Moving to Melbourne, Australia

Posted on March 25, 2024 by elizabethgibs3 under Australia

Here are some of my favorite places and activities in Melbourne. I lived in Richmond for five months in 2023.

Food and Drinks

Little Frenchie in Richmond – My go-to spot in Richmond. Get a flat white coffee, “batard” loaf of bread, bacon & egg sandwich or really anything; it’s all good.
Le Gourmet Cakes in Fitzroy – Snag a passionfruit cheesecake and savory quiche.
Hugo’s Deli in Richmond – Get the fried chicken sandwich – probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had.
Banh Mi Hoi An in Richmond – Try the pork belly banh mi.
IPPIDO QV in the CBD – Tasty ramen for the colder months.
Black Gold in Richmond – Another phenomenal flat white, and you can find lamingtons (soft, spongey cakes covered in coconut) here.
HER Rooftop – A perfect spot for a bubbly Aperol Spritz (so popular they’re on tap). Plan ahead because it’s small, crowded spot.
Afloat on the Yarra – Head over to the boat bar for drinks in the sun and stunning views of the river and CBD.

Things to do

Gleadell Street Market in Richmond – Make sure to try the peanut butter! Produce seemed to often be cheaper than Coles prices.
Comedy Republic Show – See a handful of local and visiting comedians do their short stand-up routines for about $30 AUD.
Footy Game at MCG – Was fun to go to one game but don’t know much about footy, so it was difficult to follow. Found out that you have to stand the whole time when you buy the cheap seats.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Museum – Free entry and changing exhibits.
Queen Victoria Market – Check their website for special Night Markets and fun events.
Royal Botanic Gardens – One of the many free activities to do in Melbourne, especially on a nice day. Make sure to put on those walking shoes!
Already Read Bookshop in Fitzroy – I tried a handful of used bookstores and they were a bit small, strange and not what I was looking for. This one had a tons of options, variety and amazing prices.

Running Activities

Richmond Running Warehouse Run Club – Visited my local running shop, and they had just started a weekly run club. Each Monday, we did a 5-mile loop from the store along the Yarra River and back. It’s thanks to them that I got faster and back into loving running.
Croissant Run Club – Every Saturday, this run club rotates between a couple different locations in Melbourne, such as St. Kilda and Fawkner Park, ending with coffee, croissants and socializing. It’s THE BEST way to meet people. (Croissant run clubs are available around the world and began in Sydney).
For my solo runs, I usually ran along the Yarra River. There are options to do longer runs that connect from paths along the river; it’s great because you don’t have to stop for street lights or cars like you do running on the street near Richmond.
Nike Melbourne Half Marathon – A super popular race that sells out quick. Ran it in October 2023, weather was great (not too cold or too hot with just a slight drizzle) and ran through iconic parts of Melbourne.
2XU Wellness Run – The weather has the possibility of being much warmer for this December race (2022 was extremely hot, and 2023 was more mild yet still hot in the morning). They offer a variety of distances, and it’s a stunning, flattish course with beautiful St. Kilda views the whole way.

Australia’s Working Holiday Visa for Americans

Posted on March 15, 2024 by elizabethgibs3 under Australia

Here are key tasks to handle before moving or upon arrival in the land down under.

Visa Application

Americans can apply for the 462 Working Holiday Visa if they meet the requirements. I applied on August 10, 2022 and was accepted 3 minutes later – so quick, in fact, that I didn’t even register it was an acceptance email until later. (Accustomed to French bureaucracy, I assumed it would take weeks, maybe months – this is also what their website said). It was probably one of the easiest things I’ve applied for. Make sure to have a recent passport photo and apply on a date where, if you get accepted that day or weeks later, you’re ready to get into Australia within a year.

Phone Plan

I chose Telstra because they had good coverage reviews and went to a store in person on my first day in Oz (there are options at the airport as well). Cost: about $40 AUD a month and got a deal that added 20 gigs on each month for the first 3 months. It was more than enough data, had rollover and calls to US and other countries. Their customer service and coverage was great, and I would highly recommend using them.

Health Insurance

Since Australia uses the universal healthcare system, insurance isn’t tied to your job. Working Holiday Makers (American ones) are not able to use their system like the brit WHMs can, so you should (though not required with this visa) get a private insurer health plan. I chose Bupa because it was based in Australia and had physical store locations in case I needed to talk to a real person. I enrolled in the Visitor’s 50 Essential Light coverage as it gave me dental, vision and some hospital coverage. It cost $156 AUD a month, and you can cancel anytime. The waiting period was 2 months before I could see an eye doctor or dentist to use the coverage. Australia’s health care system was wonderful compare to the things I’ve had to deal with in the US, and I wish my country would use some of their practices.

Vision: Six weeks before I left for Oz, my retina started detaching, and I had surgery that required follow up appointments. Due to waiting periods for specialists, my insurance plan had a one-year waiting period to cover an eye specialist, and I don’t believe any insurance plan would have covered seeing an Ophthalmologist without waiting periods. I saw Dr. Edward Roufail because his location was the best. Without insurance my first visit was only $200 AUD and subsequent visits were $150 AUD. I got a standard eye exam to update my prescription at Specsavers for $70. With Insurance covering up to $150 a year, a pair of glasses – including the most expensive lenses due to my high prescription – and a few months’ supply of contacts cost around $500 AUD.

Dentist: After calling a local dentist who told me an estimate of $150 for a cleaning, I was shocked that they could just tell me the codes and I could search them on Bupa to get an exact cost to know what it would be before I went to the appointment. However, I did some more research and found Dental One in Victoria Gardens who does No Gap: meaning if you have insurance, they will pay for the gap your insurance doesn’t cover (sounded too good to be true) but my appointment was in fact free.

Osteopath: Booked an appointment for the same week at Richmond Osteopath Clinic and chose them because they had appointments outside of normal works hours. Bupa covered 50% of the appointment and covered up to $200 a year, so I was able to go twice for $50 AUD each.

The highlight of all these healthcare experiences was simply tapping my Apple Wallet Bupa card. The discount was immediately applied, and I paid the price upfront. Knowing the cost beforehand from their clear website prevented any surprise additional charges or sudden insurance coverage denials and no large bills months later.

