Hossegor, France

I am now back in America, but I still have a few things to share about my last few weeks in Paris! I didn't have time before I left with last minute packing and such, but here it is...

A few weeks before I left France, I went to Hossegor with Andrew and some friends from HEC. Hossegor is a famous surf spot in France just north of Biarritz in the southwest of the country. We all rented a house right by the beach and surfed, cooked/ate some great meals together, and got some sun (finally!). I missed the beach and the ocean so much - it was a nice and relaxing break from city life. I only wished we could have stayed longer... all you need in life is good food, good weather, and good company!

Paris People

Coming back from Scotland last Monday, I brought Alex and Megan with me! Megan had a day and a half to spend here, and the volcanic ash (yes, it's still here!) finally permitted Alex to fly home Sunday. While they were here, we visited Versailles, went to the fondue place I have mentioned, a new club called Bus Palladium (free entry AND drinks for girls on Tuesday nights!), had Cinco de Mayo dinner at Arriba Mexico, went to Centre Pompidou, toured the Marais and had my favorite falafel sandwiches, went to Cafe Oz and (a new favorite) Le Violin Dingue for drinks and dancing, visited Sacre Coeur, and had a wonderful meal at Becca's host family's house for her birthday, to name a few things. I loved having them visit, and miss them already! It means so much to have friends who mean so much to me come and visit even when I live so far away. Also, I was able to meet up with a friend from high school who was visiting Paris, Ben Jackson! It was great to see him again and meet his roommate Rob while they were here.

Hall of Mirrors, Versailles.

Le Refuge des Fondues

Andrew's birthday was Saturday, so we spent the day in Champ de Mars, had dinner at Le Relais Gascon in Montmartre (best salads I have ever had, actually everyone said their food was fantastic), and went to Pointe Éphémère for drinks and dancing. Point Éphémère is a great concert venue/art exhibit/bar/club/house party type of place off of Canal St. Martin. It was such a fun place, and we want to go back to see some concerts (they have one nearly every day!). Happy Birthday, Andrew! I love you incredibly.

Le Bus Palladium

6 rue Fontaine, 9th arrondissement

Métro Pigalle

Le Violin Dingue

46 rue de la Montagne, 5th arrondissement

Métro Cardinal Lemoine

Le Relais Gascon

13 Rue Joseph de Maiste, 18th arrondissement

Métro Abbesses

Point Éphémère

Quai de Valmy, 10th arrondissement

Métro Jaurès

St. Andrews, Scotland

After leaving the south of France, I traveled up to St. Andrews to see Chris, who goes to St. Andrews University. Our friends from Pepperdine Alex, Natalie, and Megan also came to meet us there after visiting London. Let me just say that we did our year anniversary of graduating from college right. It was a weekend of college all over again... meeting tons of Chris' (great) friends, going to pubs, polo matches, creepy cult-like rituals that apparently all old English schools have, tea time, eating traditional Scottish meal of haggis and oat cakes, running on the beach, seeing old ruins... I had one of the best weekend with these friends and just seeing a part of Scotland. Thanks Chris for being a fantastic host!

Chris's flat on South Street.

Chris's room - so great! He fit all 4 of us girls in here.

St. Andrews University May 1st ritual (later at 4 a.m. Chris jumped into the ocean... freezing!).

The Quad, St. Andrew's University.

The Lizard - St. Andrews one and only club.

Traditional Scottish meal: oat cakes, potatoes, and haggis (you don't want to know what's in this).

We love our tea time - Bibi's Cafe.

Bibi's Bakery - great cupcakes!

St. Andrews University polo match. Apparently Prince William (former student) was here at some point but we missed him (!).

It's not really Scotland until you hear some bagpipes.

Cogolin, St. Tropez, Le Lavandou, Port Cros

The beginning of the last week of April I went with Kay Sar and Norgay's family to the south of France. They have family friends who own a villa just outside of St. Tropez in Cogolin. The weather was BEAUTIFUL, the kids were so nice and everyone treated me like a part of the family, we ate great meals, and explored the coast! I was able to go with the family on a boat tour of St. Tropez, hang out on the beaches in Le Lavandou and St. Tropez, hike in the Cogolin mountains, take a ferry to the island called Porte Cros and hike there... it was a wonderful trip and I am so happy they invited me to go with them!

A Very Happy Birthday in Paris

So it turns out that the ash cloud did in fact ruin our trip to Mallorca. We were really bummed because we went all the way to the airport only to be turned right back around home. However, Emily, Becca and I decided to treat our time in Paris still as vacation and make the most of it. The weather was mid-high 60s all week and sunny, so we were very lucky!

