I'm sick right now, the cold and flu are going around at school. I think I got it from Olivier, I have a sore throat and my head is hot. So today, at lunch, I came home on the bus, but on the way, I stopped at the supermarket called Carrefour and bought Cranberry juice, smoothie, corn, and carrots. I had an ear of corn a little while ago and it was so good; the juice dripped down my hand and it was so sweet.
I got a 3/5 on my Management interrogation and I guess the teacher made an example of me because some kids got ones and zeros. For my math test, Olivier doesn't know what he or I got yet because the teacher wasn't done correcting all of them. Olivier told me she was really amused that I used pencil because in France, no one uses pencil for math tests, it's ink quills or ball point all the time - even for math.
Last night, we had dinner at Helene's place. She has a really cute little townhouse, very chic and worldly. We ate around 9:20 when I was getting really tired. The dinner was verrry good though. Helene made this bacon and egg quiche from scratch and it just melted in your mouth. The pastry was perfect and it felt wonderful on my sore throat. We also had marinated tomatoes and green beans, bread with an olive paste, and later I had a vanilla yogurt. Of course there was also bread and cheese, too. I am very happy that tomorrow is Friday so I can get better.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
My 3rd Week in France: Take your time:)
Everything is going smoothly here in St. Médard en Jalles. I've been going to school for about 2 weeks now and my teachers are supportive, the kids are friendly, and the food is great. I will try to find some peanut butter soon, though. My classes are very interesting. I feel like I'm in college because they are so specialized. Gestion is my hardest class. It revolves around the management and technicalities of organizations and enterprises. It sounds simple, but it is actually very complicated.
I got in touch with Drew, one of the other exchange students in France, Aimes, yesterday. He is faring well. Next Wednesday, I am going to some swim try outs because I hope to meet some kids who like sports/swimming like me. I am sooo excited to get in the water again. My history teacher is really cool and funny, like my old APUSH teacher, Mr. Lewis at PHS. I've made a few friends at school and one girl, Marie, is very patient with me haha.
I got a letter from my family today and it is really nice. I have 4 letters to send, but I need to get some stamps! I also need to take more pictures (need some batteries), especially for Saturday, when Olivier and I go to all the free museums. This one weekend is when all the monuments/museums in Bordeaux are free. He doesn't really want to go, and I said I didn't mind going alone, but he said he needed/should come. We're also going to make cookies, which will be really good, cause I haven't had those for a while.
It's nice to be in a general routine now. I come home around 1:00 or 4:30, repose for a little, do homework, compare with Olivier, watch TV/read, and finally have dinner around 8:00. I am getting used to eating late, and now I enjoy it. At first I would become extremely tired the later I waited to eat, but now, it's normal. I wore my new boots today; they were cute.
The weather is becoming beautiful here; Monsieur Audibert said this is their best month because there is a little bit of everything, but mostly it is pleasant and sunny with some wind.
I miss Nick a lot; he and his friend Derek have big hearts.
I got in touch with Drew, one of the other exchange students in France, Aimes, yesterday. He is faring well. Next Wednesday, I am going to some swim try outs because I hope to meet some kids who like sports/swimming like me. I am sooo excited to get in the water again. My history teacher is really cool and funny, like my old APUSH teacher, Mr. Lewis at PHS. I've made a few friends at school and one girl, Marie, is very patient with me haha.
I got a letter from my family today and it is really nice. I have 4 letters to send, but I need to get some stamps! I also need to take more pictures (need some batteries), especially for Saturday, when Olivier and I go to all the free museums. This one weekend is when all the monuments/museums in Bordeaux are free. He doesn't really want to go, and I said I didn't mind going alone, but he said he needed/should come. We're also going to make cookies, which will be really good, cause I haven't had those for a while.
It's nice to be in a general routine now. I come home around 1:00 or 4:30, repose for a little, do homework, compare with Olivier, watch TV/read, and finally have dinner around 8:00. I am getting used to eating late, and now I enjoy it. At first I would become extremely tired the later I waited to eat, but now, it's normal. I wore my new boots today; they were cute.
The weather is becoming beautiful here; Monsieur Audibert said this is their best month because there is a little bit of everything, but mostly it is pleasant and sunny with some wind.
I miss Nick a lot; he and his friend Derek have big hearts.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The First Day of School
Hey everyone - it's been an interesting and exciting past week. I guess that I have been here 6 days because I arrived last Friday.
My family is really good to me - they feed me good food and are extremely patient when some French words and phrases go completely over my head. Today is one of those days where I cannot understand anything- nor can I speak. M'ésprit est une mélange-confus (my mind is a hodge podge) haha. The only person who would understand if that translation is right who reads this blog would be Marc Bissonnette.
The mother, Francoise thinks that her cooking is simple, but compared to America, she puts a lot of time into her meals. They are always delicious. Almost every meal contains tomato becasue they are so abundant here. She is very kind and has a good sense of humor. Actually, the whole family has a good sense of humor.
The father is Henri. He is a cardioligist and I can tell that purposefully he talks in a normal manner to advance my comprehension and vocabulary. He introduces complicated subjects so that I am more challenged and I can grow in learning French. Although it is difficult, I appreciate it because I love nuances in both French and Enlgish and the evolution of languages.
