My First Week in France

This week was the first week of the "greatest year of my life." Everyone had said that my year abroad will be the best of my life and thus far, it has been amazing. 

On Tuesday, August 23 I said bye to my family and friends knowing I would not see them for a year. After a long day of travel, I was welcomed to France by a new family and a new group of friends with whom I will spend the year with. I am officially a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and I am very excited.

The Duflo’s (The family I am living with) daughter is in Canada (Niagara on the Lake) on exchange and her flight flew out a few hours after I arrived. We visited and ate at the airport. The first food I ate in France was a croissant, very typical. Once we saw Juliette off we went home to Le Maisnil and I was very tired. We ate and I went to sleep in my new bedroom.

The next few days were full of adventures. I have seen the big city of Lille and I have experienced the French way of life. On my first day in France, Pascalyne (my host mother) and I went to visit my school where I met some teachers and saw the building. After, we went to Mini Lille which is a shopping center in a small town near Le Maisnil. We went grocery shopping which was very different from Canada. That evening Daniella (An exchange student from Bolivia) and I were invited to a Rotary dinner in the President’s backyard. It was nice to meet my sponsoring club. People spoke to us very fast and I had troubles understanding what they were saying.

On Friday Pascalyne and I went shopping in a little town where I made my first purchase in France; a scarf (Everyone wears them here). The town was beautiful. That evening we went to the Dupont family’s home to meet all the families of Miso (Taiwanese Exchange Student). The Dupont family is one of the four families I will stay with as well.

On Saturday Pascalyne, Gérald, Jonathan and I all packed into the Volkswagen and headed down one of the many narrow roads. When we got off the highway my eyes lit up to see the old houses, French people and different buildings in the beautiful city of Lille. We ate, shopped and explored Lille which was a fantastic experience. I bought some shoes that are very fashionable here but kill my feet. That evening Danielle and I went to the sea side for dinner with two of our arranged friends (President of Rotary’s daughter and friend). Exchange students have a lot of arranged friendships in the beginning… The sea side was beautiful although it was very cold. After, we went to Lille and went on rides at the fair and then to a club/bar. Danielle and I danced like foreigners and had a good time.

I am so lucky to have been given this opportunity. I love my host family, France and the friends I have made. My host family is very patient and Pascalyne has been very empathetic. I couldn’t have chosen a better country or been placed in a better family!  

I am off to language camp this week to help me improve my French. When I come back in six days hopefully I will be a lot better in French. I might be able to talk to some people or not give my host mother such a headache from speaking English with me…. Hahaha

This week has been great and I look forward to the next few weeks when I’ll begin school, go to Paris, bike through Holland and so much  more!