Thanksgiving in Lyon

Well it's now time for the promised Thanksgiving post- and I don't even know where to begin! I had an excellent holiday away from home with my friends here and I'll never forget it. Cooking began around 4:30 pm and we finally sat down to eat around 10 pm with 7 of us total in attendance. We had all the classics, including pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, and steamed veggies. The turkey was a bit of a challenge because in Lyon they don't sell full turkeys, so we had to settle for two huge pieces and find a recipe somewhere online that allowed for only a few pieces instead of the full turkey. We also bought two roast chickens to supplement our turkey pieces. But even though the food was excellent, the fellowship was even better. We all gathered in the kitchen and cooked and made an event of watching all the F.R.I.E.N.D.S Thanksgiving episodes, and then moved onto challenges of who can do the weirdest things with which extremities. I began my day a little teary eyed at the thought of being so far from all my family gathered round to give thanks, but ended the day more thankful than I could ever have imagined for my amazing friends :)

Life Thus Far In France

Unfortunately for this post, there are no photos to accompany it. I've lost my camera and have turned my apartment upside down in search of it but with no reward, but hopefully soon my luck will change. This is just an update to my life thus far in France, I suppose, so I can't promise you much excitement but I can at least give you something to read. Every day is a change of emotions for me- some of the days I feel myself settling in and being happy and feeling as if I'm at home, like yesterday for example. We wanted to have Subway for dinner since they, like many institutions in France and the European Union, have student prices or discounts. Not exactly a "French" choice but when you are low on funds you can't exactly go out to eat for a delicious 10.50 euro "Saladier Lyonnais" every day. So we stood in line, gave our orders, and specified that they were "à emporter" which is the French version of "to go." Of course Subway is a good test of your French language skills because you don't just order one thing off of the menu and wait- you have to indicate which kind of bread that you would like, what size, that you would like the "ménu étudiant" (student combo), and then correct them when they accidentally over-charge you. So I felt accomplished when I left the line with exactly what I had wanted when I entered it, and the exact price I had assumed. We walked back to the metro without even paying attention to where we were going because these acts are now so ingrained in our daily activities- it isn't even an actual thought process to figure out which direction to go now. Almost everything is instinct. And so yesterday evening I found myself wondering at the fact that possibly I could be happy here. As of right now it isn't my first choice, or even my second, but I still could make a life here if I must.

And then there are the other days, and I can't honestly figure out which is the most common of the two choices to be honest. It distresses me, because I can't actually remember having to work hard to be happy somewhere. But sometimes for my in Lyon that is the case. Most of the time it occurs when someone in an office somewhere has failed my American image of what a good business should be and how they should operate. During the second month, in particular, of my stay in Lyon, this was a huge problem. Frustration would overcome my entire being and my day would be ruined as I only saw the negative in all situations and wondered why in the world things can't be done "the better way." It was always a shock to me, during that second month (because the first month- or most of it anyway I stayed with a friend and her family and they helped me deal with things, but then for the second month I was on my own to face the world) how it seemed that people just didn't care about good business, which is a principle on which America operates.

Now, I'm coming to the end of the third month and the beginning of the fourth month in Lyon and I accept these things, not with resignation yet, but without surprise, that much is sure. Still there is frustration, but it's almost like it's wearing me down because I know that sometimes that's just how things are here. A friend recently explained it to me the best way I've heard so far: most of the jobs are government jobs, and in those jobs it's extremely difficult to get fired so there's not a lot of thoughts of working hard so that people keep their jobs- they're automatically safe. It's good for the employee but not for the general population when the employee doesn't care about doing their best since they don't really have to. It's the same with the university- for French students (unlike in America!) it's very cheap to go to University, so again the faculty is employed by the government and not extremely motivated to do an excellent job.

So at least I have an explanation and I'm not wandering around thinking "why why whyyyy!" anymore. And it's only certain times that these things happen, but it's always for very big issues, such as my "Carte de Sejour" which is my permit to live in France!

Life is in fact becoming more like home here though, and I am noticing it more every day. I'm looking forward to getting all the paperwork out of the way once and for all so that I can just enjoy the second semester with my new friends and travel as much as possible. Now that I know how the system works for choosing classes I expect next semester to go much smoother.

And it is now the week of Thanksgiving in America. I've never been away from home for a holiday, much less Thanksgiving! It's difficult for me because I'm also not in America at all, which means it's just another ordinary day for France and I (along with the other Americans scattered around) will be the one thinking of my family back home with their giant Thanksgiving feast and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Football game and Christmas music. I'll be the one sleeping in on Friday while America hustles and bustles during Black Friday. I can't imagine not participating in those events, but this is one of the sacrifices I have to make in order to further my education and open as many doors for myself (figuratively speaking) as possible. So I am ridiculously ecstatic that I'm going home for Christmas for a few weeks, but I am very sad to be missing Thanksgiving.

