going so fast

So today was my last day of Lycee. :( I remember my first day! It went seriously, SO quick!! My plans: not telling..yet..I'd just like to say- Yes I did cry. I cried not as much as I thought but I did well at holding it in. I talked about my first day infront of the class and it made everyone laugh because no one realized how awkward it was for me!!! Kids at school here are a lot more welcoming/ going? than kids at home. People made cards and scrapbooks and presents today for me. It's going to be hard to leave "/ But I know I will keep in touch with everyone. Tonight I had a really good talk with my host mom just about being my age and stuff like that. I'd just like to say, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE MY HOST MOM. Me and her get a long SO well! I'm going to miss St. Riquier, french, my friends, and most of all my French family. But- i PROMISEd everyone I'd be back within the year ;) I'm at loss for words besides I LOVE my host family and I'm really going to miss my school friends- a lot.

Still not home yet!!
BIENTOT- another blog

BAILEY

Too soon

Things are pretty sad around here. This weekend has gone by so fast- just like my time here. I feel like I've been here for 5 minutes in some ways, and 5 years in others. Being here I've learned a lot about myself, and just about being self sufficient and relying on yourself for happiness, no one else. Besides the fact I live with a family, and financially I'm calling my USA mom 24/7 to know how much money I have- more like, don't have, it's me, here. I was lucky and was placed at the same school as Martina- whom I love to death. If I didn't have her, I don't know what I would do. Because as much I as I explain, show pictures, try to put it into words, no one will ever understand me or my experience like I do, in France. With Martina- she is experiencing some of the same things- in the same place, so it's easy to connect. But I guess my exchange in France will always be something I hold close to me. Not just the people I met, or the things I experienced, but the growth both mentally and educationally I've accomplished. Going into this- I didn't think I could last a week, and here I am 4 months and still alive! Wether you understand or not is not the point, but the fact that I can tell myself, you lived in France, at 15, going in with no one but yourself, you can do anything. And it's true. I feel like if you set your head to it, you really can. I'm coming home with some of the best friends I'll ever have, people I'll never forget and a passion I never thought I'd find. I always saw my friends with their sports, or their instruments, or drawing, or dancing, and stuff like that and never thought I would actually be that into something, but I found it, and it's French. It's weird that feeling of absolutely LOVING what you're doing. It's like I talk, and it just spills out without thought. Although sometimes I'm talking so fast it just comes out in mumbles or nonsense, usually I can full express myself- which is awesome.
So don't get me wrong people at home, I'm excited to see everyone, I'm excited to be in good old Durham. But now I'll have that feeling of never being home. When I'm home in the USA, I'll want to be chez moi en France. And vice-versa. So I'm not sure. I have mixed feelings about returning. Although I my family is at home, in NC, I have a family now here too...

some stuff

champs elysees

epinal for the st nicolas parade

WHIPE out

my physics class haha

le arc

SNOW!!

My 2nd to Last Weekend

Friday I went to my friend Sydney Haye's house in Epinal, France. My friday consisted of Math class, French class, and 3 hours on trains in total. At 12:21 I had my train to Paris Nord. My host mom in I sat in the car for about an hour before my train and just talked. It really hit me how soon I was leaving, and how attached I've become to this family. PS. My host mom made me a lunch for the train which consisted of: half a bagette with ham and cheese, pain au chocolat (ganna make me FAT!), two clementines, two kinder chocolate bars, a water and napkins- I wish I could have that everyday at home at Jordan!! At 12:21 the train was taking off for Paris Nord, when arrived, I was to change train stations to Paris Est. My host dad was not very happy about me going on my little weekend excursion alone. He was very nervous about me changing train stations too. When I got to Paris Nord I was a little hesitant, but was familiar with the train station so everything was okay. I asked a man who worked there how to get to Paris de L'Est- walk our of the building, a left and the 3rd right. Literally, 5 minutes from Paris Nord, put on my ipod, sunglasses and head up. If you walk around France, Paris especially, acting confused, or naive, there will be some creepy man who wants to help you. Avoid all situations of creepiness and LOOK LIKE A BITCH- I'm good at that, my natural face is bitchy. Once at Gare de L'Est I bought Sydney's family flowers, and called my host mom to tell her I was safely there. After about 45 minutes I went to my next train to Nancy. Little did I know that you were assigned a car and a seat- unlike the pervious train. SO, I walked on the train, set down all my stuff, picture me, two bags (my purse and a small duffle bag), huge jacket, huge scarf, huge flowers- plopping down. Then I see people looking at their tickets and finding their seats- AWESOME. So I got up, got my stuff and walked back and forth for about 10 minutes looking for my car. Found it, finally, and got situated. After successfully finding my car and my seat I was sitting for about 20 minutes when I had the sudden urge to pee in my pants. Literally, I though I was going to pee in my pants. After squirming and moving around for about 5 minutes, I nicely asked the man next to me to get up because I had to pee- thankfully he let me. Before I knew it I looked at my clock and it was 5 minutes until my next train in Nancy. I was still on the train from Paris...going regular speed...I was no where near Nancy. 4:05 hit and I was panicking because I knew I had officially missed my train. I called my friend Sydney who told me there would be another in an hour- phew. I got to the train station, looked up at the TV and there was a train in 5 minutes going to Epinal- I WAS IN LUCK! I got on the train and finally made it to Epinal.
Once there, I waited for Sydney for about 15 minutes in the train station. When she saw me she screamed my name and ran towards me like a charging bull, jumped on me and almost knocked me over. It was nice to see a familiar American face. We got my stuff and went to the parking lot where Sydney's host mom was waiting. Once in the house Sydney declared she felt like she was going to throw up- awesome. We sat in her room for probably 30 minutes when she all of a sudden said IT'S COMING- ran to the bathroom bleeeeeeeeeeeh..i feel....bleeeeeeeh...theres my pain au chocolat...blehhhhhh and the poisson.....blllleeeeeeeeeehhhhhh i feel so much better! OK so I'm not real down with the whole throwing up and blood thing so I did as much as I could do- got a wet warm towel and handed it to her. 15 minutes after her throwing up, we were on our way to meet her friend Linda for drinks and dinner. Where Sydney lives, she can walk everywhere. It's a small town, but there's stuff to do. It's nice.
We met her friend Linda at a restaurant and had coffee. Linda is French but speaks really good English, so it was really easy to talk and not feel bad for talking in English- because she understood, generally. After our coffee we headed to the Italian restaurant for dinner. YUM italian food. I had pizza and pasta with Sydney, I'm not really sure what Linda ate. At dinner it was just us in a little corner, we were ridiculous and everytime I said something in french like "c'est pas grave" Linda would die laughing because I can't do the RRRRR thing. Dinner finished and it was time for Sydney and I to head home but Linda and I wanted to take pictures. So Linda walked with us for a little and we got to the bridge...were walking and Linda stood on this slippery thing (there was snow) and was slidding around. She wanted a picture and stepped down, we turned to walk and there was a creepy man behind us so in the midst of my surprisedness and idiocy, I stepped on the slippery thing and well, whiped out. That was a nice laugh for them.
Saturday was a good day. Woke up, got dressed/ ready and went downstairs for lunch. Homemade Spaghetti and meatballs, with salad cheese and bread. YUM. Saturday was a special day in France- Fete de Les Garcons- aka St Nicolas. Where I live, it's not a big deal, but on the East it is, apparently. After lunch sydney and I went in town where we saw everyone setting up for the Parade that night. We bought shoes and at 3 were at the church for Sydney's host sister's Harp concert. After that we got hot chocolate and went home. The parade started at 6 so Sydney, me, her host sister, and her host sister's friend walked back to Centreville. Let's just say it was FREEEEEEZING. The parade was cool though. I feel like everyone from the town was there with their friends or children. Around 650 we headed home for dinner. Saturday night, Sydney's host brother made dinner, my favorite dinner. It was the parent's anniversary and they were at a restaurant. Dinner? cooked potatoes, ham, and cheese you cook infront of you. BEST DINNER EVER. I LOVE it. The thing you cook the cheese with you buy usually in the mountains of France..mmmmm :) Our movie, Harry Potter, was at 820. It was 8 and we were just finishing dinner, when Sydney's host sister realized what time it was, we dashed up and went- by foot. When I say dashed, I mean it. That night we ran across Epinal to Harry potter- the long way. First we were late leaving the house, second every road was closed because of the Fete, third as we were running as fast as we could there were fireworks going off lighting up the sky- it was really cool, and fourthly- IT WAS -7 DEGREES CELCIUS!!!!! Luckily, we made it to Harry Potter in time. The movie was really good and I actually understood it too!- but I will be seeing it in English at home....The movie ended around 11- time to walk home. It was creepy, but also kinda fun- 4 girls walking late a night in Epinal- we were hit on until we were right at the house- luckily!
Sunday, woke up, got my stuff and went to the train station. Luckily, Sunday my host Parents were meeting me in Paris for shopping and site seeing so I only had two trains. My host parents got me from Paris Est and we headed to the Champs Elysees. My host mom, Florance, and I got out at the Louis Vuitton Store- haha, and stayed there for probably and hour just wandering around. That store is HUGE. She was joking about how I could buy a HUGE trunk from there and still not be able to fit all my stuff in it. After Louis Vuitton we just walked around the street up and down stores. Once we found my host dad, Patrick, my host mom said we should go and get a coffee- STARBUCKS she said. Luckily, they know my obsession with coffee and helped me find a Starbucks in Paris- lovely. After Starbucks I bought my dad's Christmas present and went outside to the lit up Champs Elysees. It was beautiful- look one way, Arc de Triumph, look the other, Ferris wheel. Paris at Christmas=lovely. I wanted pictures, of course, so I stood in the middle of the road and was being cussed up and down by old french people who were driving.- oh well. It was time to leave so we got in the car and decided to drive down the Champs Elysees- towards the Arc. In the Navigation system was C. E. so we got to the notorious circle around the Arc- heading home, and the Navigation system was sending us back down the C.E. And we were stuck in the circle. There are no rules in that circle. If you are closest to the Arc, you're screwed, and stuck. If you're brave you'll drive in a ray like angel from the Arc and if you're like me and my host family, you just pray you get out of there. We did after about 10 minutes, luckily.