Finding a place to live

The apartment hunting scene in Melbourne is rough. It’s competitive and very different from America. I read that people recommend staying in Airbnb for a month to make sure you had time to find a place (I only stayed in a hostel for about a week).
Many places require you tour them in person before you can apply, so I waited to tour apartments when I got there.
Many of the tours were during the work day, which would be difficult if you got a job quickly.
Was told by person showing apartment that since I didn’t have a job yet, if I listed that I could pay three months of rent upfront, I’d have better odds of getting the place. I followed that advice and got it! It was the first and only application after only a week of looking.
Cost: Paid 2,525 AUD a month for a one bedroom in a really nice location in Richmond, which was about 1650 USD.
Insurance: Apartment insurance isn’t required like in the states, and there’s basic insurance included with the rent.
Utilities: The rental property will share more details but mine was set up through calling YourPorter, and they’re able to get it taken care of by proving the address and move in date. Water was through Greater Western Water and only billed every couple months. Internet was through Belong, cost $60 AUD for the modem (you get to keep it and can’t send back like Xfinity) and cost less than $50 USD each month. B.energy was used for electricity and was billed monthly – about $130-160 AUD each month.
Bond (deposit): Thought I could pay rent and the deposit by credit card, but they only accepted BPAY (Australia’s better version of Venmo). So the USD money needed to be transferred to my Australian account and then could be paid to the rental company (transfer took about a day from Chase bank).
Check that your bank will do international transfers or accept international transfers. I would not recommend using Discover savings for accepting international transfers, and they can’t send international transfers. Chase can send international transfers easily and Bank of America can accept international transfers easier and for a better rate than most other banks.

Finding a Job

While the working holiday visa emphasizes that you can work any job for 6 months, I naively thought it would be easy to get a regular job temporarily. I thought there would be maternity leave positions and temp work everywhere. However, many of the jobs I wanted required you to be a permanent resident or were looking for someone long term. Most of the jobs people usually get for these visas are in the hospitality field.

Seek was Australia’s big job site, and I used Indeed, LinkedIn and the Victorian education job site. I also checked out local recruiting websites. Everyone says Australia is so expensive, but with the exchange rate, everything seems to cost basically what it cost back in the US.

Start applying about 1-2 months before you want to start working; it took me about a month from when I applied to when I started working. I worked remotely as a communications officer for a shire council through KLC Recruitment – they were so wonderful!

Bank Account

Used Commonwealth Bank and was able to get a checking account. Frustrating part of banking with them is they can’t give you the debit card in person at the branch or send it to a branch, so you need to have an address to be able to get one. After finding an apartment, I was then was able to request the card, and it came within a couple days.

Some blogs mentioned that you could apply online for an account before arriving in Australia, but that is no longer possible. There is no monthly fee as long as you meet their requirements.

They have many branch locations, which was helpful when I had issues doing an international transfer. However, even with the in-person support, my transfer didn’t work, and I was left needing to continually call them internationally. Their support was significantly disappointing, frustrating and difficult. They actually never resolved my issue and I had to figure it out myself, costing me more money and resulting in my savings being stuck in their account for over a month while I received no information. I tried doing a transfer to Discover and that was part of the problem because it required an intermediary bank and the comm bank system isn’t set up well for that. So if you have a US bank without an intermediary bank or find a better Oz bank, go with them.

Taxes

Once you get to Australia, you’ll need a tax file number, but you don’t need to apply for it right away. You’ll have 28 days to apply for one as soon as you get a job. I waited until I got a job to apply.

Since I was there a short time, I didn’t make enough to meet the Australian Government tax threshold. If you make less than $45,000 AUD as a Working Holiday Maker then you don’t need to and have already paid taxes (about 15 percent out of your paycheck). The Australian tax season runs from July 1 -June 30, which will be a bit weird for Americans.

My American federal taxes included my Australian income (used my final pay stub in lieu of a W2), and I didn’t owe additional income tax on it for state taxes.

Super Annuation

Basically a 401k, it’s required to have one. I chose Australian Super, and it was super easy to set up. To enroll I needed my employer’s code, which I was able to find online. After you leave Australia for good you can claim your super money back, and it will be taxed at 65%. Since I left early and didn’t cancel my visa, I’ll be able to claim mine once my visa ends at the end of July.

Miscellaneous info

If you plan to drive in Australia, I would recommend getting an international drivers permit before you go as it can only be obtained in the US.

I used my American driver’s license to gain entry into bars/clubs (sometimes a photo of it was accepted). I used my passport to pick up packages from the post office and never tried to use my drivers license.

Australia Observations

Posted on January 18, 2024 by elizabethgibs3 under Australia

Preface: Since I lived in Richmond – just outside of Melbourne – these were my experiences during my five months there and obviously may not ring true for the rest of Australia.

Many shops close at 5 or 5:30 p.m., so it’s almost impossible to do any shopping during the week if you have a full-time job.
I expected pavlovas everywhere but this was only the case around Christmas. I’ve seen a good amount of lamingtons at cafes.
Chicken parma seems to be available at every single restaurant.
Pumpkin dishes also seem to be pretty prevalent. I’ve seen pumpkin risottos, pumpkin on pizza and pumpkin soups, you name it. Haven’t really seen it in desserts like the US.
I’ve also seen shrimp on pizza. Move over shrimp on the barbie.
And if you like eggplant, it also seems to be a popular menu item.
Their local beer is low in alcohol (usually 5% or less) and can’t be compared to what we’re spoiled with in Oregon. It also can be expensive, so you might as well get wine.
Now when it comes to wine, I’ve been super impressed. Every Shiraz I’ve tried as been exceptional. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has also been the go-to in warmer weather.
There are passionfruit-flavored items everywhere here, and I LOVE it.
The same goes for coffee. Obsessed with flat whites and coffee has been phenomenal everywhere. Sometimes their iced coffee will come with ice cream, so make sure to order an iced latte and not an iced coffee.
Voting is compulsory here – they had a huge referendum in October 2023, and every single Australian is required to vote or else they will be fined. Could you imagine if that was the case in the U.S.?
I got paid every single week at my job, which was a cool experience compared to monthly back in the US.
Rent is paid every month, but it’s listed as a weekly price on most sites. More on rent in another blog.
Healthcare has been another amazing experience. With my private Bupa insurance, I just tap the card and it automatically tells me what I owe, no silly surprise bills two months later. More on health insurance in another blog as well.
We need TimTams in U.S. grocery stores, every store really.
The trams are nice in Melbourne, but sometimes Google will say one is coming, and it just doesn’t. They can get stuck in traffic too, which seems a bit silly.
Background checks can be harder to get and much slower than the states. Fingerprint appointments (like to submit to the FBI) are two months out and not the next day like we were used to. Perth has more options. I was able to get an easy police check through my recruitment agency, and they didn’t need fingerprints).

Highlights from Riverdale

Posted on January 18, 2024 by elizabethgibs3 under USA

Originally hired to bring a fresh, new social media presence to Riverdale School District, the job responsibilities drastically changed on Friday, March 13, 2020.

