The Move, St. Omer- Rotary Weekend and Vacances d'Hiver

 

The Collection

 

A casual Bike ride to Belgium

 

 Carnival

Laurena's Birthday Party

Cap Blanc Nez

 

 Sports Day

A few days after I got home from London, I moved families. I was supposed to go to the Borelle Family’s home but I found out the day before the move that wouldn’t be possible for various reasons. I moved in with the Dupont Family which is great!   I arrived at their house with two big suitcases, a backpack, four giant Ikea sacs and other bags! I do not know how it is possible for one to accumulate so much stuff in six months. They were so welcoming the first night which was good because I was sad to move from the Bernardeaus. I live in a little town called Lorgies which has a church (like every village in France) a small school and a store. It is further from Lille than my other houses but the village is cute.

We had a Rotary weekend in St. Omer and I met the newbies for the first time. There are 11 new exchange students from Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. We went bowling and had blast! You could imagine how 41 exchange students bowling together would be. What a mess. We met all the French students who will be going on exchange in September and spoke with the people going to our countries. We had presentations and then a dance that night. The next day we went to gigantic underground bunker designed by the Nazis, called La Coupole. It was used to store, prepare and launch rockets during the war and is a museum now. It was interesting for a short while but everyone was so tired so we all napped during the films. As exchange students we learn to stop trying to fight the fatigue and just sleep. That is the biggest lesson I learned in school... The classic cold chicken and other cold pasta salads were served for lunch and then we sat around and waited for our host parents to arrive. The weekend was great, as per usual and I really like most of the newbies.

On the way home from St. Omer, we went to The Carnival in a town called Bailleul and it was crazy. There was a parade with over 50 floats, brass bands and people dancing and singing. Everyone was dressed up like it was Halloween and the ambiance was great. The ground was covered in confetti that had fallen from the sky like snow; most floats had confetti cannons and everyone was throwing it at one another. There are a lot of different carnivals for Mardi Gras in France including two big ones in Paris and Nice and another in Dunkerque.

I was with the Dupont family for another week and then moved in with the Borelles. It was just for the holidays as my host parents were going to be working and I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere for two weeks! It was a perfect break from school because I had no specific plans and I was able to relax. The Borelles live right next a train station so it was really easy for me to go to Lille as I wanted. Early in the break, Celia, Lauren Abby and I rode out bikes to Belgium. It only took about 20 minutes and was the first time Celia and Abby had been to Belgium, which was pretty exciting. We asked some man to take a picture of us with our bikes and the Belgium sign; he was so confused as to why we were so enthused since there is no difference from the French side to the Belgium side. The weather was unpleasant, the town was quiet and there was nothing to do. We went to a grocery store and stocked up on Belgium Chocolate and some other stuff then headed home. I went to Laurena, my best French friend’s birthday party and had another party with the exchange students for Ignacio’s 19^th. One Sunday my host family and I went to Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Gris Nez which are on the Cote d'Opale in the North. It was raining, cold and super windy but was worth it to see the magnificence of the cliffs. Typically, if the weather is good, you can see England (the white cliffs of Dover) but we had no such luck with the weather. We had lunch in Berck, a little town on the ocean, but it was disagreeable beach weather. haha

The second week of vacation was lower key but started with a bang! I woke up on Monday morning, opened my shutters and thought I was still dreaming. It looked like I was opened a Christmas card. There was snowflakes quickly adding to about a foot of snow and I could not believe it. It was a really slushy snow and I didn’t bring my boots, I didn’t think we’d get a snowstorm in May after the warm weather we’d had, so I stayed in for the day.  

After the snow had melted, we had a “Sports Day” at my house. My host family has a massive garden with two football nets, a ping pong table and a volleyball net. We decided, why not change things up from our average afternoons in Lille. Twenty five exchange students came over on an overcast afternoon to hang out and play games. Jean Carlo wearing Gucci jeans and a Louis Vuitton shit sweater set, rain boots and holding his Longchamp sac. He obviously didn’t get the message.  We played an afternoon of mostly football and had such a great time. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves.

The vacation was well spent and it was nice to get to know some of the newbies a little better and hang out with friends. Staying with the Borelle family was nice and I really felt at home there. I had a chance to catch up on sleep and relax! It was a good break from Beaucamps and my nine hour school days. I watched lots of French movies and caught up on my online television. I can’t wait until the Vacances de printemps, thank goodness the French love holidays. 

