Paris, Scotland and Everything in Between

So . . . it has been awhile since I have written . . . I know. Who am I kidding? It’s been more than awhile. It has been so long that I feel as if I could write a book with all my experiences . . . not a blog. But I shall try and contain myself and keep it short- but also sweet- for you all.
I actually had to go back and read what I had written last. I can’t believe how long ago that was. I have done so much since. I have visited Paris . . . twice. I have gained and lost friends. I have watched Christmas decorations be put up and down. I have journeyed through Scotland. And I have been in the company of old friends. So many things. But I guess I should begin with Paris.

Right after I left the castle I headed to Paris for my first time ever! Have you ever felt like you were meant to be somewhere . . . even though you had never been there . . . it just pulled you in for some reason? That is how I have always felt about Paris. And the moment I stepped foot and that city and set my eyes on the Eiffel Tower for the first time . . . I knew exactly why I had felt that way. What a feeling! I will never be able to explain what I felt as I came around a tree and out peaked the Eiffel Tower . . . except to say that it felt how I had always dreamed it would.

I stayed with Ellen in Paris and together we discovered the city: the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, Angelina’s, Notre Dame, Versailles, Luxembourg. We saw so much and it was all so beautiful. After a week there I knew why everyone falls in love with Paris.

Not much more than three weeks after leaving I returned to Paris for Thanksgiving. This time I brought my friend Kerri. The city was already decorated for Christmas when I got there and it was beautiful! Lights on all the trees and little cabins along the Champs Elysees. The second time around Paris was even better. Since Kerri and I had both already been we concentrated on just hanging out in the city of love. We hit a lot of cafes and restaurants and walked around a lot. One night, Kerri, Ellen and I went to a restaurant called Dans la Noir which means “in the dark.” It is a restaurant that is completely pitch black inside, so when you eat it is as if you are blind. You can’t see your food, your drink, your friends, not even your hand if it was in front of your face. And the waiters and waitresses there are all actually blind. It was really cool trying all these foods and really tasting them because I could not see what they were. It was quite the experience, truly unique. I left Paris the second time truly satisfied.


In between Thanksgiving and Christmas I just hung out in Aix and enjoyed my friends, many who were heading back home, either for Christmas or for good. I had a lot of Christmas parties and a Christmas concert. It was really wonderful. And I got really close with my friends in that holiday season, making it all the more difficult to leave them all. But it wasn’t all bad because though I was leaving my new friends in no time I was going to see my old friends, my Chico friends, and in none other than Scotland!


There is so much to say about Scotland. It really felt right to be there. It is quite the country. Everything good said about it is true. I went to Edinburgh to meet nine of my friends for Christmas. We rented a three bedroom apartment for five days and all piled in. It was so good to be with old friends, though it made me more homesick than ever. It felt as if we had never been apart. We spent our days eating good food, laughing, playing games, drinking, and discovering the city. On Christmas we all stuck ourselves in the apartment and ate, sang and opened presents. It was the best Christmas I could have had away from home. But then again I wouldn’t say that I was away from home . . . because those girls our home and it was wonderful to be with them.

After Christmas Ellen and her sister Beth and I went to Glasgow to stay for a couple of nights. There isn’t a lot to see there but the people are great, the night scene is good and it is easy to take buses to other places from there. So we spent our days in the country, our nights in the pubs and we slept in an old hotel know as the Quality Inn but familiarly called “The Shining.” It was and old creepy hotel and I am sure that if I believed in ghost they would live there. But despite that we fell in love with it.


In our day travels we went to a sea side city called Ardrossan, an island called Arran and we took a tour of the highlands and western lochs. It was all so beautiful. You see pictures and you think, it can’t really be that picturesque, but it is! Just as magnificent as you think it is . . . maybe even more. I have never had my breath taken away so many times. My favorite was the island of Arran. We took a ferry over from Ardrossan and filled our bellies up with a Scottish breakfast on the ride over. Once there we went in search of hiking trails and walked about a mile before finding any. But it was well worth it. I don’t when I have ever enjoyed a hike so much. On the hike up there were moss covered trees and a crackling creek. There was nettle and robins. And at the top . . . the most breathtaking view I have ever seen in my entire life. It was perfect in every way. There were mountains and green fields, trees by thousands, blue sky, scattered clouds, a rocky coast, an indigo ocean and the sun . . . oh the sun! It was so luminous. The three of stood in silence for I don’t know how long simply enjoying the glory.

