Ella Duda's blog

Hello to those still following this journey. Since it is well after May 25, I have returned to Toledo, OH.
Just a few things:
1. I still expect people to speak French in public places and continue to automatically say “pardon” instead of “sorry”. For instance, I accidentally bumped a few people at the airport in Chicago and just last weekend in a race in downtown Toledo and indeed said “pardon”.
2. Where’s the bread?
3. Where’s the cheese?
4. What do you mean you’re open on Sunday?
5. Where can I ride my bike now?

I’m happy to report the last few weeks in France were awesome. I was able to buy a bike from a friend and explore Strasbourg and the surrounding area (almost to Colmar) just by bike. I. Will. Miss. The. Bike. Routes. Since being back, I’ve made a point to use my bike as much as possible, however, it’s not the same. The last Sunday in France, my friend Kendall and I took an all day bike ride South of Strasbourg around the vineyards, visited the little French towns, found a French market, and ended the day exploring the wine caves and wine tasting before returning to Strasbourg…all with a bike. It was also a perfect, PERFECT sunny day. Thanks to the high demand for bikes in Strasbourg, I was even able to sell it the day before I left.

I also visited Cologne, Amsterdam, and Reims the last week I was there.

Cologne, Germany was really pretty and has a lot of it’s original buildings in the city center…and of course a GIANT cathedral. I’ve seen a lot of cathedrals by now, but I was impressed. Cologne is also right by the Rhine River where you can see the city by boat. AND, for all you chocolate lovers out there, there is a Chocolate Museum. Although I don’t like chocolate myself, I would have liked to explore it, however, it was Monday and not open. Guess I have to go back…

Amsterdam. Is. Beautiful. This might have had something to do with the awesome, sunny weather, but really, all the canals, parks, and harbor scenery contributed too. My recommendation is rent a bike (there’s that word again). It’s completely ruled by cyclists- drivers beware- and the bike paths go all through the city so it’s so easy to go places. It’s easy to walk too but not as fun.

Reims, France is in the Champagne region of France so naturally I went to a Champagne cave. Let’s just say making bubbly is quite a process…and I don’t really enjoy drinking it. Alsace has better wine.

So there it is, my study abroad experience. I’d like to thank the BGSU College of Business for offering the Strasbourg program, Dean Rogers and Dr. Bennion for making it a reality, and all together for putting their faith in Hannah, Rawlin and I- my life has been changed for the better.

PEACE
-Ella

Hello!

So it’s Spring Break! Well, halfway over already, but I have this week too (April 2-18). I decided to stay around Strasbourg and enjoy the beautiful weather it has to offer…and get some work done and I feel GREAT about the decision. I’ll have time to travel after exams before I return to reality.

Well school will be over before we know it. In fact, I’m sure the next time I blog everything will be over. I only have one exam on the designated exam week, all the rest will be over before April 30. Then I’ll be completely done May 4th. Whoa. Since I know the next few weeks is going to get crazy, I’m preparing presentations, video projects (yeah), and papers NOW so that I can still enjoy Strasbourg until the end.

School here is still going well/different/crazy yet completely worth it. I’m still learning something new every day and the people are still fun.

I took a trip to Nancy last weekend with a friend (Max, from France) to meet up with his friend (from France). Nancy has a zoo in its park…monkey’s and sheep welcome. Then he invited me to experience a FRENCH Easter dinner with his family. I don’t know how, but I have sure been blessed with real French dining experiences- if you remember Tiphaine’s family both fall and Christmas break. Most memorable part: eating hard-boiled QUAIL eggs and playing a French boardgame with the family. BAM!

A possible bike ride could be in my near future if the weather holds up, however, rain is coming and I don’t think it will let up before break is over. No matter, I plan to bike after exams- I have until May 25th when my flight leaves from Frankfurt, destination: Toledo, OH.

Peace and happiness.

Alright, here are some pictures.
1-3: Menton
4-5- Nice
6-8 and very last: Monaco
9-15: Kaysersberg
16: Skiing in Vosges

This is made of oranges.

