One month mark

Mission accomplished. Well, a little more than it was 2 days ago. I made a list the other day of things I was going to do to take better advantage of my year in France, (yeah, I make lists…hehe) because I was feeling kind of out of it. The teenagers here aren’t exactly like the teenagers in the US, similar (I think all teenagers around the world are pretty similar), but not quite. Advice to anyone going to France: just give it some time. You’re not going to have immediate friends, but by being friendly, after a couple weeks, you’ll have a couple. I mean, that if you went to the US, tons of people would be really overfriendly and show you around the school and ask you to eat lunch with them, but here, everyone is more laidback, and most people won’t approach you first. You really have to make a conscious effort to make friends. And I think I’ve made a couple! At least started to, anyways. I’ve definitely found a friend in Lucie, my host sister. She’s been pretty awesome showing me around at school, and we’ve been doing homework together and such.

I want to be able to say how France is right now—to sum up the last month. But as always, just when I need the words the most, they won’t come. First of all, Los Angeles is no longer where I’ve lived for 15 years, but what defines me. In Arts-Plastiques (drawing) we had to draw a picture of us—who am I? what do I like? that kind of thing. Without thinking, I started drawing LA, and piano keys along the side. If I was in the US right now, I could say my hobbies were soccer, dancing, girl scouts, LA youth, guitar, knitting, and aquarium-ing. But here, none of that exists. I can’t even say that I like to write, because I can’t creatively write in French. I’m pretty blank here. I mean, it’s not a bad thing. But it’s different.

When I say I come from Los Angeles, they say “Quelle chance!” (what luck!) They all have this idealized version of what LA is, and it’s kind of hilarious. (yes! of course I see movie stars all the time! hehe) But I absolutely love Liginiac and Ussel. They’re these old towns with old houses and flowerbeds on all the balconies. And there are patisseries (bakeries) and little restaurants on every corner. Some of the parents of people you go to school with own boulangeries. The whole atmosphere is pretty charming, because everyone knows (or knows of) everyone who lives nearby.

I should talk about the food too. It’s delicious, to sum it up. I am sincerely hoping I won’t gain weight. Each meal with my host family has about 2-3 “courses” I guess you could say. (they aren’t huge portions in the “courses”) First, we’ll have some kind of vegetable (tomato salad, or soup, for example), and then something with meat and a starch (chicken and pasta) and then cheese (camembert, goat’s cheese, I am a fan of brie) and then dessert (yogurt or fruit, or on special occasions a gateau). Even the cafeteria food at the cantine at college is WAY better than American cafeteria food. No hamburgers/cheese covered fried stuff. They have pasta and vegetables and meat and yogurt and general goodness. And you know how everyone thinks that there aren’t any overweight people in France? They’re wrong.

Hm…what else to say? I don’t know. Oh, never say “Je suis pleine” (literal translation: I am full) because it really means that you are a female cow, and you are going to give birth. Marion informed me of that a couple days ago…so I didn’t have to go through the embarrassment of saying something like that…

Mostly, it’s pretty strange to think that I’ve been here for a whole month already, because it really doesn’t feel like it. (Yesterday after dinner, Helene brought a yaourt with a candle in it, and reminded me I’ve been here for exactly a month!) And if the rest of the months are like this, I’m happy. And I have things to look forward to too: maybe going to a lycee instead of a college (that’s a different, more complicated, and less interesting story), Paris at Christmas, Ping-Pong class during lunch every Friday, the AFS outing planned for this weekend at Montaubon, going um….the equivalent of jumping off a cliff with one of those elastic rope things attached, with Marion and Lucie in October, dinner tomorrow, History class (we’re learning about the American elections, and I am therefore doing very well)—everything. I’m more and more excited for my continuing life in France.

IN FRANCE!!

I'm finally here....after the AFS camps, both in New York (which was almost horrible, by the way), and in France (which wasn't).

The days have been passing by...and they seem a lot longer here. Everyone wakes up at 6 or 7 for school (which I 'll talk a bit more about later), eat lunch around 12, 13h00, then eats dinner around 21h00, then goes to bed. They're house is beautiful... and everyone has been really nice to me, even though my french really isn't what I expected and I don't understand much at all. When I think about it, it's really the little things that make France so...awesome. I am in love with here. The other day, I sat out in their backyard, and Gautier plopped one of the many cats in my lap. Pretty much, it pooped all over my jeans--and it was just too funny. ( You know those moments when you're really embarrassed, but when you think about it, it's really pretty funny) Lucie and I couldn't stop laughing. And when we drove in the car to go canoeing and canyoning (a very....um...exciting excursion), they played a french song, and then that oldie 'Satisfaction' and Alain sang along. Alain has been talking in a strange mix of english and french ( he studied in wyoming for a couple years, but his english has since deteriorated), and when we went canyoning (rock climbing) he was trying to help me, but he kept mixing up the words 'left' and 'right.' And I've been really confused mind-wise, and most of the time, I can't remember whether someone said something to me in english or french....
The little things that are just.....funny about france:

