Somehow it is already that time. I would like to believe that someone has just been stealing pages from my calendar and it's really only January and not halfway through May. On August 31st I believed that nine months was going to feel like forever, and that I would never actually make it back home. Now, on May 16th, I feel like I barely scratched the surface of time and leaving Chambéry is something that I'm finding very hard to do.
I've never lived anywhere other than home for any period of time. Sure, I've lived on campus, but that was a 30 minute drive to my house and inaccessible during the holidays. I've never lived somewhere on my own like this before. Chambéry is the only other place that I have ever been able to call home. I keep getting really bummed out that I'm leaving, but then I remember that everything that makes this place home will be gone too. All my friends are leaving and without them, it's just like starting over somewhere new. But that still doesn't make it any easier to give all this up.
Lemon tarts, Moroccan pizza, caramel ice cream, raspberry macarons, speculoos everything, fondu, and all things French. Just a few of the things that I'm leaving behind and am unsure of when I will return to.
I'm all packed up now and I'm laying in an empty room, my empty room in Comte Vert B14D, for the last time. Tomorrow I will be checking out of my room, going to the post office to ship some things home, and then going to the Challes-les-eaux train station for the last time. I'll get in Paris tomorrow afternoon and I'll spend my day cramming every last minute souvenir shopping and sightseeing that I can, and then I'll be heading to the airport and crashing there until my plane leaves on Tuesday to take me back to the good ole U.S. of A.
Bittersweet has never more appropriately described my life. Maybe when I get home I'll write a whole blog about my reverse culture shock. I already feel it.
Thank you Chambéry, thank you France, thank you all who have been a part of this experience. It was absolutely worth it.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Finals in France
For those who don't already know, it's that time of the semester for finals. The only difference now is that my finals are all in French. It's right about now that I'm starting to question what madness led me here in the first place. I always knew this would happen. I haven't had to do anything but show up to all my classes all semester. It was inevitable that the day where I was put to the epic test would get here.
So here's what it's like. I studied all weekend for my medieval history final. I could tell you all about the Vikings, the Hundred Year's War, the Crusades, and bits and pieces of other events. Better yet, I could tell you all about those things in French. But then I get to the final and the question is about the State in France and how it was constructed.
...
Let's just hope I'm as good at BSing in French as I am in English, because that's pretty much what I did. The final itself was a little weird too, at least compared to America. First of all, there were only 2 questions and you chose one to write a dissertation on. Second, we were placed in the sports hall with everyone else. We were divided into sections for our subject, but there were psychology finals, history finals, and who knows what other kinds of finals going on in there. A little different from our structure in America, but I rolled with it.
I have a few more finals coming up, and what I've learned is - whatever I think is going to be on the final, won't be. So I should study the things I find irrelevant because that's what I'll be asked. I have 2 more written finals and one oral final. I'm kind of freaking out about the oral final, but at this point...I kind of just have to roll with it, right?
Here's to hoping I pass, even if it's just barely scraping by. I'm already working on arranging the retake tests in June in the event that I do fail. Cover all my bases so I don't cry too much.
So here's what it's like. I studied all weekend for my medieval history final. I could tell you all about the Vikings, the Hundred Year's War, the Crusades, and bits and pieces of other events. Better yet, I could tell you all about those things in French. But then I get to the final and the question is about the State in France and how it was constructed.
...
Let's just hope I'm as good at BSing in French as I am in English, because that's pretty much what I did. The final itself was a little weird too, at least compared to America. First of all, there were only 2 questions and you chose one to write a dissertation on. Second, we were placed in the sports hall with everyone else. We were divided into sections for our subject, but there were psychology finals, history finals, and who knows what other kinds of finals going on in there. A little different from our structure in America, but I rolled with it.
I have a few more finals coming up, and what I've learned is - whatever I think is going to be on the final, won't be. So I should study the things I find irrelevant because that's what I'll be asked. I have 2 more written finals and one oral final. I'm kind of freaking out about the oral final, but at this point...I kind of just have to roll with it, right?
