To do this MoJo assignment, we were supposed to send short report on our Twitter account with our phone. I was really excited to attend this game since IUO team is a good team and there is always a good ambiance for our home games. But this time I could chill with my friend but stay focus on the game and the atmosphere around and type on phone everything I could say about it.

The first game was Edinboro versus Urbana. Few people were there to watch this game. Around 7:15, most of the students started to full in the gym. The IUP game versus Central State was going to start late, but it didn't seem to annoy the fans there. When the players came on the field, the IUP stand was almost full.

                                                                                          End of the warm up. Picture by Laurie Ajavon

The cheerleaders with their pink shirt to help breast cancer, the usual IUP basketball fans and I, with my phone in a hand and my camera in the other hand; everybody was ready to cheer our team. 

The IUP players dominated the first part of the game despite a lot of mistakes. They lost stupidly the ball times and missed to score a basket too many but we can see that obviously our team was better than their opponents. The IUP #3, Kevin Steward was everywhere on the field. At the halftime, our team was winning 45-29.

The second was at the same time more interesting and irritating to watch for the Crimson Hawks fans. But in the stands, a lot of people left. When they went out of their locker rooms, The IUP players kept doing miss to score a baskets and loosing the ball allowing Central State to move up their score. At 11:58 of game, the score was 59-50. We could feel a lot of tension between the players.

I'm excited to discover how you celebrate Christmas here but I have to admit I don't really feel like it's going to be Christmas soon. Since, I will not stay here during the break, we don't have any Christmas tree or decorations in my house and the streets are forlornly dark. At this time, my house in France is full of decoration and the Christmas tree has an overabundant decoration. Outside, in every city, there are luminous tinsels everywhere on the street lamps and on the shop and houses' windows.

Here are the places almost every Parisians- including me- go during the Christmas period:

The Champs Elysées

The best thing to do when you spend Christmas in Paris or close to Paris is to go to the Champs Elysees. You will see the beautiful illuminations, the stores' decorations, the Ferris wheel, enjoy traditional dishes and find present's ideas in the 170 small chalet-style house built for the Christmas market.

More than a million of luminous dots illuminate the 415 trees of the most beautiful avenue of the world. It's more than 180 000 m of luminous tinsels and LED bulbs, more observant about the environment. Thanks to them, Paris will reduce its electricity bills to about 70 percent according to the French newspaper, Le Journal du Dimanche.

This light fairy will cost about 2,5 millions of euros- $3.35 million- to the storekeepers and the city.

This year, 15 millions of visitors are expected.

I hope you have appreciated the trip. 

Like almost every American students, I couldn't wait for Thanksgiving to come. First because it means a week of break and second, because I will celebrate my first Thanksgiving. Yes, another thing that we don't celebrate in France! The only things I knew about it were what I saw in movies: A celebration to gather family around the enormous dinner and its incontrovertible Turkey and to be thankful for what we have; that's all.

A crowded of people well dressed- some students were wearing old fashion clothes like pink or orange shirts with suspenders, with white pointed shoes- packeded in front of the doors of the IUP auditorium to recollect all the songs that we listened to during the 90s: "I'll Make Love to You", "A Song for Mama", "End of the Road" or "Bended Knee"... I was really surprised to discover an auditorium with so many different people. Students, parents, teachers, coaches, simple Indiana citizens, young, old, white and black; everybody was gathered for the Philadelphia group.

When the first notes of the songs' medley started, everybody was already singing. When they appeared on stage, it was just crazy. People were screaming, some standing up. Although they are only three now-Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman. Michael McCary left the group in 2003 due to health issues- and older, the group succeeded to give their fans the same emotions as before. During the night, they went on with their old songs, songs from their album "Motown: A Journey Through Hittsville USA" and cover versions of other artists' songs.

Watch the video

                                                                                                                                      Boyz II Men setting Fisher Auditorium on fire. Pictures by Laurie Ajavon and jhana Jones. 

