It's 3:45 am on Monday morning and I've just finished 1 of 3 papers that are due within the next 2 weeks. I still have a conclusion to write but my mental capacity is diminishing and my ability to think intellectually and write it in French has completely vanished. As I try to wind down a bit before I crash in bed, I thought I'd give a heads up and let my lovely friends and family know that I have not neglected you or this blog. I still have many pictures to post from Nick's visit here and my wonderfully amazing trip to London with Emily.
I flew back to Lyon with Emily yesterday at around 8 pm and she departed for LA this morning at 7 am (she left my apartment at 4 am!). Then, I went to class from 2-4 and from 4-6, bought some needed pencils and pens and came home to do some homework. As you can imagine, I'm mentally and physically exhausted.
These next 2 weeks will be used to pound out some good essays and put in some hefty studying time for finals. Maria visits in 2 weeks (on the 15th) and I'm finished with finals on the 16th. Then, it's off to Paris and the South of France before my return to the States on December 24th!
Hopefully I'll have a little more time tomorrow to update this thing. Right now, my eyes are feeling like they're going to explode and my body is shivering from my cheapness to turn on the heater. I need to jump under the covers pronto! (OK, I think the deliriousness is settling in now too...)
Until tomorrow, ciao lovelies.
Playing Catch-Up
11.30.2009
11.23.2009
How much more blessed can I be that I'm given this opportunity to live in such a wonderful place? Well, I'm even more blessed to share this experience with those that I love.
Last week, Mark Ratto, my boyfriend and partner in crime for 3 years, visited me here in Lyon. We spent 3 days in Lyon with great friends to celebrate my birthday. Then, on Sunday, we headed to Dublin to visit my old roommate and good friend, Claire Bermingham for 4 days. I have to say: this birthday was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. To spend it with people so close to my heart, then jetset over to Dublin with a local was so awesome and surreal.
When Mark flew in last Thursday, I had butterflies in my stomach like a crazy person! The class I had before meeting him was the slowest and when I finally saw him at the train station, the world around me stopped. It had been 3 long months of Skyping and emailing so it was great to be able to hug or even hold hands again. Ok...ok, I'll stop with the mushy gushy stuff for now ;-)
Anyway, the next 3 days were filled with activities--sightseeing, birthday dinners, delicious meals, walks in the park, trips to the zoo, etc. Mark came to Lyon, suspicious of the French because of their reputation of being mean, bitter people. But he left with a refreshed outlook on France and the francophone lifestyle. I think a lot of people are surprised at how beautiful Lyon is and how friendly and open the locals are. Lyon is what I'd like to call "my hidden gem" even though I have no grounds for claiming it as my own. I like Lyon more than Paris for multiple reasons and perhaps many of those reasons are bias, but there is no denying that Lyon is absolutely breathtaking.
Anyway, for my actual birthday, Mark and I started out at the outdoor market where we bought some ingredients for lunch. He bought me purple tulips (my favorite) as a thoughtful way to say "happy birthday." Then, that evening, we went out to dinner with my friends and then, we all headed back to my apartment where a bunch more people came. After about an hour or so, we made our way to this boat club, called Sirius, for some "serious dancing" as they'd like to say, but the music was so terrible, we all left. Regardless, it was a really fun night and I had so much fun enjoying it with great people.
On Sunday, Mark and I had a flight to catch to Dublin at 4 pm. We arrived in Ireland around 6 pm and took a shuttle to Claire's apartment, which is located inside of Trinity College (the most beautiful campus I've ever seen). She and her Australian roommate, Alice, had dinner waiting for us. We sat and talked the entire evening, catching up on the last year and our experiences.
Monday, Claire had class for a couple of hours, so Mark and I went to the National Art Gallery, walked around downtown, and had lunch at a gourmet burger joint. Claire met up with us shortly after to show us around campus, Christ's Church, the Long Room and the Book of Kells (located in Trinity College). We went grocery shopping later that evening and Mark cooked up A LOT of carrot and leeks pasta for her and Alice's amazing hospitality. We stuffed ourselves with food, got food coma, and all crashed very early.
Tuesday was probably my favorite day in Dublin. Claire had voice lessons in the morning so Mark and I headed out to explore downtown a little more. We shopped a little, had some coffee and tea and just enjoyed the beautiful morning in Dublin. When Claire met up with us a couple of hours later, we (including her roomie Alice) took a 30-minute train ride to a coastal town called Killiney, where Enya and Bono both live. We walked up this huge hill to this breathtaking lookout point where you could see everything. I've never seen anything like it...it was stunning and just absolutely beautiful. After spending about 2 hours there, we headed back down and had dinner at a local restaurant there.
