Blog Obligatoire: I caved.

So, here I am, after my first full week in Nantes. I have debated for a while whether or not it would be prudent to have a blog - would anyone read it? Am I really that self-important? The answer, at least to the latter, is yes.

For those of you who don't know by now (who I assume are probably not reading this), I recently arrived in Nantes, France, where I will be spending my entire Fall semester (and then some). I'm living with a French family, attending a French university (part-time), and drinking lots of wine (full-time). So, the big question: How is it so far?

I love it.


BUT...it's been rather stressful up until this point. After spending two days in Paris (which were mostly wasted due to jetlag and sheer terror), I took a train to Nantes, where I waited for my host family to retrieve me. There are 67 other American students in this program, and we were all cramped into a rather small library, where we waited to be adopted. Rarely have I experienced something so nervewracking. My famille d'accueil consists of a couple, their 17-year-old son, and their cat, Hubert. They also have two older children who live in Paris. So far, they are all really great. And it certainly doesn't hurt that ma mère is an amazing cook, et mon frère is more than willing to show me all the hottest spots in town.

After only one night with our families, we were uprooted to Vannes, a city about two hours away, where we took in many sights that I cannot even begin to explain. Save for a daylong bout with seasickness, it was truly beautiful. Then it was a week full of orientation- touring Nantes, talking about safety, and other general housekeeping. Comment dit-on snooze? Though it was all necessary, I think we were all just incredibly anxious to get into the swing of things and find out what our lives will REALLY be like here.

Tomorrow I will commence my classes, which, by the way, are all taught in French: French grammar, French poetry, translation, Racines culturelles, a theatre production class, and a teaching internship. The last three are the most important. Here's why: Racines culturelles, or cultural roots, is a literature course at l'Université de Nantes. In this class, I will read and discuss some of the most important literary works to date: Othello, The Iliad, The Idiot, etcetera... mais en français. Pas de problème, right?

The theatre production course will be especially interesting because we'll be putting on a French play by the end of the semester. I can't think of a better or more fun way to improve my speaking skills.

Last but certainly not least- the teaching internship. This internship had a lot to do with my selection of the IES Nantes program. As an intern, I will be placed in schools around the city, and teach English to the students. Depending on their evaluation of my competence, I will either teach junior high or high school students. I cannot begin to express my excitement/nervousness about this aspect of the program.

Now, the stereotypes Q&A portion of the program:

Do the French smoke all the time?
Like trains.

Do the French drink wine constantly?
Comme des poissons! Yes, many of them do (and I join them). Surprisingly, though, I haven't seen many wine lists in restaurants. The true connoisseurs of wine don't seem to need a list. Also, wine is literally cheaper than water.

How many crêpes have you eaten?
Already too many to count. And they're FABULOUS. The best one so far was filled with goat cheese, which is also very cheap here. Apparently the region of France that I'm in specializes in galettes, which, to my understanding, are flour-free crêpes. Not only are they amazing, but there may be hope for my Grecian Goddess figure after all.

Do French people take showers?
Probably more than I do. Though sometimes, after a long day without air conditioning, you can't tell.

Do French people like sports?
Rugby. Rugby is the only answer to this question, at least in the testosterone-based family with whom I live. It's exactly like football, sans protection. At first I thought it'd be boring to watch, but ladies...it's worth your time.

Do you speak French?
Yes and no. Every day I'm learning. It's only been a little over a week, and I'm already so much better than the first day. Are there language barriers? Absolutely. Do I make mistakes? Every time I open my mouth. But it's a good place to be. A new place.

Everyone should have to be a foreigner at some point in their life.

A toute à l'heure.