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| Top of the Bastille |
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| View from Musee Dauphinois |
The thing is studying abroad becomes less about just studying and more about experiencing every aspect of your new world. Grenoble is home, speaking French makes more sense than hearing people speak English, having a picnic with cheese, fruit and baguettes is the norm. Life evolves to become distinctly French, and you cannot help but fall in love with every moment of it. Grenoble is the heart of the French Alps, it is surrounded in beauty and as we begin spring, every warm day leads to an adventure. Though the bakeries are lavish, and the regional delicacies absolutely delicious, nothing is better than a sunset or sunrise over the mountain ranges. I'm literally looking out my apartment window as I write this blog post, and the sunset is reflecting pink on the snow capped mountains as a full moon rises behind them. Grenoble is a world of its own and every day I am awestruck to be able to live in such a wonderful home.
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| Sunrise from the apartment. |
Although there is much to do, let me give you a few tips on how to make the most of your time studying abroad in Grenoble. Grenoble is heartwarming, the town itself is not that big, and I can guarantee that by the end of your time here you'll begin to see people you know everywhere. The whole town is like one giant college campus and assume whoever you meet probably has a friend in common with someone else you know. Meet people! The best way to see the city is to make friends who are up to explore. Secondly, always explore! Never decide to sit at home instead of going out and finding new places. The only way to stumble upon new things is to get lost anyways. Today, I spent the day wandering through a few ravines and a farm until we found a lake. Grenoble is full of tucked away corners, go out and find them!
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| Walking to the CEA office |
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| Walking home from classes. |
Go to Musee Dauphinois. Yes, the view from the Bastille is gorgeous, but the view from Musee Dauphinois is equally perfect with a close-up of the river. Do everything and anything that is typically Grenobloise! Find the Chartreuse caves and eat gratin dauphinois--you won't regret it, I promise! Hike up to the Bastille and then past it, have a picnic in Parc Mistral and visit La Bobine for a concert while you're at it. The town may be small, but it has so much to offer if you're willing to seek it out.
Farewell, Grenoble, you have my heart. A forever of thank yous to our CEA Program Director, Patrick Foley, you have made this experience one to remember.
Zamzam Abdulgani is the Spring 2014 CEA MOJO in the French Alps. She is currently a junior at Washington State University.
Zamzam Abdulgani is the Spring 2014 CEA MOJO in the French Alps. She is currently a junior at Washington State University.