La Grosse Pomme

So, while my whole college blogging experience hasn't gotten off to a great start, I am here to fix that. I will not tell you that I may be in my english class wasting time again. I am off to tackle New York City. I will let you know sometime how that goes...

First Post from College

I'm not going to tell you that I am in my English class at college lol. I am having an amazing time here and am so glad that I decided to come here to OSU. While I miss you all at home, I'll be back soon so, don't worry.

Gotta go and pay attention to the prof. haha.

Bisous

Au Retour

Alright, so I offiicialy can't blog. I love you all and am back home in the states.

Bonne nuit.

Jen

cousine

I feel like one of the most luckiest girls in the entire world. I have been spending the last 10 days with one of my cousins. L is really really cool. I never really realized how amazing it is to be close with a family member. I believe that this may be one of the first times that I have ever spent any real time with a cousin. Too bad she lives in France. Oh well, now I have a real excuse to come back here =)

Bisous

fast forward

Ahh ma vie. At the moment, I am sitting at my cousin Lyd's house in Antibes on the French Riviera. So much has happenned in the recent weeks that I haven't had a chance or a moment to catch up on my life here. So, here goes...

England was great. I made many new acquaintences. All in all, England was a great experience. Then, after that, I spent all week with my best friend, Heather. We had such a great time. We saw each other for 8 days straight. I think that there were only 2 of those 8 nights where we slept at our own house by ourselves. She is seriously, one of the best friends that I have/had/and will ever have in my life. We feted the fete de la musique, took the french bac, went to disneyland (so freaking rated =P ), spent the day in Bar le Duc, partied with the Rotary, had drinks on the place stanislas, a rated rotary meeting with HD, a latina party where Kev, hetsie and I were the only three unlatinos, HANNAH FREAKING MONTANA, and a tearful goodbye. I love you, Hetsie...

For the past week, I've been partying it up with my cool cuz and Celine in the sun. We've been to Antibes, Cannes, and St. Tropez so far. Life is good. Tomorrow, we're heading to the Tour de France. Sooo exciting.

i had better go. happy 4th of July. We're having a party here tonight so, I had better go and help lydia.

Bisous

I'm Breaking Free

I'm busting out of this country. Okay, so I am actually going to England for a week but, same diff. I'm really excited abou this trip. It's all expenses paid for so, it's all good. I'm pretty darn lucky. We're leaving on Monday night from Metz and I'll return super early sunday morning. It'll be crazy. Oh dear, hold on tight.

I have to go. We're going country visiting today; potentially on bicycle. See you after I see those redcoats...


P.S. I got my camera back from Italy. Finally. After England, there'll be pictures up of my life.

Bisous

The start of the end

I am starting to stress out, I have absolutly no time left. Literally, NONE. I have something to do until the day that I get back onto that plane to cross the Atlantique and leave my french life on pause. THis weekend, we're going somewhere near Lyon and the Alpes and then, on Monday, I'm leaving for England for a week of being a chaperone on a sophomore school trip that is all paid. =) Then, when I get back, that week is Jen and Heather week. We're going to EuroDisney and partying it up in Bar le Fricking Duc =)/ It's going to be a great week. Then, that Friday, Heather and I are going to a big rotary dinner in honour of my second host dad who is going to become the president of our rotary club. The dinner is in a castle. Ah la classe. HTen, the next day, we're heading to meet up with all of the other exchange students near Luxembourg for the day and eventually the night with a bamf party. That sunday will be the last day that I see my best friend Heather here in France! It will be so very sad. That Monday, the 29th of June, I leave by myself for the south of France. I'm going to spend 12 days in Antibes, a city near Nice on the French Riviera with my cousin, Lydia. On the 10th of July, I'll return to Nancy and maybe spend the weekend at my english teacher's house. Then, I'll have one week before I come home.

Whew! I'm already tired from thinking about these next 6 weeks.

