I got an email from my host mother in very broken english yesterday. I will share my favorite quotes:
"We have prepared the Nora's bedroom, near Maîwenn's one." (Maîwenn is my host sister)
"[The room is] not very large one but we have much place in our house."
"She and Maîwenn 'll go to school by scolar bus ."
I don't mean to sound like I'm making fun of her. On the contrary, she's doing a good job of getting her point across. It's just so cute. I wonder what my French sounds like to them. More broken than hers, I'm sure.
Anyways. I found out that my family actually lives 5 km outside of Redon, in the country. There are about 50 neighboring families, though, and I'll have a bike if I want to go into to town or something. I'm sure it's very beautiful and I can't wait.
It's funny, I originally thought (before I knew my host family) that I would be really disappointed if I got a family that lived in a more rural setting. But I am actually so thrilled with my placement, and the fact that I can already tell that I will love my family makes it even better. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I. Can't. Wait.
The summer is flying by (where the hell did July go??), and I'm experiencing waves of alternating panic and excitement, depending on the day. A lot more excitement than panic, I think.
Going to France has been this far-off, abstract idea of mine for the past year. But here I am: it's July 27th, and 36 days stand between me and my departure.
Holy cow, this is really happening...
YEEHAW
Nora
7.27.2010
7.11.2010
REDON
Hello hello.
It's been awhile, but now I'm finally writing on here again, and will try to do so more regularly as my imminent departure approaches.
I have some very exciting news:
I found out who my host family is! And in turn, where I'm living and going to school.
My host sister contacted me by email this week, and I've also been corresponding with my host mom (or dad, not really sure actually). It seems that they got my email address and contacted me, but all the paperwork nonsense hasn't actually been processed yet so I still haven't gotten the official host family notification from AFS. Because of this, I don't know a whole lot about them, except for that they seem like really lovely people. But I don't think they know that I haven't gotten official info on them, so I think it would be strange to ask them something like, "excuse, me but exactly who are you?"
I do know that they are my host family for sure, but beyond that....well we'll just have to wait and see.
They live in Redon, a town of around 10,000 (the size of Stillwater, approximately) in the southern part of the western region of Brittany. Redon is on the intersection of two rivers. I've been exploring it on Google Street View and it looks like the most charming, beautiful French town you could imagine. I urge you to look it up.
My school is Lycée Beaumont ("Beaumont High School"). It has around 1,800 students- about the size of (or a little bigger than) Southwest. I'll be taking Spanish, literature, and some social sciences or economics.
I've enrolled myself in a weekly French class for the next few weeks before I leave, and I feel like it's really helping me. I'm actually starting to prepare to go. I can't believe it.
I'll write again soon, I have much to say, but I want to keep this short.
Here's a picture of Redon I found online:
(trés beau, non?)
Nora
It's been awhile, but now I'm finally writing on here again, and will try to do so more regularly as my imminent departure approaches.
I have some very exciting news:
I found out who my host family is! And in turn, where I'm living and going to school.
My host sister contacted me by email this week, and I've also been corresponding with my host mom (or dad, not really sure actually). It seems that they got my email address and contacted me, but all the paperwork nonsense hasn't actually been processed yet so I still haven't gotten the official host family notification from AFS. Because of this, I don't know a whole lot about them, except for that they seem like really lovely people. But I don't think they know that I haven't gotten official info on them, so I think it would be strange to ask them something like, "excuse, me but exactly who are you?"
I do know that they are my host family for sure, but beyond that....well we'll just have to wait and see.
They live in Redon, a town of around 10,000 (the size of Stillwater, approximately) in the southern part of the western region of Brittany. Redon is on the intersection of two rivers. I've been exploring it on Google Street View and it looks like the most charming, beautiful French town you could imagine. I urge you to look it up.
My school is Lycée Beaumont ("Beaumont High School"). It has around 1,800 students- about the size of (or a little bigger than) Southwest. I'll be taking Spanish, literature, and some social sciences or economics.
I've enrolled myself in a weekly French class for the next few weeks before I leave, and I feel like it's really helping me. I'm actually starting to prepare to go. I can't believe it.
