Bonjour à tous, I hope that you are all doing well!
It is hard to believe that I haven't even been in France for a full week yet; I've already done so many wonderful things, and met so many awesome people!
It is currently Sunday, around 4:30pm (around 10:30am EST), and I'm sitting in my host family's beautiful living room, admiring all the green plants that are thriving outside (that's right, instead of the snow that my family in Maine and friends in PA are facing, here it is at least in the 40s every day!), and am starting to feel content.
Well, now that I have pictures to show you, my posts will be formatted a bit differently: first I'll show off my pictures (as one must when one runs a travel blog), with brief descriptions of each. Then, on to the word of the post (hint: it's the title of the post)!
Okay, on to some pictures!
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a good photographer, and all my pictures were taken with and iPhone 5 camera.
It is hard to believe that I haven't even been in France for a full week yet; I've already done so many wonderful things, and met so many awesome people!
It is currently Sunday, around 4:30pm (around 10:30am EST), and I'm sitting in my host family's beautiful living room, admiring all the green plants that are thriving outside (that's right, instead of the snow that my family in Maine and friends in PA are facing, here it is at least in the 40s every day!), and am starting to feel content.
Well, now that I have pictures to show you, my posts will be formatted a bit differently: first I'll show off my pictures (as one must when one runs a travel blog), with brief descriptions of each. Then, on to the word of the post (hint: it's the title of the post)!
Okay, on to some pictures!
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a good photographer, and all my pictures were taken with and iPhone 5 camera.
So, I'm not going to ramble on too much more about what I did each day, because I think a series of pictures is enough. (Although if you want more information [Mom], feel free to email me, etc!)
Now, the word of the week (ish): Une balade
So I chose this word for a few reasons. Firstly, because I didn't know it before this week, and secondly, because we've taken many a balade so far in France.
So, when one looks it up in WordReference (all hail the wonderful and mighty translator, savior of language students everywhere), one sees this:
Now, the word of the week (ish): Une balade
So I chose this word for a few reasons. Firstly, because I didn't know it before this week, and secondly, because we've taken many a balade so far in France.
So, when one looks it up in WordReference (all hail the wonderful and mighty translator, savior of language students everywhere), one sees this:
So, as you can see, there are a few different definitions. The one that applies the most to my past few days is the last one. Every day in Paris (and both days in Rennes thus far), we took trips/outings during which we explored and learned about the city. One day we had a guided balade à pied (on foot) during which we were led through the best sweets stores in Paris. Another day we had a guided balade à pied that took us through the oldest parts of Paris and to Notre Dame, as you saw in my pictures. Between all of these official, guided trips, there were many petite balades with the monitrices (Lucie, Margaux, and Indirah), which you saw in my pictures.
In short, while I previously did not know the word balade, now I have come to understand it on a personal level, some days with a sore back, or sore feet, some days in the rain, others in the wind, but always with wonderful and amazing discoveries.
Have a wonderful week everyone, à bientôt!
In short, while I previously did not know the word balade, now I have come to understand it on a personal level, some days with a sore back, or sore feet, some days in the rain, others in the wind, but always with wonderful and amazing discoveries.
Have a wonderful week everyone, à bientôt!