random array of thoughts

After spending Integration Weekend with three charter buses full of French kids last weekend and getting to know them, I have been having a much better time in France. Awhile back, I suggested an International Potluck night for the students in my apartment to get to try each others' foods and broaden our taste buds. The event turned into a bash where the French students were invited as well. There were all kinds of delicious foods prepared...from Filipino to Italian to Korean to American.. all of course, complemented by French wine and bread. It was a lot of fun jumping around to different apartments to see what they were cooking and preparing. When our French friends came over, the apartment turned into a lively and energetic party. We have been more cautious recently because of noise complaints, but it didn't stop us from having a good time. After eating and socializing, we decided to go out to an Irish pub called Shamrocks. We have been there before, but we wanted to take our new friends there. All of us had a great time together. We went out with some of them again tonight near Hotel de Ville and again, we had a blast. The people who are part of my life in France contribute to why I am having such a great experience here. There are so many beautiful sights to see, foods to eat, and places to go, but I have been realizing that they are meaningless without someone to turn to and share it with. I feel fortunate to have an apartment full of crazy Americans who love to have fun, but have their heads on straight when it comes to school. We all have classes together so there is a good work hard, play hard ethic. I will introduce you to some of them in my next entry.

Here is a random array of flashbacks of the last few weeks. (really random)
At the cheese tasting, we got to try about 12 different types of cheeses, from goat to cow to ewe. My favorites were Chevre, Comte, and Saint Marcellin. Geneva, Switzerland was beautiful...one of the most peaceful and attractive cities I've seen. The chocolate and cheese fondue were delicious. The jet d'eau was even better in person than on the boat tour. Integration Weekend was so much fun - full of bonding activities, eating, mingling, and dancing. Classes are going well, especially my French courses. The only negative thing about school is the commute. 30 minutes on the train each way. I get small waves of homesickness, but not nearly as much as I expected. I am even thinking about settling down in Europe when I'm older. I love the lifestyle and can't get enough of the rich culture. We were frolicking at the Parc de la Tete d'Or a few weeks ago and came across a few guys playing the guitar. They turned out to be band members who were practicing in the midst of a gorgeous park, and we eventually joined them. They were so friendly and open, and apparently, things like that happen on an everyday basis. My other roommate moved in yesterday. He has a twin brother who is currently studying at UGA. What are the odds? He is from Belgium and speaks excellent French so I am hoping to learn more from him. Dinner time has become my favorite part of the day. We all participate in cooking, eating, and cleaning. I love sharing this part of the day with my friends. It makes it much more enjoyable than when doing it alone. I experienced rain a total of three times since I came to Lyon. The weather is getting chillier. My goal for next week is to be more punctual. The long commute has been taking a toll on me and my motivation. French fashion is very progressive and way ahead of its time. Even little children dress more stylish than most adults in the states. But they also dress alike in dark hues, so I don't come across a lot of familiar bright and loud colors like in the states. In public, it just seems like a montage of black, brown, and grey. But who knew there were so many different looks for those three colors? Every person makes their outfits individual and unique. I am still obsessed with my Haribo gummies. I started off eating them in the states because my co-op kitchen provided them for free. When I came to France, I was blown away by how many more products they had. I am making my way across the aisle and trying every single one before I leave. The most popular one around here is the World Mix because there is something for everyone. And Nutella is also still part of my everday life. I do miss peanut butter, though. And my mom's home cooking.


Well, I am off to the city of love tomorrow...PARIS! I will update with stories and thoughts when I get back.

welcome to my new blogging home

I used Off Exploring for the first few entries, but realized the website takes entirely way too long. Therefore, I am moving all of my past entries over to this domain...

Here they are in chronological order:

Updates September 21, 2007

It's been awhile since my last blog entry. Much has happened since then. Geneva, Switzerland for a one-day trip. Cheese and wine tasting. Classes. Frolicking at the Parc de la Tete d'Or. Exploring Lyon by day and night. Getting to know les Americains better. Meeting classmates. And much more in between.



Even though it has only been about three weeks, I already feel at home. The fact that I am in a foreign country with foreign people speaking a foreign language, doesn't really faze me. It is intriguing to know that I am capable of living in a place where I have no true grasp of the culture/language, yet I am able to survive with a smile on my face. Being in France is teaching me how to enjoy life without the rush to go somewhere. The relaxed culture is rubbing off on me and making me a more appreciative person.

Classes started last week. My schedule is great, classes are going well, but frankly, I miss my Northeastern education. For the same price, I feel like my classes here are not meeting the standards of NU. But then again, it is a give and take situation. I give up my stimulating classes at Northeastern and in return, I get this great opportunity to study and live abroad in France. It's a definite no-brainer as to what I would choose. France is where I was meant to be. I absolutely love this country - the sights, the people, the food. I used to always tell my friends back at home that I was meant to be born centuries ago in Europe. I still believe it...my taste is old-fashioned and outdated, but still practiced in some cultures, namely France. I have yet to meet French locals my age who I can regularly hang out with, but we are having our CEFAM Integration Weekend tomorrow, so I am hoping to meet people there. I am actually really excited. No one is really sure where we are going and what we are doing. We just know we have to bring sheets, a blanket, a toothbrush, food for lunch, clothes, and an open and social mind. Spontaneity is good for the soul sometimes.

