I guess at some point it would be good, or rather healthy of me to really focus and point out the things that I like about being here....because such things do exist.
a) Shoes- Though they don't really have a lot of styles in my size here, that is irrelevant. I have this policy that shoes will tell a lot about a person- heels means this, this style means that..., much like Sameen's policy with the kinds of coffees people offer. Here, I have seen the tackiest shoes ever, and some of the most beautiful, and it really is that interesting. However, I did indulge and buy two pairs just because it had to be done- a pair of purple heels, and a pair of black boots...
moving away from vain topics....
b) I love the Chateaux, I know in English the word in plural form is spelled with an "s" but frankly, it doesn't look right to me anymore, after memorizing french constantly...anyways, they are beautiful. I am only showing you guys a few of the MANY pictures I have of them via my facebook, but I swear I have tons, so if you want to see more when I get back, just ask!
c) The children. I love hearing little kids speak French, this might be because I understand fully what they are saying, or maybe because of how disciplined they are, or even how adorable their little faces are. Almost all the little girls have curly hair, and petticoats.
d) The diversity- it's nice to go to a class and be surrounded by people from literally the whole world. In my class, there are Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thailandaise, Arabian, Mexican students, and I am the only American. This has its benefits and its cons. A lot of these students speak at least a little English, my teacher does not, but if any one does not understand she says, "Comment dire en anglais...Stacey?" And she waits for me to explain it to them in English, which is hilarious because she flat out has to just assume I know what she's talking about. I do, a lot, but sometimes I will just look at her, then at them, and shrug.
As a general sidenote, I had to work with a Japanese student yesterday. We were all assigned partners, and Alexandra said that I was going to be his professor for the day. Well, we were supposed to pick a newspaper or magazine article and give a presentation on it. We went to the library and had our pick. Anyways, I went up to him and asked what his interests were and Poshin, the Japanese student, said "Je ne sais pas" and I kind of looked at him skeptically. How can you not know what you're interested in, I thought. Anyways, he picked a newspaper, then picked an article before reading its title. The article ended up being about the communication between Paris and Baghdad...he didn't know where Baghdad was. He didn't understand English, or French, just Japanese....so I got a map and showed him. And I read the article out loud, pausing on words I didn't know, and looked them up, making him look them up as well. And I paused after every paragraph and asked him if he understood, he never responded....anyways, I went in the other room, and everyone else had already had written a page and a half. So I went back and asked him if he wanted to write it too, and he just said "Non." So I asked him why he chose this specific article and he didn't know. So I wrote that I chose it because it was important for me, as an American, and continued to write it on my own. I told Alexandra, who promptly replied, oh I know, you will just have to do it by yourself. You can handle it.
Is that a compliment?? I don't know...but I had to do the expo by myself, while everyone else had active partners. I guess group projects are the same everywhere....but the rest of the class picked articles about clothes or food or something, and here I am trying to present French politics because of well "je ne sais pas", ugh, but it launched into this conversation about politics with the class--and now they think I am a feminist, environmentalist, politician if "such thing exists in America" they said.
e) I am starting to get along with Marie better, at least she is warming up, conversation is not as forced.....but it is starting to be with Patrick, I have figured out a basic time frame though to minimize yet strengthen my time with them....and find other things to do.
f) I love window boxes full of flowers. All the houses are like apartments here, so they are skinny and tall, and compressed, but they have the flower boxes, and all the flowers are still blooming and beautiful and I love to pass them by on the street.
g) I love going home from school at 7:30, right after the sun starts to set, and it's one of the reasons I stay here so late. I love watching the sunset at the end of the roads I walk by to go home.
The number one thing I miss from home right now: Fall. I miss the colors of the leaves, jumping in piles and laying there with Joanne and Paul, drinking cider, having that smell, carving pumpkins, the crisp weather, late night walks with Joanne......
I don't really have any good host family stories today....but I'm sure I will have some on Monday...
....so day by day, I move along, try to learn three new words a day at least, and get along with my classes, talk to Marie and Patrik a little everyday, have my every so often conversation with Dan or Erica, and whoever else if you get Yahoo or get up early.....
...anyways, like I said I'll post on Monday!
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