Hello! :-) Today is a really crapy day, lots of rain, it's really cold outisde (and beacause the heat is broken , inside as well :-/ ). I was surfing on the internet and I decided to try out the webpage everybody's been talking about - the Pinterest! I created two boards there with two of my favorite times of the year. You can check it out and maybe follow me if you'd like - but most importantly, I am in a search of some cool boards / users with pretty pictures to inspire me. So if you know about somebody who's worth following, let me know in the comments! :-)
I love them. Ever since I was little, I loved helping my mom make them. I love them with ham & cheese as well as with jam & joghurt. I love the czech, more thick version, I love the french, very thin version. I love crêpes.
And here is my favorite recipe for the best, non sticky, thick just-the-way-we-like-it, crêpes.
You'll need:
200 grams of all purpose flour
40 grams of sugar
2 medium size eggs
1/2 litre of milk
salt
Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl. Add a pinch of salt to emphasize it's taste. Pay attention so the batter is smooth.
Now it's up to you how large or small you want your crêpe to be. I like small ones, so I used a small frying pan. Make sure you use some butter or oil, so the batter doesn't stick to the pan. Pour a little bit of the batter on your pan and spread it equally.
Wait untill the bottom of the crêpe is done, than turn it upside down. The other side takes less time, so be carefull not to burn it! And voila, here is your crêpe!
I personally love to eat my crêpes with some jam and sour cream! You can add nuts, peanut butter, nutella, honey...the options are unlimited!
Hi guys! I know I haven't written a diary post in quite some time, but I have an excuse for that. A lot had happened since then...you may remember how I told you about my difficulties with my host - family. If you don't - here's what was going on there.
First of all - me and the family, we didn't exactly "click" together - they were snob - ish, not really interested in what I have to say, from the very beginning, we separated from each other in the house. For that reason, I never felt like I was "home" there. Their lifestyle was just very different from mine. And when they told me, that they don't shop in a mall, because it's not very chic for them, it hit me, that they will never understand me and I won't ever understand them. Another problem started right from the beginning. Their five year old son, who was still wearing diper at that time, could not speak very well and behaved rather like a 2 or 3 year old, abused me. I know he wasn't realizing what he was doing - but he was biting me, scratching me, pulling my hair, ripping my clothes, kicking me, hitting me in my face...it was crazy. And what was even more insane - it seemed like the parents don't even care. Once or twice they told him that it's not good. The day when he unfastened his seatbelt in the car, bit me from behind while I was driving, put his hands in front of my eyes so I could not see anything and finally climed onto my lap (and I was on a freeway full of trafic and could not stop the car), I decided to contact the agency and tell them I need to change family.
The entire process took so long and was very tiring though. First of all, every time I contacted the agency, they told me:"Ok, don't worry, we'll find you a new family, you have to stay there only for two weeks..." and then in two weeks they would say:" We know you are in contact with a new family, but your current host - mother said everything was OK and you decided to stay with them" which, obviously, was a lie.
I felt like nobody, not the family, not even my agency, respected that I really wanted and NEEDED to get out of there. For God's sake, I was physically attacked every day and I still have scars on my body!!
Finally, I demanded that me and the mother go visit the agency representative. We did so last Friday. The mother said that she was upset that I hate them so much and she begged me to stay another week with them, because she had nobody to take care of her children (why she couldn't take care of them herself is still a mystery to me, she wasn't working...). I was so tired, so stressed out, wanted to get out of there so badly, but I said yes. Another week and then I would move into a family I'd already spoken with.
We got back home, it was about 2 PM. I sat down in my room, reading a book, waiting for the school to be over so I could pick the kids up there. When, suddenly, the mother stormed into my room and told me I had an hour to pack all of my stuff and get out of her house. She even brough her male friend to look after me in case I didn't want to leave.
Instead of panicking, I started slowly packing, realizing that I won't be able to pack everything into the one suitcase I brought with me. I called the agency, the new family, which was happy for me to come the very same day. I booked a train ticket and I left. It was pouring raining outside, I had a suitcase so heavy I couldn't lift it, two handbags, two plastic bags, soaking wet...I walked to the bus station (stopping by at my dear friend Simona on my way), then to the train station, then again to the train station...until I was in Toulouse.
My new host - mother picked me up, so welcoming, so nice and so supportive. On our way home we told each other more than I've ever said to my previous family. I met the kids shortly in the evening and the father, too. They are all so nice and such lovely and positive people.
So this is where I live now. In a beautiful country house, in the country side, near the city of Toulouse, with perfect family. I couldn't be any happier. It's been only a week, but I have a feeling that this is going to work! And if not - at least the kids don't bite! :-)
Hello everybody! It's Sunday and I've decided, that since it might be my last weekend in Bordeaux (but all about that later) I would go by myself explore the city even more than I'd done so far. I wanted to take a nice walk, maybe shop a little (on Sundays all of the stores are closed and since it was Saturday, I though, hey, why not...). I had been a fool for thinking it would be a nice, relaxing day...I had no idea that everybody, meaning EVERYBODY in Bordeaux wanted to do the same thing. I mean, there was a waiting line to get inside H&M...it was just crazy. I had not eaten before, I wanted to grab something at McDonald's, maybe buy some coffee...The problem was that I had not enough change to do so, but I couldn't pay with my debit card - the cost has to be over 10 € (which I wasn't gonna spend 10 € at McD's). So I wanted to find an ATM. As I was fighting through the crowds to cross the road, low sugar and coffee high, I slowly started panicking. I think I had a panic attack. Or whatever they call it. I felt sick suddenly, couldn't breathe and had to run away, bumping into everybody. I call it my French Freakout. I've lived in a huge city ever since I was born, and I've never experienced something like this. I had no idea this was coming. But hey. It got better as I found a narrow, but human - less street and walked it off.
