My New Life

After years of work and hundreds of trees killed from paper work, I am finally here. After a hard goodbye, a quick break-down in the plane, some good Chinese food, what seemed like the longest flight of my life from excitement, saying goodbye to an exchanger from our group in Paris, and horrid exhaustion, I. Am. Here. and EVERY minute was worth it! Every shift at work, and every dollar spent. When I got to Lyon, they had these doors that opened up as you stepped up to them, and all the exchange kids on the flight walked through them together, and what was on the other side? Our families. I saw my eldest host sister camera posed, and my host mother holding my Bienvenu sign, THAT'S when it hit me. The french came rolling and my mind started working. I even did Bisous with no hesitation, yeah, that's right, Frenched myself up right good (grammar on purpose). She led me up to our Lounge where all the kids were greeted by the Rotary people. There, we gave them our Paris trip money, said goodbye to our friends, and began our new life. As we drove in to the city, i couldn't help but just look out the car window at everything that passed by. France is so beautiful. We drove past my school on the way to the apartment and holy. crap. It's BIG and it's really cool looking! We got in the apartment and I began to get settled in. As I opened up my suitcase ready to just put everything away, I was greeted by a little surprise. Guess who's shampoo EXPLODED ALL OVER HIS SUITCASE!?
                                                                           Mine.

So, after a DELICIOUS lunch involving the best cantaloupe I have ever eaten, we started to clean all of it up. At this point, I'm barely holding on to consciousness. After some last minute things me, my host mother, and host sister went on a walk in the park! It's beautiful! and guess what, it has not one, but FIVE giraffes and one is a baby! Yup. Whole day made there. From there we went home because I was (and still am) barely hanging on. I got to say hello to my host brother and host father on the phone and I can't wait to meet them both!

What's really weird, is even after just a few hours, I'm already beginning to have a little struggle with english (though it may not seem like it). Typing this just feels forced. I have a LONG way to go before I can fully talk to my host family, but, I can tell I'm going to learn a lot everyday now.

And with that, I'M FINALLY GOING TO SLEEP!

Au Revoir from Lyon

Andrew