 

London

 

Jon and I 

 

 Westminster Abbey

 Changing of the Guards

 Trafalgar Square 

I returned to the UK to visit London for a week and get to know the city that all the French people rave about. Everyone wears the United Kingdom flag; on their clothes, bags, even cars! I had never been to London so it was really interesting. I am a fan of the Royal Family and it was lovely to see things I had seen in movies or on TV, right of front of my eyes. I didn’t see the sun for seven days, the weather was not great, but that is not a big change from the North of France. I stayed with Samantha’s friend, Jon, who goes to the London School of Economics and is living there this year.  

I took the Eurostar from Lille to London and Jon met me at the “Harry Potter Wall” which was covered up due to construction. I arrived in the early evening so we went to his residence and planned roughly what we were going to do that week, then went and met his friends. 

The next day we went to Convent Garden, had tea, and then went to China town. It was really authentic and there were decorations for Chinese New year. After visiting a famous round-about called Oxford Circus, we spent some time shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street. We also walked along Saville Road which is an area with very famous suit makers. We could see into some of the workshop and they were making the suits by hand. 

We had a touristy Saturday which started in the Lincoln’s Inn Fields, a park, where Jean Chrétien had planted a maple tree in honour of fallen Canadian Soldiers. We headed to the Somerset House and on the way saw the BBC Building and I took a classic London picture with a police officer. We went to Trafalgar Square and there was a large protest going on there for Amnesty International. Minus the protesters, the square was really beautiful, with flowing, icy fountains and the Nationally Gallery at the top. We continued on and I saw a statue of Earl Haig (Earl Haig Family Fun Park, only the Brantfordians would get that. Haha) and statues of other war Generals. There were police men on horses which is one of the stereotypical images of London. We finally got to the Parliament Buildings where I saw Big Ben. I never knew, I thought Big Ben was the clock, but in fact it is the bell inside. It was impressive; the architecture of the building and the stone work was incredible. There were people dressed up like the Queen looking to earn money and people who sold little Clock Towers, etc. Jon and I went to a restaurant for a late lunch and then to Evensong at the Westminster Abbey. It was amazing, took my breath away. The abbey was perfect; it is one of my favorite Churches/Abbeys in Europe. The choir was moving, their ensemble blew me away. I am also a Will and Kate fan, so I imagined I was at the Royal Wedding. After, we went to Buckingham Palace where there were guards who stood as still as a statue. We headed home for a party at Jon’s residence that was themed, Mathletes and Athletes. It was fun!  A few of us went out afterwards and I got a taste of London’s nightlife. 

I spent the next day shopping and bought some London souvenirs. It was weird being surrounded by English speakers, although I did come across many French people. 

I got up early the next morning to go to the Changing of the Guards at the Buckingham Palace. Jon had class, so I went out and tackled London alone (I got lost for about an hour in the late afternoon). There were so many people and I waited for an hour and a half to have a good spot. It was pretty neat to see although it was long and repetitive. A lot of tourist sites say that it is good to do if you have the time, but not vital, I can see why. The band was neat and the show was appealing to the crowd. After, I went to the National Gallery and it was wonderful. It is full of some of the world's most important and most beautiful works of art and it was free! I saw Leonardo Di Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rocks” which was just beautiful. The rest of the Gallery was great and I drifted from room to room in awe. It was massive; one could easily spend an entire day there. 

I decided I would go to a few Markets in London and I also made the horrible decision of walking. I was so dead by the end of the day. I visited The Chapel Market which was a garage sale style market, not very exciting. I headed to Petticoat lane which was a textile market and was it was not great either. From Petticoat I went to Spitalfields Market which was a relief. It was an upper-class, indoor market that sold some great art, clothes, accessories and food. I bought a little money pouch and a snack. I took the bus back to Oxford Street because walking would have taken forever. I had lunch where a met an old lady who lived in London and told me all about these mosquitos or tropical bugs that are in her house and how she had a doctor’s appointment and a meeting at the bank.  She was cute. I went to the British Museum after which was very different from the National Gallery. It is also really big and I didn’t have all day so I chose to visit the exhibition of different countries. In the Egypt exposition, I saw the mummy of Cleopatra and The Rosetta Stone! In China, there were beautiful statues of Buddha and glass work that was amazing. The Latin American one was interesting and so was Northern America. There were a few pieces about Artic Canada and Native Americans.  There was another piece called “Cradle to Grave” by Pharmacopoeia. The piece incorporates a lifetime supply of prescribed drugs knitted into two lengths of fabric, illustrating the medical stories of one woman and one man. This is over 14,000 drugs in each story and that number does not include the medicine we buy over the counter.  It was absolutely eye opening to see what the average person puts in their body over a lifetime! Jon and I went out for dinner and hung out with some people from his floor that night. 

