Sweet Disposition

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année mes amis ! I hope I haven’t kept you all waiting too long for an update on things here in France ! I’m just going to jump right into things.

School is going fantastically well, and I am so surprised at how fast the first semester seems to have gone by. The classes themselves are going fine, and I am still progressing so much. It’s hard for me to figure out how much I’ve progressed, but I can just tell that listening is so much easier than before, and I speak with a lot more ease too. The teachers here are so great, and you can tell they genuinely care about the students. Whenever I see them, they will stop and have ten-minute conversations and are always curious about how we are doing. Last week, I participated in the soirée internationale a tour school, where foreign students do some kind of performance to display their culture a little. I decided to sing, and it was a really fun experience. I sang ‘Reflection’ from Mulan, and it was really fun. Some kids even sang along, and I met a lot of really nice people after performing who had only the nicest things to say. On the last day before break, we had a little lunch party with my class and everyone brought in something to share with the class. There was so much food, but it was a really great time with all of my friends before the break.

I celebrated Thanksgiving by having dinner with my friends Brandy and Marie. They came over to my house and we made potatoes, chicken, salad, and cookies. Not exactly a traditional Thanksgiving, but it was a really special meal. After dinner, we all decided to go out, and we met my friends Viviana, Lutpulla, and Kai at a bar to have a drink and just relax on our wonderful American holiday.

I went to the home of the Bouget family for the weekend before my birthday, and what a weekend it was. It started out wonderfully with Timon, the 5 year old, running to me and jumping into my arms all the while shouting ‘Lauren!’ On the Saturday, I went to Timon’s soccer practice and Laurane’s gymnastics practice, and then later on we went to a farm that is close by and I learned how to milk cows! It was amazing, and when I did it, my first instinct was to say ‘Oh my gosh!’ And of course everyone laughed. For dinner that night we had a raclette, which consists of cheese that you melt and then eat with meat and/or potatoes. After the kids went to bed, the parents, their friend Vincent, and I played wii bowling, and that was fun! Sunday morning, we made chocolate chip cookies, and that was such a great thing to do with the kids. For lunch we had oysters, escargots, and frog legs, all of which were pretty good. After this we went to the kid’s Christmas spectacular at their school, and it was so funny! It started with a show for the kids by a magician who ended up going on a voyage to the USA (because the children are learning about the American culture this year). After that all of the kids got up and sang Christmas songs they have been practicing. I left that weekend just feeling so incredibly blessed and filled with great joy.

My birthday was December 14, and I had such a lovely day. My friends gave me cards and gifts, all of which were really special and meant a lot to me. I got to take a translation test on my birthday, but I am feeling pretty good about my performance on it. That night I came home, and Béatrice and Yilan made dinner and a cake for me. There were even twenty candles on the cake! Everything about that day was so unexpected and so so magnificent. My first birthday that I spent without the people back home was a birthday that I will never forget, and I don’t want to ever forget either.

I went on a couple little excursions in the past month. I went to Paris for a day with my friend Lutpulla in the beginning of December, and that was a really fun day. We had to give one of his friends something, so we were only in Paris for perhaps six hours, but we trekked around an area called Chatelêt, and then made out way on the metro to Notre Dame. By the time we got there, it was dark, but it was incredible! The lighting was very soft and the cathedral had such a pristine appearance, and in front of it was a giant Christmas tree decorated with blue Christmas lights. Then that weekend, I went with a group of about 35 students from my school to Lyon for the fête des lumières. While in Lyon, we went to the marchés de Noel (Christmas markets), a couple interesting parks, a gallo-roman theater, and of course the festival of lights. It was a ton of fun, and I met some really awesome people on the trip. Also, I have a friend who lives in Lyon who I’d like to visit, so hopefully in the next month or two I’ll venture back down there.

A few nights ago, I went to Isabelle’s for a soirée that she was holding for her boyfriend who has been working abroad for a year and is now back in France. There were nine of us there, and it was so insanely fun. The night started with us just talking, and a couple French girls from the chorale I am in talked to me and were asking me a lot of questions about France and the States. We then ate dinner, which was a raclette (as I explained earlier), and it was a great time to socialize and try and absorb as much French as possible. After the raclette, we had ice cream, and then played a game where you had to do gestures with your hands that matched the cards as fast as you could. It was so much fun, and we were laughing so much. There were even a couple French boys there too who were quite amusing…haha. Overall, it was a good night, and I am so glad I went to the soirée.