Whoa, sorry. This is overdue but I don’t have much time so here we go…

School is flying by.
I have 6 group projects going on simultaneously.
I’m pioneering an 80′s party to raise money to build a well in Togo, Africa.
Friends have exploded this semester.
French has exploded.
Strasbourg is getting better every day.
I’ll be playing in a music group for an Arts Week.
I ran a 10k in Cannes.
People are incredible.
My friend fixed my computer when it crashed…and made it better.
I still don’t know when I’m coming home.
I went skiing in the Vosges during a wind storm.
I’m still a terrible SNOW skiier.
McDonalds food smells different in France (I’m there now).
Maybe I’ll run Strasbourg’s half marathon.
This experience has been terrific-wonderful-crazy-ness

Yeah, life is UNreal.

Yes, highlights. I can only sit so long in a computer lab to blog.

After Christmas was Paris. This experience was more for Julianne than myself since I have now been there twice before. It was definitely a different experience though. We learned that the Louvre is free for students studying in Europe, so that was great! We of course saw the Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Arc de Triomphe, and went to the top of the Eiffel Tower together. The Tower was lit up at night too, it looked much better then. My favorite was something new for both of us, we went to Versailles. However it was a Monday so everything was closed except the gardens BUT that was fine because it was a beautiful sunny day and LOTS of garden to walk around. Seriously, it was gigantic. Monday was our last night in Paris and we celebrated it BG style! Yeah, BG had seven representatives that evening in Paris. It was a good time, but alas Jules and I had to get up in the morning to make our way to Berlin…peace out Paris, I’m done visiting you for awhile.

Berlin!! Berlin was awesome. We arrived Monday evening and picked up by Sarah and Travis at the train station. A little background: Julianne knows a couple through church in Toledo who moved to Berlin a few years ago to do missionary work and who were SO NICE to let us stay with them for the 3 days we were there. It was really, really fun. Sarah and Ben Carey are the husband and wife and they have two children, Travis (3) and Hannah (1). Highlights:

1. When we got to their house we had a homecooked meal waiting for us
2. We drank a lot of delicious tea
3. It snowed!
4. We went on a free walking tour and met a boy from Australia and one from Canada
5. We visitied both the historical museum and musuem of musical instruments
6. Julianne ate a Currywurst, I watched.
7. We celebrated New Year’s Eve with the Carey’s and their wonderful friends, then played games and lit fireworks…in the street
8. We went to the Brandenburg Tor to ring in the New Year (craaaaaaaazy)
9. We watched episodes of LOST to which Jules is now addicted
10. WE BAKED AN APPLE PIE and had the MOST DELICIOUS German ice cream…I will never forget this.

Berlin. Really, it was so relaxing and eventful all at once. Travis and Hannah were so fun too! I got to practice some German with Travis, and read his German children’s books that he schooled me with in pronunciation. Funny. Many thanks to the Carey family. Off to Munich? No, Salzburg.

Yeah, we changed our plans. Originally we were going to Munich but then we got an invitation from my buddy Matt (who’s studying in Austria this year and who didn’t go home for Christmas), to visit him! Well, it was just too easy so we felt we had to…and why not go to another country. So we used our rail passes to get to the border of Germany and Austria and the took a 20 minute ride to Salzburg. Done. Salzburg is beautiful. Matt and his friend John met us at the station we walked to their cozy dorms where they have a beer vending machine…They were so nice and already had ideas of where to go and what to show us for the two days we’d be there. Highlights:
1. Played Euchre!
2. Walked to the castle on the hill, really great views.
3. John made Weinerschnitzel and potatoes for dinner
4. Jules and I then made stir fry
5. Just walked around town and noticed how everything is yellow

It was really cold but really sunny for the two days we were there and we really had a great time hanging out with Matt…in Salzburg.