My communications role went from mostly promotional writing and trying to come up with creative marketing ideas to being crisis-centered, fast-paced and stressful work. The pandemic affected everyone, and my experience turned me off from crisis communications.

One of my early concerns was that I didn’t have any school crisis communications experience – and it was my goal to gain some of that as the year progressed. I’ve now had enough crisis comms to last a lifetime and am content not using unprecedented, distance learning or quarantine in my daily vocabulary anymore.

Though most of my time at Riverdale was spent doing crisis and never-been-done-before comms, I was still able to create, take photos/videos and write – and ambitiously changed over our website, emergency communications and newsletter system to a whole new platform. Here are some examples of my work.

New Website

Annual Report 2021-22

Annual Report 2021-22 Download

Video Best Work

Why Riverdale

Riverdale Athletics

2020 State of the District

Kindergarten Promotion

Writing Best Work

Canva Best Work

Newsletters

Riverdale Review Fall/Winter 2020

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/64661616/riverdale-review-fall-2020

Riverdale Review Winter/Spring 2019-2020

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/63415069/riverdalereview-winter-spring-2019-20

Riverdale Review Fall/Winter 2019-2020

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62978836/23-107339-a-2019-20-fall-winter-newsletter-proof1-1

Gallery

Santorini, Greece

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Buzzing Budapest

Posted on March 27, 2019 by elizabethgibs3 under Europe, European travels 2018-2019

Pronounced (Boo-da-pesht), this Hungarian capital offers breathtaking views, deliciously cheap food and many sites to explore. Budapest, previously separate the cities of Buda, Óbuda and Pest, later unifying them as one under this new name and new capital. Formerly a dual monarchy, Budapest was part of the Austria-Hungary Empire until 1918. This incredible city was full of life and a highlight of my European adventures.

Below are recommendations for a 5-day trip to Budapest

To Do

The free walking tour with Generation Tours (starts at 10:30 a.m.). Our tour with Régi took us to see:

– St. Stephen’s Basilica — Named after Hungary’s first king, his right mummified hand is housed in a hard-to-view box inside the church. (It says that entry is free, but I was required to give a ‘donation’). Standing at 96 meters, no building is allowed to be higher. You can climb to the top as well.

– Uncle Charlie — They say touching his belly will bring you good luck and touching his mustache will bring you luck with love.

Make sure to stay on his right side because if you’re on his left that means you’re a promiscuous lady

– Elizabeth Square — Named after the queen of England because she gave financial support to the city, this Ferris wheel is an ode to the London Eye.

Not as grandiose as the London Eye but still beautiful

– Matthias Church — Next to Fisherman’s Bastion, this church was renovated around the mid-1900s as it had been badly damaged during WWII.

– Fisherman’s Bastion — This stunning vantage point next to Matthias Church offers views of the Pest side of the river.

That concludes some of what we visited on the free tour.

Szimpla Kert ruin bar — Although this is the most well-known of the many ruin bars Budapest has to offer, it doesn’t have the touristy vibe one might expect and is a must-see. This two-story bar features different themed rooms with varying bars (some with food options) everywhere as well as outside seating. You can also wander around inside without paying for a drink.

Shoes on the Danube Bank — This memorial was created to remember those who were unjustly murdered during WWII. Many Jews were rounded up, lined along the river and shot, falling to their watery grave.

Gyula Pauer and Can Togay created this memorial

Ride the oldest metro — To be clear, this is the oldest metro line in the European continent; two older ones can be found in the U.K. In contrast to the modernized metros around Budapest, which were some of the cleanest I’ve ever seen, Metro Line 1 transports you into the past. With it’s golden exterior and old-fashioned design, it truly felt like I wasn’t in 2019 anymore. For those of you accustomed to seeing people dodge buying metro tickets in Paris or elsewhere, this is much more difficult here as they have controllers checking your ticket everywhere.
Széchenyi Bath — We chose this out of the handful of other baths because of its large size, it being the oldest bath in Pest and was the cheapest. Of the numerous amounts of people there, we were some of the few that didn’t bring our phones outside (I swear, one lady was FaceTiming someone the whole time she was in the water, not actually seeing it with her own eyes). Ticket prices vary but the basic ticket cost was around €15.

You’ll have to go for yourself to see what the inside of the baths are like

Liberty Monument — Originally this commemorated the Soviets liberating the Hungarians from the Nazis. However, the Soviets stayed for 40 years. So the statues now commemorate those who fought for Hungary. Hike up the hill to these statues just before sunset and remember to turn around while you climb.

One of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen

Hungarian National Museum — This museum was extensive of the country’s history with my favorite section being the poster collection. (You have to pay for photos while inside the museum or be sneaky.)
Terror Museum — Surprisingly, the museum was already pretty crowded by 10:30 a.m., so try to go as early as possible. I spent about two hours wandering some of the halls (some of which were too small for the crowd sizes) and watching short, sad videos about some of the atrocities Hungarians suffered.

Stunning architecture at the Terror Museum

Remember to always wander and get lost! The Jewish Quarter had beautiful street art around every corner.

I wouldn’t have found this incredible door art without wandering around the Jewish Quarter

To Eat

Goulash (gulyás) — A traditional Hungarian stew made with beef and other varying ingredients. You’ll find this classic dish at just about every restaurant.

I think I had three bowls during my short stay

Paprika — An essential goulash condiment, so make sure to only add it to your stew and not spread on bread (as our waiter discouraged). Don’t forget to buy paprika flavored chips, too.

Soup and sandwich from Bors and Leves — The line can be insane at Bors but they’re quick and the food was outstanding. Star Wars lovers will especially love their decor. Leves is even smaller than Bors and had the best Thai soup I’ve ever eaten.

Stuffed cabbage rolls (Töltött Káposzta) and sauerkraut — The Great Market Hall is where you can find some of the cheapest souvenirs and traditional food. The stuffed cabbage rolls were my absolute favorite.

Lángos (deep-fried dough or “communist pizza”) — This dough traditionally comes with just sour cream and cheese as the topping but many restaurants offer more than the basics. Drum Cafe in the Jewish Quarter with its traditional decor and variety of Langos options/toppings and Hungarian dishes, offers a filling and inexpensive meal.

Paprika chicken langos, goulash langos and classic langos

Sweet chimney cake (Kürtőskalács) — This cake’s origin dates back centuries, and it is the perfect dessert on a cold Hungarian night. Pro tip: either share with someone or get one when you’re really hungry ’cause these logs are FILLING.

My coconut chimney cake was more expensive than my goulash…

A cheap three-course meal — At Parisi 6 we ate goulash, chicken paprikash (paprikás csirke) and somloi galouska (chocolate walnut cream on sponge cake) all for only €12.