And onto the inevitable topic of boys, I regret to inform all of you at home that I have not been swept off my feet by some charming and romantic French boy. The boys here are handsome and impeccably dressed, but that isn’t everything. Not that I’m mocking them by any means, but I think boys here are a little more forward and perhaps have a little more confidence in their flirtatiousness. And I am not about to compromise my standards and ideals for a romance in this love-crazed country.

December was a little hard for me for about a week. I realized that this is the first time in my life that I have spent my birthday and the holidays away from my family and friends, and I fell into this depressive funk that I couldn’t shake. Eventually I ended up talking to my mom about it, and then proceeded to cry to her on Skype. Since then, I have felt insanely better, and the fact that my birthday was so wonderful is a reassurance that Christmas will be just as wonderful! God has blessed me in so many ways, and all I can do is smile at how amazing He is.

Yesterday and today were really difficult emotionally though, for I said my farewells to some amazing friends that I have made here in France. My friends Marie, Brandy, Elizabeth, and Viviana are the ones that truly influenced my time here in Angers, and I can’t begin to imagine how things will be without them here. I tried my absolute hardest to refrain from crying, but it was inevitable. However, I know that I will see these wonderful girls again, and that there are new friendships to be made and more fun to be had.

As I am writing now, I am on the train headed to la petite ville de Caussade with my host mom, Béatrice. We are going for ten days to stay with her daughter and son-in-law and their baby boy. I am so excited to pass Christmas with them, and it is going to be great to see and experience a new part of France.

Songs I like right now: Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap, Vivre à en Crever from Mozart Opéra Rock, and Blessed by Elton John.

To continue with my journey through the Psalms, here are a few verses that I really liked.

--Psalm 40:5 “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”

--Psalm 52:8-9 “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. “

--Psalm 63:7-8 “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

An Angel at Home

Hello friends! Time is flying like crazy, for it has been exactly two months since I have arrived in France! Two months! I figure it’s time that I write about my life as of the past month. Long entry here we come!

Let’s start with school. My classes are going well, and I they are a good balance of easy and difficult. We have already had tests in all of my classes, the hardest of which were in Histoire de la France and Traduction (translation). The history test consisted of three open-ended questions to respond to in 12-15 lines each, in French of course. And the translation test was to translate a passage from English into French that we had never seen before…we’ll see how that ended up. I have an exposé (presentation) today for my Langue class, and I decided to talk about the girl scouts, because I know than more than enough information to get me through a speech. It went well, thank goodness. As said before, I was worried my classes would be too easy, and the pace is indeed too slow in some of my classes and I should have been placed in a higher level, but the supplementary work I am receiving helps a lot, and I can tell my French is improving immensely.

Next, I have been getting together with my friend Isabelle every week to talk in French and English, and also to just have a good time. A couple of weeks ago, we did dictées, which is where someone reads a passage in the language you are trying to learn, and you have to write down what you hear. So, she read a page from Little House on the Prairie in French, and I wrote down everything she said. It’s more difficult than it sounds, but it works so well, because you listen and use logic at the same time. She also gave me tongue twisters with the letter “R” in them, because there are a lot of nuances with how the letter “r” is pronounced with different words. I’m continuing to help her with English, and other than that, we have gotten together for chocolat chauds (hot chocolates), and she invited me to a little soirée she is having with her friends and family in December, so I’m very excited.

I met with the Bouget family a couple of weeks ago again, which was great! Laurane, the daughter, had a gymnastics and dance gala, and I went with the family to watch her perform. It was really cool, and there are some talented girls in the group. I was also amused by the songs choices for the dance routines. They were typically American, and a little risqué considering most of the gymnasts/dancers are very young. The Bougets want me to spend a whole weekend at their house, which is such a blessing, so I am spending the weekend before my birthday with them.