Here's to hoping I pass, even if it's just barely scraping by. I'm already working on arranging the retake tests in June in the event that I do fail. Cover all my bases so I don't cry too much.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Home is where your rump rests
I've been blogging less and less lately. I think I understand why though. There's nothing significant to tell. I'm not saying that everyday I spend in France doesn't mean anything. In fact, I'm saying the exact opposite. Everyday in France just feels like everyday anywhere else because this place has become home. All the things that may seem significant to my friends and family aren't to me anymore, they are just my life.
I walk to the grocery store and I buy all my food. I go sit in the park or by the lake, surrounded by mountains. I open my window in my room while I hang my laundry on the drying rack. I walk to school where I sit in lectures for 2 hours at a time. At least I used to do that last bit. I'm on the last leg of my French education right now. I'm on break and after break I will be taking my exams. I'm trying not to freak out too much about that though.
I'm not ready to say goodbye to this life. The closer I get to my departure date, the more I want to freeze time and stay here forever. I want to be able to hop on a train and go to Paris. I want to be able to hop on another train and spend the day in Annecy, by the lake and where the speculoos ice cream is. I like to walk around the center of town in Chambery just to get out of my room and enjoy the day. I love that everyday there seems to be a cool breeze and there's never any humidity. I love fresh bread and pastries, I love french ice cream, and I love macarons.
I'm comfortable here and I'm happy here. I miss my friends and family, but I find that it's not unbearable to be away. I can adapt to living somewhere else and on my own. That's a big step that's started leading me toward deciding what I want to do with my life and where I want to do it. Knowing that I'm capable of this makes future decisions easier.
I will come home, for those of you worried that I'm going to never leave this country. Even though I love France, I've already bought my return ticket so expect me back. But just know that this will not be the last time I ever blog from France, even after my next month and numbered days are up. There's a part of me that's always going to be in this country...and a part of this country that will always be with me, both emotionally and physically.
I walk to the grocery store and I buy all my food. I go sit in the park or by the lake, surrounded by mountains. I open my window in my room while I hang my laundry on the drying rack. I walk to school where I sit in lectures for 2 hours at a time. At least I used to do that last bit. I'm on the last leg of my French education right now. I'm on break and after break I will be taking my exams. I'm trying not to freak out too much about that though.
I'm not ready to say goodbye to this life. The closer I get to my departure date, the more I want to freeze time and stay here forever. I want to be able to hop on a train and go to Paris. I want to be able to hop on another train and spend the day in Annecy, by the lake and where the speculoos ice cream is. I like to walk around the center of town in Chambery just to get out of my room and enjoy the day. I love that everyday there seems to be a cool breeze and there's never any humidity. I love fresh bread and pastries, I love french ice cream, and I love macarons.
I'm comfortable here and I'm happy here. I miss my friends and family, but I find that it's not unbearable to be away. I can adapt to living somewhere else and on my own. That's a big step that's started leading me toward deciding what I want to do with my life and where I want to do it. Knowing that I'm capable of this makes future decisions easier.
I will come home, for those of you worried that I'm going to never leave this country. Even though I love France, I've already bought my return ticket so expect me back. But just know that this will not be the last time I ever blog from France, even after my next month and numbered days are up. There's a part of me that's always going to be in this country...and a part of this country that will always be with me, both emotionally and physically.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Boxer Rebellion meets Maryville girls
First off, I'd like to preface this blog with what just happened in my French and Communications class. My professor is ridiculous and just told some French people that she was surprised they were in college based on their presentation. It was hard to sit through because I'd hate to think of what she really thought of our presentation. I miss America where things make sense.
Now on to the good stuff-
Hungarian, Algerian, South African, Canadian, American, TENNESSEAN, Italian, Asian, British, Australian, and French: this is a list of all the different nationalities I encountered in three days. It started on my train to Paris where I met this amazing South African woman. She realized that I spoke English and she sat there and talked to me for the entire 3 hours it took to get us to our destination. She told me about her daughters, about life in South Africa, and about her travels. She cracked me up a few times too. I ended up helping her carry her things and find her way to the terminal because she didn't speak French and seemed directionally challenged when it came to navigating airports. I think she was about 60 and she kept telling me, "you have to remember, one day you'll be 60 too". I only rode on a train with her for 3 hours, but I think I'll probably remember her the rest of my life. Talking to her was so fascinating.