I'll write again soon, I have much to say, but I want to keep this short.
Here's a picture of Redon I found online:
(trés beau, non?)
Nora
5.16.2010
Hello again.
More than two months have passed since my last post...
Now there are only four months remaining until I leave. Holy cow.
My life has been crazy busy this past month. I've been assistant/co-directing a production of Macbeth for my school's student-run theater program which opens on Tuesday. It's been a huge learning experience: overall very positive, but not devoid of stress and insanity. I also took part in a plant sale sponsored by AFS this month. It's the only fundraiser that the program sponsors and helps organize for students, and it was really successful. I received over 15 orders, which doesn't sound like a lot, but resulted in my porch filling up with 131 plants (which actually looked really cool). I'm so grateful to the people who contributed, it's really going to make a big difference.
(This is a thank-you card I made for the people who participated in the plant sale.)
I'm going to my first Pre-Departure Orientation this afternoon in Eden Prairie. I'm looking forward to finding out all sorts of information and details about my upcoming adventure.
I check my email about four times a day to see if they've sent me my host family assignment... No luck yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Have a good Sunday! It's beautiful and warm and summery here. There are only 16 days left of school.
Nora
Now there are only four months remaining until I leave. Holy cow.
My life has been crazy busy this past month. I've been assistant/co-directing a production of Macbeth for my school's student-run theater program which opens on Tuesday. It's been a huge learning experience: overall very positive, but not devoid of stress and insanity. I also took part in a plant sale sponsored by AFS this month. It's the only fundraiser that the program sponsors and helps organize for students, and it was really successful. I received over 15 orders, which doesn't sound like a lot, but resulted in my porch filling up with 131 plants (which actually looked really cool). I'm so grateful to the people who contributed, it's really going to make a big difference.
(This is a thank-you card I made for the people who participated in the plant sale.)
I'm going to my first Pre-Departure Orientation this afternoon in Eden Prairie. I'm looking forward to finding out all sorts of information and details about my upcoming adventure.
I check my email about four times a day to see if they've sent me my host family assignment... No luck yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Have a good Sunday! It's beautiful and warm and summery here. There are only 16 days left of school.
Nora
3.10.2010
Wow.
While I was sitting at a coffee shop with my mom last night we realized that six months from today is the day I leave for France.
Oh my.
This makes me incredibly excited and also a little freaked out (but freaked out in the best possible way).
That is all. It is even grosser here than it was two days ago when I was complaining about the grossness.
Nora
Oh my.
This makes me incredibly excited and also a little freaked out (but freaked out in the best possible way).
That is all. It is even grosser here than it was two days ago when I was complaining about the grossness.
Nora
3.08.2010
:D!!!! :( :) :/
(The smileys in the title represent the pattern of emotions expressed in this post. I'm really into smileys right now......)
HOLY MOLEY!!! WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT.
I suddenly have $243 in donations on here!
WOW. I just checked it a few days ago and could not believe my eyes. I guess in the grand scheme of things this doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, but considering that a few weeks ago I had less than half that amount THIS IS VERY EXCITING NEWS.
I am so thrilled. Thank you so much to everyone who's been pitching in! Or should I say "chipping" in. Get it? Because of the name of the widget. Ha. Ha.
Granted, this is only 9% of my goal, so I would like to keep encouraging contributions. But we are making some progress here, people. Way to go!
It is very dark and gray and gross here. Ugh. March is so ugly. I am considerably cheered up, though, when I think about where I'll be next year. Maybe the south of France? Who knows? Boy, living in the south of France sounds nice this time of year. Though honestly, I'm sure March would be exponentially better anywhere in France than it is here. But then again, I have a horribly naïve and romantic view of France as some sort of Promised Land. I can't help it, though, I'm just so darn excited TO LIVE THERE FOR A YEARRRRRRRRR.
Well, I have to get back to reading Macbeth. Wow, things are depressing around here.
Nora
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
HOLY MOLEY!!! WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT.
I suddenly have $243 in donations on here!