However, my awesome friends here are coming together for a Thanksgiving feast of sorts of our own and for that I'm so grateful. I'd rather be around friends than be on my own for sure on that day. We will attempt to put together a Thanksgiving meal in Lyon! The country representations are (other than me- the lone American) Sri Lanka, Mexico, Italy, Canada, and the Netherlands. Such an international way to celebrate the American holiday! But I'm very excited and hopefully I will find my camera before then and be able to document the day in pictures as well as words for all to see!

So until the Thanksgiving post- à bien tôt!

Madrid

Unfortunately for the Madrid post, I am not sure what all the buildings are so I can't put captions on them! These are just snapshots of the beautiful Spanish city from my weekend spent there. I found it to be quite similar to New York City in the main downtown area, but with much more history added in! It's so strange to be in Europe where buildings and statues are more than 20 years old, and to think that you're walking on cobblestone streets where horses and carriages and people alike used to cross many many years ago. Hopefully these pictures will be able to help you to see what I saw and experienced during my short trip!

An outdoor gym

I had to donate some change to this man in order to take his picture!

Lyon

This is the just a small glance of my current home town, there will most likely be many more photos to come. It's impossible to describe with only a few photos and words, so hopefully my readers (all 3 of you) can come and visit and experience it for yourself. It's quite different than living America for many reasons, not the least of which is that most buildings are quite old. It didn't take long at all to get used to this fact- it brings a smile to my face to imagine the stories that the buildings carry with them through the years. The city in itself is quite nice because transportation is quite simple. If you absolutely have to, it isn't a huge deal to walk or bike to your destination, and it's a lovely view along the way. The streets are still old and cobblestone in many places, but a lot of them (especially the main ones) have been modernized to fit the vehicles that traverse them today. Again, these photos are just a taste of Lyon, and more will be coming to further illustrate life in one of the largest cities in France!

"Grenouille"! (Frog's Legs)

Restaurant by the river where we ate the frog's legs!

Cathédrale St. Jean in Vieux Lyon

Vieux Lyon

Vieux Lyon

Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere

Vieux Lyon to have lunch with friends

View outside of the house in St. Genis Les Ollieres where I stayed upon my arrival in Lyon

It's been toooo long!

My DEEPEST and sincerest apologies- due to lack of internet and computer adaptor failure, it has been a while since I've updated my few readers with photos and proof that in fact am in Europe this year! So now I'll be adding pictures from my travels- which have so far been Madrid and Geneva and hopefully there will be many more to come! Thanks for hanging with me during my long period of silence!