The big moments of the night were, first of all, when they sent flowers in the audience on the song "Bended Knee". All the girls ran in front of the stage reaching out to receive their rose like bachelorette contestants. The singers were perfect in their charmer role. The other one was at the end; the curtain call was a real explosion. Fisher Auditorium transformed itself to a dance floor when the group came back on stage to sing a last energetic song. The front of the stage was crowded. People were dancing and singing, trying to touch the hand of one of the singers, with a hand and taking pictures or videos with the other. On stage, Wanya, Nathan and Shawn were overexcited, doing their best 90s dance steps.

                                            Boyz II Men throwing flowers in the audience, dancing and singing and Motown songs and the final. Pictures by Laurie Ajavon and Jhana Jones.

It was a real good concert between emotion and energy. Everybody I have met at the end told me they liked it, even Lee Vest, the journalism department secretary.

Some people could meet them at the end of the concert paying $24. So, if you were one of these lucky, tell me if they were as nice as they looked like on stage.

I couldn't find a person who hated the concert, so if you do, tell me why.

                                                             IUP women's volleyball team. Picture from iupathletics.com. Another reason for you guys to watch their games... 

Before the game, three seniors, Chelsey Kreinbrook, Emily Pany and Jessica Bodkin, were honored.

As my friend told me, the game was very intense. Both teams really wanted to win. I was really into the game, cheering them with their few faithful supporters, shirtless and wearing placards with IUP colors. Unfortunately, they lost 3-0- they lost the three sets 20-25, 19-25, 23-25. Both of the teams were, for me, at the same level. The first set, IUP team was too nice; it's only at the second and third sets that they started to be more aggressive. We could see more desire to restore normality and win the game. They dominated the third set thanks to a real aggressive number 17, Jessica Bodkin, and a determinative number 13, Emily Pany, but a lot of miscommunications and a bad dispersion on the court at each set make them lost these few points they needed. They were always in front of the net leaving room in the back for their opponents to score. Edinboro's players had a very good defense and did a good digging work -action to prevent the ball from touching one's court after a spike or attack, particularly a ball that is nearly touching the ground.

                                                                                 Halloween in Disneyland Paris. Picture from.disneylandparis.com

                                                                                        My favorite sin. Picture from Simon Lau's blog

I asked a lot of Americans what they thought about when I say "French food". I heard frog, snail, oyster and inevitably French fries. I thought it was a good occasion to break some cliché about France and food. Yes, in France we eat frogs and snails but it's only few people and it's not a daily course. Like you, eating snail makes me sick. I tried oyster and, honestly, it tastes like seawater. I didn't try frog but one of my friends told me it tastes good; it's just meat. You also have to know that originally, French fries are not a French specialty. They come from Belgium. And the last but not the least cliché is the one I saw in most of the movies about France or with a French character. Sorry, but we don't always wear a beret even when we go to the bakery! And nobody play accordion in the streets- ok, for the last one, it happened sometimes, during the weekend, down below the building where I used to live.

                                                                         The French redneck with his baguette, his cigarette and his beret by google images.

I didn't know if it was a good idea to see of these pictures and to talk about food since, I was just more frustrated!  So I searched French restaurants and bakeries in Indiana. The only one  which catch up the most with a French restaurant was The Grapevine in Wayne Avenue which proposes some French gratinee, so I searched in the whole Pennsylvania's state.  These are, for me, the best addresses I could find:

-Pari Café Creperie in Philadelphia  

-La Gourmandine in Pittsburgh

-Le café de Amis in Sewickley

If you don't want go to these places- because you don't have enough money or because it's to far- but you want to discover French food, I found the perfect blog for you on About.com: French food. Rebecca Franklin will be your French food guide and give you the best recipes.

Bon appétit!!*

is to ask questions." This is my journalistic motto. So, in a way to better understand American people's sportsmanship, competitive spirit and, as usual, make you know a IUP student, I interviewed one of my teammates. Her name is Elizabeth "Liz" Tepsic. She is 21 and her major is Finance. She practices Track and Field for five years. I chose her because she is the one among us who does the hardest workouts since she is heptathlete (she does seven Track and field events).

Why did you choose to practice Track and Field?

