating, and B to Cite Internationale to get to our lovely Canadian friends' apartment. Oh yeah, we're good. I have the tram woman's automated french voice permanently ingrained in my mind and probably chant it in my sleep. But I'll accept my fate in hopes of actually learning how to pronounce these frenchie terms and become a true European by the time I'm done here. Its not as easy as it looks. The French have style. And I am Ms. American with the crazy red (ish) hair. Therefore I have already done some intensive shopping to fit in with these fabulous fashionistas and intend on becoming one with them. The hair will just have to do for now.
The French lifestyle in general is a bit to adjust to, naturally. Everything is closed on Sunday and Monday. Everyone takes a relaxed 2 hour lunch. And every shop closes reallyyy early. Goodbye 24/7 fast food, Wal-Mart, and a mall that's open until 9pm. Its a bit of an adjustment (ahem huge), but the trade off is....well worth the strife. Even our "shithole" (aka our horridly medieval apartment, also wonderfully cheap) is comical and at least we can say we saved money on something since our pocketbooks are dwindling at best right now. Sorry 'rents. Looks like I'll be slaving on le peterson farms this summer.
Classes are going well so far. I can say this because I only had three last week in total on Monday and Tuesday and was a free bar-hopping bird the rest of the week. Which is also why I am a sickly staying in on a Saturday night writing on my blog bird at the moment. 'Twas fun while it lasted. Everything school-wise is so very different here compared to the states. My schedule every week is different for classes. My routine loving self will have to subdue herself in the land of baguettes it seems. Ahh well, just another part of the adventure. Also, the school organizes parties for us on the regular. University of Kentucky: ya suck. We've had a function to attend almost every night we've been here, its completely outrageous. And in the best possible way. The prices for my beloved bourbon are completely outrageous as well, which is why we are all taking up wine with a sour face and a happy wallet. You can buy a bottle here for as little as 2 euro. Insane! Overall, the school is much more upfront about students drinking, which is much different than the American blind eye.
As far as studying though, I can already see myself learning just by exploring the city. Since I am a marketing major and advertisements are everywhere, its easy to see the differences and I feel very lucky to be able to take it all in in-person instead of through a textbook. I can already say that I am learning so much about myself through this liberation of being on my own completely and in another country for that matter. Its like being a freshman all over again, but much more difficult because you can't even communicate with the general public. But my intensive French class is taking care of that, no worries.
But I must depart from le blog as we are skiing bright and early in the morning! We will actually be going to the slopes where the 1968 Winter Olympics were held - look at us, amateurs in the alps. God give us coordination.

P.S. The name of my blog has currently changed to reflect my favorite phrase when greeting any French person. Always an interesting conversation here in fair France.

24 hrs 'til Paris!

Last night I looked up at the sky and saw it filled with stars - tons of them! You simply do not get views like this in a city and how I had missed it compared to the usual blank palette in Lexington (no offense Lex, I still love you). It was refreshing to see, especially standing amongst my friends on our very last night together before my bon voyage. The very best part is those stars will be in France. So on the eve of my departure I am semi-comforted by the fact that I can take a little bit of home with me and without cramming it in my already 50 lb suitcases.... Meandering my way through Charles de Gaulle with my multitude of luggage trying to find the train station all the while will be an experience like none I have ever experienced.
Tomorrow (or shall I say today) will be a challenge and a serious test of my independent nature (or lack thereof), but one I am willing to accept in exchange for reuniting with my fair France! But of course I am excused from crying for daddy when I can't lift my luggage off of the carousel, mommy when I can't speak enough French to purchase a train ticket and arrive in Madrid instead of Grenoble, and Maddie when I'm frazzled and desperately need one of her not-so-funny-jokes-that-somehow-end-in-me-crying-from-hysterics. I'm going to miss you all so very much! And hardly none will I miss more than my sisters at UK :) You all will have some lovely slideshow pics when Erin and I are done with our little excursion. You can thank us later by letting us plan the menu for the whole of next year.
So thanks to whoever is reading out there! I'm sure it will get a lot more interesting than my sappy goodbyes within the next 48 hours...I'll keep you posted. Amérique d'adieu! Bonjour la France!