While not having any time to myself, I am happy and sad. I can't decide if I'm really excited to go home or heartbroken. I love my life here but, at the same time, I love my life there too. I don't think that I'll ever really be ready to leave everything here in France. I believe that the hardest think is leaving my friends. The other exchange students are the coolest people ever! What will I do next year without Heather and Kevin? They are so amazing. She is literally me. She loves Julie Andrews with a passion. The only difference is that we're shaped a little different and she says soda instead of pop (which is really annoying) She's my best friend and I don't know what I'll do without her when she leaves. I don't want to grow up and go to college by myself and start my real life.

I'm going to go and start packing. Oh yea, did I mention that I have to pack my bags to go home to the States now, in 3 days? Why is my life so difficult? While always on the move, I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

Bisous.

Gatée

Ahh my life. I can't believe that my year here in France is winding down. Actually, it's crazy to imagine that in a little more than 50 days, I will be back in the States. This is a bittersweet thought. I mean, I actually can't really imagine my life the way it was back home but, I also couldn't stay here, I mean, not really anyways.

I am probably one of the luckiest exchange students to have ever existed. I have the most amazing families in France (even though at some times, they may be a little challenging) who allow me to do the most amazing things. I mean, like last night, my second little host sister who is an absolute sweetheart called me and asked if I wanted to go and see the most famous french comedian. Just like that, I went and saw Gad Elmaleh. He is literally the Dane Cook of the French land. Absolutley hilarious he is. And then, next week, with the sticker king (haha, nickname for my current host dad) we are going to the quaterfinals of the french open. Ahh, boy am i spolied.

I need to go to bed. I am exhausted. I have literally fallen asleep at school in a class every day for the past two weeks. So, due to this probably not so good reputation giver for the US of A, I am going to attempt to go to bed while it is still light out. At 9:30.

Bisous

Reflections of a ratéd phone call

Last night, I had the amazing opportunity to talk with someone from back home who is very important to me. I was so happy. Afterwards though, I came to the realization that, it actually wasn't very well passed. I am very disappoingted in myself. There were so many things that I wanted to talk about and did that my conversation wasn't a real conversation. I did absolutely all of the talking. I wish that I could go back in time and redo my 20 minutes with her. Last time that I talked with her was 7 months ago on the phone (like last night) and then other than that, the night before I left the States. I'm afraid of her impression that she got on the phone last night. What if it's not a good one? To be completly honest, I'm afraid to death to find out.

I know that I've changed during this year. I mean, come on, it's not at all possible to go on an exchange and not change. But, what if I've really, really changed though? I'm nervous that maybe I won't fit in with my life back home anymore.? The way that I function and work is different now.

Great, I'm crying in French class now. This is kind of stupid of me. Haha, how many times have I cried in French class during my life? My problem is that I care too much. Why am I worrying about this? I need to stop right now. In any case, I can't change what will happen now. I'm very happy with the choices that I have made in my life and if anyone has any problems with that, je m'en fiche!!!

Hopefully, she will read this and realize that I'm sorry. If we have another change to set things right, It'll be different.

Je suis désolée. Je ne suis pas tout à fait comme ça. Je te jure!! On doit le refaire. Tu me manques beaucoup. Pardonn-moi, s'il te plaît...


Bisous

Freeze Gun

My life here in France is winding down right as it is starting to speed up. I only have like, 9 weeks left here in France. It is absolutely crazy how fast it has gone. I am not ready at all to come home but, at the same exact time, I am starting to think of seeing everyone back home. It seems like I have no time here anymore. Everything is flying by. I always have something going on. I just wish that I could freeze time.

If you figure out how to stop time, let me know. I will eternally be grateful.

Bisosu

Omigod, Omigod you guys...

Well, I officially suck at keeping a blog. I try to write in it but, I just have the flemme now. I need to tell you about so much stuff that has happenned. My entire life has changed because of this exchange. I have become such a more mature and responsible young woman. This revelation may have been brought about by my new haircut. Oh yes, I have cut all of my hair off. Actually, it was kind of a spur of the moment kind of thing but, I think that it is probs for the better. When I get my camera back, I will let you all see a picture of it. (haha long story)

So, My Eurotrip was amazing. I'm sorry but, I don't really have any desire to talk about it right now though. I think that it's probably the fact that I can't describe the things that happenned during that trip with my words. I don't want to be forced to say, oh yea, it was good. It was so much better than just good that it wouldn't be worth the coup to just say that it was amazing. So many little stories and inside jokes. Oh really!?! Thimble Collection. Imaginary Camera. Ay-yah Kev-Inn. Wa da er doah hoe mien yow chi ce. German Impetigo.