Coconut desserts — We noticed that coconut flavored treats were pretty popular here. From chimney cakes to candy bars and cookies, we tried them all and definitely understand why they love coconut so much.

Fun Facts

The Hungarian language is one of the most difficult to learn, being that it is an agglutinative language and has a 44-letter alphabet.
Contrary to some other European countries, tipping is normal here, but Hungarians do make a living wage (and sometimes the tip is already included in your bill).
Hungary is home to a few creations/inventions: the Rubik’s Cube, Microsoft Word, Vitamin C and the ballpoint pen.

Hungary has been an EU member since 2004 but doesn’t use the Euro as they’ve continuously tried to adopt it to no avail.
Buda means water.
They’ve lost all of their revolutions.
When saying “cheers” in Hungarian we were taught that it sounds like “I guess she can drive.”

Back in Burgundy

Posted on March 19, 2019 by elizabethgibs3 under Dijon, France

My first ever visit to Burgundy was when Beaune’s streets were full of food, wine and people during the Hospice de Beaune Wine Auction event in mid November of 2017. After visiting Beaune and Dijon, I knew I would be back. I have been fortunate enough to call Dijon (yes, like the mustard — insert eye roll) my home from September 2018 until April 2019. During my time here, I was an English assistant in a little town called Brochon.

Place François Rude in the heart of Dijon

And while this, not too small yet not too large, town does have outstanding mustard, there is much more to do beyond waking up your sinuses on this spicy condiment.

Below are recommendations for dining options, night life, activities, coffee shops and more.

Things to Do

Touch La Chouette (owl) — You’ll notice little golden triangle plaques on the ground around Dijon with La Chouette on them, leading to many interesting monuments. This owl on the Notre Dame church dates back to the 15th century and has become an iconic symbol of Dijon.

Tour Philippe Le Bon — This 5 euro, 45-minute visit of the tower provides some of the best views of Dijon.
Musée Rude — Here you’ll find a showcase to Dijon sculpture François Rude with its most impressive piece: a gigantic statue replica of the North facade from the Arc de Triomphe.

Les Halles Market — Occurring Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, this market has local produce ranging from fruits and veggies to meats, cheeses and much more. If it’s one of those chill Saturdays, sit at La Buvette bar where you can enjoy a little picnic accompanied by Burgundy wines.
Wander around town — Keep your eyes peeled for these stunning roofs around Dijon and Burgundy.

Parc de la Colombière — Rent a Divia bike (you’ll see these all around town) and make your way to this stunning park, which is perfect for children to play at or for a picnic; there is even a mini zoo inside.
Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne — While this museum is only in French, it is free for everyone and gives you an insight into what Dijon used to be like.

I wish this poster was for sale

Théâtre Dijon Bourgogne — For those who can speak French, the theater is a great way to experience French culture.
Mustard tasting — Go try a variety of interesting flavors at these two locations: Edmond Fallot and Maille. Pro tip: Try (and buy) the Maille black truffle mustard. It is out-of-this-world good (and depressingly expensive).

A mini mustard vending machine at Edmond Fallot

Language café — Where you can go work on your language skills for a couple of hours. The attendees are alway changing, so any number of languages can be spoken each night!
Concerts at La Peniche and La Vapeur — Both locations offer great concerts, with La Peniche ones being free or cheap, and La Vapeur ones usually being more well-known artists. Pro tip: Use Jondi.fr to find out what’s going on in Dijon.

Sunset from Île aux Canards where La Péniche is located

- Pro tip: Find some stellar Dijon postcards and old-style French posters (that are cheap) at the store next to this Dr. Wine Shop.

Restaurants

La Causerie des Mondes — You’ll find a small, daily handwritten (and vegetarian friendly) menu, which makes choosing easier. This is easily one of my fave Dijon restos. The organic dishes come in large portions; you can taste the love put into them.

I need to go back ASAP

La Maharaja — I’ve been obsessed with Indian food lately, and this resto hits the spot while not breaking the bank. I opted for chicken tikka masala with cheesy naan bread. (They even have Époisses naan bread!!!)
Gril’Laure — While this resto is quite fancy inside, I would recommend ordering a pizza to go and heading over to Flannery’s just across the street to enjoy a Triple Karmeliet beer while watching the latest sports game. Pro tip: Get the chèvre et miel (goat cheese and honey) pizza.
Crêperie La Licorne — Fulfill your savory AND sweet crêpe fix at this cute resto (don’t kid yourself into thinking you’ll only get one).
SO — If you’re willing to splurge, then this is the place. Their outstanding wine list, coupled with their decadent French food, makes for a delectable multi-course meal. Ours ended with chocolate crème brûlée topped with lavender ice cream (this needs to be in my life more often). Pro tip: If they have pintade, GET IT.

Pintade with fabulous Burgundian wine

Aki — For a change from French food, this tiny resto has some BOMB ramen (you may want to make a reservation, as it gets busy).
Marco Polo — Their chèvre chaud salad (aka the best French salad ever) is incredible. You’ll find tasty pizzas, tartiflette and more as well.

Burgundian Must-Try Specialties

Oeufs en meurette (eggs in red wine sauce) — It’s like a stew with a soft boiled egg on top. It seems strange, but it truly is delightful.
Boeuf Bourguignon — L’Epicerie et Cie does a tremendous one and has an old France vibe. You can also make it yourself with produce from the market if you have the right kind of pot.
CHEESE — My fave shops are Le Chalet Comtois and Fromagerie Porcheret.
- Époisses — This pungent, melty cheese is my absolute favorite and originates from Burgundy. It is much more expensive than my normal go-to 2 euro camembert, but you can find cheaper options at the weekly markets.
- Delice de Bourgogne — A stark contrast to the strong Époisses, this milder cheese is lightly pungent and especially creamy. Pro tip: Skip paying for wine and cheese at a resto and instead eat and drink at chez-toi (your house)!
Escargot (snails) — My least fave of all French food, but you have to try it at least once.
Cuisse de Grenouille (Frog Legs) — *I have not yet tried these.* Apparently there is a season (end of winter/beginning of spring) for them.
Gougères — These balls of fluff are a savory treat found at most bakeries. A sweet version can sometimes be found as well.
Kir and kir royal drinks — Kir is chardonnay with a little bit of crème de cassis added, whereas a kir royal uses Champagne or crémant de Bourgogne (another must try drink — it’s similar to Champagne but cheaper). As crème de cassis originates from Burgundy, you’ll have no trouble finding a kir on the menu.
Boulangeries

If you know me, then you know that I’m a baguette snob and that I love a quality, freshly baked pastry made with that wonderful French butter. The French always say that the best boulangerie is just around the corner from their house, but here is a list of my favorites.

