This past weekend all of us in the NC program traveled to the west coast. Some parts were very nice, but it was such a whirlwind trip that it kind of lost its purpose.
We drove three hours out of Paris to Caen, where we saw the Caen Memorial Museum devoted to World War Two. The exhibits were incredibly well set up. The most moving part was reading this letter written by an American soldier "Jack," dated June 5, 1944, to be given to his parents if he didn't survive the Normandy landing.
Then we got back on the bus and drove another hour to Omaha Beach. The American Cemetery was incredible. All those perfectly white tombstones perfectly arranged. The beach itself was pretty. I tried to think of the battle with all its smoke and blood and explosions, but I just kept marvelling at how recognizable the beach was from Impressionist paintings of other Norman beaches.
From the Cemetery it was another three hours to St-Malo in Brittany, where we spent the night. I got a hotel room all to myself, and in the morning I walked out on the beach to the old fort constructed by Louis XIV.
Three hours to Mont St-Michel. It was very interesting to learn about the lives of the monks there, but outside the monastery everything was just too touristy. I almost bought a sword at one of the souvenir shops, but then I reminded myself that if I'm going to have a sword it'll be one hand-forged and individually crafted, not some mass-produced piece of filigree.
From Mont St-Michel it was five hours back to Paris.
For the past week I've been working on papers. Our final exam paper for Cinema and our entretien individual projects for Explorations are both due on the 2nd.
My Spanish friend Ana finally e-mailed me back, and I've decided to spend the second week of Spring Break in Spain with her.
I really wanna watch Lost, but even if I hadn't given it up for Lent, I'd still have too much work.
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