The next day was low key. I drank tea in a little café and did some work on my computer in the morning while Jon went to class. We later went to St. Paul’s Cathedral which is a really old, pretty church. Outside the church is the longest lasting sit in called, “Occupy London.” They had been camping for about 4 months and were fighting against a warped capitalist system that created a global financial crisis in the UK. They ruined my pictures. We had Pizza Hut for dinner and then went out with Jon’s friends, Matt and Andrew. 

Jon and I said goodbye that morning and I headed back to France. It was a good voyage and I certainly got a good taste of London, literally, I drank a lot of Tea. The Westminster Abbey was so moving and London was really nice and it was good to see a friend from home and to speak English for a week! I can now understand why people in France, and all over the world, love London so much.

Scotland

 The Wallace Monument

 St. Andrews

After an almost impossible morning of sitting in class, we boarded the bus for the trip that would change my school experience for the next five months. I never imagined that a voyage to Scotland with my classmates would strengthen friendships and create new ones, making school so much better. I saw so many beautiful castles, foggy lochs, fluffy sheep and old towns.

We drove through Belgium and stopped in Holland to board a ferry. I was with all my classmates and other exchange students, Miso, Franco and Sofie. Miso, Sofie and I had no problem getting through UK Immigration and then Franco ran into some problems. Since he is Peruvian and is not the age of majority he was supposed to have a Visa. The lady at the boarder made an exception because he was with a school trip but he almost had to take the train back to Lille. The trip started with a bang and only got more exciting from there.

We all got rooms on the ship and organized ourselves before dinner. Everyone explored the boat and then we helped ourselves to an English buffet, Miso and some of the boys wanted to gamble so we played American Roulette. I am not normally the type to throw my money away but after seeing Miso  win so much, I was tempted. I started off strong then ended up losing 10 pounds. I was not impressed. We listened to a live band and they wanted people to dance... since we were the only crazy group, we got up and tried to start a movement. It didn't work, only one person joined. Miso and I were dancing and an old man came up to us. Miso was not expecting it and was scared. She ended up on the floor, laughing.  We finally went to bed really late to get rest for the next day.

We arrived at the Port of Hull in England and traversed up to Scotland. There were sheep everywhere. Everywhere.  Out the bus window, there was always something to look at. Whether it was rolling fields that fell into the sea, mountains covered in snow, or little rivers flowing through the land. We arrived in Glasgow and had lunch in an Italian restaurant.  We had some free time where we explored the town and shopped a little. We went to ‘Pound Land’ which was great because there is no ‘Euro Store’ here and I miss my dollar store deals. Our special friend, Noémie got lost in the city and we had to send a small search team out to find her. 

We headed to Edinburgh and checked into our Youth Hostel called, ‘Smart City Hostels.’ It was just off the main street and down a brick road. I shared a room with seven other girls which got a little hectic in the mornings and was certainly crazy at night. We had dinner at the buffet downstairs then hung out in the bar for a bit. 

The next day we went to Loch Lomond, which is the biggest loch in Scotland and we went on a little boat cruise. It was freezing cold and pouring rain, but wasn’t possible to take pictures of the beautiful islands surrounded in mist because the windows were so foggy. There were about 5 of us who actually cared and went out on the front deck, in the rain, to enjoy the sites and take photos.  We went to a town called, ‘Sterling’ next where we visited the Wallace Monument. It was at the summit of a big hill and overlooked miles of Scotland with mountains in the distance. It was so beautiful. The castle has 246 steps to get to the top so we were pretty tired after. We visited another castle quickly then headed back to Edinburgh and had a little free time. We visited “The Elephant House” which is the birthplace of Harry Potter. It was a little coffee shop where J.K. Rowling's wrote a lot of the book. One girl in my class is a huge fan and she cried. I ate Haggis for the first and last time that evening. Haggis is a sheep’s heart, liver and lungs that are cooked in the stomach. It was not terrible, but I was grossed out. Everyone hung out in our room that night and we played games and had fun. 

