So its coming up on 7 weeks, and life is great.
I was searching for a word the other day to describe how I felt. I couldn’t find one, then it just came to me, the french word for happy, “content”. I was perfectly content.
Life here is great. There is really nothing that I would change. I am more confident in speaking French, the prospect of going downstairs in the morning is no longer daunting (speaking French in the morning was a bit of a hurdle to get over), and I don’t crave North American food anymore (except for the occasional perogie).
Here are a few more things that I have learned in these last amazing 7 weeks:
- ‘donc’ is their version of ‘like’. If you throw it in about 5 times per sentence you sound French.
- There is never any money laying on the sidewalk. No lucky pennies…
- Never take being able understand how to work a microwave for granted.
- It’s really dark outside at 6am
- Food addiction is a real thing…….watch out French bread, here I come.
- Cocoa-Cola tastes different in France
- Everything tastes different in France
- Putting jam on cream cheese is like sacrilege in France. You will be stared at. Not in a good way.
- No one understands peanut butter here…its expensive, and hard to find.
- Lights-OFF. Always. France is very dark. Only the lights that NEED to be on are.
- French shortbread cookies are the closest thing to perfection you will ever taste.
- I love France.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
lookin out my back door
“Bother me tomorrow,
Today I’ll have no sorrow,
Do Doo Do
Looking out my back door”
All my friends grew up listening to Brittany Spears and The Spice Girls. I grew up listening to CCR, Bob Marley, and Neil Young. This morning as I was getting ready for school I put on the radio, and “Looking out my back door” by CCR started playing. It was such a flashback moment. So mommy and daddy, tonight while you are eating dinner put that CD on and think of me It was a little bit of home, thousands of miles away.
Today while grocery store wandering I found the North American food isle. And more importantly I found PEANUT BUTTER! Which is unheard of here. Unheard of. So I think I will be buying some of that, and making some good old fashion PB&J sandwiches soon.
Today I’ll have no sorrow,
Do Doo Do
Looking out my back door”
All my friends grew up listening to Brittany Spears and The Spice Girls. I grew up listening to CCR, Bob Marley, and Neil Young. This morning as I was getting ready for school I put on the radio, and “Looking out my back door” by CCR started playing. It was such a flashback moment. So mommy and daddy, tonight while you are eating dinner put that CD on and think of me It was a little bit of home, thousands of miles away.
Today while grocery store wandering I found the North American food isle. And more importantly I found PEANUT BUTTER! Which is unheard of here. Unheard of. So I think I will be buying some of that, and making some good old fashion PB&J sandwiches soon.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Sunrise on the Seine
This morning as my metro was crossing the Seine the sun was rising. The sky was lit up a beautiful grapefruit color, with golden clouds, and the water was reflecting it. It was a beautiful way to start the day, and a great way to mark 6 weeks in this amazing new life.
6 weeks. Wow. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. Though it seems like years and years ago that I was stepping off the plane. I’m in a French time warp, but I am loving it. I am so glad that I am here for the full year, because right now the idea of going home after 3 months is so depressing, even 6 months. I am happy I am here for the long haul. It is still a bit mind boggeling though, to think about just how long it is. So I avoid that. I take things one day at a time, one meal after another.
I am building a new life. Constructed mainly of bread, desserts, dictionaries, and lots of sign language. I recognize people on the metro now, the regulars. I know the hours of the public library off by heart, I know where the best hot chocolate in the city is, and I could walk around the grocery store blind folded. I feel at home. I have made my own little niche in this huge city, my own little place.
Yesterday I played Rugby at school….. I have trouble understanding the rules of a game in English, but in French? It was sad. I understood that if you had the ball you wanted to run it to the end of the field. I thought that was pretty much it. So, someone passed me the ball, and I held onto it for dear life and ran. I ran and ran, all the way to the end of the field. Then I started to wonder why no one was chasing me, and why everyone was laughing at me…..turns out I was supposed to run the other direction. They all thought it was pretty funny, but needless to say, no one passes to me anymore.
The other night I woke up having a really bad dream. It’s rather complicated, and weird (as most of my dream are) but I will give a shortened version:
I was on the ferry boat going from Vancouver to Naniamo, it was the end of October or early November. It was me and Bridget, my dad and someone from rotary. I kept asking why we were going home, it hadn't been a year yet, it couldn’t have gone by that fast. And everyone kept telling me ‘Yes, it was a year, and now you are back.” But I knew it hadn't been a year. I kept saying “I don’t remember Christmas, I don’t remember Christmas. It wasn’t a year. I want to go back.”