Béatrice’s birthday was on Halloween, so Béatrice's friend Michelle, and us three housemates all had a wonderful lunch together. Béatrice made this meal inside a shell…I don’t know how you do that, but it was just about the coolest thing ever, and it was so delicious! Her cake was also amazing, and it would put any American cake to shame. Béatrice asked me if I would sing a song for them, because she said I have “a very lyrical voice,” and even though I hate singing when people ask me to, seeing that it was Béatrice’s birthday, I complied. Since then, I have been trying to break out of my little singing bubble, just in terms of comfort with singing in front of people without feeling insecure.

Next topic: Halloween does not exist in France. Apparently a few years ago they tried to do the American commercialized version, and it failed miserably. Instead, it’s very traditional, and the French celebrate La Toussaint and La Jour des Morts. La Toussaint commemorates all of the saints that are celebrated in France, and La Jour des Morts is a day to honor your loved ones who have passed away. For La Jour des Morts, people clean the tombstones, and flowers and plaques are placed on and around the grave. I went to two cemeteries that weekend, and it was so moving to read the little plaques and look at all the chrysanthemums.

I went to a Greek Orthodox Church with Béatrice for La Toussaint, and that was the most interesting religious service I have ever been to in my whole life. We walked in I was immediately stunned as the strong fragrances enveloped me and the music being sung was all in Latin. The temple was rather small, and the congregation not so large either, for there is not much of a Greek Orthodox following in France. I understood about half of the words when they were in French, but overall it was really different going from an upbeat Protestant church to an ultra-traditional Greek Orthodox Church. Altogether though, it felt wonderful to be in the presence of other Christians, and in talking with them and having lunch with them after the service, I felt welcomed and appreciated. It was great. I am still reading my Bible daily, and I tonight I have Psalm 40 to delve into. I also found a French pocket bible of the Psaumes et le Nouveau Testament. So wonderful.

We had a pont/vacation last week for l’Armistice (the end of the fighting in WWII), and I took a train down to Nimes to visit my friend Angelina. She is also from Grand Haven, but she is being an au pair here in France for the year. When we found out we were both in France, we knew we would have to get together to heal our homesickness. It was so so fantastic. Angelina took me to so many cool places; in Nimes we visited L’Arène , La Maison Carré, a park where Jules César used to hang out, we went to the Méditerranée a of couple times, and also to a city called Aigues-Mortes, which if I translated the name correctly, it means high-pitched or sharp death. Kind of morbid if you ask me. Angel and I talked a lot and it was so good to be able to reflect on Grand Haven and talk about people both of us know from back home. The family she is with is great too, and the kids are the cutest things when they want to be. I had such a pleasant time there.

Okay, so now I am going to talk about the alcohol and wine. Before coming to France, I had never had any wine or alcohol. But being in France, now I have had my fair share of different types of wine, and I prefer rose or white wines, the reds are a little too strong. And I have had alcohol now too. No, I am not a drunk, nor do I plan on becoming one, but I have gone out to the bars twice, and have tried alcohol both times. The first time I got a Sex on the Beach, and the second time I had a Cosmopolitan. Seeing that neither of those drinks is strong, and that someone bought me the drinks both times, I am pretty content.

As always, I have had a few realizations that really make my life amazing here. The first of which, is that being outside and just listening to the breeze does wonders for me. From time to time, I feel claustrophobic in my small apartment room, and I can go outside into the courtyard between the apartment buildings, and it is really soothing. And even better than that, my friend Lutpulla found out how much I miss Lake Michigan, and he brought me to le Lac du Maine, which is here in Angers! It is so calm, so peaceful, and the second I got there I just felt so at ease. It is a lake with a sandy shore that is surrounded by woods. There are some picnic tables and grills too, so we are going to go barbecuing there sometime soon.

Another realization that I have had is that I am indeed, in France. I was reading about the Edict of Nantes, and as I reflected on previous history classes, I thought to myself, ‘The Edict of Nantes, that was in France with Louis XIV and the Huguenots.’ Suddenly, I realized that I am living twenty minutes away from Nantes, and it was the coolest thing to re-realize how I am living in a country with so much history.

