Passover!!!

I just gave an adorable little passover seder during lunch time.

We read the plagues, but instead of dipping our finger in wine each time we read a plague, we drank un petit gout of wine. Jews and Non-Jews came and everyone got a taste of Schackner Passover culture! I passed around the afikoman cover, and I had everyone analyze the picture. After each person analyzed the afikoman cover, they got a piece of candy! When I hid the afikoman, everyone went bananas and it was great. I had everyone contribute a little bit, and the winner, Sarah, won 5 euros!

I also questioned, "Why is this night different from any other nights?" and not many people knew, especially because we did the seder during lunch time. Nonetheless, everyone broke Matzah and got a little tipsy before their afternoon classes. I would say it was a great day.

Spring is alive and well

Saturday our fantastic art teacher, Pamela, took us on a sortie to Arles and Saint Remy. The architecture and ruins were fascinating. There were all of these graves that Pammy want us to take a picture in... classic Pammy. We also saw a theatre that I really want Jean-Claude, our theatre prof, to take us to. And then we went to this fantastic marché!! We got a box of pears (or bears) for only 1 euro, and 10 chocolate croissants pour 2 euros, and then we all got adorable espadrilles (Sp?) to kick off the season. After lounging in the most adorable park, we went to the playground and had more fun than you could imagine.

We then got to see the mental institution Van Gogh stayed in! It really was quite beautiful. It is still a mental institution today, but only for women. It was great to be back at Barnard for a little bit.

In three days, I leave for Spring Break: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Prague. 15 days of glory. It's weird because we keep saying how much we need a vacation. Yes, the AUCP is a bit of a fake school, but still tiring. As hard as it may be to believe, I actually do a decent amount of homework. I cannot wait for the adventures that Lisa and Caroline and I go on, because we're so good at stumbling upon hilarious and wonderful people and places.

I've also been going running regularly (clears my mind, keeps me in shape) and tomorrow I am hosting a passover seder. HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY EMILY WALLEN!!!

Fan2

Fan2 is the name of the French magazine I bought today, which is essentially the J-14 of France. With Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber on the cover, I rationalized buying it because my level of french is probably comparable to that of a teenage girl.

I get really excited as Thursday approaches for two reasons. The first being, that it's Thursday. The second, that it's the day of my choir which I love. I would say about 90% of the choral singers are 60+ and they are hilarious. The Soprano 2's have more sass than you would imagine, so luckily that's my vocal part. After my chorus days of middle/high school, I never thought I would do a choir again. However, each week as I walk to my new choir, I have fond memories of performing "Got to Get You Into My Life" (and 2 and 3 and 4 and), "America" from West Side Story, "Cherish," and "My Sha-la-la-la-locker's Stuck."

Today my mother sent me a delicious package of passover goodies. To name a few: mini chocolate covered matzahs, chocolate covered matzah, matzah, jellies candies, matzah ball soup mix, KEDEM'S GRAPE JUICE (A MILLION TIMES YES), macaroons, and a series of haggadah's. There are a few Jews here at AUCP, so I think we're going to try to have a Passover seder. Non-Jews want to come too... and what's a Schackner passover seder without the respective non-Jew each season? I don't know how I'll be able to do it in French, but I could try to communicate the other French way like with copious amounts of food.

Copenhagen...

... WAS AMAZING. Not only was it great to see Allie, Copenhagen is absolutely beautiful and I could totally see how it is the happiest place in the world. The culture is fascinating, and I wish I could live there to experience what Allie's experiencing. We did so much in such a short period of time! My first night I arrived late, but we walked around the center of Copenhagen which is lovely at night. The city is so full of life, and hearing everyone speak Danish is like hearing a bunch of people with marbles in their mouth. Nonetheless, the language is incredibly cool.

The next day, Allie took me to one of her favorite Danish bakeries. If I studied abroad in Denmark, I would eat way too many pastries than a person should have. If I studied abroad in France, I would eat way too many pastries than a... wait... yeah...

Then, we went to the castle where the Royal Family lives. After asking three separate sets of tourists to take a successful picture of us, we moved on to a town called Christiania. Marijuana is legally sold there (and I believe I saw heroin, but I am not really sure what it looks like), so the atmosphere was quite... quaint? You're not allowed to take pictures in the town because naturally, the drug is not legal everywhere else. Allie also mentioned that the no pictures thing also has to do with something about the Denmark modesty, but I don't get it/probably heard incorrectly. We then made our way over to the Carlsberg's Brewery, which was particularly exciting for me! That wednesday, for Saint Patrick's Day (Happy Birthday Mom!!), I had my first Carlsberg beer! My friends suggested it, and who would have thought that my new experience with a new beer would follow me all the way to Scandinavia?

That night we went to ICE BAR which is incredibly COOL (no pun intended). Right before Ice Bar, Allie introduced me to a Denmark-ian drink called "Fisk," which is essentially cough medicine with a twist of mint and European culture. The best part was, we drank it in a random South African influenced bar. Ice Bar is a bar made of ice. They give you these large coats and you galavant around a below freezing Ice Box.

Hold on a second, I can't resist: "There's an Ice Box where [Denmark] used to be."

Anyway, you then drink a drink in an ice up. Each song that was playing had the word ice in it, I guess to go along with the theme. The thing was, it wasn't that cold. Yes, it was below freezing, but incredibly bearable. Allie's friends and I concluded that the idea of the Ice Bar is actually one big placebo affect, and there is a man with a camera making fun of all of this. These guys must of really made fun of us when we all proceeded to try to eat the ice cups. If anyone goes to an Ice Bar and finds these cameras, then I'm not going to say I told you so. After Ice Bar, we went to another bar and drank like the Danish.

