"impossible n'est pas français" - Napoléon Bonaparte (before he was exiled)

        It's Christmas time in France! I'm well aware of the fact that it's Christmas time worldwide (for the places that celebrate it, of course), but not all countries celebrate it like they do in France. Christmas lights are attached to every lampost in the city, hanging over every hidden alley way, and twinkling over every intersection. They even play Christmas music in the streets during the evenings! A little Christmas market is set up in the city center that consists of dozens of little log cabins tempting you with fresh chocolates and cookies, warm cider and coffee. Cabins with jewlery, cabins with old records, and even a cabin dedicated to Canada. I was shocked to begin with and the first thought that came to my mind was "what the hell are Canadians doing here?". That thought was immediatly followed with "why the hell would somebody want to stay in Canada?". I continued to be very kind with them and even splurged and bought a maple syrup cookie. I would want some condolence too if my native country was Canada. Sorry for the topic change, Canadians are almost as fun to joke about as Brits. Almost. Anyways, right next to this cute little market is an ice skating rink they set up every year after the first of December. It's filled with kids skating, laughing, falling, and crying.
        I left off with Thanksgiving last time. I had a great meal here across the ocean, but it wasn't a 100% American Thanksgiving. It was still good though! Sitting around the table was my French family, a Danish girl (Astrid), another American (Seth), a Polish girl (Joanna), and a Norwegian girl (Karoline), it felt nice to show everybody a little piece of the USA. We enjoyed mashed potatoes, corn, salad, peas, chicken, and apple pie. We even attempted to go around the table and say what we were thankful for. I say attempted because we did it in French so we said what we could. That was the last night that my dear friend Joanna was here in France, before she returned to Poland. She had finished her three months here and was leaving to go back home the next day. Joanna is somebody I had grown very close to during the last three months. Between sampling all the city bakeries to talking about how much we miss home to laughing about the French lifestyle, Joanna had been with me from the sunny afternoon we got off the train in southern France. After we said our goodbyes I had no idea what to do with myself. So I went into the bathroom and changed my toothbrush because I vaguely remembered promising my mom that I wouldn't forget to change it every three months. Apperantly some new study shows that it's unhealthy to keep a toothbrush for longer than 12 weeks. A British joke would be perfect right about now..
      Today I had no school because of another strike. Nobody really knows why, or really seems to care for that matter. As long as there is no school everybody is perfectly content. There are so many they all just blend together and it gets to the point where you can use the topic as a conversation starter.
"hey so...did you hear about the strike next week?"
"no, didn't the teachers just go on strike yesterday?"
"yeah, do you know why?
"no....do you?
"no..."
and it pretty much goes like that!
      Winter vacation starts tomorrow! I found out that I'm going to be going on a nine hour roadtrip to one of the northern most tips of France, at the border of Belgium. I'll be in a small French car with two younger boys. One of which holds the record of not talking for 1 minute 23 seconds. Yes, you read that correctly. That is his record for not talking. But they're all very nice, and the host grandparents are great too, so I'm pretty excited! I hope I don't get too homesick during the winter holidays. But I'm not too worried because the other day a huge package arrived from the USA. My mother had sent me Christmas presents! So I have some nice little presents from home to look forward to aswell. Along with cookie cutters so I can attempt to make sugar cookies with my host family! And of course a toothbrush that I can start using in three months (don't worry mom, I got it all under control). As far as New Years goes, I don't have any specific plans yet. But I hope that everybody has wonderful holidays and relaxing times filled with family and friends and great food. I'll be updating you all next year! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thanksgiving in France!

we miss you so much Joanna!

