Age… Time

It feels like my time here is speeding up. The last time I updated, my year in France was half over. Now it feels like it’s close to the end.

I’ve been able to talk to some of the new students some more, and have heard from a number of them that the full-year students seem older: they were surprised to hear that I was the same age as them. As one girl put it, “you all seem so mature and put together!”

Funny to think about when I remember how lost and young I felt not so long ago…not long ago at all. But it’s true; we’ve come a long way. And now I have to start thinking about the reality of my life, post-France adventure.

The summer after I graduated high school I took a road trip with three of my friends from Sacramento to Vancouver, B.C. It was my first time “traveling” without adult supervision. I remember being amazed that I was old enough to just check into a hotel; to drive more or less wherever I wanted. Just over two years later (although it seems like less, in ways), I am here in Europe with relatively absolute freedom. A friend and I went to Stockholm for a weekend on a whim, not knowing anyone who had even been there, and got the hang of public transportation and found our hotel with little or no difficulty. Coming back we missed our train because our plane was late because of a storm… but we still made it back, safe and sound.

Earlier this week I bought tickets to go to Morocco over Easter weekend. AFRICA. It blows my mind that I can just take off with a group of friends and go to Africa. Winter break starts next week, and tomorrow afternoon I leave for Prague, Budapest, and Vienna. I’m a little bit nervous, not knowing a word of Czech, Hungarian, or German, but I know we’re going to be fine. It’ll be the longest trip I’ve taken so far since this time we have a full week off.

At the moment I’m loving being in Nantes. My frustrations with French are less and less frequent. I’m taking a bunch of really interesting classes and I’ve had virtually no homework—everything that I love about learning. (I’m having to start doing a little bit of work, now, so we’ll see if that changes things) My home here feels like home and I’m comfortable—at least for the most part-- with my host family. I have a few French friends and some wonderful American ones.

On a slightly less positive note: I started an internship two weeks ago, at a huge store that’s something like a SuperTarget or a Costco. I thought I would be learning about how the store functions as far as making purchases go, etc, but instead I’m learning how the store functions…by putting products on shelves. For 8 hours a week. Early in the morning. I was ready to quit after the first day and was told that wouldn’t be possible, so… we’ll see. I keep telling people I feel like I’m volunteering at a Wal-Mart. Because of it, I’m busier than I’ve ever been here and have been stressed out at times… but it’s an experience, and it’s all part of the adventure.
And what an adventure it is :)