Lastly, I realized that I could call France ‘home.’ I returned to Angers from Nimes, and when I stepped out of the train station, all I could do was smile. As I headed of to my apartment in the cold rain, lugging my suitcase across town on the torn up roads for the incoming tramway, I said the word ‘home’ to myself, and I felt so at peace with life. Don’t worry, I am still coming home in June and am not planning on moving to France. But it is a really special thing when I can call this new place my home.

Heading into the holidays! Thanksgiving next week and my birthday and Christmas in December! Even though life is beautiful here, I miss you all like crazy, and I look so forward to being able to hug you all again!

Favorite thing someone said to me: In confusing ‘haven’ with ‘heaven,’ a boy said to me “If you’re from Grand Haven, does that make you an angel?” :)

Psalm 26:2-3 “Test me O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind, for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

L'amour toujours l'amour

Salut mes amis!! Ca fait longtemps depuis j’ai écrit, it’s been a long time since I’ve written. So many things have happened in the last three weeks so this blog post is kind of long…

Let’s start with school. I am in level 323, which is really close to being in classes for superior level students (levels 324-326 are slightly more advanced, and then after that, it’s superior classes). Many of the other students in my classes took classes at UCO in the spring and in September, so it is pretty cool to know that I did well enough on my placement tests to be decently close to advanced. I however have been a little concerned that the classes are going to be a little easy compared to my standards. I talked with my teacher today, and she said I am good enough to go up to the next level, but because there is a space issue with levels above me, she and I can meet every week and she’ll give me additional work to do if I want. So, I’m excited to have extra work to augment my skills. My classes are pretty great though, and I love my teachers. Traduction (translation) is really particular, Histoire de la France (history of France) is so amazingly interesting, and my other classes are good too. My listening comprehension is insanely better already, and I have no problem keeping up with the teachers in school.

Next, I am learning how to cook more! It’s not that I was a bad cook before, I just never really cooked anything myself. Now that I am preparing my food for myself, I am really enjoying being creative with different sauces and vegetables, and I’m excited to learn some really good French recipes this year. I’m thinking for the holiday I’m going to learn how to make some desserts. Get ready everyone for when I come home, because we are going to have a grand feast!

I found a choir to join!!!! It is called “Les Aquar’elles” and it is a group of about 21 girls that are college-aged, and we sing music of the world. I went to a practice last Thursday, and they were thrilled to have me. I am the only girl who isn’t French who is in the choir, so it was cool to have a new nationality in the group. We are singing a Chinese song right now and also an English song, so the conductor had me read the words in English for the group. Then everyone repeated the words, and it was great with the French accents. The tone of the group is surprisingly really good, and I feel so good to have a place to sing again.

While I was at choir last week, I talked with a girl named Isabelle who wanted to know if I would be interested in linguistic exchanges. Essentially, we are getting together one or two times a week to hang out and to ameliorate our speaking skills in French and English. She’s really nice and I think it’s going to be really fun and beneficial to talk and go out on the town with her this year.

There is an organization affiliated with the school called AFIA that for only four euros (like 6 dollars), you can be partnered with a family in our region of France to experience the culture a bit more. I ended up being partnered with the Bouget family. There are the parents, Stéphanie and Loic, and then two kids, Laurane who is 8 years old, and Timon who is 5 ½ years old. Stéphanie and Loic both know English pretty much fluently, and so if I’m struggling to figure something out, we can typically figure it out. I was invited to their house on Sunday for lunch and a surprise. Before lunch, we had an aperitif, where we talked for like 45 minutes or so, and drank some wine. I had rose wine, which I liked more than red wine. It is still really strong, but it was better. The lunch was really good, and then after lunch, they took me and the kids to L’événement Haras nationaux Mondial du Lion (Essentially it’s a really big international equestrian competition). It was pretty interesting and we had a lot of fun. Laurane is learning about Americans in school this year, and she was really enthusiastic to meet me. She also showed me here workbook for learning English, and it was really cool. And then Timon has so much energy, and he and I played a couple rounds of Mario Kart on the Wii. When Timon found out that I was not staying at their house, he got really sad too, which was sweet. Stéphanie and Loic told me that whenever I want to spend a day or weekend with them to let them know and they would love to have me, so I just feel so blessed to have them as my “other family.” I also met the family of Stéphanie’s best friend (Michael and Laure, and their daughters, Lou, Lynn, and Neomie). They were also really fun to talk to, because their daughters are also learning English.

