Everything in a Brioche

I have no idea where my last blog entry was, but I figure it was Thanksgiving or somewhere around then because I usually only post when there was a big event (or big-ish), SO, we'll start with december. Oh, just kidding, I haven't updated since I went to Switzerland, THAT was almost two months ago. Whoops! SO, looks like instead I'll do a wrap up of november, then in to december. This time, I'll have some pictures :D

November wrap up:

November was really just school and for what i can remember, only two big things happened. One was the trip to Magda's house and Switzerland, the other thing was that I made thanksgiving for my family :) I made sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, a ham (with help from Rasika, Manon; and Véronique haaaaa), a spin on my grandmothers fruit salad, and a Pecan Pie (or, sugar pie as it was refered to here XD). I think everyone enjoyed it, and I was really happy to have pulled off my first Thanksgiving alone :)

Tada, there we all are :) Photo creds to Rasika!

Ok, november is over now.

December:

As most of you all know from Facebook, December was QUITE the month! It started with the Light Festival and then just kind of kept going from there with minimal down time. The Fête was AMAZING and it is honestly one of those things you have to see in person to really enjoy (it'll also give you a reason to come see Lyon because it is the only place to have this festival). I went out every night but the last one because i forgot, and I was just waaayyy too tired to do anything but sit on my bed and force myself to stay awake.

 This was part of the Chinese exhibit they had in the park. There was too many people there each night so I just took pictures of the surrounding area, but all the trees had chinese lanterns in them, there was a big lantern wall, and there were little floating lillys of light in the lake :)

 This is a picture of a good part of the city

And these are mine and my twin's  candle holders for the 8th of December :)



After the fête calmed down, vacation geared up a few weeks after. We left for Alsace the 21st and didn't come back until the 23rd (I have no pictures past this because they're all one my camera and i'm too lazy to do all that work after i've started the blog). We went and saw all sorts of cool Christmas villages and markets! We started in one of the oldest, and then worked our way around. I think in total we saw 6 or 7 different ones (I'm counting all the sub-markets in the big markets). We also went to Strasbourg and saw the biggest one and of course the city which was BEAUTIFUL! I got to see the Cathedral and all sorts of different parts of the city. After that we came home and the day after we began Christmas. The 24th we did it at my host-grandmothers house with my Mom's side of the family. It was a little awkward being with people I've never met, but after a bit I just got over it and got used to it. We had a really good, big, and LONG meal as well as a LONG night (got home at around 3 i think, or is that when i went to sleep. Dunno...). The 25th we did christmas with my host-fathers side of the family. Again, little awkard with people the i hadn't  met yet (i had met several before), but i did it and got over it. I had so much fun those two days and am incredibly thankful for everything I got to see and experience.


We left Lyon again the 29th for a beautiful village nestled in the Alps called Morillon to go ski! :D My first day of ski my mom taught, well, tried to teach me how to ski but I didn't really understand it as I was still trying to get used to having these weird heavy things on my feet. I spent most of the day laying on the ground because for SOME reason I never got it in my head how to stop even after she told me about 300 times. Sorry about that...The next day I was in too much pain to go again, so I stayed home and rested a bit. I went walking around the village and stopped in a little café and had a really good hot chocolate. Later that afternoon my host-grandmother who has the area beside us there and I went to the village beside and she showed me that. It was really nice to spend time with her and talk with her about her life. She has some really interesting stories and is a very interesting person!

January:

I went back to skiing the next day, this time, my mom got me lessons XD That day was the day everything clicked, and I finally learned how to ski! I didn't fall AT ALL! ok once when some stupid kid stepped on my skis before getting on the lift. My next and last day up there my instructor took me to do my first piste, and surprise, I fell getting off the lift and hurt my leg, but I got up and kept going. It was exhilarating being up on the mountain and skiing where actual people ski and in a beautiful little wooden area. I did the piste with her, and after, with my little brother and host father.  We went back to Lyon the next day, and then that night, Me, Hana, and Vitoria headed over to the airport to say goodbye to Daisy...I miss her a lot, but I hope eventually I can make my way down to Australia to visit her :)

That next Wednesday I did the thing. I changed families. And now here I am, and you're all caught up. So, until next time.