Our final destination before Strasbourg was Switzerland and after some intense couchsurfing we decided our destination was going to be…Gossau, Switzerland! Woo! And exciting it was. We were first going to stay with a girl who lives in St. Gallen, but unfortunately she has a train delay which prompted us to reach out to the couchsurfing community and hope for someone to help us out. Well it worked in the best way. Anni and Vince, a newly married couple who live in Gossau, answered our cry for help and said we were welcome to surf their couch, so we did. This is how it went down:
1. Arrive in Gossau to be picked up by Vince and Anni
2. Arrive at their house and experience Raclette and Elk. (Raclette = melted cheese poured over, in our case, potatoes. Elk = yes, the animal)
3. Be treated to an array of cultural food, drinks, and great conversation
4. Discover Anni and Vince met through couchsurfing! She’s from Finland.
5. We watched a movie from Vince’s extreme movie collection (hundreds)
6. They took us to the Schwagalp Pass, Julianne got her mountain she was craving

Basically, they were SO hospitable, made us feel like we were home, and had tons of stories for us. When we had to make our way back to Strasbourg, they even drove us to the train station at 8am. They had the spirit of couchsurfing in all respects and Julianne and I really enjoyed our time with them.

Strasbourg bound! Well, almost. We decided we’d might as well make a stop in Zurich on our way to Stras so for an hour we walked around and Jules bought some cholcolate (which I heard was really, really good but I took her word for it). it was a really sunny day and Zurich looked good. Then on to Strasbourg we went and arrived Thursday afternoon. We were definitely a tired pair but we were determined to go to Jazz Night at the Artichaut so that’s what we did. Then I showed her my school, the Cathedral, and whatever else we passed. We were so tired though and the weather was just really cold/windy that we stayed inside for the most part and decorated my room. It was just like old times.

She left Saturday morning, and thus was the official end to Christmas vacation.

MMMk, Christmas.

So Jules and I arrived in Tours, France on the 23rd and were happily greeted by Tiphaine!! We walked around the city, drank some tea, enjoyed the Christmas market, and went to bed nice and early so we’d be ready for the car ride to her parent’s house the next day. Her parents live in a town called St. Pellerin, just Southwest of Paris, an easy drive, looked a lot like Ohio. In France, Christmas and presents actually happen on Christmas Eve so when we arrived, we went right into a wonderful aperatif and conversation with her family in French! Let’s just say the Christmas food we ate was an experience in itself. Delicious and definitely different than what I’ve had for the past 20 years. No mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, HAM/TURKEY/CHICKEN, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, apple pie, pie in general…no sir. We’re talking avocados, paté, fois gras, cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese, wine, smoked salmon, shrimp, goose, macaroons, crazy good ice cream…but we DID have stuffing, delicious stuffing with chestnuts in it. Yes, Christmas Eve was fun, new, and spent with a beautiful family that Julianne and I are extremely thankful for. Christmas morning we awoke to croissants, jelly, honey, tea, coffee and then a brief workout session to make room for what was to come…more food! That evening we all went to a family friend’s house to spend Christmas dinner. Again, a whole new experience, extremely deicious. We also played some Wii, yes, good ole’ Wii.

Really, that was our Christmas: good food, great company, awesome conversation. It was so good to see Tiphaine’s family again AND this time my French was much better so I could actually carry on a conversation with them, a big highlight for me. I know this isn’t much but I can’t possibly convey the whole experience in a simple blog, sorry folks. Besides, when I return it’ll give us something to talk about.

On the 26th we ate some breakfast, packed a lunch, said our goodbyes and tried express how grateful we were for their company as best we could (a little mix of French/English/Spanish/Bisous/Hugging/Smiling).

Then it was off to Paris…

OH MY! I’m way behind, but please allow me to catch you up…

Instead of going home for the Holidays, I decided to stay in Europe to explore with my GREAT friend Julianne Judge (who is also studying abroad this year…in Spain). We planned it out and decided on Barcelona, Tours, Tiphaine’s parent’s house in France, Paris, Berlin, Münich, and somewhere in Switzerland outside of Zürich. To keep it timely and because I have a terrible attention span on the internet, I’m breaking this adventure into parts: first stop, Barcelona.