Maison LOUOT Claude — A bit spendy but worth it, is their abricot et chocolat macaron (best macaron I’ve ever consumed). Their baguettes are also divine. Pro tip: Get a baguette tradition because it’s le meilleur (the best).
Boulangerie Pâtisserie Fremont — Fulfilling my need for heart-shaped bread for Valentine’s Day, this bakery frequently makes seasonal treats and always has a vast selection of yummy treats (I wish I had tried more).
Aux Délices de la Chouette — One of my all-time favorite pastries is croisant aux amandes. I won’t even describe to you how wonderful it is; just got to get it.

Coffee / Hot Chocolate / Tea

Le Comptoir des Colonies — With teas ranging from India to China, good luck making a choice. Pro tip: Head there after 15h to be seated on their fancy second floor (or, as the French say: premier étage).
Espresso-t — Where you’ll find the best chai latte EVER.
La Comedie – Their hot chocolate is the best I’ve had so far, but was not a true French hot chocolate.
JSB — New to Dijon, their tea is wonderful as well as their chocolate chip cookies. Make sure to get a comfy seat with a great view on their classy, chandelier-decorated second floor.

Drinks

Cafe de L’Industrie — Surrounded by historic images of Dijon, you can enjoy budget-friendly drinks.
BerThoM — For all you beer lovers, this is an ideal happy hour bar with cheap La Chouffe (less than 5 euros) and usually has a younger crowd.
Flannery’s — If you love to play darts, then you’ve come to the right place. Try their cider as well.
Monsieur Moutarde — Looking for a fancier night? Head over to this centrally located bar. The decor is divine, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try their mustard cocktail that comes in a mustard jar!

Wine / Vineyards / Wineries

Burgundy is an internationally renowned wine region, so expect a stupefying amount of wine selection. In France, you can find cheap, good wine, but don’t be afraid to splurge for some quality vintages.

Many wine tastings will offer only Pinot noir and chardonnay. My love for stainless steel, unoaked chardonnays began in Burgundy where I discovered that not all chardonnays tasted like the oaked Californian brands.

My ride to work is through La Côte d’Or, where I was able to see first-hand this fall why its name means the Golden Coast. All of the vineyards’ leaves turned golden yellow that could be seen for miles. To get to smaller wineries along La Côte d’Or take the MobiGo bus line 113 or 114.

Au Vieux Millésime — As a wine store and wine bar, this a perfect place to try wines and take some home with you. Go hungry so that you can get the meat and cheese platter, too.
Domaine Gille — A friend from university (the power of a small college) works here and gave us a sit-down tasting of many of their wines. Many smaller producers offer tastings in a more intimate setting, just make sure to call ahead.
La Pharmacy cave and wine bar — Not only can you have a nice glass of wine here but also you can buy an older vintage for just 10 euros. (The wines may have been compromised, so you may find a gem or a dud — use it for Boeuf Bourguignon for the latter.)
Domaine Chanson wine tasting in Beaune — For 15 euros you can taste four wines: two whites and two reds.
Wine tasting at Domaine Chanson with my best friends Molly and Abigail!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

· Ne rêve pas ta vie, vis tes rêves ·

Gallery

Iceland Images

The bridge was behind us

The buns in the front had golden popits? in celebration of NYE

use better pic

One of the few times we actually saw the sun

We actually got some of these for free because it was at the end of the night and they had sold out of everything else!

Gullfoss. Foss means falls. Most of the countryside that we witnessed looked like it could have been in Game of Thrones

Icelanders buy about 500 tons of fireworks

Soup from Loki

Obligatory selfie because it was too funny

Iceland Itinerary

Posted on January 17, 2019 by elizabethgibs3 under Europe

Iceland is known for its Northern Lights, harsh winters, majestic waterfalls and stunning landscapes (and its exorbitantly high prices). For all these reasons and more, my family thought Iceland would be a great choice for our first winter family vacation.

Planning our days was a bit more complicated than normal because of the daylight hour time constraints (sunrise around 11:30 and sunset around 15:30). Often times, we never saw the sun during these hours because of cloud coverage. To make the most of your short stay, I would recommend renting a car so that you’ll have more flexibility with your itinerary.

One of the few times we actually saw the sun

Below is our week-long itinerary with trip tips and Icelandic food recommendations

Day 1 – December 28 – Thursday

After arriving in the afternoon, checking into our AirBnB in Hafnarfjörður (it was about a 20 minute drive from Reykjavik), grabbing some Thai food at Ban Kúnn, we headed out to hunt down some Northern Lights.

On our first night we were lucky enough to spot the dancing green lights in multiple locations. We headed about 20 minutes south from Hafnarfjörður toward Lake Kleifarvatn (which we couldn’t see at all), where we pulled over at the Icelandic Soup Wagon to see the faint green lights in the distant sky.

Tip: Download My Aurora Forecast & Alerts application to best track these unpredictable lights.

While this picture is a brighter green than we actually saw, it still doesn’t do these lights justice

Day 2 – December 29 – Friday

Our trip began along the Golden Circle, first stopping at Strokkur Geyser to see it erupt, then heading to Gullfoss waterfall where we would rendez-vous for our snowmobiling tour.

Gullfoss means golden falls!

Our Arctic Adventures tour was supposed to leave at 2 p.m. but ended up being pushed back due to whiteout weather conditions. This was worrying at first because it would be dark soon, but with these weather conditions we wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway.

This out-and-back tour allowed us to ride on Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjökull, and see an ice cave inside the glacier. It was a bit freaky riding into the darkness not being able to see too far in front of us.

Loved the heated handlebars

Day 3 – December 30 – Sunday

The goal of this day-long outing was to see Kirkjufell Mountain; however, we found ourselves in a snowstorm, preventing us from seeing even the slightest part of it. The route to the mountain has some other interesting stops along the way, such as hot springs and smaller waterfalls (we just looked on GoogleMaps for the camera icons).

Tip: Plan an extra day into your trip if possible, that way if you have a bad weather day and aren’t able to see something (ie: a whole mountain) you can try another day.

Normally, the mountain would be visible from this waterfall, but as you can tell, it was snowing HARD

We also had a fun time off-roading (on accident). I would consider my father to be an excellent driver, so you know the roads were bad if he managed to do this.

Tip: Be careful of the strong winds as they can break your car door off :D.

Obligatory selfie because it was too funny

For a second, I thought we wouldn’t be able to get back on the road

Day 4 – December 31 – Monday/New Year’s Eve!!!

