trip to Italy

Hello everyone!

view from above of Herculanum

Today's the day I'm gonna tell you about my school trip to Italy at last. It's been already almost a week that I'm back so now I thought was a good time to share with you my photos and impressions on the cities I visited, Rome, Naple, and Pompei.
Firstly, the reason why I was part of this trip to Italy is quite simple : I'm taking italian at school so I wanted to be part of it. Exept that I, with a friend, had skipped a year and therefore weren't allowed to go at all because there were no extra seat in the bus, 52 no more no less! So we got very lucky in last minute when two seats got freed because two persons weren't able to go anymore ! Even better, these new seats belonged to the group going to Italy with the greek and the latinist, not with the italianists and this was at our advantage for two reasons. Here is the first reason : more space in the bus because less people are taking greek or latin as way more chose italian. The second reason why I would better enjoy the trip with the latinist is because I already went to Italy with my school when I was 15 (poor me really) and what I did was the same itinary that the italianist were taking this time so I would have done the same trip twice! No thanks. So thanks to good luck  it was my first time travelling down in the south of Italy. Moreover, this was a school trip without any homework to do and if we can say that like real vacations (a week of "vacation" before the two weeks of vacation that we usually get for halloween!). All the circompstances were there to have a great time and it didn't miss!

Colisseum, in Roma

Departure from Laval at 5.30 am on a sunday morning. We all got in the bus with our pillows and blankets hoping to get some sleep before the sun would raise at last. Most of us we obviously didn't. I don't know if you ever being in a bus for more than 3-4 hours in a row which in our case was rather like 50 hours going and coming back, but I find it very hard to get the right position and fall asleep. Funny fact, instead of doing something else like playing cards or chatting with each others we, for most of us, desperatly try every possible possitions, shutting our eyes tight and everything until we feel so tired of trying that we start looking out the windows see if things are better from this side. When is it that we must arrive again? Only 20 hours from now, says the driver of the bus. (...) Find something else to be busy with, stupid games (cho lapin), cards, or just read books, anything that would keep yourself active until the next stop at the car station where everybody get off the bus and go to pee. We're getting closer, only 14 hours now, almost half of the trip to Rome done! We're now in the Rhone-Alpes region crossing many tunnels getting through the great chain of mountains. At last we're in the Frejus's tunnel !! The border between France and Italy is set inside this tunel of 13 km at about its half. Let's now turn on the radio and see the signs! In only few seconds we changed sides and it doesn't seem that different from what we just saw while still in France except as I just told you for the signs that were now green on highways instead of blue in France and of course the writing that were  now in italian. Ours new hobbie is to understand what it is said, traffic allerts, which is not very difficult because thetwo languages are pretty close. Instead of Rome Roma, Turin has became Torino and Genève Genova, not a great deal haha. But what a thrill, WE ARE IN ITALY !! Let's get PASTA, and have a look on PRADA, GUCCI, DOLCA&GABBANA, and what about trying to find the most famous italian car brands on the way, it would make the trip easier as well. Let's spot the Ferrari, the newest Fiat and  the Lamborghinis...From now on it's going a bit faster because it's the night so we're sleeping or waiting to arrive impatiently to Rome. 7am, we stop to get some beakfast and go back on the road. At 9am we're at Rome, safe and sound.

