This is the balcony where I'm currently writing this post.
Yes. That's right. Be jealous.
Basically, my homestay is the best thing ever. My roommate and I have this balcony all to ourselves, as well as our own bathroom, and our host mom does our laundry for us. It's seriously just the best.
Since I arrived in Aix, though, pretty much everything I've said has had some kind of superlative like "best" attached to it. "This architecture is the most beautiful I've ever seen," "The coffee here is better than at home," "Dear Lord above, that dog is the most adorable animal I've ever laid eyes on." Things like that. Needless to say, after only a week in this incredible city, I've fallen in love, and I'm not leaving. You can't make me.
But what do I love best about being here? That's nearly impossible to answer. Even all of the little things are great - I wrote an entire journal for my French class about a bagel I ate this morning. That's how good it was. But I suppose my favorite thing about this place is that not a day goes by that I don't learn something new. There's so much to discover here, both culture- and language-wise. And because I'm so aware that I know so little about this place, I'm hyperaware of everything as I walk around town or sit at a cafe, and I eavesdrop constantly. It's the best way to test my French and to learn more about the way French people talk about things and what they say. The best way to become fluent in a language or to deeply immerse oneself in another culture is to be extremely observant of everything, and so I am.
I've been given license to creep literally every French person I can, and it's totally acceptable because it's a learning experience. This pleases me.
Being observant seems to be something that is not just reserved for visitors to Aix, though. It's a common sight to see someone sitting alone at a cafe, sipping coffee and casually regarding the goings-on around him or her. In the United States, if you're alone somewhere like Starbucks, you'd better have some work to do or a computer to look at, or you're likely to come off as a weirdo. But here, people are perfectly content to not appear occupied by other things when they're alone. If anything, they might read a book as they wait for their meal, or maybe jot down some thoughts in a notebook. On the whole, though, no one feels the need to stare down a computer screen, or immediately whip out their phones as soon as they're alone in the street to look like they're busy. They honestly just sit there, chat with the waiter, and observe. It's such a liberating attitude to have, and though I haven't spent time alone at a cafe yet, I'm definitely going to make it a point to do so soon so that I might creep a bit more (*ahem* learn a bit more, of course...).
My amazement at this city knows no bounds. I walk around everyday mouth agape as I stare at the beautiful things around me. Walking around and stumbling across buildings built in the 1500s is not uncommon, and makes me realize how much history is embedded these narrow cobblestone streets. Anytime anyone says something in French to me on the street I'm thrilled, and my daily lunch of a demi-baguette, le fromage du chevre, and fresh strawberries is something I will dearly miss when I have to go back to the States (though I'm still convinced I'm just going to stay in Aix forever). There really is no better word for this place except incredible.
Well, maybe incroyable is a better fit. ;)
It's now 22:00 (oh yes, I use the 24-hour clock now), and it's just starting to get dark. I suppose that's my cue to go inside and start my homework, though I could write forever about just this week. I haven't even touched on the amazing friends I've made while I've been here, as well as many other fantastic experiences I've had. But I have to save something to write about for next time.
A bientot! (Let's just pretend I put the accent marks there so I don't have to actually figure out how to do it.)
Bisous xoxo
Allison
Yes. That's right. Be jealous.
Basically, my homestay is the best thing ever. My roommate and I have this balcony all to ourselves, as well as our own bathroom, and our host mom does our laundry for us. It's seriously just the best.
Since I arrived in Aix, though, pretty much everything I've said has had some kind of superlative like "best" attached to it. "This architecture is the most beautiful I've ever seen," "The coffee here is better than at home," "Dear Lord above, that dog is the most adorable animal I've ever laid eyes on." Things like that. Needless to say, after only a week in this incredible city, I've fallen in love, and I'm not leaving. You can't make me.
But what do I love best about being here? That's nearly impossible to answer. Even all of the little things are great - I wrote an entire journal for my French class about a bagel I ate this morning. That's how good it was. But I suppose my favorite thing about this place is that not a day goes by that I don't learn something new. There's so much to discover here, both culture- and language-wise. And because I'm so aware that I know so little about this place, I'm hyperaware of everything as I walk around town or sit at a cafe, and I eavesdrop constantly. It's the best way to test my French and to learn more about the way French people talk about things and what they say. The best way to become fluent in a language or to deeply immerse oneself in another culture is to be extremely observant of everything, and so I am.
I've been given license to creep literally every French person I can, and it's totally acceptable because it's a learning experience. This pleases me.
Being observant seems to be something that is not just reserved for visitors to Aix, though. It's a common sight to see someone sitting alone at a cafe, sipping coffee and casually regarding the goings-on around him or her. In the United States, if you're alone somewhere like Starbucks, you'd better have some work to do or a computer to look at, or you're likely to come off as a weirdo. But here, people are perfectly content to not appear occupied by other things when they're alone. If anything, they might read a book as they wait for their meal, or maybe jot down some thoughts in a notebook. On the whole, though, no one feels the need to stare down a computer screen, or immediately whip out their phones as soon as they're alone in the street to look like they're busy. They honestly just sit there, chat with the waiter, and observe. It's such a liberating attitude to have, and though I haven't spent time alone at a cafe yet, I'm definitely going to make it a point to do so soon so that I might creep a bit more (*ahem* learn a bit more, of course...).
My amazement at this city knows no bounds. I walk around everyday mouth agape as I stare at the beautiful things around me. Walking around and stumbling across buildings built in the 1500s is not uncommon, and makes me realize how much history is embedded these narrow cobblestone streets. Anytime anyone says something in French to me on the street I'm thrilled, and my daily lunch of a demi-baguette, le fromage du chevre, and fresh strawberries is something I will dearly miss when I have to go back to the States (though I'm still convinced I'm just going to stay in Aix forever). There really is no better word for this place except incredible.
Well, maybe incroyable is a better fit. ;)
It's now 22:00 (oh yes, I use the 24-hour clock now), and it's just starting to get dark. I suppose that's my cue to go inside and start my homework, though I could write forever about just this week. I haven't even touched on the amazing friends I've made while I've been here, as well as many other fantastic experiences I've had. But I have to save something to write about for next time.
A bientot! (Let's just pretend I put the accent marks there so I don't have to actually figure out how to do it.)
Bisous xoxo
Allison