Well, I haven't really said much about my host family and town yet because the last time I blogged I was tired and didn't want to take up the computer, but since school doesn't start for me until semaine prochaine (?), I acvtually have free time!!! It's this wonderful thing in which my brain doesn't feel absurdly overwhelmed with French and I can relax. So as I am sitting at the computer with Milo (the kitten) perched on my shoulder, I find that I have a lot to say. However, how can I put everything into words? I don't know, but here is my attempt.
Pressagny L'Orgueilleux is one of the most beautiful little villages I have ever seen. You can take a five minute walk to the Seine, look at cows from across the river, and hear the train from far away. All the houses are made out of stone, and the lots are quite big compared to the semi-suburban life I am used to. The town seems to be host to lots of cats, which is quite familiar to me, but just this morning I saw two different cats at the same time lounging about in the backyard, neither of which were from our house...
The closest city is Vernon, about ten minutes away by car. It is smaller than my home town, about 20 thousand people, but it seems bigger because it is more compact (Sorry if that doesn't make sense). I have gone with Manon and Claude a couple of times to faire des courses (grocery shopping), and I enjoyed it immensely! There are so many difference between the US and France.
Pia and Manon are so nice! They both seem to share a lot of similarities with me: music, movies, Harry Potter, all that. And Claude and Eric are fantastic host parents.
I LOVE FOOD. Breakfast isn't a big deal here, but lunch and dinner are very awesome. Everyone sets the table, and we have a main course and then generally yogurt and or cheese/fruit. All the food is delicious, and I don't pass up any oppurtunity to eat (Well I almost did last night because of tiredness, but I woke up just in time). I have a newfound adoration for yogurt, too.
Language (La langue):
As far as my French goes, I haven't found that there is much of a difference in my understanding or my speaking, but I can say I am quite accustomed to people speaking in French to me. I'm used to the first thing coming out of my mouth being French, and hearing only French as well. This doesn't mean that I can easily comprehend what is being said, though. :) I expect that when I start school next week, my ability to understand that which is being said will grow immensely. But moving on,
School (L'école):
Although I haven't been to school all by myself yet, yesterday, Pia took me with her so I could see what French school is like. Two words: long and confusing. All in all, Pia had nine hours of education that day, and I understood about five minutes worth of conversation. First she had two hours of Philosophie, which I enjoyed, but understood none of; then she had an hour of math, which I might have been able to understaqnd if I knew the concept; then she had lunch, which needs no comprehending; next Allemand (German), which, since I have no prior knowledge of German, was completely baffling; then another hour of philosophie, better than the first, but still impossible; and finally, an hour of history, in which the teacher spoke at 150 kilometres per minute, and I understood none but these words it seemed: La grande Alliance, Chine, Mao Ze Dong, and Puissance Mondiales. I think history will be a good subject for me, though.
0th3r 0b$cuRit!es
I have noticed that just as much English music seems to be played on the radio as French music.
I had real Petit Fours two days ago!
Milo is a cuddly kitten.
Our town is very close to Giverny, Claude Monet's town, and it is gorgeous.
The French's coca cola in the bottle has sugar!!!
I love these little pancake thingys called Blinis.
Maybe it's just me, but French ice cream tastes different!
Churches everywhere...
Everyone does seem to be a little bit more fashion concious here...
Well, that's all for now!!!
Mon Adresse:
1 Rue Harel
27510 Pressagny L'Orgueilleux, France
Au Revoir...
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
#32 Enjoy the Little Things
As a great movie once stated, you must enjoy the little things when sudden change is thrust upon you. Although moving to France for a year is not quite the same as an apocalyptic flesh-eating situation, I do think that it is important to relish the little things that happen every day. Like the fact that a baguette is purchased chaque jour. And that all the houses seem to be made out of stone. And that my accent is a failure as of now. All of these things make up what I now call my life... But hold on, I am getting ahead of myself. Before I delve into the various nuances I have already semi-grown accustomed to in the French culture, I will explain more about my journey.