My last weekend is next weekend and I don't know what to think! I'm sad and happy all at the same time! SO many emotions!!!
soon i hope!xoxoB

TODAY IS ANOTHER SPEACIAL DAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY, NOW 4 YEARS OLD, SISTER, DAVIE!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxo

For JP and other daily-onlookers.

A little bit of my life, is now yours.
 (warning, i ain't holdin' back)
Today, my alarm went off at 8:05 (08h05) while I was in the middle of dreaming about a friend from DA and walking through Hope Valley.  I didn't have to leave the house until 9:30 (09h30) today because I don't start school until 11..but my host sister starts at 10. I got out of bed, turned off my fan, opened the thing for the window cover, turned on the heat, and took my computer to set it in the bathroom, like I do every morning. I checked my emails and facebook and did my daily morning pee. I have the best internet in the bathroom, who knows why. Went back into my room with my computer and turned on Kanye West's new CD My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which by the way is a lot better than Kid Cudi's new crap. Changed into my tank top, white tee, gray sweater thing, think-ass leggings, jeans, and my SUPER warm sweat proof socks I got when I went to the Amazon. Let me tell you, it is 23 degrees here, real cold. Walked over to my mirror and put on my makeup.  Which by the way has gotten boring and plain. Mascara, powder, eye liner and chapstick, everyday. Yeah, cool, boring. I have perfume, Nina Richi something its a little redish apple that I wear everyday, but I'm almost out, awesome, I remember thinking. I pinned my hair up and around 8:45 (08h45) went downstairs to eat breakfast. Every Monday I eat the same thing because I have time, I can take my time- Coco Puffs and coffee. Every other day I eat two pieces of toast with butter and coffee. Monday mornings I miss the usually cartoon I like to watch. So I watch music videos, which are American, instead. I like Monday mornings, I'm by myself listening to music, eating breakfast and just chilling. I made my coffee differently today. I couldn't find the same color thing I put in the coffee maker. It was darker today, but just gave me an excuse to add another sugar- making it 4 sugar hearts now. Poured in the milk and put it in the microwave for :42 seconds. While reheating, I placed my bowl on the table with my oh-so-lovely French Coco Puffs and milk. Once finished, I got a spoon, stirred my coffee and took the spoon with the coffee to the table. Poured in the Coco puffs and milk and turned on the TV. Did my flipping, just making sure that my favorite Cartoon wasn't on, and ended up at the Music Video Station. I finished eating around 9:10 (09h10) and went upstairs. Brushed my teeth, and decided I would open the new perfume I bought in the beginning of November. Still Nini Richi but something different. Opened it and sprayed it on, put on my purple earrings, uggs and scarf. Grabbed my coat, bag and Thomas' lab coat and headed downstairs. Downstairs I grabbed a clementine for "guter" which is a snack and waited for Eva to be ready to go. While sitting there listening to the music videos still the new Nicki Minaj song with the Video Killed the Radio Star beat came on. I'd heard it before and wanted to know what it is because VKTRS ALWAYS will remind me of my dad. I saw Ninki Minaj and ran upstairs and downloaded her new CD. We left the house around 9:30 (09h30) for school. Unfortunately to have that new song, I needed to buy the CD, done. BUT it was taking too long to download so I left it downloading at home. I listened to my iPod on the way to school, some Chiddy Bang and Bright Eyes to be exact and by then we were almost at school. Got to school around 10 and I went to the Vie de Scolare (attendance office) because I wasn't there Friday because I was sick. I took them my note and continued on to the Lycee (high school). Went to the lockers with Eva, bisous-ed everyone (cheek kisses) and by then the bell had rang. I still didn't start for an hour so I went to study hall. Today I had a math test so I redid my two recent math tests and rewrote my notes, I think I had it down. So study hall is a big room, one teacher/ administrator lady, I'm not really sure what she is, and a bunch of desks. I went where I always go, to the right behind the column and there was only one other class in there. Since I was alone, she asked my what class I was in and why I wasn't with my class. I kindly explained I'm American and I chose not to take Physics. "oooook" was the response. She was new- obviously hadn't gotten the memo I was not French yet. As I said, spent the period study Math, mowwww, and stressing about the test. 11:05 (11h05) rolled around and I had French. Walked outside waited for a minute, and went into my classroom saying Bonjour to my Physics teacher-well my not so Physics teacher, Physics teacher. French is always a good class. My teacher is very dramatic and makes the class, well, interesting. I understand her class and I enjoy listening to it. Today she acted out a little except from theater and turned tomato-red while exclaiming some non-sense in French. Then she went on to talk about love triangles, and give facts about infidelity in the world. Later she talked about how if you know verbs of a language, you can get somewhere, but you need the verbs. She said (translated) "Imagine you were in another country and didn't know any verbs, you would get no where." Made me laugh, because hey, that was me a couple weeks ago! French ended at 12 (midi) and I got to go to lunch early with Eva and Lenaelle. We walked to the Canteen (not saying cafeteria because there's something else called the cafeteria which is different) and stood in line for about 5 minutes. Lunch today was pasta and mystery meat. Just pasta please. I ate pasta, bread, juice and some chocolate thing. Today I had lunch for about 2 hours, it was nice. We talked about me going away and how I don't want a party because I'll cry. After lunch was my math class. Math....math.....test.....at 1:45 (13h45) the math teacher walked up the stairs and opened the classroom. Everyone entered took off their jackets and scarves, got silent, and sat after the teach said " bonjour a tous, asseyez vous"(hello everyone, take a seat). This is something that is done in every class, everyday. After asking if there were any questions the teacher handed out the test. Front and back, 7 questions maybe, but hard. The first two I had no clue. Never seen that type of question before, no clue. The rest, pretty sure I nailed them, or at least I hope so. She collected papers around 2:30 (14h30) and told us to get out or notes and we started a new chapter. Class ended at 2:40 (14h40) and after I had another French class with the Theatre teacher. I have this class every Monday, same time, and I have yet to understand a class. I never really can tell what he's talking about. He talks really fast, mumbles, or is really loud. Every now and then I'll catch a phrase or two, but never completely understand his lesson. It's a french extra class you are placed in. Each subject has a "aide" class and teachers put you in it if it's your low point. I of course was put in French. Class ended around 3:30 (15h30) and it was break- for 20 minutes. Martina and I went to the lockers (which are luckily inside) and stood by the heaters with Emmanuelle talking about our weekends. The bell rang at 3:55 (15h55) and I had English. My English class is rather boring. Today we disected the lyrics from Hoobastank's song The Reason. There's not much I can do French wise like that besides translate the lyrics, which I already did. So, I sat and listened. At 4:50 (16h50) the bell rang and I was finished for the day. I met Martina in the middle of the walkway and we walked to her house like every Monday for hot chocolate. We got to her house and there was a strange man outside wandering around and told us he was there to pick up leaves-ooooookie, locking the door behind us. We made hot chocolate, ate cereal, and took pictures with her family of animal mugs. I'm going to miss her a lot. Talking in Franglais without question understanding. It's nice. Around 5:35 (17h35) Martina and I walked back to school where I met my host mom. Martina, my host mom, and I talked for a minute or two then Eva came and we were on our way home. The ride home is the same every day generally, how was your day, your test, and your lunch. We got home and I got in the shower, then it was time for dinner. It was some German quiesh (??) with onions, cheese, creme, and bacon- so good, and corn. Oh yeah, not going to forget the cheese. Cream cheese and bread I eat every day after dinner, yum. Well, since then, I've been sitting here writing this blog. It's getting a little late I should probably go to bed soon...bonne nuit xoxo

