31 dic 2011

new years resolutions


It's time to see what our next year's resolutions will be. What do we want to do this 2012? Let's see, in my 2011, I have spent my summer in Paris and continued my fall semester in Angers. I have traveled to Belgium, I have eaten escargots and tartar a thousand times, I have played paintball and gone skiing, I have even ice skated on top of the Eiffel Tower...wow!! 
This year has actually been pretty cool!! I have done so much more than I ever expected and I have enjoyed every moment of it. 
Since it's the last day of the year, I can't help it looking back at what has happened in my live and in the world this year. I can't help see what has changed about me and what I have learned along the way. 
If I had to describe this whole year in one word it would have to be: FRENCH, after all, I have spent almost six months in the land of Asterix. 
What will 2012 hold for me? Maybe my first actual job with "good" pay and hours? A super rich and cute prince just for me? Ooor maybe I'll become the next Steve jobs, maybe invent the next big thing...who knows!! There is one thing I DO know: 
LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE!! 
It doesn't matter if you have a plan, life changes with every little moment and hopefully we can make a good change along the way. I can only say I hope this 2012 is as good (or better if possible) than this 2011. 
I invite you all to do a small ritual I do every year: tonight, right after the clock reaches 00:00h, I will go outside, like I do every year, I look at the sky and hope there is a starry night above me, letting me know that 2012 will be amazing!! 


HAPPY NEW YEAR

FELIZ AÑO NUEVO

10 dic 2011

a simple goodbye...


I have not completely realized this is almost over. Angers, ESSCA, ERASMUS, La Maine…this whole period has been short yet incredibly meaningful for me and I am sure it has been very special for many of you, too. I have been able to learn so many new things, not only about “management” and “compatabilité” but also about life. A month or so I wrote about this day. How I still had some time, how I had met so many incredible people, how we all had grown together and alone into someone else. I still believe that. No matter where we come from, we have been able to unite so many different cultures into one.
It was not too long ago when we were still meeting each other and learning strange foreign names, and now, we have lunch and we get drunk with those same people with weird names from strange places. It will certainly feel weird going back home and not sharing a kitchen…not having to wash the dishes…or using my car to go grocery shopping or, actually, NOT having to go grocery shopping at all. I will also remember the Saturday market, where we buy the fresh fruit and scargots of the weekend. There are so many things I will miss.
If someone was to ask me what I liked most about my unique experience in this small town, I would have to say what I have learned. Sure the drunken nights in the Irish house and shopping dates at H&M were amazing, but what we have learned from everyone and everyday here is much more valuable, because we will remember them forever. Thank you to all of you, because you have made this period truly awesome. We have become a small and unique family, we have found amazing friends that will last forever and some have even found some love.
Today, we said goodbye to a very very special friend of ours. Seeing him leave in the train made me realize, this is really coming to an end. We have all finished exams, we only have one more Irish party left, and some of us will probably not need to go grocery shopping at Carrefour again…
Even though, I still have one more week in French territory, this will probably be my last blog from Angers. So, today, sitting in the wooden chair in my room, I wish you all a good trip back home and hope, one day, we can all meet up again in Angers and go to SOFT to drink the night off, remembering all the fantastic memories from these past few months.
A very very big hug to all of you,
Llopis

8 dic 2011

extremely loud & incredibly close

A few years ago, in my junior year in high school, I had the opportunity of reading a book called: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer. 
The book is about a boy who loses his father in 9/11, and the boy discovers a key in a vase that belonged to his father which inspires him to search all around New York for information about the key and meet wonderful people. 
The book was so good! Truly magical! If, during the holidays, you have some time in your hands, you should read it! I am sure you will like it. But read it soon, because the film will be coming out soon. 



4 dic 2011

brugge



naughty or nice

Last night, 3rd of December of 2011, the Christmas lights in the small city of Angers went on. There was music to celebrate the fantastic weeks that are about to start and in the main plaza, la Place du Ralliement, the Christmas market was put up.
This is definitely my favorite period of the year, because, so many cities and towns around the world dress up their buildings, houses and trees with lights of all kind and wonderful decorations to celebrate the holiday season. There is a magical feeling all around. Rockefeller Center in NYC is beautifully decorated. Cortilandia in Madrid displays figurines singing and dancing. Even the trees and stores of the Champs-Élysées of Paris feel the Christmas vive.
In my own home, each of the grandchildren has to cook a special meal for the Christmas Eve dinner and present it to the family as a Christmas gift. Parents later give out some smaaaall presents, since the real good ones are brought by Santa Claus, on Christmas night, and the Three Kings, on the 6th of January.
It’s at this time of the year when we go into a shop and everything we see seems to be made for someone we love. All those present we so eagerly wished for throughout the year are now written down into our Christmas list and maybe, but just maybe, we will get that thing we were hoping for…of maybe not…
…have you been good this year?



1 dic 2011

the pink panther

Exams are close and I now spend my nights watching interesting movies. Tonight’s choice has been the 1963 original Pink Panther movie. FANTASTIC! It has always been one of my favorite films. It keeps that old Hollywood glam and that easy yet good comedy. I find these old Hollywood classics to be real movies, unlike nowadays, where you find vampires all around...It feels like they come with magic!
I wonder what tomorrows film will be? Any suggestions?