Noel!

I was SUCH fan of snow storms, until yesterday. Yesterday snow storms began to ruin my life. No longer were they beautiful snowy days off school without power and with hot cocoa.

Yesterday my dad was supposed to come spend 12 days in europe with me. Beginning with 5 days in Paris, yeahhh that's no longer happening. Dad is now arriving christmas eve, three nights late because of a GIANT storm in New York. Blarg. I am not happy.

Upside is that I get to watch more christmas movies (im not done my 18 movies yet) and I get to run all the little holiday errands I had intially never gotten around to, so I am trying to see the positives.

I wish you all a not-so-snowy (but still white) christmas!

xx - Gros Bisous!

on the first day of christmas..

time is winding down and my christmas spirit is at an alltime peak. I have reconstructed my christmas list of to see movies and have decided to watch them all before I jet off to Paris to meet Dad for Christmas- school seems to be coming in the way of completing my list although I am still doing rather well (the list consists of 18 movies- 7 of which I have now watched this season)

I spent my saturday (yesterday!) In Strasbourg, it is in the region of Alsace and is in northern France, it has a lot of german characteristics because it is boardering germany and had been occupied by Germany more than once. It is know as the Christmas Capital of Europe. They are right, it is full of little Marche de Noels (where little stands set up and sell gifts and chocolate and bretzels). It was a lovely day although I feel the enormous amounts of people in the streets took away from the effect. I was happy to get back to the wee Dijon at the end of the day!

I SAW SNOW!!!! Atlantic Canada has been bragging about their storms and such that I was feeling a little homesick and worrysome that I wouldn't even see a speck of snow before christmas. We drove through flurries on the way to Strasbourg. It was monumental and very very exciting for me. I love snow. I miss Canada.

To keep the Christmas spirit alive, 8 Canadians are having a Dijon Christmas- we're making chicken and veges and drinking wine and exchanging little secret santa gifts. I am very exciting.. Ohhhh 5 days until my birthday, 12 until christmas :)

december first!

It is OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON!

I loooove the month of december! There is nothing I enjoy more than a light snow fall on the way home from school (when possible in December) and alll of the christmas lights that are around starting about now. If France does anything right- it is christmas lights. Most every square inch of Dijon is scattered with christmas lights. It is less common here for individual houses to decorate and light up (because electricity is so expensive) but the down definitely goes all out. We have been watching them prepare for the christmas lights for weeks now..

Ahhh I love Christmas... Hot Chocolate, Apple Pie, Christmas Music (yes, Nat King Cole is what I mean) annnnnd alll of the holiday specials... Keep an eye out for:

Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation

The Grinch who Stole Christmas

Polar Express

Love Actually

A Christmas Story

It's a Wonderful Life

The Holiday

Charlie Brown Christmas

Watch them all and tell me you aren't oozing with Christmas excitement... Ohhhh I love this time of year :)

just another rainy day..

It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged (sorry!). I have been a busy bee, please blame neglect on the french educational system and it's crazy homework and 3 tests a week. Yes, I have a minimum of three tests and atleast one assignment a week. I have to be honest though, without this constant push, I would fail at grasping the language in the way I am! We are forced to review review review. Having to review opposed to self driven review is far more effective... Thank you France.

I was in paris this past weekend. It was glorious, the only downfall is the fact that I must have doubled my weight in the food I ate. I had a taste of sushi for the first time in a long time, which was more exciting then the Eiffel tower OR the Louvre- Yes, it is obvious where my priorities lie.

a nice wee lass

So, My dream trip finally happened.

My whole life I have wanted to go to Scotland. I have grown up listening to "Josephine Stories" (stories of my grandmothers life in Scotland before she moved to Canada) and I finally was able to experience it for myself. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. From the minute we stepped off the plane, I knew I was going to love it... Here are the reasons why:

a) the lovely accents... Mark my words. I am going to marry a Scot.

b) the fact that you can be in a big city, drive an hour and be in the country side with sheep and cows

c) The people are all so friendly! (except one cab driver)

d) I met my scottish family and they were 5,000x more amazing then I ever could have imagined. They are the sweetest, most welcoming people I have ever met!

e) IN SCOTLAND THEY SPEAK ENGLISH!!