So way back in December 2009, I left Strasbourg on a night train to make my way to Barcelona to meet Julianne and a few other girls from her program. Night trains = not fun. I would never recommend it unless it’s the very last option…which it was thanks to the busy holiday season. The girls and I stayed in an apartment-like place that’s not really an apartment but definitely not a hostel or hotel so we had a working kitchen and even a little living room, really nice! Yes, well, Barcelona. On day one we just took it easy since everyone just finished their FIRST SEMESTER ABROAD and tired…we ordered pizza! Ha. Then followed a wonderful night in Barcelona spent watching ‘Elf’ to boost our Christmas spirit and get us ready for bed so we could get a good night sleep. The next day we walked to meet up with the free Barcelona walking tour. Our guide, Sean, was from Australia, a Barcelona history buff, and only 23 years old! Imagine that. It was a great tour too, however cold, and we saw the square where they make the famous human pyramids…if you don’t know what that is google it, it’s crazy. The tour was a good 3 hours too. From there we walked around La Rambla, the longessssssssssssssst street where a lot of shops/street vendors are located and the LARGEST fresh fruit and vegetable market I’ve seen. It was really impressive. After walking around all day, we found ourselves back in the warmth of our apartment to make dinner, drink tea, and give a few haircuts. Such is the Barcelona life! The next day was the last day in Barcelona for Juilanne and I and we decided it was time to tackle Montjuïc…literally Jew Mountain. Well, in order to avoid spending money on public transportation (it adds up!), we decided walking is just the way to go and our apartment was not in the Mountain area so we figured we’d take at least an hour to get to an actual road that leads up to the Castle on the Mountain. Three hours later we find ourselves standing at the foot of the mountain, ha! But really, it would have only taken an hour to get there, we just detoured quite a bit. First we found this amazing Chinese food store where we found the most delicious bag of UNSALTED, DRY peanuts and some delicious cookies. Then we found ourselves in front of the Barcelona Arc de Triumphe where we had to stop and take pictures AND ironically take a picture for a Chinese couple. Since we were already off course we just walked down side streets to see the Christmas lights and little stores and finally made it to our original destination.

Montjuïc provides a great view of Barcelona once you get up it, and it’s not a hard walk at all. We saw the Magic fountain, the Theatre, the Museum, a smaller fountain, outdoor escalators, and the castle! The castle has a lookout spot at the very top and by the time we got there it was around 5pm and almost completely dark so we saw the whole city lit up, really cool. Then back down the mountain we went and made our way home to cook up a stir fry dinner! It was a great end to the day. The next day Jules and I went to the Sagrada Familia and Park Guelle, both extremely impressive. We wished we had more time in the Park and that it wasn’t raining because it was such a massive area and we only had about an hour too see it before we packed up and went to our next destination.

And that’s Barcelona. After the park we packed our backpacks and headed to the station to catch our train to Tours, France where Tiphaine was waiting for us…

Wonderful

That’s right, Christmas offically arrived in Strasbourg last night and will stay until the end of December.
It was a crazy experience but, of course, it can never be anything less here in France.

Before I get into it though, I have to tend to some other business:
1) I missed Thanksgiving, but it has only made me want to celebrate it for what it is forevermore and never again just because I want a break from school (or soon to be future work)
2) Planning does not necessarily mean fun, let the unknown happen. In more than one instance that has proved to be way more entertaining
3) School…is not where all learning happens
4) Just say “hi” to strangers. Just do it. I’m still struggling with language barriers yet I connect with people using one word: Bonjour.
5) I appreciate that you’re reading this

OK, that’s better.

Yes the famous Strasbourg Christmas Market opened for business last night and it goes throughout the entire center of town. ENTIRE. Every square has tons of booths that sell anything from tiny little Christmas trinkets to the most outrageous candies and desserts possible. It. Is. Insane. Furthermore, it continues for the next month! It’s really beautiful too, the whole city is decorated in Christmas lights, wreaths, giant Christmas tree, decorations in general, and the mood is wonderful. Really, it can’t be compared to anything in the U.S. It has so much history and meaning to the people here.

