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.