On Tuesday, the 31st of August, I had my friends and Aunt and Uncle over for dinner. We had tacos and some other mexican food, because I expect that it will be hard to find Mexican food as good as what we have in California, in France..... no offense to the French. We said goodbye for about thirty minutes and it ended in tears.... :( Then my parents took me to the airport and that ended in tears... :( I got on a red eye to JFK and rode a plane knowing that I wouldn't set foot on San Jose or Los Gatos ground again for ten months. It was weird. I got to JFK early (seven o clock) in the morning and met with another AFSer to get to the hotel. We were some of the only people that were there because check in started at one PM. After waiting in the lobby for six hours, I got my room. Hooray!! My roommate was very nice. Her name is Lithia, and she is from New York State, near the town with the amazing name, Poughkeepsie (I think that is how it is spelled?). Then we had some activities and blah blah blah. Then I got my host family! A family of four living near Vernon in Normandie. Claude, Eric, Pia, et Manon. Well, then the next day we did some more activities and tooka red-eye to Paris. It was a tiring trip, but fun at the same time. I met some more cool people, and we went to the hostel via bus. We didn't do much the first day, but the second day we saw some of Paris (!!) and the tour eiffel (!!!!). Then some more activities as our nervousness grew. The next morning, we had activities for about an hour and a half, and then everyone went their separate ways by train. However, some of us were close enough to be picked up. We all went into a room where the host families had been talking and had to introduce ourselves one by one and then go greet our host families. It was scary, but so much fun!! Then we all split off and drove home. It was a fun car ride. We chatted and talked a lot, and then we got to the petite village of Pressagny L'Orgueuilleux. It is beautiful!! I was supposed to go to school the day after I got there, but the principal hadn't yet looked at my papers... so I am at home for now! I have been sleeping and playing with their kitten a lot. And enjoying all the little things that make france different from the US. But I havee written so much it is time to go...... sorry that this is a very abrupt ending, but I don't want to take up their computer for too long, so I shall be going.
On Tuesday, the 31st of August, I had my friends and Aunt and Uncle over for dinner. We had tacos and some other mexican food, because I expect that it will be hard to find Mexican food as good as what we have in California, in France..... no offense to the French. We said goodbye for about thirty minutes and it ended in tears.... :( Then my parents took me to the airport and that ended in tears... :( I got on a red eye to JFK and rode a plane knowing that I wouldn't set foot on San Jose or Los Gatos ground again for ten months. It was weird. I got to JFK early (seven o clock) in the morning and met with another AFSer to get to the hotel. We were some of the only people that were there because check in started at one PM. After waiting in the lobby for six hours, I got my room. Hooray!! My roommate was very nice. Her name is Lithia, and she is from New York State, near the town with the amazing name, Poughkeepsie (I think that is how it is spelled?). Then we had some activities and blah blah blah. Then I got my host family! A family of four living near Vernon in Normandie. Claude, Eric, Pia, et Manon. Well, then the next day we did some more activities and tooka red-eye to Paris. It was a tiring trip, but fun at the same time. I met some more cool people, and we went to the hostel via bus. We didn't do much the first day, but the second day we saw some of Paris (!!) and the tour eiffel (!!!!). Then some more activities as our nervousness grew. The next morning, we had activities for about an hour and a half, and then everyone went their separate ways by train. However, some of us were close enough to be picked up. We all went into a room where the host families had been talking and had to introduce ourselves one by one and then go greet our host families. It was scary, but so much fun!! Then we all split off and drove home. It was a fun car ride. We chatted and talked a lot, and then we got to the petite village of Pressagny L'Orgueuilleux. It is beautiful!! I was supposed to go to school the day after I got there, but the principal hadn't yet looked at my papers... so I am at home for now! I have been sleeping and playing with their kitten a lot. And enjoying all the little things that make france different from the US. But I havee written so much it is time to go...... sorry that this is a very abrupt ending, but I don't want to take up their computer for too long, so I shall be going.
