29 September 2009
Salut!
23 September 2009
Les premiers jours à Angers
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.
19 September 2009
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.