• they eat fromage and pain with everything
• when I ordered pizza in a restaurant, they came out with a whole pizza on a plate for me
• there's a waffle in the vending machine
• the mailwoman knows everyone's name in the town
• Charlotte (3) has a different cut little dress to where everyday, and she loves Indiana Jones movies
• Gautier tries to be helpful, by repeating what everyone says very slowly for me
• People smile and wave when you drive by, and they don't know you
• they think it's just hilarious to eat eggs for breakfast
• there are little villages everywhere and all of htem are the length of about one street in LA

School started yesterday too. It was....to put it mildly CONFUSING. We took a big charter bus to school...hm....pretty much I didn't understand anything, but Lucie is in the same class as me, so she was really helpful. My P.E. teacher thought it was very interesting that I was from the US, and he made us walk 2 blocks, then gave us candy. Pretty much, the whole day was WHOOSH (that was it going over my head). But today, the seocnd day of school, was much better. I could understand a bit more, and I had english class, and music. (Singing! required singing class! I think we learn some recorder in there too).

But I'm taking 10 classes overall: French, english, spanish, math, physics/chemistry, biology, history, drawing, music, P.E., and Technology. And ALL of that is required!! I am definitely thinking about all the requirements I can get out of the way. haha...

In the meantime, everyone thinks it's quite a novelty to be from LA, and all the girls in my class have been asking if there are 'beautiful boys there.' I mean...you tell me. =P

I love it, and I miss you.

Visas, Details, Excitement, and Pre-packing

So, I got my visa! It was a lot easier than planned. We went to the consulate once, and had to wait for about 2 hours, but then just gave them the paperwork, and then got a sticker to put in my passport! (French visas are so pretty too! Green and glittery and such). A lot of the girls who were there getting a visa for their exchange with Rotary were having tons of trouble. They didn't have all the papers, and they kept having to come back, and so on. Well, my mom spoke to the consulate-guy in french (that may have helped somewhat), and AFS gave us all the papers we needed, so it was no trouble at all! Yay!
And I also got a copy of my host family's application, that talked about their interests, personalities, and details. My host father is an artisan, and my host mother a librarian. They live in a large house in the countryside, and have a garden and swimming pool. The atmosphere of the family is calm, and they have a regular schedule. No one smokes, and they are Catholic, but not regularly. Their pets include dogs, cats, horses, and hamsters.
Helene wrote "Aude is the artist of the family, Marion is more intellectual, Lucie is talkative. Pauline is mysterious, Louis is a dreamer (he wants to be baker, he cooks). Gautier is moving all the time. Arthur and Charlotte are very noisy....Lucie and Pualine like horse riding. They practice it sometimes with Alain and Aude. Louis and Gautier like motorbiking. They do that with Alain. They also like soccer. Aude and Marion like to go shopping, but there are not a lot of shops nearby. "
I have also started shopping and pre-packing....and trying to find presents to give my host family. My host family has a piano: an old out-of-tune one, and a keyboard (they said if I wanted to play on another piano they could arrange with a neighbor to play on theirs), so I can practice. I had my last piano and guitar lessons the other day....and I have music to learn by myself while there. (Thanks Natasha!) My last day of volunteering at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium was on the 9th. It's all coming to a close, really.
I had one week of backpacking in Yosemite, and now I have 4 days until I leave. (Today is the 15th) It's just incredibly crazy-sounding now. I'm having a kind of unofficial going away party in 2 days, and then...whoa. I think about who will or will not come, and I find that it might not make a difference, if people I love are there, and I have a good time. It'll be interesting to see who I stay in touch with while in France, (who will try to stay in touch, when I may not be able to do so often). And I don't think anyone really understands how this feels, at the moment (unless you are leaving for France in 4/5 days also!). I want to be able to say goodbye to everyone, and I want to be able to be sad when I leave...but mostly I'm just a little confused. I'm going? Really? For a year?
Eh...enough talk. I need to pack.

HOST CITY!

So, apparently, my host family information wasn't even sent to AFS USA from AFS France until yesterday, and that's why I hadn't heard!
I'm going to Liginiac! Which (as google searches tell me)is a leeetttle tiny town (and by little I mean 630 inhabitants) in the city of Ussel, in Correze, in the province of Limousin, in France!!! And according to these websites, Limousin the 2nd least populated region in France! I was surprised when I saw the address AFS gave me, because it's nothing like "600 Rue de Lafayette" or something like that. It's actually "Chateau de Mareges." So they live in a chateau? WOW! I searched it in google (that amazing google..haha) and I got pictures of a castle-like place, advertising it as a holiday property. So I am slightly confused, though the chateau in the pictures looks rather like the photos they sent me! (the first photo up there is from the holiday property website!, and the second is one they sent me!) My theory is that they rent out rooms because of their extensive land, or rent out their chateau on holidays. (I don't have high expectations do I? haha)
I really think it's awesome that they put me there. My family sounds amazing, and I'll be going from a HUGE CITY to a little tiny town, and I'll get to experience REAL FRENCH LIFE! IN THE COUNTRYSIDE!
I'm sooo excited. So so psyched. Even though I couldn't find any information on my school, "College Voltaire."

