France Archives - Page 2 of 3

38 Things to Do in Toulouse, France

Located in the south of France, the city of Toulouse offers both the conveniences of a big city and a small town feel. I lived in La Ville Rose, or the Pink City, for a summer and compiled a list of 30+ things to do from eats to sweets, activities to attractions (including the best A/C spots!): Eats: Marché des Carmes + Gwadasel: Get the French farmer’s market experience and pop into this small shop connected to the market for some fresh eats. Crêperie Saint Georges: Prepare. Your. Self. When in France, crêpes are a must! And my mouth...

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9 Things I Learned From My Summer Abroad

Nutella, chocolate macaroons and café au lait. I tasted ’em all during my summer in Toulouse, France. But beyond the good eats and stunning sights, I took in many lessons from this time abroad, ones I’ll hold close to my heart for years to come. Here are nine things I learned from my summer abroad: 1. Routine is the essence of security. I met with a university friend at Chipotle several weeks before my departure for France and knew bigger and better cuisine would be headed my way. I’m eating fast-food “Mexican,” but soon I’ll be sipping on café...

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How to Road Trip Through Occitanie in Southern France

There’s simply too much to see and to experience in France. From the bustling cities to quiet villages, snow-capped mountains to roaring oceans, France truly has more to offer than you could consume in one trip. Taking a road trip allows you to get small tastes of a wide variety of places. And even just driving through the countryside is a sight to see. Maximize your time and money by taking a road trip through Occitanie in the south of France. I spent a summer working in Toulouse, France, and for Bastille Day weekend, we took a road trip...

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How to Dress Like a French Woman

France may only be the size of Texas, but its culture and specifically its haute couture have enamored women worldwide. We look to coveted designers from Chanel to Dior to help us achieve that je ne sais quoi. But no matter the little black dress or strand of pearls, one piece cannot embody an entire aura or group of people for that matter; French style is more than meets the eye. I sat down with a French woman to explore the foundations of their culture’s fashion and discovered several dos and don’ts in the process: 1. Do think practically....

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What to Do in Najac, France

“There goes the baker with his tray like always…” I could almost hear Belle singing as I walked through the castle town of Najac; I’m convinced Beauty and the Beast was inspired by this idyllic French village (although there is some debate). Also one of the most beautiful villages in France, Najac is sure to enchant you with its cobblestone paths and castle views. Here’s how to spend an afternoon in Najac: Sunday market The Sunday sun beat down as we strolled past stall after stall from goat cheese to jewelry. Swantje, my roommate, and I ventured off while...

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7 Things to Do in Montpellier, France

Over 24,000 steps and five hours of travel time later, I can say I’ve experienced the charming city of Montpellier in the south of France. Although it was only a day trip, the city’s beauty captivated me in the few hours I visited. And I hope to return very soon! Here are 7 things to do in Montpellier, France: 1. Promenade du Peyrou Easily my favorite site of the day! Just minutes after hopping off the train, Wendy took me to this darling courtyard. Even though we couldn’t go inside the pavilion, I enjoyed walking up the steps to enjoy...

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Inside the Life of an Au Pair in Europe

Traveling abroad often costs a pretty penny, but several women found their way around that hurdle. Becoming an au pair opens a door into another culture, and it includes a paycheck. (Now we’re talking!) Abano, Italy, made sense for Kasey Ervin after enjoying her family vacation to the country several years before as well as studying Italian at her university. “The country, the sights, the language and the food are all too perfect,” she said. “I wanted to experience the language firsthand and improve my listening and speaking skills.” Like Ervin, Atti Hauer found her job on aupairworld.com. After...

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My Weekend in a French Castle

I couldn’t even have dreamed it. I have big plans for my life: to see the world, to make a difference in my community, to be bilingual. But never in my wildest dreams did I conceive of spending the night in a castle. Too far out. Too expensive. C’est trop. Cultural immersion isn’t always easy, but it opens doors to experiencing life abroad on a deeper level. When you’re in the culture, you meet people and do life with them. And one of these people happens to have a family castle in Aveyron. Words can’t describe my excitement when...

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A Weekend in the French Pyrénées

“Let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France.” Ingrid Michaelson sure knew what she was talking about in her song “You and I” because the south of France is absolutely stunning. (But sorry, Mom and Dad, because I’m buying a house for myself in the south of France before I buy one for you…) Even the views from the seemingly mundane highway were breathtaking with little sneak peeks on the mountains and sheep grazing in the fields. But I couldn’t have prepared myself for the beauty headed my way from the Pyrénées: The mountains...

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