Wednesday, September 19
School Begins. Classes are classy. Teachers are teachy...
Ok, but honestly everything was so amazing. My first class was in a garden about a quarter of a mile from school. It was English, and we were reading a poem about digging and gardening ... So, of course, my teacher thought it appropriate for us to really experience the nature first hand. And despite almost freezing my fingers off as I attempted to write an English paper on a bench in les Jardins du Thabor, it was quite the enriching experience.
The rest of the school day consisted of the typical "getting-to-know-you" first day of school routines. Teachers stumbled over names, syllabi were given out and school supplies were demanded.
After the day finished at around 2ish (we get out early on Wednesdays, as many French schools do) I made my way into Centre Ville with a few of my friends to explore and buy school supplies. Our city is brilliant.
Hôtel Dieu, Rennes
Friday, September 21
Today - another day of school. It was pouring when classes finally wrapped up and we ran to my friend Wes's house to drop off our bags. We looked like drowned rats. As a group, Maren, Wes, Willa, Hannah, Grant and I decided to go find a nice restaurant to celebrate our full week together. We took the bus into Centre Ville and did our best to find a restaurant in the pouring rain at 6pm in Rennes, France. This, dear reader, is no easy feat. The French don't like to stay open in the rain and they never really open until 8pm on a Friday night Anyway.
After traversing the entire city to find a good restaurant we finally settled in la Fabrique, a crêpe restaurant on a cute little street called Rue St. George, just near the Parliament. I had moules (mussels) in a cream sauce which were DELICIOUS, while my friends indulged in crêpes complets (cheese, ham and egg). To finish off for dessert we all shared a nutella crêpe and a caramel crêpe.... Pas mal.
Champ Jacquet
Saturday, September 22
Today, Maren, Wes and I met at Champ Jacquet, near the centre of town, for crêpes (yes, more crêpes) and coffee. We sat and pondered the world while watching the French crowds mosey by. We wandered through the city, met up with our friend Will and made our way to another café (it's the thing to do). Afterwards we found ourselves in a square in the centre of town in the middle of an impromptu jazz concert given by a professional band. Ah, la belle vie.
Crêpes Citron Pressé
Impromptu Jazz Concert
Tuesday, September 25
Today was just a normal school day. We laughed, we learned. Nothing too special. Just another amazing day in SYA France.
la Vue from my Room
Thursday, September 27
On Thursdays, I go to school at 8:10 as usual. We have classes all morning and lunch begins at 11:30. After lunch, the entire school has a "Universal Free" that can be used for assemblies if necessary, but otherwise we have it free until 1:45... Afterward I have another two periods free. So, with that, I have about 3 hours without classes. We get creative in our time.. Explore the city, finish homework, eat, the usual. At this point I think I'm going to turn into a crêpe myself...
Friday, September 28
Today, we began our voyage across Bretagne, to explore its sights and monuments. We traveled for about an hour by our bus, Voyages Joly (or as we so fondly referred to it: the Jolly Voyager) before reaching our first stop: A typical Bretagne church, complete with calvary, tombstones and all. Behind the church we found a meadow perfect for photo shoots so after exploring the grounds of the church the whole group of us made our way there to pose and relax in the rare Brittany sun.
After hopping back on the Jolly Voyager and driving for a bit more we reached a château called ________. The château has been a place known for its garden of sculptures as many famous artists come here to display their work. I sauntered with my friends through the picturesque, damp gardens and we picnicked in the courtyard of the château, which doubles as a museum inside. After a relaxing walk we returned to the bus with wet shoes and enlightened minds.
We continued on our way until we reached the old Bretonne village Poul Fetan. It was as if we had stepped into another time as we explored the little town. It has been preserved since the 16th century and its employees are even dressed in traditional Breton costume. We watched a woman make butter, we played cards in the field and we played old Breton games.