The last day of 2018 was in part spent at the Blue Lagoon, but first we began by wandering in between two continental plates: North America and Europe, at the Bridge Between Continents.

The bridge connecting the continents was behind us

Our tickets for the lagoon were booked a couple months in advance. We choose the 2 p.m. time slot, which wasn’t too crowded, and the weather was perfect (still extremely cold but no rain or snow). The lagoon closes at 5 p.m. and the ticket includes a towel, one drink and a silica mud mask.

#NoShameBasicPic

In a country that is painfully cold, it’s a good idea to start the night off on a hot note with a NYE traditional Icelandic bonfire. Of the many offered around Reykjavik, we chose the Geirsnef Park fire because we knew it would be huge, and it also offered a 360-degree view of fireworks around us. The bonfires are from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m., then Icelanders go home to watch Áramótaskaupið for an hour before the REAL firework show begins.

Pro tip: rotate yourself like a kebab so that you stay warm all over

After you’ve sufficiently warmed up, drive over to the unique Hallgrímskirkja Church for a spectacular show put on by the Icelandic public. Coming from a country where the Fourth of July is celebrated with an insane amount of fireworks, we were all impressed with how long this display lasted (more than an hour – the longest I’ve ever seen and also the most dangerous as many went off on the ground).

Icelanders buy about 500 tons of fireworks

Day 5 – January 1 – Tuesday

2019 began with staring up at the Northern Lights and brilliant stars around 2 a.m. After sleeping in, we were off to Þingvellir National Park, which is where a scene of Game of Thrones was filmed.

Absolutely loved Iceland’s landscape

Day 6 – January 2 – Wednesday

Our last full day was filled with waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a fall that you can walk behind. We weren’t prepared for how wet we would get.

Tip: Bring warm waterproof shoes, warm hats, serious snow gloves, wool socks and many layers. I wore two pairs of warm yoga pants each day and would have preferred to have snow/waterproof pants as well.

Waterproof pants would have been real nice

After admiring the falls, make your way to Sólheimasandur to view this black sand beach plane crash. Weirdly, the sign said it would take three to four hours to do, which was deterring, but, in reality, it only took less than two hours.

The last stop of the outing was the remarkable Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, home to these stunning basalt rock formations. What surprised us about this beach was the sneaker waves. After being near the water to get up-close pics of these magnificent rocks, a huge wave, unlike the previous calm ones, ‘snuck up’ on us and had us running for our lives.

These formations were so massive that they could be sat and stood upon

Foods to Try

Isey Skyr yogurt – I’ve tried a fair amount of different types of yogurt, but this brand was by far the most unique. It’s much thicker and has an insane amount of protein.

Their crème brûlée, strawberry and coconut flavors were my favorites

Kjötsúpa (Icelandic Meat Soup) – My fave Icelandic food. You’ll find a hearty bowl to warm you up at Loki, accompanied by a stunning view of Hallgrímskirkja Church. If you’re really hungry, head to Icelandic Street Food for unlimited soup.

Soup from Loki

Space is limited, so don’t show up with a large group!

Harðfiskur (dried fish) – This jerky of the sea, viking snack, or whatever you want to call it, I was not a fan of; it was too dry and fishy.

Get the smallest container they sell to try it

Kleinur (Icelandic donut) – I loved the cute shape, but these have nothing on Voodoo Doughnuts.

We actually got these for free because it was at the end of the night!

Rúgbrauð (Rye bread) – I’m obsessed; it takes almost like cake. Get it whenever you can with a healthy smear of butter.
Snúðar (Cinnamon rolls) – Brikk in Reykjavik has some heavenly baked goods and an Instagram worthy ascetic.

The rolls in the front had golden Pop Rocks in celebration of NYE

(Pylsur) Hot dogs – Baejarins Beztu Pylsur sells these cheap dogs at their tiny stand in Reykjavik. Make sure to get one (or two) with everything on it.

Translates to, “The best hot dogs in town”

Íslandsplatti (taste of Iceland plate) – The jar above the rye bread contained fermented shark (hákarl) – the smell was far worse than the taste. You can find this board at Geysir Bistro in Reykjavik. Their lobster soup with a side of rye bread is also fabulous.

Jonathon has come a long way from his chicken strip days

Holiday malt & appelsín drink – This seasonal drink came in a couple different flavors.

It tasted and looked like beer but contained no alcohol

Svart lakkrìs (black licorice) – If you’re one of the strange people that likes this candy then you’re in the right place. Much of their candy and even chocolate has licorice inside.

We enjoyed these other snacks without licorice more

Chocolate covered Bugles!

Bánh mì sandwich – While not traditional Icelandic food, this sandwich was outstanding. Hlemmur Mathöll is a more affordable place for dinner and has a variety of options that will please even the pickiest of eaters.

I wish I had another one of these right now

Vanilla Kremkec (Vanilla Cookies) – If you’re a cookie monster like my whole family is, try these.

These were gone so fast that I didn’t even get a pic before they were opened

Hope you enjoy your Icelandic adventure as much as we did and for more pictures check out Iceland Images! Skàl!

Coucou from Corsica

Posted on November 5, 2018 by elizabethgibs3 under France

“You’re going to love Corsica,” is what every Frenchie said when I told them of my vacation plans; of course, they were right.

I became friends with another American assistant last year, Laine, who is doing the same English teaching program in Bastia, Corsica. So, naturally, I had to visit her and see the island during the Toussaint break.

There are two ways to get to this Mediterranean island: by ferry or by plane. Planning this trip late resulted in higher ferry prices, so I instead opted to take a flight from Marseille to save time (a 12 hour ferry versus a 50 minute plane ride) while paying a little bit more for convenience.

Since my friend fortunately had a car, we were able to road trip around the island while needing to make minimal plans ahead of time. Some of the best trips are done this way! If you don’t know someone living in Corsica, I would recommend renting a car.

The melange of French, Italian and Corsican culture is evident everywhere. Street signs are in French and Corsican with Italian proper names mixed in, while restaurant food is usually typical French cuisine, but you’ll find some Italian restaurants as well.

Below are some recommendations of activities to do in Bastia, Aljaccio, Bonnifacio and Cap Corse.

Bastia

Start your time in Bastia by walking around the city center and along the water. Wander through back alleys and small, narrow streets. The style of buildings and port in Bastia felt like a combination of Nice and Manarola.

Picnic in the small park overlooking the water next to Cathedrale Sainte-Marie de l’Assomption. Make sure to try Corsican wine. The grape varieties tend to be more Italian than French, some of which I had never even heard of, and were a little bit more expensive than wine in France proper.
Corsica is also well known for their cheese and dried meats as well as Pietra beer – I prefer the amber. You’ll find these staples in most grocery stores; for example, Monoprix had a special section that showcased Corsican meat.
Grab some pizza at Museum Café. Some days you just need some comforting Italian wood-fired pizza. Their chorizo and peppers pizza hit the spot.

