General Conference en France

It's that time of year again. General Conference. (Or, General's Conference if you're Carine.) The time when we get to hear modern-day revelation from our beloved prophet. How lucky are we?

Something you should know, I really love Conference. Even though waking up early to watch it wasn't always the funnest time when I was growing up, I have nothing but fond memories of every conference session. Growing up, we always played Bingo, and I definitely continued that tradition once I got to BYU. It just really helps me focus, not to mention playing it with candy makes it that much more enjoyable. Last school year, both the October and April conferences were two of the best. I got to attend 3 sessions total at the actual conference center! October was fun because I was with some of my best girls, and we managed to get tickets for all of us for one session, and 6 our of 8 for the second. That's right, 8 girls! We came there with no tickets and a mission, and it was so successful. I also got to see my good guy friends who were on missions nearby, including one I hadn't seen for 3 years, Shane. I can't express how excited I was to see that kid. April conference was absolutely fantastic. I actually got tickets that time, and went with 2 of my very best friends. Our day was spectacular, and you can read more about it here. 

I have been so lucky to be able to attend 3 conferences in my whole life, which is way more than most everyone in the world. 

Which brings me to the main point of this post. Being in France for this conference weekend has been such an interesting and eye opening experience. I have really gotten to take a look into the lives of Latter-Day saints who don't live in the United States. Being a member here is hard! They don't get the BYU channel, they don't have a temple (yet! so exciting!), they have to drive all over to go to church or stake conference, and they don't even get a real church building. But what is so amazing, is that the church really is the same, wherever you go. 

I am so incredibly lucky to be able to attend BYU, and be surrounded by people and a culture where something like going to conference can be as easy as asking for extra tickets in a Facebook post. Most of the people in Paris will probably never go to the conference center, and get to see our prophet in person. Even living in California, we can make a 10 hour drive or snag a cheap 1 1/2 hour flight to go. That is truly amazing!

Watching conference here is really difficult, but it's not impossible. The times are all different, but with the magic of today's technology, I can livestream the sessions, and watch at the same time as all of my friends and family back home. If I miss them (which I have due to the time difference), I can re-watch them or read them at my leisure. I have never been so grateful for the internet and a computer in my whole life. And some people don't even get that. What I have learned from this whole experience is that I will never again take watching Conference for granted again, and especially not attending it. What blessings I have been given!! I am really looking forward to watching and reading all of the talks from this session, and still being able to say that even all the way in France, I watched the 182nd Semiannual General Conference. :)

Once Upon a Time

I knew a little girl.

She loved everything sparkly and brightly colored.

To her, nothing was more exhilarating than TP-ing someone's house.

She loved to sing and dance and her dream was to be a princess at Disneyland.

She didn't know a word to one song on the radio.

She was loud
confident
fearless
and a bit of a spaz.

Braces, frizzy hair, blue eyeshadow and all, she thought she was beautiful.
And she was.

"She believed she could, so she did."


That little girl was me. I miss her.

Where did she go?

My One Monthiversary with Paris

I know you're all probably sick of hearing from me by now, since I just wrote like 700 posts (okay more like 5) but I figured since September just ended, now would be a perfect time for an update.

So, as my post title suggests, I've now been here for one month! (minus a few days. but who is counting)
I am now in the full swing of classes, completely settled into my host house, and establishing a routine. I'm really lucky because my earliest class is at 10, however it takes almost an hour to get to the institute building where we have class sooo still not that lucky haha.

First day of school! (Thx syd)

Classes I'm taking:

• Religion 350- Basically a course on the history of the LDS church in France. 
• French 365- Walking Tour of Paris...it is what it sounds like. We go on walks. 
• French 361- Culture class. What will be the death of me. Sorry Dr. H, Clifford Geertz and I are not gonna be friends anytime soon. 
• French 311- Conversation class. Again, self-explanatory. 
• Art History- Going to museums? Cool. The teacher? Not cool. ("What do the colors say about his intentions? How do the lines represent the blah blah blah blah blah")

I live in a little house/apartment thing in Boulogne, which is in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Right on the outskirts, off of Metro Line 10. I have my own room, and I share a bathroom with my lovely roommate Caitie. I love living with her. She's seriously great. Our host family is fantastic, they are just an older couple who have 5(?) grown daughters, so they definitely know how to deal with girls. They are so nice, and are very helpful with our French. We eat dinner with them 3 times a week and the food is SO GOOD! My host mom bought giant macarons for us the other night, just because she knows how much I love them. So great! I also get my laundry done for me. What a luxury.

