Normandie

This past weekend I spent three days in one of the most historical provinces known to France and the world: Normandie (Normandy to us Americans).

The history lesson started early Friday morning with a two hour train ride to Le Havre from Paris. Once in Le Havre, we saw the main harbor built in the 1800's, and we learned about the main profession of the 19th century: ship making. From Le Havre we traveled to a tiny city called Bayeux, famous for its Notre Dame Cathedral, and a tapestry made in the 13th century.

But the focus of our trip was not just for pleasure, but for an in-depth and personal study of France and America during and after the World Wars.

We awoke early Saturday morning and ventured to the World War II Memorial in Caen. The memorial chronicles French history from the beginning of WWI through the end of WWII, with many pictures, videos, and visualizations that appeal to your emotions. Ending our visit to the Memorial with a video made from real WWII footage, we then traveled by bus to Colleville-Sur-Mer, home to the American Cemetery from WWII and the beaches of D-Day. The cemetery was built in 1944, after which France gave the land to the United States, and the land was granted special permissions to be recognized as American soil. 9,386 American military men are buried here, and there is a wall devoted to 1, 557 soldiers whose bodies could not be identified or located.

After an emotional afternoon at the Memorial, the cemetery, and the debarkation beaches, we ended the day with a visit to the La Cambe German WWII Cemetery where 21, 222 German military men are buried, of which 207 are unknown.

After two exhausting days, Sunday was a day for relaxation, and in the morning we spent our time at the Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux, and ended our trip with a visit to the famous Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry is an embroidered work of art which chronicles the events leading up to the 1066 Battle of Hastings and the Norman invasion of England.

After eating lunch and making our way back the train station, we boarded our train back to Paris, and I took the two hour train ride to reflect on everything I saw during the weekend.

Since I can remember in history class, we've talked about World War II, the Holocaust, D-Day, and what the war meant not only for the United States, but for France, England, Germany, Russia, Japan and every other country that played a role in the war. Hearing about the beaches of Normandie and the moment when the Americans arrived ready for battle does not even begin to compare to what it felt like to see all of this in person. Just standing on the sand at Omaha Beach it was as if you could feel the history passing before you, and you could see the events that took place not so long ago. Experiencing what the war meant not for you own country, but for a country that suffered so much devastation after the War is a moment in time which is inexplicable, and to do so would not render it the justice it deserves.

World War, Total War: Memorial in Caen










The Memorial in Caen. The writing on the wall says: "La douleur m'a brisée, la fraternité m'a relevée, de ma blessure a jailli un fleuve de liberté."
Translation: "Pain broke me, brotherhood raised me, and from my wound, surged a river of freedom."


I'll end this post with a quotation by Cicero:
"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity." Cicero

Brenda

Life Outside the Bubble

Sometimes I get really frustrated because in my head I have this clear picture of what it is I want to communicate through words, but when I sit down to write it down, it doesn't exactly come out the way I want it to, or it doesnt sound as articulate as I would like it to.

But recently, I have been doing a lot of thinking (that will hopefully translate into the written word) about my experiences here in France and about my time abroad. I have realized in the short amount of time that I have been here that there is a life outside of our bubble. Well, obviously, of course everyone know thats. But do they understand it? Because I didn't.

I will be the first to admit that I live in a bubble. I live in Dallas, TX, in the bubble that is SMU where approximately 11,000 students go about their daily work on the beautiful campus that we find in Highland Park.

I attended a Catholic Sacred Heart school in Houston (all girls, I might add) for six years, and if anything, my education taught me to look beyond myself and my world and to realize what else is out there. Well...that's easier said than done. Since being abroad, I have come not only to realize life outside the bubble, but to experience it, and to try to understand it. Sure, life is full of days when you get up and you dont feel like going to class, or you are really excited about that upcoming frat party this weekend, but I have recently learned that it is so much more than that.

I think this realization was brought on by the events of last week and this week in the area of international relations. After hearing almost nothing about September 11, I tried to think about what French people must have felt when they heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center. I put myself in their position. Did they feel that the problem was so far removed from them that it barely even made a dent in their day? Or did they feel that the problem was closer to home, and that if it hadnt been in the US, that it could have been here? Could it have happened to them?

I'm a little ashamed to say that if I were back in Dallas right now, Kouchner's announcement on Monday about preparing for war with Iran would not have made me rethink the past six years and the problems facing the world today. I would have sat and read about it, even talked about the news in a few of my journalism classes, but I would not have been worried about what could happen a week from now. I would continue to live in my comfort zone where I am convinced that the world's problems are far bigger than me, and that things like war dont come close to affecting me and the life that I live.

So all of a sudden the bubble is starting to get smaller and smaller and I realized that just because a problem seems far away and isn't necessarily affecting us, doesnt mean that it isnt our problem to deal with.

So what do we do when the bubble finally breaks? Do we continue in another bubble and go on with our life as we have only ever known it, or do we take that step outside and experience change?

I'd like to know.

An American in Paris

As a journalism student studying here in Paris, I will admit to myself and anyone else reading this blog that I have been absolutely horrible at keeping up with the news, not only from back home, but from around the world.

CNN.com is my homepage, and I am ashamed to say that I have barely glanced at the top news (or any news, FYI), since I've been here. Last week marked the 6 year anniversary of September 11 and I barely saw an article, and I heard nothing about it on the French news. But as American students, we remembered. We all recalled where we were and what we did that day, as vividly as it if had just taken place yesterday.