Saturday, I went with the school to Mont St. Michel and Saint Malo even though I have already been to both places before, and it was such a good choice! In both places, we were free to explore as we desired, and Yiran (my really good friend and classmate) and I spent a lot of time away from the group. In Saint Malo, we meandered through the downtown, but spent a bulk of our time walking around the shoreline to the ocean. I was smiling so much as I picked up the sand, and I felt like I was back at Lake Michigan. It was a great feeling. Yiran and I met some funny boys near the bathrooms that made us laugh a lot. They were probably between the ages of 8 and 12, and they were hilarious. After leaving Saint Malo, we went to Mont St. Michel, and it was also wonderful. The architecture was wonderful as I remembered, and the atmosphere was so quaint. We walked along the “shoreline” and marveled at the water. Mont St. Michel is in the middle of a river where the tide rises and falls very quickly, and the ground is essentially clay. I took a lot of pictures, and I was quite content at the end of the day.

I’ve also spent a lot of time making friends at school and trying to branch out more outside of school. My friends here are from all different countries, but my closest friends right now are from China and the USA. I do want to say though that I can’t imagine being here without talking to my friends and family. It has been such a release to talk to you guys from home. My family, I always love talking to you, especially now that we are so separated. And my friends, Sara, Kristyn, Brent and Nick especially, thank you so much for always talking to me. I love having you guys to talk to.

The last thing to report is that I have embarked on sort of biblical journey while I am here. I decided to read a Psalm a day, and it has actually been really fantastic how much some of these Psalms have hit home. Whether despairing or rejoicing, God is always at the forefront of each Psalm, and I love letting God lead me where I am meant to go. Some verses I’ve really connected with have been Psalm 1:2-3 and Psalm 8:3-4. That being said, I will leave you all with a quote. My history teacher was talking about the roots of Christianity, and she said last year she asked the students why Christianity thrived in France, and an Asian (non-Christian) student replied by saying “le Christianisme est la relgion de l’amour.” Indeed, Christianity is the religion of love. Rock on and Amen.

A painted sky can be seen as I look out the door to the balcony and listen to classical music on my laptop. I am finally feeling like things are coming together here in France. I have come to accept the fact that I am going to miss my family, my friends, and my life in Michigan until I come back. But I have also realized that just like I am not forgetting everyone at home, they are not forgetting me. Donc, (therefore) life goes on.

Well I can honestly say that since arriving three weeks ago, today was the first day I felt content, at ease, and really enthusiastic about the year ahead. Over the past couple of days, I've made many friends from all over the world (primarily the USA and Asia. It is really great to be able to talk to other students who are in the same situation as a study abroad participant. Bèatrice has shown me that while there are a bunch of nit-picky things to get used to and take care of, she is my mother figure here. It is still a little difficult talking with her because we're still getting to know each other and because my speaking skills aren't perfect yet. But whenever I'm worried or stressed, she says "Ne t'inquietes pas" (don't worry). It helps a lot. And Yilan and I get along so well. I know she is quite a few years older than me, but we've both decided that we will say she is twenty-one. We are in almost the same level of French, so it is pretty easy to converse with her too. I feel like the city of Angers has accepted me all around, and I feel like I don't stick out as an étrangère (foreigner). I feel like I am adapting quickly and like each day I have more people to call friend. The city is filled with places and streets to explore! France is a little expensive, but I can't do anything to make that different.

The weather here has been interesting. I think that Mother Nature in France is a little moody and can't decide what she wants to do. Each morning, it's freezing, and by like 11 in the morning, it's seventy degrees out! Today, within a two-hour timeframe, it rained and cleared up and stormed like three times. But it cleared up for a beautiful sunset with a good contrast of colors and clouds too.