It was AMAZING to take a break from the French language and give our brains a rest. We still tried to say "pardon" instead of "excuse me" but we got used to it. I am not going to leave out the hard-cold truth that coming back to france was frustrating. In those three short days, we lost a lot of language. Being used to speaking, hearing and reading french was not roaring to get going again when we got back, and it is disappointing that such a short visit would deteriorate a months worth of work. Hopefully at the end of the 8 months - the french will stick a little bit better!

rain rain go away!

I have been getting a kick out of the Dijon weather...

In Halifax, if you take note of the weather outlook for the week and it says "Heavy Rain" for the next 4 days- you get your umbrella, rain jacket and rubber boots ready to get a hefty work out. It isn't quite so precise in Dijon. The for cast has called for "Heavy Rain" the last 12 days.... 12 days- no word of a lie... We have had rain, MAYBE 4 of those days and of those 4 days today was the first time I had to actually put up my hood because of the rain. The "Heavy Rain" is more like a light light shower, with a chance of raindrops showing up on your jacket... don't worry, not enough precipitation for puddles or damp socks.

I am learning to love French Weather. It is so exciting when you wake up, expecting rain and the road is dry.

Quenelles de Veau

So... I posted yesterday, but this is definitely post worthy..

Jess and I sit down for dinner ( no one else ate with us tonight) and Mme. Puts some salad in front of us... All is well, then- she puts down the next course and it gets lost in translation. Sitting in front of me, is what looks like steamed potatoes and some form of chicken in a tomato sauce, although I was rather sure poulet was not a word used when describing the menu.

I take a bite of the potatos with the mysterious meat sauce- all is well... The sauce was good, Jess and I started to think things may be Ok.. the BAM we bite into the 'meat' and Oh, it was soft and mushy and of a consistency I can't even begin to describe... It was like, mashed potoatos, somehow sitting in a gelatine solid form, staying in one piece, just until you cut into it- then it all goes to hell on your plate..We struggled to get through the meal and headed upstairs to discuss what the dinner consisted of...

I finally got the courage to get mme to write it out- when i googled it, I wished I hadn't.. it is a Lyon Speciality... made of Cow Kidneys.. yum? I think not... I feel sick- the only upside is that I am not drinking tonight... MAYBE my belly will settle.

blarg.

Oh, the joys of french cuisine.

Bahhh?

I booked a trip to the Land of the Sheep!

I am not quite certain of that is what to call it, I think of sheep, mainly because it had been Heather MacKay's plan to dress sheeplike, for my European themed party...

I am jetting off from November 6-9th. I am incredibly excited for this excursion, as it will be the first out of France lasting more then a day! (I am headed to Geneva on Saturday, but only for a day trip!)

Other then my travel plans to Scotland.. There is not a whole lot new in my french life. Tomorrow, I can finally apply for my long stay visa- so lets cross our fingers that I will be able to stick around France past christmas... that would end in mild complications..

I am not sure if my blog was lucky enough to mention the cute little white ball of fluff we try to call a dog or not... If not, his name is Eddie- and contraire to any previous praise I may have given him... I HATE EDDIE MORE THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE. He pee's everywhere, humps everything and gets reprimanded ALL of the time- thus I wake up to

[please add french dialect]: NON EDDIE- NON NON NON!! TU ES UN COUCHON- NON NON NON!

It is getting old- fast... So much for my distaste in dogs to have disapeared... it was just hidden under some cute, soft fluff for a couple of weeks. I have come back to my senses, so please- no body worry.

I have a test tomorrow, I should go study now...

Bon Nuit!

Lake Kir

It is eight degrees and beautiful in Dijon today. My plan was to sleep my life away (first week of school plus a couple of busy evenings left me begging for a good nights rest) but the sun woke me and I went for a walk around the lake instead. My Taiwanese housemate mentioned it taking her 3hrs to get her way around the lake, so I planned on quite an excursion.. 50 minutes and some lovely lake photographs later- I have scaled the mountain that is the hill i live on and am home safe and sound.

I can only Imagine how pretty it will be in the midst of the summer and in the dead of the winter

Isn't it prettttty?

Happy Turkey!