[Breathtaking]
[It was sooo worth it!!!]
[Can words do justice? I think not]
We took the train back to the center of Dublin at around 6 or 7 pm and went back to Claire's apartment to get ready for her friend's birthday party. We got to meet all of her friends who were so fun, lively and very, very animated. Mark and I danced the night away and enjoyed it with new friends! :)
Sadly, Wednesday was the day to say "goodbye" to our AWESOME hosts who knew so much about Dublin. We were so thankful to stay with Claire and have her show us around, as she obviously knew the best places to see, eat and hang out. It was sad to say bye but we knew that we're going to be reunited again.
That evening, we came back and had a birthday dinner for my friend, Cyan's 19th birthday. We went to Le Nord (a famous restaurant that world-renowned chef Paul Bocuse opened; he and one other chef are the two who really established Lyon as the gastronomic/food capital of France!). The food was so delicious--I had salmon, Mark had veal and some other girls had lamb. That night was quite interesting because Algeria had beaten Egypt in soccer so there were tons of riots, cheering, and just pure chaos as all of the Algerians in Lyon crowded the streets, lighting fireworks and honking.
On Thursday, our last day together, we went to the basilica Fourvière and the ruins of the Roman theaters. Then, we had a delicious 3-course lunch at a traditional Lyonnais restaurant. I had beef bourguinon and Mark had pork. Yummy!
I had class that evening so we decided to watch a movie and keep the evening mellow by just enjoying each others company. That evening he took a train to Geneva where he was flying out of at 7:45 am the next morning. It was sad to say "bye" but not that difficult, considering the fact that we're going to see each other in just a few short weeks upon my return.
But really, it was such an amazing week. All the girls in my program who made my birthday so special, Claire and Alice for being such awesome hosts, and of course, Mark for coming to visit and sharing this experience with him made this week one of the best I've ever experienced. It will always stay close to my heart :-)
Until next time!
Liz
Last week, Mark Ratto, my boyfriend and partner in crime for 3 years, visited me here in Lyon. We spent 3 days in Lyon with great friends to celebrate my birthday. Then, on Sunday, we headed to Dublin to visit my old roommate and good friend, Claire Bermingham for 4 days. I have to say: this birthday was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. To spend it with people so close to my heart, then jetset over to Dublin with a local was so awesome and surreal.
When Mark flew in last Thursday, I had butterflies in my stomach like a crazy person! The class I had before meeting him was the slowest and when I finally saw him at the train station, the world around me stopped. It had been 3 long months of Skyping and emailing so it was great to be able to hug or even hold hands again. Ok...ok, I'll stop with the mushy gushy stuff for now ;-)
Anyway, the next 3 days were filled with activities--sightseeing, birthday dinners, delicious meals, walks in the park, trips to the zoo, etc. Mark came to Lyon, suspicious of the French because of their reputation of being mean, bitter people. But he left with a refreshed outlook on France and the francophone lifestyle. I think a lot of people are surprised at how beautiful Lyon is and how friendly and open the locals are. Lyon is what I'd like to call "my hidden gem" even though I have no grounds for claiming it as my own. I like Lyon more than Paris for multiple reasons and perhaps many of those reasons are bias, but there is no denying that Lyon is absolutely breathtaking.
[At the park]
[Watching the OCD elephants for 30 minutes]
Anyway, for my actual birthday, Mark and I started out at the outdoor market where we bought some ingredients for lunch. He bought me purple tulips (my favorite) as a thoughtful way to say "happy birthday." Then, that evening, we went out to dinner with my friends and then, we all headed back to my apartment where a bunch more people came. After about an hour or so, we made our way to this boat club, called Sirius, for some "serious dancing" as they'd like to say, but the music was so terrible, we all left. Regardless, it was a really fun night and I had so much fun enjoying it with great people.
[Where did I have my birthday dinner? Asian buffet :)]
[Thanks for coming <3]
On Sunday, Mark and I had a flight to catch to Dublin at 4 pm. We arrived in Ireland around 6 pm and took a shuttle to Claire's apartment, which is located inside of Trinity College (the most beautiful campus I've ever seen). She and her Australian roommate, Alice, had dinner waiting for us. We sat and talked the entire evening, catching up on the last year and our experiences.