Later on we were back in my house (only it wasn’t actually my house), and I asked my dad if it had really been a year, and why I was back so soon. He told me that no, it hadn’t been a year, only 2 months. I was back home because Orange (a phone company) was having a really savage battle with another phone company, and it was safer for me to be in Canada. I was distraught. I just wanted to go back.
I woke up and for a second I thought I was in Canada, then with a huge sigh of relief I realized I was in my bed, in France.
I want to thank all of you who have given me this opportunity. Thank you thank you thank you.
A teacher of mine once told me that everyone had a choice in life. We could choose to live, or to simply exist.
I am choosing to live, and I am loving it. I have never felt so alive. Sure, there are days where I just want to curl up, times when I want nothing more than to be surrounded by a language I understand, or to be simply hugged by my parents and told that it will be okay. Sure, there are hard times, but that comes with choosing to live. And trust me, it is worth it.
6 weeks. Wow. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. Though it seems like years and years ago that I was stepping off the plane. I’m in a French time warp, but I am loving it. I am so glad that I am here for the full year, because right now the idea of going home after 3 months is so depressing, even 6 months. I am happy I am here for the long haul. It is still a bit mind boggeling though, to think about just how long it is. So I avoid that. I take things one day at a time, one meal after another.
I am building a new life. Constructed mainly of bread, desserts, dictionaries, and lots of sign language. I recognize people on the metro now, the regulars. I know the hours of the public library off by heart, I know where the best hot chocolate in the city is, and I could walk around the grocery store blind folded. I feel at home. I have made my own little niche in this huge city, my own little place.
Yesterday I played Rugby at school….. I have trouble understanding the rules of a game in English, but in French? It was sad. I understood that if you had the ball you wanted to run it to the end of the field. I thought that was pretty much it. So, someone passed me the ball, and I held onto it for dear life and ran. I ran and ran, all the way to the end of the field. Then I started to wonder why no one was chasing me, and why everyone was laughing at me…..turns out I was supposed to run the other direction. They all thought it was pretty funny, but needless to say, no one passes to me anymore.
The other night I woke up having a really bad dream. It’s rather complicated, and weird (as most of my dream are) but I will give a shortened version:
I was on the ferry boat going from Vancouver to Naniamo, it was the end of October or early November. It was me and Bridget, my dad and someone from rotary. I kept asking why we were going home, it hadn't been a year yet, it couldn’t have gone by that fast. And everyone kept telling me ‘Yes, it was a year, and now you are back.” But I knew it hadn't been a year. I kept saying “I don’t remember Christmas, I don’t remember Christmas. It wasn’t a year. I want to go back.”
Later on we were back in my house (only it wasn’t actually my house), and I asked my dad if it had really been a year, and why I was back so soon. He told me that no, it hadn’t been a year, only 2 months. I was back home because Orange (a phone company) was having a really savage battle with another phone company, and it was safer for me to be in Canada. I was distraught. I just wanted to go back.
I woke up and for a second I thought I was in Canada, then with a huge sigh of relief I realized I was in my bed, in France.
I want to thank all of you who have given me this opportunity. Thank you thank you thank you.
A teacher of mine once told me that everyone had a choice in life. We could choose to live, or to simply exist.
I am choosing to live, and I am loving it. I have never felt so alive. Sure, there are days where I just want to curl up, times when I want nothing more than to be surrounded by a language I understand, or to be simply hugged by my parents and told that it will be okay. Sure, there are hard times, but that comes with choosing to live. And trust me, it is worth it.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
grocerys stores, greek mythology, and moon landings. what more could you want?
When you have a three hour long lunch break, and a school with no sitting places, and a city with very wet weather, you find a place of refuge. Mine is the grocery store.
Every time that Bridget and I have a 3-hour break we hop on the metro to Saint Sever, a mall across the Seine. Its only 3 stations away, so just about 6 minuets to get there. The mall is huge, with many bars/café/restaurants, many clothing stores, and about 5 phone stores. You could find everything you need to live off of. There is also an E.Leclerc. for those of you who aren’t familiar with French brands, E.Leclerc is to France, as WalMart is to North America. But more food focused.
Bridget and I like these stores very much. We will spend hours and hours just wandering the isles. It never gets old. Its always interesting, and it always smells good (and it never rains unexpectedly). We make little mental notes as we go “We gotta try that one day” “Whoah, what do you do with that?” “They eat that here?” “Hey! Its like Kraft Dinner!! With no cheese…..” “Why don’t they have ________?”.
