La langue française

I used to hate studying languages. If you had told my 16 year old self that in 6 years she would be conversational in a second language (especially french) I would have laughed in your face. Yet here I am, 22 years old, having lived in France for a year and itching every day to learn more and become better at a language I thought I would never understand further than the franglish "ooh la la" and "trés belle." 

I decided to study abroad in France after a summer program in Paris in 2014. I was going through a rough personal patch and the summer abroad filled me with love for the city and a desire to explore more of Europe. There's nothing quite like the city of love to mend a broken heart, as cliche and disgusting as that might sound. A year after that trip I embarked on my full school year in France with the plan to spend my first semester in Paris and the second in Bordeaux. Stepping off the plane without any experience with the french language, or to be completely honest any language, was a little unnerving. And for the first month I was taken back to my 16 year old struggling with languages frustrated self, unsure how anyone could do this and why anybody would want to. But more and more, things started to click. And finally, around month 6 of living in France I found myself being able to understand more and more and make my way through with much more ease than before. I came home at the end of the year and graduated with my Bachelors, and yet I didn't want school to be over. I wanted to continue learning and I wanted the next time I visited the country I had learned to love so much be with the ability to converse with whoever I chose. 

I'm now back in my home town taking a year to save money to apply to grad school. I am happy to say that I enrolled in my local community college to continue my study of french. Learning a new language has given me so much appreciation for my own language, the world, and the ability to communicate with different people! I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Lots of old, lots of new

I haven't written in a while, and I have to say it took some pushing of myself and sell encouragement to even open up this page, which is kind of funny since I'm pretty sure nobody reads my stuff! 
Nevertheless, I've totally been in a creative funk and just kind of an emotional rollercoaster these past few months. Not surprising at all considering the fact that in the past year I've 

• moved out of the country to Europe
• moved to Paris without speaking any french
• moved to Bordeaux and went to french school 
• moved back to the U.S and graduated 
• moved back to my hometown 

Thats a lot of moving and a lot of big changes for someone as uptight and type A as me! A huge adventure, yes. An amazing opportunity- definitely. But an experience that caused the post grad adjustment period to be a little harder? For sure. I went from spending a year embracing new cultures and traveling like it was my job to moving back in with my parents and being stuck in the post grad limbo so many millennials find themselves in. Spending a year abroad was and will forever be one of the best things to ever happen to me and I don't regret a single minute of the journey or anything that I did to make that happen. But for my next dream to come true (grad school, ah!) I have to put extravagant fun on the back burner for a bit and work to save that cash to finance my future. I know my story is extremely close to so many people, but sometimes its hard to not think that you must be missing something and that you're not doing everything you're supposed to be doing. (In reality I'm pretty sure most people are in the same position as me, and just pretending they have their sh*t together in moments of crisis and trying not to explode at the thought of adulthood) 

I've decided to start writing an documenting again in order to keep myself exercising my creativity through writing and other creative outlets as well as document my growth, because maybe sometime in the future 40 year old Mandee will laugh at what a nut ball 22 year old Mandee was being about her future. 

For now it's going to be lots of soul searching, hanging with the people and animals I love, and making the most of the time I have here. S/o to all the other struggling post grad millennials out there- it's all gunna be ok

The travel hangover is so real

Annnnnnd after 10 days of absolutely amazing vacation full of much needed relaxation, cocktails, friends, beach, and lots and lots of food I'm finally back in Bordeaux and nursing my travel hangover like a newborn child. Trust me- I'm not complaining, I just got to explore some beautiful places that most people only dream about. But traveling does always seem to take a toll on me, so I've been nurturing myself with tea, salads, and a binge read of the whole Harry Potter series. The usual. 

But enough about my inability to act like a normal energetic 22 year old instead of a 75 year old woman. Let's talk about the trip. 

