Almost there

Oh, hello blog world, I didn't see you there :) SO, update! I am OFFICIALLY enrolled in my French lycée (look! I figured out my french keyboard!) and am going to be in première s  (gulp). I've heard it's the hardest one to do, but, if I'm going to be a Cardiologist, I'm going to need to suck it up, fast, besides, sciences have always been my stronger areas :) My WONDERFUL host mother has been so awesome this whole time and has gotten everything down to make my year go well :) With any luck I'll be taking Italian also (one of my wanted minors in college!) :D My travel agent has also been so AWESOME! Those RYE people who get Emily Voorn as a travel agent, be prepared for promptness and always make sure you have your stuff on time. She has a LOT to do, but does it all so well :)

I go for my visa in NINE days! NINE! Where has the time gone!? I started working on my whole exchange progress in late December of 2011 and now I'm here. Nine days from my visa appointment, and 51 days from leaving for France. Just, wow. World, I had my first breakdown on Saturday. I had to say goodbye to my extended family until my going away party, and even though it wasn't my last time seeing them (hopefully), it just kind of put in to perspective, it's almost time to go. YEEK!

Honestly, I don't know what I would do without all my friends, family, and of course God. They have all helped me out so much along the way so far and I know they will continue to support me when I am all frenchified. I think I'll share some of my goals of my exchange:

1.) Gain an accent. My eldest sister and I have this weird gift where we can pick up accents easily, so, I'm hoping to get a French one
2.) Struggle with English upon return
3.) Take stereotypical tourist photos
4.) Eat lots of bread!
5.) Try and not gain the exchange student weight
6.) Become fluent
7.) Learn to be self sufficient
8.) Mature even more within myself and Christ

This exchange is my child. I created it, and I've worked on it watching it grow from a dream, to reality. Every email, friend request, payment, or trip slaps me and says 'I'M REAL WAKE-UP!' but it still hasn't hit. I was told that it will when on the plane, and I'm sure it will. $100 says I wake up on my first day and flip out because I won't know where I am and why the heck can't I understand everyone. Shew, I'm nervous but so very excited.

Well, that's it for now! Stick around because the real stuff is about to happen! Look for the name change too  here around the end of August :)

Au Revoir!

Andrew

Oh, and host family, if you're reading this. Thanks for taking me in. It means a lot :)