An American Girl in Avignon
Saturday, May 16, 2009
So, tu ne parles pas anglais?
May 14 For the day of the ascension, which is next Thursday, we were supposed to have a four day weekend. But for one reason or another, our four day weekend turned into no classes on Thursday about a week ago…after everyone had already made plans and bought their tickets to skip town. Unfortunately, I hadn’t done this, but I did have plans. The one annoying thing about Europe is that it is almost necessary to know your exact travel plans a month before you go to avoid getting overcharged – even with a student discount card like the douze vingt-cinq.
Since I wanted to save my money to spend in Barcelona, I waited to buy my ticket until yesterday, this meant that the already expensive ticket to and from Normandy of 110 euros would now cost me 145 euros. I would have just said “forget it” and gone elsewhere with some of my other friends, but the tour, as well as the hostel, had already been booked (and I have always wanted to go to Normandy :)). Be sure to plan ahead all those planning on taking trains over here, and buy your tickets ASAP!
One thing I love about France is how fascinated the French are with American students (and vice-versa), whether or not they speak English. Thankfully our French skills are enough to help us have a decent conversation with them. I love meeting students who don’t know any English more than anything here, because it forces you to speak French and use other words that you know to work around what you want to say – even if you don’t know all of the vocabulary. No cheating involved. Since around 95 percent of the students here taken English as one of their two required languages, it’s hard to run into students who don’t at least know some of the basics.
It must have Sakinah’s and my lucky night my moving day celebration. To celebrate my new home and roomies, we all went out to Red Sky Tuesday night. After going to the discothèque afterwards, we met a few French students who didn’t speak any English. We took a particular liking to one named Kevin. He met us yesterday for coffee and wants to keep hanging out with us. Since he works at the Avignon ice rink, I think we are going to go ice-skating Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, I won’t fall…I used to take lessons, but anything I learned, I know I have forgotten…and falling on hard, cold ice is not fun! Should be a good time though.
Over coffee, he talked with us about living in Avignon, France, his work, living the French life, and even taught us a few slang and those unspoken-of bad words you don’t learn in class. It was really funny. One thing that always strikes me about the French is how eager they are to visit America. It’s the same feeling we as Americans have about coming to Europe. However, most of what they think of America is what they get off of television shows like Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and the French favorite: Dr. House. When they think of the USA, they think of New York City and LA. Much like when we think of France, we think of Paris, cheese, and wine. Yet, there is so much more to France than Paris, and so much more to America and New York. He told us he would love to live in America someday, which was funny to us, because we want to live in Europe for a short period of time, if possible. I guess it’s the phenomenon of always wanting what you don’t have, and thinking that the grass is greener on the other side – or the desire to experience a new way of life, a different culture, see things the way others do. It really broadens your perspective! I can’t believe my time here is coming to a quick end. I thought I would be ready to go home by now, but after moving to my new host family, and finally seeing some of the benefits of my time here, I know I am not ready to leave yet. I feel like I just got here and am starting to learn things and grow to understand some others: look at situations in a new light – and it’s almost time to leave. I’m just going to have to try my best to make the most of the time I have left here. Time is a fleeting thing, but if used wisely, I know I will get the most out of my last month if I keep an open heart, mind, and don’t stop trying. Bisous! À plus tard! XXX
Since I wanted to save my money to spend in Barcelona, I waited to buy my ticket until yesterday, this meant that the already expensive ticket to and from Normandy of 110 euros would now cost me 145 euros. I would have just said “forget it” and gone elsewhere with some of my other friends, but the tour, as well as the hostel, had already been booked (and I have always wanted to go to Normandy :)). Be sure to plan ahead all those planning on taking trains over here, and buy your tickets ASAP!
One thing I love about France is how fascinated the French are with American students (and vice-versa), whether or not they speak English. Thankfully our French skills are enough to help us have a decent conversation with them. I love meeting students who don’t know any English more than anything here, because it forces you to speak French and use other words that you know to work around what you want to say – even if you don’t know all of the vocabulary. No cheating involved. Since around 95 percent of the students here taken English as one of their two required languages, it’s hard to run into students who don’t at least know some of the basics.
It must have Sakinah’s and my lucky night my moving day celebration. To celebrate my new home and roomies, we all went out to Red Sky Tuesday night. After going to the discothèque afterwards, we met a few French students who didn’t speak any English. We took a particular liking to one named Kevin. He met us yesterday for coffee and wants to keep hanging out with us. Since he works at the Avignon ice rink, I think we are going to go ice-skating Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, I won’t fall…I used to take lessons, but anything I learned, I know I have forgotten…and falling on hard, cold ice is not fun! Should be a good time though.
Over coffee, he talked with us about living in Avignon, France, his work, living the French life, and even taught us a few slang and those unspoken-of bad words you don’t learn in class. It was really funny. One thing that always strikes me about the French is how eager they are to visit America. It’s the same feeling we as Americans have about coming to Europe. However, most of what they think of America is what they get off of television shows like Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and the French favorite: Dr. House. When they think of the USA, they think of New York City and LA. Much like when we think of France, we think of Paris, cheese, and wine. Yet, there is so much more to France than Paris, and so much more to America and New York. He told us he would love to live in America someday, which was funny to us, because we want to live in Europe for a short period of time, if possible. I guess it’s the phenomenon of always wanting what you don’t have, and thinking that the grass is greener on the other side – or the desire to experience a new way of life, a different culture, see things the way others do. It really broadens your perspective! I can’t believe my time here is coming to a quick end. I thought I would be ready to go home by now, but after moving to my new host family, and finally seeing some of the benefits of my time here, I know I am not ready to leave yet. I feel like I just got here and am starting to learn things and grow to understand some others: look at situations in a new light – and it’s almost time to leave. I’m just going to have to try my best to make the most of the time I have left here. Time is a fleeting thing, but if used wisely, I know I will get the most out of my last month if I keep an open heart, mind, and don’t stop trying. Bisous! À plus tard! XXX
posted by Catherine at 1:51 AM
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