a beautiful day to go vineyard visiting

     

google didn't provide any more good quotes on France

       Well, the last three weeks have been a whirlwind of school and pastries. If it weren't for the journal that I write in daily, I wouldn't be able to tell you one day from the next. I can't say that anything incredibly strange has happened, but then again my deffinition for 'incredibly strange' has changed drastically since my arrival here... Anyways, the weather seems to be at a point where it's not sure what season it really is. Some days we are given a foggy, gray blanket and never ending drizzle which reminds us that winter is just around the corner. But for the most part it's clear sunshine with crisp air. I really do like the rain here though. The old city almost seems as if it's taking a nap while you hear the rain falling softly in monotonous repition against the cobble stone alleys. During a visit to get lunch in the city last week, my good friend Joanna and I were caught in the weather's indecisive ways as the day quickly switched from cloudless to downpour within minutes. We stood there watching the other pedestrians scrambling for umbrellas or running into the café nearby. I looked at Joanna and said "Joanna, we're in France!". Suddenly everything seemed prettier. The sound of the rain falling around us, the women drinking coffee in the lit up bakeries, and the gray light that had put a the city into a calm slumber. We stood there taking it all in, as the passer byers made sure to walk and extra 5 meters around us and contemplated voting for a president that had stricter immigration laws.
    I'm getting to the point of adaption where almost all the things the locals find annoying, I do too. British people. They are everywhere here! Who goes on vacation in the middle of October anyways? I hope no British people are reading this. But the only British person I know is my sister's roomate, and I highly doubt she would be reading this (although if you are, I don't actually hate the brits. I'm sure you are all a nice, sarcastic bunch). Also, vacation. All I heard about the vacation in October was that it was "way too short". At first I thought that any vacation in October is great! Now I'm so French I can't help myself but to add an "amen''. A protest may be necessary.
    Well towards the end of fall vacation I went on a day trip to Bordeaux with my Norwegian friend, Karoline. The weather was perfect and the city was beautiful! It is jam packed with bakeries, restaurants, and anything doing with food. Every other store is dedicated to wine. We walked around looking at shops and stopped for the occasional coffee and pastry. I don't think I can ever go back to eating American food again. I've also visited a vineyard, the biggest one in France. I learned a lot about different wines: which years were the best wine years, which grapes make what wine, etc. I still can't figure out why somebody would pay $3,000 for a bottle of wine though...Anyways, I went to a womens rugby game too. That was, uhh, intersting.
    Well, Thanksgiving is coming up and I still don't really know what I'm going to do. Maybe celebrate it French style? I'll be missing my moms stuffing though! But now I'm off to go for a run with my host brother. I hope he doesn't expect much out of me and that going for a jog wont kill me. So if I don't update after the next three weeks, you'll know why... I hope everybody has a great rest of November/start of December! And happy almost Thanksgiving!

Bergerac was a beautiful city that I got to visit during vacation

Fall in the city!

schoool

The sun was in our eyes hahaha but me and Karoline in Bordeaux

The city from across the river

"In Paris they just simply stared when we spoke to them in French. We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language." -Mark Twain

       Yes, the title is long but I liked the quote and Mark Twain can be the exception for anything! Anyways, I've now decided that I'll be updating this every three weeks instead of two. After all, it would be silly of me to be spending my time in France, blogging about France. I'm sorry for the delay and I know I've kept you all on the edge of your seats dying for more on the "Ellen in France" saga. I'm not sure if sarcasm the translated well over text, but miscommunication is playing a very prominent role in my life at the moment so either way it seems to be pretty fitting.

       And now for the main paragraph telling you all how my October has gone so far! Well, it really is hard to realize everything you have when it's permanently surrounding you. Complex things like friendships or other things as simple as language. If there is something I've learned so far on this stay, it's what I've taken for granted back home. In the first few weeks it took a toll on me, the homesickness. But with every night that I go to bed in France, the realization that the days here are numbered grows. And then I turn off my light and dream until my alarm wakes me up at 7:16. Why 7:16? It's not a favorite number or anything, I just don't know how to change it. I don't know whose idea it was to make setting an alarm clock difficult, but somebody out there decided that would be fun so 7:16 it is! I think I forget every summer how much I like autumn. It gets lost somewhere under the new promises at the end of the school year to make this summer "the best summer ever". But then by the time the cool fall winds push out the humidity and chase the birds south, I realize again how much I really like this season. So everyday at 7:16, I open up my window to fresh October air. Or as Fitzgerald would say the air has "an autumn taste". Sorry for all the quotes from the classic writers, I don't have much else to do to occupy my time at the moment!

