Everthing's Packed!

To those receiving these posts through email: it's easier to view the pictures in the posts, and everything on the side bar if you go to the website. It should be linked at the bottom of the email. Follow in Madame S's footsteps and bookmark it!

So. Everything is packed and ready to go, I've said my goodbyes to everyone, and I've just consumed my favorite tea (the kind I swiped from Mallary's mom's cupboard) out of one of my favorite cups (the mug with the Star of David pattern that I got from Jessie). It'll just be a hop, skip, and a plane ride until I'm here:

Courtesy of API

I've been receiving emails mostly from my host mother, who seems to be really nice, and I'm so glad they've opened their home to me. I believe in the last message she tried to throw in some humor but I'm not so adept at picking it up because as far as I know she could be serious. Serious about what? Tea time at 5 every evening, and having an aid in the house who irons things and cleans the floors. Why is this ambiguous? Well, with tea there will be a candle and incense which seems a tad bit peculiar but I don't mind if it's for real. Also, this aid could be the family cat. The ironing doesn't make sense, I know, but it might be a joke because she spends her time on the floor... I'm not convinced. I also got an email from my host brother introducing himself and asking if I know how to ski or snowboard. I replied that I did not, and that if he wants to teach me I'll try it.

Anyway, we have about four days or so in Paris before traveling to Grenoble, and we'll be going to the Musée d'Orsay which is great because we didn't go when I went in 2008. Also, it seems we have episodes of free time which start in the late afternoon so some things I'd like to do: go to the Museum of Fashion, and tour the catacombs.

Berk!

Photo courtesy of Robyn Bianchin

The day before yesterday I got a surprise invite to the Lady Gaga concert at the Tacoma Dome by my friend Christine, whose friend had won tickets from the radio station but couldn't go because she got her tonsils out and was recuperating. It was such a blast, and Gaga has a great personality onstage. Everyone and their mother was there (not kidding... bumped into my friend Chelci and her mom) along with half the gays in Washington (big surprise).

Caitlin, Lauren, and I

Caitlin as Lotte

Yesterday I woke up feeling terrible; sore froat, stuffy/leaky nose, headache, cough. Needless to say, feeling sexy on an August morning. However, I had Jill's rip-roarin' murder-mystery party to go to that evening so I bucked up and had a good time there as well. Jill insisted that I run it as I've been to so many before and she was occupied in the kitchen. In my state of August Ick, though, it took me about twelve times to read the directions and inform everyone on how the game's played. All in all it went swimmingly, except for me who ended up being the killer. Caitlin's an excellent cook, by the way, and is part of a new blog which can be found here. Jill and I spent an hour saying goodbye to each other.

Instead of getting up and out of the house today to run errands (ordering Euros from the bank, giving new insurance information to the dentist, etc.) and see people, I lounged around like the invalid I am and enjoyed watching Roseanne, and reading the book I just ordered that finally came in the mail, called City of Thieves by David Benioff.

Enjoy the rest of your evening! Not much longer until France! Hopefully tomorrow I can stop being such a baby and go do something productive.

A Steaming Pile of Greatness

Originally titled: Prettiest Thing the Cat Dragged In, but I couldn't decide whether it should be Dragged or Drug, and really I should know this as a budding Linguistics minor but whatever. A re-title is better than no title.

Anyway, what's so great? Well I sent an email off to my host family yesterday evening and got a reply back earlier tonight. I just gave a description about myself, my family, where I'm from, what I like to do, what I'm studying, etc., along with many thanks. The email back described their family a bit and what they like to do, what kind of movies they like, stuff like that. From what my host mother said, they try to be green, but still enjoy their showers and heated living. She (probably going off of what I said about being a bookworm) said they have an extensive library of books, movies, magazines, etc. which is exciting as I imagine walking into a room with built-in bookshelves, much like what Belle experiences in Beauty and the Beast (though I know not to get my hopes too high as that scenario is close to ridiculous). She also told me that it was a good thing I don't have the height of a basketball player, as my 19th century bed (love antiques!) is only 2 meters long. On that note, my host mother and father both have Smartphones with conversion tables which helps as I haven't studied the metric conversion as much as I planned. Or at all. She then asks me what kind of phone I have, comments on my two different colored eyes, and ends the letter promising an email with recent pictures.

Everything is magical.

Une Chanson

This song, which I first heard at the end of Napoleon Dynamite, always pops into my head when I'm in a car zooming past the countryside. It's a terrific travel song and I plan to listen to it on my adventures in France!

J'espère Qu'ils Sont Snobs

Here I am, minding my own business, playing The Sims 3 and also reading Jill's blog, when my dad comes home and yells to me from downstairs that I've received some mail. Picture me getting up from my bed, and walking downstairs to the kitchen in slow motion. Why? Because, dear readers, this is it. This is the packet of information I've been waiting for since I signed up to go to France. I'm about to find out who my host family is.

