I am still looking for a place to live. Sarah and I have decided that we wanted to see if we could find a place together, so yesterday we looked at a couple of places. The first one was too small for the both of us and a little far from the main part of town. The second one was just the WORST aparment I have ever seen.
It was in the student housing area which had been reccommened to us. It was suppose to be good because it was furnished. Anyway it was in a high rise bulding in the middle of the "projects" of Belfort. The room was on the 15th floor, but the elevator only went to even floors. So we had to climb up a flight of dark stairs that smelled like they hadn't been cleaned in 10 years. Then when we got to the apartment the guy said there wasn't any electricty and that there might not be any for about a month! Everything was covered in dirt and disgusting. By the time we left I felt like I need a shower it was that gross.
Anyway we are not any closer to finding a place to live, and it is a little discouraging. I know it has only been a couple of days, but it is so frustrating because we really aren't getting any help. Our contact at the school was the one who reccommened looking at the apartment from HECK!
We are continuing our search today and tomorrow, so maybe by next week we will be able to find something. We really only have today and tomorrow this week to look because everything is closed on the weekends.
Everything else is going pretty well. I have changed rooms in the hotel because I have to stay longer. At least this one does not have dripping water all night. The weather is also a little better. There hasn't been any rain the last two days, but it has still been cool...sweater weather as my mom would say.
Well, I better continue the search for a place to live. I hope we can find something soon!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
And the rain begins...
Well, I think my 4 days of good weather is all I may have. It started rainig last night and it han't stopped! I am not sure if I will be able to deal with this for the next 9 months! I brought I rain jacket, but it wasn't enough so I tried to find an umbrella. The cheapest one was 15 euros and bright ORANGE. It really makes me stand out, but Sarah said that she would still walk next to me!
Sarah is really nice, and we are getting along well. It has been fun talking to her and learning all the different words we use. I will probably come home calling french fries chips or say things like bugger off and blimey.
The past two days we have walked all over Belfort. Yesterday we went up to the castle and had a look around it was really amazing. There are some spectacular views from the top. I took a ton of pictures, and I hope I can find a way to get my computer on the internet soon so I can put them up.
Today we went and met two of the English teachers. They gave us a better idea about where to start with the kids and what we should cover. Then we went to lunch. Tomorrow one of the techers is coming to pîck us up, and we are going to have dinner at her house. Again everyone was so nice and really helpful.
Tomorrow I think we are going to look some more for a place to live, and also try to open our bank accounts. We were going to try today, but there are many places that are not even open on Mondays. That is definitely a change from the US. We have also found out that the grocery store is not open on Sunday, and that most places are closed from noon to 2 pm for lunch. I am sure this is just the start of all the things that are different!
Well, I guess I am going to venture back out into the rain with my ugly orange umbrella. At least when it starts to snow someone will always be able to find me!
Sarah is really nice, and we are getting along well. It has been fun talking to her and learning all the different words we use. I will probably come home calling french fries chips or say things like bugger off and blimey.
The past two days we have walked all over Belfort. Yesterday we went up to the castle and had a look around it was really amazing. There are some spectacular views from the top. I took a ton of pictures, and I hope I can find a way to get my computer on the internet soon so I can put them up.
Today we went and met two of the English teachers. They gave us a better idea about where to start with the kids and what we should cover. Then we went to lunch. Tomorrow one of the techers is coming to pîck us up, and we are going to have dinner at her house. Again everyone was so nice and really helpful.
Tomorrow I think we are going to look some more for a place to live, and also try to open our bank accounts. We were going to try today, but there are many places that are not even open on Mondays. That is definitely a change from the US. We have also found out that the grocery store is not open on Sunday, and that most places are closed from noon to 2 pm for lunch. I am sure this is just the start of all the things that are different!
Well, I guess I am going to venture back out into the rain with my ugly orange umbrella. At least when it starts to snow someone will always be able to find me!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
I made it!
Well I am finally in Belfort. I found an Internet cafe, but it has a French keyboard so I am sorry for any errors! Also I will put up pictures just as soon as I am able to hook up my laptop. Although that may be a few days.