Host Family!!

Guess what guess what guess what!! I got a host family!!!

Well, I didn't officially get any information from AFS, but my host family emailed me today! (Apparently it is normal for the host family to get information before the exchange student?)
My host parents' names are Helene and Alain, and I have EIGHT host siblings!
Aude 17
Marion 16
Lucie 14
Pauline 12
Louis 10
Gautier 9
Arthur 5
Charlotte 3

And they emailed saying things such as (of course in French) "We're preparing the house for your visit! We can't wait to meet you! I'm sorry my english is not good, but it will help you practice your french!" etc.etc.
I AM SO EXCITED! Even though I still don't know where in France I'll be, or what school I'm going to, or anything!!

What is America?

No current news about host family or anything. Still waiting!! (I want to know now!!) Though I am taking Precalculus and World History over the summer to prepare.
We had our Pre Departure Orientation yesterday!! Mind, this was an old post I'm updating, so it still says the 10th of May on it. Currently, it's the 18th of May! And the 17th was the orientation! It was soooo awesome. When we first arrived, all the volunteers were walking around, talking rapidly in foreign languages to us (none of us understood), so they would see how we react to situations like that. (we'll encounter MANY of those situations in our host countries) One guy, who spoke German, said that it's good if we smile and try to understand what they're saying. haha... So, we were broken up into random groups, where we talked about how we see our country, how we see our host country, and how to break those stereotypes. We also went over the basic facts about culture shock, and how we will have to have a sense of humor, use the language, ask lots of questions, empathize, etc.
Then we had a snack the volunteers provided. They tried to bring food from a bunch of different cultures, and didn't tell us what the foods were until after we ate them. Therefore, I found out that I tried: a gooseberry, banana chips, faux-meat used in sushi, an odd ginger candy, baked bread, among other things. Some people got blood and tongue sausage, but mine didn't have any (thank god). We were then split up into long/short programs by gender. My group had only 2 other people in it, and was really relaxed. We went over the AFS rules (no hitch-hiking, driving, drugs), then went through scenarios we will (hypothetically) encounter. Then over the communication problem. (They pretty much shouted NO INTERNET! NO CALLING! for about a half-an-hour) For lunch, the volunteers opened all of our sack lunches, then served them to everyone. I hope someone liked my sandwich.
The last module-thingy was split up into regions. There were 12 people going to France! (though most were for the summer). There were 5 people from Los Angeles going to France for the year program! We sat in the grass with Cory, an AFS student in the US from France, and he pretty much just told us EVERYTHING we'll need to know. For example: there is a specific way you must hold your hands while eating, french people don't hug often, students protest a lot, people go out to bars/clubs/cafes to hang out with friends or meet people, along with other very interesting things that I had no idea about. Everyone asked questions about cell phone service, boyfriends/girlfriends, sports (In soccer, support Lyon! Not Paris!), and food.
I just feel so excited, about going! It is no longer a hypothetical situation, but a real one! I'm actually going to France next year! Whoah!
The AFS volunteers said to finish reading CultureTrek lately (special booklet AFS gives out), and it talks about how you should know and understand your own country, so you can better understand another.
And so I've been thinking....what is America? What is the United States?

Maybe...
America is everyone of every culture you can imagine, living within the same borders.
America is the white headlights after headlights after headlights on the other side of the freeway, as we drive, and drive, and drive.
America is smiling through every awful, uncomfortable situation, talking with your hands, looking people in the eye.
America is confusion, everything too blaring and bright, too fast, too hard to understand.
America is walking under an expanse of pale sky too large to possibly comprehend.
America is ignorance, not knowing and never knowing.
America is music--screaming, soft, choral, metal, everything ever imagined.
America is resistance, knowing you should just let life be, but wanting something more.

More preparations.

Don't you like the lovely new header thingy? I was bored when I was sick...

I just got a letter today saying they would send us visa information 6-8 weeks before I leave...so I'll get that in a bit. My french phrase-a-day calender says to "Gardez le sourire" (Keep smiling)
I have to take World History and Trig over the summer so I won't be behind when I come back. Therefore, I'm applying to take classes at SMC.
And I can't wait for summer!! Because I will be:
-taking college level classes
-having a job? perhaps?
-going up to San Francisco to see Cass and Justine (I HOPE SO)
-worrying about who my host family will be
-backpacking in Yosemite for a week
-if none of job plans work out, I'll be volunteering at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

School go faster! Faster!! Please!!