Last night we were talking a lot about TV and movies and I asked Madame Audibert what her favorite movie was, she said after trying to remember, Pretty Woman. People are people - all over the world. Suddenly, without my understanding, Monsieur Audibert switched to jeu de mots. After a minute I realized he meant play on words, but I still wasn't sure. And I didn't want to introduce that if it was not what he meant - but of course it was. He was trying to think of examples in French, but of course when you try to remember things with word play off hand it is difficult. Finally after my confused looks, he remembered that the TV guide contains some of them . One was What kind of animal is always drunk? The answer is a zébue. It is an imaginary animal but the reason is because in French the phrase "I drank" is "j'ai bu". Hahahahaha very funny:) Then I told him one in English. I explained how when one makes a pun it is really "punny". He got it and laughed a little.
Sometimes, it amazing how much patience they have in explaining. There are times when I think, 'if I were them, I'd be ripping my hair out' but I guess they know that every new concept I learn is a new step for me, a new level reached.
Before school started today, Olivier and I went to his god parents house for a very big and delicious lunch. The first couse was a bit of porc and cantelope, the second course was chicken and ratatouille in a savory tomato sauce. With that were some very cute fried potato balls. Of course, the meal also contained baguette. After the meal, there were 4 choices for ice cream and an abundance of yogurts and mousses in little plastic containers. The choices for ice cream were coconut, banana with chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate. I had a little of coconut and banana with chocolate. Afterwards, I was soooooo full.
The god parents have three children with the ages of 12, 13, and 16. A girl and two boys. They just moved from a city about an hour north of Bordeaux. I realized later that is was Fabien's (the oldest boy) first day of school at L'Assomption. We kind of stuck together following Olivier around because we didn't know anybody. We agreed that if he needed help with English, I'd help him, and the same for me with math.
At school nothing really happened. Basically I listened to three people talk the entire time, which lasted about 3 hours. In France the first day of school begins at about 2:00 and then goes to 5:00. Tomorrow, though we will begin school at 8h00. After school, I was so tired from listening to French, not sick of it, but mentally exhausted.
Olivier says after a month it was be easier. I didn't talk to anyone except one of my new teachers today; Madame Lefargue. she was very nice to me and welcomed me after I introduced myself.
My family is really good to me - they feed me good food and are extremely patient when some French words and phrases go completely over my head. Today is one of those days where I cannot understand anything- nor can I speak. M'ésprit est une mélange-confus (my mind is a hodge podge) haha. The only person who would understand if that translation is right who reads this blog would be Marc Bissonnette.
The mother, Francoise thinks that her cooking is simple, but compared to America, she puts a lot of time into her meals. They are always delicious. Almost every meal contains tomato becasue they are so abundant here. She is very kind and has a good sense of humor. Actually, the whole family has a good sense of humor.
The father is Henri. He is a cardioligist and I can tell that purposefully he talks in a normal manner to advance my comprehension and vocabulary. He introduces complicated subjects so that I am more challenged and I can grow in learning French. Although it is difficult, I appreciate it because I love nuances in both French and Enlgish and the evolution of languages.
Last night we were talking a lot about TV and movies and I asked Madame Audibert what her favorite movie was, she said after trying to remember, Pretty Woman. People are people - all over the world. Suddenly, without my understanding, Monsieur Audibert switched to jeu de mots. After a minute I realized he meant play on words, but I still wasn't sure. And I didn't want to introduce that if it was not what he meant - but of course it was. He was trying to think of examples in French, but of course when you try to remember things with word play off hand it is difficult. Finally after my confused looks, he remembered that the TV guide contains some of them . One was What kind of animal is always drunk? The answer is a zébue. It is an imaginary animal but the reason is because in French the phrase "I drank" is "j'ai bu". Hahahahaha very funny:) Then I told him one in English. I explained how when one makes a pun it is really "punny". He got it and laughed a little.
Sometimes, it amazing how much patience they have in explaining. There are times when I think, 'if I were them, I'd be ripping my hair out' but I guess they know that every new concept I learn is a new step for me, a new level reached.
Before school started today, Olivier and I went to his god parents house for a very big and delicious lunch. The first couse was a bit of porc and cantelope, the second course was chicken and ratatouille in a savory tomato sauce. With that were some very cute fried potato balls. Of course, the meal also contained baguette. After the meal, there were 4 choices for ice cream and an abundance of yogurts and mousses in little plastic containers. The choices for ice cream were coconut, banana with chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate. I had a little of coconut and banana with chocolate. Afterwards, I was soooooo full.
The god parents have three children with the ages of 12, 13, and 16. A girl and two boys. They just moved from a city about an hour north of Bordeaux. I realized later that is was Fabien's (the oldest boy) first day of school at L'Assomption. We kind of stuck together following Olivier around because we didn't know anybody. We agreed that if he needed help with English, I'd help him, and the same for me with math.
At school nothing really happened. Basically I listened to three people talk the entire time, which lasted about 3 hours. In France the first day of school begins at about 2:00 and then goes to 5:00. Tomorrow, though we will begin school at 8h00. After school, I was so tired from listening to French, not sick of it, but mentally exhausted.
Olivier says after a month it was be easier. I didn't talk to anyone except one of my new teachers today; Madame Lefargue. she was very nice to me and welcomed me after I introduced myself.
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