Au Revoir
Andrew

Blank Title

*DISCLAIMER*
MY ENGLISH HAS TAKEN THE BIGGEST TURN YET AND I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPELLING AND/OR GRAMMAR MISTAKES YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ

Language Update:Slower and slower I am forgetting to do posts, but, that's all just a day in the life. I feel like I may get a little deep in this post, so, sorry in advance if I do! Lately it's been harder for me to speak English, everything from my tones, grammar, and how it's said. Nothing makes you realize how weird your language is until you have to do another. People (Americans and Canadians) may not realize this, but our English is very hard in the throat, so, at points, it literally hurts to speak English...it upsets me greatly but at the same time it is a good thing to have happen. I also can barely hold an english conversation without either slipping in to French, a little bit/little lot of an accent, forgetting simple words, or word vommiting French in. I guess the time has finally come for my big language change and I'm ready for it. Fluency, come to me!

School Update:So, as you who are on Facebook with me know that I have just let people get to me (as I always have) but I am DONE with it. I'm tired of being treated like I'm not one of them (accepted in to social stuff here) and I'm SICK of being treated like i'm an IDIOT just because I'm not fluent and at times I get lost in courses still. What makes it even better, is my teachers are saying this about me. It works both ways, what you tell your colleagues, they tell me ;) SO, in response to this, I've kept all my exchange friends, but on the French social front, I'm done. Those who treat me like I'm not just some inconvenience may be my friend. I know if may sound really rude, but honestly, my whole life I've done nothing but let things like this bother me, and if I'm really going to let myself just sit here with the best year of  fly by and let this little easily changeable aspect of my life go unchanged, I'm stupid. I have no more time for people to get in my way, and frankly, since I've began pulling back, I've understood a bit more, and am honestly in a better mood. I know everything is going to get better, and I can already see horizons lighting up!

Life Update:
Lately I haven't been doing too much, just a lot of stressful school, but, this weekend I went to Switzerland! :) I got to go see an American Embassy!! It was so interesting to see my country from the other side (one of my favorite parts  of this year)! It was also really interesting to see how menacing it looked...It kind of looked like a prison and had SO much security, and apparently, when in times of destress, the metal fences are covered in barbed wire...we don't mess around haha! In all actuality it was really nice to see a familiar flag and be in a little part of home...I also went to the UN and passed by the Russian Embassy as well :) I can't wait to come back during Euro Tour when we will have more time :) Oh, and yes, I did buy swiss chocolate ;) That's literally it for here...

Random Bit;
Have you ever wondered how exactly your life was chosen? Why were we born in the place we were, with the people we were? Why did we get THIS language (our native) and what would life be like if we were born in a different country? These are questions that go through my head everyday, and that's only skimming the top. I think so much nowadays. Why did I REALLY do this? Who am I REALLY? Why do I do the things I do? How can I change things? I know I'm not the only one either as I've talked to some people who are also doing the same. I ran off to a foreign country not even a legal adult, and jumped in to some random culture which is 100% different than mine. I'm freaking crazy for doing this but love myself for it. I look at all these people I've met and it honestly makes me happy. If I had not done this, I'd never have bestfriends from literally all corners of the globe, and OH COME ON YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME I LITERALLY CANT EXPLAIN WHAT I WWANT TO SAY BECAUSE MERE PAAS BALTI HAI I FORGOT ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but yeah, to sum it up, I've found unconditional love not just from my parents. It gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes just to know that I have a family of new people who understand everything, and are there for me 100% all the time. Guys, I know I say this a lot, but if you're reading this, I really do appreciate how much you do for me and what you do for me so much and I love you all :)

So that's it for this post. I don't think my grammar was all that bad because I tried really hard to fix it as I went along (I've been working on this for a while...). Hopefully with any luck I may remember to start actually posting on a regular basis, but normally I just do after a bit event :) Speaking of which, the Light Festival is coming up soon and I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!! Look that up and be jealous!

Au Revoir
Andrew

Vacances!! Woohoo!

FR: Bonsoir tout le monde! Pour ce poste, je vais essayer d'écrire en français avec une traduction au-dessous. En avance, je suis désolé pour toutes mes erreurs dans les deux langues...
EN: Hello everyone! For this blog post I am going to try and write in French with a translation below. Sorry in advance for the mistakes in the two languages...

DONC, JE VAIS COMMEENNNCCCCEERRRRRRRR!!!
SO, I'LL STTAARRRTTTTT!!!