After Glasgow we headed back to Edinburgh for Hogmany aka New Year! They throw a big bash in Edinburgh where they close up the streets and set up concerts, rides, food stands and so many other things. Men dress up in their kilts while everyone else bundles up for the cold and at midnight they let of a spectacular fire works show from Edinburgh castle. It was the best New Years I have ever had . . .

I lived in a Castle!

What’s every little girls dream when they are little? To be a princess, right? And live in a castle? Well, I guess my childhood dream came true this weekend. I did not exactly become a princess- though at some points I felt like Cinderella- but I did live in a castle, if just for a few nights. I just got back from one the most beautiful places I have ever been. I went with my church on a weekend trip to a small castle, on top of a hill in the French country side. Sigh with me, will you?


It was the most amazing weekend. It was hard for me to leave. I could have stayed there forever. The castle had this magical Narnia or Harry Potter feel to it. Each room was cozy with antiquated furniture and big fire places. The whole place is stone and different coats of arms are painted on the walls and ceilings. And the grounds are green and lush and marvelous. You can go up on the roof where there is the most perfect view of the little town Cevennes and where there are the perfect seats for a starry night showing. In the towers you can find old rooms, a library filled with hundred year old books and many secret passage ways perfect for playing hide and go seek. Which we did after dinner one night. It was the most fun I have ever had playing hide and go seek. It was dark by this time so it was a bit scary and there were so many good places to hide. Each game took about a half an hour if not longer and by the end we were all searching. It was a really fun time and we had many good laughs and stories by the end of it. For our meals we would all gather into the dining room where there was a fire always lit and many paintings of the Casanove family, who lives there. The castle really is like from a fairy tale, or a dream.


One of the days there we went to a museum near by. It is called the Musee du Desert. It is a museum dedicated to the Protestants who were persecuted by the Catholics about 100 years before the French revolution. It was a truly amazing experience going to this museum. There were many papers stating that the Protestants must become Catholic or be killed. One even forbade Catholics from marrying Protestants. There are also places where they would hide under cupboards and such. Because they were on the hide they thought of many inventive ways to hide their pulpits and their bibles quick. Their pulpits could fold down into a water bucket and their bibles were about two inches by one inch. Small enough to hide in a woman’s bonnet. It really was amazing to see all that they did. I had a moment of thanks to God for these people who risked their lives for their faith, and now here I am . . . free to express my faith. It really is miraculous.

This weekend was amazing. The people, the food, the place, the creation were incredible. It did not last long enough. But I can not complain too much because tomorrow I head off to Paris for a week! How I am blessed!

Chico Expereince

I have been thinking a lot about Chico lately. There are many reasons for this but the main reason is because I was visited by the Spragues! And with them came the memories and feelings of Chico, my home . . . . . Or at least one of my homes. I am finding myself falling and falling fast for Aix. It seeps into your heart without your even realizing what is happening. Until . . . suddenly . . . one day you remember your old home- Chico- and you realize that it is no longer your only home. Your heart is split and you find yourself aching for Chico but never wanting to leave Aix. It is a very difficult place to be. But then, I guess I would rather love Aix and be attached to it forever than just love it for a year and return home easily. This place is supposed to change me right? And it already has. I can not ever imagine leaving Aix. It has attached itself to me. I love this place. I mean really love it. Others tell me about all the culture shock they are going through and all there frustrations with the French but I do not have any bad feelings towards this town and the life here. The things others find frustrating I find charming. For instance it bugs many that nothing is open on Sundays but I think it is a perfect excuse to relax and really have nothing to do. The same goes for lunch time when everything except restaurants is closed for two hours. I love taking a long time at lunch. Many are fed up with how slow service is here but I am happy to try and slow down myself. We are all a bit to fast in the United States. Many are sick of speaking French but I can not get enough of it because with each word I speak I become better and better at the language. So, as you can see I seem to have been born in the wrong country. France really does speak to my soul. How could it not?