I know that none of these things tells you about the amazing weather that we had during my European Vacation through Paris, Strasbourg, Munich, Innsbruck, Verona, Venise, Milan, Monaco, Annency, Avignon, Geneva, Dijon, Paris again. Also, this info won't tell you that I spent those two weeks with the best group of people from all over the world (South America, USA, Mexico, Canada, Finland, Sweden, France, Russia, Australia, Taiwan, and Thailand. I spent the 2 weeks with one of my best friends. We are made for each other. Heather is such an amazing girl. I can't wait for her to come here in 2 weeks.

So, I need to go. In fact, the computer is in my host parents room and it's kinda getting late. Tomorrow, we're leaving this side of France and we're going near Nantes for the weekend. Say hello to the Atlantic Baby...

And then, this is so much more exciting than this weekend of castle visiting and swimming but, I'm going to go and spend the night at my second host families house. I love them so much and miss them a lot. I can't wait for Géraldine to see my new haircut =D

Bisous

A little bit of this and that

So many things have happenned in my life recently. We last left off at Toulouse. It was one of the coolest things that I have ever done in my life. All of the exchange students in France were there, at a little summer camp facility. We literally partied all night long. I made some amazing friends that weekend. I traversed the entire country of France in like, 14 hours (which were not necessary. We stopped every hour to give the bus driver a break...) and then back again. Usually, the time spent in the bus is boring and one of the worst parts of a trip. During this bustrip, those hours in the bus were soooooo amazing. I am really looking forward to my next bustrip (TOMORROW!!!)

Before elaborating on my two week disapearance due to the fact that I will be galavanting around Eurore, I need to let y'all in on the fact that I changed families. My new family is nice but, I really miss my other family. In my new house, there are 6 showers and a pool inside the house. The family is pretty nice. I have two little sisters (7 and 9) They are absolutely adorable. Yesterday, with Agathe, the oldest, I played tennis. It was pretty amazing. I'm happy here. I just really miss my old family. I talked to them the other night and it was so cool.

So, for the next two weeks, I am going to go on a Eurotrip with the Rotary. We're going to Germany, Austria, Italy, Monaco, and Switzerland. I'm looking forward to it.

Bisous

La Ville Rose

So, in less than 2 hours, I will be on my way to Toulouse with my Rotary Friends. We're leaving at 2:30 in the morning and we're going to be traveling for over 14 hours to get to the South of France. I'm rather excited. We're going to be spending this weekend in the SUNSHINE. ooooh yeaaaaahhh....

Coming back on Monday around 2:30 in the morning. 

Toodles till then.

French Funerals are No Fun

Un beau jour, ou peut-être une nuit

près d'un lac, je m'étais endormie

Quand soudain, semblant crever le ciel

Et venant de nulle part,

Surgit un aigle noir.

In my short time in France, I was blessed with meeting an amazingn, young and talented girl named Laura. On that fateful day in September when I first saw her, I never realized that only 6 short months later, I would be so touched by her existence that her parting this Earth would affect me like this.

In my class, a class where we take every course together, we have a special bond. We are the music and theater class. We cause havoc and have fun all of the time. I couldn't have asked for better classmates.

One of these classmates was named Laura, a gorgeous martinique-egyptienne who was especially ornery. She was the first person in my class to welcome me and accept me. She was always smiling and happy.  It's so weird that she's no longer there.

This experience, while being really hard, has changed me for what I believe is a lifetime.  There are people here in France who have touched my life in this short time that I've lived here. I can communicate, function, and prosper in a different language while succeeding and actually, doing it well. 

