For the Future

This entry is allowed to be about anything I want it to be. To commemorate the second to last day of the program I am going to create some lists.

Food I am going to eat when I get home:

• Pretzel Chicken
• Donuts
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Pizza Hut cheese pizza (Don't judge)
• Chicken salad sandwiches

Food I am going to miss from Lyon:

• Pizza and pasta from our favorite restuarant
• Tuna sandwiches from Paul
• Macarons from Paul
• Pims
• Naked pasta
• Quiche and that crazy good tomato pizza/quiche thing
• Salad with oil and vinegar
• My after dinner nectarine/peach

People I am going to miss:

• Chelsea, Laura, Kellie, and Tiffany (plus a few others)
  

People who I am not going to miss:

• Those who like to boogey
• Those who spent $1400 in three weeks
• Those who say things like, "Sans importance"

Clothes I am coming home with:

• Black skinny jeans
• Tank top from Petit Bateau
• Tank top from Galleries Lafeyette
• Grey tank top sweater with metallic thread from Galleries Lafeyette
• My absolutely beautiful gold shoes from Paris

What tomorrow signifies for me:

• The end of my undergrad education!!!
  

Things are a changing

How have I changed since this program and how do I see things differently? Let me count the ways. Actually, this question makes me think about an essay I read about the problem with travel abroad programs. The students focus inward, on how they have changed and developed, instead of analyzing and absorbing the new environment. I think now, after studying abroad, that it is much easier to talk about how you have changed and grown. It is difficult to put into words all of the new experiences, people, and customs you have become acquainted with, so focusing on your own personal journey just makes sense.

I started this trip aware of the fact that I am shy and not outgoing. I knew that it would be difficult for me to communicate with my French family and become comfortable with the situation. What I didn't realize is that I wouldn't stop being reserved around my French family. I have come to realize that it is just a part of my personality to sit back and watch things happen instead of joining right in. This happened in not only my French family but in the larger Lyon Program group too. It is more comfortable for me to be quiet instead of forcing myself to be outgoing and peppy. This lack of peppiness proved to be a problem with my first French family. I was accussed of being sad and never being upbeat. This remark upset me because I don't feel it's necessary to change my personality to be what someone else wants me to be. I am always polite and nice, but I will not change who I am to be some bubbly, peppy cheerleader. I have come to the conclusion that this program might not be the best program for students who are shy and reserved. You have to be willing to start conversations with your host family.

The situation with my first host family also made me realize something important: I am an adult. While I live by myself in Austin and am old enough to be considered an adult, I hadn't thought of myself as being an adult. However, the French mother became angry at me for not telling her where I was all the time because she was responsible for me. No, she is not responsible for me. I am responsible for myself, and I can do what I want.

I am so glad that I decided to do this program. Even though I had problems with my French families, I feel like I have learned a lot about myself and have grown up on this trip.

Now I think you've got it

So a little more than a week ago, I moved into a new French home. This was due to a confusing mix of lies, deceit, and intrigue. Umm, actually it had to do with a vaccum cleaner, but anyways, I have started anew in a duplex apartment in the sky. Hmm, not really a duplex, but you get the gist. Anyways, I'm now living with just one French lady. We are still getting to know each other because we haven't eaten very many meals together yet because of conflicting obligations, dinners with friends, and confusion about locks. However, this Monday we did share dinner together and her boyfriend (I actually have no clue what his relation to her is. I'm just guessing here.) He asked a few questions about me, but we didn't really get into a deep conversation. The dinner moved along and then during the cheese course, my French host mother started talking about her vacation time. She and "the boyfriend" chatted back and forth, until they realized that she was taking vacationone week later than he was. Then, a dialogue started about how she had told him when she was taking her vacation, and he claimed that he didn't know. At some point during this, "the boyfriend" says, "If we talk fast enough Katie won't know what we're talking about." Umm, dude? I totally can understand everything you're talking about. It was during this conversation that I felt that I was grasping the French language. I didn't have any problem understanding what they were talking about. This was one of the small moments where I felt confident about my French language aquisition.

While I'm still not very outgoing with my French skills and don't like to initiate conversation, this conversation helped me realize that my comprehension has definitely increased this summer. In the past, I absolutely dreaded any listening sections on French test, but now I know that I can figure it all out. Just don't ask me to figure out the dialogue from the Ocean's Thirteen movie. That was way above my head. Although, I do have a problem understanding the plots of those movies in English.

