Mixed veg, midterms and mountains

As I was sitting in my room, highlighter pen in hand ready to attack the lecture notes surrounding me, I suddenly realised that I have neglected my blog for over 2 weeks now. Obviously, with being in France time is going very fast and consequently a lot of different things happen everyday. I think it might be quite boring telling you everything, so I'll just capture and condense it all down for you. And no, this isn't an excuse to procrastinate...

To begin, my housemate and I decided to cook a traditional Sunday roast dinner for our group of international friends. Little did we know how much time it would take to cook using a microwave oven. 4 whole hours to cook roast pork, roast potatoes, mixed vegetables and homemade Yorkshire puddings.

Yum!

I've sat 4 midterms so far. Luckily for me, the modules I have chosen each entail all that I am most interested in: film and journalism. I'm one of those people that prefer to study alone, in solitude and isolation, revising in my own time and being able to gather my own thoughts. But seeing as I'm in France, I thought it would be best to change it up a bit - to find a "study buddy". My friend offered for me to come to his home not far from Antibes to study for our film midterm (my second midterm). I hopped on the train for the first time (buying my ticket speaking in French only), met my friend and then we drove to his house.

When he said he lived on the mountains, I thought he was joking... He was serious.

Welcome to Saint Jeannet

I thought he was joking.

I must admit that I was in awe at the idyllic village and views for the most part of our study session.

A week after my first midterm for Business and Professional Writing, we were sitting in the lecture and the teacher said those words that no student ever wants to hear: "I have marked your tests..." Whilst squinting my eyes, my exam paper was put in front of me. With one eye open, I looked at the percentage written at the top of the front page... 98%! Both eyes were wide open at this point. Speechless.

A few exams ticked off the list, my friend and I decided to visit the legendary Monaco, less than an hour away from Antibes by train. We already knew the shopping prices in Monaco wouldn't fit our student budgets so we spent most of the time sightseeing and window shopping.

Monaco train station - a bit too excited?

A small chapel.

Paradise...

Mountains!

For our viewing pleasures ONLY.

My car.

Creative photography right here.

An "underground" nightclub.

Buddha Bar!

Just for the Union Jack.

My Monaco masterpiece.

There is so much more to be seen in Monaco, but the party in Cannes the night before made my friend and I exhausted by the time we had finished walking around the shopping mall. I'll definitely be back though.

I'm currently getting over my second flu whilst being here, which isn't easy to do when you have lectures almost everyday, a compulsory fitness class, the pressure of exams and weekly French lessons (which are going rather well by the way). Ginger tea, despite its gag-inducing taste, is my current lifesaver. I'm halfway through getting rid of my husky voice before my fifth and final midterm on Monday, a 5-minute informative speech.

So I've given you a very quick overview of a fortnight in Gabrielle's French life. Oh and before I forget, we've finally booked our tickets to Paris! 5 days of pondering the Parisian panorama and trying not to spend too much money - yeah, right!

An eventful week indeed!

I'm only halfway through my first week of lectures and I am officially knackered.

The only annoying thing about the university I'm studying at in France is that the necessary buildings are not all in the same location. The main building (SKEMA 1) is at the heart of the campus if you like, and then where all the undergraduate lectures are held in is up on a hill! That's no exaggeration... My friend and I had lectures at the same time on Monday. We were running slightly late (those darn sandwiches) so we decided to take a shortcut. But this wasn't a normal shortcut. Oh, no. Far from it. Both in flip-flops, we literally walked into the surrounding forest and hiked up a hill, tripping over fallen branches, avoiding falling down holes and getting eaten by mosquitoes. I thought I'd left those behind in Latvia! As some of you know, when I do something crazy like this I start laughing hysterically, and I mean hysterically, which slowed me down. Eventually we made it out of the other end relatively safe and sound. Thinking back, I don't think it actually saved us any time but it was definitely an interesting experience. One that I will NEVER do again.