on the site of Herculanum

Colisseum from inside but not from my camera

In Rome we start by doing the Colosseum, Coliseum in english, where great gladiators use to fight in the Roman Antiquity. Honestly, it needs some restoration or you'd think that it's not going to stand like this for ever. We circulated inside where the exhibition is and got through any of the doors which use to be numbered so that people could get to their seat. Then you go inside and you basically see an amphitheatre that could hold until 60 thousand people at once, a big ice hockey stadium without the ice let's be clear. Also, when you go around and climb the stairs pretty high you can get a great panorama of Rome which we did. Running down the stairs and out the monument, our teachers are now leading to a new place : the forum of Rome which is where all the religious, political and historical event took place
The coliseum and the forum (sitted on the mount palatin) are very close to each other so we went there on foot and began the visit once we arrived. We immediately saw what there was to see which is to say the curie (where the senate assembled), the ancient senate, what remained from the temples (only columns) and basilicas. We closed our great march by gettint to the arch of Titus, one of the most famous arches with the arch of Constantin (on the west side of the Coliseum). In the end we saw the temple of Vespa that was put  on the top of the hill and where young girls called vespal, they were at the number of 6, used to watch on turns the sacred fire that must not ever fade out (they were also called the virgin vesta because they had to remain virgin until declared out of duty, they were been buried for treachery if ever they were caught having sex...Then we had a nice picnic out and sit comfortably on the grass.
About 4 pm we'd be done for the day and began to walk toward the bus's appointement and get back on the road. Our hotel was in fuigi which wasn't far from rome and we stayed for the night with our stomach full of pasta made with tomatoes sauce. Next morning wake up was at 7am...
We drove three more hours south towards the city of pompei and it really was worth it ! After we arrived, we were all given a map and reminded of the time we had to make it across the city and back : 1 hour. It was really impressive to stroll about in paved streets that already existed two thousand years ago. Something funny too was that they had already cross-walks but you saw it (big boulders put by 4 in the middle of the road) you got the odd impresion that it was actually more dangerous to cross that way than to just be on the road. Sidewalks, now that I come to think of it were considerably high as well. We entered in lots of houses, most of them had no roof but some were actually pretty well preserved.

one the house's court in Herculanum (again?!)

How were the houves structured at that time? First was the Atrium, that would the court by where the visitors were usually coming in, around you would find the Peristyle that was a sort of frame made with columns around the court. Inside the court you would find the Impluvium where the people used to collect water- already ecological that early it's quite amazing!-all the villas were very wealthy and well decorated with many paintings that have stayed in place.
On these sites of pompei and herculanum, which was the next site I did, it didn't feel like we were in Italy but instead we had a taste of international with germans, british, french and yet italians and sometimes we couldn't tell where people were from...
At last we drove back up toward Napoli and went to the national archeological museum, grand, especially concerning the statues, and afterward hit back to Rome for a last "ciao tutti" and say good bye the city and its marvellous piazza. Piazza navone, if you ever pass, by is where all the shops and restaurants are, and artists can make out your portrait while driking a cup of cofee ! The Trevi Fountain is also very famous! Crowded is what it is and even more in summer when young people and tourists get together on the steps just in front of the fontain. Here, the story tells you that if you throw a coin from backward in the water and with your right hand above your left shoulders you will return to Rome, if you throw a second coin you'll have a boyfriend, third coin you'll get married ! I didn't wanna get married yet so I didn't throw a third coin...

Piazza di Trevi !

And that standed for the end of our trip to Italy, let's go back in the bus again for 25 hours more...

Smoking at school !

Hello people from all over the world!

Smoking is a french disease !
Why is our conscience for if it can't stop us from doing that kind of things, like destroying our health. And other people's. Ok, if you're a smoker and you think smoking is only your problem then it means that you don't think too far...As you smoke it concerns yourself and every single person around you, that are for some of them your friends, or for some others random person you're not concern about. If this is not enough, you're also making it easier for breathing diseases, like asthma, to attack you and ruin your athlete career that you haven't start yet and were'nt planning on doing anyway but that you might wanted to be in your dreams. Among other things, one packet of cigerettes is the price you pay for 2 lunches downtown (about 6 euros) soooo smart to spend your money or the money of your parents on this, so responsible to start smoking just to be at the gate with your friends and just feel like one of the coolest kid...Let me just tell you french people : smoking is dump and if you still think it's freedom look around and see how many smokers feel like they have to go under the rain (might get wet but it doesn't matter since they'll get their cigaret) while it's warm and like a cocoon inside...Lets all be originals and don't smoke! Some of us need some explanations, no problem, I'll be very pragmatic and very short. No smoking=no frustration from not having your smoke, no stress, no rush at break time to go back to class, no disgusting smelling on your clothes, no anoying comments your smell, no yellow teeth, no obligation, no greasy hair, no lack of appetite...if you sum up, more happiness. Breathing smoke might seem appealing to you right now and it's until you get older and realise that your lungs are now burnt and ugly. I know when you're approaching my high school it looks like it going to rain, it's actually all the studients packed at the gate to have their small time off breathing freedom before getting back inside. Is smoking trendy? hum, not for me especially when it steals you your moment of freetime and you're not even noticing it. Need it, need it, need it-relief ! Need it, need it, need it-relief again! At the end, poor dude, smoking's became a need and nothing else, you're not even liking it like you uses to and you'd have to stop but don't know. You wish you hadn't start. Well, don't ever start. Or just to try.

