Let the Greek Games Begin!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Well just after a busy and exciting weekend, another week of class commenced and one full of work too. Although there were projects to be worked on a laundry to be done, there is always some time for some bonding with our group. It had been a while since we had all gotten together as a group but we finally had an activity where we got to know everyone a little more. Today we participated in an activity where we all wore our shirts that color coded us by team. Depending on what color shirt you were wearing, is what decided what team you were part of.

In our Greek Games Activity we had several challenges we competed against in teams. I was in the black team. The activities were an orange pass that you could only pass using your neck, then there was a limbo contest, and lastly we had a water balloon toss. The team who won the most points would be declared the winner. We did this in the public parc in Bordeaux and it was quite interesting to see how many French residents gathered around to see us play.

The activity was a lot of fun and we were able to get to know some more people on the trip. As of right now the Black team is tied for second with other teams and hopefully we will take the title the next time we have this event in Lyon. 

A taste of home

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Good Morning Spain! Luckily we woke up in one piece and all slept comfortably in the hostel. I did not expect to be staying in hostel that was as great as it was. I am so glad that I came to San Sebastian for the weekend. From start to finish… this trip was worth it. If there was any sign of me getting home sick, it was much better after today. We woke up early in the morning and found a small cafeteria that served all types of pastries and of course café! I had a pan de Gloria (my mom’s favorite) and a café con leche. I was the best breakfast that I have had on the whole trip. Just being able to break the language barrier and speak to everyone in Spanish was great. I don’t know if I would have been able to have gone to a strange country spontaneously without knowing the language and not getting any help.

After breakfast we walked to the river and say that a marathon was just about to begin down the main road in the town. The runners were all lined up and at the shot of the gun, they were all of. A swarm of people all began to run down the street as fast as they could. Along where the race was going on, there was a walkway that would stretch onto the beach which gave us some great sights of the harbor. The clashing of the waves against rocks was so cool and such a beautiful view.

The day was sort of cloudy at the beginning but it all cleared up by 11 am and it turned out to be a great sunny day. I would have loved to have gone into the beach but it was colder than I assumed. The lady in the restaurant told us that they usually go in the beach in the end of July to August which is sort of a bummer.

Another great thing about this town is that it brought so many memories of back home. In the city we found a grocery store that sold Goya products and there was also a cafeteria called La Habana. The feeling of being somewhere like home is really comforting and it was great after being two weeks in France.

It was just about time to head back to Bordeaux and face reality again. My escape to Spain was well worth the commute and money. I hope to someday come back in the summer and enjoy the beaches and cultures of Spain. 

I'm going to Spain!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

We started our first official day in Bordeaux with a walking tour conducted by a tour guide from the Office of Tourism. The lady was a big fan of Americans and was overly excited to be giving us the tour. The group walked around the city and we saw highlights of the city just to get our feet wet and to familiarize ourselves with Bordeaux. In our tour we visited Place de la Bourse, The church of St Pierre, St. Catherine Street, the Grand Theatre and much more. The great thing about Bordeaux is that the architecture is different and not as gothic as other cities. It combines the new with the old smoothly. Place de la Bourse

Following the tour, some people from the group were interested in going to San Sebastian for the weekend to experience a little bit of Spain. I automatically jumped on board and got my backpack ready for this spontaneous day trip to Spain. The transit system in Europe is amazing. Just being able to board a train and to travel for a few hours and being in another country is brilliant. We headed to Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean to purchase our tickets. The trip ended up being only 52€. We also got lucky and were able to ride first class on the train.

After a two hour train ride we reached the Spanish-French border and got on a tram that took us to the Amara (San Sebastian-Donista) stop. It was now time to find a hostel. Oh boy… it was a mission. We walked all round the city trying to find an available hostel but luckily, we found one with exactly 6 beds which were for a reservation that cancelled half an hour before we arrived. The gentleman and hostel were great; it actually reminded me of being at my grandma’s house.

Spain was exactly what I needed… people who spoke my language and were hospitable. To end the evening we drank several pints of sangria and I had the chance to eat a real meal… steak, fries, and of course…rice! I really do miss rice. This meal is just what we needed to get ready for an upcoming busy day. 