Monday, Claire had class for a couple of hours, so Mark and I went to the National Art Gallery, walked around downtown, and had lunch at a gourmet burger joint. Claire met up with us shortly after to show us around campus, Christ's Church, the Long Room and the Book of Kells (located in Trinity College). We went grocery shopping later that evening and Mark cooked up A LOT of carrot and leeks pasta for her and Alice's amazing hospitality. We stuffed ourselves with food, got food coma, and all crashed very early.
[At Trinity College]
[Christ's Church]
[I don't know what this is but I love the lighting]
[A rainbow over Christ's Church! Pretty magical]
[The sun was shining in our faces!]
[Dublin at sunset]
[At the Long Room to see the Book of Kells...I'm such a rebel]
[I wish I could have taken a picture of the whole room! Very Harry Potter-esque]
Tuesday was probably my favorite day in Dublin. Claire had voice lessons in the morning so Mark and I headed out to explore downtown a little more. We shopped a little, had some coffee and tea and just enjoyed the beautiful morning in Dublin. When Claire met up with us a couple of hours later, we (including her roomie Alice) took a 30-minute train ride to a coastal town called Killiney, where Enya and Bono both live. We walked up this huge hill to this breathtaking lookout point where you could see everything. I've never seen anything like it...it was stunning and just absolutely beautiful. After spending about 2 hours there, we headed back down and had dinner at a local restaurant there.
[Our hosts: Alice & Claire]
[Beautiful Killiney; first time I've seen a beach in 4 months]
[Breathtaking]
[Almost at the top of the hill]
[Last leg of the hill and very excited!]
[It was sooo worth it!!!]
[Running to the very, very top]
[Can words do justice? I think not]
We took the train back to the center of Dublin at around 6 or 7 pm and went back to Claire's apartment to get ready for her friend's birthday party. We got to meet all of her friends who were so fun, lively and very, very animated. Mark and I danced the night away and enjoyed it with new friends! :)Sadly, Wednesday was the day to say "goodbye" to our AWESOME hosts who knew so much about Dublin. We were so thankful to stay with Claire and have her show us around, as she obviously knew the best places to see, eat and hang out. It was sad to say bye but we knew that we're going to be reunited again.
That evening, we came back and had a birthday dinner for my friend, Cyan's 19th birthday. We went to Le Nord (a famous restaurant that world-renowned chef Paul Bocuse opened; he and one other chef are the two who really established Lyon as the gastronomic/food capital of France!). The food was so delicious--I had salmon, Mark had veal and some other girls had lamb. That night was quite interesting because Algeria had beaten Egypt in soccer so there were tons of riots, cheering, and just pure chaos as all of the Algerians in Lyon crowded the streets, lighting fireworks and honking.
On Thursday, our last day together, we went to the basilica Fourvière and the ruins of the Roman theaters. Then, we had a delicious 3-course lunch at a traditional Lyonnais restaurant. I had beef bourguinon and Mark had pork. Yummy!
I had class that evening so we decided to watch a movie and keep the evening mellow by just enjoying each others company. That evening he took a train to Geneva where he was flying out of at 7:45 am the next morning. It was sad to say "bye" but not that difficult, considering the fact that we're going to see each other in just a few short weeks upon my return.
But really, it was such an amazing week. All the girls in my program who made my birthday so special, Claire and Alice for being such awesome hosts, and of course, Mark for coming to visit and sharing this experience with him made this week one of the best I've ever experienced. It will always stay close to my heart :-)
Until next time!
Liz
11.09.2009
As I prepare for the next 3 weeks of visitors, trips, and...finals (!!!), I have to take this moment to show the world that, despite my whirlwind of activities, I have learned to "stop."
When a leaf is too beautiful to pass by, I take a picture of it. When I discover a new look-out spot, I make a mental note of it and sit down for 10 minutes to enjoy it, thinking of whatever nonsense I usually think about. If there is a flower in bloom, I will smell it.
If there's one thing that I've learned, it's that the world is beautiful--not just Lyon--and we should do everything we can to appreciate it. Don't you agree?
November has proved to be quite the beautiful month so far. With Fall fully here, I look out of my windows every morning, thanking God that I'm in such a beautiful place. But then, I get sad thinking about how quick time is flying and how I only have 6 more weeks here. And then, I get happy again thinking about reuniting with my family and friends. It's quite exhausting having to go through this every morning ;-)
I've said this plenty of times but I'd really love to share my experience with all of you. If I could bring you in my pocket and show you all of the beautiful things I get to see everyday, I'd be the happiest person in the world. This is why it excites me to anticipate future visitors--Mark, Nick, Emily and Maria!