My Best Friends Best of all Best Friends

So, maybe I was a little freaked out the other day. I feel a lot better today. Last night, I had an amazing online skype chat with one of my best friends. For the record, I think that I have 4 best friends from before my exchange. I think that I'll blog about them right now. I know that you're probably disappointed that I'm not going to elaborate on the accidental almost getting on the wrong train and almost ending up in Luxembourg or the day where I ate an american but, I think that this is kinda my blog so I think that I will kinda write what I want lol.

First off, we have Miss T. She's been my best friend since kindergarten. Growing up together was amazing. We were both girl scouts and spent all of the time together in elementary and middle school. We fought like sisters and, that's probably why I feel that she really is like my sister. In high school, it's not really that we grew apart, just that we went to different schools. Now that I'm on my exchange, Miss T is one of those people who I love chatting with. It's like nothing has changed since those days of recess and craft projects.

Now, we have Lia. I have also known her since kindergarten but, we became best friends in High School. French class brought us together. During my high school years, she was the one person who I loved the most. I feel like she knows everything about me, except that I have one secret from France that she needs to know, Lia, please, let's skype or talk on the phone, I can't tell you on the internet...   We've had so many good times like the Madonna movie, the polka dotted maternity dress, the tea bag, starbucks au lieu de the Mona Lisa. Seriously Lia, I don't think you realize how much you impacted my life. I know that I will always be grateful to you and you will always be my best friend.

Now, il y my grapefruit. Haha. I hope that you realize why your nickname on here is Grapefruit (think about desk girl and the color of the fruit!!) You've been someone really important to me ever since the 6th grade when we were in class together all day. One really super memory that I have of us is in Mrs. Benson's reading class and how Aaron and I had a smiling contest. Haha. I'm so lucky that you still are my friend after all of the weird things you have seen me do. Talking to you last night for over two hours wasn't hard at all. I can't wait to see you and get caught up on everything. Let's make a date! Harry Potter 6 (if we can still find it in theaters after I get back from galavanting around Europe), Carraba's (I think that's the Italian place) and coldstone!!!!!!

Lastly, we have ma petite frenchie. She is also, one of my best friends. I am so lucky that she is my friend. We may not have spent as much time as the others but, she completly understands me. We're crazy together and I wouldn't have it any other way. Spending a week at my house in Ohio gives anyone the opportunity to run away but, she did the opposite. Pooooosh =P  Shhh... My mom still doesn't know that we almost ran out of gas lol. Boogie. Ahh. I love you la Miss. Watch out!!! Smores attack...

I can't wait to see you again  =)

Well, there you have it. These are my best friends in the world. My god mother here always laughs when I talk about one of you because I'm always saying, one of my best friends this or one of my best friends that...    Thsi doesn't include KJ. KJ , you deserve your own blog. Don't worry, you just wait for it =)

Questioning the Future

After talking to a dear friend today, I realized that I'm a little afraid. I'm a little afraid of what's to come after my exchange. I guess that I never really thought about what would happen when I would tell everyone in France goodbye (for now) and return back home to lovely ol' Alliance. Everyone else has gotten on with their lives and made new friends. I know that the song that I'm singing is...

Make new friends, but keep the old

One is silver and the other's gold

A circle's round, it has no end

That's how long I want to be your friend

The only thing that scares me about this philosophie is that, what if noone else thinks like me?

Okay. I know that I need to stop. The whole thing that brought this on was my plane ticket. So, I'm returning to the States on the 20th of July. I was thinking about my return and, thinking about what I could do that week and with whom I could do it. What if noone wants to do anything with me? 

Seriously though, I can survive living in a foreign country where I knew noone so, I'm sure that I can survive going back. Right?

Sunny Days

Sunny days, keeping the Clouds away

Today is a happy day. I am totally in a great super wonderful mood. I'm sure that you would love to know the reason. Haha. Duh, you would love to know, that's kinda why you're reading my blog in the first place. Well, it was sunny.

Haha. Sounds kinda lame I know but, it just makes for a great day. It was warm (7 degrees which in english translates to 45) and during the break during theater class, I went outside and lied in the grass without my coat. I am so totally ready for Spring to come. Well, I am ready for Spring but not at all ready for the time to pass. I kinda would love to make time stop but, wouldn't we all??

