Light At The End Of The Tunnel

After my first week here, I was honestly so worried I might not make it to the end of this program. The lifestyle change is a lot to handle, honestly. I really felt like my entire world was turned upside down and I had no idea how to deal with it. By the first of this week, things really started turning around. We actually know people and have “our bakery” that we like going to and we understand the city more and more every day. It’s the little things that seem to make a place feel more like home. Gosh that alone feels weird to say.

Monday we had our first meeting and met so many amazing people! I have had the chance to go grab drinks or coffee with girls from all over the world! It is the most mind blowing thing to sit around and compare countries or lifestyles. Everyone lives much different lives and yet we are all so willing to learn about the others cultures. By the end of the semester, none of us will even be remotely close to the same. It seems impossible to leave without becoming extremely culturally rounded.

Language is another thing that really blew my mind. I have always heard that when you go abroad people would ask to help them with their English and in return they would help you. That idea never really made sense to me until now. I am not only learning French, but I am also learning Greek and Spanish. I have met an amazing British girl and even we compare the differences in English.  Every new person I meet, we exchange languages. It is so much fun! There is no way that we could all learn all the languages in just a semester but when we are all at lunch or wherever we might be, we talk about how to say things in every language. Last night, it was an Italian girl’s birthday so most of the students in the Erasmus program went out for drinks and we all sang happy birthday in every language! Hearing all the different versions of a song we all sing was really fun. The poor girl had to sit through five versions of the song!

I’ve been saving the best for last of course. I have been here for a week and a half and I can tell you with certainty that I have made lifelong friends already. We have our own little group going and I can’t imagine being here without them. My “wifey”, Isabel, is a Venezuelan that goes to Oklahoma State. She’s one of the first girls I have met here and we have been inseparable since.  Valerie is my fellow Red Raider and luckily we have been together since our plane took off from Dallas. Toni is from Durham University. She’s our Brit friend that will forever be her name in our book. Maria is from Greece. She was the first girl we met here and has been so amazing! These girls are really such beautiful people inside and out. I am so lucky to have met such great girls so fast! 

The Week is the Hardest

Oh my this week has been a long one. We arrived in Paris on Monday on the first day of the national taxi strike! No taxi no problem for us.  This strike was something to see. All the taxis would park their cars in the middle of the highway and cause this huge traffic jam! They just sat around and enjoyed their cigs. We sat in traffic for 30 minutes just trying to get around them! Perfect start to a long week. Arriving in Limoges was so overwhelming! We came with absolutely no wifi anywhere! I quickly realized my life revolves around my phone. We had no contact with anyone but us. Thankfully there's three other girls with me. We would have gone crazy without each other these past few weeks. One thing we learned very quickly is they definitely do not baby you! You figure out everything on your own. Without speaking the language, that is so much harder than it sounds. Without Amalee, we would be completely lost! She has been our lifesaver this week. With the French, if they don't like you or don't know you, you won't get anything done. We have officially got on her good side and magically everything got done today. No complaints here. Finally came out of the dark ages! We have even found people to take us out. It's all finally starting to get better. We are getting acclimated and we might just make it after all.  I have had a few people asking about the food. If anyone of you saw the picture on  Facebook, you'll be relieved to know we have avoided that so called ham since!  We decided to be adventurous and try a new sandwich the other day and it looked and tasted like raw bacon!! By far the most disgusting thing iv ever had in my life!! We had to take off everything but the cheese. But that cheese sandwich was amazing. We have been living off of sandwiches all week. The lady at the bakery actually helps with my French now. Best bakery I've ever been to! We tried their macaroons for the first time tonight. People do not exaggerate those things. If you haven't had one you are missing out! So far though the French life is getting better and better! I never thought I'd say this but I'm so ready for classes to start!

Let the Countdown Begin

Here goes nothing! This time next week, I will be arriving in Paris and beginning of my next few months of indulging in the European lifestyle. I can hardly believe I really just said that. This semester has flown by, like everyone said it would, and yet I feel as if I have been waiting a lifetime to get this trip started. As I begin packing my bags and checking off my lists, I realize just how unprepared I am! I am a notorious over packer so how in the world do I pack for five months in one bag?! This whole concept is mind blowing to me! Besides the fact that I am going to one of the most fashionable places in the world and I wear tights and a tee shirt just about everyday…. if that doesn’t scream American I don’t know what does. For any other flight, getting off the plane in my comfy clothes and rushing around to get to my hotel would be the most perfect thing. This time I am still trying to fathom that I will be stepping off a ten hour flight in Paris then making my way around my dream city without knowing anything about where I am going. Lets hope the train station is made for those of us who can only read when using the google translate app on the phone. As all of this sinks in, I am finally realizing that this is my new reality. I am getting to live my dream! So as my very first blog post comes to an end, let the countdown begin… 6 more days!