Jump to content

My Semester In Europe


Principled Man
 Share

Recommended Posts

Way back in 1998.....a lifetime ago.....I took a deep breath and signed up for a semester of study, travel, and exploration in Caen, France, in Lower Normandy. I was 36 years old, and had never been anywhere outside of Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It was the greatest experience of my life......

 

 

Le Cathedral de Notre Dame, Paris.

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Cathedral_zpsfa12fc60.jpg

 

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/CathedralII_zps192bafb5.jpg

 

 

More to come!! :) :)

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

L'Arc de Triomphe

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/ArcdeTriomph_zpse8a6c338.jpg

 

Awesome high-belief scultures on the walls of the Arc....

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/bas-relief_zpsf7739b12.jpg?t=1390907882

 

 

La Basilique de Sacre Coeur

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Basilique_zps46cafa19.jpg

 

 

Le Parc de Luxenbourg

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Luxembourg_zpsd2b47b2e.jpg

Edited by Principled Man
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wonderful pictures :yes:

 

How was your experience being in Europe, let alone being outside of the states age 36?

 

It was life-changing...... :haz: I lived with a French host-family (non-English speaking), took a full load of courses at l'Universite de Caen, traveled thru much of France as well as Germany and Switzerland.....and I gained 20 pounds from the food and drink..... :doh: Not one bad experience with the French people, but then, I could speak French well enough that I could communicate effectively. Speaking the language makes a BIG difference.....

 

And it really opened my eyes regarding the world, its greatness......and its problems. I wish that I could live it all again.... :haz:

Edited by Principled Man
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's inspiring that you did that at age 36. Too many people seem to be in a hurry about traveling around the world as soon as they turn 19-20, but you can do it just as well when 30-40 or even older.

 

I have been to France around 10 times total, and I have only had great experiences with the french. Well, except one time my dad got pulled over by the gendarmerie and got yelled at. We never found out why, but we suspected it had something to do with our foreign numberplate. They're really not that arrogant as people think, and if you just show a minimal effort at saying something in their language they lighten up.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's inspiring that you did that at age 36. Too many people seem to be in a hurry about traveling around the world as soon as they turn 19-20, but you can do it just as well when 30-40 or even older.

 

I have been to France around 10 times total, and I have only had great experiences with the french. Well, except one time my dad got pulled over by the gendarmerie and got yelled at. We never found out why, but we suspected it had something to do with our foreign numberplate. They're really not that arrogant as people think, and if you just show a minimal effort at saying something in their language they lighten up.

I've found them to be quite friendly as well...in fact, I'd say they are a lot like people,

 

Nothing quite like traveling the world, and staying for an extended period of time.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's inspiring that you did that at age 36. Too many people seem to be in a hurry about traveling around the world as soon as they turn 19-20, but you can do it just as well when 30-40 or even older.

 

I have been to France around 10 times total, and I have only had great experiences with the french. Well, except one time my dad got pulled over by the gendarmerie and got yelled at. We never found out why, but we suspected it had something to do with our foreign numberplate. They're really not that arrogant as people think, and if you just show a minimal effort at saying something in their language they lighten up.

I've found them to be quite friendly as well...in fact, I'd say they are a lot like people,

 

Nothing quite like traveling the world, and staying for an extended period of time.

 

So many great places to see and so many beautiful people to meet :yes:

This year will be a decrease-your-big-ass-debt and get a job, so hopefully next year I'll have enough for a plane ticket to USA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It reminds me that when you strip away different cultures and skin color, we still have the universal things like a smile. :)

 

One of the funniest things about my semester in Caen was that my Host Parents were eerily similar to my own parents. A retired couple, whose children had moved out years ago. "Dad" was distant, old-fashioned, and expected his wife to be dutiful. "Mom" was very friendly, more modern, doting, and a little too overly-mothering.....like wanting to do my laundry for me..... :eyeroll:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It reminds me that when you strip away different cultures and skin color, we still have the universal things like a smile. :)

 

One of the funniest things about my semester in Caen was that my Host Parents were eerily similar to my own parents. A retired couple, whose children had moved out years ago. "Dad" was distant, old-fashioned, and expected his wife to be dutiful. "Mom" was very friendly, more modern, doting, and a little too overly-mothering.....like wanting to do my laundry for me..... :eyeroll:

 

People aren't so different after all :LOL:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very jealous. I have travelled a good but internationally on business but never as a student. Definitely one of my life's regrets.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, I found my way back to my photo album, I dusted it off, and I found more goodies to share....!!

