En Provence et Sainte Marie de la Mer

Salut!!! It has been a while since I've written and much has happened! However, since being blessed with digital technology, I have become somewhat overwhelmed by the large number of pictures I have and take. Therefore, I've decided to only show you pictures from our last excursion in Provence. This is going to be GREAT! (Pictured here: My friend Kelly and I [or T Wink as I call her] rockin out to some swinging tunes on the bus ride there:)
The Profs arrive!!! (actually Diane [right] wasn't with us in Provence, but I just loved this picture so much, I decided to put it up anyways) Michel (our prof) managed to befriend whoever seemed to be holding the umbrella at the moment it started raining...how convenient! He comes every year to visit the group of Dijonettes and always manages to stir up a little trouble in the process.

The Mediterranean!!! This was the first time I'd ever seen it and it couldn't have been more beautiful.
Another dinner with the group. This was just outside of Sainte Marie de la Mer and was quite literally in the middle of nowhere (how Nathalie finds these places is beyond me!). We were served a "family" style dinner in which they would bring our meat out to us straight from the frying pan and plop it on the plate. It was delicious! However our enthusiasm for the meal seemed to have disturbed others, and a few even left (but not until Valerie started throwing "fire pops" at people from across the room...those things sting!).
The outside of one of the ancient "bull fighting" stadiums (also where the gladiators use to compete). In fact, it is still used to this day (only now the bulls are the only ones that die, still kinda sad though...:(
The view from the top of the stadium, seen here is the town of d'Arles (where we also visited the largest outdoor market in France, possibly Europe but I make no guarantees).
A picnic on the beach!!!

Well there is a slight chance that I won't get around to making any more posts before leaving on vacation with Nathan, therefore this may be my last installment. Love you all and I can't wait to see you in person, and speak to you in English!
LOVE
Jackie

Dijon: Une petite goût de la ville :)

So I decided, now that I am almost done, that it is time I show you a little more about this beautiful city in which I live! This is the park just a few blocks down from my house. It's one of my favorites, simple and yet sophisticated:) (Park Darcy)


Anyways, moving on, the next photo is of the school I attend. This is one of the buildings on campus that has been blocked. You see, there has been a strike on and off now for well over a month and a half. When I first got here, people kept telling me that the students will "block the fac" and I didn't understand what they meant until I saw it for myself. As you can see, it's not that complicated because they literally meant, "BLOCK!" The relatively small group of rebels (who do NOT in fact represent the opinion of the whole student body) stack chairs and other such objects around the entrances of all the campus buildings in order to prevent anyone from attending. I can't help but wonder why administrators don't just remove the chairs, but who am I to question:) When they say there are strikes in France, they mean there are strikes in France, although I've been told that this year has been particularly eventful...lucky me!



This picture is of Place de la République where we (the group) tend to go for coffee after class, etc. Believe it or not, it really does look like this all the time, and at night it's even more beautiful!

This just in: I fail at blogging:)

Hello Everyone!

I have recently gotten some emails reminding me that I haven't updated my blog in a while, so here I am. We are down to about 3 weeks left of the program and I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!! This has proven to be a relatively tame (and somewhat challenging) week as we've all been trying to get back into "french mode" since Spring Break, not easy. In sad news, my host parents (who are quite possibly the MOST fascinating people I have ever met!) are leaving on the 18th for a trip to Egypt and Isreal. Since I myself am leaving for the south of France (Provence) on the 14th with my group (where we will be riding horses on the beach! I just can't get over how exciting that is!), this means I only have ONE WEEK left with them before it's all over! (However, fear not, Nathan and I will be stopping here on the last leg of our journey in early June, so I will have my final goodbyes then). And YES you heard me right, Nathan will be joining me in a mere three and a half weeks! He flies out here on the 29th and we will be staying in Paris a few days, heading down to Marseilles (where we will be staying in the summer cottage of a friend of my aunt Dawn's, she's got connections that one!), taking a train over to Venice and Rome, and then finally ending here in Dijon before my final return back to the States! Holy Rusted metal batman!

All of that said, I DID have a fantastic time with my mom (hi mom!) and a wonderful time in Prague (which by the way is an amazing city!). But I really WILL blog about this shortly, I promise. Until then, I hope this will suffice:)
Love you ALL
Jackie/action jackson/mortimer/jacko/J Dubs