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Christmas Markets in Aix!

Published on by sarahblaiserLeave a comment

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It’s that time of the year when Aix is head-to-toe in holiday cheer! The Christmas markets are a fun event to attend either on the weekends or after school. The markets are the perfect place for getting gifts for your people, or to just spend some downtime.

There is so much food to buy here it is almost overwhelming! Many sweet treats to pick from and of course France’s favorite, so many types of bread. Hot wine is another classic and has multiple options to choose from. If hot wine isn’t your thing there are lots of ciders and hot chocolate that can warm your hands as well. Cotton candy here goes by the name of Barbe à papa and is a fan favorite among children and adults. I was able to get myself a bag of churros, and it was worth the long wait in line.

Along with the fresh foods, there are also many packaged ones for sale within the market. A majority of all the stores in this stretch are Artisian handmade small businesses. There is a range of items from packaged truffles to candles made out of old wine bottles. There is also a section of the market for a somewhat festival of the world. There are different countries and regions represented with different things to sell, taste, and some music to share as well.

Along with the food and gifts, there are lots of amusement rides and games that anyone can play. There are also a few magicians and musicians putting on shows in different parts of town. Every place you look there is something to do! Many stands sell your classic carnival toys and balloons. Watch out on a weekend because there will be many families everywhere and the area gets crowded fast.

Don’t leave before you buy a famous santon! This is French for saint and is a very common gift and tradition in the South of France. There is a classic santon of a man walking against a strong wind which symbolizes Le Mistral which is a famous wind in the south that you will likely hear mentioned many times. These santons make great gifts and are fun souvenirs to have as mementos of your travels. They are often shown with large sets that people display in their homes, similar to nativity scenes. I was told that if you buy a santon then you have to buy a small duck santon as well, apparently, it is a tradition but that was all I was told.

Another tradition is Provencal dancing which can be found in certain parts of the markets. There are traditional songs and dances that are beautiful to watch. It was super fun to watch the dancers enjoy themselves along with the crowd. They perform their own live music and draw quite the crowd. Overall, there is so much to do at the Christmas markets and I would definitely add them to your bucket list!

Funny American Things in Korea

Published on by stefaniepaikLeave a comment

Korea is well-versed in deep history and culture. On the other hand, Korea has grown into a very diverse country that offers global companies that are localized to Korean society. So to commemorate all of the strange American things I have experienced, I created a list of my favorite places.

Costco

The wholesale company, based in Washington state, has various locations all around Korea. In the greater Seoul area 6 Costco’s. The layout of the Costco is the same as the ones in the US, the only big difference is that the Costco here are multi-storied. Korean Costco will have parking on the basement floors, and then there will be a 1 and 2 floor for merchandise. Merchandise is localized to Korean taste. The best part of Korean Costco’s experience is the food court. The most popular item is the bulgogi pizza. It was fairly good, but I found the cheese on the pizza to be a little strange.

Ikea

While Ikea is Swedish and not American, I enjoyed going to Ikea for fun back home. So Ikea here is generally the same. All the merchandise is the same, still a long labyrinth of furniture. At the Korean Ikea, the menu is similar to the US menu. One thing I noticed is the large amount of vegan options. It’s interesting because vegan options are not super extensive in Korea, but it is growing among the population. The food was pretty good; thought it was a little bland. Also, the garlic bread was sweet, so I didn’t like it.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s has locations all around Korea. Recently, Korea has been doing more localized menu options such as the Jindo green onion burger. In my personal opinion, I don’t like Korean McDonald’s. The fries don’t have that signature American saltiness. Also, McDonald’s does not allow customization so I don’t want to order any burger cause I hate tomatoes. It is a fun experience to try but don’t expect it to taste the same as America.