Les Photos 2

Baby cows, Martina, and I.

HAHA look so angry! Versailles

I'm not sure..a meal.

Arc!!

Lenaelle and Eva during French in the library!

canteen! (cafeteria)

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris!

The town I was in during vacation.

Versailles!

Not much.

I'm starting to feel more English than American. Why you may ask? It's freezing and sweet tea is my drink of choice- hot sweet tea is my drink of choice, now. Like the English, with lemon. Today I woke up and it had snowed. Not a dumping, rather a dusting, but it snowed and was snowing when I woke up. I didn't go to school today because I have a stomach bug-or something, so I stayed at home. I watched Love Actually and it made me realize how close Christmas is!
Three weeks from today I will be with my mom and sister-then in paris, lady gaga, site seeing, then on our way home just in time for Christmas Eve. My time here has really flown by. Ive been here for a little over 3 months now. In some ways, I feel like it's been an eternity, and in others, 5 hours. After you've moved in with your host family for a week, you feel like you're already a part of the family. So when you think it's only been a month, you feel like you've been there for forever. But when you talk to your family, you feel like you saw them yesterday, or at least I do.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Although I was expecting to be homesick, and I think others were too, I wasn't. Most all my other exchange student-friends are celebrating Thanksgiving in one way or another. I'm celebrating it by explanation, that's all. I'm not exactly homesick I don't think, because here, it is not a holiday. People aren't all together with family, happy and holiday-like. So for me, it's just another day. Something that is making me laugh and think of home is my host sister. She has recently become obsessed with Mike Posner- who oddly went to Duke, the University of my favorite basketball team. Christmas is oddly close, and it's weird. I went to downtown Amiens on Wednesday and it was Christmas Centre. There were mini houses and lights all down CentreVille for Christmas and Christmas music blasting. It was wonderful! and really reminded me of Christmas. Next weekend, I'm going to my friend Sydney's for the weekend. I'm really excited. She's in my program too and we've gotten to be really good friends. Not much is going on here. But i'll be sure to update you if there is!

Soon-i hope!
Bailey

Sorry I've been lazy.

Again, sorry for my laziness. I know I should be blogging more often.
The other day in class, I knew what an answer was in FRENCH class and the class didn't! Everyone was like WOOOOOOW.
Forecast for Friday: SNOW.
A couple thoughts:

1) I really want to see Harry Potter....but would LOVE to in English please.
2) Generally the population of France who do not speak English have NO idea what is sung on the radio.
3) Here in high school, you are taught for the BAC (like the SAT)
4) People here DO eat fast food, had "Macdo" drive through last night.
5) BREAKING THE STEREO TYPE : French people do bathe- daily. and I haven't met one person who hates American's- that's a lie...well a stereotype of Paris.
6) People who live outside of Paris don't like people who live in Paris..I guess "northerner" stereo type is everywhere..
7) Tea with ice is extremely foreign to French people.
8) Sex means gender...like here. But the term sex is used a lot more liberally- saw a sign hanging in a cousin's bedroom that said SUN SEX AND SEA.

Continuing on comment number 2...
The other day I was in the car with my host mom and sister and was listening to the radio. Which by the way is called FUN radio. Singing along, half listening I realized the song was repeating "I just want to fuck." Atleast 5 times in a row as a verse...so usually 7 verses in a song...5 times per verse...35 times say "I just want to fuck." Lovely. Glad people are getting the best version of American/English music on the radio. If only they knew, well understood, what was being said...On top of that, my host mom and sister are singing and humming along while I'm sitting in the back awkwardly.

number 3...
So, in school here, well high school, there are 3 years. Seconde (sehg-oo-nd), Premiere (pr-ehm-ee-r), and Terminale (term-ee-nall). In seconde you take general classes with everything and generally prepare you for choising your "pathway". Premiere is the first of two years of pathway. As far as I know there are: Science, Literature, and General (S, L, and ES). In each class you take you are specialized for the hard, kick-your-ass test you take in July. Yes, people here stay in school until July. But they have two week breaks every two months, yes, lucky. Teachers often say "Pour le BAC..." Which is: for the BAC...

number 4...
HAHA last night went to McDonalds. Eva had a tutor in the afternoon and had another one right after so getting a quick meal was necessary...I was in the front seat of the car because I had been driving around with Eva's mom when we picked her up. We got to "MacDo" and Eva said BAILEY GO TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT. We were in the drive through and the Menu is generally the same, but with different names. Oddly, the names are in English. Eva thought it would be HILARIOUS to have me tell the person what I wanted because I was American and pronounced it "correctly". I said it "ROYAL CHEESE" into the microphone. "Pardon?" hahahahahaha the man didn't understand me! After Eva's mom said it in her French Accent and the man said "Ahhhhhh ok"

5&6 are Stereotype Central.

number 5...
The last two weeks I have been asked 3 times what the Americans think of the French. Well...First off I kindly inform them that there is a floating stereotype that French people don't shave...or bathe. Everytime I have told that to someone the reaction is hilarious. Face with jaw dropped. I've come to the conclusion that the reason people think they don't bathe..or shower..is because in the Metero in Paris it smells like STRAIGHT UP B.O. disgusting. And I guess the "not shaving" part just goes along with not showering...
After I tell them that Americans think the French hate us. Again, same face, jaw dropped. Every person I've told that too has responded generally the same way..exclaiming that they don't know anyone who hates Americans!
Odd...

number 6...
Parisiens have the same stereo stype/reputation as New Yorkers. Either it is a "Northern" thing, or it is a Big City thing..because where I live in France, people HATE Parisiens. They say that they're mean, and rude, and stuck up and are just for themselves...Sounds familiar.

number 7...
Tonight I made tea with my tea bags, from home :) My family thought I was insane because ONE I was drinking tea with dinner, with sugar, and with lemon. Oh yeah, it was COLD too! Here, the drink Nestea Peach...disgusting. Nothing like home. And only during the day. Room temp. No ice.

number 8...
So, I was at the Aunt's house for dinner last week with my Host Family. We were leaving and our jackets were put in the daughter's room so I went to get mine. I look up on the wall, SUN SEX AND SEA is on the wall...okay cool I thought..sex that's cool..and awkward to have hanging in your room...Then I was in Paris with my host mom and she was asking what Sea was because she said she saw the sign too and was like "ouais, sun, soleil, sex, sex, et sea c'est quoi?" I explained to her what it was and that was it. She was just like oh yeah that's cool. SO I'm not sure if it's just chill here or what...but she was pretty chill about it...And it's talked about in school all the time casually in class. One time we talked about vamps..hahahahaha

it's a special day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!





