Turin, Italy; Lyon, France; and Mount Blanc

So, this week I went to Italy, visited the cullinary capital of France and saw the highest peak in Europe. For only a few days, I accomplished a lot! I had a great week and have lots to report. Turin, Italy: In Turin, there is lots of history and lots to see. We saw ancient Roman Ruins, and the chapel of the Holy Shroud. We walked all around the city and took tons of pictures. I loved the ambiance there and enjoyed the way that they preserved the old city. We were there on a Monday and the museums are closed on Monday's. I was sad in the beginning, but we were able to actually see a lot. We ate pasta and the best pizza of my life! The album of Turin shows just how beautiful I thought it was. Lyon, France: Lyon is the cullinary capital of France, and I had great food there as well. We enjoyed lunch in an Irish pub and dinner at a traditional French dinner with food from the region. I had spicy sausage and a chicked dish that was great. I finished with a chocolate mousse. We then walked in ancient Roman ruins and stumbled upon R.E.M. rehearsing for a concert that evening, and were able to sit less than 10 yards from them and listen to them rehearse while sitting in an ancient roman stadium. I can't even put into words what it was like! We then walked around and saw some great things in the cathedrals and enjoyed a great evening ending with a crepe! Mount Blanc: Well, this was awesome! We rode a train to a large glacier called the sea of ice, and were able to walk around inside an ice cave. It was a museum and it had sculptures inside. We then rode a cable car up to the top where we had a view of Mount Blanc (tallest peak in Europe) and a view of the Matterhorn. I was a amazed at the beauty, and loved how clear and crisp the air was there. I loved this week, and plan to check out of my room on Saturday and head to Paris. As long as I have internet, I'll keep updating my posts, but I can't promise anything. I head to Prague after Paris and finally to the South of Italy and to Rome. I'll hopefully be able to keep up on my blog, and send you picutres from my adventures!!!

Bern, Switzerland

I'll start off by saying that I'm sorry for not writing anything for so long, I just have been terribly busy this week. I've had to write two separate ten page papers for one of my lectures, so I've been researching and writing all week.

Other than than, last weekend was fantastic. I went to Bern, Switzerland. This picture is of part of the city with a view of the bluest river I've ever seen! Also, I jumped in this river and rode the current from quite a ways. Anyone that knows me understands that doing that sort of thing is not quite my cup of tea. I was brave though, and just did it! I'm attaching an album that is only of Bern, and also one that is of the day before in Geneva that included the World Trade Organization, the World Intellectual Properties Organization, and a tour of the old city. So, I hope you enjoy it.

In Bern, the highlight is that this city is protected by UNESCO. It is an organization that works toward the preservation of beauty and cities that are historically important. So, it is wonderful! Also, Einstein lived here for around two years, and his apartment is a museum. He actually developed the theory of relativity here, and I was able to stand in the apartment where that took place. The energy there was indescribable, and I was brought to tears a couple of times thinking about the magnitude of what took place there. I took a picture next to his actual desk, and was able to see and touch the furniture that he lived there with. I was moved by the experience and enjoyed it.

The rest of the city is fantastic, and you will see from the pictures. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Going back to the World Trade Organization, I was so excited to go there, and was very disappointed. They showed us a film and gave us a secretary to answer our questions that insulted us and made us feel stupid. I was sad because I wanted to learn so much, and when I asked questions, instead of answering he danced around the question and didn't give us an organization. I was sad at the way it turned out.

The rest of the trip was great, and you will see how much I enjoyed it from the pictures!

My Weekend

This weekend I went to Annecy and was able to take some great pictures! I've attached them in a new album. I went to a castle, rode around on the lake, and had some great Gelato! Annecy is a small, expensive, and beautiful town! The pictures of the canals especially was great, they call it the Venice of the Savoie region. It is old, old, old, and therefore very beautiful! I had great food, and the atmosphere was better than any words can describe. Walking where others did hundreds of years ago was inspiring and refreshing. I took in every moment, and relished in the culture surrounding me.