Next Stop...Bordeaux

Friday, May 15, 2009

It is time to say goodbye to Paris and get on the road to Bordeaux. Bordeaux is known for their wineries and smooth combination of the old with the new. The group loaded up the buses early in the morning to make the 5 hour trip in great timing. As you know most Americans over pack on trips so it’s not too hard to believe that our coaches had a trailer attached to be able to accommodate our entire luggage. Can you believe that?

Along the trail through the French countryside, we made a stop at the city of Tours. Tourine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French and for the famous Battle of Tours in 732. Our pit stop entailed a break for lunch and exploring the area for a little while. I was able to make it inside the Tours Cathedral which was just amazing. The cathedral was built between 1170 and 1547 and is currently undergoing some renovations but it does not hinder the beauty of the church at all. 

Soon after our visit to Tours, we made it to Bordeaux where we checked in at the Mercure Hotel which was an aged hotel in the outskirts of Bordeaux. It was great that the whole group was finally together under one roof. In the lobby, there was a freaky manikin which we named Dorothy which sort of freaked us out. Each day someone would move her somewhere else.

To end our evening, we road the tram to the center of the city to have dinner. My first impression of Bordeaux was its beauty of the city and its history. I am excited to see more and be able to spend a week here. There are also talks of going to San Sebastian, Spain as a side trip tomorrow. 

3 stations in one? Wow!

Thursday May 14, 2009

Our group was scheduled to go see the France 24 international news station located in the outskirts of Paris. France 24 is a true news hub that broadcasts its programs over the airwaves and over the internet. France 24 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the public-funded holding company. The channel counts 520 employees including 260 bilingual journalists representing 35 nationalities and  over 1,000 correspondents throughout the world. We were given a tour around the station to see the newsroom of the three stations broadcasting in English, French, and Arabic. This multimedia newsroom is a completely digital and provides high quality video on the internet, cable, and even iphones. 

Although the station is subsidized by the government, they claim to not be biased. They are an independent news station that is able to broadcast freely without any interference. This was a big concern since being subsidized could have jeopardized their integrity. It is very interesting to note how this industry works especially with a subsidy which may be the solution to the tanking industry in the US. 

Once we got home, it was time to continue my mission of going to see more sights in Paris. I headed to highest place in the city where the Sacre-Coeur Basilica sits on. It was a beautiful church where you could see all of Paris. The street you need to take to get to the top is full of shops and tourist places. A major thing to be aware of is scams. I know of two people on the trip who were scammed. A vendor selling wristbands ran off with someone's change and another lost a bet gambling on a scam. You should be very careful when going through the area and be smart about possible scams. 

Insight into a travel journalist...

Wednesday May 13, 2009 

Today we had the chance to be able to have a visit from Eleanor Beardsley who is reporting from France for NPR since June 2004, following all aspects of French society, politics, economics, culture and gastronomy. She provided us with some tips on how to be able to report from places that we are unfamiliar with. Being from the US, she married her husband who is French and came to work and live with him in Paris. She is a great story teller and told us about a few stories she has done such as meals children receive in French schooling as opposed to the US, she covered Obama's visit to France, and even Sarkozy's election. It is always nice to have someone who is experienced offer advice to those who are new at the industry. One of her major recommendations is not to be shy but be assertive and make sure to try your best when finding a new angle to stories and breaking away from mundane stories. 

Beardsley has found that the French culture is very relaxed and not necessarily for the worse. One observation that struck her when she was ordering photos from Walgreens for her mother in the US, she looked at the hours and thought it was horrible the store was open from 8-10 everyday. Things we take for granted are not the case in France. In fact most stores besides cafes and restaurants are closed on Sundays and most boutiques are closed Mondays too. She has also observed that jobs like collecting garbage or cleaning the streets are not frowned upon as in the US because of the benefits and pay offered by the government. She has noted many important differences that make you take a step back and think about our lifestyle. 

Following the meeting with Beardsley, I went home to relax a little and wanted to treat myself to a delicious dinner. I went out with a few friends to a little cafe near the Place d'Italie and order a rack of lamb. I have tasted this dish before but there was something about this one. Accompanied with a bed of rice, a rose wine, and some bread.... it was a perfect match for me. One barrier we did have though was trying to communicate with the waiter as he didn't know very much English but he was attentive and as helpful as could be.