I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!

Let Me Tell You About My Day.

WHAT A DAY. Yeah, what a freaking day.


Starts out with a good piece of crust-less toast and coffee..which I have perfected..the coffee. Put the medium color in the machine, press big cup botton (which is tiny), let it make, put just enough milk, up to a certain polk-a-dot on the mug, three sugar squares (which are not squares, they are the shapes of the shapes on cards-drew a blank), and in the microwave for 42 seconds, perfect. Left for school around 720, picking up two girls, 12 and 5 who live close and taking them too. TURNING MY PHONE ON SILENT..and continuing to school.
First period? Math. Background? No one really participates in class, I understand Mlle, it's annoying... but maybe they don't understand? I'm not sure. Anyways, that bothers the teacher, the grades aren't lovely, and she just gave a pop "interrogation" that everyone practically bombed. She passed back the interrogation after lecturing us on our bad grades and is standing at the board explaining something, I don't even remember. Someone's phone vibrates. It was all down hill from there. She asked who it was and said that the person needed to confess. No hands went up... At first I thought it was me, honestly, because it was so close to me. My heart was beating SO fast and I KNEW my face was red as blood. She said check-see if it was you. I checked, luckily, it wasn't me. "OKay, if no one will admit to it, everyone place your phones on the table. If it's on, I'm taking it." OKAY this is where the language barrier is a bitch. I found out she said that later...I understood what was going on, but in the midst of my fright about it being me, her yelling, and the class remaining silent, whatever she was yelling about exactly, was no concern to me. She walked around the classroom- I thought she was checking for if it was on vibration. NOPE she was checking to see if it was ON! I obviously didn't get that memo. Luckily...or atleast I thought luckily, my phone was on silent. After her snatching my phone, leaving me in total shock, I practiced deep breathing and tried not to start crying like a fool. After all the phones were taken the teacher said there is no guarantee I will have my phone by the end of the day. BY HELL I WILL, I'm going out of town for the weekend (which started today), I need my phone. I don't live with my parents.
After that class I had a study hall. Unfortunately I started crying. Want to know why? I tried to talk to my math teacher, prove it to her, and justify myself, but nah, it's the rules. Okay understandable, but really I can PROVE it wasn't me. And for anyone who knows me, I don't get in trouble at school, ever. I HATE getting in trouble at school-in general really and this was awful. I never have had my phone taken, and I was getting it taken in France where they are SUPER strict.
Before lunch I had homeroom for an hour. And it was interesting-here the homeroom teacher has two representatives from the class who talk about problems the class has with teachers and all that stuff. And one of the people who is a Rep got their phone taken. The teacher simply asked our opinion on it and he nicely stood up for me and said it wasn't fair mine was taken because I don't understand. (Made me happy and sad, happy because he was sticking up for me, but SAD because they think I'm retarded.) Anyways, the teacher said I had to go to the principal along with the other 3 people who were in the same situation.
After the class, I went. In a shaking voiced I used passed tense to explain what happened in detail to the scary, tall, slicked back jet black hair, principle man, M. Briaux. He nicely said it's okay the first time, next time, I keep it. WOOOOOOOOOO I got my phone. But after nearly going into cardiac arrest!!!!!
OH yeah, had a "french" test today. Didn't know. 
After school Eva, her mom, and I went to the mall and grocery store to kill time. Around 4 something we took Eva to her tutor and the mom and I were off! First we went to a home-y store. It was covered in Christmas decorations and it was SO pretty! Lots of candles, lots of smelling. After we went to a toy store- Eva's mom needed to get a present for her nephew. I found Davie some Christmas presents!! YAY!

So my bad day is over. I'm going to Versailles (pronounced ver-s-eye) tomorrow!! Wahoo...Waking up at 8..not so bonne.

Just random thoughts

So I'm sitting here, eating a delicious chocolate mousse..which I can eat whenever I want...I thought I should probably write a blog. It's Saturday night, and I only had two days of school this week, oddly, I'm exhausted. Last night I went to bed at 1030..very unlike me. Usually Friday and Saturday night means up all hours of the night talking to my friends on skype or facebook. No, not this weekend. It's 930 and I'm ready for bed. Oddly I really have no desire to stay up and talk to my friends at home. Not because I don't want to talk to them, but because it has turned into the same conversation everytime. "Hey, hey! how are you? good you? good. hows france? good hows durham and hows school? good." Or there is some drama somewhere I'm filled in on. Not that it really matters that I know.. Don't get me wrong, I hate not keeping up, but it's kinda useless information to me. Here is rather drama free, or for me at least. Either there is drama, that has absolutely no relation to me, that I understand. Or I just don't understand it, be the language, or why. It's nice. Anyways, sitting here, just finished my chocolate mousse, talking to a friend, and listening to Jamestown Story. Why sad slow music? I don't know. I'm not sad at all. I'm actually a lot better. I've been at this house since Tuesday and I love it. I am constantly laughing at stupid things I do or stupid things Eva and I do. I will have a 6 pack when I come home from laughing-mark my words...I should probably cut down on the chocolate mousse, bread and cheese though too...Here, they have cream cheese...but not bagels. NO bagels. :( I love bagels. I love the cheese here..well some. Not the smelly, large, mushroom cheese though. I went and got my stuff from my previous host family's home today. Interesting. Spent all afternoon unpacking and putting stuff away..Yes, my room is clean, tidy, and my clothes are color organized- MOM DO NOT EXPECT THAT WHEN I GET HOME. Eva came in towards the end up my unpacking fiasco and thought it was hilarious I pretty much had TWO of everything. Which is kinda true.

So I've been asking myself this. At what point can you say "I speak French". All of a sudden I'm understanding so much and can speak without thinking and it's just a lot more fluid. I don't know if it's because I moved or because what, but it's a really cool feeling. For people who speak two languages, how did you know? I don't know I'm not looking for a pinpointed time, but it's just weird. I know I can really understand a lot more because I can talk at dinner, and I can make fun of Eva and people understand.

I don't know. Haha, I usually don't know what's going on. I never know my homework, I never know when I'm going somewhere, or where I'm going. I never know what to expect. I've come to a conclusion, I'm an martian here.

Like my journal.