?

Hello everyone!
What's going on in your life? tell me !
What about me ? Right now, nothing new and everything...I thought english was going to be easy for me. it's not as easy as I hoped. On the top of that I'm loosing it, a few words at the time, and then my whole sentences are going to sound more frenchy, I mean more than usual. How awful!
Great, I have 7h a week to hopefully catch up with it when it will be gone...unless I'm striving hard enough that it may not happen. Whriting is a way out but obviously not the only one. Watching videos, listening to the news about the coming american elections, anoying all my families with loving phone calls, reading news paper, speaking to myself in english when nobody's around and of course keep my mood up with some good english music (ABBA !!) are some others ways to do it. Now try to picture me on my bike (I didn't change that much trust me), going to school and while I'm all happy-oh yeah! let's go to school- here comes that HUGE hill and it's not only  HUGE, I also need to get up there fast or I'll be late ! Can you imagine ? Therefore I definitely need some music to stimulate my body and also to wake me up, it's now dark outside in the morning and I feel like I could have stayed in bed a bit longer. So as I'm biking uphill I'm shaking up and down and left to right my head to go with the drums, I need to blew my nose but I can't so I'm doing it the man's way : by blewing it in the air, why not?
To talk about something else more interesting, have you heard of Felix Baumgartner the austrian skydiver that want to jump from 23 miles above the ground ? This guy's goal is to fall faster than the speed of sound and break the world record set in 1960 by Joe Kittinger that jumped of 31Km above the ground (only). How much risk does he take? His suit has apparently being made to resist to both very high and cold temperatures but if by mistake a leak get in the suit he will pass out...maybe die who knows. That's crazy to be this daring.
Another detail about his suit, it contains some oxygen in it just in case plus it is more flexible than what astronaute would have. Cross your fingers for him !
Next time I'll show you pictures of my cats for a change ! (they're dushes !)
Bye to next time !

Hey you people !

How are you doing?
Here, in France, things are not at their best at the moment as it's dealing with a huge drop of the euro, a national dept that went over the top of what would normally be seen as normal and, to add on bad news, we got 3millions of unsatisfied, because unemployed , french people at least. With that I think we can be called "grounch" for the next following years even though we're already known for grumbling louder than any other europeen countries...Anyway, not a good time to be in France.
But, myselft, I'm really good right now. Being busy suits me. Being exhausted doesn't but a bit of organisation should solve that problem. Between homework and the job I got outside of school, I haven't really got time to do anything else but I'm still finding some breaches in my schedule to READ !

The last book I read was a play of Sartre called Huis Clos. Do you know Sartre? He's a french philosopher, novelist, and play writer of the XXth century, that also took a lead into the resistance and fought through his writings during and after the WWII. About that play...it's the story of three people, two women and a man, that found themselves lock into the same room after being dead but without knowing why. THey're in hell... Why would this room, in which there is a light, that can't be turned off, three coaches, one for each of them, and a statue in bronze, be hell after all? Because "hell is other people" is what will say Garcin, the man character. Everyone already got that feeling once when you stayed with someone for too long and then need to recharge your batteries before seing that person again. Being trapped with the same people for eternity must be pretty tough to survive to, except when you're already dead !  All in all, it's a pretty ironical play on how is it possible to live with each other whithout wanting to kill them.

B.U.S.Y !