Monday, August 30, 2010
That's All, Folks
For now... at least.
My last day in the country until July 10, 2011 is tomorrow! I leave Tuesday on a red-eye to NY because we "West-Coast kids" have no other way of getting to NY by 1:00 PM on the 1st with a three hour time change. From this, a problem has arisen. I get into JFK at 7:00 AM. AFS volunteers arrive at noon. Uh-oh. I guess we'll wait and see how that goes.
On another note, I am finished packing except for a photo album or two that will go in my carry-on. My suitcase is 41.6 pounds out of a 44 pound limit..... living on the edge. :O I have lots of host family gifts because I think I will have a welcome family... but boy, is it hard to buy gifts for a bunch of unidentified people. If I end up with a single parent, they will be showered with Californian/American gifties.
Another random thought:
Everybody went back to school today. It doesn't feel like my summer's ending, though. I'm ready for adventure! But isn't it weird to think that whereas there are plenty of other people in my situation right now, waiting to go on to the next chapter of their lives, whether it be college or studying abroad or starting a job, some people are just starting to grow up? There is an elementary school right near my house, and right now there are tons of cars driving back and forth picking up their kids. Some of those parents might have just picked up their children from their very first day at school. It's weird how fast time moves. I remember kindergarten. Anyhow--
I found the list of things I will miss. So here it is!!!
The Los Gatos city limit sign posted on a small side street off of a large one.
The paint near Fisher Middle School with all of our names in it. After three years, it's still there!
The ability to take the wrong bus and still end up walking distance of my house.
The front lawn of my High School, LGHS
Pink Flamingoes!
Those moments in fall when I get out of school and walk down to my bike while watching the field hockey scrimmages and football practices, feeling like the quintessential American teenager at the quintessential American high school-- in a good way.
The English language
English class
Getting to talk with our neighbor's exchange student...
Taking night walks and only being scared of whether a zombie will come jumping out of the nearest bush.
The "Almost Summer" sign that is up next to the health/driver's ed classroom. It never goes down.
The dude I just saw wearing a USA colored fanny pack.
Walking to downtown Los Gatos so easily with friends.
Powell's Sweet Shoppe
Babysitting!
Velociraptor jam sessions.
Being so close to my family, neighbors, and friends.
How the three aforementioned groups have become the same group throughout the past 12 years of having lived here.
Now all I have to do is say goodbyes. This is the hard part for me. Getting mushy and gushy. Darn.
So long, USA. Hello, France!
Sincerely,
Carly
My last day in the country until July 10, 2011 is tomorrow! I leave Tuesday on a red-eye to NY because we "West-Coast kids" have no other way of getting to NY by 1:00 PM on the 1st with a three hour time change. From this, a problem has arisen. I get into JFK at 7:00 AM. AFS volunteers arrive at noon. Uh-oh. I guess we'll wait and see how that goes.
On another note, I am finished packing except for a photo album or two that will go in my carry-on. My suitcase is 41.6 pounds out of a 44 pound limit..... living on the edge. :O I have lots of host family gifts because I think I will have a welcome family... but boy, is it hard to buy gifts for a bunch of unidentified people. If I end up with a single parent, they will be showered with Californian/American gifties.
Another random thought:
Everybody went back to school today. It doesn't feel like my summer's ending, though. I'm ready for adventure! But isn't it weird to think that whereas there are plenty of other people in my situation right now, waiting to go on to the next chapter of their lives, whether it be college or studying abroad or starting a job, some people are just starting to grow up? There is an elementary school right near my house, and right now there are tons of cars driving back and forth picking up their kids. Some of those parents might have just picked up their children from their very first day at school. It's weird how fast time moves. I remember kindergarten. Anyhow--
I found the list of things I will miss. So here it is!!!