If traversing public transportation in a foreign language and culture is difficult, then you may especially struggle in Bastia as the buses have no schedules and few marked stops. The center of town is walkable but getting from the airport or ferry to where you’ll be staying will surely require public transport or possibly an Uber.

Probably the best stew I’ve ever had. This was at a tiny restaurant without a name, on the side of the road on the way to Bonifacio. I couldn’t even tell you where it was or how to get there.

Ajaccio

This town was a quick stop on our way from Bastia to Bonifacio. As the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio’s town centre is scattered with Napoleon-named buildings, paintings and memorabilia.

Stroll though the town center, taking a look at the waterfront, then make your way to Delissimo gelato shop. This shop has special Corsican flavors, so I opted for Panna figue (the fig flavor was weak) and Cédrat Corse – described as a strong lemon flavor by an employee. (I’m obsessed with lemon-flavored desserts right now, and this did not disappoint.)
If you have more time, visit the Bonaparte Museum to see his former home.

Green, luscious trees surrounded us as we traversed the couple hour drive through windy roads and tiny villages on our way to Bonifacio. According to Laine, some students often say they’re going to ‘the village’ for the weekend to visit family, but won’t say the actual name. (Also, be prepared for quite aggressive drivers honking at you to pass).

A quick sunset stop before arriving in Bonifacio.

Bonifacio

Stay: Camping la Trinité is open for camping until the end of October. Finding open camp sites can be fairly difficult this time of year as the weather tends to get ugly, making many of Corsica’s outside activities less appealing. This campsite had the basics like toilets, showers and sinks, but remember to bring soap and toilet paper!
- Cost: 17 euros per person for two nights with one car and one tent.

Two of us slept in the tent and the other in the car.

The view from our campsite

There were friendly cats and dogs constantly roaming around the site. We loved it!

Drive away from the town center up the hill to see these jaw-dropping cliffs. It’s no wonder this town is called the “Citadel of Cliffs.”
From the cliffs wander down the road to the lighthouse behind you.

There’s a path near the lighthouse to hike down to the beach where, if you’re ill-equipped like we were in the swimsuit department, you can choose to go skinny dipping because it’s France! (Be prepared to see naked men and women if you’re at a beach.) I chose to take a nap under the sun – I could not believe how warm it was at the end of October.

Walk through the city town center, picnic on the dock, in the oldest city in Corsica.
Climb up the almost vertical, daunting amount of stairs to the citadel where you’ll discover a little town filled with narrow windy streets and cute little restaurants.

Old photographs from when my host mom visited Corsica. The rocks haven’t changed much 😉

I wanted to recreate this photo of my host mom in Bonifacio, but unfortunately, wasn’t able to do so hehe

Grab a Pietra Corsican beer at a restaurant or café.

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

I would recommend not doing a day trip to Bonifacio as you’re able to see and do more with at least a full day.

Can you spot the black cat?

Cap Course

Hike to the Tower of Santa Maria. This took about 4 hours roundtrip from Macinaggio. This hike is easily modifiable to make the route longer or shorter depending on your fitness level. Most of the hike was stunning views along the water. If you want to continue past the tower to the end of the hike, it would take about 7 hours. (Because we didn’t know the mileage, our original plan was to do this until we asked some locals at the grocery store who advised us to turn around at the tower – and I’m glad they did.)

Overall, Corsica was an incredibly gorgeous island. Its natural beauty reminded me of road tripping through Costa Rica with my family, and this Corsican trip is yet another great road trip for the books. I promise; you’re going to love Corsica.

A Vivacious Summer at Vista Hills Vineyard

Posted on October 1, 2018 by elizabethgibs3 under USA

Summer 2018 was spent having the time of my life working in the tasting room where I had interned my senior year at Linfield. I was not only able to connect with customers from around the world but also worked on small projects, such as bottle photography and an end-of-summer event.

New to our wine lineup this year, our single block series showcases wine that’s made at the smallest level of production possible: a single barrel, single block and single clone.

One of our owners, Nancy McClintock, won Duchess at her high school very year, ergo the latest Vista rosé.

Our atypical deep red rosé.

My end of the summer/job project: Fête de fromage. Being the Francophile and cheese lover that I am, this event couldn’t have been more perfect.

Paris – A Few of My Preferred Activities

Posted on June 11, 2018 by elizabethgibs3 under Paris

Being the incredibly dynamic city it is, Paris effectively maintains its historical roots while offering ever-changing events. Having done the typical tourist attractions numerous times, I strive to discover something new each time I return. Below is a compilation of some of my favorite activities as well as recommendations from Frenchies.

À FAIRE

Musées

Musée de Cluny – Currently has an exhibit on unicorns running until Feb. 25, 2019. The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries dating back to the Middle Ages were magnificent.
Musée de l’Orangerie – For the fine art lovers, impressionist and post-impressionist artwork is abundant. Some of my favorite pieces are showcased here, but what really stands out are Monet’s lengthy water lily paintings wrapped around custom-made walls designed.

You’ll also find paintings by Renoir and other well-known artists

Musée Européenne de la Photographie – The JR exhibition running until Feb. 10, 2019 was stunning, demonstrating incredible creativity by the photographer through his black and white work.

Foundation Louise Vuitton – Even though the lines can be quite extensive, and this will also be found at the top of tourist to-do lists, the exhibits here are constantly changing, and the building architecture is exquisite.

L’Atelier des Lumières – This exposition has been extended until Jan. 6, 2019. SO GO ASAP. The creativity was awe inspiring; I’ve never seen anything like it. It was enjoyable just sitting on the ground and watching the projections of art by Gustav Klimt and other Viennese artists constantly change. Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time because it always sells out.

Activités

As a big Amelie fan, seeing the café where she worked in the film was a must for me. You’ll find this petit café in Montmartre.

Le Social Bar does record nights occasionally as well as Blind Test, (a game where you guess song names and artists) so be sure to check out their schedule. I have yet to visit this bar, but this is one of the first places I’ll be heading to when I’m back in Paris (because old French music has a special place in my heart).
La Ruée vers l’Orge – If you love beer and want a variety of options from all over France and other countries, head to this bar.
Rue Crémieux – While you’ll probably find this on other tourist recommendations, I happily found it on accident just wondering around Gare de Lyon.

