Monday, January 30, 2012
Travel and Day One-ish
Well, it was a long and hard journey, but I am here in Avignon, France! The Paris airport is quite a maze so Brighid, the wonderful girl I traveled with, and I just barely made our train on time.
Even though I packed lighter than the other girls, I still found my baggage very cumbersome to drag around the airport, the train, and then the second train we connected to in Valence. On the bright side, my sore arms and shoulders mean I'll have some new muscles soon!
Our director, Tania Aubert, picked me up at the station and has been amazing. She had her young daughter with her and we sang french nursery rhymes together in the car. So cute! She drove me to the house where I'm renting, Mme Lacoste's, and I love it. It's small but very beautiful and wonderfully decorated. Another girl from Stetson is staying here, Jean, along with one other girl who is from Germany. They're all very nice and patient. Communicating has been easy, my french is much better than I had thought.
Also, she has a brown version of my dog, and a black cat just like ours, although hers is much more affectionate. So I'll be a little less homesick having my dog, or close to it, with me.
Today we all traveled to the University (there are 7 girls from Stetson total) to register and get to know our way around. We all had lunch together, where the cafe played Adele continuously, and are very excited to start classes. I'll take a written placement test on Wednesday and then start school Thursday.
Everyone I've met has been very friendly and well dressed, I may need to be more conscious of my lack of style to fit in. Still, every face I pass on the sidewalk is a new person, a different life, with their own personal stories. The town is small so I won't get too lost. I bought a bus pass today, so I'll be taking it back and forth to school until the weather is nicer. It's 40ish today and will maybe snow tomorrow!
I had many worries on the train over that are now alleviated. I'm going to be fine and will be home very soon!
And as promised, some pictures:
The last two are my room, and the rest I found around town today.
-Au Revoir
Even though I packed lighter than the other girls, I still found my baggage very cumbersome to drag around the airport, the train, and then the second train we connected to in Valence. On the bright side, my sore arms and shoulders mean I'll have some new muscles soon!
Our director, Tania Aubert, picked me up at the station and has been amazing. She had her young daughter with her and we sang french nursery rhymes together in the car. So cute! She drove me to the house where I'm renting, Mme Lacoste's, and I love it. It's small but very beautiful and wonderfully decorated. Another girl from Stetson is staying here, Jean, along with one other girl who is from Germany. They're all very nice and patient. Communicating has been easy, my french is much better than I had thought.
Also, she has a brown version of my dog, and a black cat just like ours, although hers is much more affectionate. So I'll be a little less homesick having my dog, or close to it, with me.
Today we all traveled to the University (there are 7 girls from Stetson total) to register and get to know our way around. We all had lunch together, where the cafe played Adele continuously, and are very excited to start classes. I'll take a written placement test on Wednesday and then start school Thursday.
Everyone I've met has been very friendly and well dressed, I may need to be more conscious of my lack of style to fit in. Still, every face I pass on the sidewalk is a new person, a different life, with their own personal stories. The town is small so I won't get too lost. I bought a bus pass today, so I'll be taking it back and forth to school until the weather is nicer. It's 40ish today and will maybe snow tomorrow!
I had many worries on the train over that are now alleviated. I'm going to be fine and will be home very soon!
And as promised, some pictures:
The last two are my room, and the rest I found around town today.
-Au Revoir
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
An Anxious Start
I am flying out to France this Saturday! I am both excited and terrified. Four months seems both incredibly short and unbearably long.
I'll be missing out on many important events here at home, so I can only hope that my experiences abroad will be worth it.
Right now, I am slightly panicked and thinking "It's Tuesday so soon! I'm not ready! I have a million things to do this week! Maybe I'll just stay here." Also, on an unrelated note: "How do I get this cat off of my ankle?"
But backing out is not a viable option for me, I know I would regret not taking this leap of independence and will be so very thankful for my persistence in the end.
Now I only need to motivate myself to start packing and get on that plane in a few, too short days.
I'll be missing out on many important events here at home, so I can only hope that my experiences abroad will be worth it.
Right now, I am slightly panicked and thinking "It's Tuesday so soon! I'm not ready! I have a million things to do this week! Maybe I'll just stay here." Also, on an unrelated note: "How do I get this cat off of my ankle?"
But backing out is not a viable option for me, I know I would regret not taking this leap of independence and will be so very thankful for my persistence in the end.
Now I only need to motivate myself to start packing and get on that plane in a few, too short days.
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