Today I woke up and was pretty homesick. I had a headache last night and when to bed on a bad note-which I hate doing. I watched Sex in the City 2 when I woke up and felt a little better, good ole American shit. Pierre came up around 1230 and declared "On Mange" in English, we are eating. I went downstairs and ate lunch with everyone. We had fish fillets with potatoes and carrots. I've had fish a lot the last couple days. After lunch I went upstairs and started to pack up my things. I was sad. I didn't know where or what I was doing today. People can tell me a million times what I'm doing, or where I'm going, but I still never really know. I don't know what to expect or how to picture it in my head. It's not like at home when my mom is like okay were going to Southpoint, or were going to Charlotte. It's like were going to sajkdhaksjdhjksdasjk and in my head I see nothing. It's weird.
I watched a little of Pirates of the Carribean and packed some more. Later in the afternoon Eva and her mom were at the Rolle's. I was excited and wanted to cry at the same time. I was downstairs with Eva and Emmanuelle sitting by the TV and almost started crying. It's emotional- changing and all. Again, you have no clue what to expect or where you will be going. On the way to Eva's I was excited-and felt pretty confident with my French because I understood everything her mom was saying in the car. We go to where she lived, which is pretty far away, but it is like an actual city. I don't live in the country anymore. The house I live in is 3 stories and skinny, but spacey. My room is gorgeous, already posted pictures. I love everything so much. Tonight for dinner I had pumpkin soup, salad and pasta with salmon. SO good. At dinner we watched TV too! We sat a table but the news was on and we watched it! :D At dinner it was me, Eva and her mom. Eva's dad is a doctor and isn't home very often, but I met him tonight. SO nice. When he smiles you can see gold teeth in the back shining in the light. I'm happy, here, I have a bathroom with Eva which is RIGHT next to my room...so when it's a middle of the night, I need to pee, I CAN!!-Unawkwardly. :) After dinner we watched desperate housewives, IN FRENCH and now I'm sitting downstairs listening to music. The only sad thing is I don't have Wifi in my bedroom, but I can live without it- that's a new concept...I can live without being constantly connected? Hm.

A demain,
Bailey

My new room!

Les Photos

Mers Les Bains

Getting in the car after peeing in the woods. MOM- I officially have REAL pee UGGS hahahhhahahaha

BEAUTIFUL

In a trench

EEEEEKKK watch out

AT A FARM!!!! The cows were getting milked!!!

Halloween!

And She's Back!

So I haven't blogged for about two weeks now, but there has been a lot going on. I am changing families for reasons that can be discussed on a one-one basis, ain't here to be acting like "dat DTOWN drama". For the last week and a half or so, I have been living with the Rolle's. They were life savers! Friday Oct. 22- Left school with Emmanuelle, a girl in my class and Martina, another exchange student, for the week.
This past week I've done a lot. I thought I posted a blog about what I did two weekends ago, but I guess it didn't go through-damn internet. The first weekend I was here I went to the birthday-day of the grandfather, 80. The grandfather has 7 children (Emmanuelle's mom being one of them), and all the grandchildren.
That day, 5 of the kids were there, with their children. We sat at a table for six hours. There was not one time when I didn't have a delicious plate of the mystery meal in front of me. Six hours of sitting and eating- vive le france! Everyone sat that long too, kids got up now and then, but were mostly at the table. It was appetizer after appetizer, then the entre, then cheese, fruit, then dessert, more dessert, and more, oh yeah, coffee. With every meat, or food really there is a different wine. I got to taste allllll of them! There was one man there who was like "A petit peu" which means a little bit, that turned into a little bit of everything- which ends up being a lot. When I would think we were done with eating, someone else would bring another plate of something. For dessert I had THREE. Not helpings, three different desserts served to EVERYONE on a plate (no bailey on a piece of wood)!!! It was creme brulee (sorry I don't have accents on my computer), chocolate mousee, and a slice of cake of your choice-pear or apple. Amazing. I ask myself EVERYDAY how people here stay so skinny. I have yet to find the answer.
Once we were FINALLY done and people started to leave, I thought we were too. I was wrong! The Rolle's stayed with the grandparents and ate ANOTHER meal!!! Although it was MUCH smaller than the others, I had just ate for 6 hours. I was amazed they could even fit another piece of food down their mouth..
As I was sitting there listening to the adults talk I figured out the grandfather lived through WW2 under Hitler's rule. COOLEST THING EVER. Well, not cool to have been under his rule, but to have survived and be able to talk about it is awesome. So Martina and I started asking questions. I found out that the Jewish didn't have ID cards so when they were asked to pull them out, that's how they were automatically sent away. ATTENTION: if you had a dark complexion, dark eyes, dark hair, didn't mean you were off to the camps right away. That is a false thought that floats around. The people in the North of France were obligated to give the Germans something every month, if not you were shot immediately or sent off to camp. Farmers stuff like milk, eggs products, etc. A lot of the people who were the guards at the camps were there to save them and their families lives. Talking to him was really cool. In the US there isn't someone I can talk to about WW2 and Hitler who actually lived under his thumb. I got to! To me, that is amazing.
Another thing I did this week was go to the Sea. The closest point I can get to home without getting on a boat!!! I really want to go to London before I leave. It is only an hour and a half Ferry ride!
The Friday before Halloween was cool. In the afternoon I went with Martina, the mom, the older brother and the younger brother to an actual WW1 battle ground. Trench warfare was what was used in WW1 and it was all trenches. It was cool to be somewhere where history actually took place. I know in the US I can go where the Civil War was fought, but here I can actually SEE where it took place. It was where the Newfoundlander's fought or something like that. I don't know much about Wars. When we got home, Emmanuelle had friends over and we dressed up and attempted to go trick or treating! I miss Halloween at home! It isn't big here at all. It's mainly for the little kids and people trick or treat during the day!
Halloween day I went to the Sea again (Their great aunt lives there). And we went to another family meeting/gathering, thing for another birthday. That time only 3 hours at the table. The food was mainly seafood. Not my favorite. So I tasted everything and what I didn't want I pushed all together hoping it would look like I ate a lot. I know I didn't trick them though.
Well, here I am today. Sitting at a desk listening to music because I'm homesick. I move today. BUT I don't know when I will get all my stuff-when I do it's going to be a pain in the ass because of how much I have...I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what I'm doing, but I guess that's the adventure in all this...

C'est la première fois.

Today, for the first time according to my host parents, the trains have been blocked. Everyone always dreams of the trains being blocked when you're standing outside, in the freezing cold, whipping wind and black sky. But that little light down the tracks always seems to glow, getting bigger and bigger as it gets closer and closer. Not this morning. After waiting about 7 minutes outside, assured I had frost bite on my toes, Heloise and I returned to the car. Thankfully, her dad drove us this morning, usually we take the taxi. We sat in the car until 7:21. The train was at 7:08.
Le train était en retard-the train was late. No, it wasn't. Il ya un blocus à la gare- There is a blockade at the train station.
When we first got in the car, my host dad got out and stood by the train tracks, with everyone else. Heloise and I sat in the car confused. At 7:20, everyone started walking back to the cars. No train today.

The strikes are gotten to the point where no one can get to work or school or anywhere for that matter. There is no gas, there are no trains, there are buses, but limited and there are blockades. Know what that means? If you are lucky and have gas and don't care to waste it (because they have stopped making it), to bad, the city is blocked off. No way in, no way out. If you live in the city and thats the only place you have to go, awesome, but you'll be stuck in the middle of the strikes. Today a village about 5km away, very close, like 3 miles or something, has run out of gas. No more, all gone. Guess what...that's where we get our gas from. Guess what I'm doing saturday? Driving to the Swiss ALps. Guess how far it is? Over 700km. With what gas? You tell me. I have an idea! We could take a train! NOPE, blockade at the train station. We. Are. Stuck.

Tomorrow the government can decide to change their decision about the retirement age, or keep it. IF they decide to change it rioting, striking, and blockades will end, hopefully. IF they turn a blind eye and continue on with the pension and retirement age issue, it'll only get worse...

C'est la piscine. And les grèves update!

Translation: It's the pool.