        Since living out of my comfort zone, I've become more aware of things that I didn't even take notice to before. Something that has really hit me is the language. The world looks different when you're lacking the art of conversation. You never realize how big of a role language plays, until you can't speak it. Things like simple complaints or deeper conversations are no longer on the tip of your tongue. When you're unable to communicate as easily, you're left alone with your thoughts a lot more. Big thoughts start to form, realizations happen, and conclusions are made. I will forever be extremely patient when communicating with foreigners. The frustration that comes with having something to say, but just not knowing how to, is sometimes nothing but overwhelming. And if I ever see a "you're in America, speak English now" bumper sticker again, I will not hesitate to get in a fight with whoever spent money on that and plastered it on their car . Verbal or physical depending on their height/weight. I've been in France now for 7 weeks, and I can't really say that I understand the French mentality. Although if I had figured out how a whole culture works in just seven weeks that would be a huge achievement. Impressive but slightly alarming. I am now on my fall vacation, and I think I'll go watch some dubbed French TV with my host brother! This post didn't really cover what I've been doing, but I'll leave you all with some pictures. Thanks for reading this and I hope everybody has a wonderful halloween and first two weeks of November! :)

Pumpkin Frestival!



French professional gasketball game...



Figs! I love figs! Never had one before coming here :)

Susi (German), Joanna (Polish) and Karoline (Norwegian) are some of my good friends here

A small village infront of a huge castle we visited a few weekends back

First Month: Done!

     Earlier this week I was sitting  in economics class (probably doodling, I really don't understand a word that teacher says) when I heard chanting, singing, and whistling coming through the windows that were open to air out the stale air in the room. It seemed like quite a ruckus was happening, but apperantly it was nothing out of the ordinary. I found this out because I was the only person who had a reaction, nobody else seemed the least bit phased by the noises that were getting louder and louder. I turned to the girl sitting next to me, and with one quizzical look thrown her way she whispered to me "oh don't mind that, it's just the teachers protesting". A few kids looked up in an annoyed manner, as if they were angry with the teachers for interrupting their economics class. I sighed and with a little whisper that went something like "only in France" and I got back to my doodling. Which has improved drastically since my arrival here, if you were wondering.
        This past Monday as I was walking to school I couldn't help but wonder who had planned out this city. My school, which is a school of about 2,000 (I think, I've been told so many different numbers I'll just go with the one I hear the most) is one of the three highschools on the same block. And they aren't small schools with a few hundred students, they are all very big highschools. If you walk for about ten minutes south of our school you will find another group of schools. So all within a few miles radius you can find
at least five highschools, don't ask me why or how. Oh, how could I forget about the hospital! It's a block over from my school, so the large amount of ambulances trying to get past crazy student drivers is always a fiasco and somewhat entertaining to watch. But I can just picture the meeting happening, where they planned out this city. It would be a group of French men, discussing it over a cup of coffee and some pastries. They would talk about how amusing it would be to put so many schools within such a short distance of eachother. Somebody in the back would add "what about a hospital, that would be fun too!". And that's how it happend. A few days ago, I was taking a stroll around my school (looking to see if they had managed to hide any more schools on the block, you never know) when I ran into another quite large building. I had no idea how they had squeezed it in. Yes, you guessed it. A prison. I'm actually quite certain nobody guessed that.
       Anyways, the weather is still pretty warm here in the afternoon. I'm talking like 80-85 degrees and full sun! Nothing super out of the ordinary has happened apart from a teachers strike (woooo no history) and protest. I've gone to the saturday market in the morning, a French basketball game (that was interesting), and a few other things. I wish I could tell you all about them but I just don't have enough time! My favorite days are Wednesdays, by far. I start school at 10 and go to two hours of PE and then my day at school is over. PE is just as much of a joke here as it is in the USA. Apart from about two girls (three, on a good day) who take the class seriously, we all just hang around and play badminton. The teacher is definitely a character. She's a middle aged woman who has tanned skin from many hours in the sun and large, frizzy hair that is always tied back in a pony tail. She's a petit ball of energy who doesn't know how do give instructions unless she's yelling it and jumping around the gymnasium. She's definitely one of the more exciting teachers, that's for sure. One day when I was walking to get lunch in the city with some girls, we saw the teachers protesting in the streets. They had flags, megaphones, and whistles galore. When we neared the crowd I couldnt help but let out a little laugh. In the distance I saw my PE teacher jumping up and down as excited as ever waving a flag, her black hair tied back in her pony tail.

