Chateau de Pau and a typical French day

This morning started our second week of class. I feel like I am learning, but it's so hard to remember everything. I recently started remembering things mainly by the first letter of the word, which I haven't really done before. It's quite strange. After class and a nice lunch of salad, cheese, bread, and coffee, our group headed to the Chateau de Pau, but not before stopping at a local chocolate shop to get some free samples. They have special chocolate covered raisins that were amazing.

 You can actually see this chateau from our apartment, and it's really beautiful. The tour was pretty boring, and the history wasn't all that interesting, but it was pretty. The chateau has the largest tapestry collection ever outside of Paris. The tapestries mainly depicted hunting scenes, and their advanced age proceeded to make the majority of the group sneeze.

These tapestries were threaded with real gold. 

After the chateau we walked around and stopped for some lovely refreshments. Spending time at an outdoor cafe was wonderfully relaxing and French. 

España

The three day weekend (they have off here for Pentecost) left a few of us wanting to go somewhere. Being so close, we chose Spain. We rented a car and hit the road into Basque country to the amazing city of San Sebastián. Upon arriving, we explored the beach and downtown area and had an amazing lunch at one of the many, many tapas bars/restaurants. I had spider crab crepes and fresh shrimp. It was completely amazing.

After walking around, we checked into the hotel, changed for diner, and took to the mountains. It was great having a rented car, because we could go places we would have never seen had we taken the train. For example, this mountain field and Spanish graveyard:

The ocean view was unbelievable. I couldn't believe my eyes the whole time. We then drove to the top of one of the main mountain points in the town and climbed an old castle. 

Seeing this in real life was more amazing than I can put into words. For dinner we went to a restaurant that has had many American articles written about its amazing food.

The top left is butter, the bottom left is my entree of glazed suckling pig with apple garnish and dried apple chips. The top right is a traditional Basque dessert curd of goat's milk with walnuts, and the bottom right is an appetizer of Spanish iberico ham, which originally looks like this: 

These legs were hanging everywhere, and they cost thousands of dollars for only one. The meat is shaved very, very, thin and is the most amazing meat I've ever tasted. 

The next day we headed to Bilbao, which is about an hour west. We had a lunch of paella, ribs, and flan. 

It was Sunday, so almost everything except the bars were closed. We stopped by the Guggenheim, and checked out their older section of town. 

We sat in this mist for like 10 minutes. 

Dinner that night was at one of the extremely few places open, a tapas bar also. 

The top picture is fried pork's cheek and red peppers. I'd never had cheek before, and it was amazing. Left to right is season green peppers, a different type of ham that I don't remember, and helado fresca. All completely amazing. I'd live in Spain just for the food. 

Overall, Spain was really fun. I love the sights, the company, and the food, and I loved trying to speak Spanish. I think this trip helped me on the road to not being scared to make mistakes while trying to speak a different language. Being in a different culture at first was completely shocking, but I'm starting to really like it. Tonight my host mom took me for a walk through a beautiful park across the street from the apartment that leads to the Pau river. It flows from the mountains, and I cannot wait to swim in that bad boy. Walking around in a bathing suite not on a beach or at a pool is illegal here, so I'll have to cover up quick! 

For some reason Facebook isn't letting me upload pictures, so check back soon for more shots of Spain! 

les premiers jours en France

This will be brief because I want to take a nap.

The 8 hour flight was better than expected. I watched the Vow. I didn't sleep. Charles De Gaulle is freaking insane. If I wasn't with a group I'd of been royally screwed. A train and a bus to get to the terminal + you don't understand the signs = major stress. A nice lady helped us out. That was the last of the kindness for us.

I ordered water on the plane in French. It gave me confidence. Hours later that confidence was shattered. At first it was super interesting to hear people speak French everywhere. Then, when things actually need to get done, it's completely terrifying. Shopping is especially scary. I made a complete fool out myself yesterday at the mall when a lady asked me if I had their special card and I said yes. Then I walked straight into the gate that's in the grocery store that you need to scan your receipt in order to get out. I haven't gotten yelled at, so it hasn't been all that bad. People are generally apathetic and will not speak English to you no matter what, and for good reason. I'm sure I act the same in America. I'm in the lowest class at school, and I'm actually surprised I can understand so much for only taking one semester. Yesterday I felt really sorry for myself because lots of students can actually talk to people. If I had the opportunity to go home last night, I would have. Today is much better. I can get to school and back on the bus really easily, and it's becoming less awkward to never know what anyone is saying. I accidentally spelled an English word like a French word yesterday, so I think that's a good sign. Today I am feeling more confident and comfortable. It can only get better.

Pau is absolutely beautiful. My host mom was really excited to show me the mountains today, which finally have come out of the clouds a bit. Downtown is wonderful and is walking distance away. This weekend a group of us are going to San Sabastian, Spain for the long weekend, and I cannot wait to go to the beach. Here are some photos.

The view of the mountains from our balcony.