Don't Forget to Remember Me

I am sorry for the lack of blog entries. While you may be a little annoyed, look on the bright side, I am becoming more French every day that I don't have enough time to write downall of my little adventures or my witticisms. Well, I have a cute little story for you all now. I'm not promising that it will be very long(o contraire....) We are going to Nathalie's house today (my older host sister with the two adorable kids) and we're going to eat homemade lasagna mmmmmmmm!



Well, last night, Eléa and Claire had their first guitar recital (can you use recital with guitar???) Denis and I went after collecting food for a food bank at a grocery store. The guitar teacher is an american who is living here in St Dizier. He's really cool and funny. Claire is super super super amazing at the guitar. She is really really talented. Eléa is just starting out but is so absolutely cute. After the recital, we went to Amélia's house for dinner. Her family is so adorable. I wish that I lived here in St Dizier all of the time so that I could see them more. We ate dinner (an amazing thing that I can't remember the name of. we melted cheese and then drenched it over potatoes and lunch meat kinda things and then ice cream sundaes) Then, Amélia and Claire and I watced Back to the Future (in french) We had to leave before it was over (Claire spent the night) and I went downstairs to say my goodbyes. I am changing families on Saturday and I said goodbye to Amélia and her parents. They are sooooo sweet! I started to cry and we are hugged and were mushy and eerything. Then, I walked out the door to see both of the cars of my host parents leaving. Haha. My host parents left without me. Haha. Luckily, I went into the house and Prune realized that I wasn't in Denis's car. Thank God for Mom's.

Handprint on my heart

I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return.







Life in France is absolutely amazing. I have so many people here who care about me that I don't know what to do. I have started to make some friends and don't really want to switch families. Now don't get me wrong please, I love my second host family. It's just that I am really confortable here with Marie and Prune and Denis and Claire. I love them all so much. I know that in the long run of life, three months isn't very long but, they have had such an impact on my life that I don't want to leave them at all. I wish that I had so much more time with them. I feel like I just got really comfortable here. I love coming home to the house to myself and just chilling. I love when Marie arrives and we chill together in the kitchen while she drops the tomato batter and splits her pants. I love riding to school on Saturday morning with Denis in his pimped out b-ball cap. I love it when Claire plays the guitar (she is super good!) And I especially love Prune in general. She is such a great person.





I am one of those lucky people who have it all right now. There are so many great people here. I love the Rotary. It's only been a great experience for me so far. I am so thankful to the Rotary. Everyone and I mean everyone is so amazing. I have 13 days left with the Baran's and I don't want to waste a single second of it.











So let me say before we part so much of me , is made from what I learned from you. You'll be with me, like a handprint on my heart.

La pâté

I have such an adorable family here. They really surprise me sometimes. I really enjoy my life here in Nancy with them. Last night, after arriving home after a pretty great but long day of school (9 hours of school), I found Prune in the kitchen working away. When everyone arrived back at our humble abode, we ate dinner together. Then, we all went for a walk. Well, all of us except for Claire who was back here in Ste Marie du Lac. We just walked around the city . It was so great. I think that it was one of my favorite things that we've all done together so far. Marie and I were walking/singing/skipping/pushing each other into walls and Denis and Prune were walking behind us. It was a very pleasant way to spend the evening.

And tonight, I am going to hang out with Claire and some of her friends (I think). I'm pretty excited. Tomorrow, we have a birthday party too! I can't wait to see the whole family. They are all so cute together.

I must go and actually do something productively french. haha. french kids work on school all of the time. I must look really really lazy here. The teachers lecture and talk and talk and talk and talk. The students have to have perfect notes. It's actually quite annoying (says the girls who never takes notes lol). I think that I may do my french homework (who am I kidding? Have I ever done my french homework???)

I can go the Distance

I will find my way, I can go the Distance

I know that it may seem a little cliché, actually a lot cliché but, quoting Disney songs actually makes me feel better. Not even so much better, it's just that I feel like they can really describe my situation lol. I know that there are some days when I may be a little down but, overall, I really love life here in France.

I am starting to make some friends here. I know that for sure, I definately have people with whom I have a bond at school. School is hard, I'm not going to lie. Especially now that it's becoming winter. On certain days, I go to school in the morning around 8 (which means that I leave the house around 730) and then get done with school around 6. Now, with it almost being winter and all, it's dark at 6. I head back home where I find Marie whistling while she works. Okay, so usually she's not whistling. It's more like singing. =) She is in the "Prépa" where she is forced to work all of the time. She is really super super cool though. I am really lucky to have her as a host sister. While we don't get along every single second of the day, I wouldn't have chosen a different first host sister ever. (P.S. Claire is my other first host sister and she is as equally as cool as Marie but, we just don't see each other often enough to fight like sisters. But, it needs to be said that she is just as cool)

I really love the way that everything in my exchange is going right now. The Rotary is great. I am so lucky that they have given me this opportunity to do this. This amazing and wonderful year has had an amazing start. Everyone involved in the Rotary is thoroughly pleasant and just great to be around. My host family right now is great. I know that they don't realize how much I appreciate them. I love the time that I spend with Prune in the car debating/probably crying. I also really love having a serious discussion with Marie and being interupted by a shout of excitement from Denis from the living room while watching the basketball game. It really is great. I am so proud that they are my family and I talk about them all of the time.