Last night I went swimming for the first time in a while. The moment I walked in the chlorine smell hit me and it was like being at home again. At that moment, I got a wave of homesickness but luckily it went away. I walked in and there is a group of people, about 25 or so, standing around doing the kiss on the cheek "bisous" thing. Odd-but here, not at all. As I walked in, everyone was staring at me and my host mom introduced me as the "petite americaine". Translation: little american, also known as the exchange student. I "bisous"(ed) everyone and make small talk with some lady who is taking Route 66 on the West Coast this summer. She wanted to know all about it. Unfortunately I've never really been anywhere on the West besides Washington State, and Cali. So I'm sure she thought I was stupid when I said "Sorry, I have no clue" "Desolee, je ne connais pas". I talked to the coach and my host mom made it clear I was there to swim laps, not scuba dive-Yeah "C'est cleare"
My host mom flaged me over and I walked to where she was-leading me to the locker room. It was right next to the front desk, which resembles the front desk at Pullen Park. In front of the door there were 3 boxes. My host mom began taking her shoes and socks off, so I did the same. She placed her shoes in the box and flagged me to continue through the door with her. I walked into a room with a door behind me and a door to my right. The room I was in was a changing room, but next to me was a mini changing room (for people like me, who aren't about being nakey infront of everyone and their cousin). I get dressed into my suit and my host mom and I walked to where the showers are.
It was a series of hallways then I was presented with the showers-which you had to "do" before entering the pool (like centeral-get wet enough so they know you "took a shower"). The showers were both sexes. Yes, men and women shower in the same place, odd-for me at least. I did my awkward spin under the shower head hoping I wasn't being watched-by both men and women, even though I know I was. Not only because I was American, but because I was probably the youngest there, yeah I was the youngest. I walked to the other side of the pool with my host mom. The pool had NO lane lines and NO flags. It reminded me of a pool I went to right after Davie was born-I'm pretty sure it was a trimeet or something, very small, but very similar to last night. Anyways, there were people in the pool with there scuba masks (which the coach INSISTED on me trying, but I refused). For a good 25 minutes people sat in and around the pool talking, again.

*I found the talking is a very common thing to do at the beginning of a gathering (swimming, school, work, etc. Except I don't do it at school because I'm ALWAYS late-kill me.)

While everyone was talking I decided I was going to swim. Did a good "50m" and was like "oh buddy has it been a while". Once the coach got there he told us our "150m" warm up and we went off. OK, remember how I said NO lane lanes? Yeah, disaster. Apparently, you swim on the left lap 1, right lap 2, middle lap 3. And like that continuously. Thanks for the memo everyone! I ran into everyone and was SO confused. I think the lane line thing would do everyone a hand. We ended and the coach told me I needed a scuba mask-NO thank you. He insisted and made someone get it for me-pointless, cause I didn't use it. My host mom was laughing because she knew I didn't want to, and understood it was because I have been trained with the simple "petit" goggles, as she called them. The nice lady who did me a pointless favor handed me the goggles, no, mask, and got back in the water. We swam a little more and ended up on the deeper side of the pool. We got out and were jumping in with the mask off and putting it on underwater and having it good and on when you came up out of the water. WHAT? impossible. I pretended I understood and just jumped in with my mask on when no one was looking.
Towards the end of the "practice" (in parenthesis because I'm not sure what I was practicing) they started doing stuff with fins. I don't like fins. Even the "TRES VITE!" didn't convince me. The coach didn't care what I wanted, he wanted me to wear fins (keep in mind we already told him, just laps, yeah c'est cleare my ass). My host mom, a man and I went looking for fins, I thought I'd gotten lucky until the kind man, whom I was not happy with at the time, because he was actually searching for fins while my host mom and I were pretending, found some. Walked back to the pool, fins in hand, got in, put them on and went. I hate fins, can I repeat it one more time? I HATE FINS. Thanks.
Practice ended. I walked to the locker rooms and got my shampoo and conditioner-apres shampooing. Awkwardly I stood and took my shower while everyone around me was joyfully letting it all hang out-boys and girls. WELCOME TO EUROPE. After my awkward 5 minute shower that I rushed through, I changed. As I walked out of the locker room there was a man standing holding a tray with who knows what on it. It was food though. It was some cracker thing with something on it-even though it kinda was slimy and gross, it was good. After swim practice a man stands with a metal tray like a waiter and gives you food? SO weird!!!


PS: Update on "les grèves": Went to school today. One train in the morning-PACKED and was late to school. Rode the bus from the train station-COVERED in eggs. Haha, the bus got egged!! During English second period there was what sounded like cannons going off and a HUGEEEEE line of kids marching in the streets-oh how I wished I was in the middle of the action. Then after school my host dad told me my "host aunt's", who is a teacher, car was egged too by students today. Although it would be awesome to egg a teacher's car, it's really sad that teachers and people are getting treated this way!!

Since I have nothing better to do...

Today is Wednesday, October 13.
Aujourd'hui c'est le 13 octobre 2010.

In France there is a huge issue with the government-retirement age, taxes, etc and people here take it into their own hands. Although I don't know much about it, since I've been here there have been numerous "grèves". Grèves are strikes. There are student and adult graves and today happens to be one. Along with a couple weeks before, yesterday, and probably tomorrow. Grèves cause HUGE chaos.
1) ALL public transportation is CLOSED. 2) Teachers at public schools tend to NOT be there. 3) Traffic is ridiculous because there is no other way to get anywhere-except by car. 4) There are huge riots-people and police. 5) And students and adults, even if they're not taking part in the grèves, they usually don't go to school. Like me, today.

To school everyday I take the train. Home from school everyday, I take the train. With the grèves there is NO train. So that means NO way to get to school..Except for my host parents. My host dad isn't working now because of health problems. And my host mom doesn't work on Wednesdays-meaning I have no way of getting to school. I'm not sure if it is an excused absence or not, but I haven't gone to school two Wednesdays because of grèves. Some of my other friends within CIEE who live here, in France, go to a public school (The school placing was random. On the application it says private, public, I don't care. I chose I don't care and ended up at a private school-no extra cost! hey! haha). My friends who are at public schools are lucky-and unlucky at the same time.

Lucky: A majority of public school teachers participate in the grèves because they are paid from the government, like in the US-except they are federally paid. SO grève day, means no school practically. Also, in France everyone eats at the canteen for lunch unless you go home-usually. In public schools, there is a week where the canteen is CLOSED. Meaning no way to eat lunch-problem. Way to solve it? Don't got to school.

Unlucky: In public schools they're really strict about piercings (NO facial piercings-so i'm out) and NO dying your hair.

I'm not really sure why the trains and all public things close, but they do. (it PISSES my host parents off-and my host sister, because she had a Bac "sport" test today...) Pretty much everything being closed is really inconvenient for everyone. But when you're sitting in class and you hear helicopters and people screaming and loud music and sirens, it's rather entertaining.

10 random facts

SO this is going to be short. But it's random things I want to say..that don't really have a spot.

1) Yeserday, when I was on a bike ride I saw a poorkipine. yes.
2) I ate mcDonalds yesterday. If you're a high school student, you get TWO burgers, fries and a drink..no wonder they think we're so fat.
3) Went to a hockey game...not the same. Theyre not allowed to fight, and the biggest stadium near us is the size of sportsplex. AND it's definitely not like the US with the whole all you can eat junk food. There wasn't even a drink stand...:(
4) I live an hour from the beach...but I dont count it as the beach...its the english channel.
5) I technically am in Canada... relatively speaking the the US.
6) I LOVE my friends at school
7) Not all french people smell bad, but some really really need a shower.
8) I got the COOOOOOOOLEST "erasable" pens.- will be bringing them back to the US!
9) Weather is so random here. Today is hot, tomorrow i'm sure, will be cold.
10) Next saturday Amiens throws a HUGE party-hopefullllyyy am going...and it's ALL night. but according to heloise "generally you drink a lot..so heads up"


I'll be back with more random facts, promise!

I've learned more than French so far.

This past weekend my mom came and visited. She left today at 515. If you don't know already, my mom and I are extremely close. Saying bye was really hard too.