Back to feeling like a tourist again…finally

Tuesday, May 12th

I am finally done writing my two papers and feel that I need to get back out into Paris to start visiting some spots I still have on my list. Once class was over, I am finally done writing my two papers and feel that I need to get back out into Paris to start visiting some spots I still have on my list. Once class was over,  we went to the Musee de Rodin to see Le Penseur (The Thinker) sculpture and various works from Auguste Rodin located in the garden of the museum. Rodin's artwork is well know across the world and over 20 replicas of the thinker exist. 

After being at the garden for a while, we walked through the streets of Paris to the Eiffel Tower to finally go up and see the city landscape of a bird's eye. When we get to the Eiffel Tower, we see that we have to wait in a long line which took about an hour and a half, so I decided to go around with my recorder and interview some people about the 120th birthday of the Eiffel Tower for my Travel Reporting Story. Accomplishing this task was difficult for me especially because of the language barrier. I needed to conduct the interview inEnglish, so I sort of had to stalk people and listen into their conversations to see if they spoke English. I was given many suspicious looks when I asked them if they spoke English and some thought I was trying to sell something. Despite being turned away a few times and given "the get-away-from-me" look, I found some people who were willing to talk.

It was about time to get into the elevator to rise to the top of the tower and it was well worth the wait. From the top you can see the landscape of Paris for miles and miles away. The skies were clear...all the roof tops where glaring...cars were bustling down below...the river was flowing..and all of it was just amazing. We stood up there taking a woof of the fresh air and taking in te sights. Paris really is a beautiful city. 

There was not much more to do but relax after a stressful few days but I am glad that my day ended in such a great way by being able to take in the sights of Paris. 

Studying is part of studying abroad? Who says?

Monday May 11th, 2009

Unfortunately after such a great weekend in London, it was time for me to buckle down and get some work done for school. For my classes we have been working on several books we had to read. Among them were In the Hot Zone, A Sense of Place, The House on Sugar Beach, A Travelers Tale, and France Travel Stories. For class we were required to write and evaluate our thoughts on the books. My favorite was In the Hot Zone because it outlines the voyages of Kevin Sikes who is an NBC Correspondent during the Iraqi War. He witnessed an event in a Mosque where a soldier violated a Geneva Convention Mandate by shooting an insurgent that had already been injured. Sikes was faced with the decision whether to release the tape to the pool of reporters or to destroy it. Journalists are constantly being tested in these types of situations to make ethical decisions.

The other books outlined different stories of journalist who report from other countries. I agree with journalist Sarah Wheeler when she says that the reporter should focus on the people instead of the place you are at. Being human is what is interesting to me. Looking at people going about their daily lives is very interesting and that is what drives journalist. Instead of talking about the Eiffel Tower itself, one should look at why it was built and how it represents the people of the area of Paris. Wheeler is right and I feel it’s something journalist should write about and observe when reporting stories.

Being in travel reporting is teaching me how to work in a different setting that I am not familiar with. One of the hardest things when being in an unfamiliar place is dealing with the language barrier. It has been difficult to find people who speak English and not giving off the impression that you are soliciting them for money. Many times when I would approach someone, I was turned away or they did not understand English. This is just something I will keep working on and hopefully have luck with. 

London Excursion!

So as part of this trip, we were given the option to visit London… and of course I decided to tag along. The adventure all began when we arrived to the train station in Paris, Charles de Gaule. The station was filled with many trains all waiting to depart to their prospective destinations. The scene reminded me of the Harry Potter movies, where everyone would get on to head to Hogwartz. The funny thing about this thought was that we found Platform 9 ¾ at the station in London. We took the Euro star which travels under the English Channel at 100 mph. This speed train gets you from Paris to London in 2 and half hours. Pretty impressive huh?

From the moment we arrived in London, it was time to venture out and see all the notable landmarks. The first free night, I took advantage of the opportunity and went to a pub to have the world famous fish and chips, a typical British dish. It was also interesting to me that although the UK is in the European Union, they still use the pound as a form of currency. The pound is stronger than the Euro and US Dollar at around 1.61

Throughout the weekend we had the chance to visit Prince Albert’s Hall and Memorial along Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower Bridge, and Tower of London. All of these landmarks are historical places in which I was able to learn more about the British government and traditions. London reminds me a lot of New York and is a diverse metropolitan area with many distinct districts.

Something that struck me about this big city is that many people truly take the time out to be able to exercise and don’t live as fast paced as people in sub-urban areas. In Miami we live a very fast pace life and don’t take time to relax as we should. Walking through Hyde Park and Kensington Park, you saw many people with their children and families enjoying their evenings together.