We do often get strange glances when we walk out with nothing, because most people don’t go to the supermarket just to browse…. But hey, we get weird glances everywhere.
Our second place of refuge is the library. Which is conveniently located right across the street from our school, and is in the same building as our third place of refuge (that is the next paragraph). Bridget and I both have library cards now. I am currently reading a book (IN FRENCH) on Greek mythology. I am not really sure why. It was a sudden need to learn about mythology (I am already becoming a more ‘well rounded’ person. But that is also due to all the bread I consume). They have a small English section, mostly just the classics. We also like the children’s section; we are frequent visitors there.
The third place of refuge is the Fnac. It is also right across from the school, and sells computers, televisions, cameras etc, and books, and music. Upstairs there is an exhibit of photos on the moon, and there are some comfy chairs. The staff must think we are very interested in the moon landings……
The rain has started. Lots of it. I have a feeling that Bridget and I will be spending a lot of time in our three little spots. I will take some photos of each for you
Every time that Bridget and I have a 3-hour break we hop on the metro to Saint Sever, a mall across the Seine. Its only 3 stations away, so just about 6 minuets to get there. The mall is huge, with many bars/café/restaurants, many clothing stores, and about 5 phone stores. You could find everything you need to live off of. There is also an E.Leclerc. for those of you who aren’t familiar with French brands, E.Leclerc is to France, as WalMart is to North America. But more food focused.
Bridget and I like these stores very much. We will spend hours and hours just wandering the isles. It never gets old. Its always interesting, and it always smells good (and it never rains unexpectedly). We make little mental notes as we go “We gotta try that one day” “Whoah, what do you do with that?” “They eat that here?” “Hey! Its like Kraft Dinner!! With no cheese…..” “Why don’t they have ________?”.
We do often get strange glances when we walk out with nothing, because most people don’t go to the supermarket just to browse…. But hey, we get weird glances everywhere.
Our second place of refuge is the library. Which is conveniently located right across the street from our school, and is in the same building as our third place of refuge (that is the next paragraph). Bridget and I both have library cards now. I am currently reading a book (IN FRENCH) on Greek mythology. I am not really sure why. It was a sudden need to learn about mythology (I am already becoming a more ‘well rounded’ person. But that is also due to all the bread I consume). They have a small English section, mostly just the classics. We also like the children’s section; we are frequent visitors there.
The third place of refuge is the Fnac. It is also right across from the school, and sells computers, televisions, cameras etc, and books, and music. Upstairs there is an exhibit of photos on the moon, and there are some comfy chairs. The staff must think we are very interested in the moon landings……
The rain has started. Lots of it. I have a feeling that Bridget and I will be spending a lot of time in our three little spots. I will take some photos of each for you
Friday, October 2, 2009
mind of a toddler...
So learning a new language is kinda like being 3 years old again.
I will learn a new word and then every time I see something that applies to that word I want to point and yell. (thankfully I have learned to repress this). On the metro I have memorized the order of the stops, and I sometimes find myself speaking along with the nice computer voice “Prochaine station, Hotel de Ville de Sotteville.” “Destination Technopole, Saint-Etienne de Rouvrey”. Ya, I get some funny looks.
If I am walking down the street and I over hear a conversation with one of my “new words” I always want to turn around and tell them “Je connais ce mot!!! Je connais ce mot!!!” thankfully I refrain from that one too.
The small things in life are what matter now. The simple basics of human nature. None of all the complicated stuff we have to deal with when we grow up. Understanding is way over rated.
But, like a 3 year old I am going through that annoying stage. The “why” stage (only for me it is “pourquoi?”).
*this is a recent conversation with the guy who hands out ice cream at the school cafeteria *
“Non, tu ne peux pas prendre un pomme et un crème glacée”
“Pourquoi?”
“Parce-que tu ne peux pas prendre deux desserts.”
“Mais un pomme n’est pas un dessert, c’est un fruit, si je prend un glace, je pense que j’ai BESSOIN de prendre un pomme.”
“Non, tu ne peux pas prendre un pomme et un crème glacée.”
“Merde”
- No, you can’t take an apple and an ice cream.
- Why?
- Because you can’t take two desserts.
- But, an apple isn’t a dessert, it’s a fruit, and if I take an ice cream I think I NEED to take a fruit.
- No, you can’t take an apple and an ice cream.
- *darn*
So, apart from being a toddler again, I have noticed some things that I miss and that I will miss.
