You've Got a Friend

James Taylor is quite possibly one of my favorite musicians. His voice is unique -- no one can exactly replicate his voice. It's like silk or cashmere.

It is hard to make friends here. I know, Mom, you don't believe it... You keep telling me to smile at people and they will either be intrigued and want to be my friend or be scared and run away.

I love you Momma, but I gotta tell ya, it's harder than it seems. I smile a lot, even when I miss my friends back at Auburn or in Charlotte, and my "special friend" James in Dothan (thanks Dad...). It doesn't seem to work very well.

Fall 2010

Kelsey & I ; Summer 2011

Kelsey & I: Fall 2011

Bid Day 2011

Bid Day 2011

Sydney & I : Fall 2011

I think about how hard it was to make friends at Auburn outside of Sydney and my sorority sisters. I know a lot of people don't understand why you "pay" for friends -- but it's a club. And for better or for worse, you are with your sorority until the day you are just a memory to your loved ones. It hurts my feelings when people say hurtful things about sororities; it's ok that you don't like them, they're not for everyone. Just like not everyone wants to be a dancer or a gymnast or a cheerleader or an actor. It's a choice one makes to enter a sorority & it's a mutual choice upon the actual sorority in the end.


I tried to explain sororities to my co-workers the other day, and I couldn't. I couldn't explain how 200 girls can bond over something so obscure and abstract; that even when there is trouble in paradise, outside the chapter doors we stand up for each other, no matter what. It is one of those places where going to meetings is like going home -- you are welcome. Maybe Kelsey would have a better explanation.

My explanation doesn't even begin to do Kappa Kappa Gamma justice. Or Smores for that matter... Maybe I'm not good at explanations.

Jordan & Brooke

After I met Jordan & Brooke in class, it's been the 3 girls ever since. Studying, doing homework together, etc. I have never been truly lonely in Auburn, and I'm sad that places like Auburn don't exist everywhere. But, Auburn is a truly special place, with a wonderful and open vibe. I believe it is unable to be replicated.








I remember how when I was first at US4, I didn't really have many friends. In fact, I kinda only had one, and that was short-lived as he never returned my phone calls or wanted to hang out...

James & I

After I "tricked" James into going out to dinner with me, I always had someone to talk to, someone to see new movies with and try food with. I had a friend and someone that was always up for froyo after date nights. He lets me punch him in the arm when I think something is hilarious in the movies but I can't laugh because nobody else is laughing... (thanks J)

So, as hard as it is to believe, although Clermont is beautiful and full of people which I'm sure are beyond nice, nobody is ready to open up and invite me into their lives. And I understand; I'm leaving soon. I just really want someone to go to dinner with, go shopping with, and someone to talk to when I miss my loved ones in the US & I can't talk to them.

I started this off wanting to talk about snow and the 3 hour long meeting that I went to today... But I just can't do it.



I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

Charlotte, NC (towerls.com)

Blue Ridge Parkway - Grandfather Mountain, NC : Photo of Dalei Liang (2008)

Price Lake, Grandfather Mountain (NC): Photo of Dalei Liang 2008

Old-Timer

(I know, it's Miley Cyrus... but still. Close your eyes.)

Kimmy Webster tweeted this youtube link the other day, and I have fallen in love with the song. My father & I are both fond of the dobro, he wants to learn how to play it, I think it's wicked cool. The dobro is a guitar that you lay flat on your lap to play & use a slide on your finger.


Now, it has been a while since I have "blogged", but I am definitely keeping up with my journal for Mme Spencer! Since that is in French, it's harder to translate it. So, I'll give you a synthese of my time here.

Michelin Headquarters : the Greenhouse

Michelin : La Combaude
The food in the cafeteria is delicious. Kate, delicious? IT'S CAFETERIA FOOD! Au contraire, mes amis.... This is no ordinary cafeteria. Oh no. This, is a 4 star restaurant.