So while most of my peers were out in Cabo, or Miami, or some other drunken sh*t-show (albeit, I'm sure it was an amazingly fun drunken sh*it show, and I didn't get to dance on any tables during my trip so I missed out on that) I was stuck in Europe (poor me, right?) So i took spring break planning into my own hands and mapped out an amazing 10 day trip through the French Rivera and Italy. Stopping in Nice, Monaco, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast, I witnessed some of the most amazing scenery, both man made and natural, lounged on some of the most beautiful beaches (and that's saying something as I've spent my last 3 years in Santa Barbara and was born and raised in southern California) and ate WAY MORE pizza than probably advisable. But hey, #yolo right? 

So heres the low down. 

Nice: BEAUTIFUL. It was like some mutant freak baby of California, Hawaii, the Caribbean, all with a french touch. I honestly don't even know. All the buildings are beautiful candy colors, which is unusual as most of the french cities I've been in stick to the signature whites and greys. While they're all brightly colored, they still retain the architecture style found all over France, making it look like someone went through Paris and gave it a Candy Land-esque makeover. 

Not to mention the beautiful coastline. Curving around the cliffs, the white rock beaches (whole tough on the feet) are truly a sight to behold. I didn't mind that a good portion of my Nice time was spent laying on those rocks with a bottle of white wine. While I did have to eat out most meals, there are affordable student options as well as plenty of corner stores and markets to make a nice, cheap lil picnic. Nice is perfect for a lil weekend getaway, and also doable on a budget, while still making you feel like a major baller.

Monaco: This portion of the trip was a little disappointing. While the bus ride from nice was one of the most beautiful I've ever been on, it was pretty much the only truly affordable student activity on the island. Upon getting to Monaco and heading over to the visitors center, the woman actually told us there was nothing to do on a student budget. Trying to persevere, we spent our first hour meandering around, looking for a hat for my friend, and finished sorely disappointed. Not only did all the hats go for nothing less than 250 euros, they also all looked like something Martha Stuart would wear. After that fiasco, we decided to try and at least get some beach time. Not owning a Ferrari like most of the visitors seemed to, we hoofed it, walking what felt like 100000 miles in the blistering sun. Again- not complaining, as Bordeaux has been rainy 90% of my stay. Finally arriving on the beach, my friend and I sprung for 14 euro cocktails (which were delicious btw) so we could have access to a private beach. That move about depleted our funds, so we relocated after about an hour, drank some cheaper drinks, and headed home, slightly disappointed that we didn't have any James Bond experiences. Bomb drinks though.

Naples: HOME OF THE PIZZA. Seriously. If you had to pick one if the many reasons to tour this city, Pizza racks in at my #1. Go to Sorbillo- famous, cheap, with pretty much every type of pizza, served fast and HUGE and steamy. Don't mind the line, it's worth it! They even have a vegan pizza! So good guys. So good. Spending 2 days here, my friend and I stayed in a cutie hostel called La Controra, with a very friendly staff, free breakfast, and a cheap bar. They even do a happy hour deal where if you buy a 3 euro drink they give you dinner for free- one night was even vegan! Naples is one of the more interesting Italian cities I've been to, far from touristy, it felt truly Italian and truly urban. Everything was also really inexpensive- especially food, making me and my wallet happy. There was no real effort to make it have a fake remastered beauty that some cities have. It was what it was, its urbanization mixing with the old buildings in a very sincere way. A very cool experience. While I may not recommend it as someones first city in Italy to visit, I definitely would tell people to put it on their list, especially foodies. 




Amalfi Coast: A teeny-tiny little town built into the Italian Cliffside, this was the most tourist driven town I went to during my trip, but no less beautiful. With everything walking distance, it's easy to get around. Close to Positano and other cliffside towns, it is a beautiful spot to visit and see. While it was unfortunatley cloudy for most of my time here, it didn't stop me from hanging around the beach and indulging in more pizza, wine, and gelato. My friends and I even treated ourselves to a beautiful seaside dinner. While this may have not been one of the most exciting places I've been to activity wise, it certainly was one of the most beautiful. 

I'm so thankful that my last excursion on this year long adventure got to take me to these beautiful coastal towns. Both making me love and appreciate Europe more, it also made me extremely excited for my California summer ahead!

