I took a plane to France, and what do you know? I woke up this morning in France.
Wherever you go, there you are.
So, over the past year or so I have met some people who had studied abroad. I flew for the first time out of the country (to Belize) and I decided traveling did not have to be beyond me. Sure, I do not have much money, and yes, going abroad for school (let's be honest, school at all) is usually a long shot for those in my family. But, as I grew closer to people around me, right there in Ada Oklahoma who had seen the world and made things happen for themselves I became convinced it was something I was completely capable of doing.
I'm not romanticizing or taking the credit for anything either. Flying to Belize, to France is not necessarily fun and definitely not glamorous. The money that took me to these places are gifts from God. Delivered through donations from friends and family and government supplied student aid. To make this prelude clear, I am just saying how do-able, not necessarily easy, but do-able traveling is. And of course, I am a newbie and I know basically nothing. But, to the point of this post, to all of my family and friends wherever in the world you may be, this is the first blog post of my travels to Limoges!
It is the weirdest thing, going to bed in Texas one night and Limoges the next. It doesn't feel that far away. I mean, just one days travel! I remember buying the ticket, applying for the school, getting the visa and packing my things but I still cannot believe it. I remember getting on the plane in Dallas, the layover in Charlotte and the train ride from Paris (no, I did not see the Eiffel Tower). I remember meeting Guy at the train station, a gift from God he is, and unpacking my things into my tiny, yet extremely economical dorm room. But in the mornings, it is so unreal that I am in France. That far away country that I honestly probably couldn't have pointed out on a map a year ago.
Craziest thing, everybody speaks French here. Ha, okay so although I knew this fact I am still taken aback at some times. I get so lost and my biggest regret in life right now is not trying harder to learn as much french as possible before getting here. Stupid American. A pleasant surprise I have found is the French are not rude, or at least not any that I have come across yet. And, I am that girl on the bus who does not know where she is going and does not know the language of the country. I have found so many helpful people who know enough English to help get me by. I know most people in the US are not so nice to would be me on the street only speaking Spanish. So again, thank the Lord for nice people. I have even had people apologize to me for not speaking English well! I was shocked by that, and of course apologized for my ignorance in French.
Another thing, is not only does everybody speak French, but almost all the students I have met are bi or tri-lingual. The students I have met from Germany and China all began learning English in the 3rd grade. Boy, does our school system need to catch up! ALSO, tuition here for THE YEAR is around 250 euros. Sorry guys, I may not be coming back;)! Basically my main concern right now is learning french. I need it, I want it. But, onto my actual experiences thus far:
I have gotten lost on the bus for about an hour, which turned out okay because my clock was an hour ahead. I have slept for 18 hours straight (one minor wake up around 0), I have spilled tea all over a girl who went in for faire la bise (kiss on each cheek) whereas I went in for a regular 'ole American hug and I have knocked on the wrong door and scared a french guy half to death with my own confusion. But hey, it's all a learning experience, right?
Classes do not begin until the week after next, so obviously this week will be spent doing almost nothing but learning as much French as possible. I have met the other American students and although I did not want to be that person who only hangs out with the other Americans, I am so glad to have met them, they are a godsend. Plus, they know more French than me and are willing to teach! I ask for all of your prayers, to keep my head up even when I feel lonely or lost or like a complete idiot and to learn to communicate as best as I can! I am sorry for the mess that is this blog post. I will get it together soon, I promise!
A Bientot!
P.S. This is my first day to have wifi in my room! Yay! So, add me on skype. My username is lyndsieb07. (Creative, I know.)
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