THE LAST JOURNAL

 Tomorrow is the due day of my journal, so I want to take this opportunity to summarize my study abroad experience. In this summer French study abroad, I believe that I have learn a lot of things include the language, culture, tradition, food and drink etc.

Before I came here, my understand of France is only confined to books and movies. I heard French people are rigorous, I heard French culture is very serious, I heard that writers, artists, clothing designers, and intellectuals have a lofty position in French society, but I never know whether those are real or not. This time, I can finally use my own experiences to write down my understanding and knowledge of France.

I think that France is a country that is not suitable for people who are always living in a hurry. French people like to live with relax and carefree life. In France, a foreigner first has to learn to "wait". In France want to quickly accomplishing one thing is usually not easy. With the same thing, use a very short period of time can be done in the United States, but have to spend some time on the French. The second thing I have noticed in French family is that French woman have very high social status, French man has great respect for women, and they are courteous to women everywhere. And the dog in France is really a member of the family because French people even go on vacation with their dog, how lovely are that!

French people are adept at controlling the pace of life, they love chic and elegant life style, and they know how to fully enjoy life. But they are still serious at work or study. I think sometimes is easier to stimulate enthusiasm for the work in the relaxed state, like French people. Their food culture fully reflects the quality of life, and cultural qualities and mental outlook. French cuisine is characterized by fine, elegant and romantic. The Frenchman's diet, be regarded as a leisure culture.

I have to say that living in a country with full of art, literature, film, painting, and architecture feels amazing. I love everything here, and I just feel extremely comfortable in France. I truly appreciated that MSU study abroad program. I have been visited many other countries before but none of it could compare with France. I hope I will come here again soon and continue my “French” dream. 

Mont-Saint-Michel

 Before we went to a little research about Mont-Saint-Michel, it says that Mont-Saint-Michel is close to the Normandy; it is the most popular tourist destination in France, but also the pilgrimage of Catholics. The Peak has the most famous mountain monastery---St Michael. I was very excited to go there because I was fascinated by these legendary stories of the Mont-Saint-Michel from my research.  

  If you look at Mont-Saint-Michel from far away, it seems like a castle in fairy tale. Large tracts of sandy surround it and it will become an island only at the high tide. It has the most beautiful white sandy ever. Look from the top of Mont-Saint-Michel, the beach and the sky seems to be connected with each other which is very amazing.

Mont-Saint-Michel has the 11th century Romanesque nave and the 15 th century Gothic choir. From our guides, we heard that there was a dense forest surrounded by Mont Saint Michel, it may called Scissy forest. However, due to the erosion of the sea over many years and eventually disappear. Today people can find buried in the sand in the trunk. 

Overall, I just really enjoyed walking around this beautiful island and visit antique building. Up to now Mont-Saint-Michel is my favorite place, I think it is very different from the other castles, it is beautiful and surrounded by a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere and scenery. 
This is our last time to travel with MSU group. I really enjoy the time with everyone.  

French cuisine with Professor Anna and Thao

 Today we went to professor Anna’s house and we cooked ourlunch with the MSU students in the afternoon. We made French MOUSSE AU CHOCOLATand GALETTES DE SARRAZIN. Normally I don’t cook at home, because my dad is verygood at cooking and he is the one who cook in our family all the time. InAmerican, I cook breakfast for myself, I think American food is very easy tomake and it can be done in 5 minuets.

In my mind, I always thinkthat French cuisine is the hardest in the world because French people are veryparticular about their food culture. French people pay attention to the color,flavor and nutrition of the food. In particular, they pursuit of diningambience while they have a meal. The French people even give a philosophicalsense of their food.

             People always say that: "Feelthe atmosphere of the dinner on the table, you can judge the overallpersonality of the people in this country." From my own experience inFrance, I can feel that French people like to talk while having a meal withfriends or family to promote friendship, they enjoy it very much and regardedit as fun and joy. During this time study abroad in France, I learned a lotabout Table Manners and French food culture, that is why I am extremely excitedabout this French cuisine in Professor Anna’s house.

             My friends and I made Mousse au Chocolatunder the guidance of Professor Anna. I did not expect that making chocolatemousse is so easy! Our ingredients only are chocolate, butter, eggs, and salt,how simple is that! But our Mousse au Chocolat is very delicious and it hasvery rich flavor in it. Another group made Crepes Salees, which is also very delicious.It has egg, jambon, formage, and potato in it. Crepes Salees is very deliciousand nutritious, is an excellent homemade cuisine.

             We all had a very satisfied lunch, thankyou very much for professor Anna and Thao. I will try to cook it once I go backto America and share them with my friends and family.