French Teacher, French Classroom, French Learning

The difference between my French 322 class here compared to any French class that I've had at UT is that this class is much more intense. This is due to a combination of factors ranging from the shortened semester, the fact that we're in a foreign country, and that there is the goal at the end of the program to be better in French.

While at UT, I took the French classes to fulfill my major requirements. The French classes I'm taking here are merely to broaden and enrichen my French vocabulary and fluency. While these classes do not count for anything other than electives, I find myself taking my preparation for these classes more seriously. I am in a French classroom learning directly from a French professor, and I feel that I should make the most of this experience. While others have chosen to enjoy the nightlife and party scene here, I have found that my focus is getting us much possible out of these classes.

There are also differences between how the French class is taught here in Lyon and how French classes are taught in Austin. Here, you are expected to have prepared your homework and be able to have a spontaneous conversation about the topics that were covered in the work. I;ve found at UT that students are able to not do their homework and still do fine in the French classes. This is because students can avoid being called on or quickly think up an answer if they think they are going to be called on. Also, the questions asked from the students do not require detailed, long responses. Here, it is impossible to avoid speaking. I've been pretty adept at avoiding speaking French in my previous classes, but this French class requires you to be able to think of long, complicated answers.

I think more than concrete differences between the Lyon and UT classes, there are differences in attitudes and expectations. I have never had a UT French teacher lecture a class about the lack of preparation, but a couple of days ago, our French class was reprimanded for not adequately studying and prepping for that day's lecture. We all chose to come here and take these classes, so it should be expected that work harder and are more focused.

Where is the culture?

I think that it is useless to learn a language without also studying the culture associated with that language. What good is it to have a solid, grammatical background but have no idea how to function within a society? Language is developed within a society. It is not an isolated organism that functions outside of the realm of the real world. Language is a reflection of culture, history, and beliefs.

It is necessary for professors and teachers to provide cultural information. I don't understand how it would be useful to know how to speak a language but then be unable to use that language within a society. One would be able to use the language in the most basic form, but they would miss the nuances that come from the micture between culture and language. For example: when it is approproate to use tu and vous when the situation isn't clear or when is it more appropriate to use slang instead of formal speech. This information does not come from just studying a book, but from learning the history of a place or the beliefs of the people. It is useful to know that the history of the French monarchy and hierarchical system still plays an integral part of French social roles. The American culture is not the same as the French culture, and these differences are expressed in how people interact, form relationships, and even speak with one another.

While on this trip is has been vital to know not just the French language but the French culture. Because I have learned about the culture, I know how to appropriately react to situations and respond accordingly. The more I learn about the French culture and history, the more proficient my French speaking is.

The Bus System of the Future

As I was riding the bus to get home one day, the bus driver drove right past my stop. This was not the first time he had done it either. I always hit the arrete button to alert the driver, but for some reason, we sometimes chooses to not let me off. I guess I am missing some sort of rule or hidden custom.

I grumbled to myself as I descended from the bus at the next bus stop. I was not in the mood to walk trek back to the previous bus stop and then to my house. However, there was a group of people preventing my walk. On the sidewalk stood about 6 uniformed officers and 3 cars waiting. Waiting to check to see if people were riding the public transportation without paying. I had been warned that the transportation authorities will routinely check to make sure that you have swiped your metro card, but this was the first time I had experienced a card check.

This was not what I expected when I was told that they would check to see if I had validated my card. I stood still outside of the bus' side door. Some of the authorities stayed outside of the bus while others entered holding machines that looked like portable credit card machine. It seemed like something out of a science fiction movie where the authorities make sure that everyone is properly identified. With their electronic devices, these people could check to see where we were born, where we lived, and how we were going to die. Or not. My imagination sort of got out of hand.

Nervously, I gave my metro card to one of the officers, and even though I was sure I had swiped my card, I worried that I had somehow forgotton to swipe my card or the machine hadn't worked. All of the other passengers acted calm around the officers and quickly pulled their metro cards out of their bags. I walked aways as the other bus passengers continued to get their cards checked.

What made this situation such a culture shock is that I was so surprised by how scary and intense the authorities were. The issue of checking one's metro card turned into a large event that required multiple officers and several cars. While it operates on a much smaller scale, the UT bus system rarely checks to see if anyone is has their identification card. Anyone could ride the West Campus bus if they wanted to, although I don't know why they would.

Language Learning or Not

French has always been my most difficult class. I do fine with all of the grammar, but listening and speaking in French has always been a struggle. I knew that the Lyon Program would be a challenge, and that it would force me to really work on my language skills.