I really miss singing, and it is not fun that the only place I sing now is in the shower or the solitude of my room. Béatrice has apparently heard me singing though, and yesterday, she told me "Il faut que tu trouves une chorale pour chanter." I was so astonished, because she used the subjunctive form which implied necessity. She told me that I need to find a chorale to sing in. I was so happy in that moment, and she even mentioned a couple that are pretty good in the area for me to look into.

The school is offering a few excursions this semester to various places in the Loire Valley of France. I've already been to many of the destinations such as the châteaux. However, they are offering a trip to Mont St. Michel and Saint Malo, and I would love to go to those places again! They are also offering a vacation in April for all CIDEF students to the North of France because there is a two-week vacation.

I've decided my classes for the semester. All of my classes are high intermediate, and I'm taking Langue (language), compréhension orale (listening comprehension), exprèssion écrite (written expression), grammaire (grammar), traduction anglais-français (translation of english to french), and histoire de la France (french history). It is so exciting, and I am positively ecstatic to be back in school and have these classes.

The one thing I have not yet managed to understand are the boys here. They are so forward here, and so confident in their charms. They grow up in such a romantic culture here in Europe. The guys here have definitely been more open than American guys in their "affection" toward me if you want to call it that, which also goes to show that I don't look like a tourist...haha! No worries though, my heart still likes my dear American boys.

Though I haven't been to church since arriving here, my faith continues to grow stronger as I am tested and persevere. I pray to God all the time, asking for help, patience, and little things to pick me up if I'm feeling down. Right now, I feel like my life is like that song that goes "I called, you answered, and you came to my rescue and I, I want to be where you are." Je n'ai pas envie de trouver midi à quatorze heures (literally, I don't want to find noon at two in the afternoon; but it really translates as I don't want to complicate things) by saying that I did this all on my own, for I know that it was Dieu (God).

Alors, bon soir mes amis et ma famille. Je vous aime. Good evening my friends and family. I love you.

Salut!

Salut tout le monde ! Ca fait longtemps, oui ? I can’t believe that I’ve been here for ten days! On one hand, it seems like I left home just yesterday, but on the other hand, I feel like I’ve already been here for such a long time. Even though it was really hard adjusting to being completely immersed in the French language and culture, I feel so wonderful now and I have great faith and confidence that I am going to become very competent in speaking and understanding French while I’m here! It is really quite exciting. The weather has been absolutely beautiful; far better than in Michigan from what I hear. As I mentioned before, the first few days were filled with a trips to the supermarché, and also a trip to the centre-ville. Well, since then, I’ve been able to discover the city a bit more, and also visit some tourist attractions here! I walked to the centre-ville by myself a few days ago, and explored that part of the city. By the way, there is a ton of construction going on in Angers. I almost feel like there is more construction in Angers than in all of Michigan! Hopefully it will be done within a few months. The architecture and history is very rich in the city, and when you go downtown, you can just tell that history and traditions are balanced very well with modern styles and ways of life. While I was downtown, I bought a new French->English dictionary, the first Harry Potter book en Français, and also a few other little things. I figured that it would be a great idea to buy Harry Potter, because I’ve already read it in English, and reading it in French will enrich my vocabulary and also help me to see different grammar uses. As I walked up and down the streets of the centre-ville, I passed a few cathedrals, walked through the gardens of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and took in as much as I could with the ways people interacted. While I was walking around downtown, at least three people asked me different things about the area, at which I could only reply “je ne sais pas.” While that may not seem like a big deal, I felt wonderful because the fact that they were asking me questions meant that I looked like I knew my way around the city and wasn’t a tourist! On Saturday, Yilan and I went to the marché. It was essentially a huge farmer’s market or open-air market. It was right in the centre-ville, and there were so many different booths set up, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was equivalent to the size of a Meijer back home! I bought some fruit, vegetables, and flowers, and the atmosphere was so energizing! I also should mention that the stereotype of French people involves berets, but I have only seen one man in France with a beret. Yilan, Béatrice, and I visited the Chateau Montgeoffrey on Sunday, and it was pretty interesting. The style was very classical, and even though I didn’t understand everything the guide was saying, I was able to get the sense of what was said. The gardens there were beautiful, and it felt so good to be in nature. I already feel so much better about speaking French in public and I can understand decently well what people say to me. I of course am most comfortable speaking and listening to Yilan and Béatrice, but overall I feel pretty comfortable right now. I am so excited to take my placement tests tomorrow and for school to start next Monday! It will be great to meet some other foreign students and to have some work to do. It’s been fantastic becoming acquainted to the city before jumping right into school, but I am ready to go back to school. And now, I must depart, for I am making pasta for dinner. C’est la vie en Angers, France!