The scene of the crime.

I've found many interesting things walking around Antibes (including random condom machines - sorry kids) but this has to be the strangest so far:

Uh oh...

You don't even need to speak French

to understand what this says!

Curious, my friends and I walked in... and then walked straight back out! We needed something to take our minds off what we saw: a bit of Chinese should do it. We were served by a very friendly Cambodian man, who gave us his best recommendations of what to eat.

All of this for 13 euros!

I've been eating very well since being here. Cooking and eating as a group of friends definitely makes things easier in terms of time and money. Plus, it's great to have company and laughter to take your mind away from assignments. It's only been 4 days! The more lectures I have, the more I'm noticing the differences between English and French schooling systems. I'm so used to just writing essays in England. I'll only have one to write this semester and many exams instead. I'm trying my best to adapt to new ways, honest!

Looking out of my window calms me right down...

Gallons of tea also helps.

My kettle - okay, it's a coffee maker but it does the job!

Sadly, my friends and I aren't going to Spain this weekend. We need to save up for a weekend trip to Paris in October. It's my housemate's birthday on Sunday so we'll find something fun to do... students always do!

A weekend in the Riviera

McDonalds is so yesterday! It's all about Quick, a French chain of hamburger fast food restaurants.

I'm not making it up!

The thing that makes this restaurant so different from any other is that they don't salt the fries behind the counter. They leave it up to diners to do it themselves: strategic and healthy[ish]. I think McDonalds could learn a lesson or two from them.

I've just had my first weekend in France, full of sightseeing, shopping (mostly window shopping) and last but certainly not least, food. The weather is just too good here to stay inside so the gang decided to go to Nice, the fifth largest city in France, a 30 minute bus ride from Antibes for only €1...

Train on the grass.

Beautiful Baroque-inspired architecture.

A bit cheeky!

"Conversation à Nice”: one of seven statues in the
Massena Square, representing communication between the seven continents.

The mountains in the distance.

I am SO getting in one of those next time.

Not really sure what that is... but it looks cool!

Rolex: wishful thinking...

Breakfast at Tiffany's.

There's no harm in looking.

Nestling in the mountains.

So many restaurants to choose from!

Ice cream for lunch?

The shopping mall.

Look at that design!

We definitely have to go back to Nice a couple more times during our stay. There is so much more to see, including the beach and shops waiting to be blessed by our tourist money. Restraining myself from the clothes shops, I did buy a French phrasebook and dictionary. From now on, I'll be able to speak French with the locals and not just smile, politely nod and say "oui" all the time. Parfait!

There's no better feeling than waking up to an American breakfast: plain pancakes, banana pancakes, bacon and banana syrup. My friend also cooked grilled cheese for us - delicious!

I felt so American this morning!

My first full week of lectures starts tomorrow, pen and paper at the ready...

Day 79: Home sweet home

I woke up at 5am this morning, two and a half hours before I was due to leave for the airport, for many reasons: 1) I hadn't actually finished packing, 2) I couldn't stop thinking (and dreaming) about how heavy my suitcases were going to be and 3) if my alarm sounded any later, I would have had an automatic lie-in and missed my flights. 5am it was then.

In the midst of packing, my boss came to the dorms to see how I was getting on. I made sure I was wearing the heaviest clothes I own (including the leather boots my mum sent to Latvia) and finished packing not long after. A bit of moral support goes a long way! I knew I was going to pack right up until the last moment. I did some spring cleaning, left the keys for the dorms manager to collect and dragged my suitcases outside, certain that they were both over the limit. The driver came and even he struggled to carry my suitcase - what hope did I have?! Before we set off, my boss remembered that I left my USB stick in her office and now had it in her apartment. I would have actually flown back to Latvia just to get it... At least I got to say goodbye to her twice!