After the long day, we arrived at our hotel. It was in front of the sea and the beach was unbelievable. The weather stayed dry (a miracle) and we finished off the day with seafood and stargazing in the sand
Saturday, September 29
Today, we went to a city called Quimper, which held an enormous cathedral. After touring around the inside and explained some of the religious stories depicted in the stained glass windows to my fellow classmates (good ol' CCD), we proceeded in the Musée des Beaux Arts de Quimper and marveled at the works of old French painters. We were allowed to explore the city with friends and we went to a crêperie for lunch (I know, I know - crêpes again), toured the city, bought ENORMOUS macarons, and took in the much-appreciated sunlight.
I returned home to my host family's house just in time for galettes (yes, more crêpes).
It was an eventful weekend.
More updates later this week!
Yours in Dysfunctional French,
-L
Today, we began our voyage across Bretagne, to explore its sights and monuments. We traveled for about an hour by our bus, Voyages Joly (or as we so fondly referred to it: the Jolly Voyager) before reaching our first stop: A typical Bretagne church, complete with calvary, tombstones and all. Behind the church we found a meadow perfect for photo shoots so after exploring the grounds of the church the whole group of us made our way there to pose and relax in the rare Brittany sun.
After hopping back on the Jolly Voyager and driving for a bit more we reached a château called ________. The château has been a place known for its garden of sculptures as many famous artists come here to display their work. I sauntered with my friends through the picturesque, damp gardens and we picnicked in the courtyard of the château, which doubles as a museum inside. After a relaxing walk we returned to the bus with wet shoes and enlightened minds.
We continued on our way until we reached the old Bretonne village Poul Fetan. It was as if we had stepped into another time as we explored the little town. It has been preserved since the 16th century and its employees are even dressed in traditional Breton costume. We watched a woman make butter, we played cards in the field and we played old Breton games.
After the long day, we arrived at our hotel. It was in front of the sea and the beach was unbelievable. The weather stayed dry (a miracle) and we finished off the day with seafood and stargazing in the sand
Today, we went to a city called Quimper, which held an enormous cathedral. After touring around the inside and explained some of the religious stories depicted in the stained glass windows to my fellow classmates (good ol' CCD), we proceeded in the Musée des Beaux Arts de Quimper and marveled at the works of old French painters. We were allowed to explore the city with friends and we went to a crêperie for lunch (I know, I know - crêpes again), toured the city, bought ENORMOUS macarons, and took in the much-appreciated sunlight.
We got back in the Jolly Voyager for another few hours and after the excitement we'd had all day were instantly bored and aching to get off the bus. And we did. At one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. The sand felt like silk between my toes and the waves stretched out as far as the eye could see. There were surfers riding the foamy crests and others sunbathing, but it wasn't too crowded. We were absolutely exhilarated from the moment we stepped off the bus until we (unhappily) drudged back to it, our pants damp and our legs sandy.
Luckily, there was no reason to be upset. We had no idea what beauty awaited us. We arrived at la Pointe du Razand started the 1km walk. We talked, we joked, but when we arrived and saw the view we were all speechless. The waves crashing against the rocks were magnificent and my classmates and I sat in awe of what we were able to experience. I went off alone and climbed a few rocks to find the perfect one to contemplate the world and meditate in my thoughts. Alone with my camera and my mind, on top of a rock at the Western-most point of Continental Europe I felt free from everything.
We made it back to the hotel completely entranced and amazed. The beauty of the cliffs transcended anything many of us had ever seen and we were stunned, tired and happy... and then we went swimming in the freezing cold ocean at the hotel..
Sunday, September 30
We were packed and out of the hotel at 9:15, on the road again. We visited a fortified town, went around on a ferry and sat down for a coffee. We picnicked with baguettes and pâte and relaxed in the beautiful sunshine (it was an unexpected weekend, weather-wise).
After our adventures we visited Carnac, France's version of Stonehenge, where stones were lined up in lines centuries ago for unknown reasons... but they made for some great pictures
I returned home to my host family's house just in time for galettes (yes, more crêpes).
It was an eventful weekend.
More updates later this week!
Yours in Dysfunctional French,
-L