Every day (EVERY DAY) they have a different meal to choose from -- usually it's fish and pizza, which they make fresh for you, or it's fish and some other dish.

Since I have arrived at work I have had:

Salmon ,trout, risotto, some weird fish that is similar to a sting ray but not a sting ray (not happy I ate that), & fish prepared in the Chinese style... With this entree, you also get two sides. Vegetables or whatever you want. Or you can just have one side.

One day, I mistook brussel sprouts for broccoli. I ate them anyway, and was slightly surprised. I will not eat them again.

And, ON TOP OF THAT, you get a baguette. Fo free.


There are all these other crazy things you can have -- some weird cheeses (have not tried), some appetizers (some of them look like cat food, others are deviled eggs), and desserts.


Then the nice cashier lady tells you it's 5 euros. Or less. And you look at her in shock, then at your plate, then back at her to see if she is joking. She is not.

It is so serene and picturesque here. The mountains are everywhere, and I am blown away by their sheer beauty as they look down over the town and stand almost in between it and the outside world.
God worked overtime when he created these volcanoes and this sleepy little town.

They are hard working in this town to develop it even more. It is not only the international headquarters for Michelin but also the site of 4 (if I recall correctly) Michelin facilities. WOW. It had 6 at one point in time...


Today, I went to this place called E-Leclerc, a type of supermarche or hypermarche, and finally found the hairdryer I have been searching for. I forgot last weekend to buy one, and felt so idiotic the next day!!

Think of Sam's or Costco's. Then double the store space and it's inventory. Then you kind of have a glimpse of what E-Leclerc is.

I also bought a hair straightener (THANK YOU JESUS!), nail polish remover, some other necessities such as a non-travel toothbrush, and a sim card. I know have a French cell phone number.


I was extremely interested in a type of offer given by Virgin mobile, but I had to have some sort of address verification. Like a gas bill. Or electricity or water bill. Well, seeing as how I don't pay bills, that wasn't working.

So, instead of paying 16 euros, I ended up paying 30 for my texts/ etc. And 15 for the number and sim card. However, now I know that if I ever get some sort of document that proves I live where I live, I can get what I want for cheaper!!

I unlocked my Verizon Blackberry this morning and am SO thankful that I could do that.


I want to go back to this magical spot, but it's a good 20 minute tram ride from Place Delille...The plus side is that it is extremely close to the stop, which is nice when it's raining.

Why don't the French provide bags for their customers? It is annoying me. Thankfully, I had the foresight to bring my new Longchamp so I managed to fit everything with just carrying my hair dryer!

First Day of Work

I love Beyonce. And this morning, I walked to the tram (about 10 minutes or less, depending on lights) to this song. A good start to the day. The sun does not rise in Clermont or in France until at least 8:30 AM. Therefore, it was a mild 32 degrees Fahrenheit this morning... My co-workers kept speaking to me in Celsius while they were telling me that this is a warm winter. Usually it's -2 C or -10... AH! No thank you.

I met a co-worker at the tram station this morning who showed me how to work the ticket machine... You can buy 10 one-way tickets for 11.60 Euros. That should last me a little while... AKA 3 days!

The walk from the tram to work takes approximately 10 minutes. I will have to walk it alone tomorrow, and hopefully I remember to cross in front of the pharmacy and walk until I get to the circle and then go to the second street.......... I fear I am already lost!



After touring the plant at work, I was given my first "study" of the internship! I start Monday, so I am going to read up on the literature tomorrow at work.

my bare desk

After work, my mentor Michael took me to the bank, where I got my carte de banque (debit card) and tons of info! We then went to my apartment where he showed me how to turn on my heat... whoops!

Then, I headed to the grocery store. It is called "Carrefour" and a popular chain in France. It is similar to HT or Kroger, and at the bigger stores, they carry hair dryers. Unfortunately, this one just has food, which is fine because I needed it!! I had to pay .10 euros for a plastic-ish bag, which is just fine, because otherwise I would have dropped everything on my walk home.

