SALUT TOUT LE MONDE!!! It is almost February, can you believe it ? I am so shocked that I am halfway through my journey here. I hope you have all passed wonderful winter days, and that January has been splendid.
SCHOOL: I just finished my first semester on Friday, and I feel so accomplished. My classes have been pretty good for the past few weeks, and I’ve noticed a lot of progress even in since the holidays. In my history class, we spent a few classes talking just barely scratching the surface of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and the history geek inside of me was dying. I’m still alive though, so that’s good ;) I feel like all of my exams went so well, and I’m really anxious to find out how I performed. The majority of my exams were rather difficult, but it was a really good chance for me to see how I’ve progressed and what I’ve retained. Of course, with it being the end of the semester, more students left to go back to their native countries, but I was more prepared to say goodbye this time to people. The next semester starts February 8, and I am going to have to take a writing exam to determine into which level I will place. I am so incredibly excited to start the new semester with new and exciting classes, and also to meet new students too. I have a few friends from Aquinas College who are studying here this semester, and I’m really excited to see them and hang out with them. Hopefully I’ll be able to show them around and we can explore different things in Angers, because there is a lot that is yet to be discovered by me in this city.
FRENCH FRIENDS: I am sadly not going to be getting together with my French friend Isabelle anymore. She had an interview for a job in Paris, and she received the post! I am so excited for her, and the company she works for has a great reputation worldwide, but I am going to miss the fun times she and I had. However, today I went to buy some train tickets and who do I see at the station…Isabelle! We were so surprised and she bought me a hot chocolate and we talked for about a half hour before she had to catch her train. It was great to see her, and hopefully we’ll be able to visit again before I go back to the states. I have a few more French friends though who I am hoping to start hanging out with once the new semester starts, so that will be a fun and new experience.
LES AQUARELLES: I really love the choir that I joined here in Angers. Right now, we have a Latin piece, a strange song called “Boogie Woogie Llanoogie,” a Chinese piece, a Gaelic song, “Le Cycle de la Vie” (The circle of life), “Hallelujah” (as heard in Shrek), and “Suo-gân.” This last one is also known as “A Welsch Lullaby,” and it seems that no matter where I go, I cannot escape this song. I’ve sung it twice in the United States, and now I’m singing it in France, but I am not ready to dominate, haha.
ADVENTURES! I am going to…. Ireland! I leave tomorrow morning and will be there until next Sunday! I will spend a couple days in Dublin with my friend Jessica (who is Irish), and then we’ll go to a little city called Glendalough, which is the town of my Irish ancestors. From there we’ll go to the Cliffs of Moher, and then she is going to Amsterdam and I am going to visit friends from Aquinas in Tully Cross. I am so excited to see old friends and to go on a vacation!
RANDOM HAPPENSTANCES: I went and saw Avatar, and even though the graphics were insanely awesome, I was a little disappointed in the lack of creativity in the storyline. But it was worth seeing, and I got to practice my French comprehension, for it was spoken in French and there were no subtitles. Next, I realized a tree that I thought was inhabited by birds is actually occupied by bats. When I realized this, I got so excited and it was really cool. My New Years Resolution to learn to cook is going well, and I’ve enjoyed my creations thus far. My friend Claudia came over yesterday and she taught me how to make some Brazilian cuisine, and that was actually really delicious. Last but definitely not least, I had my first dream in French this month! I woke up so excited when I realized what had happened.
This month has overall been a really big month in figuring out where my priorities are and what is important to me. Because my closest friends all left to go back to the US in December, this month has been filled with spending more time with new people. It’s been frustrating, because I have realized that for some, I am nothing more than someone that they want to try and change into someone else. I am here to learn French and embrace the French culture, not to be someone’s little social experiment. I know that I have high standards, that I am really old-fashioned about some things, and that I wear my heart on my sleeve, but I like it that way. My faith in God is the most important thing to me, and to walk away from my faith is not a change I ever want to make.
CHANSONS QUE J’AIME:
The Wonder of Your Love and I Will Exalt You, both by Hillsong. These are beautiful songs that really help me focus on the number one in my life.
Psalm 100:5 “The Lord is good; his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever.”
“Il n’y a qu’un bonheur du monde : d’aimer et d’être aimer.”
Hope you all have a wonderful Singles Awareness Day on the 14th of February!! Or for those of you who find yourselves in a not-so-single condition, have a happy Valentine’s Day :)
Rule #1: Just so Dad can keep his sanity... No hitchhiking in Éire.
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