French University

Wednesday

I had the WORST day. Actually, it was all due to my extra special professor that I recently talked about. One of the downsides to public education in France is it seems that once you have your job, it's pretty difficult to lose it.

After putting up with a semester of bullshit, whereas other classes were actually learning, we turned in our papers last week. I am not quite sure what a professor who puts in little effort expects from our papers. He bitched to us for over an hour about the bullshit we turned in. He even went as far to call certain students assholes and uneducated. I should have walked out this time, really.

I finally got my paper back which was the equivalent to an American D. I was astonished. After class I asked him why, because I did exceedingly well on my previous papers. He said I couldn't speak French and that my level of French was nowhere near sufficient to talk about the subject I had chosen. He went on to say he wasn't a supermarket where you can haggle grades.

I shouldn't have let this get to me because I wrote a DAMN good paper, yeah that's right, an excellent paper. Yes, my paper did go against what his arguments in previous classes, but I justified my arguments. So, he gave me a bad grade for that. As for my level of French? He handed it back with one word circled for being misspelled. I had a French literature major, who happens to be a great friend, correct it for me. So, I know it wasn't a shit paper.

After this incident, I went to our program directors who said he can be somewhat of a crazy teacher but I should just try harder on the next paper. I assume they don't want to cause any problems because I am just here until the end of the semester, whereas they are there year in and year out. Is one student really worth causing a controversy? In France, no. So he gets away with this behavior.

I was pissed, but last night I decided that there are people like this in the world. It sucks. They make life that much harder for everyone. He can continue living life acting like he is God, but I know he's just an incompetent professor past his prime who is so consumed by S&M and his beliefs that he is not willing to see or hear anything else. Pathetic, really.

Thursday

After studying all night to "try harder" on my next paper, which was an in class paper today, I arrived to class only to find he was quizzing us on nothing relevant to the text. Of course. I should have known reading those two extremely difficult books was going to be a waste. I literally laughed out loud when I read the prompt. It just solidified my opinions of his insanity.

I left class feeling lighter and freer. My comrades weren't as happy as I was about failing a test, but to each his own right? It was 75 degrees today so I took my lunch to the grassy area of campus. I studied for my Art History class. Guess what? The things we discussed in class were actually on the test! I came home to a package from my mom.

It was a great day.

Roma

It has been spring break for us in Bordeaux, so Marina and I took the liberty to fly to Rome, Italy for a week.

Monday - Day 1

We boarded our ryanair flight around 1 p.m. and it was about a 2.5 hour flight. We landed and bought tickets to a bus that would take us to the city. Our airport in Rome, was far from the actual city and in somewhat of a ghetto.

Once dropped off in the city center, we ordered a pizza and fries and split it. We looked for the bus that would take us near our hostel. It was kind of confusing figuring out the buying tickets procedure, but we found an info desk with a kind english speaking Italian lady.

The bus was packed and there are no signs in the bus to tell you the route (to count the stops to your place) or anything to indicate the next stop. Once at a bus stop there was just a small sign stating the name. Luckily we made it, and didn't have to take a bus back.

Our hostel receptionist was the nicest guy ever. He explained the metro and the bus system to us. We dropped off our stuff and headed to the Trevi fountain. Dropping a coin in the fountain means your guaranteed return to Rome. The fountain was absolutely breath-taking at night. We ate gelato and sat on the steps. When we got home that night, like pretty much every other night, we passed out immediately.

Tuesday - Day 2

We ate a breakfast of croissants, tea, coffee and juice at our hostel. We took the bus to the Colosseum. When we saw it from the bus, coming down the hill, I was speechless. It was like when I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time, but even more amazing. We hopped off the bus, avoiding all the peddlers outside the colosseum and headed to the line. It was pretty short since we were early, and it's not peak tourist season.

When we entered, I wanted to touch everything. I had never experienced being in a manmade structure that had withstood nearly 2000 years. We explored every nook and cranny that was available.

After leaving the Colosseum, we snapped shots of the Arch of Constantine which is just outside of the Colosseum. It was constructed in 315 AD. If you want a little background on these, you can read this. After, we walked around the ruins near the Colosseum.

After, we found our tour bus and quickly toured the city as it was becoming dark.

Wednesday - Day 3

We spent the day at Vatican City, also known as the Holy See, and it's a sovereign state landlocked by Italy. We unfortunately didn't get to see the Pope. He usually comes out on Wednesdays, but I guess he was taking a day off or something.

We saw the Sistine Chapel :)

We stopped at the tomb of the unknown soldier before heading back to our hostel.

We finished the day at this family owned restaurant by our hostel. It was amazing.

Thursday - Day 4

For our final day, we saw the Pantheon.  The Pantheon as we know it was reconstructed in about 126 AD. It is magnificent.

From there, we headed to the Spanish Steps, then did some window shopping on Rome's version of the Champs Elyssées

We finished the day at the family restaurant and packed for an early flight Friday morning.

Friday - Day 5

We woke up at 5 A.M., took a bus, took another bus, to the airport. While our flight was delayed by nearly 3 hours, I was just happy to be back in Bordeaux in the end.