bags are packed

So my bags are packed...
Tickets in pocket...
And I'm ready to go!

Next Stop: Barcelona

Je ne parle pas bien francais

so im learning a great deal of french.

from french news.
to the OC in French.
To watching Paris Hilton die in House of Wax and scream out in French.

plus the family is helping me learn.
And Amalie is quick to teach me the sound the "r"makes in french. (much like the sound you make when you have flem in your throat!"

anyway, after hearing it everyday and hearing locals speak it I am catching on.
I think I have a knack for languages.
I guess I always knew I had.

wish you were here! Its snowing and beautiful!
Switzerland looks just like the pictures. with snow covered mountains and large blue lakes!

Now: Grenoble Next stop: Barcelona

I'm at the part of my journey when I'm staying with the Kleins (family friends) on the Swiss Alps. Its amazingly beautiful here! The view from their house is incredible. They are engulfed in mountain peaks. It snowed 2ft yesterday and didn't stop snowing. I went to bed late last night and woke up to blue skies and a world of white. Its weird to me because I just came from Florence, Italy where the weather was in the high 60s. I think its in the teens here. Their small villiage where they live is so cute. I really like it when they converse with towns people or their neighbors in French. It sounds so cool. Amalie (their daughter) laughs at me when I try to say things because I sound so American. I can't do the nazzle thing and I sound completely off. I try to pronounce Alsace and of course I say it wrong! They all get a kick out of it. I really like hearing Amalie speak French. She loves speaking english but of course has to know french. I ask her what people say and she will translate. Its so fun being here with them.

I've learned so much about myself and travel and people and culture. I'm loving my traveling. Its weird that I'm halfway through. I'll be going to Barcelona next and then Lisbon which should be nice. I'm ready for some warmer weather.

I unfortunately started to get sick with a sore throat. I blame it on Paris. It was SO cold. partly because of the temperature switch I experienced but also because it was cold. It started raining, hailing, then the clouds parted, then it was windy. I am determined to go back when its warm and with people. I actually enjoyed being alone in Paris. It was nice not having to depend on anyone and just do my own thing. I am very proud of myself for tackling the metro system and finding my way around. My favorite thing in Paris to see was Notre Dame. It was beautiful. I've finally got used to trains and planes, and all that. It can be kind of daunting especially when I tried to get on the TGV and their was only one window that people spoke english. AHH I was so confused. Nobody speaks english. It is a very American thing to think everybody knows english. I had to tackle the point and try to pronounce words in Starbucks and McDonalds. Nobody understood english in Paris thats for sure.

I met with a Haitian family in Cergy while in Paris. It was nice getting on a train and seeing them at night. St. Pierre (the father) knew a good amount of english which was nice. St. Pierre's wife's brother wanted to learn English so bad and I want to learn Creol so we were kinda stuck. I told them that if I come back they will have to teach me. They really wanted to meet Rachelle and Noah but I told them maybe someday. St. Pierre knew where I was from and the orphanage. He will be going back to Haiti so when he does he is going to go around to Gilbert and dessalines and ask about us. I told them that the people he comes in contact with will be happy to hear about me and see pictures. That was a fun trip. I enjoyed meeting the family. Nobody spoke english besides St. Pierre which took so getting used to for them. They thought I was staying a month. I just laughed and said "only tonight!" I had mystery meat for dinner. yea... I walked into the kitched and saw a bowl of pig feet. I about died. When the meal came out I had to ask what I was eating. He said chicken but it definitely wasn't. It had the same texture as the potatoes. Actually everything tasted the same. I don't know what I ate.

My world is so busy now that I'm traveling. i don't get internet or anything really except when i use the families computer when the Kleins are out doing something. I actually like being out here surrounded by mountains and nature. Nights have been really good. We have the most amazing conversations at night just about my past, my family, their family, memories. They helped my parents get me and my siblings to the states and Lisa and Marvin have stories to tell. Mostly about their son Ian and my sisters Leah and Sarah. I was younger but they still have stories about me. I think they are funny.

Ah ur going to love my pics when I'm able to upload them. Rome was amazing! It was beathtakingly beautiful. I went into the Colussium which was awesome and then made my way to the ruins. Rome was by far my favorite place so far. The peaks here are high on my list too. I still have Barcelona and Lisbon to see so we'll see. In Rome my friends and I ate at a resteraunt and I had the colussium in the background. Its amazing to think of the history and the fact that the Apostle Paul would've been there at that place. (thinking back to Jesus times). We went on Ceaser Augustus's deathday so their were flowers and ceremonies where he was stabbed and died. That was cool to see. Italy in general is a very pretty place. I didn't make it to Venice but I loved Pisa (I got some funny pictures there) and Florence as well. There is just so much to see there. Ah and Gelato is amazing. I hate ice-cream but this I could eat all the time. yum yum.

so yea, just hanging out on the alps trying to stay warm in the house. we head back to alsace later which is more inland and not in the mountains. Their daughter Amalie is awesome. really fun to hang around. such a teenager and totally blunt. While I've been here there was a camp going on for this church's singles group in Texas. We had this elaborate dinner french style and many many cheeses. I really liked the goat cheese but hated all the others. Amalie said she had the same problem but now got used to it. The group brought over a bunch of food in their suitcases and left the leftovers with us. That made Amalie happy because she got poptarts, peanut butter, butter popcorn, and cereal. I wouldn't blame her. I got to listen to their evening program and celebrate good friday with the group that is here. They are really nice.

