One Second a Day

When I left for France, I wanted to make sure that I documented my journeys so I did not forget all the experiences that I had. I briefly considered keeping a journal, but I wanted something that would capture the sights and sounds of my journey as well as my memories. Then, I came across the app, "1 Second Everyday," and I realized it would be perfect. Basically, with this app, you take a one second video every day, and at the end of the year (or however long you want to keep taking videos), the app compiles the videos together into a roughly seven minute long video.

By taking a one second video everyday during my time in France, it made me want to make the most of everyday, because who wants to see a seven minute video of me staying inside and watching Netflix. Although some days it was tough to find an exciting moment to capture, I managed to stick to my goal and take a video everyday.

Now, looking back at my videos from January through May, seeing the one-second snippet from each day sparks my memory of everything I did during that day, even if it was as simple as what I was cooking for dinner that night.

To give you an idea of how this app works, here is the one-second a day mashup from this February.

Even though not every video is that exciting, each clip gives a perspective of a day through my eyes and gives a sense of what my daily life was like in France. I highly recommend using this app, or even just saving a one-second video a day to your camera roll so you can remember every moment... even the rainy days spent inside watching Netflix.

The Reims Cathedral

After the initial culture shock of living in Reims, I began to get used to my new surroundings, such as walking on the cobblestone streets, passing by the ancient French buildings, and hearing the chatter of old French couples as they took their daily stroll through the neighborhood. But the one thing that I never truly got used to seeing was the Reims Cathedral.

For such a small town, Reims has a lot of history–the Cathedral is just one example, but perhaps the most well known. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims" was built in the 13th century and was used as the site to crown French kings starting with Louis VIII in 1223 until Charles X in 1825.  

 

 The Cathedral itself is massive as it stands over 200 feet tall and is almost 500 feet long.

The facade of the Cathedral is my favorite part because it is decorated with 2300 intricate statues of biblical figures and kings.

The inside of the building is equally as breathtaking. There are stained glass windows throughout, including the rose windows, depicted above, that were saved when the Cathedral was bombed during World War I. 

I walked by this Cathedral at least once or twice a week, but every time I turned the corner and saw it, I had to take a second to appreciate this magnificent building that towers over the city of Reims. 

[Sources: Walking on Travels, France.fr, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and The New York Times].

Ten French Phrases You Should Know Before Visiting France

Whether you are visiting France for a few days or several months, it is helpful to know some basic French. These 10 phrases are essential to memorize to help you as you travel around France.

1. Bonjour! Comment ça va?—Hello! How are you? 
2. Parlez-vous anglais?—Do you speak English? (VERY IMPORTANT)
3. Je ne parle pas Français.—I don't speak French. (Also very important and the #1 phrase I used while in France)
4. Excuse-moi—Excuse me
5. S'il vous plaît—Please
6. Je voudrais...—I would like... (Used for politely ordering food)
7. Bonne journée!—Have a good day! (Many people will say this as you leave a store or restaurant, and it is polite to respond back with the same phrase)
8. Comment tu t'appelles?—What is your name?
9. Merci beaucoup!—Thank you very much!
10. De rien!—You're welcome!

Although this is a small list, it will be very helpful to navigate France even with these ten simple phrases.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: A Guide to Traveling in Europe

When traveling around Europe, there are several options for transportation depending on your budget and which country you’re visiting. 

• Buses: Taking a bus is the cheapest option for traveling, but it also takes the longest amount of time to get to your destination. There are many different companies that offer cheap bus rides around Europe. For example, I often took the bus from Reims to Paris. Although the ride takes 2 hours, it usually only costs $6-$15. I also took a bus from Reims to Brussels, which was also a long bus ride, but the cheap ticket was worth it. My favorite sites for booking buses in Europe were Flixbus.com and Oui.scnf. 

• Trains: France has a high-speed rail line that runs through most of the country called TGV. This was my favorite way to travel because it was faster than the bus and it ran more frequently. The only downside is that it is more expensive. To illustrate, a train from Reims to Paris takes around 40 minutes and costs between $25-$50. It is also more convenient because it arrives and departs from the two main train stations in Paris: Paris Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord. I also took a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord to London, which, again was much quicker but more expensive than a bus. 

• Planes: Of course, if you plan on traveling to somewhere other than a nearby city or a neighboring country, the typical choice is to take a plane. Yet, it is well known that flying is not a cheap endeavor. If paying $100 or more for a flight isn’t in your budget, and you have extra time, there is usually the option of taking a bus or a train instead. Sure, this will take up to 12 hours longer to arrive, but you will be saving a lot of money in the end. If taking a plane is your only option, your best bet is to plan your trip ahead of time, so you can buy your plane tickets a month or two before you leave. This way, the tickets are a lot less expensive than if you buy them a couple weeks in advance.
  
  
  As this shows, traveling throughout Europe requires choosing between planes, trains, and automobiles. There are pros and cons of each mode of transport, so the best option depends on your budget, schedule, and destination.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  

American Food vs. French Food

One of my favorite parts of living in France was having a whole new cuisine to try. 

I thought it was interesting how my daily meals differed (or didn't differ) from my typical meals in the US, so here is a comparison of food in America. vs. France.

B r e a k f a s t

America: I usually eat a yogurt or a bowl of cereal before class. 

France: I typically walked to the boulangerie and bought a pain au chocolate. 

L u n c h

America: I usually eat a turkey sandwich or a chicken and ranch wrap from a deli near campus.

France: After class, I would buy a baguette sandwich (a sandwich made out of an entire baguette), or I would buy a plain baguette and make a pb&j out of it... much to the dismay of my French roommates, who had never heard of a pb&j before and were disgusted by the concept.  

D i n n e r

America: Depending on the day, I either have a salad, soup, sandwich, or some combination of the three. 

France: This is where my meals differed the most. Because I was on a budget, and because I cannot cook, I often made spaghetti or salad. HOWEVER, one of my roommates had many dinner parties where she would make typical French food. My favorite was when she made buckwheat galettes, which were basically savory crepes with ham and a fried egg in the middle. 

D e s s e r t

America: On a good day, my preferred dessert would be either a brownie, chocolate chip cookie, or ice cream, but I usually don't have anything because while I am not good at cooking, I am also not good at baking.

France: Walking into a boulangerie was dangerous for two reasons: 1. there were so many dessert options, and 2. the closest one was only a five minute walk from my apartment. When I succumbed to my cravings of French dessert, I usually had either an eclair, macaroons, or, my personal favorite, a nutella crepe.