Week Six

On Sunday night I got back from Caen and Normandy pretty early, about 8 or 9 o’clock. But, my host family had already asked if I could skip the morning from school if I got home late so we told a little white lie and I skipped my first class. It was SES, which is my economics class, so it’s not a vey important class for me because I don’t understand what is going on anyway.

I’m starting to feel like a part of the class. I feel more connected to my class mates and I understand a lot of what they say which helps a lot. On Monday, my English teacher was sick and in France if the teacher is sick you just don’t have class. So the whole class had a free period so I went with some of the other kids and sat in one of the courtyards and talked for the whole period. It was all about the US and what sorts of things are different and not about their lives but I still feel like it was a step in the right direction.

I wrote an oral for Spanish last week and presented it on Monday. Everyone was a little shocked by it. I have hope that I will actually learn stuff this year. It’ll be hard and it might not be the amount I would learn in the US but I do feel passionately about learning the language. I’m really glad I decided to stay in the class.

After school n Monday, there was a meeting of the exchange students for an article. It was nice to get to meet the other exchange students although as it turned out I had already met the three others staying the whole year. It was fun and it was nice, finally getting to meet everyone.

Wednesday was the day of the funeral. It was really sad and I felt a little weird being there. On the one hand it seems nice and supportive for the whole class to be there to support our fellow classmate. But, on the other hand it seems a little intrusive and I left feeling like I shouldn’t have been there because it was so deeply personal and I didn’t know the man or his friends or his family.

While the morning on Wednesday was sad and depressing, the rest of the day went pretty well and I had dance that night. Vilma, another exchange student, came too. It was a pretty good class and it was fun to do it with another person that didn’t understand.

I had an English test on Thursday. It was really easy content wise and I think I did well but I’m feeling some stress to do well because everyone expects it of me. I got my Math test score back, 14.5/20, this score would not be very good in the US but here it is actually pretty okay and people were proud of me. Just one of the many differences between American and French education systems.

I had a brief weight scare last week. My host dad and I went to an electronics store to pick up Cécile’s new phone and while there I weighed myself. According to the scale I had gained six pounds! I felt a little weird that day so I figured it must have just been what I ate that day. Nonetheless I went running the next day and am starting to be more aware of the things I eat. Turns out that it was just the day because I weighed myself again and I was back to normal.

Saturday was the day for Saint François which is the saint of my school, so Friday there was a big party at our sister school across town. We took three hours off of school and went there to eat lunch and hang out. There was a band and a huge loaf of Brioche. I mean, this Brioche was so big that it fed over 1,000 people more than once. It was a cool experience that I probably would never have had in the US.

Saturday, my family had a surprise party for my birthday with my other host families. I say surprise because I didn’t know who was coming, I did know there was going to be a party. It was great to finally meet the other people I’m going to live with.  I’m glad it was the people and I had no idea who could be coming. It turns out that my host mom has been planning the dinner since the end of August. I’m glad I ended up where I did.  I also finished my first book in French. It’s literally the Magic Tree House but I was pretty proud of myself.

Sunday, a girl here from Turkey with Rotary came to La Roche to watch a bike race with us. Le Tour de Vendée is a bike race that goes around Vendée and finishes in La Roche. It was cool to right in the middle of the action and experience it all. I got a free tee shirt and hat and got interviewed. We were right next to the press and one of them asked my host sisters something and I said, “Oh I’m American” but I think that he really thought I spoke French because he interviewed me, I didn’t really understand what he was asking but it was awesome anyway and my friend told me that she told me that she saw it on TV!

I get more and more moments where I catch myself thinking in French without forcing it. I can always think to myself in French but sometimes it just happens automatically without forcing it. I know it’s a good sign but it is so weird when it happens. It feels sort of like a parasite is invading my brain, I mean this in the best possible way of course.

School here is much different, there’s more of a teach, learn mentality and it’s not so much a conversation. Most of my classes are pretty much entirely dictated. What I mean by this is that the teacher will just talk pretty slowly and you’re expected to write down everything they say so you can look over your notes later. It’s a lot of definitions that the teacher has just memorized and then dictates to the class. Also their entire grade is dependent on the tests they take. I definitely prefer the method of grading in the US and especially at CSA where we’re graded on more than just content but also on collaboration, written communication, oral communication, and work ethic. I believe this gives a more whole image of the student.

I'm really starting to feel comfortable here and starting to appreciate the little things about the culture more.