As always, thank you for reading :-) 

Xx - Mandee

SPRING BREAK FOREVER!

So I know I just went on a mini vacay with   my parents, but that wasn't really vacation for me because I was working overtime as Queen Tour Guide (although I appreciated all the free food, thanks mom and dad!) 

This week was my last week of my major classes at my university here in Bordeaux, and I now I have 2 weeks completely free of school and stress. And like any good American college girl, I plan on spending my spring break vacationing, only instead of Cabo or Miami, I'm gunna kick it up a notch and take myself and my bikinis to Nice and Italy ;) 

I am oh SO excited to see what the next 10 days brings, post lots of pictures, and write all about it when I come back! I've already got all my essentials packed and everything- big sunnies, my trusty black back pack, and my polaroid! Your girl is ready for senior year *james franco voice* spraaaaang break!

How to show your family Paris (and Bordeaux) in 10 days...

 So I've been living in Europe for almost a year now, and as much as I do love it and know how extremely lucky I am there's always that little piece of you that misses home. I miss my dogs, I miss mexican food, I really miss the sun, but most of all I miss my family and friends. 

I was fortunate enough that I got to spend the last week with my family visiting, which was super exciting as my dad and sister had never been to Europe, but a lot of pressure on the tour guide(me.) After living in Paris for a semester there were SO many places I wanted to show them, but we only had about 5 days in Paris and 4 1/2 in Bordeaux. How do you cram the most beautiful and cuturally rich city into a 5 day trip, and another beautiful european city into 4? You don't. But hey- I did my best and my mom and dad said I would've gotten 5 stars on yelp, so that's something right? 

In my opinion, there are some things that Paris virgins just NEED to see. Like it's an abomination if they don't. And while this list is long, I managed to squeeze most of them into my family's short time here. 

Mandee's family's Paris List of Must-do's 

• Picnic under the Eiffel Tower (cliche but beautiful) 
• See the Seine at Sunset (again, beautiful) 
• Walk Ponte Alexandre 3 (again, beauty never ends)
• Museums (Whichever suit your fancy, theres a huge amount of choices. My family got the Paris museum pass which is a good bargain if you're planning on doing a lot of museum touring!) 
• L'as du Falafel (DELICIOUS. There's tons of other falafel places that will try and make you come to their's instead. Wait in line for L'as. It's worth it.) 
• Montmatre (Go sit on the steps of the Sacre Couer and enjoy one of the best views in Paris!)  
• Le Palais Garnier (The inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera, this is truly one of the most beautiful monuments in Paris with one of the most interesting histories.)
• L'arc de Triumph at night (Much better than the view from the top of the Eiffel tower because this view actually HAS the Eiffel tower in it, not to mention the perfect view of all the city's architecture, making it the perfect and less expensive way to see Paris from the top- it's included in the museum pass. Just be ready for the stairs!!) 

While this is a very short list, and nowhere near my whole list of favorite things to do in Paris, theres only so much you can cram into a few days with a family of 4. Especially as we spent one of those days in Giverny to visit Monet's house and one of them visiting Versailles! Two excursions I also strongly recommend to those visiting the region.

My family also saw the Moulin Rouge show which was truly spectacular. It's pricey, but the show is amazing. It was my favorite movie as a kid so it was a special gift from my mom, and they give you half a bottle of champagne each!! 

I'd go into the Bordeaux adventure, but theres not too much too tell- just a bunch of good food, family time, and introducing my family to my friends (my family away from home) here! 

I love spending time with my family and I'm so happy we get along so well. There were some minor bumps on the road (DONT RENT A CAR IN EUROPE IT TURNS INTO A BAD ROADTRIP COMEDY) but hey that happens to all families right!?! 

As always, thank you for reading! If you wanna keep up with my daily adventures you can follow me on instagram - @mandeemc ;) 

Bon appetit!