Lost in Translation September 12, 2007
For the first time in 10 days, I am homesick. I get this feeling every time I feel uncomfortable or vulnerable. It makes me want to crawl into a huge hole and escape from stress. But that never helps, does it? So I'm toughing this one out. I started classes this week at CEFAM and I generally like all of them. Somehow, I got placed in the Advanced French class and it's a small and intimate four-student class (three of them which have French as either their major or minor, leaving me as the only...wanna-be francophone). It is actually a good and challenging class - we do a lot of conversations and practical things, like working on pronunciations and learning about the geography of Europe.

There are so many things going on, it's becoming overwhelming. Weekends are booked back to back to back to....back. I want to experience Europe for all it has to offer, but I hate financial strains. Who doesn't? I'm trying to figure out which places I want to go most because it seems like there is somewhere to go every weekend, but not enough money in the bank to go to all of them. Agh. But then again, when else in life will I have this opportunity as a student to travel with friends, and use my awesome discounts? And besides, there are always people who are up for going. I love the bunch of people I live with. They are easy-going and always up for anything. An awesome group to live with.


I am feeling a little bipolar today. I started writing this entry four hours ago and I was in a homesick rut. But now that I'm back in my room and finishing this up, I almost forgot what thoughts were running through my head when I was typing the title, Lost in Translation. Hmmm... I've been more scatter-brained than usual. I need to get some sleep. But I will definitely talk more about new impressions of France in the next entry.

Bonne nuit.

Enjoying My Down Time September 10, 2007
Today marks the one week mark of being in Lyon. How can that be? I feel like I have already been here for a month, at the least. I feel comfortable enough taking the train by myself, traveling to nearby cities, ordering baguettes at a local boulangerie, starting conversations with locals, taking care of logistics, and being in the company of my fellow American students. Since the previous entry, I have gone to Annecy for a one-day trip and had my first European clubbing experience.

Annecy was a breathtaking, incredible, and pictures-can't-do-justice type of city. The waters were sparkling clean, the mountains looked like paintings, and the little villages were charmingly quaint. We went up to the Place du Chateau and saw a gorgeous view of the town and walked towards Lac D'Annecy. We ate by the little river running through the village (my favorite type of eating experience) and several of us decided to go on a boat ride. The boat was only large enough to sit 10 people, plus the driver, hence it was a very personal and intimate ride. We rode all around the lake and soaked in the magnificence of the scenery. It was a priceless experience. We were supposed to head back to Lyon at 7:00 pm, but all of us were exhausted so we caught the 5:15 pm train.


The next day, Claire (one of my roommates) and I went to Part-Dieu to check out the shopping scene. It was a busy mess (of course, it was a Saturday) but we got the general gist of what stores are worth going into and what stores are a hands-off. I am slowly becoming more settled in my new home - I finally got house slippers to avoid the dirty dust on our hardwood floors and an air freshener to filter out an unknown funky smell.

The same night, all of us decided to go out to a discotheque/bar before classes started. Boys were looking sharp, and the girls were dolled up…the group was ready to go. Complications with transportation caused the group to split up into 4 groups, with our group walking for what seemed like forever in the cold (and mind you, the girls didn't bring jackets to avoid coat check-in and were walking in stiletto heels). Well, we ended up going to an Australian pub called Down Under until it closed. Then a few French guys led the way to another open club. It was called Pinks. We had no idea, but it was a gay club. It all clicked once we got inside and settled in. Enough said. Overall, the night was interesting, to say the least.
After getting in at 5:30 in the morning and not going to bed until 7, my down time on Sunday was well-worth it and needed. I had time to recuperate, time to soak in my first week, and time to get in the mentality for school. I have my first class at 5 today. My schedule is a true God send. No classes on Friday and an evening one on Monday. The courses I will be taking are: International Economics, American History (this should be interesting), Advertising Management, Advanced French, and French Culture (the one class where all the Americans will be together; yay!). Honestly, I am excited about classes starting. I am ready to meet and interact with my French peers. I plan on building great friendships throughout my next four months here. Until the next entry, à bientôt.


The Amazing Race September 6, 2007
I have never seen an episode of this show, but one of my teammates pointed out that our scavenger hunt was turning into Real World: Lyon vs. The Amazing Race. Today was an exhausting, yet worth every second (even after the 4-hour trek around Lyon) kind of experience. Paul & Sharon (the most well-humored couple, and also equipped with the kindest hearts) prepared an activity for us after our orientation to get to know the city better, and also to get it out of the way so we wouldn't be walking around aimlessly once classes start. Little tidbits from the way tedious, but so much fun, mission consisted of: peeks at the ancient and beautiful Roman Theatres, an incredible view of the Fourvière Basilica of Notre Dame, a priceless overlook at the city of Lyon, too many stairs to count, the feeling of cobblestone sidewalks underneath my sneakers, my first Nutella crêpe, the refreshing sound of an American voice, a new fact to add to my list: Rodin died in 1917, and a whirlwind of new places to check out during my stay.