What I have found from living in France is that I can understand French way more than I thought. When people are speaking to me, I generally know what they are talking about. The problem that arises is that I have difficulty replying in French. I know what I want to say, and I know that I've had enough French classes to adequately speak in French, but when I start talking, I end up just jumbling my words together.

I have also noticed that I am very good at blocking out conversations around me. Recently, I've been unaware of people talking to me because I just assumed they weren't speaking directly to me. I have definitely learned that I need to be more aware of my surroundings, especially in a foreign country where it is easy to just get wrapped up in your own world and ignore those around you.

From this program I've learned that my strengths are in writing French. You can give me a French grammar test any day. My weaknesses stem from not trying to speak French at every opportunity and not being confident in my French speaking.

I've already been up for 12 hours today, and some people's days haven't even started

• Today, we had ice cream cones that had two parts on either side of the main cone part for the ice cream. Once you ate most of the ice cream, you were left with an empty cone. Why are the cones shaped like this? I like the idea of ice cream scoops being piled one atop the other. Actually, I don't care how my ice cream is served to me. I had ice cream twice yesterday, and I could have had one more serving. Have I met my ice cream threshold yet? Umm, I don't think so.

• Next Thursday, I'm going to my French brother's school to talk. Thankfully, I only have to speak in English. I'll have to think of something to talk about. Perhaps ice cream?

• I have suddenly become a morning person. Or I have not yet adjusted to the French time schedule. The past two days I have fallen asleep around 10 pm, dressed in my day clothes, and have woken up between 4-6 am. This is shocking to me. I have never in my life accidentally fallen asleep and then slept through the night. I sort of like being up early in the morning though. One of the main benefits is that I can actually take a shower and blow dry my hair. I've found that 6:20 am is the best time to take a shower in my French house. There are still three people jiggling the doorknob to get into the bathroom, but at least, you can take a shower and wash your hair- unlike Monday where I was barely able to brush my teeth because the dad was blow drying his hair. Seriously? It's not like he has Fabio's hair. He doesn't need to take 15 minutes to blow dry his hair.

• The other day, the clouds started to pour whole buckets of French rain right when I got to my bus stop. I stood in the rain for about 15 minutes. I really looked super cute in my rolled-up, soaked jeans while the other French girls clung to their boyfriends wearing their cute trench coats from Zara. Finally, the bus came and dropped me off at my stop, amazingly. Usually the bus driver drives right past my stop even when I hit the button. There must be some sort of French secret code I'm missing. Anyways, I started walking home, and a van stops on the side of the road, and I'm thinking, "No way. I'm not getting in some stranger's car. I don't know what this person could do to me, probably make me eat liver and old cow nose masked as a Lyonnais speciality." As I approached the car, I saw my French dad's perfectly coiffed hair (it better look that good if he is hogging all of the bathroom time) and three boys laughing at me. Umm yeah, it is super funny to see an American exchange student completely drenched and miserable. Lyon- I really love your weather and sense of humor.
  

Communicative Ability

I was able to get through a whole French speaking class without actually speaking much French, so I sort of have to force myself to actually converse in French. I've noticed that I can understand what people are saying, but I can't think of anything to say back to them. I just need to get over my shyness which inhibits me even when I'm speaking in English too.

We are still speaking a lot of English in my French family, but we are speaking more French than we did the first few days. I've tried lately to talk to the kids more. The five year old just thinks I'm funny and sometimes has a hard time understanding what I'm trying to say. If worse comes to worse, we could just talk about Vin Diesal and Paul Walker in The Fast and The Furious.

I don't feel like I know less French than the other students, but I do feel like I am definitely less confident in speaking French. Some people just start speaking and are fine with stumbling and trying to find their words. I like to know what I'm going to say before I say it. At least I know that I have a good grammar background because I just finished FR320.

My Host Family

My host mother was the last one to arrive, but when she showed up, she really made a statement. Wearing all white except for bright gold accessories, she certainly stood out among the rest of the French people, and she definitely looked nothing like my real mom. During the ride home to her house, all she did was talk on the phone. I started to worry a little. Was she going to talk on her phone all the time? Is my family going to be super busy and not have time to try to help a poor, little American girl learn French?

Once we go to the house, Danielle (who is living with the same family) and I met the three boys: Doryan (12), Eddy (8), and Ghais (5). The boys haven't talked that much to us, but we are still getting to know each other. Ghais has slowly warmed up to us and went on a search throughout the house looking for the movie The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift because he was shocked that I had never seen the movie.

We've spent the most time together a dinner which is like my real home. In Dallas, my family eats dinner together every night, so I feel comfortable doing the same with my French family.