The groceries!

After making dinner, I got to Skype with Sydney and my mother! What a treat!!! I have made a plan for the weekend -- I am in search of a hair dryer!!

Arriving

My little TV on the plane

I landed in Paris at 8 AM in darkness and clouds.

Having not slept for 19 hours, I was looking forward to my next flight, a short one, and getting to my apartment to rest. The plane ride here was miserable. I could not get comfortable, and when I finally did fall asleep it was only to be broken by someone needed medical assistance. Then, the flight attendants woke up the passengers at midnight to give them breakfast. I groggily ate my fruit, and bread with jelly (strawberry thankfully). I drank some coffee. I saved my muffin and my orange juice for my flight to Clermont-Ferrand. The next thirty minutes passed by slowly. We waited to debark the 777 flight, operated by Air France, only to be escorted to a shuttle bus that brought us to a terminal. In the terminal, I headed towards Connecting Flights. By this time, I had 45 minutes to make my connection to Clermont. Fast forward through customs (so easy... slightly ridiculous), and to finding my connection.

I went from the main terminals (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F) to one that you have to shuttle to. I'm running around in what seems to me to be circles, and I find (thankfully) a southern hick who has gotten directions to 2G. We go out together into the world. Only to be placed on ANOTHER shuttle and taken to the terminal. Where I arrive with 15 minutes to spare until my flight only to find out I had to go through security. Again. I looked like an idiot, because how was I supposed to know I was going to go twice, and had 3 different plastic bags of liquids. The lovely security/TSA woman just said "it's ok, next time you'll know". I left half of my electronics in the bags, and threw my boots off. They had pity on me, and I appreciated it.

After running to my gate (5 minutes left until departure), I arrive only to discover that nobody else is there. No one. Just me, and the flight attendant/desk attendant. I am worried. Then, 3 minutes later OUT OF NOWHERE these people start crowding around me, obviously going to CF too.

Finally we get on a plane. The size of my room. Literally. 19 rows. 3 seats per row. It was almost as small as the plane I took from Chicago to Des Moines, Iowa a couple years back. I was, of course, over the wing and therefore unable to get any sleep.

As we are flying over France, all I can see are clouds and clouds and clouds. I literally thought I was going crazy. Was it snow? Was it all mountains? I might not ever know because then I saw in the distance, clear skies and land. And it was Clermont!! What wonderful timing too... I had arrived.

Clermont is surrounded by mountains!

My mentor, David, picked me up at the airport and drove me to Michelin HQ. Where we walked around outside and I tried not to be tired. After lunch and walking, yes walking, my 47 lb suitcase and carry on to my apartment, we set out again. To show me how to get to work tomorrow morning. And explore via feet. I'm exhausted, I don't want to speak in French because my brain is just not working, and to top it off, I look like I don't know what I'm doing.... BECAUSE I DON'T!

After figuring out where the nearest market is for bread, eggs, etc, we headed back to Michelin HQ (Where they have an area that is a greenhouse... I want to go in but you must have special certifications/security clearance... I'll post pictures soon). I do paperwork, discover I need my birth certificate for my residence permit, and listen to a lovely woman talk in French, of which I understand little. I have now been up for more than 24 hours, and it's showing. I'm yawning, I'm non-responsive, and I can't understand what I am saying.

I go talk to ANOTHER person... thankfully in English. He is the director of Career Management for the IE department in France. Which is awesome because I need a career.... His name is Phillip. And I like him. I also was supposed to meet with a man named Laurent, but I just realized I didn't.

I then went to an insurance agency. Where I signed some paperwork in French that basically said if I kill someone I do not have to pay $1 million, just a fraction of it. And then I took myself home, to my apartment. I need to go get some groceries, but I can't find it in me to do it right now. However, I did discover that there is a Dominoes pizza in the square near my house. Mother would kill me.... but still.

Unpacking is hard, but someone has to do it!