Photo Survey, Bordeaux Edition

Tiff sent me this amazing meme because she knew I couldn't resist doing it. Considering that this blog is "study abroad" themed, I'm going to try to confine all the photos to ones taken in Bordeaux. I added captions and explanations, which perhaps defeats the purpose, but nostalgia is making me verbose. Here goes:

1. a photo of you in your room

One of the only photos of me in my room in Bordeaux, taken the week after I broke my ankle when I was confined to my bed. The reason this photo exists is because I have friends who were amazing enough to come see me every day.

2. a photo of you with someone you don't actually like

This guy works in the cafe in San Sebastian where we stopped in to get churros con chocolate. In the middle of a photo whoring session, he motioned with his hand towards our camera. Turns out he didn't want to help take a picture of the group...he wanted to take a picture with me and Tiffany. While this photo is going on the entire cafe is staring and laughing. It was a little awkward.

3. a photo of you very drunk

We threw an "American" themed party at Laura's apartment, complete with beer pong, flip cup, and...Americans. This is us attempting (and failing) to shut everyone up so we can explain the rules of flip cup. Watching French people play beer pong for the first time and love it was probably one of the greatest feelings ever.

4. a picture of you on your birthday

Not my birthday, but Alexa's 21st at the Cock and Bull. Mickey, the manager and bartender, threw her a party complete with champagne, a chocolate cake, and drinks on the house all night for the entire group. 

5. the youngest photo you can find of yourself in digital form

The first picture tagged of me in Bordeaux, from the first weekend. This is at Boris and Piga's apartment, two close friends of my host sister. It was the first French party we ever went to, an epic one at that, where we met a ton of her friends. If it weren't for this party I might not have any French friends today. Still, the fact that this picture is of a cluster of Americans should tell you a bit about our comfort level with interacting with French people upon arrival.

6. a photo of you in one of your favorite outfits

Biarritz, Basque country. It was beautiful.

7. a photo of you making a goofy face

This is a French friend's bike helmet. I apparently have a huge head.

8. a photo you might have edited to make yourself more attractive

A photobooth collage from the first time I left the house after I broke my ankle. It was storming, I still wasn't used to my crutches, and I wasn't allowed to drink - but I didn't care. I went with these girls to quiz night at the Cock and Bull...the beginning of the beautiful thing.

9. a photo of a night you regret

This was the night I realized I have unstoppable, untreatable, and unrelenting verbal diarrhea.

10. a photo of you truly being yourself

Barefoot in the grass, camera in hand, sporting my favorite Texas t-shirt.

11. the most recent photo of you

4 AM. We are exhausted and trying to go to our friend's apartment to sleep. Problem is, they locked themselves out of the bolted front door. Attempted solutions included climbing the walls, ringing the neighbor's bell dozens of times, and trying to kick in the door. You wouldn't believe which one finally worked. The Americans were clearly contributing to these efforts. I believe what we were trying to do here was take a promotion picture for "The Real World: Bordeaux."

12. a photo of you being absolutely ridiculous

One of Erin's three nights in Bordeaux. 5 seconds after this picture was taken about 8 more people piled on the bed. "Ridiculous" would be appropriate here. 

13. a photo of you showing off your new haircut/color

Uhhh...there's no way around this one. I haven't gotten a haircut since last summer.

14. a photo of a time in your life that's over and you wish weren't

April vacation. We were together as a group for most of the time, but somehow we all ended up with different itineraries for returning to Bordeaux. This was our last night in Budapest together as a group. Instead of going out, we bought a handle of Bacardi, put on sweatshirts, and played 10 fingers. Best decision ever. I miss being with all of you together.

15. a photo of a time in your life that's over and you couldn't be more thankful

A broken ankle never stopped me from going out, but it sucked nonetheless. Plus my toes were always cold.

16. a photo of you when you were anything but happy

Taken the day after my surgery when Alexa and Laura came to visit. I was still incredibly fucked up from the anaesthesia and whatever else they were dripping into my bloodstream. Plus at this point I thought my time in France was ruined. It's funny that now, sometimes I forget I even broke my ankle - everything else has made up for it.

17. a photo that you had no idea was being taken

Lunch in Prague. We are an attractive threesome. The beer you see on the bottom left is Kozel, the most delicious beer known to mankind. This restaurant was a huge tourist trap and ripped us off like crazy - we were charged for what we thought were complimentary pretzels sitting on the table, as well as an extra 15 koruna each as a charge for the "flavoring" of our dishes. WTF?!

18. a photo of when you were a different person than you are now

A tourist, not a resident.

19. a photo of you with someone you love

Thanks to that afternoon spent in a park in Vienna, we now know way too much about each other. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you Samuel.

20. a photo of how you'd like the world to see you

Lisa the happy photographer who takes creeper photos with her telezoom lens.

21. a photo of you in a cool place

We were pretty irreverant about Stonehenge. But it was still pretty cool.

22. a photo of a time when everything was changing

Emily's last day in Bordeaux. The beginning of the end.

23. a photo that makes your heart hurt

I have exactly the photo for this but no way it's going up on the blog.

24. a photo that makes your heart smile

The girls in the gardens of the Hapsburg Palace in Vienna. City hall towers in the background. Laugher all around.

25. a photo of one of the best nights of your life

Garorock, a three-day rock festival we went to with my host sisters, and their friends. Camping + amazing music + no sleep +toxic substances = shenanigans.