Well of course I went to this opening event and had a great time! There was Hannah and Rawlin, my German population of friends, friends from Latvia, Lithuania, England, Finland, and can’t forget France! Of course, we ran into a ton of other exchange student friends, everyone just in awe of the world we’ve walked into. The hot wine was so good. Yes, vin chaud. So were the beignets (doughnuts). The great part about living here is that I have the rest of December to try the many other cookies, candies, hot orange juice, bratwurst combos, pastries…There was also a choir concert in the Cathedral that Hannah and I listened to for a few minutes. One of the more memorable moments was definitely when we ran into a man playing guitar which prompted Hannah to ask if I could play a song, which I did, and even drew a crowd to earn some money for the street performer. As previously mentioned, some things you just can’t plan and it totally pays off to say “hi” to a stranger. So yes, I sang in the center town of Strasbourg using yet another stranger’s guitar AND made money for him, love life.
Basically, the Christmas Market is way cool and I highly recommend that you get yourself on a plane this moment to experience it for yourself, oh and you can visit me in the process.

In other news, school is almost over and what a different ending it has produced. I finished a class last Thursday, I’ll finish two more next week, then finish another five the week after and only have two exams on the actual “exam week”. December 15 is then the start of my Christmas vacation…unbelievable. I’ve already started to prepare a tentative schedule of classes for next semester and have absolutely decided that it will be different from this one. But more on that another time as well as what I’ve planned for Christmas vacation. If you didn’t know, I won’t be going home…

German Men!

AHHH time. For some reason I can’t seem to post pictures when I use the internet at McDonalds so I’m just going to blog about my fall break experience and post pictures for both Paris and this à plus tard.

Alrighty, I feel as though I should start off with how great and crazy this whole study abroad experience has been in only the first two and (almost) a half months…my fall break was beautiful.

Background:
I have a friend named Tiphaine who is from France and lives in Tours, France. I met her at BG last year when I lived in the French House and BAM, a friendship was born. She was so nice to offer me a trip with her for fall break to her parent’s house in the South of France- le Rieu! Saturday I took the train to meet her in Tours and (early) Sunday morning our 8 hour car ride to the south began…

En plus:
BG is so internationally connected that actually, Tiphaine also invited two other girls, Rebekah and Ali, we both made friends with last year, who graduated from BG last spring, and who are now in France teaching English for the year…such is life.

The Drive:
Amazing. I got to see the most incredible terrain and experience European drivers. We stopped at a rest stop that is in the center of France too. Cool.

Arrival:
I think we arrived at the house around 5/6pm to a whole community of French people eager to meet and welcome us into their lives for the week. The drive up/in/around the mountain to get to house was an experience in itself. The house was literally built into the mountainside too. Just beauty everywhere. So, we gladly exited the car to meet Tiphaine’s parents and friends who I’d say totalled to 12/13 people. It was so good to meet her parents too because she joined my family for Easter last Spring and it was almost an out of body experience being in France, roles reversed.

The Week In Short:
As much as I’d love to write every detail of this adventure, I’m afraid some of it must remain with me as a memory, but here are the top 10 highlights:
1) I got to eat home cooked French food for both lunch and dinner every day. The cheese was various and never a shortage
2) I hiked for 4 hours, it was called the 4000 steps…
3) I met a shepherd and his sheep, his only request is that I send him a post card from the U.S. when I return
4) Found some nice MC Hammer pants at a street market, bien.
5) Learned a lot of French songs, good for my soul!
6) Learned how to play a card game called Tarot and fell in love
7) Played Lou-Garou (Werewolf) with three 12 year old girls (one girl’s father was staying with us) and was a lou-garou almost everytime
8.) Improved my french within days due to the fact that if I wanted to talk to anyone new, I had to speak French.
9) I leanerned wine can be sold in boxes
10) Overall, it was such an authentic experience that can only come from immersing yourself with native people and I’m so grateful it happened to me.