We woke up early and spent the day in Glamis, Dundee and St. Andrews. We started at Glamis Castle which is a really beautiful castle that is still in the Scottish Royal Family. It is still truly a family home, unlike the château de Versailles, with a lot of pictures of the family and a very comfortable feeling. Our guide told us some ghost stories about the castle so I was freaked out. We then went to Dundee and went to Discovery Point which is a boat that was on an exhibition in the Antarctic for many years. Dundee was a small town, on the water which had a beautiful view. We then headed to St. Andrews and saw ‘the home of golf’ the beautiful beaches and the old town. We spent a lot of time on the bus this day, so we were all well rested and we had another good night in Scotland. 

Our last morning in Scotland consisted of going out and exploring Edinburgh for a bit, shopping and then boarding the bus. The bus ride from the hostel to the ferry was perfect. We drove along the water and it was absolutely beautiful. A classmate, Armand, and I tried to take a lot of pictures and we were glued to the window. Picture this: Off in the distance there are glowing mountains with snow frosting the tips. In front of that is a sea that sparkles in the gloomy sunlight. Rolling fields connect the winding road with the sea. On that green grass there are a countless number for sheep, eating and sleeping. It was bliss. 

We said goodbye to the United Kingdom and got back on the ferry. Miso, Sofie, Noémie and I shared a room which was quite fun. After dinner, I organized a group photo and while we were waiting for everyone to assemble, Miso took a picture with Mr. Joly, our normally very serious teacher, in a Disney cut out. They put their faces in the holes of a pirate and princess. It was so funny. Then we convinced the female teacher, Mme. Houillion, to take one with Mr. Joly. It was perfect. The group pictures turned out well and everyone was happy to have the pictures. Our last night together consisted of gambling, dancing, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. 

This trip opened me up and allowed my classmates to get to know the real me. I was myself with them finally and this made friendships that will last forever. Scotland was beautiful and is one of my favorite countries; it was something very special for me. That probably had to do with the people I was with. It was a trip I will never forget and I am so grateful I had the chance to go!

                         

My Birthday and The Australian's Good Bye

 Birthday Crêpes

 Franco, Kathryn, Sofie, Me and Daniela

At the Airport 

After the ‘rentrée’ back to school, I celebrated my 19^th Birthday on the 11^th of January. The day started with my only class on Wednesdays, ‘Sport.’ Right now we’re practicing basketball and everything was going fine until Miso fell and sprained her ankle. This changed the plans of the day! We spent an hour in the infirmary then her host brother came at picked her up. She wanted me to go with her so we had to change things around. We were supposed to have a meeting with our new Rotary Councillor in Lille but instead she came to Miso’s house. We talked about our future host families and I will be moving to the Borelle house on February 1^st. I am looking forward to moving there and think it’ll be fantastic!!

My Rotary councillor took me to Lille after the meeting where I had missed my Birthday Lunch by 2 hours. They ate without me… Everyone met up and we went to the Ugly Church for a few hours. Kathryn gave me a Nutella Recipe book and I was incredibly happy. I’ve yet to make something from it but I am so excited. I think Nutella Muffins are first on the list. Some of my other friends gave me a really nice scarf, a back massager, chap stick (they understand my addiction) and nail polish. I got a bracelet from Sofie and Daniela gave me a scarf too. After hanging out with the other exchange students, Kathryn said bye to a lot of people for the last time and her, Dani, Franco, Sofie and I took the Metro to St. Philibert where my host mom and my next host mom picked us up (silly, petit French Cars).

We had an ‘apéritif’ with my host mom and my next host mom. After the drink my friends and I ate crêpes with ham and cheese for dinner then crêpes with Nutella and sugar for desert. We laughed so much and had such a good time. It was a really special, French birthday! I love my friends and family.

My family and friends at home made me a Birthday Video that made me cry. It was so, so nice of everyone to make videos and of Samantha to take so much time to put it together! I love it so much and have watched it at least 10 times ! What a special present.

The next day I slept in (skipped school) and around mid-day went to Kathryn’s and had lunch with her and her host parents. She and I packed the rest of her stuff and prepared two boxes to follow her home. We then took the train for her last time in Lille with Franco. She had a few things to do and Franco and I went shopping with Daniela and Maria. The sales in most of Europe started on January 11^th so there are massive discounts here. I found a really nice Lacoste watch that was 50% off and some other clothes. We eventually returned to Kathryn’s and her third host family and Miso came to say good bye to her. We had an ‘apéritif’ and Kathryn said her Au Revoirs. We then ate a ‘Raclette’ and Kathryn enjoyed her last evening with her family.