I go to the Paris ward for church, which is held in the same building where I have classes. I am basically there everyday. I love going to church there though, I get to see my friends the Halls and their cute kids, and there's lots of Americans and people who speak English :) There's also a visitor's center right next door, which wasn't there the last time I was here, and it is where I bumped into my friend from freshman year!

Me and Elder Foley! 

Here are some of my favorite things about Paris: (I'm really loving lists today)

• BHV- it is basically like a Nordstrom or a Macy's, but basically I just love its proximity to school. They have the make up/perfume section right in the front and it's literally a block away from the institute, and it's my favorite game to go play dress up with my friends there. 
• Carrefour- I actually don't even know how to describe this store. It's like the ideal grocery store?? I don't even know. It's not quite a Super Target, but it has more than just a regular grocery store. It has a huge grocery section, and then a smaller "home" section with things like hangers, bedding, blow dryers, etc., but then you can also buy iPads there. And it's big, but not as big as most of the stores in the U.S. See my predicament? It's indescribable! But amazing. 
• The Metro system- We get metro passes which are literally a gift from God. (Or myself, since it's prepaid for by...me. or my family. Whatever) You can live in Paris and absolutely not need a car. It takes a little longer than driving, smells bad most of the time, and there's lots of stairs involved, but it is so efficient and easy to use. 
• CHEESE- There is so much of it, and it is SO good. It makes cheese from anywhere else look like plastic. I'm not kidding. I've never seen so many kinds of cheeses, and I love them all. 
• Prime running locations- I'm not a big runner (obviously) but I've been trying to go more now that I've been eating so many macarons and baguettes. How many people can say, "Oh yes, I just got back from my jog around the Eiffel Tower?" Well, technically the whole city of Paris can say that. But people I actually know? Not many. I'm so lucky, and it makes running so much more enjoyable. There are so many places to discover. 
• The Seine- If you are really dumb (just kidding) and don't know what the Seine is, it's the river that runs through Paris. I don't know why I love it so much but it very well may be my favorite part. It's just pretty and it's everywhere, and people go and sit by it and look so romantic and fun, and it calls for lots of gorgeous bridges...Now you want to go there, don't you? So do I. 

After a month here, I feel pretty comfortable and happy with the way everything is going. Call me crazy though, but there are some things I reallyyyy miss about home. For example, my family, my friends, Halloween, BYU football season, pumpkin everything, BYU in general, and just all the things from Utah and California that make my life great (IN N OUT). I wouldn't trade this experience for anything else, but to be completely honest, living here is a lot harder than you would expect. I don't like missing out on things, so that part is especially difficult, but I know that this experience will help me grow and learn so many things about myself, that maybe the things I'm missing out on won't.

On a less serious note, this week is French Week according to my professor, and that means we have to speak French 24/7, with a few exceptions. If we succeed, at the end of each day we get a macaron. If we succeed at the whole week, we get the pastry of our choice. So far, so good. My French is already improving (Gaylord, be proud.) even though it's making my head hurt a lot. I don't know if my vocabulary or grammar is really that much better, but the fact that I'm more confident in my speaking and I'm starting to think en francais is probably a good sign. I figure as long as I'm making a good effort, a few slip ups here and there are okay.

Well mes amis, I think that just about sums up everything. Please enjoy this picture of me and my BFF Cori. Bisous to all, and to all a goodnight!! xx

Cultural Activity #1: Baroque Music Concert

Date: 9/30/12
Location: Musee de Cluny
Who Went: Everyone except Cori.

Description: Ce concert était dans le musée, et avait de la musique baroque. Il y avait 4 musiciens, 3 hommes et 1 femme. Un homme a joué quelques instruments, et tout le monde chantait. Certaines chansons étaient a capella et d'autres avaient accompagnement. Ils ont donné une description de la chanson avant qu'ils chantaient. Le concert a duré une heure.

Reaction: J'ai aimé ce concert. Je ne savais pas à quoi m'attendre. Ils étaient très talentueux, particulièrement l'homme qui chante la partie de ténor. J'ai aimé les chansons rythmées plus que les chansons lentes. Ils étaient drôles, aussi. Il n'était pas ennuyeux du tout, et je pensais que je pourrais ennuyeuse parce que c'était un concert de musique classique. J'ai aimé beaucoup avoir un concert dans un musée juste à côté des sculptures.

