Vive la France!

This one's coming at you from Tours, France, my lovely readers. Here's the life lessons I have to offer (that's right...I'm trying to make this blog meaningful. But also, sorry the title is misleading ((Hej! from Denmark)--nope, I'm not in Denmark). This is working list...things I'm learning and tryinnng to do.

>Home is where the heart is. God bless the USA because I'm still an American. And it's about time I became and acted proud of that. People you come across are going to judge/dislike/etc. you. They'll get over it. This is actually suppper hard for me. Because who doesn't want to be liked?

>Don't try to learn the entire city. And the night life. And the school. And the language. Learn a little bit, and be proud of yourself for the little things you accomplish. The FIAP taught me that one (that's a SWANKY (not) hotel in Paris, France, situated conveniently between a prison and an asylum. Yes, mom, I stayed there. No, you don't need to worry, it was safe.

>Don't expect your host family to be your real family. Draw on the people you rely on. Don't expect to create a new identity. Stay true to yourself. Gawsh, I should be an inspirational speaker.  Delight in the little things and the differences((holla at ya girl who does that so well---KATE))

>Profitez beacoup de votre temps = In French: Profit much from your time. For me that means...enjoying a latte in a little cafe. Having meaningful converstaion. Stopping to take a picture of the leaves changing colors. Travel as I may...it's still the little things. Food for thought, friends. How to benefit from your time...and make you the best you. Soooo sappyyy.

Enough depth. Here's the ((shallow)) update of what my life has been recently.

Friday night Kate and Jen and Martha Macon arrived at the Copenhagen airport. I was late (typical. Sorrry, I'm not a Dane) But I do feel that I made up for that by having small Danish flags with me for each of them. If Danes love one thing...it is their FLAG. (That and silent trains. HA!) It is the oldest flag in the world still in use. Which is cool. But also...another fun fact: All the countries in Scandinavia have the same flag layout, just with different colors. Interesting, fun fact #2 (maybe that's overly zealous, calling this bite of info both fun and interesting, but HECK, I'm in France, and from Diva Kate is teaching me, the French know how to exxxxagggerate) the traffic signs that mark the road with a sort of sideways V are colored the same color as the flag ... DK is red and white, Sweden was blue and yellow. Kewl.

Anyways, gosh I am lonnnngwinded (sorry I'm not sorry...I'm an ocean away, just trying to help you remember meee!) from there we went to Norreport St. and did a Marfa hand off to her friend. We took a little walkin tour of downtown Copenhagen, and then headed home to Nicolaj and Mette at my humble abode. That night we went to Halloween Party, dressed as butterflies. Accosted by about 20 14 year old boys on the train, who offered us beer from a plastic bag and compared Kate to J-Lo. Apparently my likening her rear end to that celebrity was 'not gentle.' Interesting adjective, young Dane pretending to be Finish/French/Swedish.

The next day, we went to the Louisiana Art Museum. A swanky lunch including pumkin soup with chili kernels (delishhh) and then on to Fredericksborg Slot and Krongborg (the Hamlet castle). The weather sucked, but the company was good (so awerrrrsome to have my best friends in Copenhagen!) Then we had another typical Danish dinner (Nicolaj enjoys acting oober Danish/Viking for the guests. One night was steak wrapped in bacon, with Danish beer ((they love it. me, not so much. as said by Kate, its not that terrible. a little better than urine. another non-Danish facet of Elise)) another was basically fried crunchy pork. Watched a part of 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' A solid day.

Sunday and Monday: condensed: We attempted to get city bikes (FAIL. after paying 20 kroner after a long behind walk for crappy bikes...they were nabbed from outside the Glyptotech (art museum) then I attempted to give a walking tour. The girlz saw Amelieborg Slot (current monarchy abode) Rosenborg Slog (old country house of the King) Rundetarn (Round Tower) and the new 'Toaster' Opera house, as well as Christiania. Kate and Jen were extremely brave, trying salted licorice (repulsive), pickled herring, and the 'full house' -- a red boiled hot dog with fried onions, ketchup, and mustard with 1/2 L of chocolate milk (oopsss---7/11 didn't have anything smaller to offer) that'll get to your digestive quickly. Monday night was the flight to Paris--I failed to get the girls to Stroget for serious shopping (major foul. oops! turns out I've yet to realize how much time it takes to commute/get around the city...but we got some quality ((rushed)) shopping in the airport...which is BOSS in CPH..probs the best I've ever been in. Kate got sweet Scandinavian gloves..and I got flodeboller for Kate's host mom Annie (which confused her...'are these little cakes?' ) So anyways, that was Copenhagen!

On to Paris where we saw Monmartre (beautiful, which church on a hill) on All Saint's Day--schweet, near a cool artsy square, Garnier's Opera, and the infffffamous FIAP that Kate and Jen stayed at. Highlights included a man roasting corn from a pot in a shopping cart and the much cheaper prices of France. Look out, Denmark, we might have a convert on our hands. 1. Lower prices. 2. Warmer weather. 3. All my best friendzzz from D-Son. 4. Loud people (how I've missed thee!) 5. Kate's mom told me she would adopt me! ... And I've already learned to say hello, please and thank you... although that's about it.

Today, my first full day in Tours, I attended "quote quote" the Institute with Kate. That meant about 5 hours chillin in the cafeteria watching international students file by, enjoying little cakes and a water, and reading a great book. Surprisingly, as lame as that sounded, it was awesome. Then I went to Kate and Jen's lit class..fabulous presentations ladies. Oh, and I understood one word---guillotine. In Tours there's a beauuutfiul park, a lovely church and fountain, and the architecture and all the iron gates on apartments are just wonderful. We're about to head out to Place Plumes (spelling questionable) with Hannah and maybs Jen (you better come out. If you're reading this get off your iPad ((I'm jealous. Also, judged you for your purple camo background...hope Maggie set that. not you. and come out.))

All in all...I love it here. Feels like home !

xoxo from Tours, France --- Elise