Because I had Danielle with me, I didn't feel like I was all alone in a this new situation. I'm sure that had I been living by myself, I would have felt homesick, but I feel like I can handle this new adventure.

I'm still trying to navigate how to communicate with the family. I haven't really tried to talk to the little kids yet because they don't really understand my broken French. I can understand a lot of what the parents say in French, but they do speak a lot of English to us. I'm sure that once everything settles down, we will be speaking a lot more French.

First Impressions of France/Paris

I think the first few days in Paris that I was in daze. Everyone was talking about the French people staring at them, and I hadn't noticed that at all. I think I just ignored everyone because I tend to just focus on what I'm doing without noticing what's happening around me. Once I started paying attention to my surroundings, I definitely noticed the stares. I guess the French just don't like my red tennis shoes. I also don't think they like giggling packs of American girls taking over the sidewalks and metros of Paris.

The thing that impressed me the most was L'Orangerie where the Monet paintings are. That is the most beautiful museum gallery. I loved the stark white walls contrasted with the swirling colors of the paintings. I also really enjoyed the Roman sculptures in the Louvre. How scary would it be if those statues came to life?

The only disappointments in Paris would have to be the Moulin Rouge the food. The Moulin Rouge is hyped way too much for what it actually is. I would rather spare myself the walk along with red light district with creepy men standing on the street than see the Moulin Rouge again. I think the reason why I was disappointed in the food was because I felt limited in both money and ability to find places to eat. I don't know where food places to eat are, so I ended up always eating sandwiches. I think I can lay off of the sandwiches for a while.

Eat, Eat, Eat

I met my Lyon family last night, and we ate dinner together and celebrated the mother's birthday. I have never eaten that much food in a meal before. We started with a lettuce salad and a tomato and feta salad. Then, we ate spagghetti boulognaise. She put one scoopful (a nice sized scoop), and I said, merci. She was like, "Not more?" Ummm, no, and thank goodness I didn't take more because I had to eat that plus a piece of bread and then came the dessert. First, we ate a chocolate cake and then a strawberry shortcake. Two cakes? I could not finish my second piece because she specifically gave me a huge piece of the chocolate cake. After the cake, there was yogurt which I was not going near. Everyone thinks that Americans overindulge and eat too much, but seriously, I've haven't eaten that much in a long time. Oh, and breakfast was interesting, too. Croissants and brownies? We'll see what dinner is like tonight. Also, I really hope I'll have time to do laundry tonight. Clean jeans would be really nice right now.

Now I have something to tell my grandchildren

I seriously saw Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton today. On the streets of Paris. They are the scariest looking people alive. More will come later when the internet isn't so expensive.

My suitcase is far from being packed

This whole thing still feels unreal to me, so I haven't really felt anxious except for the period right after I got accepted into the program, and I thought I would be living in a barn with pigs. I couldn't figure out where I got this idea, but for some reason, I recalled a person on tv or in a movie going to France and being forced to live in a barn. I know that France is not like that and certainly not Lyon, but this idea kept popping into my head. I finally realized that this idea came from a Simpsons' episode. I'm pretty sure that it is not the best idea to plan trips around what has happened to Simpsons' characters.

I'll be leaving to go to France in less than 48 hours, and everyone else is more worried and stressed out than me. I have gotten random doses of nerves when I thought I've lost my camera charger or thought that I forgot to confirm my flight, but for the most part, I've been calm. The people who think I need to pack three days in advance and get a larger suitcase need to relax. I think that everything will work out okay.

Studying Abroad

I had always planned on studying abroad, like how I plan to wash my dishes or do a load of laundry. I just kept putting it off. That was until my academic advisor said that I could graduate a year early. Suddenly, a whole chunk of time was gone.

I tried to look into some study programs that took place in the summer, but nothing grabbed my attention. My advisor gave me some suggestions like Senegal. I honestly can't even place Senegal on a map, so this option was out of the picture. Then, I remembered the Lyon Program. I thought about doing the Lyon Program a year ago, but I was sort of scared of how intense the program would be. I've been taking French since high school, but I'm still not the most confident French speaker. Anyways, I thought that this was my last shot to study abroad, so I applied to the program. Now, I am leaving for Paris in 12 days.

What are my goals for the program?

• Improve my French accent (seriously, it is terrible)
• Soak up the French culture
• Buy some pretty French clothes
• Have a ton of fun
• Figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life

So those are my goals for the Lyon Program. The last goal is a little lofty, but I better figure out that one quickly. After I get back from Lyon, I am homeless and without a job. What better place than France to figure out what you want to do with your life?