Paris Walk #2

Date: 9/21/12
Place de la Concorde

Pour cette promenade, Carine, Cori, Lucy, Mallory, Caitie, Noé, et moi, nous sommes allés ensemble. La promenade se compose de quelques arrêts dans un des plus beaux quartiers de Paris. Nous avons vu le Palais d'Elysée, un bâtiment du gouvernement Français, 2 hôtels très chers et de luxe, Place de la Concorde (mon endroit préféré à Paris), et les jardins des Tuileries. J'ai aimé cette promenade beaucoup parce qu'il y a beaucoup des boutiques de créateurs célèbres à regarder. J'ai beaucoup aimé aussi les uniformes des gardes au Palais. Ils avaient des chapeaux drôles. Il y avait beaucoup de gardes et de sécurité autour, qui est ce que le livre dit. Nous avons appris du consulat et de l'ambassade des États-Unis, et la différence entre les deux. Aussi, j'ai aimé la vue sur les Champs-Elysées. Cette promenade me sentais vraiment comme "Paris" pour moi.

Merci mes amis pour les photos.

Carine était notre guide de cette promenade. Nous sommes un peu bizarres. 

Noah, moi, et Mallory au premier arrêt du Metro. Je ne sais pas ce que nous faisons. 

Caitie et moi devant le Palais Elysées.

Cori et moi au Place de la Concorde. Il pleuvait. 

Paris Walk #1

Date: 9/19/12
Paris in Layers: Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie

Pour cette promenade, nous avons marché autour de l'Ile de la Cité, et j'ai vue de nombreux bâtiments et monuments. Y compris, Notre Dame, la cathédrale Sainte-Chapelle, et la Conciergerie. Nous n'avons pas pu aller à l'intérieur de Notre-Dame dans cette promenade, mais nous sommes allés un jour différente pour la classe d'histoire de l'art. Nous avons beaucoup marché. J'ai aimé voir où tout est en relation à l'autre. Tout que nous avons vu était vraiment beaux, particulièrement Sainte-Chapelle. Je voudrais y revenir. J'ai vraiment aimé avoir presque tout le groupe là. La transition entre l'ancienne et la nouvelle était aussi intéressant à voir.


Voici une photo de nous au début de la promenade, en face de Notre-Dame.

Merci Lucy pour la photo! 

Storming the Beaches of Normandy

So this past weekend we had our second trip as a group. Much shorter, only 3 ish days, but still a different hotel both nights. I can't complain though, Cori let me have the big bed all to myself the second night, and if you know me at all, you know that's a huge deal. I can't share beds with people. I just don't ever sleep.

We were traveling up to the Northern coast of France, and we made a few stops along the way. The first day we stopped at Monet's gardens in Giverny, which is pretty much the new place I want to move to. It's gotta be there or Benac. Apparently I can't live in the U.S. Sorry Mom!

But seriously. Look at this place.

Does it GET any prettier than that?

Me and Cori in front of the iconic bridge

It was seriously so amazing being there. So surreal, and so beautiful. I loved his house too, it was the cutest little old fashioned house, and it still had all the same furniture in it! There were pictures of him standing in the exact rooms we were standing in. So cool. I really like Monet, in case you didn't know.

After Giverny, we went to Rouen (I think) to visit the place where Jeanne D'Arc (Joan of Arc) was burned at the stake. My professor is nuts about Joan. She was his first "girlfriend" when he was little, and we were expecting some waterworks. Unfortunately, there weren't any, or at least any that he let us see. We walked in the square where she was actually burned, and went to this weird little wax museum with creepy mannequins. It was bizarre but it was very informational, which was nice because I had forgotten a lot of the story. We walked around the town, got lunch, I ate a chocolate chip cookie with a huge nutella blob in the middle, and then we got back on the bus to go to see some ruins. I did not see the ruins. While we were out walking around Rouen, we met these medical students dressed in crazy outfits trying to raise money by selling treats. My professor gave them some money, and then hardly anyone took anything from them so I decided to be not awkward and take a nutella crepe. I never thought I'd say this, but I had too much nutella. I was almost certain I was going to throw up at any moment. So, when everyone else went to see the ruins and whatever else was in the next town, I sat on the bus with Cori, drinking Sydney's water and chewing Sydney's gum to prevent myself from barfing. Wouldn't that have been a story.
P.S. Thanks Mama Syd for taking such good care of me :)
That day it was also Nateybabe's birthday, so we all sang to him at dinner and cute things like that.