I can't really send you pics until later. I'll do it later when I can.

Its good to be writing you again. Hope all is well. I love it here! and definitely don't want go back to school. I haven't started any of my essays because I'm a total slacker! lol. I'm loving this month break and am SO excited to see my friend Jessica soon.

cheers

so im off to see the world. okay not the whole world but south Europe. I will be gone for a month which seems incredibly outrageous to me! I'm going to be so tired when I get back.

so yea, I guess thats all I have to say. I will try to post pictures and blog when I can along my journeys.

Now I must go finish packing. nuff said!

Cheerio!

new phone number

my new phone number is:
07528799778

right now

I finally finished buying my last plane ticket for break.

With Easter break coming up in 2 weeks I was really needing to finish planning. I still need to reserve a spot in a Florence Hostel but I've finished buying my tickets which was the big part. I changed my plans a bit but its actually working out for the better. I guess I'll have to save Greece for my honeymoon because I decided to go to Barcelona instead. I am going to Portugal so I might as well head out that way. Greece is just so expensive! My travels are going to be amazing. I can't wait!

I'm kinda upset that pepper spray is illegal here. I mean seriously.... an ink isn't going to stop anybody. So I guess I will have to try to remember my self defense or hope I'm that chick of Heroes who can imitate anything she sees. :) or even better, never have a problem! I don't think I will but just in case.... (whats that phrase Bullock uses in Ms. Congeniality?)

I've noticed that a lot of Americans hangout with Americans. The crew I hangout with sometimes and whom I'm traveling with always hangout with each other. They don't seem to have any British friends or have the courage to join societies. I tell them I joined surf club, am taking a tai chi course, joined the netball team, joined the glbt club, and go to Christian union meetings. What they do? I myself could never do! I can't believe someone would travel so far to hangout with Americans?!?! SO lame.

I will upload all of my pictures. There was something wrong with my java program so I couldn't upload anything or some error would come up. I'm trying to resolve that.

Has anybody seen "No country for old men?" that film was crazy! I watched it and was utterly disgusted, intrigued, horrified, astonished, and amazed. The film had some of the best cinematography and art direction I've ever seen. The writing was intelligent and the acting incredible! I didn't read reviews or even read the synopsis because I didn't want any weird angle before I watched it. I didn't really know what to think of the film but something kept me watching it. I think it was the storytelling that was so intriguing. Be warned that this film is not for the faint of heart!

this weekend and moving in

This weekend I went to England for the BUSA surf championships. It proved to be a cold, wet, and some what fun weekend. I really loved watching the surfers and the different teams represented. there was some really good competition. I froze like an ice-cube on Friday afternoon. I ended up putting my wet suite on under my clothes. People thought I was crazy but I'd rather be warm and crazy then cold and fit in. The Swansea women's team took 4th place and did really well. I loved watching the competition.

On my free time I went around town and went surfing. The club only had an 8'4 board left for me to use which was heavy and long but I didn't complain. Carrying it around town with numb fingers was difficult but I ended up carrying it on my head because it worked. The waves were okay but Sunday I think I wiped more times than not. Eating sand and drinking salt water was my breakfast. ugh. I'm glad I went surfing in England though but if you choose to go know the surf is less then ideal. (especially for a beginner). I'm getting over the cold and sucking it up. If you know me this is not my personality but I guess once you realize your never going to get warm you just deal with it and surf. My wet suite is amazing so I never really get too cold but once I get that thing off I have to cover up quick or I freeze.

I moved into villiage flats today. Thanks to my friend Joel for letting me use his car to transport all my stuff (which isn't much) I went to put some stuff on the seat and put it on the right hand side. I didn't realize I made a mistake until I went to get in the car and got in on the wrong side. I kept thinking to myself that this wasn't going to happen but it did. Ah... the differences.

So I really love my flatmates. they are all so nice. I have 6 flatmates and we share a kitchen area and bathroom. Tonight they played poker. I just watched but I love Texas holdem so it made me happy that they played. They all seem to get along and enjoy hanging out. They are fascinated that I'm American and they don't seem to have some kind of bias which I've noticed some people having. Tonight my flatmate John put butter on bread and put chips in the bread and ate it. He wanted me to try it out but there was no way I was going to take a bite into that. eeww! Other then their food choices I really like where I'm living. It is 10x better then the dorms. I was kinda lonely there because I didn't know anybody and nobody came out of there rooms. Like some kind of ghost town. but now I am meeting actual British students. I really loved hanging out around the table to night and having a meal and just chatting. They all keep their doors open too which is good. Oh and I can finally make my own food which is definitely a plus. I was sick and tired of microwave dishes. I still have to buy blankets and all those little things but its all good. No rush.