Feb 2, 2014
Today was pretty good.
I had signed up for an event called "franglish," which is a language exhange between native French and English speakers. They host the events in various bars and pubs throughout Paris a couple times a week and you have to sign up for a session in advance because otherwise you won't get a spot. It costs 8 euros for students and 1 free drink is included, so it's not too expensive. The organization matches English speakers with French ones and it's a little bit like speed-dating: you speak in French for 7 minutes and then switch to English for the other 7 and after that you change partners and repeat for 2 hours.
Today's session was from 6-8pm in a place called Chapi Chabo pub in Le Marais in the 5th arrondissement. I really liked it and I'm definitely going to sign up for more sessions and try to find other similar organizations cause it was great practice to speak to so many native speakers and it was also a lot of fun! I got complimented on my French by everyone I spoke with, so that made me feel pretty good haha. I also was pretty happy that my French was better than all of my partners' English skills.
I was expecting there to be a lot of French university students but everyone I spoke to had already graduated. They need to improve their English for jobs so that's why they were there.
After I left "franglish," I met my friend Gabriel, an exchange student from Brazil who also studies at Paris 7 Diderot, at the metro stop closest to my house and we went and watched Pokemon the First Movie in French haha. It was pretty easy to understand; I could understand almost all of the French except for some names of Pokemon and the names of the Pokemons' attacks.
So today was a pretty productive day for practicing French -- but it was also really enjoyable too.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Chantilly
Feb 1, 2014
Today API took us to Chantilly, a castle with a museum and also famous for its whipped cream. It's also known for its horses. Thousands of horses train there and the stables has around 2,000 employees! Because Chantilly is outside the actual city of Paris, we had to take a bus to get there. It wasn't too far. Only about an hour and 15 minutes away from the city.
First we had a guided tour of le Musée Condé, a museum inside the castle. The collection of art and books was gathered by a wealthy Duke of France who donated it all to the state in his will. So the Institute of France owns the castle, the grounds, and all of the works of art.
After the tour was over, we got to see the garden behind the castle. The garden was really beautiful and I would love to be able to stroll through it when it's a bit warmer.
Soon it was time for us to have our "gustation" (taste testing) of the famous Chantilly whipped cream - paid for by API. I was expecting a small cup but the waiters brought out these giant bowls full of whipped cream. Most of the other API students didn't finish their bowls, but I powered through mine haha. I also got to drink some really good hot chocolate.
We only stayed at Chantilly for about 3 hours because the bus API hired was waiting for us. So after our gustation, we boarded the bus to return to the city.
I have some pictures you can check out:
Today API took us to Chantilly, a castle with a museum and also famous for its whipped cream. It's also known for its horses. Thousands of horses train there and the stables has around 2,000 employees! Because Chantilly is outside the actual city of Paris, we had to take a bus to get there. It wasn't too far. Only about an hour and 15 minutes away from the city.
First we had a guided tour of le Musée Condé, a museum inside the castle. The collection of art and books was gathered by a wealthy Duke of France who donated it all to the state in his will. So the Institute of France owns the castle, the grounds, and all of the works of art.
After the tour was over, we got to see the garden behind the castle. The garden was really beautiful and I would love to be able to stroll through it when it's a bit warmer.
Soon it was time for us to have our "gustation" (taste testing) of the famous Chantilly whipped cream - paid for by API. I was expecting a small cup but the waiters brought out these giant bowls full of whipped cream. Most of the other API students didn't finish their bowls, but I powered through mine haha. I also got to drink some really good hot chocolate.
We only stayed at Chantilly for about 3 hours because the bus API hired was waiting for us. So after our gustation, we boarded the bus to return to the city.
I have some pictures you can check out:
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Circe d'hiver
Jan 25, 2014
Today API arranged for us to go see Circe d'hiver, a French circus. API provided us with free tickets so I didn't have to pay anything to enjoy the show.
