An American Girl in Avignon

Okay, so today (Sunday) was my first full day with the host family and after Paris and the stress of traveling, I was feeling quite exhausted. I was very blessed in the housing situation department in numerous areas, such as: location, internet, and roommate. My roomie, Kristina, and I spent the night getting to know each other a little better. Her French is excellent, so I feel kind of incompetent in comparison, but she is so nice and always willing to help. I think we are going to be fast friends.

But I would be lying if I said that today wasn’t hard. After sleeping in and a breakfast of some sweetened/nutty cereal (c’etaient très bons), Kristina and I settled our things into our room and I attempted to catch up on my blogs (notice I am still doing this). After a good and simple lunch and more attempts at conversation, I started feeling a little sad reading everyone’s Facebook statuses which read things like “back in Athens,” or “on my way to OU.” Although I am aware that studying abroad is an excellent opportunity that many students would kill for, a small part of me wished that my status read something similar. A part of my heart (and mind) is still there.

Feeling isolated and mentally exhausted from trying to speak French all day, I somehow mustered up the strength to call my parents for the first time since I left the US. When I first landed, I used a friend’s phone to text them that I was alive and well. I had left before getting to see my drama teacher of a mom’s production of the “Sound Of Music,” and after hearing how well it went, and the sound of my parent’s voices, I wish I could have been there. I honestly didn’t get to spend hardly any time with my parents before I left, because of all the preparation surrounding the play. I regret this very much, but I know that I will see them in June, and there are things like Skype to tide me over in the mean time.
The day ended with me feeling lost in translation, until God showed me light: I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Feeling exhausted after another French-filled formal dinner, I looked at my phone and saw that I had a missed call from Kyle. After talking (and using all of my mobile minutes before my Orange card ran out) with a panicked and locked-out Kyle (who lives outside the walls in a place we like to refer to as “China”), things could be much worse. Apparently, he is living in an apartment-like guest house adjacent to the main building sans internet or TV, yet he has a fridge and a full bathroom…and microwave…of all things. I like to refer to his isolated abode as “Alcatraz.” Since he doesn’t have a key to the house, he has to call Adam, who has a room inside la maison, for dinner or anything else he made need. Frustrated and wanting to say “forget French” and hop on that plane and go home, I encouraged him to stay; today was rough, but things can only get better. It’s funny how sometimes we can’t take our own advice, until we tell it to someone else.

After I told him this, I realized something. Three months is only a drop in the bucket in the span of our college education… and lives. We have been given this excellent opportunity as freshman and should remember that all of those people back in Athens (as well as future spring quarters) will be there when we get back. This is an once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from the French way of life while improving our language skills and living in a beautiful medieval city smack dab in the middle of Provence. I know God brought me here at this time for a reason. It may take some time to figure out why, but I know His timing is always perfect.
I felt better after parlez-ing, there’s that frang-lais again, with a fellow struggling student. But, in order to alleviate his internet withdrawal, Kyle has been visiting chez moi et Kristina to use the net…he is actually coming over right now. Haha. More later about my first day of classes…