      The school days are long, which I've already mentioned before but it's such a change that I'm going to throw it in there again. By the time Friday rolls around, the weekend feels well deserved. Fridays are good days, everybody's smiles are bigger, jokes are funnier, and laughs are louder. Even though they work hard in school, the French apperently love their vacation too. Every six weeks I get a two week vacation! So I'm hoping I can stick out the next three weeks and then I'll have my October vacation. My French is improving at a slow pace, but I'm happy I can at least see the improvement. Also, I can't believe I've been here for a month, only nine left! It went by so fast. I was really bored in Spanish class ( I REALLY don't get what he's saying) and calculated that I'm only here for 35 more weeks, that's crazy! If they all go by this fast I don't know what I'm going to do. Well, I'm going to end this with some pictures, I miss you all and hope the first two weeks of October treat you well :)



Biking around the country side with my host brother(who is really hard to see in this picture, but he's there!)



fall is here! (almost)



Making crepes with my host grandmother,mmm



My birthday cake!



         



"When good Americans die, they go to Paris" -Oscar Wilde

The weather is still warm here in southern France but the signs of fall are everywhere. The mornings are chilly and in the evening the sun is getting lower earlier, day by day as if warning us all that winter is near. My favorite time of the day is the morning, the fresh breath of late September air. When we go outside before school, it's the type of cold where everything seems to have frozen over night and you need a light sweater to feel comfortable. In the country side I can't seem to find another word apart from beautiful to describe it. I usually wake up with the rising sun and am lucky enough to open my window to the low hanging mist over the fields and the sun growing bigger over the hills. The French countryside is nothing but beautiful! But I've noticed that everything sounds better with the word French infront of it. French food, French fashion, French countryside. Oh France! The days go by as slow as the weeks go by fast. It's a weird way to put it but I hope that makes sense. School has gotten easier as I can now pick up the main topics in conversations. My classmates are helpful with me during class and during breaks some are eager to hear if America "iz it really like ze moviez?". I've gotten questions ranging from if there really are cheerleaders, to if the movie stars walk around in my neighborhood. Some of the most ridiculous questions are asked but I try not to laugh because the people asking are for the most part genuinely curious and sincere. French school days last for an eternity, but so do their lunch breaks! Some days if the teachers don't show up (they don't have substitute teachers here, no teacher=no class, somebody should introduce this method to the school board in the USA) or you just have an extra long lunch break we go into the city center and enjoy a nice baguette at a street side boulangerie (bakery/cafe, pretty much). Conversation is hard though, but with help from my dictionary things go relatively smoothly. There are three other exchange students that go to my school. Another American, Seth, an Australian, Lily and a Polish girl, Joanna. They are all very kind and amusing to be with and we love getting together and discussing the hardships and the laughter that comes with being an exchange student in France. Somedays we have enough time (and I'm talking like four hours) to grab lunch in the city and then go shopping between