This happiness that was brought on by the sunshine made me think of a friend who spent her exchange in a cold, cold, cold snowy place. I remember her mom telling us (our state champion, global competing DI team) that she, her daughter that is, was a little depressed due to the fact that there was no sun. Well, La Miss, I completely understand now. Well, as much as I can understand because, I am not near the North Pole, I'm in France.

I've been singing and skipping and smiling all day. Well, more than usual that is. It's just a wonderful feeling.

Bruises, plane tickets, and Cavities

So many things have happenned recently in my life that, it's just so hard to keep you all updated.

1).   In the middle of January, I went skiing with all of the Rotary kids. It didn't go so well. Actually, I ended up crying at the bottom of the bunny hill, crashed into a pile of ice. While being with all of my Rotary friends, this experience made me hate skiing and get a horrible taste in my mouth whenever I would think about the upcoming week in the Alps. 

2). I accidently bought a plane ticket to come home in July. Yes, yes, I know that it seems pretty hard to buy a plane ticket by accident but, don't worry, it actually was super easy. It wouldn't really have been a problem except that I hadn't already talked to anyone on my end about how long I could stay here. Now, It's necessary that you know that I have a little problem with people being mad/disappointed with me. I can't handle it. So, I lived about 2 weeks where everyone was mad at me here and it was horrible. Don't worrry though, it's all good now, and, I have a return date to go home. Drumroll please...

July 20th, 2008, I will arrive in Cleveland at 6:19 PM. I will leave Luxembourg at 6:25 AM. That will be a long day!!

3). I went to the Alps and had an amazing time. We went to Tignes and stayed in a Club Med. It was one of the best things that I have ever done. I can now officially ski!!  On Sunday, when we arrived and all went skiing together, I was scared out of my mind.  I had no idea how to ski. Actually, I had no idea how to stop. That's much more scary than not knowing how to stay up. So, after skiing for a total of 100 meters (maybe), I wiped out over the orange barrier and fell into a pile of fresh snow. Haha. Great start to the week. It ended up being amazing. It is one of the most beautiful places on the Earth that I have ever seen.

4). Today, I have to go to the french dentist. I am kinda super nervous but, I'm sure that it will be okay. I really don't like going to the dentist. Oh well, I will keep you all updated. =)

Bisous

Ski-Bound

So, I am sorry for the lack of posts. I hope that everything is going well.



Right now, I am sitting in the Library supposed to be doing a history project but, instead, am writing this blog. In an hour (after my math test) I'm going to be on vacation for 2 weeks. I'm super excited. At noon, my host family and I are going to head to the South of France to go skiing in the Alps for a week at Tigne. I guess that it's supposed to be a super great ski resort (like, one of the best in the country!!) I'm a little nervous. I went skiing two weeks ago and it wasn't very well passed. Haha. Actually, it ended with me at the bottom of the hill, crashed into a huge pile of snow and ice, crying with my other friends (foreigners too) laughing around me. Hopefully this week goes a lot better.



Please pray for me that I don't break anything. Oh well, if I do, I guess that I will be in good hands ( host dad is a France-possible world-renowned hand surgeon).



In other news, I have to go to the dentist in two tuesdays. Ick. Soooooo lucky.





Leslie, I'm sooooo excited to watch the video. I'm sad that I have to wait a week but, that means that I will think of you guys the entire time and try to guess what's in the video =P

Creation

I have a short, but very truthful life message for you. I am proud to say that this is one of my own sayings, that came out in conversation to my friend Christina. Don't look to deeply or, maybe look too deeply. I don't know.

Before I came to France, I would have said that it was out of my character, but now, I have no idea what's out of my character, because, I feel as if my character is just being created...

French Kisses, smelly cheese, and super cool pens

It has been brought to my attention that maybe I have been complaining too much about being busy. I know that this person didn't mean to put it that way, I just kinda feel bad now. I need you all to know that it's not that I am really super super busy every second of the day, it's just that writing a blog that is well written, witty, and not saying the same thing over and over again is hard. I didn't realise that keeping up with my blog would be this difficult.  It's not that I have run out of things to say, haha, to the contraire, I have sooooo many stupid little things that I want to tell you all that I can't find the right words with which to say them. 