Things I Currently Miss in Canada:
- full fridges (with snack foods)
- snacks
- cold pizza (…..actually pizza for that matter)
- perogies
- baths
- lockers at school (unheard of here)
Things That I Will Miss in France:
-THE BAKERIES! (and all they sell)
- the fresh bread every morning
- the chocolate (and the HOT CHOCOLATE)
- the cobble stone streets
- the metro, and ability to get around without a car
- the crazy drivers
There is just so much here that I love. And it has only been 5 weeks. I have a feeling that someone will have to drag me onto the airplane when it is time to leave……
I will learn a new word and then every time I see something that applies to that word I want to point and yell. (thankfully I have learned to repress this). On the metro I have memorized the order of the stops, and I sometimes find myself speaking along with the nice computer voice “Prochaine station, Hotel de Ville de Sotteville.” “Destination Technopole, Saint-Etienne de Rouvrey”. Ya, I get some funny looks.
If I am walking down the street and I over hear a conversation with one of my “new words” I always want to turn around and tell them “Je connais ce mot!!! Je connais ce mot!!!” thankfully I refrain from that one too.
The small things in life are what matter now. The simple basics of human nature. None of all the complicated stuff we have to deal with when we grow up. Understanding is way over rated.
But, like a 3 year old I am going through that annoying stage. The “why” stage (only for me it is “pourquoi?”).
*this is a recent conversation with the guy who hands out ice cream at the school cafeteria *
“Non, tu ne peux pas prendre un pomme et un crème glacée”
“Pourquoi?”
“Parce-que tu ne peux pas prendre deux desserts.”
“Mais un pomme n’est pas un dessert, c’est un fruit, si je prend un glace, je pense que j’ai BESSOIN de prendre un pomme.”
“Non, tu ne peux pas prendre un pomme et un crème glacée.”
“Merde”
- No, you can’t take an apple and an ice cream.
- Why?
- Because you can’t take two desserts.
- But, an apple isn’t a dessert, it’s a fruit, and if I take an ice cream I think I NEED to take a fruit.
- No, you can’t take an apple and an ice cream.
- *darn*
So, apart from being a toddler again, I have noticed some things that I miss and that I will miss.
Things I Currently Miss in Canada:
- full fridges (with snack foods)
- snacks
- cold pizza (…..actually pizza for that matter)
- perogies
- baths
- lockers at school (unheard of here)
Things That I Will Miss in France:
-THE BAKERIES! (and all they sell)
- the fresh bread every morning
- the chocolate (and the HOT CHOCOLATE)
- the cobble stone streets
- the metro, and ability to get around without a car
- the crazy drivers
There is just so much here that I love. And it has only been 5 weeks. I have a feeling that someone will have to drag me onto the airplane when it is time to leave……
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
ca va? oui :)
Today is 5 weeks.
I really can't believe how fast these last few weeks have gone. It is almost octobre vacations. How did that happen?
Today me and Bridget made some YUMMY oatmeal cookies :) we made a TON so there was enough for her to take to her family, enough for my family, enough for us, and enough left over to take to some friends at school. (yes, we are trying to win them over with our exotic baking skills....)
I am able to talk to the other kids at school now, a great break through. And I can say more than "Ca va?" "Oui, mais je suis tres fatigue" now I can actually talk about what I did on the weekend, what I will do after school, and express more than just basic needs. I can make people laugh. (though I am not sure if they are laughing at what I am saying, or at my accent...)
One thing that I have really noticed that has changed about me is my patience level. For those of you who spend a lot of time with me, you know that I am not always the most patient person..... but when I come back, wow, you are in for a suprise. I think it is from all the sitting I do now, the sitting, waiting, trying to understand, not understanding, sitting, waiting. I have become the most patient person you have ever met. haha.
I am going to stick some photos underneath of what I have been up to :)
they are of me and my first french crepe, me and Bridget, and me at Chateau Chantilly.
I really can't believe how fast these last few weeks have gone. It is almost octobre vacations. How did that happen?
Today me and Bridget made some YUMMY oatmeal cookies :) we made a TON so there was enough for her to take to her family, enough for my family, enough for us, and enough left over to take to some friends at school. (yes, we are trying to win them over with our exotic baking skills....)
I am able to talk to the other kids at school now, a great break through. And I can say more than "Ca va?" "Oui, mais je suis tres fatigue" now I can actually talk about what I did on the weekend, what I will do after school, and express more than just basic needs. I can make people laugh. (though I am not sure if they are laughing at what I am saying, or at my accent...)