Kathryn and I stayed up until 3:00a.m. organizing and talking. We had to get up at 6:00a.m. to head to the airport with her third host dad, Franco’s current host dad. The four of us hit the road for the Paris Airport  and Kathryn and I spoke our special, ‘Franglais’ language the whole way there while cuddling as Franco slept. We arrived to the airport early so we drank a Starbucks coffee. Franco, Kathryn and I took photos in a photo booth as a last souvenir for her. Eventually all the Australians started to arrive Kathryn checked her baggage. Tim and Maddi brought their host families, Jay and Ignacio were there too so we had a nice coffee together.

We were forced to say goodbye eventually. It felt like a part of me was leaving when I saw her disappear into the tunnels at Charles de Gaulle.  Kathryn and I became really close over the last 5 months and it was so hard to say goodbye to her. I am not sure when I’ll see her next (Cancun 2017) and I think that is why it was so difficult. Her and I went to the same school, lived close to each other and were together all the time so life will be different without her in it every day.

            Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Noël

 My Host Family and I on Christmas Day

 Lucie, Elisabeth, Josephine and I in Paris

Josephine and I on New Years Eve

My French Christmas was as people said it would be.  I missed my family, but had so much fun with my host family. I was jealous of all my friends who went home from university to see each other, but have friends here who I hung out with a lot. I missed Lulu’s perogies but indulged myself in awesome French food. And I felt somewhat homesick but loved being here to celebrate. It was a Christmas I will never forget and certainly a great way to get to know the French Culture with regards to Christmas.

I began my vacation by heading to my host family’s house by the sea in Le Touquet which is a really beautiful, rich town on the ocean. When we arrived, there was a tree that has fallen on the house so we were delayed in our adventures for a few hours. We spent the weekend walking on the beach (in the freezing cold), shopping at the Christmas Market, celebrating Mass at a very pretty Church, visiting with friends and spending time together, relaxing.

The week before Christmas was busy but I enjoyed my time off school. My host mom, sisters and I went shopping a few times and I went to Lille to be with the other Exchange Students a lot. We had a secret Santa party one afternoon and exchange gifts. I gave a French Christmas CD and a box of chocolate and received a bottle of French Beer and a Beret. One night I had a Christmas Party with my classmates, which was a lot of fun. We danced, ate and talked a lot. I went running with my host sister, Lucy, a few times and she showed me new routes in the country side that are breathtaking. I also went to a dinner party where we ate “Raclette” which is melted cheese, potatoes and meat. I had 4 Raclettes over the Christmas Break, it is a very traditional French meal. I went to a Museum with my host parents and saw the art of a famous painter named Boilly which was cultural. I baked a lot too which y host family liked a lot. I made Rice Krispie Squares, Christmas Cookies, a pie and other things.

                     My host sister and I went to a night club called, “La Fabrik” one night and didn’t know that it was ‘Ladies Night.” I saw my first strip tease and my host sister and I were laughing so hard because it was the first time she’d ever taken me out and she didn’t want me to think that that was her regular Thursday evening routine. After the ‘show’ was over we were dancing and having a good time when one of her friends, who is also the server at my cafeteria, came up to us.  I was so embarrassed because I eat ham almost every day at the ‘self’ and one day there was not a plate with ham on it as I was choosing, after I chose the plate with just pasta on it, he put one with “jambon”  up on the counter. I said to my friend, in English, “Pass me the one with the Ham.”   He understood and put ham on my plate and ever since then he always passes me a plate with ham. When I saw him at the night club he was laughing and said, “Sorry, I don’t have any ham with me.”  It was a good night after we got over the whole ham situation! I didn’t get home until 5:00a.m. and wore terrible heals so I was exhausted!

The day of Christmas Eve was low key. We just lounged around and watched a movie, baked and got ready for the evening. At 7:00p.m. we headed out the door for Christmas Eve Mass. It was different than mass at home because firstly, it was in French and secondly there were not little cousins to play with so I actually had to sit and behave. There were no colouring books or toys to play with which was certainly a change. After, we enjoyed a meal at my ‘Host Aunt’s House’ and opened presents. I ate a traditional Christmas food called “Foie Gras” which is is a made of the liver of a duck that has been specially fattened through force feeding. It is the saddest food and was not very good… When we returned home, my host sister gave the family, ‘Just Dance 3’ so we stayed up until 2:00a.m. dancing the night away!