I started to make a list of all the things I hate about France. Which sounds, lets admit it, mean. I love France. I've always wanted to live here. But the kind of France that was presented to me over here, that I don't like very much.
There has been a lot of things I did not share with you, just because they are not solved yet. Once I find a stable place, I might tell you all about it. But for now, I want to let you know, that I might be moving to Toulouse, changing a host - family (finally!).
Enough of the negative, now here's something positive. Bordeaux is so beautiful and it surprises me everytime. I wanted to visit Place de la Bourse for a long time. It is famous for its "mirror effect". Here is a picture of the "mirror effect", so you know what I'm talking about:
Yes, there is a small "pool" that is filled with water so it reflects the buildings. It looks amazing. I've never been there during night, unfortunatelly. I wanted to see exactly what you can see on the picture. But I didn't get a chance, since the pool was empty :( It was still very beautiful though!
Here is a statue - fountain that can be found there. At first I didn't understand why the statues are dressed in pink, but then I realized it is the pink ribbon, which stands for Breast Cancer Awarness. And it's October. Breast Cancer Awareness month. Cool! Isn't it?
Even the water in the fountain was pink!
This is the very famous Pont de Pierre. There's not many bridges over Garonne, since the river is so wide...
It all lights up beautifully...
Place de la Bourse one more (or couple) time(s)....
Here's the "pool" (it really isn't that deep, maybe two inches...)
Hello! Thank God It's Friday!! Yay! And even more exciting is the fact, that me and my friend Simona, we finally decided to climb onto the Pey - Berland Tower, which we pass by every day walking to school. The weather was amazing today! Almost too hot, no clouds, just perfect afternoon! :-)
We ate our lunch at Place Gambetta, while sitting on the grass I took some pictures...
Build in between 1440 - 1458, the Pey - Berland Tower was supposed to become the bell tower for Sait - André Cathedral. With its height of 50 metres it makes a very beautiful statement piece within the architecture of Bordeaux. We climbed all 231 steps to get there!
Reading good literature is one of my many passions. Once I open a book that really interests me, I can't put it away and stop reading. Oh my! How many all - nighters I have pulled reading a great book (most of them were Harry Potter related!). This past year I have negolected this side of me a little bit, due to a stressful period in my life. But once I started reading again this summer, I realized how much I'd missed it! So, while speaking of books, my dear friend Lindsey has mentioned this best selling book to me this summer. I forgot about it until I saw it in a bookstore in Bordeaux a few days ago. I had absolutely no clue what it is about. I just knew that she told me it was good. With no other books to read over here, I picked it up and told myself I would give it a try. I had no idea what I was getting into...
Fifty Shades of Grey was written as a fanfiction to the Twilight series. Even though the plot and the characters are so very, very different, I can see some resemblence there.
1) The plot takes the same place as the Twilight series
2) Ana - the main female character - is not interested in men whatsoever, is a virgin and has a low self - esteem, just like Bella
3) Ana is also very clumsy and drives an old car, Bella - like
4) Christian Grey - the main male character - has a dangerous and evil side to him that no one knows about, in comparison to Edward
5) The language of the book is very simple, many phrases are frequently repeated (but more on that later), I find this book very easy to read and understand, which is also a reason why so many people like it and read it so quickly, as well as Twilight
This is what the back cover says:
Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, this is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.
Well, for once, I have to say that I did not find this book romantic at all.
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana's quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too - but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success - his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family - Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey's secrets and explores her own dark desires.
The book is intended to mature audiences.
I definitely can understand why there is a lot of hype about this book. Like one youtuber said - this book makes women read porn in public. That's exactly how I felt. When I first opened the book and started reading it, I thought to myself that it's going to be just another lovestory with all of the sugar and it's sweetness. But boy was I wrong! As soon as I hit page 150, I realized it was not going in that direction at all. The sex scenes started and as I was reading further and further, it became obvious that it would never end. And it didn't. Eventually, I got sick to my stomach reading the details of a sex life that the author could have spared. I put the book aside and started reading something else - Paulo Coelho. Now that is a writer! But back on track. I wanted to know how the story ended, so I once again started reading this unbelievably unprobable story. After a while, you just get used to the sexing. What I did not get used to were the sentences and phrases that were repeated on every single page. Here are some that drove me crazy:
1) First of all, Ana acts like a 15 year old, even though she just graduated college. All she says is "Jeez" (Jeez, get a room! Jeez, he wants me!) and "Holy fuck"
2) Second of all, the book is structured around Ana's lip. She likes to bite her lip, she does that all the time and for some unknown reason, Christian finds it very sexy. And he reminds her of that on almost every page...
3) The third, most nerving thing about this book is Ana's "inner goddess". She is also present on every page, accompanied by her "self - esteem". (My inner goddess sways in a victourious samba, My inner goddess is hidden under the blanket behind the couch, My inner goddess sits in a lotus position.) Okay, we get it - she has an inner goddes! Enough already!
On the other note, I find the humor in this book quite good. Especially between the two lead characters. Some parts of this book are truly witty - in a good way.
To end this review I must say that I liked the book - but as a rough draft. If I were the author, I would rewrite the story, delete some of that "inner goddess", and improve the language. For heaven's sake, Ana is supposed to be a young journalist!!!
Here is a youtube review, made by a youtuber called "smoothiefreak". I think she has a point there, I agree with her in everything.
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