The past 5 days have been nothing but a giant adventure. France is everything I’ve dreamed of AND more. But before we get to that, let’s talk about the plane ride, in case anyone reading this may have been like me and had never stepped foot on an airplane before.
My first airplane ride was quite interesting. I cried when we took off, feeling so many emotions I couldn’t count. I was sad to leave my family and boyfriend, scared of what would happen when I got to the next airport, scared of if our airplane was going to crash, paranoid the person behind me was making fun of me crying, excited to go somewhere new, and so on and so forth. I was lucky to meet a young lady named Elsie on my plane who quickly taught me how to maneuver an airport and gave me tricks of the trade before she left me at my gate for my next flight at the Chicago O’Hare airport. After that, I met another young lady who was actually from LA and lived in England, working for a college study abroad program over there (which was interesting to me) that sat next to me with her little 10 year old. She talked to me a lot and we shared a bunch of stories while I was being slobbered on and pinched (which was adorable) to make me feel more at ease. I hardly slept on the flight to London, but she gave me advice on how to get to the terminal I would need for my flight to Marseille. I spent a wonderful (but not really wonderful because I was so tired) 5 hour layover there before I got on my flight to Marseille. That was the best flight for me, in my opinion (aside from feeling like we were going to crash into the Mediterranean).
Flying over Marseille was like a breath of fresh air. I was finally at my destination! Seeing the land looked almost as I had imagined it, only much better. It was refreshing. I headed my way to the customs, where they stamped my passport (which a less cooler stamp than I thought I would get) and I headed upstairs to find an IAU representative who would help me. I was greeted by a woman, who asked “Are you Amber?” because I wouldn’t respond back to the French she was speaking (I was too jetlagged to understand). She quickly rushed me outside with 2 other students to the navette (shuttle). She paid for our tickets and told us to get off in Aix. Next thing I knew, we woooshed away.
Driving wasn’t much different than in the states. We drove faster, seeing as the speed limit was 90 kmph. The cars were smaller, and people seemed to be in a hurry. Watching outside the window was like watching a dream go by. The beach. Beautiful scenery. Different road signs. Interesting. I tried to listen to people’s conversations around me to improve my French, but the jet lag wouldn’t allow it.
Driving wasn’t much different than in the states. We drove faster, seeing as the speed limit was 90 kmph. The cars were smaller, and people seemed to be in a hurry. Watching outside the window was like watching a dream go by. The beach. Beautiful scenery. Different road signs. Interesting. I tried to listen to people’s conversations around me to improve my French, but the jet lag wouldn’t allow it.
When the 2 other students and I arrived at the “bus station” in Aix (which is actually under construction), we met another IAU representative, John, who assisted us. There was lots of beeping, people running around, fights, and whatnot. He said this part of town was in a panic because of the station being under construction and there was a lot of traffic. It was true. Either way, I was fascinated and somewhat rejuvenated as the wind blew through the town. The other 2 girls talked with me and were quickly united with their French mothers (which is typical in France, since many females are single).
John called mine to tell her where I was, and soon enough, I saw a familiar face (just as I had Facebook stalked it) smiling and waving at John and I. My host mother, Josiane, helped me place my bags into her car as we wizzed away to her apartment, which looked just as I had Google mapped it. It was interesting how small the streets were – only large enough for one car – with many people walking in them. I attempted to comprehend the French that was being spoken to me, but the jet lag would only allow me to ask “Ou est Elisabeth?”. Thankfully, my housemate, Elisabeth was waiting in the apartment for me. When she opened the door, Elisabeth’s smiling face greeted me as she jumped off the couch to welcome me. I was shown my room, talked with Elisabeth a bit, and had just enough time to link myself to my host mother’s internet before it was time to eat. We ate dinner with her and her boyfriend, Luc, and made small talk. I think they knew how jet lagged the two of us were. We ate and returned to our rooms to Skype our families, before Madame asked us if we wanted to go to a festival in the town they were having. Despite how jet lagged we were, we decided to go.