With my USB in my pocket and my friend now in the car, we were officially Riga-bound. And what did I do? Yep, I fell asleep, still dreaming about those darned baggage fees! Two hours later, we eventually arrived at the airport. Oh and before I forget, my friend gave me two Latvian chocolate bars as presents so we shoved them in my large suitcase before joining the queue to check-in my luggage. The atmosphere seemed very different to London Gatwick, much calmer and less chaotic. Soon enough, it was time to weigh my bag and I instantly whipped out my purse. I couldn't believe my eyes. 21.5kg! I thought it was going to be at least 30kg. For some reason, I didn't have to pay any fees. I think the beads of sweat forming on my forehead must have evoked some sympathy from the airline worker.

I had at least an hour until I had to go through customs so my friend and I spoke about our dreams and goals in life. I vowed that I will visit Latvia again and she promised to come to London one day. I said my final goodbye...

A precious friendship.

I kept noticing minor differences between my journey to Latvia and back to England. Firstly, going through customs was a breeze; having to take off my boots made me chuckle. Secondly, I didn't have to run to my gate like a maniac as I had at least 45 minutes before boarding. I somehow managed to resist buying anything in duty-free. I decided that the chocolate was my Latvian souvenir and stayed strong. Thirdly, we didn't walk through a "Jetway" to get on the plane. Instead, we had to walk across the car park (or plane-park) and up the plane's steps. I feel I have a well-rounded experience of planes now. I just need to fly in business class and I'm sorted. Fourthly, I ate on the plane. Okay, not a full-blown meal - just a Twix and a packet of Pringles - but it's something! And lastly, I fell asleep for at least half of the flight. You can tell how tired I was this morning, right?

My final final goodbye - bye Latvia!

But I wasn't too tired to notice this beauty:

SAFTEY? Proofreading must be in my nature...

I was sitting near the wing and became so excited that I had to take a photo to remember the moment:

I want to sit there!

I landed in London Gatwick safe and sound. I must admit that tears began to well up as soon as the wheels touched the runway but I didn't cry like I'd expected! There was one thing I didn't expect though: the boiling heat as soon as I left the airport to meet my dad, brother and his best friend (my mum was waiting at home). A very, very bad decision to wear boots and a leather jacket during a spontaneous heatwave.

I'm already adjusting to cars driving on the other side of the road, plenty of motorway traffic and seeing signs for London 2012 everywhere I go. As I sat in McDonalds for my fix of junk food, I looked out of the window and smiled. Home sweet home.

Reunited once again.

I hope you have enjoyed following the adventures of my first time abroad. Paldies to all of you for reading. Remember, there's more to come in two weeks...

Until next time,

A Student Abroad (au revoir, hehe!)

Day 77: 2...

After throwing myself into the air at what was probably 100mph yesterday, I feel as if I have achieved everything I possibly can here in Valmiera. I'll look at that video in 50 years time and either laugh until I can laugh no more or wonder what the hell was going through my mind to make me want to do that to myself. It's more than likely to be both.

Happy birthday to me!

2 days and counting... I've managed to whittle down my "to-do" list as much as possible:

• Meet with my friends, say goodbye to each of them - started...
• Give things back to my friends that I have borrowed - tomorrow!
• Record a voiceover for the previous promotional film - tomorrow!
• Add any finishing touches to the summer school film - started...
• Go on the bungee jumping trampoline! - done.
• Fill in any necessary paperwork - done.
• Confirm transport to the airport - done.
• PACK! (try not to procrastinate, go shopping or keep unnecessary items) - haven't even made an attempt to yet

I've been working on the voiceover script for the university's promotional film. It's pretty good, even if I do say so myself! Well, it's easy when you're the one who will be recording it. If an English accent doesn't entice you to come to Latvia, I don't know what will!

Tomorrow will be a very busy day for me. I plan to:

• Check-in online
• Print my boarding pass at the university (there's no harm in being organised)
• Say some goodbyes there
• Record the voiceover in my friend's studio
• Pack *wipes tears of frustration*
• Give back people's belongings!
• Say some more goodbyes in the evening

Time to crack on with some of this packing then... Can't say I'm looking forward to it. I do have some good news though - my friend can come with me to the airport! I feel a bit more at ease now.

