Next week will be my third week in France :) It's already been incredibly difficult but even more rewarding. Not understanding French is lame when it's all anyone around you speaks, but picking up on words here and there and putting thoughts and sentences together feels so good! It's worth all the headaches and super tired days. My host mom said I was very driven to learn French so I just need to keep doing what I'm doing I guess! I'm at my host dad's house this weekend, and on Friday my host step mom, Martine, picked me up from the pool (yay exercise) and we talked for the first time since I arrived two weeks ago. She spoke in French (slowly thank god) and I understood a lot of it and was able to reply to some things. She told me I've improved a loooottttt since we talked two weeks ago and that made me feel really good!! I hope she wasn't just being nice haha. And I hope I'm not making it sound like I actually know French, I have a long, long, loooonnggg way to go, but actually noticing a difference in my understanding is the most rewarding feeling ever.
School here has gotten better. Honestly, I didn't like school at first.. Like at all. I felt really out of place and wanted to communicate. It was a pretty lonely/uncomfortable/awkward first few days but It got better. My longest day is Tuesday with school from 9-6pm. My shortest is Wednesday and ends at noon. I'm getting used to it! The english teacher at my school is so understanding and let me go to a few english conversation classes with her class which I really appreciated. I can't explain how good it feels to listen to english after hours and hours of only hearing french. The best part of school so far has been meeting people. I actually made friends last week (never thought that would happen) and school's been much better since then! I know it'll be easier when I speak more French, but I'm so grateful for the people that include me and make me feel welcomed.
Sometimes I just feel terrible, not exactly homesick but just out of place. I just want to go home and watch How I Met Your Mother and eat candy and sleep. I try not to do that (often..). But then little good things happen in the day, and I appreciate the good things so much more. I'm already noticing myself becoming more confident and resilient and that wouldn't be happening without the hard times. I know that this is possibly the greatest opportunity I'll ever be given and I'm not going to spend it being jealous or ungrateful.
Now I will talk a little about life here and not all my emotions.. haha
My host family is wonderful; I can't thank them enough for their hospitality (but I try!!). I am so comfortable here and it's all because they've been incredibly welcoming. I stay with my host mom, Charlotte, on the weekdays and go to my host dad and step mom, Pascal and Martine's, house every other weekend. They're such happy, hard working people and they help me with French all the time. Pascal tries to teach me verb conjugations but I always forget them.. Who cares about grammar anywayz. Yesterday I went with Pascal, Martine, and Philippine to Aubenas (city of about 10,000 people ten minutes from where I live) and I looked for some clothes because I did NOT bring enough clothes here. It's fine cause I know I'll buy lots, but I legit wore the same pair of jeans like five times last week.. thankfully I found some clothes. Since Aubenas is so small, there are only a few clothes shops but thats probably a good thing because I can't spend all my money on clothes if there are no clothes to buy! Afterwards, we went home and had dinner then went to this bar thing where a guy sang songs and told jokes until 11pm. It was probably the most French thing I've experienced so far. The bar was tiny, it sat about 25 people at most, and most everyone was over 60 but it was still a great experience! They all sang these really beautiful old french songs with the guy on stage.
Sorry for the long post I just have a lot of feelings allllll the time
My first Rotary meeting is this Wednesday and I have to speak about myself in French so wish me luck!! I'll need it..
Love, Grace
School here has gotten better. Honestly, I didn't like school at first.. Like at all. I felt really out of place and wanted to communicate. It was a pretty lonely/uncomfortable/awkward first few days but It got better. My longest day is Tuesday with school from 9-6pm. My shortest is Wednesday and ends at noon. I'm getting used to it! The english teacher at my school is so understanding and let me go to a few english conversation classes with her class which I really appreciated. I can't explain how good it feels to listen to english after hours and hours of only hearing french. The best part of school so far has been meeting people. I actually made friends last week (never thought that would happen) and school's been much better since then! I know it'll be easier when I speak more French, but I'm so grateful for the people that include me and make me feel welcomed.
Sometimes I just feel terrible, not exactly homesick but just out of place. I just want to go home and watch How I Met Your Mother and eat candy and sleep. I try not to do that (often..). But then little good things happen in the day, and I appreciate the good things so much more. I'm already noticing myself becoming more confident and resilient and that wouldn't be happening without the hard times. I know that this is possibly the greatest opportunity I'll ever be given and I'm not going to spend it being jealous or ungrateful.
Now I will talk a little about life here and not all my emotions.. haha
My host family is wonderful; I can't thank them enough for their hospitality (but I try!!). I am so comfortable here and it's all because they've been incredibly welcoming. I stay with my host mom, Charlotte, on the weekdays and go to my host dad and step mom, Pascal and Martine's, house every other weekend. They're such happy, hard working people and they help me with French all the time. Pascal tries to teach me verb conjugations but I always forget them.. Who cares about grammar anywayz. Yesterday I went with Pascal, Martine, and Philippine to Aubenas (city of about 10,000 people ten minutes from where I live) and I looked for some clothes because I did NOT bring enough clothes here. It's fine cause I know I'll buy lots, but I legit wore the same pair of jeans like five times last week.. thankfully I found some clothes. Since Aubenas is so small, there are only a few clothes shops but thats probably a good thing because I can't spend all my money on clothes if there are no clothes to buy! Afterwards, we went home and had dinner then went to this bar thing where a guy sang songs and told jokes until 11pm. It was probably the most French thing I've experienced so far. The bar was tiny, it sat about 25 people at most, and most everyone was over 60 but it was still a great experience! They all sang these really beautiful old french songs with the guy on stage.
Sorry for the long post I just have a lot of feelings allllll the time
My first Rotary meeting is this Wednesday and I have to speak about myself in French so wish me luck!! I'll need it..
Love, Grace