Sundays in France are definitely a new experience for someone who spent her first 21 years in go-go-go California. If you plan on coming anytime soon, prep yourself for nothing to be open, nobody out to help you, and nobody even feigning concern that you need something on a Sunday. In France it's just not gunna happen. 

Infuriating as this was the first few months, I've grown to appreciate the certain stillness and laziness that the French Sundays require. (As long as I remember to buy toilet paper during the week... yikes) It's a perfect day to take a stroll, drink tea, and catch up on being lazy with absolutely nothing pressing to do- because there actually is nothing to do. 

This Sunday was spent waking up late, drinking two separate coffees at different cafes, taking a much needed nap (apparently the waking up late thing just didn't do it for me) and making a beautiful dinner with a friend. Since I was missing one of my favorite family holidays, it was nice to have some company and some tasty and of course vegan food. 

The only problem with cooking on Sundays- you gotta get creative. While farmers markets are open in the morning, any self respecting 20something knows that sometimes that is just not going to happen. So with some innovation, pantry digging, and crossed fingers, my friend and I managed to make a baked ratatouille pasta with 3 types of scavenged pasta, a jar of ratatouille sauce, 1/4 a zucchini  half an onion, about 7 mushrooms, a tomato, a pot of hummus (for added creaminess) and a few cloves of garlic. Whoever said millennials were lazy was seriously disturbed. 

The result? A french inspired, seriously savory, veggie heavy Sunday dish made from the straggler ingredients of the week and about 20 minutes and two veggie girls later a completely empty dish and full bellies. 

Hope you all enjoy your Sundays as much as I do! 

xoxo - Mandee

Pals, picnics, and puppies

So beginning this past January I continued my French adventure by packing my bags and moving to Bordeaux. It was a very big change from Paris, and I'll admit that the beginning was a bit rough. It rained all the time, it was freezing, I had no friends, hated my living situation, basically all the ingredients to dislike a place. 

As time went on and I fixed all these problems (made friends, moved into my own apartment, bought an umbrella) I began to appreciate Bordeaux more and more. It may not be my favorite place that I've ever lived, but I've grown to see a more authentic French side of life. Paris is beautiful, but it can be a bit to magical at times and a bit out of touch with reality. By living in Bordeaux in an apartment and attending an actual French university I've been able to expand my cultural capital in ways I never imagined. (Even if there was a bit of a learning curve...) 

This weekend, I got to show my favorite french pastimes and favorite Bordeaux spots to a friend currently living in Madrid as an au pair. Both being 20somethings on a budget, we did the best with what we had in one of France's bougiest cities. 

My friend Jade arrived Friday mid-day, and as we were both hungry the first necessary stop was definitely lunch. Dropping her bags off at my house, we headed over to one of my favorite tiny kebab shops, right next to the historic Marché des Capucins. Ringing up at 4.50 for a huge falafel wrap with fries inside, its my favorite budget friendly way to fill up (and also extremely tasty.) We continued the day by strolling through the city, stopping buy my favorite wine bar, going to the public garden, checking out historic buildings, and ending the night with a vegan Jamaican meal(It was a good day for food) a lot of wine, and a few quick dance sessions out on the town. 

Saturday was finally sunny *yay* so I took the opportunity to take Jade to the public gardens for my favorite french activity- picnicking! We spent the morning at Marché des Capucins, starting with strong coffees inside the market and then moseying our way around to buy delicious fixings for the picnic. As I can't indulge in the normal french picnic fare, I settled for a hefty baguette, a ripe avocado, and a carton of homemade hummus. Jade picked up a fancy tiny goat cheese and a basket of beautiful strawberries and we headed off to the park. 

  It was a beautiful way to spend a sunny     french day, especially with the added aspect of mimosas. (Which aren't a normal  thing in France btw.. tragic) 

Ending the day with more wine, more sightseeing, shopping, and more laughs, I finished off the weekend so grateful to live in a beautiful place that friends wanted to visit, and especially thankful for beautiful friends. 

If you'd like to follow my adventures visually and not listen to me babble, check out my instagram @mandeemc! 

Much love, Mandee