Went to Normandy this weekend!  Such a beautiful area.  We took a train to the city of Caen Friday afternoon and stayed there for the weekend.  Saturday, we took a train and bus and visited the D-Day beaches and the American Cemetery.  So terribly sad, but very important for any American to see.  Sunday, we went to a World War II museum in Caen (http://www.memorial-caen.fr/portail/) and it was by far one of the best museums I have ever been to.  Lots of things to look at and almost too much information to take in.  It was wonderful.
This was my second trip to Normandy.  This time, I noticed that the beaches are not respected as monumental grounds...they are like regular beaches.  I found that to be strange, but maybe that is because I am used to land being somewhat preserved (aka Gettysburg).  Unfortunately we did not make it Pointe du Hoc (a well-known cliff area where the US attacked German bunkers on D-Day) to see the remains of German bunkers and the extremely hilly landscape made from bombs.  I remember that as the part of the Normandy beaches I found most interesting.  However, we did find two bunkers near a memorial only 5 minutes down the beach.  It is a queer feeling to walk through them and think what happened only 68 years ago.  I cannot even begin to imagine.
Overall, it was a wonderful, educational weekend getaway and I am so glad I visited the area again!

Je pense que c'est le temps pour un blog en français!  Aujourd'hui, j'ai eu un exposé orale avec un partenaire.  C'était une petite sketch de journal télévisé.  Nous avons parlé des éléctions aux États-Unis et de France, et les differences entre les deux pays (la nourriture et les travaux).  Le professeur a dit, "Très bon! Très très bon!" quand nous avons fini...c'était bien à entendre!  Aussi, ce matin, j'ai eu un classe de phonetiques.  Dans cette classe, nous écoutons notre professeur et nous répétons ses mots dans un enregistreur.  Alors, il écoute à notre parole et il corrige nos erreurs.  C'est un bon système.  Ce matin, il a dit que m'accent était parfait pour un activité.  J'étais très, très heureux!  C'était les meilleures nouvelles que j'avais obtenu dans une semaine.

Translator:  translate.google.com
(Keep in mind that it does not always translate correctly online...)

À bientôt!

Yesterday was breathtakingly wonderful!!  We went on an excursion through l'Intstitute to le Mont St. Michel and Saint-Malo.  I had been to both on my previous trip to France about 4 years ago, and they were my favorite spots on that trip.  And I am happy to say that nothing has changed and they remain my favorite part of France!

Mont Saint-Michel is like another world.  You go over a hill and all of a sudden, a giant castle island is in front of you.  It's amazing that it is still a practicing monastery, and has been since 8th century AD.  From the top, you can see for miles and miles.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Saint-Malo was a fortress of French corsairs, who conducted raids on passing ships on behalf of the French crown.  The fortified wall still remains around the center of the town.  We climbed rock bluffs just outside of the wall and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done!

Yesterday was also Bastille Day, the French independence day.  Our bus got back just in time to catch the fireworks!  They were just as good as Michigan ones.  It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

As an American, I never have had an issue finding somewhere to go to the bathroom.  We have them everywhere we go.  I think the biggest difference between the US and France (besides the language) is the lack of public restrooms. Les toilettes ici ne sont pas gratuites!  You have to pay to use them....what a crazy concept for me to understand.  The plus side?  It cleans itself after every use!  Downside?  There goes another .60centimes...

Weird Toilet

Another observation:  there is no free wifi anywhere!  Even in hotels (we had this problem in London and Venice, too), there is no free wifi.  Europe est trop cher!  The only free wifi is in McDonalds, and even then, you have to receive a text message with an ID and username.  Ridiculous.

Yet another observation:  restaurants do not have "take-home" boxes.  You finish everything on your plate.  Americans might think this is glutenous...but considering the French do not snack and eat only three times a day, it makes sense.  And it gives me an excuse to finish my plate and not feel sick about the amount I consume!

Tours is currently having a free art festival, called Rayons Frais.  Before dinner, I went with Hugette and Johanna (my new roommate) and saw a show.  It was one of the coolest things I have seen here so far!  There was a brass band who moved through the audience while they played.  They had dancers accompany them and it was very theatrical.  So cool!

Today I had the best ice cream I have ever had!  It was passion fruit and apricot.  Who would have thought I'd start to like fruit more than chocolate ice cream!  It must be the French air...

DELICIOUS!!
(orange was apricot and yellow was passion fruit)
Courtesy of Tutti Gusti in La Place Plumereau

Last night, I went across the river to another guinguette to their swing dancing night!  My friend Rachel's host mom took us and it was really fun!  We learned the basic steps and danced for a little bit, but compared to the French, I have two left feet....I did not last long.  Je préfère regarder les danseurs!

Prior to realizing I was never meant to be a dancer, I had class in the morning and then a Cours de cuisine.  We made galettes (like crêpes but without sugar) with ham, potatoes, egg, and cheese (including CHEVRE (goat cheese) which I keep forgetting to write about....it is the best cheese I have ever had).  They were delicious.  Then there was mousse au chocolat....also wonderfully yummy.  I have both recipes and fully intend on making them when I return.

I've been trying to think of things that I don't like here and I have compiled a small list:

1.  The dog poo.  The laws to enforce picking up after your pets are not enforced (if there are any) and it is left on the sidewalks...watch your step!

2.  The smell.  Obviously, sometimes it is not very pleasant...

3.  The price of a razor.  I had to pay 9euro/$11 for a razor with one refill!  I miss my cheap Meijer disposables.

4.  Not splitting the bill.  In Europe, they do not like to split the bill!  It always comes as one and it is such a pain to figure out who owes what when you have a group over 5!  Especially when you are out of cash and need to use a credit card...

But things I love?!  There are so many:

1. The food!--le fromage (especially chevre), nutella, la glace cassis (black currant ice cream), les rillettes (similar to a pâté), le millefeuille (yummy dessert)...the list goes on and on.  Even simple dishes, like salmon or chicken, taste differently than in the States because everything is so FRESH.  And they are garnished so simply, with just a mustard sauce or with nothing at all, but still have so much flavor.  I wish I could eat French food forever.

2.  The history.  There is so much history here!  And it is actual old history.  In the United States, we have history, but it is nothing compared to this part of the world.  The house I live in here was built in the 16th century and the cathedral it overlooks was built in 12th and 13th centuries.  There is nothing like that in Michigan!  It is truly amazing.

3.  The people...for the most part.  Nearly of the French that I have met are wonderful!  I love my mère d'accueil Hugette, my friends' host families, mes professeurs, store/restaurant owners, etc.  There are always those exceptions that are rude and unwelcoming, but I have had very few encounters like that while here.

I could go on, but there are too many to name!  I will spare you the details.

Classes have started!  And I think I'm in the right level of class, too.  My professors seem awesome; their names are Didier (oral) and Juliette (written).

Today we went on a afternoon excursion to Vouvray wine caves and le château de Chenonceau.  We went for boat rides under le château, which was probably ones of the coolest things I've done here so far.  The wine tastings was very interesting.  We tried three different kinds:  Brut, Demi-Sec, et Mousseux.  Brut is like champagne.  Demi-Sec is like champagne, but sweeter.  And Mousseux is a very sweet sparkling wine.  I loved the Demi-Sec and bought some to bring home to the States!

Tomorrow is a wine and cheese lesson after class and I cannot wait!  J'adore le fromage français and I can't wait to learn more about it!!