WOW. I just checked it a few days ago and could not believe my eyes. I guess in the grand scheme of things this doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, but considering that a few weeks ago I had less than half that amount THIS IS VERY EXCITING NEWS.
I am so thrilled. Thank you so much to everyone who's been pitching in! Or should I say "chipping" in. Get it? Because of the name of the widget. Ha. Ha.
Granted, this is only 9% of my goal, so I would like to keep encouraging contributions. But we are making some progress here, people. Way to go!
It is very dark and gray and gross here. Ugh. March is so ugly. I am considerably cheered up, though, when I think about where I'll be next year. Maybe the south of France? Who knows? Boy, living in the south of France sounds nice this time of year. Though honestly, I'm sure March would be exponentially better anywhere in France than it is here. But then again, I have a horribly naïve and romantic view of France as some sort of Promised Land. I can't help it, though, I'm just so darn excited TO LIVE THERE FOR A YEARRRRRRRRR.
Well, I have to get back to reading Macbeth. Wow, things are depressing around here.
Nora
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
1.25.2010
Acceptance by France and Why I Like AFS
Sorry that it's been so long since I've updated this. I've been very busy.
Once again, I am writing this instead of doing things that need doing. But I am okay with that. I'll probably regret this choice tomorrow morning when I wake up and realize that I STILL haven't done laundry (laundry being one of the other things I could be doing right now). BUT I DON'T CARE. I got some stuff to say.
First of all, here is some excellent news:
I got a call about four weeks ago from AFS saying that I have been accepted by France. I still don't know where I'll be living (I won't find that out until I get my host family assignment, and that won't be for a few months), but I do know that I am going to France. For sure. It has been confirmed. So that's GREAT!
Here is something else I have been thinking about:
I've gotten a few questions about why I'm choosing to go with AFS next year. Like instead of just going and living with friends of friends (or relatives of friends, or friends of relatives of friends, etc.). And I answer those questions feeling a little stupid, because I honestly didn't really think about trying to set something like that up.
But when I think about it, I have absolutely no regrets about signing up with AFS- it is clearly the best choice. I really want the exchange student experience, which is something I wouldn't necessarily get living with a family I knew. And although AFS is expensive, it is really worth every penny. They are very thorough in making sure that everything is comfortable, that I'm happy with my arrangement, and that I'm well-prepared for my year abroad.
I think my favorite thing about AFS is the community it builds. There are SO many people all over the world who have connections with AFS. I had no idea how huge it was until I became a part of the program. Everywhere I go I meet people who have been involved with it: the guy who cut my hair a few weeks ago hosted a German exchange student his junior year, the guy who took my blood at the Red Cross spent a semester in Belgium in high school, a woman sitting in front of me at a play overheard me telling my friend about AFS, and turned around to tell me about her experience as a student in Germany, and then introduced me to the student she was currently hosting. Not to mention the conversations I've had with the AFS students at my school. These people are EVERYWHERE. It's insane.
So that is why I already love AFS. It seems like the biggest, greatest diplomacy mission in the world- what better way is there to make connections with other people all over the globe? By being involved in this program I won't just make connections in France, because I'll be interacting with people from all sorts of different countries along the way. I'm so excited for this experience.
A lot of random people at school have told me that they have read my blog. I wonder what they think of me................
That's all. Bye!
Nora
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
Once again, I am writing this instead of doing things that need doing. But I am okay with that. I'll probably regret this choice tomorrow morning when I wake up and realize that I STILL haven't done laundry (laundry being one of the other things I could be doing right now). BUT I DON'T CARE. I got some stuff to say.
First of all, here is some excellent news:
I got a call about four weeks ago from AFS saying that I have been accepted by France. I still don't know where I'll be living (I won't find that out until I get my host family assignment, and that won't be for a few months), but I do know that I am going to France. For sure. It has been confirmed. So that's GREAT!
Here is something else I have been thinking about:
I've gotten a few questions about why I'm choosing to go with AFS next year. Like instead of just going and living with friends of friends (or relatives of friends, or friends of relatives of friends, etc.). And I answer those questions feeling a little stupid, because I honestly didn't really think about trying to set something like that up.
