Day Twenty-Four: Insert my computer not starting up properly for the rest of the trip. My apologies.

June 23, 2011 

I did a routine update on my computer, then it found another update to do- only this time my computer didn’t register that it did indeed posses a hard drive and wouldn’t start up correctly. Cue computer on the fritz.

On the bright side, we toured the Cointreau factory today. It was amazing. We began with a video about the history of Cointreau, transitioned to the actual factory, then the ‘museum’ above the packaging plant. Dita von Teese is their spokesperson- who knew? Not France, that’s for sure because people aren’t allowed to advertise liquor. They also bottle a liquor that is a mix of many other different liquors. The price tag you might ask? $22,000/bottle. Noiiice. They said that Jay-Z is a really big fan. For dinner we had: vegetable soup, ratatouille, arrico- navy beans, Mexican BBQ chicken, cheese and bread, and pineapple with a sweeter type of bread.

Day Twenty-Three: The 12 Commandments

June 22, 2011

This morning I was more than a little under the weather. My head hurt and I was getting whiplash from the cold and hot spells I was having. AND it was that same day we were scheduled for two wine tastings. Not one. But two.

Our professor that we had for actual instruction and the first round of tasting was absolutely fantastic. Engaging, super knowledgeable, and ADORABLE. Harry Potter glasses. #wining. And further proof lies in the fact that despite me wanting nothing more than to sleep off my headache during class, I couldn’t fully do that- I wanted to listen to his lecture. A valuable lesson was being taught that day:

The 12 Commandments of Wine Tasting

1) LOOK

2) SNIFF

3) SWIRL

4) SMELL

5) TILT

6) PROLONGED SNIFF

7) SIP

8) CHEW

9) SWALLOW A LITTLE

10) SPIT (OR SWALLOW)

11) BREATHE OUT

12) SCORE

Dinner consisted of: courgette soup, white asparagus, broiled red peppers with garlic, sauerkraut and sausage, Finkbrau beer, and plums. Love our host family. They understood that all three of us have German heritage so they made a German themed meal. Precious.

Day Twenty-Two: A contradiction in itself.

June 21, 2011 

I got a taste of why I was drawn to my major this past semester in AGEC 460- and more reinforcement while in Angers. Economics is just as much a social science as it is a mathematical science. Here, in France, I am learning about the social aspects that perpetuate their economy as well as their history. Not only is it dealing with data and finite information- but human tendencies, culture, and disposition. Stable and volatile all in one- a contradiction in itself; something I respect and appreciate. Today’s French history lesson was a reminder as to why my skin crawls with both how fragile and volatile society can be. I am fortunate that the natures of my personal problems I have are based on what they are- it could be so much worse.

A valid point to understand fully is that societies aren’t always led by morality, but rather by law.

Day Twenty-One: Wait, was that two or three or four kisses?

June 20, 2011

Today’s highlight was our visit to the Caves at Samur, a huge wine cooperative, where we were allowed us to tour its entire wine making process from start to finish: the vineyards, the vats, the bottling process, the storage/aging process, the distribution process, and their marketing strategy. After the tour, we had a wine tasting in the gift shop; receiving alcohol at a school function is still surreal even though it was thoroughly encouraged. For dinner we had onion soup (avec fromage et croutons), salad, BBQ sardines, leftover beef and lamb, bread and cheese, and yogurt. The onion soup was absolutely fantastic, and the sardines weren’t horrible but were quite tricky: too much effort for not nearly enough food. After, Ghisline raised the stakes on me and went for four kisses, instead of the usual three. Host family love right there. 

Day Twenty: Badabababahhh. I’m lovin’ it.

June 19, 2011

Happy Father’s Day!

Breakfast was scheduled to be at 8 a.m. but just kidding guys- so I get to sleep in until 11:something. score. Brandy, Hannah, Claire, Kaitlin, and I tried to go to the botanical gardens at 2 p.m., but instead ended up on a bus that runs an alternate route. Curse you bus #25, you even fooled our host mom. But we did get to see the Chateau d’Angers as an alternative. After our visit to the chateau and a bit of wandering around Angers, we make our first stop at a European McDonald’s. I order a KitKat bar McFlurry et un petite eau. The verdict: the KitKat bar balls were okay but didn’t taste like any KitKat I’ve ever had… but the ice cream was great.  Side note: McFlurrys do come with a syrup topping at no extra charge but they are not actually ‘flurried’ for you. Angers’s McDonald’s is the nicest McDonald’s I’ve ever been in: it has three levels, its own bakery, wi-fi, and bathrooms (that require a code from your receipt). The menu is a touch healthier (less sodium), offers some new menu items (like wedge potato fries), and is cheaper compared to ordering in a restaurant (but still more expensive than American McDonald’s menus). Upon our return, we had cucumbers, mussel salad, radishes, salad, an omelet, cheese, grapefruit, walnuts, and hazelnuts for dinner.

Chateau d'Angers

Day Nineteen: Always a day late and dollar short

June 18, 2011

We head off to Bretagne around 8:45 a.m. After we unload at the Priou’s second residence, we tour the countryside and stop to shop at a fabric store for a bit. When we climbed back into the car, I fished around for Ghisline’s French-English dictionary and solved the question on my, Brandy, and Hannah’s minds: were we staying for the entire weekend or was it strictly a day trip? Answer: day trip. The miscommunication started when we thought weekend meant Saturday-Sunday rather than just going up on the weekend for one day or the other. When we left that morning the three of us each had an overnight bag in hand but neither Serge nor Ghisline told us not to take it. Later, when while talking to Kaitlin and Claire, they said they were going to drive back that evening… which really instigated the confusion. Nevertheless, we got it under control. Only not... because we didn’t fully realize what was coming next. Lunch. All 12 courses of it.

Crackers and champagne

Crab cakes with tomatoes

Again

Green beans

Salad

Navy beans

Lamb

Beef

Cheese and bread

Milk and egg bake

Chocolate cake

Flan

I was absolutely miserable afterwards but we all ate like champs if I do say so myself. We weren’t too sure about our consciousness during the small excursion to come, but away we went to Rochefort en Terre. Rochefort en Terre is a quaint, medieval village lined with shops- and one of Ghisline’s favorite locations. After an afternoon of shopping, we return to Bretagne for another meal. A small dinner. Thank goodness. The weather turns dreary and the rain lulled the three occupants of the backseat of the Priou’s Citrogen to sleep. Bonne nuit!  

Day Eighteen: “Slippery little suckers…” –Pretty Woman

June 17, 2011

We left ESA at 7:45 a.m. for a day full of field trips. Between Jake and everyone else I can only image the pictures that will surface of my mouth throwed open while I snuggle with my iPod and furry, pink travel pillow. First stop was the Beillevaire cheese factory- and then we made our way to Guerande’s Terre de Sel. When we arrived home, we had guests. We met Remi, our host parents son, as well as his two sons: Kevin and Frank. Frank=adorable. I may have found Beth a husband… That night we started off with alphabet soup and I got to try escargot. Not bad, not bad. Ghisline prepared them with a green, pesto-like sauce. I was for sure unsure about the entire situation, but I didn’t have to choke them down in the least bit. Bon Appetite!