               Christmas morning we got up, ate a regular breakfast of toast, Nutella and Hot Chocolate in a big bowl. We then gave each other presents; I gave my host parents scarfs from Canada, my mom a broach with maple leaves on it, and my dad a key chain with beavers on it. I gave my sisters ‘Stockings like in the movies’ with their names on them, filled with candy and I gave each a bracelet. The family gave me two bracelets, a bag and notebook with angels on them and a nice key chain. It was not like at home where parents give their kids a lot of presents but it was a nice family time.

We then went to my ‘Host Grandma’s’ for two big feasts, present opening and family time. We ate a full meal around 12:00p.m. then opened presents and visited a little. At around 6:00p.m. the Grandma asked us to set the table again. I actually thought it was a joke but we had another full meal!  We ate pork, duck, a lot of cheese, salad, vegetables, bread and lots more! Once we went home, we watched a movie and went to bed.

It was certainly a Christmas I will never forget and I am so happy to have spent it in France!

The Adventures Continue

 Lille Football Game

 My Host Parents and I in Brussels

 Luxemburg

I continue to make memories and discover new things in my new home. In the last month, a lot has changed. I can speak French fairly well, my overall happiness level has increased and I have an awesome host family. I have traveled a bit more and experienced what it was like to be sick without my mom at my bedside.

I moved families in mid-November and have really bonded with my host parents and three sisters. I have a ‘petit chien’ named Champagne and my new house is very nice. My host dad knows just about everything and he shares his knowledge with me. It’s great, not only because I am learning random pieces of information every day, but also because I have the chance to speak French a lot more at my new family. Since moving my French has become a lot better and it is because I speak with my host mom and dad a lot. During the week, I am alone with my host parents because Lucie, the oldest, goes to university in Paris, Marie goes to University in Lille and comes home on weekends. And my younger host sister goes to a boarding school and is home on weekends as well.

With my host family, I have gone to the movies to see the new film, “Intouchables.” Which was really good and I, surprisingly, understood most of the beautiful story. My host dad and I went to go see a football (soccer) game in Lille and had V.I.P. access which was really cool. Football is pretty big in France and the energy in the crowd was vibrant throughout the game. We also went to Brussels to visit my host dad’s cousin. We went to the Tintin museum which was really interesting because a new Tintin movie recently came out and everyone talks about it. After the museum, we went to the Grande Place and had a Belgium Waffle and hot chocolate. They had just illuminated the Christmas tree so it was truly beautiful and really got me in the Christmas spirit. My host sisters and I laugh all the time and I really enjoy spending time with them. It feels really nice to be comfortable in your house and to be able to interact with the family a lot. It’s nice to be in an atmosphere where you’re welcome in the home you’re living in.

I went to Luxemburg with my classmates and it was pretty cool. We went to a lot of museums, went ice skating and wandered through the marché de Noël. It was different as I had imagined it as it was more modern than I thought it would be. There were many new buildings and it was missing the old beautiful buildings like we have in France. It was a good chance to learn a little about the European Union and a nice mixer to meet more of my classmates. I was with Kathryn (Australian), Sofie (Norwegian), Miso (Taiwanese) and Franco (Peruvian), my little exchange student family in my class, which is always enjoyable.

After the trip to Luxemburg I had a really busy weekend full of Rotary Events and Parties which left me sick. I had the flu for 5 days and it was a week of homesickness and regular sickness. It was only the second week living with my new family and they probably thought I was an infected Canadian. It was hard to keep saying, “I can’t go to school again today because I am still sick.” I felt badly because for the students of Beaucamps (My school) and most people in France,  going to class is very important and I kept missing school so my host mom thought that I didn’t like school. Of course I don’t like going to school from 7:15 to 5:45 every day and learning nothing but I would never tell her that… hahaha.  I learned that being sick without your own mom to nurse you back to health and give you back massages is not ideal but, as the French say, “C’est la vie.”

Once I recovered from “la grippe” I had a Class Christmas Party, Secret Santa. I received a bracelet from a girl named Pauline and gave my friend, Megane, a bracelet and earrings. I also went to my ‘host Grandma’s’ birthday party at my ‘host aunt’s’ house. It was really lovely and everyone was really welcoming which was reassuring because that was the family I’ll be spending Christmas with. I also went to a church called “Abbaye Mont Cats” for mass one Sunday morning with my host parents. It was a striking Church on the top of a mountain where the Monks make really smelly cheese.

