Saturday, August 8, 2015

Photos In Port Vendres

Last weekend, the program took our entire session to spend two nights on the Mediterranean. The city we stayed in is called Port Vendres, and next to it is the city of Colliere.

The hostile/gîte that we stayed in was really cool in my opinion (but not so much in the opinions of some others). 

Practically every surface was covered in mosaics like in the photo above. They were done by Paul, the proprietor (owner/creator/guy who lives there/guy who actually does everything). He also paints, and his paintings were hanging everywhere.

It's beautiful there in Port Vendres.

We went to Colliere Saturday and Sunday because it's a lot more touristy. This is a picture of it from afar.

We also walked to the beach about 20 minuites away at one point. There were pebbles instead of sand.

From left to right: Kaely, Brittney, me, Courtney, Victoria

This was on the same street as the hostile. From left to right: Karina, Miranda, Brittney, me

Port Vendres

Courtney and I on a mountain (or a big hill maybe) in Port Vendres

By the mountain

Colliere

The beach at Colliere

So many tourists. We got yelled at for walking around excessively undressed. Also, see that pier looking thing? It's over on the far left and extends past the lighthouse? We jumped off of that, which sounds lame but was so cool.

The church in Colliere

Courtney, me, and Carlos at the church

Colliere's essentially a real life postcard.

Colliereeeeee

We took "le petit train" and essentially took the train to the top of the world.

The view from the train was perfect.

Victoria and myself. I told you we were good at cutesy photos.

We saw a museum or chateau or something forcibly

Kaely, Brittney, Victoria, Me, Courtney
At the Colliere beach

And everything was at an unreal amount of perfect.

The absolute hilight, however, was the American Party. It might actually have been the hilight of my life, but I'm probably exaggerating. There was only southern music and we managed to teach the entire party to do the Cotton Eyed Joe. We also dosi-doed and got the DJ to play Trap Queen. Please google Trap Queen if you are not already farmiliar with it, then use your imagination and imagine how that went. Not uninterestingly.
There, I just went up to some strangers with Karina and ended up getting all the program kids talking with the French teenagers. I met a girl named Amelie who apparently looked a lot like me. 
She was arguably one of the coolest people I have ever met. She was 17 and kept a lighter in her bra at all times. She lives in Paris, but was visiting cousins in Port Vendres. The day after the party, we met up on the Colliere beach and I snuck her back to the hostile/gîte via bus. We made each other friendship bracelets. The entirety of the group was actually totally blown away, like "how did you get this friend...?" And the program leaders were weirdly proud of me.
Oh, France.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

In Honor Of Leaving Toulouse

I've been slacking in blog posts primarily because I've been busier (happier) and because writing in English feels so awkward. I know that's a weird thing to say that sounds exaggerative, but thankfully it's not exaggerative. Typing this feels like cheating or something. Like- what is this, knowing all the vocabulary that I want and being able to communicate easily?? Wow.

Anyway, I've been here 5 weeks today. It feels like no time at all but at the same time like I've been here forever. The usual. Cliché.

Tomorrow we'll have a going away party and the next day we all leave one way or another.

In honor of my last day, I'm going to post some hilights. It might get vaguely sappy, but I think I can control myself.

Arnaud, the head guy, asked us each to send him the photos that we thought epitomized our experience in Toulouse. I sent the following photos:


This is Victoria and we have turned taking cutesy pictures into an art.

We have matching bracelets but not matching personalities. We got them from the French version of Victoria's Secret (the bracelets, not the personalities).

Yet again, these are my people. I have more people. I'll be sure to get pictures at the party tomorrow.

Emani at the space museum. Gazing at Bæ.

I don't know.

Karina, my roomate. She's super (but refuses to read my blog 😒😂).

Fam. At home.

Squad. At Courtney's/Syeda's/Francoise's/Mme Jenneane's house.

Roomate. At the Ferris wheel.

Friends. At the (first) art museum.

The group. At that one American party, with the ambassador.

Karina and I on the first week. We've come a long way. I hope.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

In The End

The last few days have been ridiculously happy and I'm not sure how to put it into words past that.
I'll get you some Port Vendres pictures eventually.
 Here are my people
(Left to right- Karina Dan Seyeda Izzy Britney Vic Courtney Kaely Moi)
I love them more than everything and I can't remember a time I was much happier than I was tonight with them
Disposable people sure can feel Indisposable sometimes.


I have two days left in Tolouse, but I'm under the impression that I might spend a bit more time than usual afterward just thinking about here. 
I don't know. I mean, the other day we made my host mom cry because we'll miss each other. And my teacher never wears a bra. And no one wears sweats. Ever. And everything is so clean. And... France.
And I'm so glad I don't have to leave France just yet. 

I found fro yo. (FINALLY)

And I'm usually pretty darn good at leaving groups of people regardless of circumstance, so I'm hoping this will be like that. I always think this same thing and everything generally works out well. So, I'm hoping here.
We're eating sandwiches at my FAVOURITE sandwich place tomorrow/today. Then my FAVOURITE resteraunt tomorrow. Then a going away part on a boat. 

Who knows. 

I'm fortunate.