Anyway...I left LAX on Tuesday at 1:30 pm about an hour late. The flight was 10 and a half hours long, so with the time change I got into Paris at 9:15 am, midnight California time. Then I spent the next 45 minutes lugging around all my stuff trying to find the train to Paris. Finally I found it. Then I took a taxi from the train station in Paris because I could barely handle my luggage because my arms were so tired. The train stations are definitely not made for rolling suitcases. Many people had to help me lift it up the stairs. I do not know why people say the French are mean because I found that they were all really helpful!
I finally got to my hotel a little after noon. So I took a shower and a nap because I had not slept in almost 24 hours. My friend Tamar got to the hotel at about 7 pm. So we went and got a sandwich for dinner then went to bed really early because we were both exhausted.
Then on Thursday we saw some of the sites I hadn't seen before. First we went to the Opera which was really beautiful! Then we went to Notre Dame and climbed to the top. My legs were burning so bad when I reached the top, and I was dizzy from the spirial staircase. It was all worth it though because the view from the top was amazing. I was right up next to the gargoyles, and I even saw Quasimodo's bell. Then after that we went to the Catacombs, which required climbing up and down even more stairs. It was really interesting though. There are 6 million people who are buried there. After the catacombs we went to Sacre Coeur Basilica. It is on a hill, so we climbed many more stairs to climb, but again the view was great. After all this we went back to take a nap at the hotel. Then that night we went on a boat tour of the Seine. Everything was so beautiful at night, and I got some great shots of the Eiffle Tower at night. We got back to the hotel late, but couldn't fall asleep until a lot later...stupid jetlag!
Then yesterday we had to get all of our stuff together so we could go to our separate trains. Tamar's ride was only an hour to Rouen. Mine was 4 hours to Belfort. So I had to drag all my stuff around more train stations. My contact Beatrice met me at the train station, and she took me to my hotel. I was in bed at 8:30 last night because I was so exhausted! The hotel is really old! My room is clean, but when you use the sink the water comes up the drain in the shower. There is also an old radiator next to the bed and all you can hear is dripping water all night which was really annoying. Owell I guess it is all part of the experience!
There is another assistant, Sarah from the UK, who is coming tonight and she will be staying at the same hotel. We have been talking all summer over the Internet, so it will be really nice to finally meet her.
Overall I have been able to understand almost everything everyone says to me, and Beatrice said that I my French was really good which was reassuring. Just in the three days I have been here I am already picking up more of what they are saying on TV!
Well this is really long, so I think I am going to go explore the town. I am sure there is a lot to see because it is 700 years old. It makes you realize just how young the USA is!
Anyway...I left LAX on Tuesday at 1:30 pm about an hour late. The flight was 10 and a half hours long, so with the time change I got into Paris at 9:15 am, midnight California time. Then I spent the next 45 minutes lugging around all my stuff trying to find the train to Paris. Finally I found it. Then I took a taxi from the train station in Paris because I could barely handle my luggage because my arms were so tired. The train stations are definitely not made for rolling suitcases. Many people had to help me lift it up the stairs. I do not know why people say the French are mean because I found that they were all really helpful!
I finally got to my hotel a little after noon. So I took a shower and a nap because I had not slept in almost 24 hours. My friend Tamar got to the hotel at about 7 pm. So we went and got a sandwich for dinner then went to bed really early because we were both exhausted.
Then on Thursday we saw some of the sites I hadn't seen before. First we went to the Opera which was really beautiful! Then we went to Notre Dame and climbed to the top. My legs were burning so bad when I reached the top, and I was dizzy from the spirial staircase. It was all worth it though because the view from the top was amazing. I was right up next to the gargoyles, and I even saw Quasimodo's bell. Then after that we went to the Catacombs, which required climbing up and down even more stairs. It was really interesting though. There are 6 million people who are buried there. After the catacombs we went to Sacre Coeur Basilica. It is on a hill, so we climbed many more stairs to climb, but again the view was great. After all this we went back to take a nap at the hotel. Then that night we went on a boat tour of the Seine. Everything was so beautiful at night, and I got some great shots of the Eiffle Tower at night. We got back to the hotel late, but couldn't fall asleep until a lot later...stupid jetlag!