It also seems impossible for me to feel very bad about anything when I have so many people here to support me and to have fun with. I have met a bunch of great people through my program but also through my church. The people at ICCP are amazing! Part of the reason Aix has gotten to me so easily is because of these people. They are too cool for me to ever want to leave them. I am already making so many friends and so many connections and I am getting involved. It is awesome. When David and Amber Sprague came they were really impressed. They came to church with me and enjoyed that but I also brought them to my university group and they really enjoyed that too. They left telling me that I am really set up well here. And it is so true! I am still overwhelmed by all the ways I am blessed. I almost can not believe it! It seems unreal! But I am so grateful all the same.

As I said I was visited by the Spragues and it was amazing! I so enjoyed having them here. Though it made me miss home it was great to have a little peace of home here with me. They were here for three days and it was some of the most fun three days of my life! One day I took them around Aix and to my University Group to meet all my friends. Another day we found this really great park that is the closest thing I have found to home and that night I took them to hang out with some of my friends at our favorite spot . . . Pub O’Shannons. And the next day we hiked a mountain! This was really the best part. There is a mountain about a 20 minute drive outside of Aix called Mont St. Victoire. If you known any of Paul Cezanne’s work you would know this mountain. Since he lived in Aix, he painted this mountain a lot. Anyway it is about a five hour hike up and back. The hike is difficult, especially if like us you decide to take the difficult trail, but it is all worth it once you get to the top. There is a church, a cross and a spectacular view. Breathtaking really. You can see about three or four towns off in the distance including Aix and you can even see the Alps. There is also a lake with turquoise water and many vineyards. It is quite the experience.

It was interesting climbing up the mountain though. Before we went we looked at a map of all the trails you can take to get to the top and picked the one that looked like it wasn’t too difficult or too easy. Well we were about ten minutes out of town when we realized that we took the wrong bus and were heading to the opposite side of the mountain, so we decided we would take the trail wherever we were let off. So, once we got to a stop we took the first trail we found and began following the red markers. We had been hiking at a steady pace for about a half hour when we came to a rock the said “facile” and pointed one way and “difficile” and pointed another way. For those of you who don’t know that means easy and difficult. I was all for the easy trail not being very athletic but I could tell from the look on everyone else’s faces that we were going to take the difficult trail. And that is exactly what we did. It wasn’t too bad until we got to a spot were we had to rock climb a bit and after we got pas that it was like a stair master on the highest level all the way up! I didn’t think I was going to make it but I prayed and I pushed myself and . . . . well . . . I made it and it felt great. It started raining on us when we were about ten minutes from the top which made the rocks a bit slippery but really it made it that much more exhilarating. It was freezing at the top since we were all wet and the wind is like ice but again it made it more of an experience. Really it was one of the coolest things I have ever done and I was so happy to share it with the Spragues.

After our hike we went and got a warm nutella crape at the best crape place in Aix and a piece of pizza from Pizza Capri and then they headed off to Barcelona. : ( It was really great having them.

A new start!

Hey everyone! So, I know it has been awhile since I updated you all but that is becasue, for one, I have been very busy, and two, I have had no internet for the past two weeks! I think I almost gave my mom a heart attack! Anyway, as you can see I went with a different blog sight because the other one really frusturated me. So, that is why this is titled a new start but that is not the only reason . . .

There have been many new beginnings in my life the past few weeks. I have started school, I left the hotel I was staying at, I moved in with some friends for a week, I moved out of their place, and finally I just finished moving into my new appartement! Yeah!

