Yeah...Going to France and Stuff
I think I need more survival gear! Waiting for France.
For the past couple of months, that is literally all that I seem to have been doing. While I was sitting in my classes this semester, walking around my admittedly awesome University of Texas campus, talking to my friends, watching movies and TV shows, and even when I'm all alone in places like my tiny, little, college-student-status shower, all I can think about is how far away my trip to Europe is from that exact day, hour, and minute. Even now, I have a free little app on my iPhone called Dreamdays that is counting down the days to my departure from sunny Austin, marking the beginning of my transcontinental European odyssey this summer.
And with Dreamdays counting exactly 12 days left until I jet for Marseille, I don't know that my excitement could peak anymore than it already has. I have excitedly purchased every little thing that I think that I might need: from a Swiss army knife (you know, in case the zombie apocalypse happens while I’m in Europe) to a very small and easily packable bath towel. I have purchased literally anything that has popped in to my mind that I might need. I have gotten a new camera with GPS functionality to record the trip, a map of Europe, a compass watch, and literally just an amalgamation of things that some blogger told me would be SUPER important for any trip to Europe. Survival strap with a fire starter? Yep, I got it. Brand new shades to look fly as Michael Jordan? Oh yeah, you better believe I got those. And I might still be getting some new clothes and shoes just to be as stylish as those Europeans.
But I have an additional reason for buying a whole bunch of new stuff; I am going to be backpacking across Europe for almost 40 days after I’m done studying at IAU in Aix-en-Provence. This means that I am essentially bringing two different sets of personal items and clothes, one for studying in Aix and the other for backpacking across the continent. For studying, I need to look reasonably professional and dress well enough to feel awesome when meeting local French people, but when backpacking the key to packing is all about being as lightweight as possible. Some of the items for both stages of my European odyssey can cross over, like my lightweight bath towel. But some things don’t cross over at all, things like that brand-new Swiss army knife and a super-lightweight sleeping bag. So, I am having to get pretty creative when it comes to packing for France and Europe. In fact, I am bringing a suitcase to send back to the States after studying in Aix while also bringing my backpacking backpack to keep with me for the remainder of my time in Europe.
For the past couple of months, that is literally all that I seem to have been doing. While I was sitting in my classes this semester, walking around my admittedly awesome University of Texas campus, talking to my friends, watching movies and TV shows, and even when I'm all alone in places like my tiny, little, college-student-status shower, all I can think about is how far away my trip to Europe is from that exact day, hour, and minute. Even now, I have a free little app on my iPhone called Dreamdays that is counting down the days to my departure from sunny Austin, marking the beginning of my transcontinental European odyssey this summer.
And with Dreamdays counting exactly 12 days left until I jet for Marseille, I don't know that my excitement could peak anymore than it already has. I have excitedly purchased every little thing that I think that I might need: from a Swiss army knife (you know, in case the zombie apocalypse happens while I’m in Europe) to a very small and easily packable bath towel. I have purchased literally anything that has popped in to my mind that I might need. I have gotten a new camera with GPS functionality to record the trip, a map of Europe, a compass watch, and literally just an amalgamation of things that some blogger told me would be SUPER important for any trip to Europe. Survival strap with a fire starter? Yep, I got it. Brand new shades to look fly as Michael Jordan? Oh yeah, you better believe I got those. And I might still be getting some new clothes and shoes just to be as stylish as those Europeans.
But I have an additional reason for buying a whole bunch of new stuff; I am going to be backpacking across Europe for almost 40 days after I’m done studying at IAU in Aix-en-Provence. This means that I am essentially bringing two different sets of personal items and clothes, one for studying in Aix and the other for backpacking across the continent. For studying, I need to look reasonably professional and dress well enough to feel awesome when meeting local French people, but when backpacking the key to packing is all about being as lightweight as possible. Some of the items for both stages of my European odyssey can cross over, like my lightweight bath towel. But some things don’t cross over at all, things like that brand-new Swiss army knife and a super-lightweight sleeping bag. So, I am having to get pretty creative when it comes to packing for France and Europe. In fact, I am bringing a suitcase to send back to the States after studying in Aix while also bringing my backpacking backpack to keep with me for the remainder of my time in Europe.
Yet, I must say that I am extremely excited to get to France and meet my host family and all the people that I am going to be studying with in Aix this summer. I have this very detailed idea in my head as to how awesome my French family is going to be and how fantastic the food they cook will be. I’m kind of hoping that I get a family with a kid or two, as I have heard that children can really, really help me towards fluency in the French language. They are much more carefree about what they say and aren’t afraid to say things that others might feel are culturally unacceptable or something that an adult would be uncomfortable saying. And, let’s be honest, little kids are the coolest people on the planet anyways. So, here’s to hoping that I get lucky with my homestay family. I’m sure whatever family I end up getting that I will be extremely happy regardless.
Free Drinks? Yes. Yes, please. As long as there is somebody to show me around the French delicacies and culinary excellence, I will be happy as a clam. A clam covered in a creamy, wine-butter sauce served with a glass of French wine and a crème brûlée for dessert that is. I think that IAU’s demi-pension plan is a brilliant way for students to get to experience what French families eat at home and what they eat at restaurants and cafés. I’m really excited about this aspect of my living in Aix and will do everything I can to eat as much French food as I can. I’ve been told it is just fantastic!
To be perfectly honest, there are just too many things that I am excited about for my summer studies in Aix and my follow-on backpacking trip through Europe. My excitement has led me to do quite a few things in preparation for my trip as well. For instance, I decided to get in better shape for this trip and have managed to lose over 20 pounds before leaving the states for Europe. I have also been working with professional teachers on a fantastic website, italki.com, in order to be prepared to speak as much as I can in French when I arrive at the airport in Marseille. I’ve gotten an amazing haircut, a brand new suit, and done so many things in preparation for my trip that it has just become part of my pre-departure routine.
And the routine is just about over! 12 days and a wakeup are all that separate me from my flight to Aix and six amazing weeks of studying there. I truly can’t wait and I don’t think it is possible to be more excited than I already am. Let’s toast to my finishing packing and the long flight from Austin to Marseille. I will see everyone on the other side of the Atlantic.
À bientôt!
- J. P.
To be perfectly honest, there are just too many things that I am excited about for my summer studies in Aix and my follow-on backpacking trip through Europe. My excitement has led me to do quite a few things in preparation for my trip as well. For instance, I decided to get in better shape for this trip and have managed to lose over 20 pounds before leaving the states for Europe. I have also been working with professional teachers on a fantastic website, italki.com, in order to be prepared to speak as much as I can in French when I arrive at the airport in Marseille. I’ve gotten an amazing haircut, a brand new suit, and done so many things in preparation for my trip that it has just become part of my pre-departure routine.
And the routine is just about over! 12 days and a wakeup are all that separate me from my flight to Aix and six amazing weeks of studying there. I truly can’t wait and I don’t think it is possible to be more excited than I already am. Let’s toast to my finishing packing and the long flight from Austin to Marseille. I will see everyone on the other side of the Atlantic.
À bientôt!
- J. P.