The next morning, after another delicious pastry my stomach mocked me for, we took a canal ride around Copenhagen! We saw the Little Mermaid, the Black Diamond, A Famous Church, and I even listened to some French people speak French. This made me very happy. Allie and I did other wonderful things, but I can't remember at the present. Although this morning, I navigated myself around the Danish metro system all by myself.

Other things I noticed about Denmark: everyone is beau-ti-ful. And when I say beautiful, for those of you who understand this, picture Allison saying "beaauuuuuuuuutiful!!!" Also they are tall. I felt very short. The kroner is also confusing. Why do the numbers have to be so big?!? I actually missed the Euro. And no, I didn't see that one coming. Nonetheless, it was an incredible weekend. If you have the chance, go to Denmark. And Provence. Come here, too.

Children

So today I finally started my community service. I'm working with 8 year-olds, and today was their version of Carnival at the school so everyone was in costumes. First of all, hearing children speak in French is absolutely adorable; I could not stop smiling, and I loved every moment. Going to college in New York City has really numbed my feelings about children, and every time one walks by I generally feel annoyed. However, I think that is just New York City children... because these children made me elated.

The theme for my class was pink and purple (I don't get it). All of the girls dressed up as princesses, and all of the boys dressed up as girls. Maybe this is why French men are more in touch with their metrosexual side than American men. Because everyone was getting into costume, it wasn't a real class day. So while the teacher helped some students, the rest ran around and were drawing on the chalkboard.... she didn't even care!! I remember being 8 and sitting in class thinking how COOL chalk was and how I WISHED my teacher would let me draw on the chalkboard.

When I return next week, I get to teach a lesson in English about New York and I don't know what to do yet. At least midterms are over. That is a relief. Time for some fievre Aix... bring it on.

And Happy Birthday Katy!!

The Nutella Muffin

So we made a fantastic discovery here in Provence; the Nutella Muffin. Basically, one day Ellie wanted a chocolate muffin from the patisserie we go to everyday. As she finished her muffin, she, and everyone else, was elated to discover that Nutella was inside.

Now, we all look forward to the days in which we walk like a pack of wolves to buy this piece of heaven. Picture a delicious fluffy chocolate cupcake, but instead of the frosting on the outside, it is on the inside... and the inside is Nutella. I think I'll try to make them next semester for our power suite, because living without these things is going to be like Disney Channel living without Miley Cyrus.

Time to go running!

It's Snowing?!

So it's snowing. Provence has taken a turn for the worst. As I walked to my Rock Dance class tonight anticipating the good times about to be had, I couldn't believe my eyes. Last week was "Fake World" weather, and today was "Real World" weather. I blame you, New York. New York had snow going bananas, and now the snow has crossed the ocean into our lovely little world that is Aix-en-Provence.

Nonetheless, our spring break is officially booked!!! Brussels, Prague, and Amsterdam. Yes, Yes, and YES. I also believe we are going to try to make our way over to Paris before we start our spring break, since we have found free options for housing around the world. This option is called couch surfing, and Caroline and Lisa and I created a profile on a couch surfing website to meet friends from millions of different places. Don't worry Mom, this is safe.

ALSO Copenhagen in a week! ALSO the great BALL at Arts-et-Metiers is on Saturday!

The Return of the Little Mouse

So remember when I said going abroad was like living in a fake world? You have no idea.

Tonight, I went to dinner at Genevieve's daughter's house, and we dined with her daughter's fiance and his parents. First of all, Genevieve driving is the most frightening thing in the world. It is as if Craig (my 17 year old brother), Marissa (one of my very best friends from Long Island), and a bear are sharing the drivers seat. Every time she accelerates, it's an acceleration closer to my death. I am 80% sure that she will get in a car accident by the time I leave here.

ANYWAY, just as a back track, if you can recall I encountered a very outgoing Croatian man in Madrid from our hostel who called me his "little mouse." We never ever had a real conversation; he just coined this phrase. Here are some of the things he said to me and my friends. Mind you he was drunk and has a heavy Croatian accent:

"Little mouse! I want to buy you for a hunk of cheese! Or two! Or a horse!"

"Little mouse, where is our litter?!"

to my friend: "Where is my wiiiiiiiife?!"

and at dinner the next day, because everyone made dinner in the hostel, he threw a piece of cheese at me, completely sober:

"Good evening little mouse!"

I swear on all of the chocolate crepes in the world that I did nothing to provoke this kind man. I just hope no one ever offers to buy me for a horse again.

Basically, I thought my days as a little mouse were over. But alas.

Back to the present. After dinner, we had dessert. Dessert is three courses: cheese, cake, coffee. There is a way to cut a circular cheese and a way to cut a square cheese. When were taught this during the first week of the AUCP, I was unsurprisingly not paying attention. Thus, I made an incorrect incision in the square cheese, and the future father-in-law of Genevieve's daughter started to laugh at me, as did Genevieve, and soon the rest of the table. Then they all laughed and exclaimed: "un petit souris!!!"

Now this didn't register, because these people preceded to make me drunk in spite of the midterm I have tomorrow that I told them all about. What is a "souris?" It is a mouse. What is "petit?" Little. This table of people called me a little mouse. WHAT. I AM IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE. I'm sorry, but am I universally a little mouse across the ocean? This was more humorous to me than anything. And to explain the Croatian man story in French to this tipsy bunch would have been as difficult as to explain Barnard's relationship to Columbia in french.

In conclusion, this is a fake world. Where am I? Clearly the best place on earth.