That night, Saturday night, I went to the music festival in Chambery. This festival takes place in every city all over France for one night. You walk around the city and take in all the beautiful music and enjoy life with those around you. Before the festival, we had dinner with one of our professors at a great French restaurant. I had the penne pasta with a light tomato sauce and slices of ham. It was to die for! I then got desert that was almost too beautiful to eat. It was a chocolate mousse, berries and cream, a lemon dish, and dark chocolate. The picuture shows how beautiful it was. We then walked around the city and enjoyed the music and atmosphere.

This next week is full of lecture and visits to local companies......then I go to Bern....stay posted, good pictures to come....

New Pictures!

The first pictures are from the view of the mountains at my school. It was very rainy here the first couple of days, and I took pictures of the way the clouds hovered around the mountains. Also, the next is my tour of Chambery and lots of historical places they took us. Apparently, during the French Revolution, Napolean stayed the night here in Chambery with a very pretty French woman and they showed us the window of the apartment that he stayed.

So, they are here for you to enjoy!

End of First Week!

Well, I'm done with the first week of classes, and I LOVED every minute of my schedule this week! I had French lessons, Cross-Culture Management, and the European Union. I really enjoyed my Cross-Cultural Management class because every one's view of America is so different. I loved the discussions we engaged in, and the amount of topics we were able to cover. I also enjoyed learning how other people view our politics, administration, and way of life. I had fondue this week and racloulette (a traditional cheese dish for this region). Also, I'm not going to Paris this weekend, and staying to go to Annecy, Lyon, and the French music festival. It is a music festival that takes place all over France, so no matter what city you are in, there is music. We are attending a traditional French restaurant with one of our teachers who is originally from California and her friend is playing at the restaurant, and we will dance and enjoy his music. After that, we will walk around the city and enjoy the music of all the musicians in the city.

First Day of School

Well I started my first day of classes here, and they went smoothly. I had an introduction to the European Union and how the government was formed. We also learned how they support and encourage small business to stimulate the economy. It was very interesting and I learned a lot. Living in American, I've not had a very good understanding of the European Union. Since I'm here, I'm able to understand it better. My English is actually getting worse here because everyone speaks broken English and in order to communicate with them I have to explain things in broken English. Also, the instructors speak broken or British English, and I struggle to understand what they mean sometimes. Ten of my American classmates are Mexican, so they also speak broken English. I bet when I come home my English is going to be really bad, but that is the fun of being in Europe. You get to experience all different languages, and learn from them. I will be taking my first french lesson tomorrow, and hopefully it isn't too hard. I'm nervous because I don't have any training in a foreign language, except freshman year (high school) of German. It is raining really bad here today, and I'm so thankful I brought an umbrella. My jeans were literally soaked to my knees by the end of the day walking all around. My jet lag is getting better, and I'm feeling more acclimated here. I'm headed to Paris on Friday with some friends, so you will be seeing some very pretty pictures from me soon!

First Days in France

It is June 15th, and I'm here in Chambery, France! I love the fact that we are right next to the Alps, and here is a picture from my window!

My travels started from Boise, ID to Denver, CO, then Denver, CO to Calgary, Canada, then Calgary, Canada to London, England. I then got on a bus for a 1 hour ride from the Heathrow airport to the Luton airport. I checked in just in time to hop a flight to Geneva, Switzerland. Once in Switzerland, I went though customs, the third third time in 24 hours, and caught a shuttle to my hotel. I spent one night there, and took a taxi to the Geneva train station and rode the train from Geneva to Chambery, France where I am right now.

The weather here is pleasant and perfect for the base of the Alps. I'm so excited because I've met some other international students (from Germany, Poland, and Czech Republick) and we watched a Football game last night. I don't really like football (soccer) but it was fun to watch with them, they really get into it! We then played table football (foosball) and had a great time at that. I was informed very early not to call football soccer, so I will refuse to say it and not get into trouble!

I've yet to meet the other students from the United States because the arrive this afternoon, but I'm looking forward to meeting them and spending time with Americans :) My friends I met last night are great though!

Tomorrow I start school at the Groupe Ecole Superieure De Commerce Chambery Savoie, or the Chambery Graduate School of Business. Some of you might be saying...."What?" I know I'm an English Major, but I wanted to study International Business here and I'm going to learn valuable things to hopefully get me a traveling job someday! :)

au revoir for now!