Okay...I have very mixed feelings about the circus act. First, there were a few really great and impressive acts by very talented performers: cool gymnastics and acrobatics and some funny skits.
But I did not like how sexualized the female performers were. In multiple acts, there were women scantily dressed who would just dance inbetween the male performer's stunts. The dancing wasn't even good either. It was clear they were just there to look pretty. For example, during the gymnastic act (which was my favorite) the male performer would do a bunch of crazy flips with metal bars and then he would descend from the bars and do a little sensual dance with the woman and then return -- rinse and repeat. There was absolutely no reason for the woman to be in the act. Similar things happened in most acts. There were only a couple acts where women actually "performed."
And next: the animals. While I did enjoy seeing trainers work with tigers and horses for tricks, I didn't like how they were treated in the ring. And I know they must be mistreated out of the ring too -- kept in small cages.
Overall it was good to experience a typical French circus and some of the acts were really cool, but I found a lot of problems with it. I'm glad for the experience but I won't go to one again.
Today API arranged for us to go see Circe d'hiver, a French circus. API provided us with free tickets so I didn't have to pay anything to enjoy the show.
Okay...I have very mixed feelings about the circus act. First, there were a few really great and impressive acts by very talented performers: cool gymnastics and acrobatics and some funny skits.
But I did not like how sexualized the female performers were. In multiple acts, there were women scantily dressed who would just dance inbetween the male performer's stunts. The dancing wasn't even good either. It was clear they were just there to look pretty. For example, during the gymnastic act (which was my favorite) the male performer would do a bunch of crazy flips with metal bars and then he would descend from the bars and do a little sensual dance with the woman and then return -- rinse and repeat. There was absolutely no reason for the woman to be in the act. Similar things happened in most acts. There were only a couple acts where women actually "performed."
And next: the animals. While I did enjoy seeing trainers work with tigers and horses for tricks, I didn't like how they were treated in the ring. And I know they must be mistreated out of the ring too -- kept in small cages.
Overall it was good to experience a typical French circus and some of the acts were really cool, but I found a lot of problems with it. I'm glad for the experience but I won't go to one again.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Revisiting The Louvre
I've been wanting to go back to the Louvre ever since I had the tour there so I decided I was going to spend my free time on Sunday there. Some other API/Diderot students wanted to come so we all met outside the glass pyramid at 1:00pm. I thought it was only free on Friday evenings but apprently it's free for me any day at any time! It's free admission all the time for 18-25 year-old residents of the EU -- and with my French long stay visa, I'm technically a resident. So that's great to know!
I really wanted to check out Greek and Roman art in particular so after looking around at random for a bit, we found that section and looked around for a while. It was really cool, definitely some of my favorite types of art.
We stayed at the museum for about 2 1/2 hours before we got hungry and decided to leave to get lunch. Not much was open because it's Sunday, but we did find a small Japanese restaurant in the area that was affordable. Unforunately, we were between meal times and the restaurant takes a 2 hours break so no lunch or dinner specials. But I got some delicious pork dumplings (which was called raviolis grillées, "grilled ravioli" -- so weird!")
After our delicious late lunch, we all split-up and headed back to our homes. I'm going to spend the rest of my free day reading the Percy Jackson books in French!
I really wanted to check out Greek and Roman art in particular so after looking around at random for a bit, we found that section and looked around for a while. It was really cool, definitely some of my favorite types of art.
We stayed at the museum for about 2 1/2 hours before we got hungry and decided to leave to get lunch. Not much was open because it's Sunday, but we did find a small Japanese restaurant in the area that was affordable. Unforunately, we were between meal times and the restaurant takes a 2 hours break so no lunch or dinner specials. But I got some delicious pork dumplings (which was called raviolis grillées, "grilled ravioli" -- so weird!")
After our delicious late lunch, we all split-up and headed back to our homes. I'm going to spend the rest of my free day reading the Percy Jackson books in French!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)