Les premiers jours à Angers

Bonjour! It has been such a long journey to get to France, and now I’ve finally made it. The past few days have been hard, challenging, and exciting all at the same time. As I was saying goodbye to my family, I truly thought that my life would just end at that very moment. It is such a bittersweet emotion to watch everything that you know and love fade away as you ascend higher into the air on the plane. On the first plane ride, I almost started crying all over again. I opened the surprise from my mom, and it was absolutely wonderful. I will cherish the thoughts and words of encouragement from my family and friends who were a part of it. I then continued to read a card and a letter I had just received, both of which gave me more strength and assurance that my next nine months will be an amazing part of my life. On the second plane ride, I sat next to a boy named Christophe, who was in the USA for a couple months to practice his English. We talked about anything and everything, mostly about our experiences in the USA and in France. After he and I went through customs and the baggage claim, we said goodbye and decided we’d visit each other if I go to Paris or if he comes in Angers. Regardless of whether or not it happens, it’s a nice thought, and he requested my friendship on facebook ;) I then took a train from Paris to Angers, which was rather uneventful.

When I arrived in Angers, Béatrice and Yilan met me. They were both so kind and eager to meet me, and all I could really do at that time was listen to what they were saying. As we drove to the apartment, they pointed out various places in town, including the school I will be attending. Once we arrived at the apartment, they showed me my room and I fell in love instantly. It’s small, but very inviting and has warm colors on the walls. I have a bed, a bedside table, a desk, and an armoire/closet thing. I also have a door to the balcony, which is my favorite part of the room! In the apartment itself, there are three bedrooms, a dining/living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a room for the toilet, and an entryway. After looking around, we had dinner, which consisted of salad, potatoes, and wine. Oh my goodness! This was my first experience with wine, and it was so strong, that I made a face that Yilan found absolutely hilarious. Let’s just say that I don’t know how soon I’ll be drinking more wine! After this, I unpacked my stuff, which was extremely difficult. With each thing I unpacked, my heart was breaking as all I could think about was home. I soon finished unpacking and went out to talk to Béatrice and Yilan. They gave me a hug and told me not to worry because the first night is always the hardest, which is so true! Though I still miss my family and friends, I feel so much better now. On the second day, I woke up around lunchtime, and Yilan and I decided to walk from the apartment to school. It is only about a mile away, which is extremely convenient. On the way, we passed the supermarchés (supermarkets), many boutiques and shops, and also a Macdo (McDonalds). As much as I hate fast food, I might be going there when I really need something American! We were only at the school for a few minutes, but it was good enough for me to have an idea on how to get there and where my classes and advisors will be. The next day, j’ai conquis le supermarché I conquered the supermarket! I was so worried I would make some dumb mistake, and the second that I thought I was going to do something wrong, I heard the song that goes “Lucky I’m in love with my best friend” by Colbie Callait, and I smiled. I knew that things would be okay. We also went to the centre-ville (downtown), and that was a really fun area. The architecture was beautiful, and the atmosphere was, well, French.

At the moment, I am feeling really good about my comprehension, speaking, and feelings about being here. Even though I am in the city, I can still tell I am in France. The atmosphere is really lovely, and I feel like I can breathe a lot easier now that I am here. I put pictures up in my room, and I can truly say that the room is now my own. Also, it may sound kind of strange, but I have gone to different places here, and there have been scents in the air that remind me of home. It has also helped me a lot. I am already starting to mix up my French and English words and expressions, and I’ve found myself trying to write certain words and expressions in French in my journal. I feel really comfortable with speaking to Béatrice and Yilan, and even though there is a lot I don’t know, we are able to comprehend each other and they help me to use the correct grammar and words. Funny story: For those of you who know me well, I use the expression “oh man” quite often. Well, on the first day here, whenever I was trying to figure out what to say, that expression would come out, and they thought I was saying “Oh merde.” “Merde” is the equivalent of that swear word that is the word “hit” with an “s” before it. So, they laughed every time because they thought I was swearing! Most importantly, whenever I am having trouble, God is with me and he gives me little things to pick me up.

