Ciao, Ascoli...mais, Bonjour Nice!

So, for those of you that do not know, the pictures have been updated. I only have half of the Rome pictures up, something happened in transit, but you can see the Pantheon and the outside of the Vatican. I also have pictures from my hike into one of the mountains of Ascoli with Karrah and Rachel...we walked up one of the major mountains almost to the top to an abandoned hermitage that was inhabited by a monk hundreds and hundreds of years ago. It was a magical hike...pictures are really the only things that can describe the views and the journey up the mountain, but I can say that it was a lot of fun. To view, click the side bar. I do not have the time to update the Rome pictures right now, but as soon as I can, I will.

And why, do you ask, does Ryan not have the time to update those photos? Wow, I love easy segways.

Je suis en France avec Sandi et Nick.

Huh? But that is in French!

Exactly!

So, it is midsemester break, and my two friends Sandi (the same one I went to Rome with) and Nick decided to book a flight together to Nice (Southern France) for midsemester break. Do not get me wrong, Italy is amazing, but I took French in high school and really wanted to see the country I feel I had learned so much about way back when. Plus, despite its rustiness, I wanted to put my French to the test. So, we booked a flight and a hostel together, and eagerly awaited our departure.

This morning, Sandi and I awoke at around eight o'clock and made our way to the bus station. We arrived in Rome (again) this time with an inkling of what we were doing and where we were going. We took a train to the airport...checked in, and met Nick (who was in America the past few days...his brother was getting married) and we flew to Nice.

It is strange how, despite how close they are, the views of the two countries are radically different. As soon as we were told we were about to land, we saw the aqua blue waters of the Nice and the more lush landscape of France, a very odd departure from the hills and valleys of Ascoli. I was so surprised...and it was even more alarming getting off the plane and not hearing a single lick of Italian for the first time in weeks. However, oddly, I could still understand what they were saying.

I have not spoken French in so long. It has slowly returned, in fact I used quite a bit of it today, but the issue is that I now have three languages in my head at once. Quite literally, we have been caught saying "Hello! Tu parles inglese?" (the correct sentence is "Bonjour! Tu parles anglais?" which translates to "Hello! Do you speak English?") And here, unlike in Italy where they assume you know no Italian in major cities, they let you try to speak for a bit, and then abruptly start speaking English at you. It is rather alarming.

But Nice, from what I have seen so far, is beautiful. We just ate a lovely dinner...and it was nice for a change of pace and a reduction of carbohydrates. The real shocker is the Hostel...we are not really in a hostel, we are in an apartment. The owner, Brigitte, is very nice, and has a lovely little dog named Mishma. We have only spoken to her for a little bit, but we have full facilities and it is only 20 euro a night for a three person private room. Good find on our part, if I do say so myself.

I will, obviously, have more to say on Nice the more the week goes on. But...I need to take a moment to say that, I really miss home. I miss all of you. And I really miss not feeling like a fool when I do not know a word in Italian. At the same time, Europe has been so good to me...I have, slowly, been finding myself. My voice....both in singing and my inner voice. I cannot say Europe itself did that, but alternative cultures combined with the fact that I am in a country that sees the world a little differently has made me look at myself. If any of you can get to Europe in your lifetime, do it! And for students...STUDY ABROAD!

We are halfway there, and I cannot believe it. This trip marks that, after all it is midsemester break. Just seven weeks ago, I did not know any Italian. I did not know how to navigate an Italian city. I did not know how to travel on an airplane by myself. And I did not understand the Italian lifestyle. Now, I feel like Ascoli is a home away from home. I am proud of myself for the first time in a while. I have done a lot of growing up...I feel it in my soul.

I cannot wait to return to you all...I am envious you all get to see autum in New England. But you know...the coast of Southern France is not half bad either.

Ciao!
...
I mean...A Bientot!