classes. Yes, shopping. Anything from the big brand name stores to the tiny boutiques in the cobblestone alley ways. My favorite store that I discovered with Seth while walking around exploring this beautiful city, is hidden away in an old part of town. It's a family run book store that has books lining the wall from floor to ceiling. Books are haphazardly stacked in corners and dangerously balancing on tiny stools. The store cells new books and old ones alike, all in French of course. My want to read French has tripled since finding that shop, and I plan on returning there the day I'm confident I can finish a novel in French! My doubt and homesickness has for the most part vanished (don't worry mom and dad I still think of you guys!) as I'm starting to realize how much I love it here already. Everthing from the huge amounts of cheese to the crazy drivers. That's another thing, I'm at least 80% sure I'm going to get hit by a car at some point during my stay here. When you first get here the traffic worries you. Then you get to know the French better: their way of life,how they handle things and how they think. Then it worries you more. Also something that is hard not to notice is the huge amount of young people that smoke cigarettes. Not that I mind much, I just can't seem to figure out why there are so many more young people who smoke here than in America. The other day I was sitting outside enjoying a chocolate chip croissant when I couldn't help but over hear the conversation next to me. A young man (more like teenager, but I'll be nice here) was about to light up a cigarette when an older man asked him if he could go somewhere else and do it because he wanted to eat his food without inhaling his smoke. The boy looked at him and continued to light his cigarette with an exaggerated inhale. After taking his time blowing out the smoke he proceeded to say, very calmly "sir, we're in France". The discussion was quickly ended because it seemed like they both agreed that was a valid point. The teenager enjoyed his cigarette as the man enjoyed his food. Everything is still new and exciting to me here. Last weekend we went kayaking down a beautiful river through countless riverside villages. There were castles big and small, far and near. Once you lost sight of one castle another popped up hidden in a valley, the next one always more impressive than the last. After my host family had made a mental note to never take me kayaking again (I didn't know it was possible to be bad at kayaking, it is) we visited the ancient city of Sarlat. I felt like I had been transported back into shakespearean times. Later, I found out the city of Sarlat is were a majority of those Shakespear movies are filmed, who knew! Well I've had a great two weeks and I still can't believe it's been only two weeks. It seems like I've been here much longer, and at the same time it seems like I haven't been here more than a few days. It's such a strange feeling and I'm doing a terrible job of explaining it. Well I've decided I'm going to update every other Sunday, I don't want to spend too much time on the computer! I'll try to put some pictures up too. I've just realized I have none, so I apologize to the people who don't enjoy reading all that much! Well hopefully everything is going well back home, miss you all!





Me and some other AFSers (all exceptionally kind people!), being as touristy as it gets.



one of the many cute villages we passed by on our kayaks

Lily and Seth during one of our many lunch time adventures



cobblestone alleys are my new favorite things!

I'll update in two weeks, wish you all the very best!                                       