One thing that I have really noticed that has changed about me is my patience level. For those of you who spend a lot of time with me, you know that I am not always the most patient person..... but when I come back, wow, you are in for a suprise. I think it is from all the sitting I do now, the sitting, waiting, trying to understand, not understanding, sitting, waiting. I have become the most patient person you have ever met. haha.
I am going to stick some photos underneath of what I have been up to :)
they are of me and my first french crepe, me and Bridget, and me at Chateau Chantilly.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
one month.
So yesterday was the ‘one month’ mark. And I can’t decide if it feels like a lifetime, or a matter of minutes.
My french has really improved, but I need a few more months before being bilingual, I think that by around Christmas time I will be.
I know that I have gotten over the first big hump, the hardest part, the cutting the cords part. But really, the cords are never cut, just loosened. Now when I am tiered I think about my bed here, when I am hungry I crave food here, my mind and body has reconnected itself. When I think about leaving this town, it makes me sad. This is my other home. And it always will be.
About a week ago, everything fell into a routine (that’s a good thing). That is when I really knew that I was comfy here. Bridget (the other exchange student in my class, who is from Florida), and I walk to the metro together after school. We go down the first flight of stairs together, and then we always split for the second, and I take the escalotor, and she takes the stairs right beside me. Its small things like that that make me comfy. My train always comes first.
On Wednesdays we only have 2 hours of classes, and are finished by 10am, so we take the metro to my house and make something. Last week was pancakes, this week is oatmeal chocolate-chunk cookies, next week is stuffed potaotes. But we are going to leave one Wednesday a month for pancakes.
On Saturdays I take the metro to Bridget’s house after school, and we will go for a swim, a run, play tennis, or work out in the family gym. To try too work off some of the bread (there is a lot of bread) and the goodies (lots of goodies too). we speak to eachother in a strange new language called "Ench" its a mix of english and french, and always brings us strange looks.
Yesterday I went on this 13km forest walk thing with my host family and the sporty Rotarians. We were given a map, a compass, and a list of clues. We had to follow them and then find the hidden markers in the trees and then stamp out page to prove we found it. They marked the time you started and the time you finished. And afterwards there was archery and yummy goodies. Once everyone had finished we took a little ferry across the Seine, and had dinner in a nice restaurant. Then they annonced the winners, and guess whose team won? OURS. haha. So now I have a nice trophy to bring home.
So all in all, the first month has been great. The people are great, my friends are great, the food is great. Life is great. I am so thankful that I am here, and I want to thank all of you out there that helped get me here. Merci beaucoup!
(thats m host parents and me with our trophy)
My french has really improved, but I need a few more months before being bilingual, I think that by around Christmas time I will be.
I know that I have gotten over the first big hump, the hardest part, the cutting the cords part. But really, the cords are never cut, just loosened. Now when I am tiered I think about my bed here, when I am hungry I crave food here, my mind and body has reconnected itself. When I think about leaving this town, it makes me sad. This is my other home. And it always will be.
About a week ago, everything fell into a routine (that’s a good thing). That is when I really knew that I was comfy here. Bridget (the other exchange student in my class, who is from Florida), and I walk to the metro together after school. We go down the first flight of stairs together, and then we always split for the second, and I take the escalotor, and she takes the stairs right beside me. Its small things like that that make me comfy. My train always comes first.
On Wednesdays we only have 2 hours of classes, and are finished by 10am, so we take the metro to my house and make something. Last week was pancakes, this week is oatmeal chocolate-chunk cookies, next week is stuffed potaotes. But we are going to leave one Wednesday a month for pancakes.
On Saturdays I take the metro to Bridget’s house after school, and we will go for a swim, a run, play tennis, or work out in the family gym. To try too work off some of the bread (there is a lot of bread) and the goodies (lots of goodies too). we speak to eachother in a strange new language called "Ench" its a mix of english and french, and always brings us strange looks.
Yesterday I went on this 13km forest walk thing with my host family and the sporty Rotarians. We were given a map, a compass, and a list of clues. We had to follow them and then find the hidden markers in the trees and then stamp out page to prove we found it. They marked the time you started and the time you finished. And afterwards there was archery and yummy goodies. Once everyone had finished we took a little ferry across the Seine, and had dinner in a nice restaurant. Then they annonced the winners, and guess whose team won? OURS. haha. So now I have a nice trophy to bring home.
So all in all, the first month has been great. The people are great, my friends are great, the food is great. Life is great. I am so thankful that I am here, and I want to thank all of you out there that helped get me here. Merci beaucoup!
(thats m host parents and me with our trophy)
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