After reading through papers about getting off the plane, our first week itinerary, and the like, I come to the holy grail. As it reads:

The family consists of a mother Marie-Emmanuelle, a father Frédéric and their 3 children. Olivier (1979) and Clément (1984) no longer live at home. Sylvain (1994), studies in Lyon and comes back most of the time for the week ends. Marie-Emmanuelle is a teacher and Frédéric is a surgeon. They have a beautiful house with a large back yard just outside of Grenoble. The bus will take you to the tram station (which takes you to campus) and also downtown in about 15 minutes. They have two pets, a dog that loves to play and a cat. You will have your own bedroom with a bed, desk, night table, lamps, shelves, and closet You will also have your own bathroom downstairs. This is your classical French family. They love the outdoors, especially the mountains. They are very busy during the week and usually always in the mountains on Sundays. This family is also very artistic. Frédéric sculps wood in his free time, Marie-Emmanuelle paints and Sylvain plays the electric guitar. They like spending time with the foreigner students, going to the cinema, having family activities. Nobody smokes in the house and they have wireless internet.

Did you see that, y'all? Wireless internet.

Góðan Dag

Life goal: learn Icelandic. First of all, I don't know where this kid is getting his information... maybe that textbook I perused through on Amazon? Somehow I feel like he knows what he's talking about, even if he doesn't even really speak the language. Second of all, he must have a ton of time on his hands to be doing these videos.

And whilst I wait for this video to load, let me just tell you a couple of linguistic things about Icelandic. I could wikipedia this information for accuracy but I'm too lazy to even pull it up, so I'll just tell you from memory (don't quote me unless you look it up). Icelandic has had very little change from Old Icelandic, something highly uncommon in languages. Iceland's isolation has allowed this preservation to happen. Conversely, English has gone through four major stages; Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English (the current stage, which started in the 1700's), and has influential change from Latin, Nordic languages, and French. Icelandic also has a declension system, something I don't fully understand because it's a pain in the rump for people who haven't encountered it (German, Latin, and Romanian have it, I know), but it has something to do with prepositions and the way you conjugate things.

Anyway, enjoy!

Goals for Studying Abroad

Paris

Alrighty: so my study abroad program, Academic Programs International, just sent me what they call a Toolbox, which is really just a boat-lode of helpful information. I've got to say, so far the program has been outstanding and I really think I made the right choice (knock on wood).

So anyway, this Toolshed has given me the idea to figure out my goals for studying abroad. As follows:

• Discover at least 1 new thing a week.

That way I'll be sure to get out and about and really enjoy Grenoble. I'll tour museums, visit the parks, eat at new places, etc.

Versailles

• Have patience.

I worry about this culture shock they keep advertising like an enticing cigarette ad (we know it's bad, but do it anyway!) where the place you're going is like the classy people in formalwear, and the Surgeon General's side effect warning is homesickness. I feel that as long as I'm patient with every struggle, it will pass with time and I can enjoy everything. Side note: I have this tiny image in my mind of me sitting at a café with a cigarette while people watching and writing in my journal and simultaneously drinking a cup of coffee and I JUST LOOK SO COOL.

• Learn the language.

Certainly I have a strong grasp on it (or at least I do in the U.S.) but every day will be a test of my skills. I plan to take e'erything in and come back as fluent as possible.

• Experience the culture.

I doubt I'll have any qualms with anything I see in France. I like to think myself an open-minded person, and I'd like to study the culture as well as be a part of it. I didn't take Sociocultural Anthropology for nothing! I'll apply what I learned and go in with a clean plate in order to fill it with French goodies! So basically, I'll eat what they eat.

• Establish relationships.

I imagine, as many have told me, it will be hard to make friends there. Well! I accept this challenge! Aint nobody not gonna be my friend! I'm sure I'll make friends with the American kids, but I'll try to spend more of my time with the locals. Especially my host family, who I'm sure will be a great learning resource. I have a vision of cooking in the kitchen with them (learning old family recipes to bring back to share with everyone!) and having a joyous time. Though, seeing as I have no idea who they are yet, things could (and most certainly will) be different. If they have children my age, I can make friends with them and we can do stuff in town together. If they have young kids, I can experience being a big brother (and kids are usually easier to understand).

Honfleur

• People watch.

Remember my café scenario? I'll be sitting there, enjoying everything, and watching people sit at tables or pass by. Just for kicks maybe I'll make up stories about their lives and post them on the blog. Anyway, it's all a part of observing the culture, so a-hunting (people watching) we will go!