2 More Sleeps. Wait. What?

I should’ve included a “knock on wood” signoff on my last blog. I am now (hopefully, knock on wood) at two sleeps, what what, right now.

This morning I took a cab to the Marseilles airport at 4:30 am. Saying goodbye to Mamie was really hard but she’s super sweet and told me lots of nice things before I left. She even gave me this pretty decoration that had been hanging in my room all semester so I can hang it and think of her in the US. And I gave her some chocolates and one of my paintings. It was one of my favorites, but I can’t say no to Mamie. She’s the greatest host mom in the world!

So this morning I met up with my friend Marissa at the airport. Our first flight from Marseilles to Brussels was delayed by over two hours. But if we didn’t take that flight we would’ve been stuck in France until Monday. And we’re both at the point where we need to be out of France. I had my heart set on getting home today, and apparently at the very least, at getting out of France.

We took the flight to Brussels and FLEW through security and border control and we made it to our gate. We could see the plane! But the woman wouldn’t let us on because they had already finished the paperwork. Really? We tried our hardest. We were nice. We applied the waterworks (for reals, not pretending!). We tried to play on her human side, “We’re coming home from 4 months abroad – PLEASE!” But it was all to no avail.

We then spent the next 3 hours in line to work out getting on another flight. Sadly, there are no more flights until Monday morning. We did, however, meet an Army man on his way home for a 16-day leave. He’s an interesting character, but we’re all staying at the same hotel together and making the best of this situation! We’re staying at the NH Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.  It’s a “dank” (as my friend said) hotel – aka SHA-WEET!!!  We’ve both taken showers and feel human again after I don’t even know how many hours awake. I was too excited about coming home last night to sleep more than 1.5 hours before my alarm went off at 3:30 am so I could drink café with Mamie for the last time.

Tonight we’ll watch some TV; right now it’s the Simpsons…in English! It’s very exciting to watch TV again. I know, I know. I shouldn’t be that excited, but it’s been months! I can’t wait to be home again, but in the meantime we have a sweet setup. The airlines comped all of our meals, hotel and transportation. So really, we’re gaining a day in Brussels during the Christmas market season and we don’t have to pay anything (except for another outfit because I stupidly thought I wouldn’t need to pack extra clothing in my carryon because I was going home! Hahaha…what a joke I played on myself).

So I’ll be home on Monday the 21^st, provided no more snowstorms delay my flights or cancel them. I’m crossing my fingers! I HAVE to be home for the holidays. I’m already pretty bummed I won’t get to hang out with Dennis Saturday-Monday like we were planning…but I’m trying to not dwell on sad things because hopefully I’ll be home in just two more sleeps.

Wish me luck!

See you all soon…I hope!

2 Sleeps. What, what?!

Only two more nights here! I can’t believe my time in Aix is almost at an end. They say you hit certain walls when you’re away from home for so long, and it’s true. There’s the end-of-the-two-month mark when you hit a wall. Then the Thanksgiving wall, and then one more just before finals…but then you realize you’re really close to going home and you can persevere!  I cannot wait to come home. As much as I’ve loved my time here, and looking back on it I feel it passed very quickly, I’m very ready to celebrate the holidays with my family. The only problem I might have with getting home is the weight of my suitcases.  I’ve bought some Christmas presents (and by some…I mean all) over here and they’re heavy! I’m just banking my blue eyes, bright smile and hopefully a man checking in my luggage at 5 am Saturday morning. I’ll finagle my way home with all the gifts!

I have 3 finals down and one to go! That one is my Marchutz Art Criticism final, Friday morning at 11. And once that’s over my academic semester is over! Then we’re going to hangout at the studio together, our professors are going to hang some select works, and then some IAU students are going to join us for a special exhibition of our work!

I’m very glad I’m not flying British Airways because they’re going ton strike and one Marchutz friend has already flown home for fear of not getting home in time for the holidays. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little jealous she’s home already. But, however much I want to be home right now I can’t imagine saying goodbye to the friends I’ve mad here. Luckily some of us are located on the East Coast so some summertime visits are a must. And one friend plays Ultimate and I’ll be seeing him in GA. What a small world!

For now I’m going to settle down and watch a movie, study for tomorrow, finish packing and then eat a new yummy dinner with Mamie. And I hear word of a get-together at my friend Mary’s apartment as a second-to-last-night hurrah.

