It has been two weeks now since arriving in France, and I am starting to feel quite at home. Work has slowly, but steadily starting to pick up as I get assigned new and larger tasks relating to social media and programming. In addition, there have also been more events at the embassy that I have been able to take part in, such as: the meet and greet with Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's wife, as she was here (at UNESCO) to promote a STEM education program aimed at women in third world countries, an intern happy hour, and a volunteer orientation meeting for the 2,000-person party that the ambassador is throwing to celebrate July 4th! Thus, my network has significantly grown last week, and (I hope) will continue to grow as I get to know more people at the U.S. embassy.
That said, the week was capped off by a delightful weekend in Normandy. From dining in Trouville and exploring the high-end open air market and famous beach promenade in Deauville to running along the beach and around the marshes in Villers and reading the "Devil wears Prada" in French, I truly had a relaxing weekend. Above all, I am grateful for having been paired with this host family a year prior (because it is they whom provided me this weekend among others) and am also greatly enjoying the addition of another international student to their family. The mix of work and play was well-balanced last week, and I shall strive to keep it that way even as the internship progresses.
Thus, the order of photos is as follows: 1) Dr. Jill Biden visit and Euro Cup update; 2) my meanderings in the 9th arrondissement during my lunch breaks; 3) Normandy Weekend Photos
#1- Dr. Jill Biden visit and Euro Cup update
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From left to right: Natalie Biden, Dr. Jill Biden's grand daughter and daughter of the late Beau Biden; Dr. Jill
Biden, the woman wearing the white and green striped dress; Ambassador Hartley, the American ambassador
to Paris; the two ambassadors to UNESCO |
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As you might imagine, I watch every Euro Cup match every night at 9:00, and due
to my love for the game, Muriel bought me a France scarf to wear
when the "Bleues" play!
Also: I was able to snag a ticket to a Euro Cup game so be on
the look out for a description and photos of that experience next week!
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#2: Walking around the 9e arrondissement during lunch and getting to know my new favorite street Rue des Martyrs
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| A lovely little square in the 9e |
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| A pooch guarding the door |
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| A bakery on Rue des Martyrs |
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| A painted view of what I see each day when walking to work |
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As this picture demonstrates, all of France (and frankly, Europe)
is truly in spirit and in support of Les Bleues! |
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| Guess which fruit is in season? |
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| Notre Dame de Lorette |
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| Walking passed the Opera from time to time |
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My two French friends, Johanna and Jennifer, invited me to dine with them
to celebrate their birthdays! And low and behold, not only did they
invite one of their friends, but they also invited an American friend of theirs, who
graduated from Pomona a year prior. What are the odds of that?! |
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Passage de Panorama, the place in which we ate dinner
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#3: A Weekend in Normandy
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| First dinner in Normandy: les boulots |
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Walking along the Trouville promenade at sunset,
which is, mind you, at 10:00 pm |
Saturday in Normandy
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Going food shopping with Muriel
only to buy the freshest and most gourmet
in Villers |
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| The cheese shop we visited to buy Camembert and fromage blanc |
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| Freshly caught fish |
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| Vegetables the color of the rainbow |
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| My host family's living room |
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| Admiring the high-end, open-air market in Deauville |
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| A marriage that was taking place at town hall |
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| A close-up of the happiness |
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| The incredible desserts at François Gayet, of which we ate for dessert that day! |
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| Dinner on the terrace with a view of the Normand coast |
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Lunch: Cider, blood sausage, regular sausage, potatoes,
camembert, eggplant, and a pastry |
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| Daisy with the view behind her |
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| The staircase found inside my host family's house |
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| ibid. |
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| Bonjour, Daisy! |
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| Viller's post office |
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| Main street in Villers |
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The dinosaur is Viller's symbol since many fossils,
including one of a dinsour's, was found in the city's clay cliffs |
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| Walking along the beach at 3:00 in the afternoon |
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| All of the women present on the trip! |
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| I spy a red kite that appears not to be discernible by sight |
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| Yours truly |
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| Yours truly, once again, but trying to be more artistic (yet again) |
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Walking around Villers and admiring all of its
amazing, 19th century houses |
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| My host family's house |
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| Returning to the beach at 7:00pm after a siesta and more reading |
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| Walking along Viller's promenade |
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| The meridian line passes right through here in Villers |
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| The notary estate |
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Dinner: tomato salad, jambon cru, et oeuf à la coque (~ a semi-cooked egg
that you dipped a piece of bread with butter into)
Did I forget to mention wine and the rest of the cider? |
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| Only the freshest |
Sunday
Not pictured: sleeping into 10:30 (?!?!?!) and enjoying a nice, long run around the marshes or back bay of Villers
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| Lunch: fresh carralet, a type of Normand fish |
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| Another tasty and clean meal |
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| Admiring the colorful umbrellas at Deauville |
