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
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
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...
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...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
some stuff
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| champs elysees |
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| epinal for the st nicolas parade |
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| WHIPE out |
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| my physics class haha |
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| le arc |
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| 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
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
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
TODAY IS ANOTHER SPEACIAL DAY!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY, NOW 4 YEARS OLD, SISTER, DAVIE!!!!!!!!!
xoxoxoxo
xoxoxoxo
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