The best part....

So the best part of this experience for me hasn't been the fact that the food here is better, the fashions here are more current, the beaches are near by, or that my French has improved leaps and bounds. It isn't even that my fiancé came to visit, or that I'm in love with French culture.... It is that I have gotten the chance to meet so many different kinds of people from all over the place. Here is a quick list:

I've had housemates from Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Mississippi.
I've had classmates from Russia, Germany, Ohio, Florida, Canada, Denmark, Australia, England, and Italy.
I've become friends with a Prince of Saudi Arabia, a Turkish fellow, a gentleman from  Nouvelle Calédonie  and not to mention some amazing Young French people.

Not to mention the people who live in Nice are from everywhere in the world!

The lesson I've learned  to love each of these people is well worth all I have sacrificed to be here, even if I never got to improve my French ;)

I feel very humbled because I had many preconceived notions and I would tend to lump everyone from a certain country into the same category but being here has taught me that I still have so much to learn about people. I thought I knew what people from the south are like... But I don't! I never will because every person is different. And I love it.

Thanks for reading!

Why Can't We Be Friends?

"That's what I thought, too," he said at last, "when I was your age. If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside." (Lee, 23.117) 

It’s easy to make a joke about the French being rude. It’s harder to walk around in their shoes for a while. I got to walk around their country for a good while, and even though I didn’t pick up any French shoes, I feel like I’ve walked in them, at least to a minimal degree. France’s history has been one of war. Bloodshed and war. Occupation and war. Famine and war (Ever wonder where escargot came from?). The whole world at war. In France. Twice. If the whole world made a battleground out of my country (twice), I’d be hesitant to welcome strangers as well. 

I learned that the French are very much willing to help someone who’s lost on the street. They are amazingly kind in that respect. However, when a blundering, obese American stumbles around speaking English more loudly than anyone would prefer, taking pictures of some building that’s only 500 years old, and butchering the pronunciation of Le Tour Eiffel, there’s not much incentive to extend a warm welcome. Hence the cold shoulder. Most Parisians would switch to English (which they speak quite well, actually) at the first sign of my linguistic troubles because they’ve found it to be much more convenient. I can hardly blame them. It was quite practical. 

All in all, I find that the French aren’t rude, they’re just cautious. No one particularly likes the overtly loud, obnoxious, oblivious cousin at the family reunion. And that’s what Americans become when in Europe. Placed next to the rich, sophisticated, cultured, fashionable relative that is France, it’s no wonder France avoids eye contact for as long as possible. Perhaps it’s time to see that they’re not rude, we’re just annoying.

Roma!

Okay, I know this blog is supposed to be about our cultural experience in France, but Rome was so awesome and I feel inclined to share! This weekend Gloria, Myra, Becca, Jackie and I went to Rome and it was fantastic. I loved seeing so many historical sites and beautiful art. I spent most of the time on my own running from one place to the next having nothing but a map, a couple euros, a smile on my face, and a total of 7 Italian words and phrases. And that was all I needed. I adore Rome. Italians are so friendly and animated. I got to meet up with my friend Giovanna who was one of my roommates here in Nice and went to Actilangue as well. She invited me to Prague with her next summer! One of my favorite parts of my study abroad journey is all of the friendships that have been created. I definitely will be returning to Europe (hopefully Italy) in the near future!

Our New Japanese Friends

Today on our way to church, Lindsey and I met these two little old Japanese ladies who were just trying to get to the Matisse Museum, but they had no idea how to get there, so we decided that we would help them! They knew like 3 words in English, and even less French. We were so excited that we were able to help them find their way to the museum, mostly because we actually knew exactly how to get there. They were probably even more excited than we were! It was nice to  be able to explain where something is in a city that's basically become home to you. I've had so much fun getting to know Nice, and I'm so glad that I've been able to live in such a wonderful place for the past 2 months!!

Courses for days continued

Plate seven: pear sorbet made with liquid nitrogen

Plate eight: looks like a sunny side egg and toast but its coconut ice cream for the white part and the yellow was mango. The bread was similar angel food cake. 

Plate nine: candies 

As customary the meal took four hours to eat. It was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had even though I didn't like some of the food.  

Courses For Days

On Friday our roommate from Saudi Arabia treated us to a fancy nine course meal. Ziad graciously paid 99 euros for each of us which eight people attended the dinner. This meal was a full embrace of the French culture.
Plate one: was an oyster inspired dish with eggplant, a small butter sandwich and a vegetable flavored mousse.

Plate two: was an anchovie paste topped that were frozen in dry ice and when you ate it smoke came out of your nose or mouth.

 Plate three: included a tomato covered in three cheeses from the mozzarella family and topped with pesto.

Plate four: sushi looking froi gras

Plate five: scallops with truffles. They are super expensive mushrooms 

Plate six: beef brisket

California Girl Day but 1000 times better because we're in France

Today consisted of school, beach, shopping and eating. Shyanne, Alex and I went to the beach for a long time. The water was perfect and the weather was exceptional. After we had a very amazing walk down Jean Médecin. As I am getting used to Nice, I seriously don't want to leave. I could  live here forever. My French is improving leaps and bounds. I can't believe we only have one week left of school!