From there, I found Shaina in the airport and we started our Parisian adventures. The hostel we stayed in was really nice...you know, once you actually got inside. Getting there was a little stressful and full of very persistent ...gentlemen... assessing the level of my beauty and trying to somehow turn the word no into yes. No means no, fellas. No means no. Oddly enough, the hostel bed was about 100% more comfortable than my dorm bed in Chambéry and I slept like a baby. After, of course, I finally managed to end the conversation with the Algerian man who had the bunk bed beside me. He was actually really cool too and I learned a lot about Algeria. It sounds crazy, but honestly, every person I met in that hostel or on the streets that wasn't trying to sell me something or sleep with me turned out to be awesome.
The next day wehit some of the big sights and my favorite part was just laying under the Eiffel Tower forever. It was the only sunny day of my entire trip, but it was warm and beautiful and tickled my French-lovin' heart. That night we went to the concert, which was the original motive for this entire excursion.
BOXER REBELLION. They are an incredible band, and I have even more mad respect for them now. The show they put on was fantastic and it was in a bar type venue so we were able to basically touch the stage from where we were standing. Then after the show, the band went to their merch stand and sold their own things. I thought that was really awesome of them and definitely a cool way to connect with the fans. Shaina and I had something in common with them too.
The lead singer is from Maryville, TN. It was awesome and we were dubbed "the Maryville girls". He told us they played a show at the Clayton Center. I don't know when that was, but I hope someone from MC went to it and appreciated/enjoyed it.
Our next roomies in the hostel were Hungarian and definitely had no problem walking around in their underwear and changing clothes in the room. They were so nice though, and not at all creepy, so it just almost felt natural because honestly, that's not as taboo here. I kind of like that actually. I feel like Americans can be way too uptight about nudity sometimes, and I was once guilty of that, but I think being here has loosened me up a little bit. Even if I'm not as comfortable with it myself, I'm not as uncomfortable about others expressing their right to be naked. Hah.
We also met another girl whose mom was from Maryville when we took a picture for her and her boyfriend/fiance/husband/whatever-he-was. It's such a small world. They talked about going to the drive in. The rest of the Paris trip was rainy, but still cool. I've been to Paris a few times, but I think that this time was probably my favorite.
Now on to the good stuff-
Hungarian, Algerian, South African, Canadian, American, TENNESSEAN, Italian, Asian, British, Australian, and French: this is a list of all the different nationalities I encountered in three days. It started on my train to Paris where I met this amazing South African woman. She realized that I spoke English and she sat there and talked to me for the entire 3 hours it took to get us to our destination. She told me about her daughters, about life in South Africa, and about her travels. She cracked me up a few times too. I ended up helping her carry her things and find her way to the terminal because she didn't speak French and seemed directionally challenged when it came to navigating airports. I think she was about 60 and she kept telling me, "you have to remember, one day you'll be 60 too". I only rode on a train with her for 3 hours, but I think I'll probably remember her the rest of my life. Talking to her was so fascinating.
From there, I found Shaina in the airport and we started our Parisian adventures. The hostel we stayed in was really nice...you know, once you actually got inside. Getting there was a little stressful and full of very persistent ...gentlemen... assessing the level of my beauty and trying to somehow turn the word no into yes. No means no, fellas. No means no. Oddly enough, the hostel bed was about 100% more comfortable than my dorm bed in Chambéry and I slept like a baby. After, of course, I finally managed to end the conversation with the Algerian man who had the bunk bed beside me. He was actually really cool too and I learned a lot about Algeria. It sounds crazy, but honestly, every person I met in that hostel or on the streets that wasn't trying to sell me something or sleep with me turned out to be awesome.
The next day wehit some of the big sights and my favorite part was just laying under the Eiffel Tower forever. It was the only sunny day of my entire trip, but it was warm and beautiful and tickled my French-lovin' heart. That night we went to the concert, which was the original motive for this entire excursion.