As I show my lovely friends the beauty of Lyon, I will also be working away late at night, catching up with homework and studying that I should be doing while I entertain. It will be a sleepless three weeks but I think it's worth it. Actually, I take that back. I am absolutely positive that it is worth it!
[On the way to the Sunday farmers market]
[Mmmmm olives!]
[All sorts of wines that I will attempt to bring back as gifts for my aunt and uncle...so many to choose from!]
[Tapenades and more olives]
[Yes, this is real. A dead duck hanging at the meat stand]
It was a great, relaxing weekend. I probably should have done more work than I did. However, I think I've forgotten how to study. But fret not parents, I did read a history book during the weekend so it wasn't completely unproductive. Tomorrow will be a big study day. Then, Wednesday is a holiday (as it is for you!) for us so we have no classes. I will use it as yet another study day to attempt playing catch up so that I'm not killing myself when finals come around.
Let's hope for a productive week! Yay...love/miss you all <3
When a leaf is too beautiful to pass by, I take a picture of it. When I discover a new look-out spot, I make a mental note of it and sit down for 10 minutes to enjoy it, thinking of whatever nonsense I usually think about. If there is a flower in bloom, I will smell it.
If there's one thing that I've learned, it's that the world is beautiful--not just Lyon--and we should do everything we can to appreciate it. Don't you agree?
November has proved to be quite the beautiful month so far. With Fall fully here, I look out of my windows every morning, thanking God that I'm in such a beautiful place. But then, I get sad thinking about how quick time is flying and how I only have 6 more weeks here. And then, I get happy again thinking about reuniting with my family and friends. It's quite exhausting having to go through this every morning ;-)
I've said this plenty of times but I'd really love to share my experience with all of you. If I could bring you in my pocket and show you all of the beautiful things I get to see everyday, I'd be the happiest person in the world. This is why it excites me to anticipate future visitors--Mark, Nick, Emily and Maria!
As I show my lovely friends the beauty of Lyon, I will also be working away late at night, catching up with homework and studying that I should be doing while I entertain. It will be a sleepless three weeks but I think it's worth it. Actually, I take that back. I am absolutely positive that it is worth it!
[Outside my window]
[On the way to the Sunday farmers market]
[Mmmmm olives!]
[All sorts of wines that I will attempt to bring back as gifts for my aunt and uncle...so many to choose from!]
[Goat cheese]
[Tasty bread]
[French cheeses]
[Choose any spice you'd like]
[Tapenades and more olives]
[Yes, this is real. A dead duck hanging at the meat stand]
[Went to the oldest/biggest cemetery in Lyon for a little culture lesson]
[Look how beautiful the sky was]
[Making a wish near the infamous Lyonnais healer. Apparently, Emily's Russian homestay lady wrote her wish here and it came true. The wish? That her creepy son would find a wife and have a child. It came true a year later.]
[It was getting too cold]
[Stopped by my favorite park for a little breather...it's gorgeous, huh?]
[Stayed til the sun started going down]
[Tonight, had an asian-themed potluck. The menu: Thai curry, white rice, kimchi fried rice, kimchi fried rice again and tomato/egg/garlic stirfry]
[I made the kimchi fried rice...drooling :-)]
It was a great, relaxing weekend. I probably should have done more work than I did. However, I think I've forgotten how to study. But fret not parents, I did read a history book during the weekend so it wasn't completely unproductive. Tomorrow will be a big study day. Then, Wednesday is a holiday (as it is for you!) for us so we have no classes. I will use it as yet another study day to attempt playing catch up so that I'm not killing myself when finals come around.
Let's hope for a productive week! Yay...love/miss you all <3
11.07.2009
Here are some more pictures from my vacation. Enjoy :-)
Prague
[our plane at 8 am to Prague]
[Emily, Me and Deepti]
[Choosing food is serious business]
[Me and Jess leading the group]
[It was so COLD!]
Budapest
[On the train...worried]
[A bit delirious]
[Trying to be normal]
[Our favorite train conductor...not]
[But it was all worth it...beautiful Budapest!]
[Me and Emily enjoying the gorgeous trees]
[On the furniculaire]
[Budapest]
[our plane at 8 am to Prague]
[Emily, Me and Deepti]
[Choosing food is serious business]
[Me and Jess leading the group]
[It was so COLD!]
Budapest
[On the train...worried]
[A bit delirious]
[Trying to be normal]
[Our favorite train conductor...not]
[But it was all worth it...beautiful Budapest!]
[Me and Emily enjoying the gorgeous trees]
[On the furniculaire]
[Budapest]