Le Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière

Today, I woke up at the late late hour of 2pm. I'm still getting used to reading that as 14:00 on the clock! I lounged around most of the day reading my last English book, the Time-Traveler's Wife, enjoying the beautiful weather and the calm breeze winding it's way through the trees above me. I'm in utter disbelief that I'm here, still. I walk downstairs and see a plate waiting for me to eat outside on the patio and lunch on the stove. I ate my lunch and spent the afternoon reading outside. In the early evening, I was invited to visit the Basilique Fourviere with my lovely hosts. I said yes almost immediately! I've been jumping at any opportunity to tour the area and see more of the sites that are brand new to my eyes. I'd seen this church from a distance while we were in the car and commented on how beautiful it was, so I guess that inspired our visit. I wasn't sure what to expect- I didn't know if we were attending a service or just visiting. I was excited for either opportunity. I cherish moments in the car as well for the air condition, so while I'm always excited to arrive at our destination, I also enjoy the little reminder of home that I don't get inside most buildings! We arrived at the Cathedral and I saw many tourists, so I was a bit relieved that I wouldn't have to feel like the lone foreigner in a large group of nationals! We parked the car and started the short walk up to the front of the Cathedral, me taking pictures all the way and yet still trying to pretend that I'm not foreign! I don't think that was much of a success. I saw off to the side a beautiful view of the entire city of Lyon and made a mental note to return and take pictures. Upon our arrival at the front of the Cathedral, an Asian priest asked if we could take his photo a certain way in front of it. Being the only fluent English speaker in my small group of 3, the task was passed to me. It was then my turn for a photo-op, and then we ventured closer, me taking photos all the way. There was a Mass in session so we weren't able to go inside yet, so instead we trekked down to an area behind the Cathedral where the area to see the entire city was. I was squeezed in amongst some other people who had also taken this opportunity to see the city from this view, and my lovely host and hostess, Fabienne and Gerard, were telling me about the city and the things at which I was looking, both in English and in French. I noted the Saone and Rhone rivers, and the Town Hall and Universities and the school at which Fabienne is a teacher and countless other things in this beautiful city. The view with the city in front of me and the Cathedral behind me was definitely something exquisite to behold. As I'm told, the story of Le Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere is that in the 19th century, there was a horrible epidemic, and the people prayed that if it ended, they would build a Cathedral in honor of it. And so it did end, and this Cathedral was built. I was also told of the Festival of Lights that occurs in early December that remembers this event. So we took a walk down the hill a little ways onto a bridge that overlooks more of the city, and saw in which direction is Paris and other noteworthy locations. We walked back up the path, me snapping pictures whenever I saw something remotely interesting, and then we saw her! High above, with her back to us, was the golden Lady for reverence of whom the Cathedral was built. She faces Lyon in all her golden glorious splendor, and I was anxious to be able to see her from the front. So we walked in the hot hot sun and cool shade until we reached the front of the Cathedral, and I found an ideal location to take the picture. We decided to stop in and have a cool drink to alleviate some of the heat that seemed to be radiating from our very bodies. A small cafe beside the Cathedral provided just the comfort we were in search of. We took our seats outside under cover of the shade and joined the small crowd that gathered there on a quest for the same sort of refreshment as us. The bells in the great Cathedral began to ring out for all to hear, signifying the end of Mass. A few more people came into the already crowded cafe and many people strolled the surrounding property, in search of that perfect angle to capture a photo of the golden virgin. As the bells tolled for several minutes, the waitress scurried around attempting to satisfy everyone's drink orders and clear tables at the same time. After many promises of returning soon for us, she finally took our order. The only thing in the world that I wanted at that moment was an ice cold Coke to quench my thirst. I know that water would be the most healthy thing, but there's something about Coke from an ice-cold glass bottle that completely satisfies my thirst every time. We only had to wait a short time for our refreshments, and while we waited I observed the other weary souls congregated in this small area for a drink. I've noticed that some people seem to look more like caricatures of people than the real thing, like the old man who was sitting further down on our table with the most prominent nose and lower lip I've ever seen in my life. He "tsk'd" impatiently when the waitress set their check down. Everyone seems to be a traveler here, whether they are French, Italian, Asian, or American, everyone has come together to see this beautiful place. It's something we all have in common. So after we finished our drinks and had our fill of bird and people watching, we rose from our seats and made our way towards the Cathedral once more. Now that Mass had ended, we were free to roam the inside. I did not feel that it would be appropriate to take pictures of the inside, and even if I did they would not have come out well enough for the viewer to grasp fully how you feel when you're inside. The smaller room was beautiful and colorful and everything you can think of in a small chapel. There were people towards the front meditating or praying, and in the back there was information posted on the wall regarding how the history behind the Cathedral, all etched in stone and marble and illustrated wonderfully. There was a small stand with Candles that were in honor of the Virgin Mary. Several were lit and there was a sign that asked for a 2 euro donation to light a candle to venerate Mary. I stood in awe of the room and its artwork and its stories. We left that room and moved towards the front and center entrance, towards the room that I had not entered before since their was a Mass in session. As I entered it, I realized that had I been in awe before, it was nothing compared to how I felt about this room, now. It was much bigger, with two large marble oblong bowls on marble stands on both sides in the back containing Holy Water. The artwork on the wall was colorful and golden and ornate and grandiose...every word that you could imagine. The walls were lined with confessionals and a few people were seated near the front- whether they were waiting for another service to begin or just praying as well I'm not sure. We began to follow the path around the room and I noticed more stands with candles to venerate Mary, each asking for donations of 2 euros for the candle and one asking for 4 as the candles were larger. History is etched on these walls and the high ceilings and portrayed better in a manner that makes me understand much better than any history book ever did. I feel at peace here, and it seems that everyone feels the same way. There's hardly any photography going on with the exception of someone taking a picture on their camera phone, but it's as though people sense that a flash would ruin the somber and worshipful atmosphere. A priest walks the aisle, stopping for anyone who requests his attention. A little boy on the far side of the great room drops something and it echoes loud and sharp on the wooden benches and stone walls and he cowers behind his mother in embarrassment, but attention is quickly brought back to the huge stained glass windows and the golden walls and the stories these pictures are telling. I don't want to leave this peaceful haven too quickly so follow Fabienne slowly around the room and she stop stops to point out certain things that are "tres jolie" even though it is all "very pretty" in my opinion. We stop after we have made a full circle of the room and Fabienne lights a candle for Mary and places it on the stand with many others. We pause for a moment so that I can read something and then carry on, out the back door and back into the sunlight. It's almost blinding compared to the inside of the Cathedral and it's dim lighting, which is mostly cast by candles. I realize that our tour is over and we must leave this place now, but I know I'll be coming back. It's too beautiful to only see once.

St Genis Les Ollieres

Well I'm finally in France! It seemed like a long time coming and now I have to sit back and try to comprehend the fact that I'm actually here- how cool is that! I've been too lazy to take pictures up until today so I don't have any of the city of Lyon yet, only of the town on the outskirts which I'm staying in until I find an apartment which will hopefully be next week. It's so peaceful here; I didn't even know such a place could exist. I'm sure the pictures can't even capture the mood of the area but it's an excellent location to recover from mono- that much is for sure. I'm already in love with the city and the surrounding area and I'm understanding more and more French everyday. I'm getting a lot of conversation practice at the house I'm staying at which belongs to my friend and her family who've been so helpful to me ever since I got here. I'll update more as more events occur but not much can be posted about apartment hunting that comes with pretty pictures, so for now I'll let these be the images of my life in Lyon so far.