 

 

 

Here is St. Stephen's church, in the city of Caen, where I went to university. Commissioned by William the Conquerer, it was originally the Men's Abbey. William wanted to marry his 1st cousin, Mathilde, so he built a men's and women's abbey in Caen to suck up to the Pope....... :o :LOL:

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/2%20-%20Caen%202%20-%20Abbaye%20aux%20Hommes_zpshrmrl8yc.jpg

 

 

 

 

St. Peter's Church, in downtown Caen. Classic Gothic architecture, with gargoyles, too!!

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/3%20-%20Caen%203%20-%20Eglise%20de%20Saint%20Pierre_zpshrx8ezlm.jpg

 

 

 

Dramatically Gothic style in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, in the city of Bayeux

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Bayeux%202%20Cathedral_zpsga4iapcv.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some of my best shots came from an easy target - Monet's Gardens in Giverny

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Giverny%201_zpsmolwqgsd.jpg

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Giverny%202_zpsusyxlyhb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Off in the distance, we have the island monastery of Mont Saint-Michel, one of the more famous landmarks in Normandy and all of France. Its beginnings were in the 8th century, and it has served as a monastery, a fortress, a prison....whatever the rulers at the time deemed fit! It even served as Peter Jackson's inspiration for Minas Tirith in The Return of The King.

 

Don't walk out there during low tide! You won't come back. Quicksand is everywhere..... :o :o

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Mont%20Saint%20Michel_zpsljxk9fm6.jpg

 

 

 

Down south, in the region of Provence, le Pont du Gard is a magnificent Roman aqueduct. People used to be allowed to walk on the very top, but not anymore....for obvious reasons.

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Nimes%201%20-%20Pont%20du%20Gard_zpsmwxzgy6l.jpg

 

 

 

The Romans loved to build their gardens and plazas, like this one dedicated to the goddess Diana.

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Nimes%202%20-%20Jardin%20de%20Diana_zpsknko1c1w.jpg

Edited by Principled Man
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My first weekend in France, I went to Paris, and I headed straight for Eiffel. Standing before it, up close and personal, I got really emotional.

 

The reality of this 36-year old man, who had never been anywhere, actually being in France hit me like a ton of bricks...... :blush:

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Paris%201%20-%20Tour%20Eiffel_zpsey4wtpuv.jpg

 

 

 

Luxembourg Park, near the Senate building. One of the more beautiful places in the city of Paris. Playgrounds for the kids, lots of space for us adults.....

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Paris%203%20-%20Luxembourg_zpstrytotg1.jpg

 

 

 

Over 3,000 years old, L'Obelisque de Luxour was a gift from Egypt to King Louis Philippe in the 1830's.

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Paris%205%20-%20Obelisk_zps7olifroq.jpg

 

 

 

And I just HAD to go see Jim, ya know..... :ebert: :ebert:

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Paris%207%20-%20Mojo%20Rison_zpsjzjkdoeq.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Strausberg, on the French-German border, was stunningly beautiful

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Strausberg%20I_zpsbcuwxnat.jpg

 

 

 

But nothing took my breath away more than ascending the Swiss Alps.....

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Swiss%20Alps%201_zpsj7ypqote.jpg

 

 

How is the air up here? It's THIN......VERY THIN........!!!

 

 

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab88/unclemonteee/La%20France/Swiss%20Alps%202_zpsabrmzglz.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...