The Los Gatos city limit sign posted on a small side street off of a large one.
The paint near Fisher Middle School with all of our names in it. After three years, it's still there!
The ability to take the wrong bus and still end up walking distance of my house.
The front lawn of my High School, LGHS
Pink Flamingoes!
Those moments in fall when I get out of school and walk down to my bike while watching the field hockey scrimmages and football practices, feeling like the quintessential American teenager at the quintessential American high school-- in a good way.
The English language
English class
Getting to talk with our neighbor's exchange student...
Taking night walks and only being scared of whether a zombie will come jumping out of the nearest bush.
The "Almost Summer" sign that is up next to the health/driver's ed classroom. It never goes down.
The dude I just saw wearing a USA colored fanny pack.
Walking to downtown Los Gatos so easily with friends.
Powell's Sweet Shoppe
Babysitting!
Velociraptor jam sessions.
Being so close to my family, neighbors, and friends.
How the three aforementioned groups have become the same group throughout the past 12 years of having lived here.
Now all I have to do is say goodbyes. This is the hard part for me. Getting mushy and gushy. Darn.
So long, USA. Hello, France!
Sincerely,
Carly
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
OH MY GOODNESS
I just realized that I totally forgot to mention the generous donors that gave to the chipin widget before it closed!
A heartfelt thank you to:
Susan and Lynn and Garrett and Olivia Woodford-Berry
Jim and Elizabeth and Isabel and Elena and Joe Chadwick
Peggy and Alan Spool
and
Randy Houk
Love love love! :D
A heartfelt thank you to:
Susan and Lynn and Garrett and Olivia Woodford-Berry
Jim and Elizabeth and Isabel and Elena and Joe Chadwick
Peggy and Alan Spool
and
Randy Houk
Love love love! :D
Everything That Has Been Neglected
Dear Anyone who chances to look upon his page....
Well, first of all I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates in the past couple of months/ weeks/I can't really keep track of time anymore... But moving right along--
Current Visa status: OBTAINED
Woohoo! On August second we went to the consulate and everything went perfectly fine. They were very.... hmmm... what's the word? Kind of cold, but not really mean, just unemotional. Well, it may come to me later. It was very easy, though, and less than a week later we got my passport with a fancy little page included just for France. Hip hip hooray! :D
Current Host Family Status: Nonexistent... :|
I don't really have anything to say about this, except I would like to give a shout out to the French world and say "I'm not really as bad as you think I am! Please, pick me...!" I chalk it up to my lack of a good host family letter and the fact that almost everything about me is different than it was 11 months ago, when I started the process. Go figure, I have changed even before the program has begun. But all in all, I don't really mind the absence of family. I trust AFS and I know I won't be thrown out on the streets at any point, so it's all good. I do feel slightly sorry for my mom, though, because if I do get a welcome (temporary) family, she won't know the details until I actually call her the first time from France. I expect it will go smoothly, however. One thing I wish I did have control over at the moment is my courses that I will be taking at school... The "L" track is what I am aiming for; it seems the most suited for me while also allowing me to learn the most French. But, whoooaa! I just realized that there is a possibility that I will not even be in the grade level in which you split into tracks. Holy crap. The possibilities are endless..... Ok, well now that that ramble has gone on for a while, I think I'll change the topic.
Current Packing Status: SEMI-DONE
If you call having gone shopping this summer every chance I could get packing. I rarely go to the mall during the school year, and I hear that clothes are more expensive in France, so all of the shopping will be quite beneficial over the long-run. As far as the actual packing itself goes, I have written a list. Does that count for packing? All I know is that it'll get done eventually, but right now, the important things are saying goodbye to people and spending as much time as I can with my family. Therefore, let us transition into the next topic--
Current Saying Goodbye Status: I don't really know.