Can’t wait to see all of you!

This is a photo my friend Mary snapped in Giverny and she emailed me a copy.

I think I look kind of European. See, I'm learning fashion while here!

St. Lucia Celebration

Friday, 11 December 2009
Mamie and I drove into town to attend the Saint Lucia celebration at le cathedral. It's a Swedish celebration (usually on the 13th of December) about Saint Lucia.
"On the morning of December 13th (Saint Lucia’s Day) schools, businesses and homes choose a “Lucia.” The Lucia is dressed in white robes and red ribbons and wears a crown of candles on her head. Often times the eldest daughter plays Lucia, and greets her family with a breakfast of hot coffee and pastries, known as Lucia Buns. This ritual honors the legend of Saint Lucia bringing food during a famine. This more modern adaptation of Saint Lucia began in the 18th century and is similar to the German Christmas custom of Chistkindl."
The girls in white filed in from the back of cathedral while singing. Everyone turned to watch the procession to the front of the room. There were mostly girls with two guys holding down the bass end of things. One girl wore a crown of candles and everyone else carried a single candle. It reminded me of Christmas Eve service when everyone holds their candles and sings Silent Night. Granted, I had no idea what the girls were singing because it wasn't in English or French, but it was still beautiful! Everyone enjoyed the music and Mamie and I had a grand time together!! I love attending cultural events with her. And now I'm even more excited for Christmas at home!
5 sleeps until I'm back in the States. How time flies!

Cezanne Field Trip, behind the scenes motifs & veal bone marrow - Just another weekend in Aix!

This past Friday the Marchutz kids went on a field trip around our lovely city of Aix. We were fearful of bad weather but everything cleared up and turned into a sunny, albeit blustery and chilly, day. We exploded many sides of the city staying mainly in the countryside and standing in Cezanne’s motifs (the places from which he painted), most of which faced Mt. Saint Victoire.

Probably one of the best parts of the day was visiting the area of The Château Noir. This is a property owned privately by a family that has been there a very long time. The family who lived there when Cezanne was painting continues to live there.

My professors are very connected to this land…and here’s how - Leo Marchutz, the man who founded my school, was a Cezanne scholar and befriended Cezanne’s coachman after he died. The coachman took him to Cezanne’s motifs and it was at Château Noir that he befriended the family who owns this property. Since then the land has passed through the family and their connection with my school has continued. Both of my professors are among the few who are allowed on the land and who also have their own personal studios there. The curator for the US’s National Gallery in DC asked to go on the land of le Château Noir to take pictures for an exhibition that was being set up and the man who owns the property said no to him. The man who owns the land now is a very strange bird, but we love him. He never leaves the large property and maintains all the land himself. He loves the south of France but doesn’t like the bureaucracy of the city of Aix. He, however, likes John and Alan and lets them take us students around the property once a year. We’re the only students in the entire world who get to see these motifs. Because of our professor’s connections we get to visit the motifs that the head curator of the National Gallery didn’t see. Yea, that’s right, we’re pretty much awesome (and very lucky!).

 It was a great (long) field trip and afterwards I was chilly and tired! I had every intention of walking back into town after dinner to hang out at a friend’s house and play cards, but after dinner I sat on my bed and was hit by the biggest wave of fatigue ever. So after a great day full of learning I figured it was okay to stay in and relax!

Here’s a Cezanne painting from the motif only we’re allowed to see.

And here’s what the local’s think about this land.

“The château in those paintings derives its name from rumors about its owner, rather than from its appearance. It was built in the 18th century by an industrialist from Marseilles, who manufactured lampblack paint (derived from soot). He also used it to decorate the interior walls and furniture of the château. As a result, he was associated with black magic among the local people, who believed that the château was also home to the devil.”

Also, here are some of my paintings from this semester! Enjoy! If you’d like to see more check out my facebook page if you’re on there.

In other news:

Aix is bustling with Christmas activity. I love it!

In more traumatizing news – today Mamie fed me veal bone marrow…well it’s a delicacy to her.  When in France!

It was salty and not very appetizing smelling, but I ate it regardless because, hey, I’m in France! Time to get down and dirty with this culture. So today I did. And, well, it was interesting but I’m glad I did it!