The Surprise and Departure:
The whole week was amazing; every day full of activity and different from the last. All good things must come to end though, yet that doesn’t mean things stop getting better… We planned to leave early Saturday morning for Tours, since Tiphaine, Rebekah, and I had to depart for our respective duties early Sunday morning (Ali left Friday evening), and alas Friday night rolled around. Still, there was one more person we got to meet because one of the women (Dominique) was expecting her husband (Benoit) to join us at around 10:00pm that night and there was talk that he was bringing his guitar! NOTE: It was a joke throughout the trip that I would find a guitar I could practice with for the rest of the year (since I didn’t bring mine from home) and of course the whole week we were in the mountains so the chances were slim. The closest we got was that when we went into town, two boys were practicing their guitars and I asked if I could just play a song, I hadn’t played a guitar since I left the U.S. Well, Benoir arrived bearing his guitar and I played a few songs before dinner, perfect. We then ate dinner and I’d say I conversed with this man for maybe an hour before we went to bed in order to get up at 6am to leave (it was almost midnight by this time). Fast forward to 6:30am- Tiphaine, Rebekah and I are eating breakfast when Benoit comes downstairs talking away and I made sure Tiphaine translated because I wasn’t sure he was saying what I thought he was saying: take my guitar. WHAT? Yes friends, he said that he had another guitar at home, that he was going to be busy for the next few months so he wouldn’t really play it, and that because I needed one to practice with, I could borrow his for the time being/until I find one of my own and return it to him at Christmas when I join Tiphaine and her family…

The world is full of beautiful strangers.
The sun shined every day.
I found a guitar.

Well THREE (whoa) weekends ago I went to Paris with my Aunt and it was fantastic. We met up Friday night and left Sunday evening, which doesn’t seem like much but it was totally worth it. We stayed really close to the Notre Dame so we were within walking distance to a lot of night life. Saturday morning we woke up early to eat the quaintest/most French breakfast (courtesy of the hotel) and to walk to the Eiffel Tower. That was a really cool experience. Paris is gigantic, really. The very top was closed so I just went to the third floor…maybe next time as I’m sure I’ll find myself there again. Then after that we found our way to the Sacred Heart. Gorgeous. I can’t believe people can really build and craft such an amazing structure. We walked in on an evening mass too, cool experience. Then off to the Moulin Rouge…haha. Of course we didn’t see a show or anything, but the outside is impressive. The rest of the evening we walked around and just enjoyed all the people and sights until we realized how hungry we were. So my Aunt is so awesome that she planned our hotel not only be really close to the Notre Dame but also the Latin Disctrict where the night life is crazy! Tons of people, food, food, people and I found a winter coat. The man who sold me it was a magician too and there’s no doubt in my mind that he must be at least distantly related to Harry Potter, his card tricks were ridiculous. He was so good! My Aunt and I counted our money after we left because, although he was so nice, his slight of hand was scary impressive. So with my new winter coat, off to dinner we went and it was delicious! Let’s just say cheese = good. Afterwards we found our way to this nice little bar to order a simple after dinner drink and of course, what’s a drink with a firecracker? Surprise! Too funny. They just stuck a sparkler in an orange slice and put it on the rim of your glass, our waiter also stuck one in his mouth and danced around the bar…
Anyways, time certainly flies when you’re having fun. Sunday morning we had our breakfast again and made our way to the Cluny Museum. It was a great museum too. The main attractions are the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries. I actually read a book by Tracy Chevalier who centered her story around these tapestries, she’s also the author of “The Girl With the Pearl Earring”. I’m glad I got to see them in person, people are/were really talented. Afterwards it was off to the Arc de Triumphe…we walked. It was quite a journey, a little more than anticipated, but still worth it of course. On the way we saw a lot more people and food, and the day was beautiful. It was yet another impressive sight to see in Paris. As the day dwindled, we checked out of the hotel and had our last brunch in one of the many Parisian cafes before heading to the Notre Dame. Again, we walked in on a mass and people singing what sounded like a more alternative praise/worship song…in french. Ha.
So that was my Paris experience in a nut shell. It was SO fun and I am 100000000000% grateful to my Aunt for spending her weekend with me. I. Loved. It.

After that, school took off and I wasn’t able to blog before I left for fall vacation. I would have blogged during vacation but I didn’t have access to the internet…this story to come in the near future.

But before I leave you, I’d just like to say that I have already finished 2 classes and started 2 new ones the Friday before fall break (Oct. 23). Strange, yes? Yes. So now I have 10 to complete in the next 2 months…until next time!