Adieu

Tomorrow is the big day! My flight for France leaves at 4:22 in the afternoon, and I will be with my host family by Sunday afternoon! Never before have I felt like time has escaped me. From meeting with friends and family, to trying to embrace quaint little Grand Haven, the past few weeks have been a blur. These last few days have been a torrent of emotions. To be perfectly honest, I have tried to occupy myself with as much as possible, so as to prevent the truth that I am leaving for nine months to sink in. The past few days have been a little more difficult though. I said goodbye to all of my close friends, both in Grand Haven and at Aquinas, and my emotions are just waiting to burst at the airport tomorrow. I woke up today and I truly realized that time is running out here in Michigan. There was no one left to say goodbye to, I was all packed, and was left running a couple errands for my mom. I have decided that being left alone to just think, especially when you are about to make a huge change in your life, is probably not the best idea. As I was driving alone in the car on the way to the library, I almost began to cry, at which point I turned on the radio, cranked up the volume, and sang at the top of my lungs! Since that time, I’ve decided that I am going to cry more than ever tomorrow at the airport, and that is okay. It is okay to miss what is here, but there are new friends and experiences waiting excitedly at the other end of the plane ride. So, as Juliet says to Romeo, “parting is such sweet sorrow,” I say the very same to everyone here. Until we meet again, I bid you all adieu.

Three Weeks

“Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” (Here is my secret. It is very simple: one can only see well with the heart. The essential is invisible for the eyes.)

In three short weeks, I will be boarding a plane to the next nine months of my life: France! After five years of French classes, what started as an interest in the French language and culture has grown into one of my strongest passions. I graduated high school with the intention of going into French and International Studies at Aquinas College. At first, I was worried that Aquinas wouldn’t have a French program that could fulfill my needs as a French major and keep that passion alive. In the beginning of the school year, my French professor, Monsieur Pichot, could tell that my interest in French was very strong. We went over all of the different classes on French language, philosophy, politics, and so much more! I was blown away. However, it was his next comment that took me by complete surprise. He mentioned studying abroad in France, and that if it was possible for me, I should go for a whole year. At this point, I nodded my head and said to him “Yes, that sounds amazing.” In my head, I thought, “He must be joking! A whole year?” Of course I was planning on studying abroad, but not until my junior year, and only for a semester. I began to seriously consider what he had said, and felt God pulling me to go to France for my entire sophomore year. And here we are today, so close to the most exciting, yet most demanding step I have ever taken.

As said, I will be in France for nine months. I leave September 19, 2009, and return on June 12, 2010. In this time, I will be taking classes at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest (The Catholic University of the West) in Angers pronounced Ahn-zhay, the ‘zh’ being like a soft g in ‘garage’). The city of Angers is just about 100 miles southwest of Paris, and it is in the Loire Valley, which is famous for its chateaux. In a letter I received from my host mother, Béatrice, I found out that she has a daughter who is married and living in the south of France, and there will be another student who is originally from China staying with us. The other student, Ylan, is returning to Angers for school, and actually stayed with Béatrice last year, which is very reassuring to my family. Béatrice will help me to embrace the French language and culture, and Ylan will be wonderful in showing me around Angers, making me more comfortable with the school, and she will be a great friend to have around.

All summer, September 19 has been a date that has seemed so far away. Even today, I don’t know if the significance of only having three weeks to go has sunk in. I have packed my bags to see how much I can bring with me. I have been watching French films, listening to French music, and reading French books. I am still going through my French books to review verbs and vocabulary. I can’t describe my anticipation to go to France, and wonderful as it will be, I know that the first couple months are going to be unbearable at times. Because of this, I hope that you all will pray for me and support me while I am in France! I’ll be writing new posts hopefully ever week, and I’ll be seeing you all soon!

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:21)