Bordeaux Living

Dinner at Lauren's

Lauren had us over for dinner on Thursday night. We are going to try to make it a weekly rotation. College students abroad trying to host a dinner may sound a little terrifying, but I see it as a learning experience. Luckily, if the food turns out bad, the wine is almost always good. It's a win win.

Poulet à la crème. mmmmmmm.

Belly full I walk home slowly and took some pictures of my street at night.

Grocery Shopping

Last week I posted about how we discovered this overpriced, nevertheless amazing, asian supermarket. All week I was itching to return after googling some recipes. (New favorite website: www.allrecipes.com You can save your recipes all in one place! Genius, I tell ya.) We woke up bright and early and made the trek out to no-man's-land Bordeaux. Boy, was it worth it.

As promised, I took as many pictures as I could remember.

Around Town

On the walk home from my tram stop, I took advantage of the dry weather and snapped some more shots.

In the Kitchen

Marina and I have been trying new things to remind us of home. Last week it was pancit. My French mom Joana was in love. It was almost, almost I said, as good as grandma's.

This weekend we tried carrot cake. Unfortunately, it was not just like grandma's! I don't know what we were thinking. We should have started with something basic like chocolate cake, actually maybe cake in it's entirety was probably out of our league. I mean, you've gotta walk before you run. Silly girls.

Erasmus

We ditched our failed carrot cake and headed to the welcome back erasmus party. With 3 euro mixed drinks how could you go wrong? Don't worry it was a Saturday ;)

Party Time

End of Big Tests/Assignments

I still have a lot of little tests coming up, but the big shit is over. Thank God! The french school system basically means you will never know your results until your final grade. You may think this is bizarre, but this helps me sleep at night.

Erasmus Green Party

To celebrate the end of our 10 page paper we went to an Erasmus Green Party. Everyone was desperately searching for green things to wear and in the end it wouldn't have mattered in the dark bar turned dance floor.

Edouard's Home!

My friend Edouard went to Ireland for 3 weeks. It was kinda sad not having my french buddy around. Whenever we go out with everyone on the weekends we usually walk home together because we literally live just a couple blocks away. Thus, I had a very lonely 3 weeks, having no one to listen to my tipsy rambling at 2 in the morning.

So in celebration Edouard had a little thingy at his place. It was really nice. Then Lauren, Todd and I slept over. It was slumber party status. I fell asleep to our drunken/slurred/californian accent french (while Edouard corrected us). 

This Week

Yesterday, we planned what we are going to do this weekend in London. My amazing Aunt is sending me her camera, but unfortunately it won't be here on time. I'll be sure to bum some pics from Lauren and Marina. We leave Friday. GAHH I can't wait XD

Today, I came home to a birthday letter from my mom. I know it's not time, yet but Joana had accidentally opened it and I couldn't resist. It was filled with pictures of my dear son Pierre. Boy is he cute. It was the best present ever. I actually cried. I know, I'm pathetic, but I don't care who knows! I love Pierre!!!!!

Random

I  couldn't leave you without some random thoughts of the week :)

Have you ever tried Well's Banana Bread Beer? If not, drop everything, like right now, like x out of facebook and this blog, and go find some of this goodness.

Seriously, why is there mayonnaise in everything here? Seriously.

Passez une bonne semaine ! (Have a good week!)

Erasmix - Hot Mess

Never Again

Okay right after I wrote that title, I was thinking "maybe not never, but just not in the near future.." Don't get me wrong, we had a blast. We had too much fun. However, it was a Tuesday; we had class at 10:30am the next day. In addition, it takes me an hour to walk, take the tram, and arrive a bit before class.

This being said, it was not the evening to be crazy party animals. But we were, and it was great. I made a new friend in class yesterday and I invited him out. He's 17, a baby! He's so cute and sweet! Today, when we (Marina, Lauren and I) walked into our litt discussion, our Erasmus friends and my new little frenchie buddy were all surprised to see us. Apparently, they were all smart and left the party at a decent time. I was, in fact, determined to make it to class. It was the longest 2 hour discussion in my life, but I did it.

It was fun, this morning however, it was not. Lessoned learned, Mom!

Erasmus Orientation

Package

A couple days ago, I arrived home to yet another package on my bed. :D I am so spoiled. My bff Amanda sent me some much needed stationary. I went to a paper store the other day, and there was no stationary.. Or maybe it looked different and thus I was a stupid American and didn't realize it?? Anyways, I have some now so if anyone feels the desire to write me, I can write you back! (Don't forget you must use international stamps, or put an extra stamp for the price. I didn't know about this little rule, so there are a few postcards floating around in the Mail Abyss.)

Orientation

Yesterday was the orientation for erasmus students (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students - I dunno where that 'c' falls.. maybe that's not the correct acronym.. I just copied and pasted the first google result :P ) Anyways. We were welcome to go, so we spent a few hours learning about the campus and how the library works. So hopefully, I won't look so fob-y when I check out my first book. At least now I have an idea of the process. The only pictures I took was of the President's speech. Voilà

My Mom Thinks I'm Going to Return an Alcoholic..
Whereas, I'm just trying to absorb the culture ;) Sorry I've been a little slow on my blogs. In part because I don't have many pictures, and in part because I have been so forgetful. I will work on that.
I'll leave you with the only two recent night life pictures I have. I'm sure some will surface of me "absorbing the culture" and depending on how they look, I will post.

Below: My buddy Bryan double fisting it, and a couple of my californian friends.