I really need to go and do something french now. I am thinking about traveling downstairs and watching some TV. I just wanted to let you in on the fact that I know that this year was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Every road has bumps. If there were no bumps, it would be a waste of time. You can only learn by making mistakes. (which by the way, I have made plenty. FYI, do not, I repeat, DO NOT MAKE THE NAZI SIGN IN PUBLIC. Also, don't ask lol)

I know every mile, will be worth my while

Invisible

"I am now in a world where I have to hide my heart and what I believe in but somehowe I will show the world what's inside my heart and be loved for who I am."

Sometimes, I feel like I'm in my own little world here. Noone really knows me, not the real me anyways. Sometimes, I just want to be able to be with someone who understands me. who knows when I'm joking and knows when I'm not. Is it too hard to ask for someone here to want to be my friend. I want someone here to know that I'm deathly afraid of fish and styrofoam. I want them to know that I hate wearing socks and that I love to paint the nails of only one hand. To know that I love to sing loudly and all of the time. That I'm way too sensitive and can't handle the thought of dissappointing someone. That I get way too attched especially to people who aren't very email savvy. That I stole my sister's mascara and 2 shirts. That I have my father's eyes and my mother's smile. That when I am tired, I have a lazy eye and a voice that gets lower. That I never brush my hair. And that I pretend to not care what anyone else says or thinks but, in reality, it means so much more to me than I am willing to admit. I just want one person, a single person, to love me for me. Is that too hard to ask?

"I won't pretend that I'm someone else for all time. When will my reflection show who I am inside?"

Photos de l'Ecole

Here are some pictures of my french high school for ma petite soeur...
Pictures of Paris will be posted soon.
Muah!




the school


random fire drill haha. actually it wasnt even a drill, a guy working on the building made his piece of machinery overheat and set off the alarms. He ran away while we waited for 30 minutes for the firemen to come haha.


the coutryard/ square (i have no idea what its called in english lol)


again, the thing

C'est la Vie

Well friends, the time for being laid back and partying it up is almost over. Soon, soon as in 40 hours soon, I will be back at Chopin, my lovely high school (ha) for the next 7 to 8 months. I am so not ready to leave Meudon. I love it here. I love being a 20 to 30 minute train ride from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. I love waking up and eating breakfast in my pajamas next to Adèle. I love walking from one end of Paris to the other just because I decided that I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower at night; while at the Bastille. I love sitting around doing nothing while we find almost everything absolutely hilarious. I love the fact that I am with Adèle. Right now.


I know that I have to go back to Nancy. I actually really like Nancy. It's a great city. There are some great people there like my host families and host friends lol. I am just a little sad that I have to leave la petite Adèle. I love being here with her family. They are so great. I've had such an amazing time. Now, I have to wake up from this dream and go back to the real world.

The only problem with that last statement is that I am not really sure what the real world is. I'm not quite postive if that is what this year is. I kinda feel like I'm living in a box. Not really in reality. Don't get me wrong, I love it here in France. France, no Europe is amazing. I just kinda feel like it isn't my real life. I am going to become fluent in french. Okay. But other than that, what am I doing here while everyone else is back home. It's like a yearlong vacation. The only problem is that I haven't ever really liked vacations...

Cow tongue and Minnie Mouse

I have had such an amazing time with Adèle and her family over these holidays and I still have until Wednesday with them. So much has happenned that I have no idea where to begin.

Thursday...

Adèle and I had a very busy day on Thursday. We went into Paris to eat lunch with
Adèle's mom and see her office. It was pretty cool. Then, we walked around and saw
the pyramid of the Louvre and walked to the Musée D'Orsay to take our train. Then,
we came back here and chilled and got ready for our Halloween party? Then we went
to the movies with our friend Thomas and saw Vicky Christina Barcelona. It was
pretty good. Then we rushed home and ate and everyone came for our party. I wore
a costume of Minnie Mouse. Tiphanie (Leigh Ann's french friend) came dressed as
i dont know what (a mad scientist or someone who was electricuted). Haha. It was
a pretty fun time. Everyone either wore a costume or put some makeup on. We
partied into the wee hours of the morning.


Friday...

After eating a fulfilling lunch of chinese, Adèle and I headed into Paris to go and see
a movie. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 was freaking amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't
seen it yet, you are missing out. Then we headed back here and we packed to go to
Normandy. We left with Mama and Papa Duffaure and traveled for 2 hours to the city
of Le Havre where the parents of Isabelle live. Their house is so adorable! We arrived
around 9:15 and we got settled in and ate dinner.

Saturday...

I slept in yesterday. Not too much but a little later than normal. Then, after eating
breakfast, Adèle and her parents and I headed into town. We spent the morning at a
little bookstore and art gallery. I bought 2 books which I am looking forward to reading
Then, after drinking some coffee, we went back to the house and ate lunch. After lunch,
the 4 of us went to discover Etretat. I did nothing illegal here ( no i did not take a galet)
lol. The view from the top of the cliff was amazing. I got a call from Denis who told me
that a journalist from the regional paper of Lorraine wanted to talk to me about the
elections. After returning to the house, the journalist called me and I talked to him for
about 15 minutes. My opinions and photo will be in the Est Republicain. It's pretty cool.
Then, all of the family came (aunts and cousins and great aunts and such) and we had
a french family style dinner. We ate coquilles st jacques and cow tongue. Needless to
say, it was a pretty interesting night. lol





Etretat (no i did not steal a galet)


la langue de boeuf

Well, that is pretty much my life here so far. I love being here with Adèle. I am going to be sad when I have to leave her on Wednesday. Oh well, I still have 3 more days here!