Français/French:

Donc, finalement, je suis en vacances après une première partie LONGUE de l'école! La bonne chose est les vanaces sont normalement deux semaines à l'exception du week-end occasionnel. Malheureusement, même si elle est vancances, école ne s'arrête pas tant que j'ai des devoirs dans 7 classes et dans un j'ai besoin de lire une livre et faire une affiche sur l'auteur...merde. Vacances a bien commencé avec  une journée pleine de choses amusantes et des gens formidables! Honnêtement, ma famille des étudiants en échange est mon rocher, sans vous, je ne sais pas ce que je ferais! C'est merveilleux d'apprendre tant de cultures différentes et apprendre les mots et phrases! Amis sont importants dans un échange, et mes amis ici sont littéralement le meilleur dans le monde (amis d'échange ET amis à école!) (oui, j'ai changé, je m'en fiche mdr)! Pour vancances ma famille et moi allons à Les Châteaux de la Loire!! :D Nous restons là-bas pendant 5 ou 6 jours et j'ai hâte! Les plans pour les vacances d'hiver ont été....erhm....libérés...(Je devinais bien...), mais, pour maintenant, il restera une surprise ;) Bon bah, c'est tout parceque je fais pas beaucoup de choses importantes XD Je n'ai pas dit les noms parceque il y a BEAUCOUP et moi, je suis trop paresseux pour écrire tous, mais vous savez qui vous êtes, et merci :)

Au Revoir,
Andrew

Aussi, c'est juste pour français, Véronique, si tu lis ça, merci merci meric BEAUCOUP pour tout ce que tu fais pour moi! Cela signifie beaucoup pour moi :) Tu es la meilleure! :D

English/Anglais:

So, I'm finally on vacation after a LONG first part of school. The good thing here is, vacations are usually two weeks with the exception of the occasional weekend. Sadly, though it is the break, school doesn't take a break as I have homework in 7 classes, one of which involves reading and making a thing on the author and classifying things....crap. The break started really well with a day full of a lot of fun things and great people! Honestly, my family of exchange students is my rock, without you all, I don't know what I'd do. It's wonderful to learn about so many different languages and cultures and even learn the occasional phrases and words in that language! Friends are key in an exchange, and not only have these students and I become friends quickly, but I can honestly say that they are some of best friends in literally, the whole world. For the break my family and I are going to Les Châteaux de la Loire! :D We'll be up there for about 5/6 days and I can't wait to go! Winter break plans also got....um...released (heh...i guess really well...) and I can't wait!!! I'll leave it as a surprise for everyone until then ;) Well, that's really kind of it as so far it's really just been me sitting around, and going places with my awesome friends :) Guys, I don't mention names because good gosh, y'all know I'm not taking all that time to write all those names out, but, you know exactly who you are :)

Au Revoir,
Andrew

P.S.
FR: Voici une carte de la vallée de la Loire. Je ne sais pas quels sont ceux je vais aller
EN: Here is a map of the Loire Valley, not exactly sure what ones I am going to

It's crêpe to meet you (oh good gosh)

Helloooooo World! It's been a long time since I've posted on here as I've been rather preoccupied with you know, school and the whole I live in France thing haha. So let's get started!

(This will probably be how I set the rest of my posts up)

School:
Soooo, as you all know, I had some problems with school. I'm not going to go in to great detail about it, so if you know the whole situation, you understand. Here's the jist of it:
-I was in première S from the beginning of school until Thursday
-At the beginning things were ok, but I didn't feel like I belonged
-Things happened
-I went to Marseille where I met some of the greatest people ever who made me feel like I belonged
-Two weeks later I changed to L (with the help of my host mother and principle teacher) where I am now with my new friends and teachers

I honestly do not regret changing (sorry people from S). I finally understand what all is going on and now even take notes in class because I just, understand. The people in L are more accepting and the teachers understand why I'm here and help me when help is needed.

Life:

Life is going pretty well. I've started travelling places and was even invited to England with school! There's also an invitation from The Netherlands to come present at one or two Rotary clubs and I REALLY would love to go to serve as an ambassador to the US teaching our culture and whatnot in more than just one country! :D My mother has been such a big help over the last few weeks and I honestly don't know what I would do without her. Véronique, si tu lis ceci, merci beaucoup pour tout! She does so much for me and just, I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for her. I have made a lot of new friends and they've (as i've said) make me feel like I belong. They help me out with school and fix my mistakes in French when I make them (which is a lot haha), so, guys, if you all are reading this, thank you for everything as well! Life in France is everything I could have dreamed of. I'm STILL discovering new places in the city (like I did today at Le Vogue and all over the Croix-Rousse) and having new doors open all the time creating new opportunities for me to travel, or to grow as a person.

I think that's about it because I realized that none of this is probably making sense, like I said, the whole english thing is going. This may look like I have my stuff together but my computer says 'that isn't right, are you sure you actually know this language?'. Oh well, I REGRET NOTHING!

Au Revoir
Andrew

Welcome Back!

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've posted! So let's get started!