Kathryn’s last day of school was the Friday before the break as she leaves on January 13^th to go home. A few classmates planned a going away party for her in the Foyer after school. We ate crêpes and a few boys in my class brought their guitars. Kathryn had everyone sign her flag and said her goodbyes. It is going to be really tough when she leaves as we’ve become really close over the last few months.

Time continues to pass and I have my return date set which is kind of scary. My mom has set a countdown on her phone for my homecoming and it is not too far away. Now that I am in a happy family, have more friends at school and can speak French fairly well, I am looking forward to the adventures ahead of me including a French Christmas, New Years and Paris.  

Toussant Vacance (All Saints Break)

Each day I continue to be amazed by France’s old buildings, fine cuisine, beautifully romantic language and the rich history. I discover something new every day and am learning so much about France, the World, people, culture and myself. It is bizarre though, I am starting to forget how different things really are between France and Canada. I was running on a rural road the other day and got thinking about when I first arrived and my eyes were always wide open, looking at the things I had never seen before. Three months ago I would be running down the road, awestruck by how different the cars were; but now, it just seems normal. The cars seem to be average sized, even though they are really the size a Smart Car. The light switches are not weirdly shaped, like they were before. The amount of bread people eat isn’t absurd to me anymore. I am no longer scared that we are going to have a head on collision with the car coming toward us on a narrow road and seeing dog poop on the sidewalk is just another average day. It is kind of sad, the fact that the magic is dying down. But in another way it is good, it means I am adapting to my new life. It means that I am here, doing what I am supposed to be doing. Baguettes, little cars, old buildings, light switches, dogs pooping on sidewalks and narrow roads and are my life now, where before all those things would have been very strange for me.

My most recent adventure consisted of a trip over the recent school vacation a few weeks ago. My host family, two exchange friends and I headed to Paris for two days and then to Brittany for a week. Paris was just as I had imagined it and more. It made my year here feel like more of a reality, I am not sure why, but seeing the Eiffel Tower made me feel like I was really in France. My Norwegian friend from school met Daniela, Miso and I in Paris and we spend two days getting to know Paris and seeing the touristy sites. On our first morning there, Sunday morning, went to Mass at the Notre Dame and after we watched the France versus New Zealand, Rugby World Cup game at a local bar where we witnessed grown, French men crying after they lost. We met some locals who showed us around the rest of the day which was really good because before we met them we had our map laid on the sidewalk and I was about to try to jump into it like Dora the Explorer.  We ate in a little café and then went to see the Tour de Eiffel; it was so beautiful. We didn’t go to the top because the line was more than three hours but it was nice to finally see it. We visited the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and got a taste of the night life of Paris. The next day we went shopping, and then ate a baguette and Nutella on the grass beside the Eiffel Tower. Sofie caught a train hone and then we went out with our new, French friends. I fell in love with Paris and I cannot wait for the next time go back; we’re thinking of going for New Year’s Eve!

After two busy days in Paris we headed to my Host Family’s summer home in Pornic, Bretagne. It was nice to spend a week relaxing at the sea side. We did a lot of biking, walking and exploring the little village of Pornic. There is a beautiful mediaeval castle in the town called Château de Pornic, which was very historic and lovely. The coast was breathtaking with sailboats on the horizon and rolling waves crashing into the rocks along the cliffs. We also took a day trip to Nantes, which is a city in western France, about an hour from Pornic. We went to a robotics museum and shopped a little.  The vacation was good and it was nice to see another area of France!

I moved in with a new host family a few days ago and I am much happier. They are a comfortable, loving, happy family and it was a much needed change. I have three host sisters who do not live at home during the week because they are at school but the house is full on the weekends. With so many people at home, it reminds me of a normal weekend in Canada and I like it a lot. The mother and father are caring and compassionate; they take interest in my life and help me a lot with my French. Things are still new and I am still getting used to the flow of a new family but I am really looking forward to learning new things and getting to know a different family.  