Although it has only been a month, I have learned so much about life really. I appreciate my family so much more than I did before I came and I have a good concept of what I have, and the way I live, it's a privilege. Here, I am alone. Although I have a family, friends, teachers, and a small convenient store owner who care about me, no one KNOWS me. At home when I'm sad I can cry to my mom and have her already know how to act when I'm sad. Or when I'm angry or frustrated, she and my family really, know how to make it better. Here, yes the parents can hug me and tell me they love me, but nothing is the same as your mom or dad telling you I love you and being there with you. And no one really understands you better than your family. For example: When I came here, I brought a converter, and a mini baby fan. If you've slept at my house, you know we all sleep with fans, including Davie. Well, the mini baby fan made NO noise, which is why I brought it. My mom and dad understood how difficult it is to sleep without it and sent me a noise maker. WELL, this weekend I went to Paris, and it blew. My mom, determined, helped me find a hardware store in Amiens and bought me a fan, and converter (that blew too in Paris). Just things like that you miss when you're here.
Everyone thinks being an exchange student is easy. Go to school on the week days, party on the weekends, take advantage of the chill drinking laws, and compete with your other American friends (in France) on who can kiss the most people. Well, unfortunately as much as I'd like to say this is the life I'm living, I'm not. 1, 3(only this past weekend when I was with my mom), and 4. Except four is: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-0-0-1 so far...SO. Some of my other friends have an easier time with 2, but it's a crap shoot with your host family. My host family does not want me drinking, and definitely would not approve of my going to a party. It's difficult. Although back home I was not a party person, I'd really like to see what it's like here...still waiting on that. Also when you have something exciting happening and you are happy and excited and jumpy and you want to tell someone, your family, your friends, or anyone, it takes about 10x more time to get it out, and once you've spent 5 minutes thinking about how to say it in a different language, the excitement is worn off.

Although this is a rather, bland, downing post, I really have learned to appreciate everyone and everything at home so much more. I love my family so much and don't know what I'd do without them.

USA:FRANCE

Alright so I might repeat some things that I've already said, but I'm going to do a USA and FRANCE comparison.

1. USA: public: school bus or parents take you to school
private: parents take you to school
FRANCE: public: huge bus-like a tour bus takes you, or your parents take you, or a train followed by a city bus ride.
private: your parents take you, or you take the train and the city bus.


2. USA: "thanks" & "murci"
FRANCE: "shanks" & "merci"


3. USA: unless it is a spiral stair case, the stairs do not curve.
FRANCE: the stairs curve. and if you're on the curving side, you're screwed.


4. USA: Cafeteria food consists of the closest dominos' pizza.
FRANCE: Cafeteria food consists of one appetizer, one fruit, one veggie, one dessert, the main plate-which is always a meat and a carb, a drink, and of course, bread.


***********WARNING THIS IS TMI*************
5. USA: there are trashcans in the bathroom-so when you're on your period you do your business and leave.
FRANCE: THERE ARE NO TRASHCANS- everyone knows when you're on your period!!!! AND the trashcan is under the sink..AWK.


6. USA: hugs are the usual hello.
FRANCE: two kissed on each cheek and a "Ca va?"


7. USA: shutters are just, shutters. they are there for decoration.
FRANCE: shutters SHUT. you shut them before you go to bed, and you open them when you wake up.


8. USA: heels are for dances, parties and special occasions.
FRANCE: everyday-even on the cobble stone.


9. USA: you dry your clothes in the dryer..and they shrink.
FRANCE: you hang your clothes with clothes pins and let them dry outside.. scent of the year? nature.

10. USA: we are health nuts. everything is less calories and less this and less that. and watching your weight.
FRANCE: the food is the food. they have junky snacks too....and they LOVE chocolate!


C'est la vie.

Nonsense

I haven't blogged in a while! I'm getting excited, I think my package is FINALLY going to come-with my backup hard drive so I can upload more pictures. MEANING, pictures on my blog! yay! :)

Well, lets see. Currently I just have woken up from a 14 hour sleep. Yes, 14 hours. I am sick. Last night I watched Home Alone and went to bed right after- around 7. I woke up at 930ish. I feel lovely-minus the fact that I have mucus running down my throat at snail pace and can't breathe out of one nostril. Yesterday I was mad because I SWORE I packed Afrin. Afrin is my best friend when I am sick with a head cold-he helps me breathe. I DIDN'T pack it. I bought some stuff at the pharmacie here but it was more like spraying a lavendery minty scent up my nose. I told the mom I needed some spray for my nose and whatever she got me worked pretty much all night until about 6. Which is almost 12 hours. I was happy.

So everytime I throw up I get this feeling-I can always call when it is going to happen. Yesterday morning I woke up, had a head cold and got that stomach feeling. I was hoping it was because I was just nervous about taking a FRENCH LITERATURE EXAM that day, but it wasn't. I took some asprin water-grossest thing on the planet, and took some snack bar to school. So, I get to my exam take as much of it as I can. It's a two paragraph excerpt and it takes me an hour to figure out what it means. But hey, I was happy I figured out what it meant! I finish and I'm sitting in my desk thinking "oh god". Thankfully my assigned seat for *DS* (testing period every tuesday) is towards the front. So, i motioned throw up to the lady and ran out the door. Seriously, so embarrassing. I know everyones thinking "OH MY GOD THE AMERICAN GIRL IS RUNNING OUT OF HERE WTF"

I come back and the lady comes back to me and asks if I'm okay. No and I told her I threw up...Well I didn't know throw up so I said I'm sick..which by the way is Je suis malade. Anyways, she takes me to this infirmary where it is FREEEEEEZING cold. I stay there for about two hours then am taken to the "Vie de Scholar"-like the attendance office at jordan but bigger. I sat in there for about 45 minutes. The girls in there were hilarious. They were young and one knew a little English and one knew cuss words. I guess saying bad words infront of students isn't a big deal? Or maybe they thought I couldn't understand them but every five seconds I heard "merde!" or some other word I can't remember. Then one of the girls (these by the way were girls who worked at school mid twenties, three of them.) told me she was a hair model for Paul Mitchell-when she said it at first I couldn't understand her but then I was like OH PAUL MITCHELL. I believe her too! Her hair is curly like mine, dirty blonde and down to the middle of her back. SO pretty. The other girl was funny. She spoke a little English and was trying to get in contact with my host parents. The Paul Mitchell model kept eating and eating and eating and the English speaking girl was laughing at her and saying you can eat and eat and eat and still not gain wait.

^that is all nonsense. but its really funny to me. at the office at jordan, you would NEVER hear then talk about something like that!


Well, I hope something exciting happens soon so I can blog about it.


à bientôt :)

Je suis en retard.

No that does not mean I'm retarded..It means I'm late.

Welp, I've decided my writing on here has gotten pretty sloppy..I think it is because I have so much to say, but it's all scattered in my brain...

Today I left for school at 645..I didn't arrive until 9...

1) We left a little too late to catch the taxi to the train station
2) We went back home when the dad politely told us there was a taxi in five minutes..we ran to the taxi stop.
3) Luckily we ran towards the taxi and waved him down..because he was heading away.
4) We waited at the train station for about an hour.
5) WHY? because the train BROKE
6) Meanwhile it was pouring rain-and FREEZING
7) My toms were soaking wet.
8) We get to Amiens..the bus is late
9) It's 830 and the bus won't arrive until 845
10) First period is at 8.
11) We were late to school...soaking wet..and grumpy.

BUT after that I had a good day. I have made more friends and my french comprehension has really increased.

Today at lunch it was...hilarious. Martina, Lenaelle, Marie, Eva, another girl whose name I forgot...and Me, ate together. Today our lunch was an hour and 45 minutes :) :) Martina and I learned how to cuss in french..and say penis. Since our lunch was extra long today, we went earlier and ate during the middle schoolers lunch. Martina, excited about learning her new favorite word, screamed PENIS in french continually. All the middle schoolers stared...knowing she spoke English, but not knowing why she was screaming an awkward word, penis.

Yeah today was kinda an inappropriate and extremely long day, but I had fun.