School:

School here is really crazy, but I like it (other than the whole, it's school, thing). I've finally begun to get the hang of all the classes and where to go everyday. This coming week we start these classes that I have no idea what they are, but SB weeks are FULL of them. SA weeks are mostly classes and SB is more of these classes. I'm hoping they're not difficult. I'm starting to FINALLY understand teachers! I have to pay really close attention (which, for me, is really hard, but I can do it) and translate in my head as I go along, and if I do it right, the weirdest thing happens. I hear the teacher in English! It's so freaky...but hey, whatever works, right? There's one class I don't think I'll ever understand. Math. Barely understood it in America, but here everything seems to be backwards and my math teacher sounds like he's always doing a bad impression of Rocky Balboa *random mumbles*. The kids in my class are nice too. They help me out with things when I don't understand, but sometimes I feel like I may be a burden to them since I sometimes can't understand what they're saying. I think I'm finally starting to improve so hopefully by December, as everyone is saying, I'll be able to hold conversations and understand class. Thanks for being patient with me you all (if you're reading this, also, it's practice for english class, right?).

Life:

I'm pretty sure I am almost adjusted to everything here. I've been off and on sick lately and I figure it's me finally getting in to the swing of things and also with the very different and demanding schedules (i.e. being at school sometimes until 6 pm). I had my orientation two weeks ago and it was WONDERFUL meeting all the other exchangers! I made a lot of new friends that are really cool and a LOT of fun! It's awesome to meet so many other people from all around the world who are doing the same thing I am! It rained the weekend of orientation so we couldn't go zip-lining and playing in the trees at a course at the top of one of the hills here :/ Last week-end I went with my host-father and host-brother to a Hydro-electric facility at the edge of town and it was really cool to see how everything worked! My host family is really awesome (as I've said a lot haha). They do so much for me and surprise me with things all the time! The other day a scarf, one day a traditional Lyonnaise meal, and today, oh boy, Dr.Pepper! :') Thank goodness for random American/British sections in supermarkets and stores! My homesickness has gone away and I honestly don't think I could ever leave this place. It's home now. It's everything I've ever dreamed of and there is SO much to do! I can already feel myself changing in just short amount of time being here. Honestly, with exchange, not changing is NOT an option. You are now responsible for YOU. YOU have to make sure everything is in line. YOU have to make sure you understand everything. YOU have to do the work. YOU have to adapt. Monday will be ONE. MONTH! ONE MONTH! Where'd the time go!? It's gone by so slow, but honestly, I'm fine with that. Everyday there is always something new to see, someone new to meet, and something new to try.

Ending:

I think that's about all I have for this post. It's almost time for the first break of school and I can't wait to see what we're going to do (and also to have a nice break from school)! Well...I was going to say something but I forgot...woops...so....uhh...

Au Revoir!

Doozies

So everything lately has just seemed weird, like, language wise. I hear the French, it comes in, but sometimes it hits, and sometimes it doesn't. The more aware I am the better off I am and when I'm tired GOOD LUCK. It's weird too, the first language I hear from someone or think in is the language I will be glued to that day. Today, it was english, which made for a bad French day.

I realize I haven't updated this since I started school, but I've been giving updates on Facebook instead of putting them up on my blog. Whoops. Sorry not sorry. I started school 3 days ago and I honestly wasn't prepared for this. There's so many kids and the school is rather large. It's weird having different classes everyday, having random points in the day where there is nothing to do so you're confused whether you go home or chill somewhere and the school, and also really kind of being alone. I think I've made friends but I just can't tell. I think I have. I just kind of follow and stay quiet. It's honestly better for me to just listen rather than talk. I really only talk if I'm spoken to anyway. The teachers here also, I swear, have some secret language they write in and that it is also their sole purpose in life to speak as fast as they can. I've kind of given up on trying to take notes in class but the nerd in me is like 'Pay attention and stop staring at random things and you could get it' and then there's the ADHD part saying 'I don't think you looked at that before...or that....or that..or there...'. I'm pretty sure I'm just going crazy.

I was told that the teacher to student relationship is also very different. I like in America how the teachers and students can be friends and talk about problems in life, school, and really just anything before, during, or after school. Here, the teacher to student relationship is solely professional. You're a thing in my class, you sit there, shut-up, listen to me, and go. Sometimes though, there are teachers who are more comforting though. Like my english and physics teachers. Today, my english teacher would talk to me in english and ask about things and was really interested in learning about where I come from and what I've done, and my physics teacher asked me if I understood everything, made sure that I had everything I needed, and was just an all around awesome lady. That was also basically the only class I have understood so far (hurray colors...).