House goals

Studi 28 Cinema – Sometimes it can be quite difficult to find quality French movies. I was looking for an authentic French cinema experience and found Studio 28, offering different French movies weekly.
Le mur des je t’aime – If you’re in the 18e arrondissement, make a quick stop as this wall.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a perfect example of a Parisian park. Parisians flock to parks when the sun is even slightly out, and it’s la verité that they’ll bring wine and chips for an aperitif. Since I’ve been trying to assimilate to French culture as best as possible, I did the same.

It was nice to see luscious amounts of greenery in the midst of Paris

Go thrift shopping. Friperies (thrift shops) in les marais offer incredible deals. My friend found two jackets in the one euro bins. I found a cute winter jacket for only 30 euros that would normally cost at least 100 euros at a store like MANGO. There are many kilo shops as well where the price is determined by how much the clothing weighs.
Picnic along the Seine River. Save some money by heading to the nearest Casino (grocery store chain, not an American Casino) to grab picnic supplies (don’t forget Spéculoos or a baguette), and enjoy the scenery along the Seine.
Run a race. If you’re into running, plan your trip around the Paris half or full marathon (they’re on different weekends in the spring). Runners race through Parisian streets and along the Seine River. The half marathon doesn’t include a view of the Eiffel Tower but is still just as exhilarating. Pro tip: listen to some French music during the race for the best experience.

My first foreign half marathon!

Play games with Frenchies. If you have some French friends, be sure to ask them to bring some games they typically play or find a pétanque court – it might be hogged by old men though.
Walk around Paris. Not many things make me as happy as walking along Paris’ cobbled streets when the sun is out and the bakeries are emitting that freshly baked bread aroma. Paris is such a walkable and stunning city, so much so, that I can’t emphasize enough how incredible it is to walk instead of talking the metro whenever possible.

Go get lost to find something you didn’t put on your itinerary.

Other places to visit:

Le Marché aux Puces Vanves
Parc Monceau
Musée Carnavalet
Musée Édith Piaf
Place Dauphine
Le Jardin Albert Kahn
Fountain Bleu
La Recyclerie

À MANGER

La Félicita – Finding something to do other than musuem hopping on Sunday can be difficult sometimes. If you are looking for some stellar food/drinks, head to this grand place with amazing ambiance.

La Parisienne by Gare de Lyon – French bakeries are the way to my heart; they don’t hurt my budget either. Not only can you grab a freshly baked baguette as well pastries but also most shops have sandwiches and items for breakfast, lunch AND dinner.
Fermier Gourmet – If you’re looking for some outstanding duck as well as to-go options, Fermier Gourmet has reasonably priced canard and delicious sides.

Make sure you’re hungry when you go

Café Chez Prosper in the Nation arrondissement, you’ll find some typical French dishes that pair perfectly with the classic French ambiance. Order their margaret de canard, which comes with a side of excellent ratatouille. And don’t pass on dessert; in fact, go with as many friends as possible so that you can try more than just one dessert. My friend and I ordered French classics, chocolate mousse and ile flottante (floating island), which is merengue floating on creme anglais.

La Cerise sur La Pizza. The Belleville neighborhood is well-know for its asian food, but my Parisian friend adores this pizza restaurant, La Cerise sur La Pizza. You’ll find a variety of typical French and Italian pizzas with toppings such as duck, spicy sausage, reblochon cheese and goat cheese.

I learned that this is a play on words. It translates to the cherry on the pizza (like the cherry on the cake)

Le Panier was délicieuse

Belleville is not only well-know for its asian food scene but also graffiti art.

Chez Marianne – This Mediterranean food was recommend by a friend. It’s a nice change from normal Parisian food.

Most of you probably know this, but avoid getting food by the Eiffel Tower (especially don’t eat a crepe) – I never thought crepes could be bad, but this one was the worst I’ve ever had.

There was Nutella on it though, so I still ate it all

For the best up-to-date recommendations, go to Anne Ditmeyer’s website, follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her newsletter. She’s an American who became French and is currently living her best life in Paris.

TAPIF Tricks – Teaching Advice

Posted on June 6, 2018 by elizabethgibs3 under Bourges

Everyone’s TAPIF experience is going to be different, but it helps to get a better understanding of what to expect before arriving in France.

I was lucky enough to get to go on a field trip with some students

Lesson Plans

With my situation, I was placed at only one large high school. my teachers were open to whatever I wished to teach/do with my students. While the freedom is exciting, it also leaves almost too much room to be creative and is quite vague, especially so, because in the beginning you don’t know really have an understanding of where the students’ levels and comprehension is at.

Because I didn’t know their levels, I often asked the teachers for subject suggestions or what they’re currently doing it class.

Then, at the end of class if I have extra time, I often asked my students about their interests. (This could be turned into multiple lessons, honestly.) This also facilitates them to talk much more about the things they love. My students always got the most excited talking about music, television shows and movies. Their faces especially lit up when I shared similar same interests.

Knowing that I love to make food, some students made me a French recipe book in English

After learning what shows they like, I was able to craft lessons using images and video excerpts. They then had an easier time describing what was happening and forming sentences as well as learning new vocabulary. For example, use Harry Potter images from movies and have the students describe the situation.

I have noticed that students easily mess up the tense conjugations, so practicing past tense, present and future is always good

Holiday lessons are probably the most fun because they’re the easiest to talk about. Another easy subject, and one that can be turned into a multitude of lessons, is differences between the United States and France. This is something students often have questions about and usually have stereotypical ideas in their head of Americans that may not always be true. One of my favorite lessons was the difference between American and French food.

My catering students appreciated my pumpkin pie!

Games

20 Questions – Great to see if they have learned the vocab words you’ve taught them. Students get 20 questions to ask yes or no questions about either a person, place or thing you’ve chosen in your head.
Never Have I Ever – Have each student say something that they have never done. If other students have done this thing then they need to put a finger down. The person with their last finger up wins.
Two Truths and a Lie – Students need to say two truths and lie about themselves while their classmates guess which of the three statements is a lie. This can be good for students to write down their three sentences so that they aren’t doing a long pause on the lie, giving it away.
Hot Seat – One student comes up to sit in the hot seat facing the class. Their team has to give them clues so that they can guess what is written on the board.
Guess Who (Devine tete) – Write a famous person on the board, have one student come up with their back to the board, then they start asking questions about him/her while their team replies with only yes or no.

Dealing with misbehaving students

I was told that if any students misbehave, then I have the permission to send them back to class with their teacher, and they won’t get the privilege of coming back to my class again.

The reward systems usually works pretty well to get students behaving correctly. Telling them that they get to play a fun game at the end of the lesson if they’re on their best behavior and participate often quiets them down.

Coworkers

Communication is key. Talk to your coworkers as much as possible because you never know what you might learn or get the opportunity to do.