Long story short, we... picnicked in Champ de Mars park... went to the Versailles gardens (with FOZZIE!)... had the BEST Spanish dinner prepared by Kara and her friend from Le Cordon Bleu, Hayley, (paella, sangria, stuffed peppers included) to make us feel better for missing out on our Spanish vacation... explored Chinatown Paris for my birthday lunch, then went bowling on rue Mouffetard that night... rented Velib's and biked through Paris up to Canal St. Martin, had a great pizza lunch at Al Taglio, drinks at Charlie Birdy (GREAT happy hour), and clubbing at Showcase (under Pont Alexandre III) for Becca's birthday... and discovered REAL MEXICAN FOOD in Paris at Arriba Mexico! Never thought I would be saying that!!!

It really was a wonderful week despite the change in plans, and I had a great 23rd birthday. But being 22 was a great age too. I graduated from college, moved to Paris, learned French/how to teach/how to function in another country, decided to go to law school (more on that decision to come), fell more in love with Andrew... a few big milestones. I know that my 23rd year of life will bring with it many more exciting things to come as well!

Bowling Mouffetard

73 rue Mouffetard, 5th arrondissement

Métro Place Monge

Al Taglio (review by David Lebovitz, fantastic food blogger recommended by Kara)

2 bis rue Neuve Popincourt, 11th arrondissement

Métro Parmentier

Charlie Birdy

Place Etienne Pernet, 15th arrondissement

Métro Commerce

Le Showcase

Pont Alexandre III, 8th arrondissement

Métro Invalides

Arriba Mexico

32 avenue République, 11th arrondissement

Métro République, Parmentier

lessons learned from volcanic ash

Over here in Europe, the world has literally come to a standstill. No one can fly out or in, people are stranded and away from their loved ones... and the cancellation of my birthday trip to Mallorca tomorrow morning is imminent. All of this from a volcano eruption in Iceland?!?!

Makes you think... we humans like to believe we are in control of our lives, that we have tamed nature into a civilized world. Well guess what? We are not God. This reminder from Eyjafjallajokull dumbfounded the airline industry and the world. For me it is a reminder that I need to trust the one who created everything and let that be enough.

Besides, with weather like we are having in Paris, it is hard to complain.

Assistante de Langue Anglais

My teaching career has come to a close. This past Thursday was my last day, and I am sad to be leaving Lycée Sonia Delaunay. I was just beginning to get to know my students and the other professors really well, and I will not forget them or my time here!

Some things I have learned teaching in France...

PREPARE and ADAPT. Come prepared for the worst. Some students don't care, won't try, and give you a hard time. On the flip side, some students really want to learn and teach you more than you could ever teach them. BUT they can always tell if you are unprepared for a lesson or when a lesson doesn't go as planned. I have learned to go with the flow and with what works best.

BE PATIENT. I can't make these students improve their English, but I can be patient and encouraging and hope for the best.

FORGET STEREOTYPES. The French do NOT hate Americans... actually most love them. TV shows, movies, music, clothes, the American teenager lifestyle... some of my students know more about American pop culture than I do, and most of them would jump at the chance to visit the good old U.S. of A.

INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS. It was hard making friends with the other teachers at first, but over time I have found that they are really caring and loving towards their coworkers and genuinely are interested in each others lives. I was able to get to know one teacher especially well because I tutored him in English every week. I am very lucky to have had the chance to get to know him and hear his opinion and perspective on so many things.

HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE. Come ready to present the best lesson you can. My job wasn't just about me, I had to lead 6 classes every day and keep the students interested and involved. It can be exhausting, but I want them to remember me as a teacher who really cared about every single student.

BE HUMBLE. Some of the terminale (aka senior) students spoke better English than I do and are very intelligent and informed about the world. Again, I feel like I learned more from them. I learned to do the best I could to help them speak English and learn about American culture. Also, no student wants to have a condescending teacher with a superiority complex. I tried my best to make my classroom a place where my students and I could learn from each other.

I can't imagine having done anything else this past year after college. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity and have learned an incredible amount not only working at my first job, but being an unexperienced teacher in a foreign country. I recommend this job and opportunity to anyone who would be willing to move abroad for a year and challenge themselves in a new way.

One of my terminale classes that I will miss dearly.

The teachers' lounge. They had champagne and cookies on my last day, so kind!

English professors (L-R) Sophie, Catherine, Stephanie, and Carmine, a history professor that I tutored in English.

French Culture website and Teaching Assistant program here.