Just to kind of put this out there, I've actually had some moments where I've almost thought about shooting off e-mails to begin a return. This is a lot more than I thought it was going to be, and for some reason, just at night, I get super homesick. Like, bad. I guess having something to do just keeps me preoccupied during the day and afternoon, but, I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm homesick is the little spoils of America that I took for granted but now never will haha. It takes a strong person to do an exchange, and for me to even think about wanting to go home after all the hard work I did and all the things I gave up to come here is even stupid. So, when I get homesick, that's exactly what I think about, and sit there and go 'Oh, well, I'm an idiot. I'm about to throw away 2 years worth of planning, 15 months of working, and a whole bunch of other crap, just because I miss this. Yeah. Go ahead" and then I'm all better. I think it just comes down to friends. I just miss all mine and wish I could find some just like them, but, I'm beginning to :) Claire, if you're reading this, thank you.

With almost 2 weeks under my belt, a packing about to be on it's way from home, a rotary weekend this weekend, and new clothes shopping planned for next week. I think I'm finally starting to settle in to France. Now, if I can just figure out how to beat the heat. Commee oonnnnnnn Fall!

Au Revoir!

A Little Bread Doesn't Go A Long Way Because I Love Bread

*NOTICE*
I have already begun to lose a little bit of my english (hurray!), so, if I make mistakes, oh well, things happen, life goes on :)

 SO, I have an addiction. Bread. and it's really bad, but who cares?! :D (People who count carbs, but not I exclaimed the walrus.) The bread here is just, holy crap. If you've been to France and had French bread, then you understand my issue here. It's wonderful to have a Boulangerie on almost every block when you're hungry and in a pickle, or, in a France (haaa), but bad for the wallet when you're a semi-poor exchange student, OR WHEN THE ATM DOESN'T TAKE YOUR CARD. THERE IS MONEY IN MY BANK ACCOUNT PLEASE STOP NOT WORKING. Thanks :)

Life here is wonderful and honestly, if I could stay here for a good, oh, I dunno, forever, I'd be fine with that (of course with my dog here and the people I miss back home). We do so much everyday and there's SO MUCH to do! Everywhere I go there is something new I didn't see before or something new and delicious to try. Yesterday night I tried Salmon :) I liked it :) I've eaten so many different things I never thought I would like and I LOVE it. It's so much fun to just jump out and try new things. It's fun to wake up in the morning and have a mission: Communicate and get by. It's fun to have something new to do each day. It's fun to meet new people. It's fun to just be a new person and find who you really are. This exchange is wonderful and has just begun! With only a week under my belt I can already feel, see, and hear changes. I'm very thankful for the life God has given me and the opportunities that were and are placed in my life. The people, the gifts, and every day. I love waking up in the morning, opening the window, and hearing sounds of the city. A little change up in life is always good.

With just (in about 29 minutes since writing this sentence) 1 day left before the whole family returns, my excitement is starting to peak again, but at the same time I am sad because when they return, it means that it's the week of....

                                                           Le rentrée
*insert screams of terror* I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS. Kidding, I did :) Any-cindy loowho(loohoo? I'm quite more than two and don't know) le rentrée (or, re-rentry) is when tout le monde (everyone) returns to school (aka tuesday (blah)). I'm excited and nervous and sad and blah blah blah. A whole bunch of feelings mixed in to one. Tomorrow morning I go to see if my list of classes is up as the school was fermé ce soir(closed tonight) during our walk in the park (that's right, I went on a walk in the park ^-^).

Thank you google for the stock photo (mine has yet to be uploaded from my phone). Wow. I'm really talkative tonight. Whatever :) Where was I? The park, but no, in the middle of a thought...uuh...SCHOOL! YES! My school is GIANT! There's 3 courtyard, 3 floors, and a LARGE amount of rooms. I hope I can get this down quickly. For those of you who don't know, a French high school schedule is different than an American one. I have a different schedule everyday, a different change up of classes everyday and also A and B weeks. Shew. I think I can do it :)

OH OH OH! I learned that on my birthday weekend, my district has a ski weekend! SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME ON FRIDAY (in January) AND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY I GO SKI! WOOHOO! I also have my orientation next weekend and then a thing in October like a thing I did in October in America (but only one day and in a high school, not a weekend at a 4-H camp).

I think that's all. If I missed something oh well. Questions, comments, or whuteva, leave them below :)

Au Revoir!

P.s. Sorry for the random French tiddlybits, sometimes I forget the phrases and can only spurt them out in French at the moment