I want you all to know that I love it here in France. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Madame Hempstead for inspiring me and putting the idea that I could actually do this (the whole survive "by myself" in France thing) into my head. Until that fateful day with those 132 boxes of markers (haha I'm sure that it was at least over 100 and don't even try to deny it!!  ask the tennis team, I had to be with them after testing all 1O markers in the 132 boxes. OVER 6 HOURS OF MARKERS!!), I had no intention of taking a year off of my "lifeplan" and go partying in Euorpe. Haha, just for the record, I do not, I repeat, do not just party here. Stop worrying mother. Seriously, this entire year has to be given credit to my wonderful french teacher from "là-bas". I am so happy that I ended up "crossing the pond" 

I love the way that the french greet each other. I don't really have any ambition of coming home and going back to wimpy old handshakes and hugs. No way josé. Just so that you all are warned, I will keep giving the double (sometimes triple. hey, you never know) cheek kisses until I am an old granny. Hugs have just kinda become second rated and awkward.

 

BLACK AND GREY. Hmm. What in the world could Jen be talking about?? It must be about the wardrobe of basically, ALL FRENCH PEOPLE. There are no colors. Nope, not at all. Meanwhile, me, "la petite américaine" has a rainbow for a closet. I keep being told that in the summer, the colors come out but, I have my doubts. So, for the time being, I will continue to be the little, bright, foreigner with the pink backpack  that everyone can see from down the road.

I think that this post of "My Favorite Things" (haha. Sound of Music Reference) in France would be inomplete if I left off the most obvious things, the baguette, cheese, and wine.  No, seriously though, I love the food here. I have already mentioned my love for the applesauce but, obviously, the above things that i come from mentioning are very reputed for being "amazingly french." 

     I think that literally, there are more cheeses than there are days in the year. I know that 

     everyone says this and it's pretty much a well known and accepted fact but, as I am nearing 

     the 5 month mark in France, I still find it incredibe all of the cheese and bread and wine that

     we eat.  Actually, in fact, the incredible part is that everyone here in France is as skinny as a 

     a toothpick. I have come to appreciate a good cheese. I really like the comté and the brie. 

     It's weird but, i have been told that in the States, it's illegal to eat cheeses that are made 

     with unpasterized milk. In the beginning of my journey, the thought of eating something

     unpasterized or eggs or fish or uncooked meat grossed me out  but now, I feel as if I can do 

     (or eat) anything.

  Roquefort taste test... result=spécial...

     The bread is amazing. enough said lol.

     I have come to be able to appreciate a good wine. Please, stop and realize that I am not an

     alcoholic. While I may have a little more experience with, hmm how to put it, culture, I am 

     not and do not and will never have a problem. haha. Actuall, just to let everyone know,

     I really like the fruit flavored champagne like drinks that we drink as an apératif.  haha. 

     I think that I am going to end this subject before I say more than you want to hear lol.

The last thing that I will tell you about is one of my favorite things about France and the french culture; my pen. So, everyone uses a fountain pen all of the time here. They are so cool. I think that while I have an obsession with ball point pens, I will always have a "stylo plume" with me at all times in life. Haha. 

As a granny, you all now know that you will be able to find me in in my little rocking chair, with a scarf wrapped around my neck, dressed all in black or grey with black pantyhose, wearing either converses or boots, eating smelly french cheese and french bread and drinking some red wine, writing with my erasable french fountain pen while kissing everyone twice (or sometimes three times) . So there, you all are warned...

peanut butter crepes

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sorry that this blog is so late. I guess that I have to face the fact that I am just not cut out for blogging. I really do try really hard to write but, it's so difficult to find enough time to do things. I always feel guilty when I sit down on the computer and start to type something. I am not a very good multitasker so whenever I get on the computer, I end up spending a lot of time doing nothing. Haha. I feel as if that is one of the stories of my life...

So, this blog is a little bit about nothing. I am going to wrap up right now and leave you all hanging.

On another note, I ate a crepe yesterday with. dun nuh nuh nuh dun nun nun nun PEANUT BUTTER!!

Yay.