I played basketball for 12 years of my life and I already knew my potential in it.  Track was new to me and for as little time I spent with it, I was curious to see how well I could do. I like that your performance is solely based upon you, unless you participate in a relay.  Also, being a heptathlete, I have had the opportunity to learn a little bit about each event in track. Track is very diverse and that's what makes it exciting.

What are your goals for this year and after you graduate?

I am currently finishing up my senior year in track.  My goals are to win Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSACs) in the pentathlon-five events- and heptathlon. I would also like to take a trip to the national's championships. I currently have no future plans with track and field other than maybe to one day help coach. I'm not sure that I will practice after I graduate, however I do wish to run on my own and pass on my knowledge in the sport to other athletes.

What does being an athlete mean to you?

I love being an athlete. It brings a sense of pride and accomplishment to my life.  I have learned hard work, competitiveness, patience, courage, determination, team work, and many other traits along the way.  These all apply in real life situations and give me an edge on other people. I have learned great communication, teamwork, and time management skills. I have also learned how to maintain a healthy life style.

What do mean, for you, shirts entitled "Go Hard or Go Home"?

It means you either work hard, practice hard or compete hard or you might as well just go home. I feel the only way to win or get any better is to constantly work hard. Otherwise, you are not living up to your full potential.  Making shirts like these let other people know that you are serious and are planning to bring your "A" game.

Why should people do a sport?

 It is character building and teaches you to work with other people as well as learning time management.

What can you say to people who don't do a sport?

 Try it out. You never know if you can be good enough until you try.  If it is not your thing, try to get involved through clubs and organizations on campus.  In the meantime, go to the gym a few days a week and work out to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

        For me, these words look like General's words to his troops but they are actually an American's sport motto. Since I am here, I have noticed that the Americans vowed a real worship to sport. Here, sport is everywhere. We can see commercials about it and people doing it. They run in the streets or go into lifting rooms as if they don't have to. We can see all types of people doing sport; the office worker who does fitness during lunch time or just after work to stay in shape and to relax, the 15-years-old teenager who goes to the lifting room because he wants to have the same body as a football player, the girl who does Zumba dance to have a nice butt and beautiful abs for the beach this summer or this couple which runs together almost everyday because they have always loved sport and don't want to become weak. Yes, sport is a part of the United States' identity; it's a part of your culture. Doing sport, watching it on television or going to stadium and support your favorite team or sportsmen are just parts of the everyday habits for most of the Americans.

                                                                                                                       IUP  Football games; Mercuryst team by Laurie Ajavon.

But why is sport so into your lives? What are you one of- if it's not THE- best nation for sport? What does make difference with other countries?

This is the question that a lot of countries ask themselves and the same one that I asked myself before I come here. But now, I have the answer:  YOU LIVE IN IT SINCE YOU ARE YOUNG! From primary school to the university, you are encouraged to do sport. Sport and athlete formation are integrated into your school curriculum. Your school schedules are made so that you can have time for leisure and especially for sport. In France, our schedules are full, from the primary school to high school. We have between seven to nine hours of class per day, so no afternoon off for us. Yes, we are one of the countries with the fullest school schedules in the world. At the university, the schedules include more free time but also more homework. Although , from elementary school to high school, we have between four to six hours of sport per week, these numbers tend to decrease year after year because of politic reforms. Unfortunately, sport is not considered as very important in child education. For politicians, it is not as necessary as math, geography or French. So, to do sport apart from school, the students really need willpower and have to have a real passion for sport because it's absolutely not easy to combine both, class and sport.

I practice Track and field since the third year in primary school. Between practices, courses, homework and trying to have some leisure and some rest to be in shape for classes and track meets, I can tell you; it wasn't easy. In High school, I used to have about 31 hours of class per day, from 9 am to 6 pm sometimes. I had to go to practice then. To get there, I had to take a bus during almost an hour. After practice, I had to go back home, take a shower, eat and start to do my homework... at 11pm after a long day. I sacrificed a lot of parties, jobs and boyfriends possibilities by passion but I will never regret all these year; I met a lot of people who became my friends, I traveled everywhere in France and in Spain. I think it's a good experience for a child.