BOXER REBELLION. They are an incredible band, and I have even more mad respect for them now. The show they put on was fantastic and it was in a bar type venue so we were able to basically touch the stage from where we were standing. Then after the show, the band went to their merch stand and sold their own things. I thought that was really awesome of them and definitely a cool way to connect with the fans. Shaina and I had something in common with them too.
The lead singer is from Maryville, TN. It was awesome and we were dubbed "the Maryville girls". He told us they played a show at the Clayton Center. I don't know when that was, but I hope someone from MC went to it and appreciated/enjoyed it.
Our next roomies in the hostel were Hungarian and definitely had no problem walking around in their underwear and changing clothes in the room. They were so nice though, and not at all creepy, so it just almost felt natural because honestly, that's not as taboo here. I kind of like that actually. I feel like Americans can be way too uptight about nudity sometimes, and I was once guilty of that, but I think being here has loosened me up a little bit. Even if I'm not as comfortable with it myself, I'm not as uncomfortable about others expressing their right to be naked. Hah.
We also met another girl whose mom was from Maryville when we took a picture for her and her boyfriend/fiance/husband/whatever-he-was. It's such a small world. They talked about going to the drive in. The rest of the Paris trip was rainy, but still cool. I've been to Paris a few times, but I think that this time was probably my favorite.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Montpellier & London!
Alright, big couple of weeks down and another one to go! March has absolutely flown by and I don't know that I've actually had a free weekend in a while. School and my social life have been in full motion. Since my last post I've been to Montpellier with Cyril which was AWESOME. The ONLY complaint that I have is that I hardly spent any time in that city dry. It rained the entire time, heavily and that is why in almost all of my pictures I look like I just stepped out of the shower with my clothes on. That aside though, it was really an amazing city and I had the best tour guide who took me to a pretty wonderful fondue restaurant where my age was put into question as seen in the photo-
I was shown around the city and taken to a few parties too, and that was awesome. It's always better being shown around a town by someone who actually lives there rather than relying on a map. This past weekend I went to London to see Meg. This is ridiculous, but one of the most exciting parts about the actual traveling itself was the fact that I finally got my passport stamped by someone. I've wanted my passport stamped for so long! I say the actual traveling because most of my journey was dealing with the public transportation system. From France I had to take a train to Lyon, a shuttle to the airport, a plane to London, a train to Meg, and then the underground to her place. I'm starting to miss the simplicity of having a car. I got there pretty late at night so I just crashed as soon as we got back to her place and then started the adventures the next morning with one of the highlights: WIMBLEDON TOUR!
Being a huge tennis fan, this landed itself in the top ten of my "favorite things I did in Europe" list, right next to Roland Garros. The only thing that could have made that better (only two things, actually) would be if 1) my Dad was there, because next to me he's the only one I know that would have appreciated it and 2) if the actual tournament was going on and I had someone scored insanely impossible to get tickets to center court. After that tour, Meg showed me around town a bit and then we had some St. Patty's day festivities that night. I had a fantastic time seeing her. I hit all the big things, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. God save the queen. One thing I definitely noticed about this past weekend is how weird it is to hear everyone speaking English again. I actually experienced a little culture shock because I'm just so used to hearing people speak French. I would order something in English and feel wrong because I felt like they couldn't understand the language I was speaking. Coming back to America is probably going to be a lot like that, so go ahead and expect me to be confused and start my sentences with "Je voudrais".
And I mentioned that getting there took a lot of transportation, but I should comment just a bit on getting back. I took a bus to the airport, a plane back to Lyon, and that's where I got stuck. There were no more trains or buses going back to Chambéry that night and I ended up sleeping in the airport again. It was the same airport that Michael Gunther and I slept in before going to Rome and I even had my old sleeping spot on the bench. No matter how long you lay on those benches, they never EVER get warm and I now know by heart the 2 messages that play over the intercom in five minute intervals...in both languages. It took me 14 hours to get back home, but it was worth it.
Up next weekend I have a nice weekend in Paris. I'm going to a Boxer Rebellion concert on Friday which I'm really excited about and spending the whole time with fellow MC-er Shaina Arp. It should be really great, but I think after that I'm going to cool it on the traveling a bit. My wallet and my energy will greatly benefit from it.