John called mine to tell her where I was, and soon enough, I saw a familiar face (just as I had Facebook stalked it) smiling and waving at John and I. My host mother, Josiane, helped me place my bags into her car as we wizzed away to her apartment, which looked just as I had Google mapped it. It was interesting how small the streets were – only large enough for one car – with many people walking in them. I attempted to comprehend the French that was being spoken to me, but the jet lag would only allow me to ask “Ou est Elisabeth?”. Thankfully, my housemate, Elisabeth was waiting in the apartment for me. When she opened the door, Elisabeth’s smiling face greeted me as she jumped off the couch to welcome me. I was shown my room, talked with Elisabeth a bit, and had just enough time to link myself to my host mother’s internet before it was time to eat. We ate dinner with her and her boyfriend, Luc, and made small talk. I think they knew how jet lagged the two of us were. We ate and returned to our rooms to Skype our families, before Madame asked us if we wanted to go to a festival in the town they were having. Despite how jet lagged we were, we decided to go.
IT WAS AWESOME. Imagine Cirque du Soeil in the middle of the town square with lots of music, and a parade, and people in costumes, and floats, and OH MY GOODNESS. Pictures can only give you a small idea of how amazing it was. I didn’t know where to look – there was so much going on, but it was so awesome!
We left the festival around midnight (it finally ended 3 hours later) and returned home to Skype our families some more before we would both pass out from jet lag.
Jet lag sucks. Let me tell you. I slept until 3pm the next day (the 6 hour time difference is killer). No one was home when I got up, so I got dressed and attempted to find IAU myself, equipped with the booklet about Aix that was left for us from the IAU staff.
RULE #1: YOU WILL GET LOST IN AIX. ACCEPT IT.
We left the festival around midnight (it finally ended 3 hours later) and returned home to Skype our families some more before we would both pass out from jet lag.
Jet lag sucks. Let me tell you. I slept until 3pm the next day (the 6 hour time difference is killer). No one was home when I got up, so I got dressed and attempted to find IAU myself, equipped with the booklet about Aix that was left for us from the IAU staff.
RULE #1: YOU WILL GET LOST IN AIX. ACCEPT IT.
Getting lost is both scary and exciting, all at the same time. I’ve been convinced, if you get lost, you’ll learn Aix better. So far, that has been the case. Just come to terms with it, and make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes all the time.
I arrived at IAU’s open house, which was a bit refreshing. It was nice to be able to speak English to some people. I was reunited with Elisabeth, who introduced me to her friends from her college. This has been super nice for me, since I came by myself and didn’t know anyone. I also said hi to the girls I met yesterday on the bus, as well as their housemates. Each day, I was meeting more and more people.
That night, Elisabeth went with her French professor from her college to dinner, and Madame asked me if I wanted to eat with her at home. I agreed, and ate with her and Luc for dinner. It was nice to bond with her and Luc alone (although I did miss Elisabeth). We talked about my family and whatnot. I went to bed early that night, since we had orientation the next day.
Elisabeth and I got up for orientation the next day and showered (which is interesting, but I’ll save that for another time). We walked together with her friend, Isaac. Orientation was orientation. Boring and somewhat informative (mostly from a girl named Pauline who told us what she recommended for us to do and where to go while here). After school, her friends and I went to a close café to talk and drink Orangina (which is addicting). We encountered a bill, figured out how to pay it (which is also something I’ll save for another time), and made our ways home, ate dinner, Skyped family, and fell asleep.
Since then, we’ve completed 2 days of classes. They’re going well. I’ll talk more about that later. It’s getting late, so I’m going to bed. More tomorrow. :]
I arrived at IAU’s open house, which was a bit refreshing. It was nice to be able to speak English to some people. I was reunited with Elisabeth, who introduced me to her friends from her college. This has been super nice for me, since I came by myself and didn’t know anyone. I also said hi to the girls I met yesterday on the bus, as well as their housemates. Each day, I was meeting more and more people.
That night, Elisabeth went with her French professor from her college to dinner, and Madame asked me if I wanted to eat with her at home. I agreed, and ate with her and Luc for dinner. It was nice to bond with her and Luc alone (although I did miss Elisabeth). We talked about my family and whatnot. I went to bed early that night, since we had orientation the next day.
Elisabeth and I got up for orientation the next day and showered (which is interesting, but I’ll save that for another time). We walked together with her friend, Isaac. Orientation was orientation. Boring and somewhat informative (mostly from a girl named Pauline who told us what she recommended for us to do and where to go while here). After school, her friends and I went to a close café to talk and drink Orangina (which is addicting). We encountered a bill, figured out how to pay it (which is also something I’ll save for another time), and made our ways home, ate dinner, Skyped family, and fell asleep.
Since then, we’ve completed 2 days of classes. They’re going well. I’ll talk more about that later. It’s getting late, so I’m going to bed. More tomorrow. :]