But yesterday, I happened to be paying attention to CNN when I saw the words "France" and "war" and I immediately perked up. Yesterday, the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, announced that we should prepare for war if Iran does not stop it's uranium enrichment program. OOO la la la la la la! Here I am, in PARIS (granted, an American student who has heard about war, Iraq, Iran, Osama, etc for the past six years)...preparing for what could possibly be the next step in international "relations." Threats against Iran and it's uranium enrichment program are not new, and neither are UN sanctions against the country, but for some reason this time it actually hit home. Well, rather, I'm not at home, and I think that's my main point...I am so far from home, and yet I am closer to the problem. I am not in MY HOME (USA)...I am in France (which is very beautiful, I might add), but all of a sudden I do not feel the comfort and protection that I do at home. I am no longer surrounded by vast oceans, Canada, and Mexico, but rather by dozens of other countries with foreign laws that probably dont apply to me anyway.

So today, jokingly, we all talked about "oh crap, we're going to get nuked," but the reality is this: Mom and dad are not here anymore, I am not on my own soil, and frankly, well, I think it's time I started paying attention to what's going on around me. All of a sudden, the problem doesnt seem so distant...in a country far, far away. I cannot crawl back into the bubble around me, and pretend like the world's problems are far bigger than me, because sooner, rather than later, they could be on my doorstep.

So thank you, CNN.com, because I have finally heard you and I have finally seen you.

Brenda

Paris in the Fall

I realized that after being here for almost two full weeks, I havent uploaded any pictures yet.

So here are a few images from all around the city!

Most of the girls in the gardens at the Château de Compiègne.

The Eiffel Tower during the day

The Eiffel tower at night!

A French Connection

It has been almost two weeks since I left behind my family and friends in Texas and embarked on the adventure that is a semester abroad. There have been good and bad, but so far, Paris is one of the most amazing places I have ever lived.

Everyday is a new adventure. Getting on the metro in the morning, afternoon, and night, are three completely different experiences. One afternoon there were five of us girls riding the metro, with our friend, Federico. All of a sudden this young boy (age estimate: 12/13) gets on the metro with his boombox and starts aggressively and quite frankly, in a very vulgar manner, dancing and thrusting in front of us. He starts swinging from the poles on the metro and does these hip thrusting motions. I could not have been more shocked. I never expected it. Then after his rap/thrusting session, he goes around the metro with his little cup and asks for money. I felt embarassed, not only for him, but for the five of us sitting there with jaws dropped and completely unaware of what had just happened. When was the last time someone went up to you and made thrusting motions 3 inches from your face? Not something that happens on a day to day basis...for us. But the other people on the metro just completely ignored him, looked the other way, and some even got up and moved...and honestly, I dont blame them. The same thing happened to me the other day with two other boys and I had to get up to move. It is a huge invasion of privacy.

Welcome to culture shock...

But besides the uncomfortable and sometimes sketchy occurences on the metro...life in Paris is moving along as if I've been here for more than a week and a half.

The sites are magnificent, and there is never a lack of something to do. Just this morning we got up at 8 (quite unenthusiastically) to go to the government buildings in the Jardin du Luxembourg that are only open once a year to the public. We saw where the senate meets, and where the president works and lives.

But for now... dinner and wine with friends is a must.
More on French culture shock to come.

Brenda

Tacos and Ritas

After three full days in Paris, I am finally starting to get the hang of things.

The mornings start a bit earlier for me, as I usually have to average 2 hours in the morning to get ready and get to where I need to be. Public transportation is extremely easy to use and very efficient (and user friendly), but I did not realize how time consuming it is. The metro is a great way to get around the city, and with a carte orange costing only 55 euro a month, it is definitely worth every cent. The carte orange allows for unlimited usage of the metro, bus, and RER (Réseau Express Régional- train). What a great deal!

So far I cannot say anything but great things about living in this wonderful city. My family has been extremely helpful and welcoming, and I am already beginning to feel like I am a part of the city, and not just a mere guest.

I will say, however, that there have been times when I have truly experienced what it is like to be not only a foreigner, but an American. There are no lack of stares on the subway, nor snickers from people on the street. Eyes on the metro are piercing, as if just by looking at any one of us, they know. But for the most part, all of my experiences have been pleasant, and besides a few creepy people on the subway...everything is going just fine.

As Americans, we celebrated our first weekend in Paris, Texas style. We ate dinner at a restaurant called Indiana, which serves typically American food, but more importantly, Tex Mex. We welcomed ourselves into Paris with tacos and margaritas, and enjoyed the atmosphere at a bar with an Amstel Light.

After only just three days and four nights, Paris is beginning to feel like home.

Compiègne

What a weekend in Paris!

The weather was lovely; a slight breeze in the mid 70s with sunny skies all weekend. The Eiffel Tower was crowded with tourists and locals alike, and the Tuileries Gardens teemed with excitement.

But tonight, however, I am in Compiègne with the group from SMU-In-Paris, and all of us are absolutely thrilled to be here. All 18 of us girls, and about 3 guys. What a ratio...and what a day.

After spending almost half of the morning at the airport, we rode the bus an hour to a small historic town called Compiègne. We took an afternoon stroll (along with a history lesson) with Isabelle, our program director, and we brushed up on our French skills with a lesson from a visiting professor from Switzerland.

We ate our dinner accompanied with a bottle of wine, and chatted about the day's activities and the few days up ahead. I have never seen so many excited students ready to get out into the world.

But for tonight- the consensus was this: get a good night's rest and be up and awake early tomorrow for a visit to the famous chateau of Compiègne and enjoy our next few days in this quaint little town.

Bonjour France!

Brenda