Orientation week in Strasbourg

Orientation week:

• It is a very bizarre occurence in that many of us feel like we just arrived yesterday and yet we also feel as though we have been here for ages (not just 5-6) days.


• We went on a walking "orientation" city tour on Wednesday. At our first stop at the canal, (canals/rivers circle the city center) we stopped to look at a couple of gentlemen in a small inflatable raft/boat. A few seconds later - a scuba dude appeared from under the water holding a bicycle. My camera was buried in my bag but Danielle, one of my Pittsburgh students captured the above shot of this very bizarre moment.
  
• As soon as we had a few minutes of free time the terrential rains began. Several of us took solace in a shoe store and I purchased an umbrella and a very fashionable set of slippers. The lovely woman that waited on me did not speak english and I now know that my european shoe size is somewhere in the vicinity of 39.
• We paused in front of the cathedral briefly and decided that it was best to explore it on our own time. All I can say is that it is so magnificent inside and out that my photographs will NOT do it justice. I truly feel blessed to have this incredible work of architecture available to me daily for 80 days!

Arrival in Strasbourg France

Hello to all that are reading this blog and are interested in this Quarter Abroad in Strasbourg France experience!

• After a LONG relatively sleepless flight "across the pond" we (myself, Alan Hing - the other instructor/chaperone, and the 33 students flying with us) arrived in Frankfurt Germany around 10:00 am on Tuesday September 26th.


• For those of you who know me well, you will not be surprised to hear that several flight attendants who admired my jewelry took me up to the first class area to speak with a flight attendant who designs jewelry and another who photographs it. I must say that someday I would like to be able to afford business class or first class seats when on a long flight. They live the life up there!


• Only one student's luggage was delayed in Newark - I stayed with her while she filled out paperwork and discussed the adventures of air travel with members of the band Dokken who are touring Europe. I will google them - they were a very popular heavy metal band in the 80's I think?


• We hopped on a lovely bus and after eating a wonderful sandwich on a baguette 90% of the crew fell asleep for most of the ride to Strasbourg.


• Our coordinator woke us as we were approaching the Rhine and the border of Germany and France. We squirreled our way through town and arrived at the Chateau de Pourtales. Thoroughly exhausted, half asleep, we arrived at our "fairy tale" castle in the middle of an incredibly huge park. We staggered to the front, collected our keys, mumbled to each other while assisting everyone up the grand staircase and went to our rooms to assess the situation. My room, I am told, is the honeymoons suite. It seems that I am extraordinarily lucky and my room contains a beautiful carved wooden framed bed, matching armoire, and a tub so deep that you can swim in it, in my bathroom.
• Warned not to take naps we puttered around and then met in the Salon Rouge (pictures soon) to share a welcome to the Chateau, a mimosa, and some snacks. We continued on to dinner in the Chateau, and then personally, I found the clothes that I wanted to sleep in and fell into my gorgeous bed.


• That is where I will leave the story for today since, again, I am exhausted after the day's activities and culinary delights. More soon : )