It's been kind of weird. I have kind of forgotten almost to say goodbye to people. I'll see them, and I just think, "oh, I'll probably hang out with him/her next week." In some cases, it might actually be the last time I'll see them... It's a weird concept. And some of them it won't just be for the year. A lot of people will be at college or beyond. It's really weird having such a crucial year kind of chunked out of your life. So now I'm trying to mention how much I'll miss my close friends and family members next year as much as possible because the truth is, I only have 14 days left in the country... Anyhow, let's get onto a brighter topic.
I've decided how to lay out my blog once I'm in France! Right now, if you haven't noticed, it's kind of random. :):D:P But once I get to France, I am going to divide each post into three different sections: Language, School, and Culture. Of course I'll also say anything at the end that needs to be pointed out, but that'll pretty much be it. I think it will make it a little easier for me.
And finally (Last thing I'll say, I promise), I want to add that this whole year I have been making a list of things I will miss, and my next post, probably about two weeks from now, I will put it up.
Au Revoir,
Carly
Well, first of all I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates in the past couple of months/ weeks/I can't really keep track of time anymore... But moving right along--
Current Visa status: OBTAINED
Woohoo! On August second we went to the consulate and everything went perfectly fine. They were very.... hmmm... what's the word? Kind of cold, but not really mean, just unemotional. Well, it may come to me later. It was very easy, though, and less than a week later we got my passport with a fancy little page included just for France. Hip hip hooray! :D
Current Host Family Status: Nonexistent... :|
I don't really have anything to say about this, except I would like to give a shout out to the French world and say "I'm not really as bad as you think I am! Please, pick me...!" I chalk it up to my lack of a good host family letter and the fact that almost everything about me is different than it was 11 months ago, when I started the process. Go figure, I have changed even before the program has begun. But all in all, I don't really mind the absence of family. I trust AFS and I know I won't be thrown out on the streets at any point, so it's all good. I do feel slightly sorry for my mom, though, because if I do get a welcome (temporary) family, she won't know the details until I actually call her the first time from France. I expect it will go smoothly, however. One thing I wish I did have control over at the moment is my courses that I will be taking at school... The "L" track is what I am aiming for; it seems the most suited for me while also allowing me to learn the most French. But, whoooaa! I just realized that there is a possibility that I will not even be in the grade level in which you split into tracks. Holy crap. The possibilities are endless..... Ok, well now that that ramble has gone on for a while, I think I'll change the topic.
Current Packing Status: SEMI-DONE
If you call having gone shopping this summer every chance I could get packing. I rarely go to the mall during the school year, and I hear that clothes are more expensive in France, so all of the shopping will be quite beneficial over the long-run. As far as the actual packing itself goes, I have written a list. Does that count for packing? All I know is that it'll get done eventually, but right now, the important things are saying goodbye to people and spending as much time as I can with my family. Therefore, let us transition into the next topic--
Current Saying Goodbye Status: I don't really know.
It's been kind of weird. I have kind of forgotten almost to say goodbye to people. I'll see them, and I just think, "oh, I'll probably hang out with him/her next week." In some cases, it might actually be the last time I'll see them... It's a weird concept. And some of them it won't just be for the year. A lot of people will be at college or beyond. It's really weird having such a crucial year kind of chunked out of your life. So now I'm trying to mention how much I'll miss my close friends and family members next year as much as possible because the truth is, I only have 14 days left in the country... Anyhow, let's get onto a brighter topic.
I've decided how to lay out my blog once I'm in France! Right now, if you haven't noticed, it's kind of random. :):D:P But once I get to France, I am going to divide each post into three different sections: Language, School, and Culture. Of course I'll also say anything at the end that needs to be pointed out, but that'll pretty much be it. I think it will make it a little easier for me.
And finally (Last thing I'll say, I promise), I want to add that this whole year I have been making a list of things I will miss, and my next post, probably about two weeks from now, I will put it up.
Au Revoir,
Carly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)