Je suis LAME-o

OK- so it has now been two weeks since I've arrived and I haven't really blogged much. And I can't really use the excuse that I don't have internet, because, well, I have internet...really REALLY fast internet. I guess that just leaves the lazy excuse. My b.

So, basically the last two weeks have been super busy, I feel like I've been here more than a month, I guess because I've just done so much.

To catch you up- I officially finished my first week of school, my first week of practice, have become settled in my new apartment, and have a whole slew of awesome new friends (which, I wish I could say are French, but most of them are international students like myself).

Last weekend I went down to the Cote d'Azur with 300 other students from school for a weekend of integration. Suffice it to say, French people are crazy. It kind of reminded me of a rugby party- a really really big rugby party, with free alcohol. You can imagine what kind of shenanigans could ensue. There was singing, jumping around on the tables at every meal, and of course lots of random hook-ups and people getting sick and passing out. Oh French people, you amuse me.

In between drinking, singing, dancing on table tops, and random hook-ups (not by me, clearly), there were games and sports. Saturday morning was like a giant field day at the beach- it was awesome. I don't mean to brag, but, I was the mud wrestling champion of the weekend. Representing USA, baby!! I also did quite well in the chicken fighting and fight someone for the rugby ball game.

Saturday afternoon I went on a VTT excursion (VTT= velo tous terrain= mountain bike). I learned that 1) I hate VTT and 2)VTT hates me. I will NEVER go again, and any self confidence I may have gained as the mudwrestling champion in the morning, went completely out the window as I began walking my bike down the "scary" hills an hour into the ride. I also have massive bruises all over my legs where branches snapped me in the legs, or I fell onto the bike pedals at high speed when I lost control after hitting a giant rock. Not sure what part of this is supposed to be fun.


But, a few hours in VTT hell paid off with a snack at the end- oranges, nutella on cake, and coca-cola. Seriously, after a snack like that I could almost forget that I had just had the worst two hours in recent memory.

Sunday was chill, I just hung around the pool and talked with my cool new friends. Good times, and then we headed back to Lyon Sunday night. The way home would have been pretty relaxed, but then I got bitten by an Assassin Bug that somehow got into my sweatshirt. It bit me during a dinner break, and I must say, it was the most painful bite/sting I have EVER had. Worst than any hornet or wasp. My shoulder swelled up and bled from the bite, but not to worry, I captured the bug to take home and research online, since no one knew what it was. Assassin bug = KILLER!!!! No really, they can kill other insects with their poisonous saliva that liquefies the insides of bugs. It totally liquified a small portion of my shoulder!


The first week of class was pretty intense. I am only really taking one course at the moment- Virology- which is about 16 hours a week (plus 2-4 hours of other random stuff like bioethics). There were a few days where I was in Virology like, 4-6 hours a day. Crazy! But it is REALLY interesting, and I'm really getting into all of the awful infectious diseases.

This week was also my first week at handball practice with ASU Lyon, a Division 2 team here. I was really nervous, but the coach is cool, the girls seem nice, and it feels great to be able to practice almost every day of the week. Practices are intense, but efficient. I am still trying to figure out exactly what they do on defense, and how to read the backcourts (what a disaster last week, I must have run into people like, three times), but I am looking forward to see things progress. I will have to wait until I get my "recipisse" from the French government before I can get my license to play, but I've heard it is pretty short in Lyon, so hopefully I'll be able to play some games in 2-3 weeks. We'll see.

That's my wrap-up! I will try to be better about updating my blog. There are other stories I want to tell- like about my bank card that I had for 45 seconds before it got taken away, and all of my fantastic new friends. Next time. Seriously, I'm going to try to stop being so lame about updating my blog.

Jen in France: Take 2

I'm here! Despite the long trip, I actually feel pretty good. I took a flight from LA to Dublin, Dublin to Paris, and then the train down to Lyon. I slept a little bit on the plane, but was functioning better than I expected when I arrived in France.

Not sure why, but all of the hotels were totally booked up in Lyon. I thought I would be able to just take one of the several places near the train station, but had no luck. Then it started to pour rain. By the time I found somewhere with a bed, I didn't really care that they had jacked the price up twice what the room was worth. Annoying, but after a full-day of traveling and being soaking wet, I really didn't give a damn.

I settled into the hotel, and woke up super early (yay jetlag! the only time I would ever wake up at 6am by myself) Friday morning, and took my time getting ready to go to the university for the first day of orientation and moving into my new place.

Things went pretty smoothly when I arrived at the school- they made my ID/security badge (you have to have it to open any of the doors on campus), gave me the keys to my apartment, and even hooked me up with a few students to show me around.

My new place isn't huge, but it is cute and super convenient (I even have a little balcony, how cute). I only have to walk about 50m to the classrooms and labs. Since the French love to start their classes at 8am, I figured it was easier this way than trying to find a place on my own downtown and having to commute everyday. I did that for a few months last year and wanted to die. Leaving the house at 6:30am to take two buses to school= lame. Plus, I was hoping being in the student apartments would mean that I could get to know some more students and expand my social circle a bit.




I met a few of the other international students, and some of the French students who were helping out during orientation. So far, so good, everyone seems nice and most of the French people here speak decent English. Always a plus.

Friday was a long day- I moved in, went shopping to buy essentials for my apartment (sheets, dishes, pots/pans and some food), and by the time the evening rolled around, I was EXHAUSTED, but really pleased about things.

Saturday was rainy, so instead of going out to explore my new city, I organized my clothes and my apartment, and relaxed a bit. It felt good! Other things that please me, include the fact that my apartment has super high speed internet and a bath tub. My two favorite things in life.

Sunday I am going to try to meet up with a new English-speaking friend, and then there is a soiree at the school to welcome the students back. Should be fun. The theme is centered around Lyonnais culture and food, which means I probably won't be able to eat much (it is all creamed and covered in cheese I think), but should be a good way to meet more people.

Also, on the handball side- the good news is that there is a gym in my building, with a handball court and goals, open until 2am every morning! That means I can take my ball and shoot at the goal whenever I want! Or whenever there aren't 20 people in there playing soccer :) That's fun stuff, and a weight room that is supposedly open 24/7. Haven't checked it out yet, but I will see if it has the stuff I need to keep up my viking workout program.

Yay France! My first two days have been pretty good. I'm looking forward to the next week of orientation at the school and hopefully starting handball practice (although I still don't have my handball clothes/shoes with me yet, they are still at a friend's place where I left them over the summer).