All the birthday presents waiting to be packed.

Scrolling through Facebook, I couldn't help but be reminded that A-Level results were released today. I find it crazy to think that just this time last year, I was in the same position as all these students. A few letters on a piece of paper felt like the most important thing in the world to me, what my future was balancing on.

My, oh my - so much can change in a year!

My food is slowly disappearing. Luckily I'm a student and can create the strangest concoctions of food as long as it involves some remnants of pasta or rice.

"Everything passes. Both soaring joys and crushing sorrows fade away like a dream. However, the knowledge of having lived one’s life to the fullest never disappears" - Daisaku Ikeda

Day 74: 5...

The first day of my last week (and my first day of relaxing since the Baltic International Summer School ended) has officially begun.

After attending couple of meetings in the morning (okay, I had some work to do), I couldn't help but read my "memory book" signed by all the BISS participants. Flipping through the pages, I started to get vivid flashbacks of the past two weeks - good times indeed! You know when someone is reading a letter in a film and you can hear the voice of the person who wrote it? That's exactly what I experienced when reading each message. A Greek voice is something you can never quite forget!

The best farmers in the world.

There has been some progress with my "to-do list":

• I've started nibbling on all of my food (including a full jar of jam I have to finish by Saturday)
• I will have dinner with my boss tomorrow
• Final editing of our second film will be completed by Wednesday (and then I'll write the voiceover script)
• The voiceover will be recorded on Thursday 
• Some items (bike, blankets, maps, frying pans etc.) will be collected by my boss's boss on Friday

Just chillin'...

I've also been informed that I will be picked up from the dorms on Saturday at 7.30am by the university's driver. Thoughts of becoming clueless in the airport slowly crept up on me again so I texted my very good friend (the one I went sunbathing with) and asked if she would like to come with me to the airport. She said yes! I just need to get confirmation that the driver is willing to wait a while to take her back to Valmiera.I'm glad the early start hasn't put her off the idea! I'm sure it will be a very special last memory for both of us.

"The more happiness we bring to others, the happier we ourselves become" - Daisaku Ikeda

Day 73: My last days in Latvia

It felt quite strange waking up to hearing no noise in the dorms once again. No singing Portuguese or fast-talking Greeks... To help me adjust, the lecturer from the UK (Tim) and his wife (Marilu) invited me to have lunch with them today and, of course, I accepted.

They collected me from the dorms and we began walking to a restaurant they had in mind. Guess which one it was. The one where I saw the black man sitting outside and promised myself to visit before I left Latvia! The atmosphere was lovely: a warm breeze, soft music and great conversation. The time came to order the food. My initial choice was chicken, but then I was kindly reminded that we BISS students have eaten chicken every day (sometimes twice a day) for the past week or so. They ordered steak so I said I'd have the same - it was the easiest choice. The waitress asked me how I would like my steak. I've never actually had steak before so again I went along with what my companions had chosen - medium. I had no idea what that meant, but I knew exactly what an ice-cream cocktail was!

We were talking as if we'd known each other for years. As we ate our creme brulee, Tim, Marilu and I decided that "UK team" would have a small reunion at their house in Manchester in January when I'm back from France: the two of them, my Welsh friend, another lecturer who taught in BISS, her partner and me.

My surrogate grandparents.

When I mentioned that I couldn't believe Marilu and I had the same birthday, she told me that I had reminded her of something. She picked up her handbag and pulled out a small gift bag: my belated birthday present. Inside was a beautiful fan from China, their holiday destination before Latvia. These surprises make me so emotional but luckily, this time, I didn't cry.