everything french

French school, where to start. I've been in school for a few days now and I still don't get the schedule! Some days start at seven, some at nine. Some days end at 17:30, some at 12:30. Saying that I still can't read any French, I sort of just follow the class around. I'm pretty sure most of them either think I'm a mute, or that I'm reaaaaaaally slow.But that's alright because I laugh silently to myself. Laughing hysterically alone would probably add to the crazy image that I'm trying to veer away from (haha).In France you have one class of about twenty kids and you stay with them for all your classes, everyday, all year. The students in my class seem to be pretty nice as of now! But as I had previously been warned, none of them are super friendly, greeting me with a "hey! how are you?!" American style.But that doesn't necessarily mean they are mean. It's just a cultural difference! Whenever I mention I'm from Washington DC they all go "ahhh yezzz OBAMA!!! Ze vite houzee". A majority of them are very eager to practice their English with me, which I don't mind at all. The classes are very work intensive which gives me hope that I'll get out of this "please talk very slowly and loudly so I might understand half of what you're saying" phase. I've decided that I'm going to work hard in all my classes, even if I don't understand a word that is being said! Spanish being the exception that is. Honestly, I've never studied anything that has to do with the spanish language in my life. The only word I happen know is pollo from those dingy luminescent sings that read "super pollo" which you can find on random street corners. Not only have they helped my spanish vocabulary, but the grilled chicken  smells so good when you're walking by. Somebody send me some super pollo! Sorry I haven't eaten yet...anyways back to France! So I was placed in this class because the rest of my class was. The Spanish teacher seems to be a very nice man,but he kept himself busy by always turning to look behind him as if the chalk board would come alive. I guess you never know in France. Anyways, throughout the hour I found it hard to differenciate between Spanish and French. As he babbled on (with a few pauses to check to see if the board was still standing still) I nodded as if this French-Spanish blabber was all very life changing. I think he caught on towards the end of class though. Oh another thing that is so different about French school is how people dress. There ar two options: fashionable, or very fashionable. If you're neither you might as well leave! Well there are of course a few that don't follow that rule but if I put that in the sentence it would of upset the flow and etc. Another thing that I made a mental note of was the cafeteria food. I had been told several times that the food was "orrible, juz orrible". Well, my lunch consisted of a fresh salad, steamed vegtables, steak, mashed potatoes, fresh baguette, cheese, fresh fruit, and a giant chocolate eclaire. If only they knew what Yorktown served for lunch. This is completely random but I'll add it in anyways, I've only been here a week and I've already seen two protests. How French! Although this week has been very interesting and captivating, it's been very hard as well. It's as exciting as it is challanging and as frustrating as it is rewarding. It's such a strange feeling to be called "so independent" but then arriving and having to go through the same baby steps that a child would. Depending so much on other people and learning everything yet again. But as somebody told me before, the harder the challange the sweeter the reward. And i don't think I could leave this food anytime soon...wish me luck with learning french and  hope that I don't get attacked with chalk boards anytime soon! I hope everybody is doing well :) (again please exuse any mistakes, merci!)

les corrections

Sorry about all the mistakes! For some reason, I decided it would be a good idea to publish it and then edit it. Because I'm not a die hard blogger (I can see myself being one though...Bl0g 4 life!!!!!) I don't know how to edit it! Also everything on this page is now French and I don't know how to change that either. So what I ment to say was five hours south of Paris, not France. Also grocery store, not grovery store. But I'm hoping most of you guys understood that, the last one anyways. So please exuse any mistakes I make gramatically, politically, languistically, or any other way there is to make a mistake. Three languages are currently fighting for attention in my head so it get's very confusing at times! Well I have to go find a first day of school outfit! I'm going for the look that says "I swear I'm not 100% American". I think I'll just watch some French dubbed "Dr. Who" with my host brother instead. Au revoir for real this time!