My birthday

 Yesterday is my 22nd birthday!!!  There are so much things and emotions come to my mind. I remember last time I did study abroad I was the youngest in the group, but this time study abroad in France i became one of the oldest in our group which is very sad. I always thought I was still a little kid, seventeen or eighteen, regardless of doing anything and have the opportunity to start over, I can also find an excuse to have fun or to wander. Unknowingly this year i became 22-year-old. I begin to realize that i have learned something from everyone who passes through my live, some lessons are painful and some are beautiful. It actually shocked myself that time flies really fast.

        I actually really happy that my birthday happened to be in France and i could celebrate my birthday with all my MSU study group friends.  One of the best thing for me to study in France is that I meet these best people in MSU. They are lovely, kind and gentle. I am grateful to know them.

       Anyway, begin with the morning. My host mom made a bouquet of flowers from her garden as a gift for me. It is very beautiful and she prepared the whole morning for me. I love it so much because Pink is my favorite color ever.

         After I arrived school, everybody gave me a hug and told me 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'. In the afternoon, we went to the wine tasting class, we had the Le fromage de chèvre and Millettes de porc with Vin Rouge. Those are the best composition ever!

        Even though I had a very long classes yesterday, I was still very excited to celebrate my birthday by going out to party with all my friends. We went to the bar at place plume where we all got very drunk. I started out the night drinking wine and martini blanc, then for some dumb reason, I switched over to tequila. After 5 shots, I'm glad that i am still alive... only thing i remember is the police officer ask me "do you want go with me?" and on the way home Jane Kim and Maame Efua keep telling me "shut up".... I know i will never forget this birthday, Today everyone is telling me that on the way home, i was saying :"You people are so stupid. I told you no tequila!" which i don't even remember it... but is all worth it.

       Efua said "getting XiangYi Sun HOME tonight was an Ordeal I will never forget.. I feel like I ran a marathon and lifted 100lbs while doing so!! the things we do for friends.. OHH she's gonna pay for it right Jane and Cera!! :D (evil grin)" 

        Eille said: "Last night I learned that Asians are the hardest partiers on the planet. I also learned that it is customary for the birthday girl/boy to buy everyone ELSE drinks."

       Today everybody came to me and tell me story about "tequila and me" which i don't even know, that was how drunk i was!! But I am glad that everybody had fun on my birthday, Thanks for all my friends <3!

Cassis

 Today Jane and me caught the earliest train to Cassis which isa commune situated east of Marseille in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône inthe Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France. We cannot wait toenjoy the sunshine and the beautiful ocean. Cassis is a very beautiful seaside townand a popular tourist destination, which is matching our imagination of southFrance. Cassis has natural beauty because of the Calanques, the fiords ofFrance, huge limestone cliffs that rise from the sea. They are white limestonecovered with green scrub pine and with the beautiful blue sky, the mostextraordinary azure sea and the brilliant sun the beauty is stunning.

Unfortunately, today the boat tours is closedbecause of the strong wind, so Jane and me end up hiking with bikini and sandals,but it turn up to be the best part of Cassis trip! This is some serious hikingbut it leads to the best views and the best beaches. Even though the beach isfairly small but sandy and pleasant. There are a number of places to eat facingthe marina and some bistros off of the main area. Overall, we enjoyed Cassisvery much.

Arrived Marseille

 We all know that Marseille is the second most populated city of France and the biggest Mediterranean port and the economic center of France. But I have to say that after Jane and me arrived here, we are shocked by this city's dirty and messy, also the poorly public safety problem.

             We walked around little beside our hotel; at least we have seen 10 or more homeless people or beggars on the streets in only half hour! A lot of street ruffian trying to strike up a conversation with us, which is very scary!

             At night, we met up with three other girls who came to travel here from our MSU study abroad group. They told us DO NOT STAY IN MARSEILLE, go to Cassis (a small town close to Marseille) and only come back here to sleep in the hotel. They get scared because the day before we arrive here, there was a random guy who came to the girls, touched their arms and said some stupid things.

             We also get to know that the gang hit squad is in Marseille. Gang underworld in Marseille had been involved in the manufacturing and trafficking of illegal heroin abroad for so many years in the history. This explained why Marseille had a very dark and gloomy atmosphere filled the streets. I have never see these much of homeless people in Europe before.

             From my personal opinion, this city is not dangerous for girls who want to travel in France!!

Murano& Burano

               This morning we bought a 12-hour water bus passes, the first boat to the Murano. 18th century the glass factory were often fire, so the government decided to put all the glass manufacturers to move to this island. Since then the island has a large concentration of glass factories. Colored glass products dazzling, and in vivid shape. 

the next stop for us is Burano, the waterbus send us to a fairy tale world. The houses on the island are brush in different colors. Specialty products in the island are Venice mask and lace. I bought some lace products for my mom, she will love this place. the laces are all hand made, there are so many old ladies siting in the shop and making lace. it is kind of remind me my grandmother, she use to make lace and clothe to me when i was little.