While at London I also got the opportunity to visit the Museum of Natural History and Art. These two museums are similar to the ones in Washington DC. Come to think of it all…. We are very much like our mother country believe it or not. I even had the chance to visit Harrods, a store just like Macys in New York but on crack. The store was beautiful and included a supermarket, restaurants, men’s and women’s clothing, a pet store, and even fitness equipment. An interesting fact is that the elephant given to Ronald Regan was purchased from Harrods to prove that anything could be purchased from the store.

Being in London was amazing and if I could revisit the city I would definitely consider it. The British are cheerful, helpful, and the best part is that they speak English!

Ethics...Travel Reporting....here I come!

Woo hoo! My first day of class...no not really that excited. Having to wake up early to go to class wasn't too fun. The great thing though was that I was able to go to a pâtisserie with Jaime and Lynsey. The little old ladies there were very kind and you could tell they took pride in the pastries they sold because of how great they looked and tasted. 

Class started at 11 am and was not bad at all. I will be working on my first travel reporting story while I am here. The story is about the Eiffel Tower's 120th birthday. The tower just recently got a new coat of paint for the 17th time since 1889. I hope to interview some people at the Eiffel Tower who provide tours and give me some great insight. I'm still looking for stories that are interesting so I may write them to interest the Gainesville Area.

For my ethics class we discussed ethical problems in the media that are affecting us. A major issue at hand is deciding what items to air and which of them not to. An example we shared was occurred in Jacksonville where a killer was holding a person hostage and was demanding that a judge resign for the safety of the hostage. The station was contemplating whether to air the fake resignation and to lie to its viewers. Was this action justified?

I believe it is justified and the station should air the information to save someone's life, then explain to the public of the decision they made and why.

After class we visited le Jardin de Luxembourg and saw a few sights around town. To my luck I got pood on by a Pigeon... I guess it's lucky to have pigeon poop on your back. I also got to experience shopping at a local grocery store. It was difficult enough for me to read things and I had to try just to identify cans by words and images that I could recognize. I think I might of spent 20 minutes trying to find brie fromage (cheese). So I cooked some gnocchi which was quite good. At the grocery stores they don't provide you with bags like they do in the states and charge you if you want one. I advise you to bring a bag with you if you plan on doing groceries in Europe. The fact that the US is headed in this direction is great and by being here I am really thinking of being more eco-friendly. It does not take too much time and effort. 

Night time arrived and it was finally time to let loose. We went to a bar close to le Bastille where we hung out and had a great time. Being with the locals of the area is different and there were times we were denied to enter because they knew we were Americans and sometimes even got some stares.... but that’s ok. I did find a Cuban restaurant/bar in the area. I spoke to some locals to try to get some insight. I got a better reaction from others but that is expected. It all ended up being rather fun... now we are all ready for London!

Never thought a bus tour was worth it.... until

Today, Wed May 6th....

After meeting with our group at the FAIP Jean Monnet Study Center, we went on a tour around Paris to get a preview of what the city has to offer. Our tour guide, cheesy of course, took us to see the Hotel de Invalides, look of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and passed by te Lourve. She would call getting off the bus to get a "quicky picky." It was quite funny to see the whole group following a tour guide holding up a frog umbrella leading us. The night time arrived and everyone got dressed up in their snassy clothes and headed to our group dinner. We ate at the chez clement which had pots and spoons and kitchen items hanging from every corner. The restaurant offered us thyme chicken with mashed potatos and a blackberry wine to drink. And for desert we had my favorite... yummmy creme brulee. 


Since we were on Champs-Elysées we went to visit the arc de triomphe. This arch was built by order of Napolean to honor the military and commemorate the tomb of the unknown soldier. If you climb to the top, great views of Paris can be seen, where we saw the Eiffel Tower perform its light show. It was a great close to the day which helped me get to see some places I could visit on my own.

Bonjour Paris!

... (speechles)...

This is the first thought that comes to mind when I think back upon these past two days. Although  I went through severe jet-lag despite all the preparations I did such as not going to sleep until 5 am the day of my flight and only sleeping for 3 hours... people were right I hardly slept on the plane, but to my surprise was completely energized when I arrived at the Paris airport. 