Bailey Castillo's Indepence Day

Fun Facts For the Day

1. When people get to work they sit around drink coffee for about an hour.
2. When you walk into the room-where everyone is in the morning, you make your rounds around the table and kiss everyone on the cheek and say bonjour.
3. Some roads only have room for one way traffic. Stop lights make it possible to have two way traffic.
4. Teachers in France are SUPER strict about notes-color, alignment and everything.
5. Watch out for stairs that have a curve..will post picture soon.
6. NO GUM. ever.
7. The only shoes in the house are slippers. All the other shoes are in the garage.
8. People assume all Americans live in NY or Cali.
9. A seal in French is pronounced "FUCK"- hahahahaha
10. You might think a guy is cute, until you see him with that cigarette.
11. You get to a point when you understand French better than them trying to say it in English
12. Not everyone is skinny- there ARE fat people here.
13. They forget that Americans use feet, yards, miles, etc. And will ask you how far something is in meters. When you respond I don't know, they think you're stupid!
14. Coffee is black-usually there is sugar. At home I can use milk but out, no cream of any sort.
15. No girls wear backpacks to school.
16. In PE, people don't wear T shirts and shorts. They wear Polos and Yoga pants
17. I was asked if I take my lunch to school in a bag-like in American movies. :)


Today was the first day I was alone, for four hours, in town.

Wednesdays are my easiest days and today it was more easy than usual-my english teacher wasn't here. When a teacher isn't here, you don't go to that class. Today my schedule was math, free period, french, forum, free period, free period, english. I went to math, my french class was MIA-so i had a free period, then forum. I went to my 2..well one class. and was done at 12. :) :)

I had a bus pass, but I love walking. So I walked into the CentreVille, and headed to the post office. At the post office I exchanged my money and happily continued on! Next stop, phone store. My phone bill is outrageous-well it's not a bill. I have to buy minutes, its prepaid. Let's just say I text mom, and dad, A LOT. I got 70 Euros worth of more minutes and had finished what I needed to buy...3 hours left....

I stopped at about 4 different Cafes and decided I liked the one that had the food out on display..I got the best sandwich on the planet. I have no idea what it was, but it was wonderful. I sat, alone, with my iPod on a bench in the park area of the Centreville. It was very relaxing. hahahaha-I feel old saying that.

Lets just say I had a good day :)

25 Fun Facts

1. When you wake up, see someone for the first time in the day, return from somewhere or are leaving, you kiss the person on each cheek.
2. Chocolate makes up a HUGE part of the diet.
3. So does mayo.
4. People drive really really fast on country roads...I don't really think there is a speed limit.
5. You don't hug people usually.
6. Smoking is normal.
7. At school the teacher changes classrooms..not you.
8. You stand until the teacher says "Asseoir-vous" when you enter a class room.
9. If a principal or someone you don't know comes in the room you stand up until they say "asseoir-vous"
10. Teachers are called "Profs"
11. Most homes have one bathroom for everyone.
12. Cafeteria food is healthy.
13. Windows open, 24/7.
14. If you order a drink with alcohol in it, they rarely ask for ID.
15. Almost every girl wears heels to school.
16. Their "garden" refers to their yard.
17. If you are nervous, you are excited.
18. I NEVER see people yawn!
19. In my house, there is only one trashcan.
20. People DO shower.
21. AND shave.
22. No stick deodorants, just spray.
23. They eat cookies for breakfast...and cakes.
24. Seriously, not everyone takes the train everywhere.
25. Every car is tiny..including "SUV"s

New Schedule :(

Key: S: In my normal class, Seconde C.
T: In Terminale, just listening.
C: In the Middle School-which is called College in France.
G: Just Thursdays, a group preparing for Terminale...I was just but in the one with my Supervisor.

Terminale is the last year of high school for people in France. They chose a specialty-like a major in college. It is what their job will relate to when they grow up. They are super advanced classes. That is why I am only listening in them.. hopefully to catch on to french.

MONDAY:

10:10-11:05: Physics S.-so over my head
11:05-12:00: French Literature S.-puts notes on the board...but they have abbreviations and short cut words..I dont even understand the real word when it's written...
12:00-12:55: free time!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math S.- I understand a majority of what's going on and can successfully do my homework.
2:40-3:55: free time!
3:55-4:50: English S.


TUESDAY:

8:00-9:50: TESTING- Don't ask, I have no clue.
9:50-10:10: break!
10:10-11:05: Literature T.
11:05-12:00: History/ Geography S.- extremely hard to follow-notes are oral.
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: History/ Geography S.
2:40-3:35: French Literature C.
3:35-4:50: free time!
4:50-5:45: English Literature T.- YES!!!


WEDNESDAY:

8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: French Literature C.
11:05-12:00: Forum (odd weeks)/Vie de Classe (even weeks) S.
12:00-1:45: free time/Lunch
1:45-2:40: English S.


THURSDAY G:

8:00-8:55: Method CIDD- I have no clue.
8:55-9:50: English
9:50-11:05: free time!
11:05-12:00: French Literature
12:00-12:55: Civics (even weeks)- FRENCH CIVICS?!?!!?!!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math
2:40-5:45: Biology/Physics Lab- THREE HOURSSSS?!!??!?!



FRIDAY:

8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: History/Geography S.
11:05-12:00: free time!
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-2:40: free time!
2:40-4:40: PE S.

Chaos.

This week was so heck-tic. I'll start it at Wednesday.

Wednesday: Wednesday I only had Math, English and a Discussion. I was totally fine with that day and was like "Yes! Easiest day of the week!" But my host parents disagreed. They did not think it was necessary to go to school for that day. So I stayed home-yes! sleeping in...But what happened next was they wanted my schedule to be changed...Yes I had a very easy schedule..but everything was in French!-It's hard at that. So they called and got my supervisor to get my schedule changed.

Thursday: I didn't have any classes on this day so I had no idea where I was going. I, like the week before, followed Emmanuelle around to her classes.-Which my supervisor told me to do.
I get to class the teacher takes roll. My name isn't called and he's counting the students and obviously thought there were too many. He said something in French then Emmanuelle kindly told him I was american and that I was just listening today. He didn't like that (even though I had done it the week before in his class) and said I had to go to another group...
So I got my stuff and walked out with Emmanuelle. We both knew I wouldn't know anyone in the other group-so I wouldn't know where to go.. And my supervisor told me to be with Emmanuelle. So we went to the office. She wrote us a note to give to the teacher saying I had to stay with Emmanuelle because I didn't have a schedule for Thursdays. We got back and gave it to the teacher-he rolled his eyes and continued with class. Then I realized my host parents didn't know when I was done with school. Heloise ended at 545 and I ended at 450. I was okay with waiting but they wanted to take me to get a cell phone (thank god) in the time Heloise was at school! So during break I had to go with my supervisor to the office and she had to get their phone numbers and call them. We got that all sorted out.
After school we go to get the cell phone! We waited in line for about 20 minutes, once called we told them what phone I wanted, of course they were sold out. My host parents were outraged we waited and there wasn't a sign or anything that said that phone was gone. SO we walked around to 5 other stores (even though I already had looked everywhere we went) and ended up at the place I had my second choice for my phone. FINALLYYYYY we got it! All I know is it is prepaid, and was 119 Euros for the phone and the prepaid card with money on it.

Friday: I had math first period. I luckily understand the math that were doing! I love going to math, it's the only class I can take my own notes and ask questions in. And my teacher laughs at me because I don't know what she is saying, but I know what she is doing. At the end of the day I had PE. I have it once a week for two hours on Fridays. The week before our PE class was choising what you wanted to do for the whole year. The "menus" were in French and abreviated...So I had not a clue what anything meant. My friends chose one menu and told me to do it with them so we were in the same class-so I did! WELL Friday I found out I chose RUNNING. Really? REALLY? If you know me, you know I HATE running. Of course thats what I ended up with..Anyways we ran sprints and around a little mini track. It wasn't too bad. Then after school I found out that my host sister was going with friends so I awkwardly waited for the dad by myself..coooool!

Today I am sore..I am so out of shape. For the first time in a long time I just want to go swimming!! I'm attempting my Physics homework..have not a clue how to do it either. I got my new Schedule... :( :(

Those days don't sound half as chaotic as they were..I know this is the best decision I had made! But it is also one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.