Bonjour from Strasbourg

Bonjour everyone!
I’m Jennifer from over at A Knack for Nutrition,  and I am filling in for Meghan while she is away. My blog is my home away from home where I share with my readers my version of the college lifestyle. It is a unique balance of healthy food, exercise, and my experiences from never living in one place too long. When I began blogging six months ago, I was at a pivotal point in my college career. Long gone were the days of qualifying travel as flying between school in upstate New York and home in Arkansas. This year, I spent a semester living, working, and eating my way (hello Trader Joe’s!) through Washington, D.C.

(That’s me!)
My time in the nations capitol was a blast, but could not begin to prepare me for what came next. These days I am living abroad in Strasbourg, France trying to understand what people are saying to me in French all while soaking in all that Alsatian culture has to offer.

Living abroad has been one of the most profound things I have ever done. The experience as a whole is completely life changing and highly amusing all at the same time. I am living with a host mom while here who is responsible for 14 of my meals each week. She speaks pretty much no English, and although I have studied French at my university, I am by no means fluent. We have had our share of miscommunication, but it is nothing that could not be resolved over pain et beurre.

Oh, have I not mentioned the amount of bread consumed in this country yet? For shame, because those stereotypes you hear about are definitely true. My host mom always has a selection of fresh bread on the table for me. She buys a different loaf each time to allow me “to taste the Alsatian way of life!”

Beyond her (and every other French citizen) love of bread, she makes some pretty legitimate meals.

I am never going to go hungry here that is for sure.

Good thing staying active comes pretty naturally to me to counter the bread overload, or I would be in some serious trouble.

Whether it be hiking through Baden-Baden, Germany. . .

or biking 50 miles into a new region of France. . .

or running along the River Ile, there is no easier way to be motivated then to have the opportunity to explore a new part of the world!

Overall, Strasbourg is a pretty cool city to call home to for six weeks. Feel free to stop by my blog anytime to see what else I have been up to since moving here. Thanks again Meghan for letting me drop in and say hello to all of your readers! It’s been real!

Au Revoir,
Jenn