Wow here I was really about to go to sleep.... thank goodness I remembered....
anyhow, I totally started a post about a Saturday day trip i went on with the program but it’s on my computer... and I’m about to go to sleep.... so this is bad but I’m gonna post this and add to it very soon (should I say tomorrow????) also I swear I haven’t forgotten that I need to add photos to last weeks post :-( I’m slacking so bad guys I’m sorry!! Especially on reading everyones stuff. But I will soon !
Real post as promised --
This past Saturday, I went on a day trip with the program to Rouen, which is in Normandy. We got there by train and it must have only been something like an hour and a half or so. Upon arrival, we headed to le musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen. The city is known for a couple of things : being the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, having a cathedral that Monet did a series of, and more that I’m probably not aware of…. But there were two things specific to Smith that made the trip interesting as well. 1) Smith owns one of the aforementioned Monet paintings in his cathedral series and 2) There’s this restaurant in Rouen where Julia Child allegedly “discovered” French cuisine.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts was a really good one in my opinion ! I mean, most fine arts museums are kind of the same, but nonetheless, we had a guide so that made it cooler. One painting I liked depicted the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. I love hearing the stories behind Greek myths (as some of you might know), and surprisingly this one had a happy ending. We didn’t get to see all that much of the museum, but I’m content with what we did see. There was also a small exhibit on the relationship between cinema and art. It tracked how art movements were integrated and shown in film as film as an art itself developed !
Next, we had lunch at La Couronne, that restaurant I mentioned with Julia Child. I can see why she would be inspired because the food was truly delicious! When we have dinner with the program, it’s great because they always do 3 courses (it’s also like that with host families but usually on a more casual scale). My favorite part is always the dessert.
After this, we went on a guided tour primarily of cathedrals and churches. This was ok, but I got kinda disengaged. Later, we had time to do what we chose. But there was a group looking for a café to have some coffee or hot chocolate. Since the directors were going, this would be paid for by Smith so obviously I took that opportunity. It was a bit difficult to find a spot that could accommodate us all, but at long last we found somewhere. I get intimidated to go to cafés alone, so I always like when I can find other people to go with. Following this pause, there was this vintage shop that I really wanted to see. We did end up making it, but just barely.
We were supposed to be back at the train station at a certain time… and of course we ended up running late. Which, much to my dismay, meant we had to literally run. I was…not so happy with this, but it’s the price I pay. In these moments, I wonder if I should start running purely so that I’m not dead when I have to run. That, or I get better at punctuality. Both unlikely honestly.
By a miracle we made it in time for the train back to Paris (actually the others freaked us out so we’d hurry and we ended up coming with several minutes to spare).
We got back at around 7pm/8pm which is pretty good for a day trip. I went to Malika’s place because we’re going to Italy for the first week of winter break. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but yeah, I’m not going back to the US for break :/. It’ll be fun though! I’m going to Italy with Malika and our other friend Lucy. The second week, I’m going to travel with Kristiana (possibly to Berlin and Amsterdam??) but we evidently need to plan. I have exams at the beginning of January, but I’m not that mad about it. After that week of exams, I’m pretty sure I’ll have quite a bit of time before the next semester starts. Speaking of, this semester I was taking classes at Paris 7 Diderot, but next semester I’m going to go to Paris 4 Sorbonne :-). That university is only humanities, but I wanted to take more classes that I haven’t before like art history or cinema.
I hope that was a sufficient makeup for the fact that last night I didn’t post much (btw I didn’t even finish the essay I was supposed to).
Music Recs :
Man's World - Joy Crookes
I Wish I Missed My Ex - Mahalia
Dark & Handsome - Blood Orange
Moody - maye
Movie Recs :
I recently saw this movie called Papicha. It was one of the best movies I've seen in a while (I think the only other one that was as good was Parasite). It's about a young woman who wants to be a fashion designer in Alger in the 1990's. This is at the same time as extremist ideology is making things dangerous. The director is a woman and you can really tell by the way the story is told and the depiction of women. I HIGHLY recommend for all of youse.
First you have a spa in Boston, now Emma has a store in France, what else are you all hiding.
Joan of Arc's my favorite French lady, glad you got to hang out in her city :^)
Also I don't know how I feel about that lady on the pizza box (Julia, I assume?) and that movie sounds interesting I'll check it out :0
Have a good time in Italy/Germany :)
I think it is a sufficient post, it made me chuckle (specifically the part about either learning to run so when you have to, you can). But the food at that restaurant looks SO GOOD! Also, you look cute in your pic with you coffee/hot chocolate (I know I said it before but I’ll say it again: you look really good with this haricut :)).
Really cool stuff madame. Combien de pays que tu visites maintenant?