Boring Use of Stuggling Youth ! Why does school day in France last for so long? Do they want us, studients, to die trapped into these walls ?! That's too much!! How are we suppose to survive to 8 straight hours being at school every single day ? How could we even get involve into something else than school ?! In France, I'm sure there's no shame in asking "are you sure there's something after?". People don't like school but stick to it, that's funny. Or not. There isn't that many knowing what they would like to do beside studing. Studing...to do what?? "Euhhh (that's very french) I don't know yet). We wonder why french student don't get involve in helping others or don't that sense of purpose that american would have for example, but HOW could they? We're born at school and definitely bored of life by the time we get out. We also like to complain about it and how unfair it is that other countries have earlier ending than us...Sometimes I feel like asking people are you here or not, if you're here that's for a reason, so go on and don't give up !! Because so many studients are here in appearence but their mind is absent. They could have missed without having being noticed! Social skill?? Enthousiasm for novelty ?? Debate?? None of this but fashion.
France love fashion. I don't think that's cliché when you walk through my high school : we're all dressed up as fashion victims to the point it became absurd. Let's make a game out of it, the first one that spots a foreign looking studient wins !! we're so identically dressed that it's not difficult to see who's from where... "Hide and Seek" could perfectly be the new motto of this school. Hide under your appearence an seek who people truly are afterwards! No problem with that of course except when you feel that this whole thing doesn't suit you well. And when it doesn't suit you, well, that's pity first, but then either you change or can wait a long time to find people who're like you. How could it be better to be fake than to simply make the step to others I don't understand. That's what's so hard for people : make a step. "Just do it" that's the shirt we miss in France and people don't know what to believe and what their convictions are or what to do to make what they wish come true. Move it and struggle for what you believe is right not what everybody else's saying !
My point is, communication is a big thing in the world-we're surrunded by informations,image, screens,papers, but still we kind of forget that we can talk to each other.
I leave you on this! oh mon amour :)

Le chainon manquant !

Hello!

That's in two weeks. Only two weeks and I'll get to be at the "chainon manquant" and watch all kind of new talents going from singing to awesome circus, to danse, puppet shows and humorist to fill in! The"chainon manquant" is actually a music festival that's trying to promote new artists coming up on stage and taking their chance with a brand new public (us!). It's a francophone festival that's hosted by Laval for the first time this year. They've selected people coming from lots of different places such as France, but also Belgium and we'll even see some quebecquois here! (doing pupets if I remember right). I can't really tell how much people are looking forward to it but I wish many are going to come and make it more fun for the performers! Anyway, I'll make you listen to a few of them right now so you'll get an idea :

        
                                  

This is "kiss&drive" eh... and there's also Liz cherhal !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbfbTLkiMqE&feature=relmfu
 That's the quebecquois couple, inspired by the thumbs as it seems:

And these are"The skeleton Band", let's introduce them by this video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beJTSdGafQ4&feature=related 

And many others that are not even on youtube but that I may see !

Hope you're good and busy !

When school begins...

Hello to my favorites Canadian and French people !
(those that are not reading are not my favorites anymore, just kidding)
           So yeah school started the 4th so now, the 5th, I can talk to you a little more about it. Actually I'm pretty excited about everything because it all seems great for now (wait, that it really begins and I won't say the same thing) with awesome classes like philosophy (tons of philo), english, a little bit of italian and a little bit of chinese, plus, maybe, a tiny bit of spanish. I'm taking as many languages as I possibly can and I'm trying to get involved as much as I can in every other subjects. We'll see how well I'm doing after couple of months but at this point of the year I think I'm successful :) (yes I have grapes, stop asking me all the time). After a while I'll get use to start at 8 am and end my school day at 5 pm even if I'll certainly miss these two free hours that I had in my Canadians schedule, which you should be proud of because not everybody gets that chance... So this is it about class, schedules and boring stuff, nothing really new.
              What's new this year for me is I didn't know anybody except one person, I don't think she choosed, from my past school years. Maybe I knew some faces, if you back up a very long time ago (2 years). Well not much anyway. But I met someone as lost as me in this lot of students! American bingo! I'm saving him from getting lost again as he's saving me from loneliness so we made a deal to be friend :) There are others exchange studient too that I haven't met yet. A girl from danemark apparently and some other guys coming from somwhere else. Fun, fun and fun again ! I didn't know, but now I noticed, the programs at school have changed a lot with the new reform that came in 2009 so now I have a class that's about foreign litterature in english ! Meaning?  I'm absolutely not throwing out my english litterature paper from last year.
In the "what's happening at Laval" kind of speech there is also a new music festival called 'le chainon manquant' coming up in september. More news next time...already got homework and that's awesome. Don't believe a word I just say.
If you come across my blog, I say HI to everybody !!!