Oh, and I just did my first presentation in French in France. It was a nightmare, I did horribly, but I passed. I hate presentations!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I apologize, select few readers, for the radio silence. There hasn't been much to say, though. My spring break was last week and as most of you already know, I was stuck in Chambéry alone for the duration of the vacation. I started to lose my mind a little bit, but a new dress and cute pair of shoes came out of the bit of pity shopping that I did for myself.
My stipend money from the school finally came in and I've stocked up on groceries, can eat what I want, and can travel freely again. This upcoming weekend I'm going to Montpellier to visit Cyril and I am super excited about it! The next weekend I'm traveling to London to spend St. Patty's Day with Meg Cotter and that should be epic. I'm even trying to get something in the works for the following weekend. There's a band that I recently discovered that I never knew I loved and they're playing a show in Paris. I've not confirmed that trip on paper yet, but there's a strong possibility that I will be there. March is seriously going to fly by with all this stuff I have planned.
Everyone always asks about classes, so I'll touch on that too. They're hard. At least they are for me because my French is minimal. They're hard, but I like a few of them a lot. Some I like a lot less than that, but that's the case anywhere you go. I'm just hoping that I pass. There's a lot of pressure with the grade solely riding on one final exam. I miss progress reports.
I've recently met a few really awesome French people - as some of you may already know ; ) or you can ask me about it if you don't and are interested.
I'm sure the post after I do all these awesome things in March will be better than this one.
And thought of the week - Raspberry macarons are reason enough to want to live in France forever.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
France updates
If you were all hanging by a thread from my last post, wondering "did she enjoy tennis or didn't she?!" then I shall keep you in suspense no longer.
I loved it. Honestly, one of the best decisions I've made since being in France. I actually realized yesterday in my tennis class that I understood what the instructor was telling me in French and I was responding to him and asking questions...in french. What? I'm learning a new language! Yoga is equally as wonderful, but tennis...that's where it's at with my Babolat.
Classes are going well so far too. I've had one professor not show up two weeks in a row and not give a notice of her pending absence either. It's horrible waking up so early, walking to school in the cold/dark, and then realizing that your 8 am has been cancelled. I always have something after that too, so I can't just walk all the way home to turn around and come back. I kind of just wish she would show up and teach me something!
The other professors are all pretty cool too, and definitely helpful and understanding so far.
Downside of France right now: money.
As part of my second semester I was supposed to get a stipend for food since I am essentially paying Maryville College for a meal plan. Typically, were I at Maryville College...I would be eating. France still hasn't given any of the Exchange students our stipend yet and we're all a little antsy. I heard that it will finally come in next week and I will be getting the money that they did not give us all of January at the same time. Helloooo travel and raspberry tart money. That's about the only thing wrong with this country right now though. Other than that, it's kind of spring weather and beautiful.
Also...this semester is FLYING by. I'll be home telling you all the stories in person in no time!
I loved it. Honestly, one of the best decisions I've made since being in France. I actually realized yesterday in my tennis class that I understood what the instructor was telling me in French and I was responding to him and asking questions...in french. What? I'm learning a new language! Yoga is equally as wonderful, but tennis...that's where it's at with my Babolat.
Classes are going well so far too. I've had one professor not show up two weeks in a row and not give a notice of her pending absence either. It's horrible waking up so early, walking to school in the cold/dark, and then realizing that your 8 am has been cancelled. I always have something after that too, so I can't just walk all the way home to turn around and come back. I kind of just wish she would show up and teach me something!
The other professors are all pretty cool too, and definitely helpful and understanding so far.
Downside of France right now: money.
As part of my second semester I was supposed to get a stipend for food since I am essentially paying Maryville College for a meal plan. Typically, were I at Maryville College...I would be eating. France still hasn't given any of the Exchange students our stipend yet and we're all a little antsy. I heard that it will finally come in next week and I will be getting the money that they did not give us all of January at the same time. Helloooo travel and raspberry tart money. That's about the only thing wrong with this country right now though. Other than that, it's kind of spring weather and beautiful.
Also...this semester is FLYING by. I'll be home telling you all the stories in person in no time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)