I've started to plan my last week here, just so that I make the most of it and do everything I've promised myself to do. As I'm leaving before the other intern, it would be great to complete our films before Saturday, just to give him the opportunity to enjoy his last few weeks. Here's my list so far:

• Meet with my friends, say goodbye to each of them
• Give things back to my friends that I have borrowed
• Record a voiceover for the previous promotional film 
• Add any finishing touches to the summer school film 
• Go on the bungee jumping trampoline!
• Fill in any necessary paperwork
• Confirm transport to the airport
• PACK! (try not to procrastinate, go shopping or keep unnecessary items)

In the meantime, I will use every single egg, baked bean, porridge oat, spot of jam, tea bag, drop of lemonade, piece of pasta I own so as to not create any waste: sustainable tourism everyone! It is also the best excuse to eat all my biscuits too (naughty me!).

Oh and remember that presentation I made for the university? They love it!

Here's to the best last week in Latvia! *raises glass of leftover lemonade*

Day 72: Goodbye (for now)

Today, the last day of 2012's Baltic International Summer School, was a very emotional day indeed. There was relief, laughter, excitement, exhaustion, pride and nostalgia. Some even shed a few tears. But before I get on to that, I want to quickly mention something rather remarkable. As you may or may not know, Latvian Olympian Maris Strombergs won the gold medal in men's BMX riding. And what's more, he's from Valmiera!

Strombergs leading the pack!

Soon after I heard the great news, this fantastic news report was sent to me: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-19218980 

72-year-old Latvian Leontis Romanovskis decided to cycle to London, claiming to have cycled across most of Europe. I suppose that's one way of celebrating an Olympic gold for your country. Perhaps I could cycle to England as well - it will only take me, ah I dunno, a few hundred days... I'd have to lose some baggage though.

Staying true to his nation's talent.

So back to today! The day began with the students presenting their final assignments to be assessed and graded. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to watch - I blame my bed - but I was there in spirit! I arrived at the university just as they had finished and it was great to see beaming smiles on all of their faces, definitely smiles of relief.

We were given group numbers to each create a sketch to summarise our experience of BISS and present it at the closing ceremony later on. After lunch, we had a couple of hours to prepare - but it literally took us 10 minutes. I think my group members just wanted to go home and sleep and, to be honest, I don't blame 'em! We just had to trust that everything was going be be okay and if we did make a fool of ourselves (which was very likely to happen) at least it would make people laugh.

Time crept up on us and it was time to walk/get a taxi to the local hotel where the closing ceremony was being held. When we arrived, I could already see some people's eyes welling up. The closing ceremony commenced... The speeches started, the certificate-giving was underway and the wine was slowly disappearing. Not expecting to receive anything myself as a "special" participant, suddenly my name was called to go up and I received my own certificate and goody bag. That put a big smile on my face!

The sketches were hilarious. Thank goodness most groups were underprepared too! My group, Group 6, wanted to create a short role play combining each of our best memories of BISS.

The best birthday surprise ever!

And, of course, the night life.

We went from laughing at the hilarious sketches to borderline crying when the lights were dimmed and one of the students from Greece beautifully performed Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". That one always gets to me!

We continued the rest of our night with food (a lot of it!), more laughter and emotional goodbyes. I'm sure we will see each other someday somehow but we have plenty of amazing memories to keep us going until then. Talking of memories, we were each given a "memory book" where other participants could sign and write a farewell message and all about the good times. I managed to get every single participant to sign mine and, although I've read them all, I will read them again when I'm on the plane to go back home on Saturday and try not to cry.

We had to let the night go out with a bang and experience Valmiera's nightlife once more! Well, the ones that didn't have to wake up at 6am to go to the airport.

Two weeks we will never forget.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to join the summer school, meet such amazing people, expand my knowledge of tourism with lecturers from around the world, share my culture and embrace others and create even more international friendships. My list of countries to next visit is just getting longer and longer... I think I feel a BISS 2012 reunion coming on!

Photos courtesy of BISS