Driving into the city was quite interesting... not completely what I expected. But after a quick power nap... truth betold.. I was peaking out of the coach overlooking the river onto the city. The city is really the city of love. Whether they call it that because you fall in love with it or because people fall in love inside it.. I have no clue. 

A little thing that one takes from Europe and admires is its architechture. Why is it that in the US, we don't have towering buildings full of history and art. Driving through the alleys and the 6 lane plazas, you can see all the richness in the buildings. Specifically speaking we are staying at the Place de Bastille. In the center of the plaza there is a tainted green statue called La Colonne de Juillet. Right around the corner, we sat at a bistro where all the group ate lunch. The service was quite, polite, and efficient. Differences in the European dining experience is that you don't tip the waiters, nor are you given ice with your drink, and also people are encouraged to enjoy their meals instead of "Having it your way" like our fast food chains in America. Although different, still enjoyable.

Being exhausted from the long ride, we took a nap and went out venturing. Before our adventure in Paris, we did the cliche but enjoyable thing... sitting in le patio drinking some wine... which is very cheap by the way and sharing different cheeses. The best was yet to come and that was the sight of the Eiffel Tower. It's just like I expected...big and impactful. The towering structure represents everything wonderful about the country. Correlation though... imagine Canal Street in NY with all the illegal vendors... well the Eiffel Tower has their own... and guess what they still run away from the police (or chickens...thats what Pariseans call them) too! Oh and they run quick. Their main mission under the tower is to sell 3-5 keychains for 1 euro depending on how much you can haggle them.

To say the least... my first day was more than I expected. I couldn't wait to see more of what France has to offer!

2 days out and still so much to do...

So did anyone think time flies as fast as it really does? I just got to Miami this past Tuesday and a week has gone by and it's hard to believe I will be on my flight  to Paris in 38 hours. 

Before leaving I have gotten to buy several things all necessary for the trip. Boy did I have trouble finding the right converter for electronics being taken abroad. The story goes like this... I went to target trying to find some items I needed for the trip and luckily I found the converter I thought I needed to charge my laptop, recorder, razor, and ipod.. but little did I know the one I purchased was not the right one, therefore I returned it and bought the correct converter at Radio Shack. What a hassle, one must go through when they don't know very much about the country they are visiting.

Prior to leaving I also drove to Downtown Miami, where it is impossible to find parking and where you are being hounded at every street corner for money to exchange US Dollars to Euros. Not to my surprise, I was ripped off by the Euro and received 1 Euro for $1.32. What a rip off.... anyhow I am sure it will all be worth it when it is all said and done.

I also purchased a French Phrase Book and Dictionary to assist me in communicating with residents. As a student in the Travel Reporting class, I am required to go out and interview people about their lives and issues affecting the French Society. It will be quite interesting to see me interacting with people who may not speak English, which I can only communicate with by a book that has the phonetics to words. Like we always say in Miami, "Eso va ser un show!"

I am getting quite excited and can't wait to board the plan and start my journey. I hope to use my blog to tell you about my stories ongoing throughout the trip and keep you posted. As for now it's time for me to say my good byes to those I leave behind for a month. 

7 Days and We're Off

It's unbelievable that a year full of events and opportunities has brought me to where I am at today. I find it interesting how people change through the course of a year. At this time last year I was overwhelmed with exams and dieing to be home for the summer. I had thought of going abroad but nothing was concrete. 

When the thought of going abroad came to thought, I envisioned myself traveling to Italy or Spain. Interesting enough, it's not where I will be going to nor will it be what I am studying.  

Today I find myself 7 days until my flight to Paris and looking forward to a month full of things to experience. I will be traveling with a group of 75 composed of students, faculty, and staff from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. This opportunity presented itself in the Fall when talks of a trip with the college were being thrown around. Truth be told, I spoke to my dad about it and entertained the idea for while until I placed my down payment to be enrolled in the program.

After meeting my professors and fellow students coming along for the ride, I knew it would be a great experience. I am luckily being accompanied by great people from organizations I am involved with and journalist all wishing to gain the same experience I intend to gain. 

In France I will be talking to the locals, trying to get to know everything about them. I intend to hit up every street corner, boulangerie (bakery), musee (museum), and travel the transit lines to understand what it means to live in a French city. 

So until then, it's up to me to prepare myself for this promising trip which is to leave an ever-lasting imprint on how I view the world. Check out the books I am reading for my classes, maybe one may spark your interest and we can discuss it.