Following the scavenger hunt was a welcoming dinner at Glops, a bar/restaurant underneath Paul & Sharon's home. We were even graced with the presence of the Dean and several members from the CEFAM staff. I can get used to the French way of eating. :) Wine, bread, salad, main course, dessert, and then washed down with a super-strong espresso shot.


One thing I have noticed about the people in Lyon is their air of confidence (not to be mistaken for cocky), and their cool-and-collected personalities. While I was frantically looking for the answers for our scavenger hunt, I looked up and saw that the locals were taking their time going to where they needed to go, almost as if they didn't have a commitment to attend to. I love it. It makes me want to sit back and ENJOY life. Another thing I have noticed is that French people LOVE talking about food. This is such a huge plus for me because I can gorge in food all day long. From one day alone, I have learned more about cheese, wine, bread, and French cuisine than I have learned in my life. I plan on going to a local Fromagerie to buy goat cheeses...y'all at home should expect some stinky cheese breath from me when I get back. :)

My body is still jet-lagged from the long flight. By the way, I ended up sitting next to a 6'5" American man who took up half my seat. It was an awesome ride, let me tell you. At least he was a great conversation starter and he was a great asset when I needed to get my bag down. It's amazing to look back and see how you meet people. Even simple encounters like at the airport or streets can end up becoming ... something. I don't think I have come to a point in my life where everything has connected, but enough reason for me to believe that everything happens for a reason.

But enough thinking and philosophical clichés...it is time for me to get some shut eye. A one day trip to Annecy awaits me in 6 hours.

Goals & First Impressions September 5, 2007
Goals: Keep an open mind. Be flexible. Learn how to speak and write French fluently. Meet new people. Try new things. Keep an optimistic attitude in all types of situations. Participate in stimulating class discussions. Travel and explore. Strengthen communication skills. Indulge and splurge when deserved. Build healthy relationships. Expand my horizons. Learn to adapt to new surroundings. Maintain good grades. Manage time wisely. Don't be afraid to break out of my comfort zones.

As I sit here and think in my home for the next four months, I am overcome with a recurring feeling of unfamiliarity. A feeling I felt when I entered my forced triple dorm room my first year of college; when I moved off campus; when I have been in a room full of new faces; when I have left the country. I arrived here on the 3rd of September and it is hard to believe that just two days ago, I was sitting at home in Atlanta complaining about the humidity. I left with a rushed feeling of disorder, both mentally and logistically. I scrambled to receive my student visa in time, all of my shopping was done last-minute, I bought my French phrasebook/dictionary on the way to the airport, I didn't give myself enough time to prepare for the culture shock that was on its way, and all in the meanwhile, I was trying to say my "see you laters" to loved ones. It was tough, to be succinct.

But now that I am here in Lyon, alive and well, I am grateful for this opportunity. I plan on taking full advantage of the experiences that are to come - the people I meet, the places I go, the adventures I experience, and especially the food I eat.

My first impressions of Lyon:
• Transportation system is ahead of its time (United States' time, at least).
• Buildings are beautiful.
• Locals are friendly if you attempt to have a French conversation with them.
• There are boulangeries on every corner, and all of them sell the most amazing breads.
• Some products are cheaper here than in the States (e.g. Nutella, bread, Haribo gummies).
• It is hard to catch a taxi at two in the morning.
• I love my new dorm room.
• You can purchase a decent red wine for two euros.
• It is dusty everywhere.
• There is a reason why French people take long lunch breaks - I saw a man opening up his bakery at 4 in the morning.
• Boston : New York :: Lyon : Paris

Introduction September 3, 2007

Bonjour! Je m'appelle Allison Rhee. J'ai 20 ans et je suis une etudiante de Northeastern Universite. I have been given the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in the beautiful city of Lyon, France. Before I speak further about my experience so far, I would like to introduce you to Lyon. Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France with a lavish table of piggy-driven dishes and delicacies to savor, and a fabulous bounty of eating spaces in which to do it. This overlooked region is a center of industry and culture and is France's best-kept urban secret. Here, great chefs are more famous than professional soccer players (Paul Bocuse is the most famous chef). Straddling the Rhone and Saone Rivers between Burgundy and Provence, Lyon has been among France's leading cities since Roman times. Today, Lyon is one of France's big-city surprises. In spite of its work-a-day, business-first facade, Lyon is the most historic and culturally important city after Paris. You'll experience two distinctly different-feeling cities: the Old World cobbled alleys, Renaissance mansions, and colorful facades of Vieux Lyon; and the more staid but classy, Parisian-feeling shopping streets of Prequ'ile. Once you're settled, this big city feels small, welcoming, and surprisingly untouristy.