Aventures en France

I can now officially say I have attended a professional hockey match.  Last Friday, a big group of us from the program received tickets from the program to Geneva’s pro-hockey team’s match against the Lakers—ironic huh?  I went out with a group of girls I haven’t previously gone out with before and had an absolute blast!  Even though we were in Switz, I considered us to be “all-American” fans.  We sipped beer, munched on snacks, and obnoxiously cheered on our home team, who came out victorious with a score of 2-1, from the official fan zone!  Now that I consider myself to be an incredible hockey fan, I am planning on dragging everyone at school to a Sharks game.  I feel like that is just something we have to do and check off our Santa Clara bucket list sooner rather than later!  The next night, the girls and I went out for drinks with some of the physicists and engineers they had met at the CERN Halloween party the week before.  We ordered what are called “Beer Towers,” which are 5 litres a tower and are essentially a self serving tap.  They were a really cool concept and a fun way to have drinks and share conversation with some very intelligent and interesting people.  There were a couple of Americans, an Italian, a couple Austrians, and a Spaniard.  Definitely an interesting night to say the least.  I called it an early night seeing as I had an early morning football match the next day!  I played in my first game with the club from Antilly (I think I finally figured out the name of the town and club!) and while we unfortunately lost, I had a blast playing defense the entire second half!  I definitely felt rusty but it was such an incredible feeling being back on the pitch in a competitive game.  I found myself having constant flashbacks to my high school seasons and how I never thought I would play competitively again. Funny how life can surprise you like that :)

After the match--uniform colors look a little familiar... :)

Geneva's biggest hockey fans! 

This past week has flown by and I feel like there’s no slowing down.  With 4 weeks left to go there is SO much to be done and crammed in, but in a way that I can still enjoy.  This weekend, we took a spontaneous day trip to Annecy, France.  It was just our luck that there was a “Festival de Caillon—un jour de couchons” also known as a pig festival!  We ate our way through Annecy:  from fresh out of the oven baguettes, to freshly pressed apple cider, to raspberry jam filled pastries, to some delicious soup with bacon, to lemon and sugar crepes accompanied by dark hot chocolate—I was in food paradise!  We wandered around by the gorgeous lake shore and popped in and out of cute little shops.  Yet another perfect “fall escape”—sunny day, gorgeous scenery, and delicious food…away from Rue Muzy!!  

Fresh, early morning baguette!

Les Couchons!

Flowers in Annecy

Lac d'Annecy

Today, we had another early morning and quickly found ourselves on a bus heading back towards the border.  We crossed into France and caught the first “téléferique” up Mont Salève.  Danny, Mags, Steph, Lauren, and I were skeptical as we ascended into the wall of fog.  Much to our pleasant surprise, the sun was shining full force as we got off the gondola.  With views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding Alps, we couldn’t have been happier.  We even sat in on a Tibetan monk meditating in the monastery that sits on top of the mountain!! What a rejuvenating way to start the week. 

View from the top

Reminded me of Andrew and the science museum in Boston!

Tibetan Monk Meditating 

Everyone keeps avoiding saying the dreaded phrase “we have 4 weeks left,” but this is definitely something we all must confront in the very near future.  All my remaining weekends are planned out and time seems to passing more quickly than ever before.  More so than ever, I am trying to absorb every experience like a sponge.  It is hard to believe that the time has come when saying goodbye to friends and my home for the past 4 months will be here before I know it.  For now, enjoying the simple things and day-to-day routines is more vital than ever.  I am genuinely able to say I am looking forward to the holiday season at home and what I know will be an epic return to the Clara.  But for now, cheers to the last 4 weeks of what has been a life changing and monumental experience in my 20 years of youthful living!