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!