My new appartement is my most exciting news so I will begin with that. If you read my last blog you read about my excitment over a possible French roomate. Well, it all worked out- not without some bumps in the road- and now I am all moved in with my new Franch roomate, Hella (funny, no?) My place is great! It has it's downfalls- I don't have a door on my bedroom- but, really it is perfect. It is small and cozy and Hella has decorated it so cute. The more I learn of her taste the more I am convinced that we were meant to live with eachother. She likes to draw and I enjoy painting. We both like fashion- I thought I was fashionable until I saw her clothes. And we both decorate with Indian colors and themes! We really are perfect for eachother! : ) The language barrier is a bit difficult. It makes things a little awkward sometimes but I am pushing through and she is really helpful. Apparently she speaks a little bit of English but she hasn't spoken to me in English yet! Which is great and very odd. I find that most Franch don't want to talk to you in French because they want to practice their English! But we are both pushing through. I actually had a really good time with her just this afternoon. I asked her if she had a facebook and my one question turned into us showing each other pictures and telling each other about them. It was a nice little bonding moment. But I think this bonding moment was necessary after the catastrophe that happend before it!

Hella was aking me if I had called my parents yet and before I could answer the phone rang for the door downstairs rang. She buzzed the person in and then went to go meet them. Before she left she turned to me and asked me a question. I thought she asked me if I was going to call my mom. I told her "non." Well . . . I was wrong! It turned out she was aking for my help! Which I discovered when I looked out the door and saw her carrying two very heavy bags! I ran out immediately to help her and said my apologies and told her I had not understood. She had told me the day before something about milk and water and it being very heavy and how we would both carry it up. What I didn't realized is that she had it delivered! I felt so bad, but I think she understood!

So, I have started school! Which is going really good! Don't get me wrong . . . I still do not like school but I have a reallyy good teahcer who makes class bareable. She is really very great which was surprising after my directors told us all that teahcers in france are very different than in the states and they are very strict. When they said that an image of an old, grumpy, French man popped into my head. But my teacher is quite the opposite. She is young and pretty and full of laughter. She is not very different than any of the teahcers I had in the states! She makes jokes and teaches us about the culture. She shows us French songs and comics. She is really great! And . . . the best part . . . She doesn't give us homework whereas all the students in the other levels have homework everyday!

Since I wrote last I have had so many great experiences that I can barely remember them all but I will highlight some of the good cultural ones for you . . .

About a week ago, while I was still in the hotel, Cameryn and I deceided to go to a cafe to take a drink and write some postcards or in our journal. We found a nice cafe along the Cours Mirabeau-which is the street that I live on by the way- and we sat and ordered an Orangina and a wine- I all the sudden love wine which I used to hate in the states, don't worry though I drink it in moderation. Anyway, we were sitting enjoying our drinks when the waiter started joking with Cameryn- he was a very nice older man. He was asking her if she was writing about him in her journal. We talked to him for awhile and he asked us is we were English and we said yes because we only caught "anglais" and we thought he was asking if we spoke English. Anyway, two French girls that were sitting next to us leaned over and asked if were were from London because they were going there soon. Cameryn and I explained that we are from California but the talking did not cease because of that. We ended up talking to the two girls for an hour. It was so great! We talked about cultural differences, places to see, whats in fashion etc . . . It was an amazing hour. At the end they asked to take a picture with us and we agreed, bien sur! So now I have a picture to always remeber that cool experience!

Another great cultural experience I had was with a couple French guys! Wow, that sounds bad! But it is not. I promise! These French guys were very nice and hospitable . . . In my search for roomates I e-mailed a lot of people whom I found on a French craigs list. One of these people was a guy named Aymeric. By the time he got back to me I had already agreed to live with Hella so I passed his info onto to my friend Natalie. Well, one night she was going to meet him and he was going to take her to see the appartement but she decided she didn't want to go alone. By this time we were the last two in the hotel so I told her I would go with. After much frusturation with trying to give them directions we finally met up with Aymeric, his roomate Nicholas, and his friend whose name I can not remember at about nine p.m. They took us to their appartement and showed Natalie and I around. By the time the tour was up and all questions asked it was almost ten and the last bus left at 9:30. Our only way home was to get a ride with Aymeric's friend. But, he was staying for at least another hour to have an "aperitif"- a drink and appetizer- so, we were just going to have to stay and have one too! So, we stayed for a drink and it was a blast! These guys were so chill and funny and nice and hospitable! I could go on and on. We had so much fun talking about really random stuff. And as I sat there enjoying my aperitif I though to myself, "Oh my gosh, Heather! You are in France right now hanging out with a bunch of French guys!" And the cool thing was that I felt more comfortable and was having more fun hanging out with them than I ever did with any of the guys I hung out with in Chico- sorry guys. I am finding that though the guys here can be players but they also treat woman well.