Then yesterday we had to get all of our stuff together so we could go to our separate trains. Tamar's ride was only an hour to Rouen. Mine was 4 hours to Belfort. So I had to drag all my stuff around more train stations. My contact Beatrice met me at the train station, and she took me to my hotel. I was in bed at 8:30 last night because I was so exhausted! The hotel is really old! My room is clean, but when you use the sink the water comes up the drain in the shower. There is also an old radiator next to the bed and all you can hear is dripping water all night which was really annoying. Owell I guess it is all part of the experience!
There is another assistant, Sarah from the UK, who is coming tonight and she will be staying at the same hotel. We have been talking all summer over the Internet, so it will be really nice to finally meet her.
Overall I have been able to understand almost everything everyone says to me, and Beatrice said that I my French was really good which was reassuring. Just in the three days I have been here I am already picking up more of what they are saying on TV!
Well this is really long, so I think I am going to go explore the town. I am sure there is a lot to see because it is 700 years old. It makes you realize just how young the USA is!
Friday, September 15, 2006
A place to lay my head...for a few days anyway
I have now finalized my living arrangements for at least the first week and a half in France. YEA!
I will be staying in Paris for two nights with my friend Tamar, who will also be an assistant in France this year. Although she will be on the other side of the country in a town near Rouen. I will then be going on to Belfort on Friday, September 22 where I have a reservation to stay at a hotel for a week while I am looking for an apartment. It was the cheapest hotel I could find, so I am hoping it is not too bad. I guess I will just have to deal with it for one week.
I think I finished everything I needed to do. My mom and I had another crazy week of running around, but I was really happy when I was finally able to throw away my "To Do" list. Now all I have to do is pack all the things I bought!
I can't believe I only have three more days until I leave. I have been talking about going to France as "next year" for long, and now it is crazy to think it is just days away.
No matter how nervous I am I know I am more excited. This time next week I will be in Belfort, France!
I will be staying in Paris for two nights with my friend Tamar, who will also be an assistant in France this year. Although she will be on the other side of the country in a town near Rouen. I will then be going on to Belfort on Friday, September 22 where I have a reservation to stay at a hotel for a week while I am looking for an apartment. It was the cheapest hotel I could find, so I am hoping it is not too bad. I guess I will just have to deal with it for one week.
I think I finished everything I needed to do. My mom and I had another crazy week of running around, but I was really happy when I was finally able to throw away my "To Do" list. Now all I have to do is pack all the things I bought!
I can't believe I only have three more days until I leave. I have been talking about going to France as "next year" for long, and now it is crazy to think it is just days away.
No matter how nervous I am I know I am more excited. This time next week I will be in Belfort, France!
Friday, September 08, 2006
10 Days to Go
Well...I have been running around like crazy trying to get everything ready. I really underestimated the time it would take to exchange money, find plug adapters, and get the power of attorney thing figured out. My mom and I have been working on stuff everyday, and every time we think we have something figured out there is always something else we need. Anyway... We have 10 more days to figure it all out. Then I will just have to do with what I have!
I received an email from one of the other girls who will be a primary assistant in Belfort. She is from the UK, and she was on vacation in Switzerland. While she was there she took a trip over to see Belfort. She said it was really "pretty, quiet and French." She also said it is pretty flat, so it will be perfect for using a bike to get around. She also sent a couple of pictures.
It looks like such a nice little town! I will be there before I know whether I am ready or not!
I received an email from one of the other girls who will be a primary assistant in Belfort. She is from the UK, and she was on vacation in Switzerland. While she was there she took a trip over to see Belfort. She said it was really "pretty, quiet and French." She also said it is pretty flat, so it will be perfect for using a bike to get around. She also sent a couple of pictures.
It looks like such a nice little town! I will be there before I know whether I am ready or not!
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