momentarily lacking energy for a creative title

I can't beleive I've only been in France for less than a week. I really can't describe what I have felt in the past few days, but I'll try! Different emotions from sheer excitement to pure dread have been circling through my head throughout this foreign escapade. And it all changes in a matter of seconds! I don't know where to start...I guess I'll begin at  the beginning (Alice in Wonderland, anybody?).
      Early in the monring on the 31st, I drove up to New York City with my mom and dad. The fact that I was leaving for a year wasn't really registering so I just spent my time dozing off and watching the traffic. Five hours and a drive through lunch later, we had arrived. Saying good bye to my parents was the worst part, but I tried not to have a complete break down! In NY we had a two day orientation. After a few monotone speeches about watching your alcohol consumption and not getting pregnant, I had time to socialize with some friends (mostly from the west coast). After everything we've done together I now feel as if I have known them my whole life. Fast forward a few days and we're in Paris! We had more orientations there and a tour of the city. We all dressed really cute as an attempt to blend in with native Parisians. Once we got there though the guides handed us all neon yellow and orange shirts. That and the fact that we were traveling in a group of 80 kids kind of killed the whole Parisian vibe. Paris is beautiful! Although there was an abundance of pick-pocketers and a few I-almost-got-ran-over-by-that-car moments (somebody wrote traffic laws in France because they were bored, they seem to be completely optional at times!) it was hard not to enjoy the city. Fast forward again and I was getting off the train five hours south of France. The first few minutes of talking to my host family was like a slap in the face. Of course I had been warned how hard this was going to be, but I guess I never realized how hard! I had used up my whole French vocabulary within the first three minutes. I managed to stand there awkwardly saying "uhh" for a good two more minutes until they realized there was nothing else I could say. I'm hoping that some day we can look back and laugh at it and be like "oh remember that one time when...". My family does not speak any English (except for the basic thank you and please). I am very thankful for that though, now there is no option of speaking English, only French! I have two younger brothers at the age of 12 and 14. They are both very helpful and put up with my constant struggle and nervous laughter at all times. The dictionary is now my best friend! Although I haven't been here (in southern France) for more than 24 hours, my vocab has more than doubled.But I am mentally fatigued by noon. Homesickness has been hanging over me but I try not to dwell on it. I spend time with the family if I am missing mine, or study French with my dictionary by my side!
     Earlier this morning I went on a walk with Antoine (the 14 year old). I wish I could bring you all to where I am living, it is absolutely beautiful. The rolling hills are covered with small villages that smell of freshly baked bread and coffee. The city looks like something directly out of beauty and the beast with crumbling stone houses and cobble stone alleys holding shops and cafes. I live in the country side though, so it takes a good 20 minutes to drive to the city. I could honeslty spend hours taking pictures of the village with women who seem to have walked right out of a fashion show and old french men discussing something loudly over some pastries. Speaking of food, it's so good! Walking into the grovery store you have to look hard for something that isn't wine, cheese, or fesh bread and pastries. Well enough about the food! Tomorrow school starts! Yet again, I am not that nervous. But I will probably get another slap in face when I realize I'm in a French school. Well it'll all get better once I am more confident in my French. It is hard to show your personality when you can't comunicate well with people. But I just smile and nod a lot and throw in an occasional laugh. It's been working suprisingly well....I should probably get some more studying done and then help with diiner. I hope everything is going well with everybody :) Au Revoir!

Introduction!

I can honestly say I have never pictured myself blogging, yet here I am writing one! I can't say I'm 100% sure about wrtiting this yet because at this point I'm pretty doubtful that I will keep up with it. But don't get me wrong, I love writing. Cheery way to start this off, right? Anyways, today I was just informed about my host family! After waiting for so long for my placement I had come to terms with the fact that they had forgotten to find a host family for me and that I would be living in the streets of Paris. Pick up some French street slang, you know. But it turns out that won't be happening after all (so dissapointed...). I'll be living in southwest France in a region that contains more than 1,500 castles and is located between a valley and the Pyrenees Mountains. I don't know how but I remember all this from French class freshman year. Just kidding! The only thing I remember from my freshman French class was scrambling to get my biology homework done. So, wikipedia has done me well. At this point you're probably wondering why I'm going to be living in France? Well, mainly to learn the language. Also for the culture and just to experience something completely new! But as I'm getting ready to leave I've started to realize I probably should of taken my classes at Yorktown more seriously, but who really wants to learn a language through a text book? And not going to lie, my biology teacher was pretty scary. But besides all that, I'm so ready to study abroad! I probably won't write until something exciting happens, and I don't really know when that is, so I'll just play this by ear. Saying that tomorrow will be my last day at home, I could be writing pretty soon. Because I know everybody is dying to read my blog and hear what happens next! I hope the sarcasm was obvious but anyways, if I don't get to write for a while then c'est la vie! (The only French sentence I know, Lord help me)