Recap, The Month of September.

Bonjour Amis!!
J'aime boucoup Francais, Il y a tres belle!

Un Septembre:
J'arrive a Paris!! <> Immediately after my arrival i went straight to bed for about 5 hours, woke up for 3 (basically just to eat), then I went back to bed for another 10 until I got up the next day for my first day of orientation at IES!

Quatre Septembre:
Boat cruise on the Seine river, and my first glimpse of the Eiffel tower
* Fun Fact: The Eiffel tower was actually built for the worlds fair in 1889. France wanted to show everyone how advanced they were in Architecture/Technology - Everyone who lived in Paris thought it was hideous and it was supposed to be torn down after 20 years ... never the less it is now one of the 7 world wonders!

Cinq Septembre:
Trip To Versailles. Where we saw the Chateau (Castle of) de Versailles and its beautiful jardin (garden)!
* Fun Fact: (Michaela you’ll love this) Back in the old days they didn't have bathrooms so they would they would just poop behind doors and the servants would clean it up (I now have a little more respect for my dog.) ... on a more serious note we got to see the world famous hall of mirrors, and we got to see where the king slept and dressed (and actually if I remember right, it was a huge privilege to be able to watch the king wake up

- there would be like fifteen people watching him and getting him ready/they would dress and bathe him... awkward.) oh and people back then didn’t shower but maybe twice in there life, they would just cake on baby powder and perfume!
There were beautiful paintings that covered the walls and ceilings of the castle... mom you would have died, don’t worry I took wayyy too many pictures!

Dix Septembre:
Trip to Strasbourg and Verdun. We took a 6 hour bus ride to Strasbourg. Every meal we ate there included like 25 courses and a bottle of wine at every table, I’m pretty sure i gained 10 pounds just within those three days. In Strasbourg we got to see the European Union (Kelly I thought of you the whole time and yes I took beaucoup photos for you too!) our first tour guide was sooo excited ab

out the tour he repeated everything he said several times in his funny French accent, it was nearly impossible to keep a straight face. We got to sit in/tour the room where all of the important representatives meet and make decision, there is probably a more formal and obvious name for this room but it is slipping my mind right now. I am actually taking a class about Comparative European Politics so it makes having seen the EU that much more meaningful.

We also got to go to the Chamber of Commerce where we saw a PowerPoint about different facts and statistics about the region. Unfortunately this was after a huge lunch soo everyone was tres creve (translation: very tired), and then they offered us plus de vin (more win), I’m fairly certain Europeans are alcoholics.

We also got to see a very beautiful gothic cathedral... the thing

about churches and France/Paris is that you will be walking down the street with worn down 20th century buildings, graffiti, litter, etc and then all of the sudden BAM

a perfectly pristine 18th century cathedral/church, I always take like 20 pictures of them too as if it were first one I had ever seen in Paris.