It is weird, not being home this weekend. Even when at dal, I always made it home for thanksgiving. I think the most bizarre part is that there is this EPIC dinner and tradition taking place in Canada, while in France, it is just another sunday. Nothing different. I guess all cultures have their differences. I am just very excited to have found out that dijon DOES indeed celebrate Halloween. It is a new holiday, but something that does exist.

Nothing else shocking and new thus far. I have been placed in niveau 3 for my french program, so I smack dab in the middle. I also found out there is an econ in french credit I can tranfer back to dal, which is AMAZING.

Last night was David Guetta at the Chat Noire, if you have never heard of him... get your life together. Just kidding... He produced "Bam Bam Pow" and "I got a feeling" by the BEP and also has his own origional music such as "sexy bitch" feat. Akon. It was prettttty amazing. No word of a lie.

Anywho, classes start tomorrow- no school till one. It should be great to finally get in a routine of things.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

So, tomorrow the buses strike.

I am realllly hoping this does not happen. With my one transfer it takes 40 minutes by bus to school. Therefore, it will take FOREVER to get there by any other method of transportation.. pus, there is no way I would be able to go and not get lost.

Today we had a field trip to Beaune . It is the 3rd richest town in France. They make damn good wine. I would know, I drank some. We saw a famour vinyard, have some free time in town and went on a tour of a hospice museum, which was a bit creepy, but the architecture was killer.... We then went and indulged in some red wine at a vino. Speaking of wine it is amazingly cheap. Ali and I have decided to have a Mimosa night with 1,5 euro champagne! Hoolllla- that should be fun!

Anyway, things are going well so far. I am more easily seeing the cultural differences between France and Canada... It is a bit frustrating, but I guess it is something that I just have to get used to.

au revoir (bisous!)

Ma Maison!

I am going to do a bit of a picture tour of a bit of my area... I will try to not bore you..

<----view from my bathroom/deck window!

The view of my house, from the road!

pictures are not co-operating, therefore... this is all you get, more to come soooon

phew

made it, somehow in one piece, and magically... I have internet!!

I am living in a house overlooking Dijon, it is a beautiful view, with a lake, and a view of the city lights at night. I really lucked out here, tonight for dinner we had a delicious stew made by my host mama mme. alexandravitch, but when I thought it was over I was surprised with some authentic French Cuisine... We had lentils with local bacon and sausage in it... It was delicious.

I haven't slept in 36hrs so Im going to rest up before I go try and figure out this city and attempt to get a cell phone..

The French is overwhelming already, but I am excited to learn!!

Fun Facts from my first 36hrs of travel:

* It is dark in Iceland until 8am, so don't get too excited to see the beautiful land when you fly in at 5am

* Expect to see many many 13 year old greaser boys outside the dijon train station- they are a staple in society

* Don't try travelling with 10 other students, as comforting as it is to have them around, you will get things accomplished at 1/4 the rate

* There will be a dog at my house, starting tomorrow... just a wee one though, and a brand new puppy, 1.5lb. It is a good thing the wee ones are growing on me!

* The toilet paper in my bathroom.... is PINK

up up and away!

12 hours....

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

the next time you hear from me, I will be across the world- well not alll the way but, an approximatly 5113 Km away from my little island.

eeep- these feelings in my belly, I am going to muster all I have to believe they are good, excited feelings, not worried upset feelings... Good feelings trump bad feelings...

it will be an "ad-french-ure" to say the least

13 days and counting!

I leave for france in less than 2 weeks. It is insane to think that two weeks from RIGHT NOW, I will be in Dijon, living there- eating there- studying there- for 8 months...

I am trying to make keeping in touch easy for everyone, therefore I am going to try and keep an updated blog. This way, if you're interested in seeing what I am up to/ where I am traveling to- it will be easier for you and me!

Please keep me posted on everything going on back in Canada!!

I will begin consistantly blogging- through pictures ect when I finally get my life tied up in two travel bags and I make it across the vast ocean to the land of the french (ah- wish me luck!)

Here is my Address if you're interested in sending mail my way- If I have not gotten you're address then please send it to me via facebook!

Sarah-Jo Briand

31 Avenue des Marronniers

21240 Talant

France