Indiana University Athletics
Pollom in France - March 4
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - IU volleyball standout Katie Pollom is studying abroad in France this semester and has graciously agreed to chronicle her time in Europe throughout the semester for IUHOOSIERS.com. This is the seventh installment of her diary series.
"This past weekend, I went on a wonderful retreat on an island called Ile St. Honorat, which is just off the coast of Cannes. We took a bus from Aix to Cannes and got to walk around a bit in the city...since the Cannes Film Festival is held here I saw many handprints with signatures on a pathway that is probably lined with a red carpet during the Festival...most of the actors and actresses, of course, I had not heard of because they are French. However, there were a few American actor's handprints and signatures including Samuel L. Jackson (he's the only one I can remember!)
We took a 30-minute boat ride from Cannes to the island. The sun and the crystal clear water made for some great photo opportunities. We had a chance to explore the island on our own before dividing into three small groups for discussion. In those groups, we talked a lot about stereotypes, first impressions, seeing with one's heart and truly listening instead of seeing people and overlooking them.
Then we had to come up with a skit...this was interesting!...in my group there were two Germans, one Lithuanian, one Mexican, two Americans and four French people...however, after much discussion and compromise, we put together a pretty good skit for skit night. Our story had the message of "believing without seeing" and "not overlooking those around you by being preoccupied with other things"...I played the part of the beggar in the skit (minimal lines...and yes, I was the 'overlooked' person)...After each group did skits, we sang and hung out before going to bed.
Since we all had our own rooms at the monastery, it gave me time to think, pray, and reflect. Sometimes it's so nice just to be by oneself...all of our meals were eaten in silence since the monks who live at this abbey take a vow of silence. The food was good though, and we found other ways of communication other then speaking...it's amazing to me that it was almost easier to communicate without talking because we all could read each other's faces, gestures, smiles, and expressions. At dinner, one girl dropped the salt shaker in her soup and it was all we could do not to laugh, but of course, we all smiled at each other, knowing that we all thought that the situation was comical!
On Sunday, we attended mass with the monks, and one of the Brothers (actually an Italian monk speaking French with a strong Italian accent) spoke with our group on what his vocation and vows meant to him and the community. He was very friendly, and I learned a lot about their way of life. They all work with their hands tending the gardens and making wine (which they sell on the island)...but it is definitely a life of simplicity.
Lunch on Sunday was a typical French meal including a salad with vinaigrette dressing, fish couscous and hot veggies, wine, bread and cheese, a dessert including some sort of fruit (I had peach cobbler), followed by coffee at the end.
On the ride home, I sat with a girl who is from Aix but spent time in Ohio (of all places!) when she was nine years old and learned English from an American family. She also knew all of our national songs like the Anthem, America the Beautiful, etc. which was funny...so we sang them on the bus...my two American friends turned around and laughed...they thought I was teaching her our National Anthem!
I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to go on this retreat, meet some wonderful people, learn from the monks, and experience the beauty of the island.
My other highlights of this week included the snow on Mondy in Aix. That was a sight to see! Everyone was walking around the slippery roads with umbrellas to protect themselves from the snow. It's actually sort of nice to see snow at least once this winter!...but this weather is almost unheard of, especially at this time of year, in Aix.
Also, last night my host mom and I watched "The Bachelor: le gentelman celibataire" (which means single in French) It is so funny because it is pretty much the exact same show as the American version of "The Bachelor", but, of course, they are all French and it takes place in Paris and Venice, Italy...so "Nouvelle Star" (French version of American Idol) and "The Bachelor" have kept me up to date on the French pop culture through reality TV!
This weekend I think I am going to take a trip to Mount St. Victoire, which is a mountain found just outside of Aix...so if the weather is nice, I plan on going up the mountain...we'll see :)
Katie"
"This past weekend, I went on a wonderful retreat on an island called Ile St. Honorat, which is just off the coast of Cannes. We took a bus from Aix to Cannes and got to walk around a bit in the city...since the Cannes Film Festival is held here I saw many handprints with signatures on a pathway that is probably lined with a red carpet during the Festival...most of the actors and actresses, of course, I had not heard of because they are French. However, there were a few American actor's handprints and signatures including Samuel L. Jackson (he's the only one I can remember!)
We took a 30-minute boat ride from Cannes to the island. The sun and the crystal clear water made for some great photo opportunities. We had a chance to explore the island on our own before dividing into three small groups for discussion. In those groups, we talked a lot about stereotypes, first impressions, seeing with one's heart and truly listening instead of seeing people and overlooking them.
Then we had to come up with a skit...this was interesting!...in my group there were two Germans, one Lithuanian, one Mexican, two Americans and four French people...however, after much discussion and compromise, we put together a pretty good skit for skit night. Our story had the message of "believing without seeing" and "not overlooking those around you by being preoccupied with other things"...I played the part of the beggar in the skit (minimal lines...and yes, I was the 'overlooked' person)...After each group did skits, we sang and hung out before going to bed.
Since we all had our own rooms at the monastery, it gave me time to think, pray, and reflect. Sometimes it's so nice just to be by oneself...all of our meals were eaten in silence since the monks who live at this abbey take a vow of silence. The food was good though, and we found other ways of communication other then speaking...it's amazing to me that it was almost easier to communicate without talking because we all could read each other's faces, gestures, smiles, and expressions. At dinner, one girl dropped the salt shaker in her soup and it was all we could do not to laugh, but of course, we all smiled at each other, knowing that we all thought that the situation was comical!
On Sunday, we attended mass with the monks, and one of the Brothers (actually an Italian monk speaking French with a strong Italian accent) spoke with our group on what his vocation and vows meant to him and the community. He was very friendly, and I learned a lot about their way of life. They all work with their hands tending the gardens and making wine (which they sell on the island)...but it is definitely a life of simplicity.
Lunch on Sunday was a typical French meal including a salad with vinaigrette dressing, fish couscous and hot veggies, wine, bread and cheese, a dessert including some sort of fruit (I had peach cobbler), followed by coffee at the end.
On the ride home, I sat with a girl who is from Aix but spent time in Ohio (of all places!) when she was nine years old and learned English from an American family. She also knew all of our national songs like the Anthem, America the Beautiful, etc. which was funny...so we sang them on the bus...my two American friends turned around and laughed...they thought I was teaching her our National Anthem!
I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to go on this retreat, meet some wonderful people, learn from the monks, and experience the beauty of the island.
My other highlights of this week included the snow on Mondy in Aix. That was a sight to see! Everyone was walking around the slippery roads with umbrellas to protect themselves from the snow. It's actually sort of nice to see snow at least once this winter!...but this weather is almost unheard of, especially at this time of year, in Aix.
Also, last night my host mom and I watched "The Bachelor: le gentelman celibataire" (which means single in French) It is so funny because it is pretty much the exact same show as the American version of "The Bachelor", but, of course, they are all French and it takes place in Paris and Venice, Italy...so "Nouvelle Star" (French version of American Idol) and "The Bachelor" have kept me up to date on the French pop culture through reality TV!
This weekend I think I am going to take a trip to Mount St. Victoire, which is a mountain found just outside of Aix...so if the weather is nice, I plan on going up the mountain...we'll see :)
Katie"
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
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