The next day we went to see the Bayeux tapestry (giggle...it's actually an embroidery!) where I had to do homework. I didn't like that. Moving on.

After the tapestry, it was WAR DAY. We went to 5 sites that were centered around D-Day from WWII. We visited Omaha beach where the failed invasion took place, the U.S. memorial and cemetery, "pillbox" bunkers, and Point du Hoc which is where there are still giant craters from bombs. It was an extremely emotional day. The cemetery was the best/worst/most emotional part.

Thanks for the picture Annie :)

This cemetery is really interesting because it is entirely dedicated to the U.S. soldiers who lost their lives while fighting the D-Day battle, whether it was on the beach or in the process of making their way to Paris. It is huge. While you are looking at one part of it, you think you've seen a lot, and then you look from another perspective and it just goes on and on. So sad. Being there made me think about how those guys were my age, and my guy friends' ages, and how much I would miss them if they were gone. It was amazing to see how many brave men gave their lives for the French, and the French really appreciate it. They take such good care of this memorial, and it was lovely to see an American flag flying in this other great country. I really lost it when I saw the crosses with no name on them. It's so sad that someone's brother, or son, or nephew, or boyfriend, or husband went unknown, but they had the sweetest message written for them:

"Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God"
Thanks again to Annie for the pic :)

Being at that cemetery and seeing how many lives were lost made me really grateful for the plan of salvation as well. Sometimes it's hard to be faithful and a dilligent Latter-Day Saint, but the thing that gives me hope and keeps me going is the plan of salvation. I have more faith in that than anything else, and it gave me a little peace at such a sad place.

The next day we went to another D-Day museum where we saw a cool movie and lots of informational exhibits. It was kind of overwhelming but I learned a lot! After that, we went to a Fromagerie (cheese factory) where we saw how they made their cheese. Normandy is known for its cheese, and let me tell you, they live up to their reputation. They let us try some at the end, and oh my word. I just love cheese. I definitely bought some, and it was in the shape of a heart :)

Overall, an amazing trip. I'm looking forward to the next ones!

Le Deuxieme Excursion

Dates: 9/27/12-9/29/12
Location: Giverny, Rouen, Jumieges, Bayeux, Arromanches, Longues-sur-mer Battery, American Cemetery- Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Caen, Normandie

Les Différences: A la Nord, au contraire du Sud, je voyais plusiers magasins comme ceux aux États-Unis, par exemple Mobil Gas, KFC et McDonalds à côté de l'autre. Peut-être c'est parce qu'il est prés de l'Angleterre? Je ne sais pas, c'est juste un observation. Aussi, pas comme Paris mais comme la Sud, il y a beaucoup des fermes. Il y avais beaucoup des vaches, et c'est parce que Normandie est connu pour le fromage! Mon favorite! J'aime beaucoup les fromages, et récemment, j'ai decouvert que j'aime tous. Je n'ai pas  goûté un fromage que je n'aime pas. Vraiment. L'herbe dans Normandie est trés bon aussi, donc les fermes a Normandie sont plus belle que les fermes au Sud. Finalement, le plus grand difference, est la plage, qui est le channel Anglais, ou l'ocean Atlantique.

Mon Expérience: J'aimais deux choses le meilleur: le cimetière, et Giverny avec les jardins de Monet. Les autres choses était amusant aussi, mais pas mon favorite. Particulièrement pas les devoirs! Pour le classe de Francais, nous avons eu les devoirs pour le tapisserie de Bayeux. Je n'ai pas aimé ça. Les jardins et la maison de Monet étaient trés beaux, et il était trés surreal d'être la. Je pourrais imaginer Monet dans la maison, et peindre les jardins. Si j'etais Monet, j'aurais peindre les jardins aussi. Ou essayer peut-etre. La cimetière était aussi mon favorite parce que c'était un expérience trés emotionel. J'ai pensé beaucoup des soldats et la guerre, et il était trés émouvante. Oh! J'ai oublié un autre expérience. Le fromage! Nous avons visité un fromagerie et vus comment le fromage est fabriqués. Apres, nous avons pu goûter le fromage, et il était tres delicieux!