Last weekend we had our first “repas exotique” (exotic meal) which was a Rotary gathering that raises money for our district’s youth exchange program. Three times a year the district organizes an event where each country makes a meal for about twelve people and then serve tiny portions to about two hundred people. The other Canadian from Halifax made pancakes and I made 220 little Maple Cookies, 168 Chocolate Chip Cookies and 200 Rice Krispie Squares. I stayed home from school on Friday to have a Martha Stuart day.  They turned out delicious and I was happy with the maple cookies! As per usual it was fantastic to be with the other exchange students and nice to see a new town called, Lens. On Sunday we went to Canada! We visited Vimy Ridge to see the Canadian Monument which honoured the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the four year battle at Vimy Ridge. It was an extremely emotional experience and truly moving. After learning about Vimy in school, it was very interesting to see the actual land where the battle was fought. It was an eye opening experience and nice to go back to Canada for a few hours!

Friday marks my three monthaversary in France and time continues to fly by. I am really happy in my new host family and have lots of exciting things coming up like going to Brussels, Luxembourg and Lille’s Christmas Market. I still miss home but things are progressively getting better, so I am happy here!

“Travelling and wanderlust is second nature to us, it’s in our blood.”

Mont St. Michel

Sofie and I in Bruges

It’s been a long time since I wrote last and I have done a lot in the last few weeks. I have finally adapted to the French lifestyle, not fully but I feel like I am fitting in more which is good. I surprise myself daily by saying words in French in which I didn’t even know I knew. My French is really improving and I am proud of myself. I know I have a long way to go but I am able to have short conversations now, which is much better than when I first arrived and my only response was, “Oui!” 

My adventures continue from the last blog and I am always busy. A few weeks I was invited to go horseback riding with some friends from school. It was going well until we got to a field and my friends explained that they normally race here but they wouldn’t race today as I was not a superb horseback rider. My horse thought it was race day and took off into a full, Black Beauty, gallop. When we finally stopped, the other girls were laughing and said, “I guess he thought we were racing today.” Ha ha. It was not funny at all. I almost died but other than that, it was wonderful to see the country side that I drive past often. 

We had another Rotary weekend, which, of course was fantastic. We went to Mont Saint Michel which is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometer off the country's north-western coast. Since the 8th century it has been the Saint-Michel monastery with a beautiful church at the top of the castle. There were six districts and over two hundred Rotary Youth Exchange students. We saw the beaches of Normandy which was very neat to experience after learning about it in school. Each country sang their national anthem, there was a dance, we went on a 10 kilometer walk and got to know people from many different countries. On the Saturday night I only got twenty minutes of sleep; I went to bed at 6:40a.m. and got up at 7:00a.m. I was extremely tired but slept on the bus and slept in class the next day… haha. The trip was very informational and I had a fantastic time! 

A few weeks ago my friend, Sofie, who is from Norway, invited me to go to Bruges, Belgium for the day with her and her host family. The town looked like one you would see in a fairy-tale. There were waterways winding through the city, between buildings and sidewalks. The old bridges and canals give Bruges the nickname, “The Venice of the North.”  Even with the rain pouring down onto our umbrella tops, our spirits and lust to see the city were not dampened. We climbed the bell tower which was 366 steps, had lunch at a cute, little restaurant and went on a boat tour through the canals. The whole day was really enjoyable and I hope I’ll be able to return to Bruges again. 

I have also been to a few markets, had sleepovers with friends, continued rock climbing Tuesdays after school, been to Lille a lot and spent quality time with my host family. The other day we had my three other host families over  in order for me to meet them and it went really well. They all seem really lovely and I think I will be happy in their homes. 

          It has been two months now and it is so crazy to think so much time has passed. I am leaving for Paris this afternoon for three days, then to Bretagne and back to Paris with my host parents, Miso (Taiwanese) and Daniela (Bolivian). I am looking forward to the 12 day vacation! 

               I will leave you with something a friend of mine wrote who is from Canada, in France:

“I kind of had an epiphany tonight...everyone always tells me how brave I am and stuff for doing the exchange and I really don’t think I’m brave at all…But I realized like, if you really, really, really think about it...what we’re doing is so crazy. Completely giving up our lives in the places we know and love, and leaving behind the people we love for a place we don’t even know nothing about. We don’t know what it’s like, if we'll make friends, if it’ll be the most horrendous year or if it’ll be the best year. It’s probably one of the biggest risks we'll ever take. But whenever people spoke about exchange before I actually became an inbound I never thought of it like that. It was just second nature, like…why not go? It would be so cool, why not? Well today i realized there’s a ton of reasons I could have said, “why not” but it takes a special/different type of person to ignore the “why not’s” and just do it. Traveling and wanderlust is second nature to us, it’s in our blood. You guys are among the strongest and bravest people I know.”              –Victoria Cipryk