My last really awesome experience- with French people that is- I had was two Sundays ago, which happend to be the best Sunday of my life! My friend Holly moved out with a middle aged woman named Yolande who lives in the country. When Yolande came to pick Holly up from the hotel she met all of us and so told Holly to invite all of us to come out swimming at her neighbors house. Of course we agreed! So, the next day Holly and Yolande came to pick us up for a day in the country laying by the pool. For some reason I thought it woudl just be us girls laying and realxing by the pool, and maybe Yolande too . . . boy was I wrong! We walked into the pool area to find a guy- a really cute guy- swimming in the pool and another guy hanging out by his outside bar! Then the seconds guys wife proceded to come out with about five bottles of wine and the fixin's for making a pizza. It was then that I realized that this was going to be so much more than a realaxing day by the pool. This was going to be one the best experiences of my life. And it was! Sure . . . we relaxed and layed by the pool, but we also watched one of the guys make home pizza in his stone oven by the pool. We also talked to a lot of people all in French! We also tasted about seven of the most delicious wines I have ever tasted. And we also laughed and joked and had a grand old time! it was amazing! And everyone was so hospitable and nice and oh so very French. None of us wanted to leave! But we must because my day was about to get even better . . .

After my wonderful day in the French countryside I returned to the hotel to get to go to church and meet Derrin and Julie Jones who Andrew Birchett put me in touch with. They run an English speaking church in Aix called ICCP. I was very excited to meet them that night because Andrew had told me so many great things about them and I was also really excited to hang out with some people who love God! So, I went to the service and met Derrin and Julie and Dom and Hillary and Kerri and so many other people whose names I cannot remember. And they were all fabulous! Julie greeted me with the biggest hug I have ever gotten and everyone else- though not quite so enthusiastically- greeted me with lots love. The service was a special service just for leaders- although they let me come- so it was a lot of praying and teaching. It was really nice. Next week is their first real service and i am very excited for that! Especailly the worship. After service we all went out to dinner and it was so great talking to all these people. They are all so kind and Godly! It is so wonderful to be around them. It was the perfect ending to my perfect day.

That was two Sundays ago . . . This last Sunday the church held what they call a "rentrer" party out at this beautiful home in the country. There was lots of food and a pool and music and a lot of great people. I had so much fun hagning out with people and I know I made some good friends. That night, I went and got a glass of wine with some of the girls I met at the party for one of the girls party. That was really nice but the oh so perfectly French part was that when we showed up to the plaza with the cafe we were going to we found that on Sunday nights starting at ten there is ballroom dancing for those who know how to tango. It was awesome sitting at cafe, sipping wine, enjoying the company of friends, listening to ballroom music and watching couples tango. I think I might frequent that plaza on Sunday nights from now on.

Last Saturday I went to Monaco. It was gorgeous! It is not a big town so there is not tons to do but it doesn't matter because there is beauty all around you. My friends Loni, Cameryn and I just spent the day walking around and taking pictures. It was really fun. We got some really great pics. They took us to the Monte Carlo casino on this trip too. It cost 10 euro to get in so a lot of people opted to not go but Cameryn and I thought why not, when else were we going to get the chance to say that we gambled in the famour Monte Carlo casino. So we went to the slots and decided to only gamble 5 euro each. If we lost it we were only 5 euros down, if we won then that would be awesome. Well, Cameryn lost her 5 euros but I won 25 euros! How cool is that? Now I can say that I gambled at the Monte Carlo and won 25 euros!

Well, that concludes this episode of "Heather's life in Aix." Tune in when she decides to write her next blog to find out what other Aix-periences she has.

I love you all! Thanks for your prayers and please keep them up because they are working! You see now how much so! Rest in knowing I am praying for you too and that God will bless you double that He blessed me. I miss you all. xoxo

Heather