  Privileges and competitive spirit

 University sport in the United States is almost more important than professional sport, so, everything is made to help students- athletes. As IUP's student, you have a free access to lifting room, pool or locker rooms. As IUP's student- athlete, you get all these privileges and you can also go and see the trainers or the nutritionist for free. If you are good enough, you can get a grant which will pay your schooling, your food and your housing. In France, we don't really have sport teams in High school and university. If you really want to do sport you have to be a member of a club apart from school and pay a subscription each year. According to the sport you do and your level, you can be either pro or amateur. For example, if you are a good soccer or tennis player, as if you are 17, you can already be a pro, play for big teams or take part to international tournament and earn a lot of money. For Track and Field, it's different. There is no real professional status for athletes in France. Most of them have to work as if they participate to Olympic Games and win a medal. Track doesn't allow them to earn enough money to live or good profitable work prospects. If you need a real sport management, you have to be very good because it has a cost. There are some training centres for different sports. Teenagers can sleep and practice there and at the same time go to school with flexible schedule, but as I said, it's expensive. If you are good enough, your club can pay for you. These conditions make that, around 23 years old, a lot of people quit their sport because it's time to work and earn money and it's difficult to find a boss who would leave you leave your job early because you have practice.

For me, it's easier to be good in sport in the United States than in France; all the conditions are there for you to succeed. I think it's the reason why talented people have more chance to be discovered here. Doing sport from childhood creates in you a big competitive spirit and creates a solid mental.  But sometimes, this competitive spirit can be transformed in arrogance and in a lack of sportsmanship. Foreigners are often chocked by this attitude. When I came, I was surprised to see a these shirt with written "Go hard or Go home" or "I'm bust mine so I can kick yours" and others. The worst I saw is maybe the one I saw during a track meet:    

"The good: Slippery Rock

 The bad: Lock Haven

 The Ugly: IUP"

wearing by a Slippery Rock's athlete. I found that so puerile. For me, if you are good, you have worked hard and you know that you're going to beat everybody, don't say it, SHOW IT! I also saw bad attitude from coaches and teammates which appeared so weird to me, like indifference toward a teammate when he fails or get hurt or a coach from another school being consciously delighted about one of my teammates failure or distress.

I can understand that sport can be a passion since practicing Track and Field is mine but I have some trouble to understand certain attitude too much passionate. Sport is not supposed to teach you to give the best of yourself as well physically as mentally?

I would like to say that being an international student is difficult but interesting.

           What a great experience to leave the country you have always lived in and go to discover and live something completely different somewhere else. It's what I did like the more than 700 international students who came to IUP. You maybe don't know it but 75 countries are represented in our university. Kenya, France, India, China... these students come from every part of the globe. So no, I am certainly not the only one lost in translation.

Like me, before they come, these student had to pass an exam called the TOEFL, which is the Test Of English As a Foreign Language. It's on 120 points. We also had the immigration requirements to fullfill. To study in the United States, we had to obtain a Visa which enable us to stay on the American territory. We also had to have done our SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It a way for the American government to collect, maintain and provide the information so that only legitimate foreign students or exchange visitors gain entry to the United States. Most of the international students came thanks to an exchange program that IUP created in collaboration with different schools in the world.  These students come only for a semester or two.

For me it was a little bit different since I came here thanks to a sport program. To obtain a scholarship as a student- athlete, I had to have a good level in my Track and Field event, which is long jump. The most important requirement for every student is to have good high school or university grades. 

As I told you, the cultural clash can be very rude. So, in a way to help international student during this transition period, the university created an orientation week, before classes start. During these long days-from 9:30 a.m to 5p.m-, the university staff helps us for immigration, insurance or work papers. (Funny stuff!) The members of the Office of international education give us information, advices about our student life and the campus. They really help international students to adjust themself to their new life. This week is a good way to meet interesting people from all over the world and create friendships.

The office also organize a lot of event for international student and people who would like to share with them to the Conversation club, foreign film and music series or  the International Education Week (IEW). The next one will be held October 4 through October 8, 2010.