But when I think about it, I have absolutely no regrets about signing up with AFS- it is clearly the best choice. I really want the exchange student experience, which is something I wouldn't necessarily get living with a family I knew. And although AFS is expensive, it is really worth every penny. They are very thorough in making sure that everything is comfortable, that I'm happy with my arrangement, and that I'm well-prepared for my year abroad.
I think my favorite thing about AFS is the community it builds. There are SO many people all over the world who have connections with AFS. I had no idea how huge it was until I became a part of the program. Everywhere I go I meet people who have been involved with it: the guy who cut my hair a few weeks ago hosted a German exchange student his junior year, the guy who took my blood at the Red Cross spent a semester in Belgium in high school, a woman sitting in front of me at a play overheard me telling my friend about AFS, and turned around to tell me about her experience as a student in Germany, and then introduced me to the student she was currently hosting. Not to mention the conversations I've had with the AFS students at my school. These people are EVERYWHERE. It's insane.
So that is why I already love AFS. It seems like the biggest, greatest diplomacy mission in the world- what better way is there to make connections with other people all over the globe? By being involved in this program I won't just make connections in France, because I'll be interacting with people from all sorts of different countries along the way. I'm so excited for this experience.
A lot of random people at school have told me that they have read my blog. I wonder what they think of me................
That's all. Bye!
Nora
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
1.10.2010
Some Things
Hello, world. I am writing a blog post because there are other things I should be doing, and I don't count doing this as procrastinating. Also there are some things I have to say.
I started a Facebook group for my whole going-to-france thing just to make people aware that it was happening and to spread this blog around. We'll see how that works. I know it is pathetic that I have raised a whopping $28 with this blog (1% of my goal!), but it really doesn't bother me that much. I feel the need to say that for some reason.
So those are some thoughts. In other news, I FOUND OUT MY BLOOD TYPE. Finally. It's
Okay so that image didn't work out as well as I wanted it to. I can't figure out how to get the border out of there. And make it bigger. But what really matters is that I now know my blood type, and therefore am now able to go to France. That is the important thing here. So YAY! That happened.
Anyways. Blogging is such a funny experience. Mostly the part about not really being able to tell if anyone is even reading what you write. Either no one is reading it, and that's embarrassing, or lots of people are reading it, and that is also kind of embarrassing. You really have to put yourself out there, and it's pretty intimidating. Of course, this blog isn't super personal so I'm not worrying myself with all that too much, but I can't help but feel a little strange about it. I can't wait until next year when I will actually have real things to write about. French things!
That is all I am going to say right now. There are some more things I want to write, but I will save them for later because I want to keep my posts shorter than they have been. I don't want to scare away the 2 or 3 readers that I may or may not have.
Bye!
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
I started a Facebook group for my whole going-to-france thing just to make people aware that it was happening and to spread this blog around. We'll see how that works. I know it is pathetic that I have raised a whopping $28 with this blog (1% of my goal!), but it really doesn't bother me that much. I feel the need to say that for some reason.
So those are some thoughts. In other news, I FOUND OUT MY BLOOD TYPE. Finally. It's
Okay so that image didn't work out as well as I wanted it to. I can't figure out how to get the border out of there. And make it bigger. But what really matters is that I now know my blood type, and therefore am now able to go to France. That is the important thing here. So YAY! That happened.Anyways. Blogging is such a funny experience. Mostly the part about not really being able to tell if anyone is even reading what you write. Either no one is reading it, and that's embarrassing, or lots of people are reading it, and that is also kind of embarrassing. You really have to put yourself out there, and it's pretty intimidating. Of course, this blog isn't super personal so I'm not worrying myself with all that too much, but I can't help but feel a little strange about it. I can't wait until next year when I will actually have real things to write about. French things!
That is all I am going to say right now. There are some more things I want to write, but I will save them for later because I want to keep my posts shorter than they have been. I don't want to scare away the 2 or 3 readers that I may or may not have.
Bye!
-------------
To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)