I'm trying to come up with the right response to "How is it there?" I'll go with: Beautiful, exhausting, charming, delicious, and sunny.
Sometimes, if you're lucky, the gibberish that French people tend to speak magically makes sense with a single clear word. It's draining, but also really incredible when you realize you are able to speak a little gibberish back and pretend you know what's up.
I spent my day exploring Aix. Most of my afternoon, I found myself hiking up a hill searching aimlessly for the art school. Finally, I stumbled upon rock labeled "Atelier Marchutz". Past the rock, a small studio lay tucked into the woods with a cardboard sign that read "Exposition". I was convinced my host mom accidentally gave me the wrong directions. Later on, in broken French, I asked her "Is it called Atelier Marchutz?" When she confirmed the name I responded. "Is it very small?" And she said "Yes, rather small. It's deep in nature and you paint outside of the little studio." How enchanting is that?
My host mom, Françoise, makes me laugh all of the time. She is so generous and helpful. And she makes a mean vegetarian quiche! I'm loving having my own balcony. And don't even get me started on the little library in my room, complete with a hardback copy of Le Petit Prince.
Looking forward to a semester of clumsy french conversations, painting classes in the woods, vegetarian quiche, and long walks around this beautiful city!
Yours truly,
Lucy
Sometimes, if you're lucky, the gibberish that French people tend to speak magically makes sense with a single clear word. It's draining, but also really incredible when you realize you are able to speak a little gibberish back and pretend you know what's up.
I spent my day exploring Aix. Most of my afternoon, I found myself hiking up a hill searching aimlessly for the art school. Finally, I stumbled upon rock labeled "Atelier Marchutz". Past the rock, a small studio lay tucked into the woods with a cardboard sign that read "Exposition". I was convinced my host mom accidentally gave me the wrong directions. Later on, in broken French, I asked her "Is it called Atelier Marchutz?" When she confirmed the name I responded. "Is it very small?" And she said "Yes, rather small. It's deep in nature and you paint outside of the little studio." How enchanting is that?
My host mom, Françoise, makes me laugh all of the time. She is so generous and helpful. And she makes a mean vegetarian quiche! I'm loving having my own balcony. And don't even get me started on the little library in my room, complete with a hardback copy of Le Petit Prince.
Looking forward to a semester of clumsy french conversations, painting classes in the woods, vegetarian quiche, and long walks around this beautiful city!
Yours truly,
Lucy