How do you translate...?

Communication. This is the biggest problem for an international student. A problem that can sometimes isolated us.  Sometimes, I feel lost when people talk, either because they speak to fast or because they use slang, words or expressions that I don't know. You have to know that we don't learn the dictionary at school. So, sometimes we miss some vacabulary. I learnt English at school, but the way we learn it in France is not sufficient to become bilingual. In France, if we really want to be bilingual, we have to do it by ourselves by reading books, watching movies and listening music in English. We can also take English classes independently from school. I came here to learn and become bilingual. It's the main reason why most of international students come too. But at the beginning, it's hard to express ourself and speak as easily as we used to do in our home country. In this context, it's hard to be ourselves. By example, I used to say a lot of jokes with my friends in France. Here, I miss vocabulary, sometimes, we don't laugh about the same things or people don't understand that I'm joking. You also have references about things that we don't have as foreigners and it's the same in the opposite way. Sometimes we can fell ashamed to speak because people ask us to repeat again and again because they don't understand us. As English is not our mother tongue, words don't come easily or spontaneously. We have to think about what we want to say every time we want to speak. It looks stupid but just think about when you had Spanish or French classes. I can't even less explain you how hard it is when we are tired or angry... You can now understand why, sometimes, it's easier to stay mute and just listen people talk.

Some people understand and try to speak slowly, they try to know who we are and to be curious. I met others who were not very tolerant and open- minded. They didn't really try to understand me when sometimes I had some difficulties to express myself or they just laughed. For them, you cannot act differently, as if you come from another country or have a different culture, since "You are in the United States now!" You have to act like an American. The same way, they don't want you to speak your mother tongue as if you are speaking with a compatriot.

Yes, it's not easy every day to be an immigrant student!!

And you, do you have foreign friends on campus?

My name is Laurie Ajavon. I am a French student-athlete in Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I come from a city at five minutes from Paris. I am here, in Indiana, to study and to practice Track and Field.

 After a year full of events, (Don't worry, I'm not going to start to tell you about love stories, issues with parents... everybody knows that) I wanted to completely change my habits, change of frame and most of all, leave my parents to become emancipated. I knew there was a program which offered to study and do sport in America with the possibility to have a scholarship . Since I practiced Track and Field for almost 15 years, it was a good opportunity; so I decided to leave. Change of language, culture, hours and continent. It was hard to leave the family nest, live by myself and stay in a country where I don't know anybody but it would be a rewarding experience.

So, Monday, Jan. 11 2010, I took a flight from Paris to Pittsburgh by myself, an 11 hours flight by myself.  Then, I had a one hour ride to go to Indiana. First thing, I had to change the configuration of my brain. From that point, I had to use permanently the dictionary in my brain if I wanted to speak. Bye spontaneity! Try to do it when you spent almost nine hours in a plane and that you are tired!! Second matter: the weather. In France, it was cold, but not as cold as here! My first contact with Indiana was with the snow. It snowed during almost three months non-stop. Third matter: I left a big city like Paris, full of people, full of life, where you can find everything everywhere and where there is a lot of means of transportations for a small town like Indiana, full of student but empty during holydays, a town where you cannot move without a car and where parties end at 2 a.m. It was a tough introduction... ( A lot of people will asked me "Why IUP?" My answer is "because there is a good Journalism curriculum" ...but I have to admit that it wasn't my first choice...)

 Every day, I discovered your culture, some habits, very different from what I used to do and to live. I realized how different our two countries could be. Our universities are different, our daily habits are different even the way we get dressed is different. Last semester was a culture clash for me. I had to fit to the way you live.

            Back in France in June for the summer, I told my family and my friends the differences I saw. They gave me the idea to create a blog to show how different are France and the United States. So, after a first semester of adjustment, this semester, I decided to be more observant, to learn more about your country and report life in the United States, though IUP's lifestyle. I am going to make you discover my country. So, ready for a free trip between United States and France?

Indiana University  campus' acess. Picture from iup.edu