Finally

Well here I am, finally at my home in Avignon, finally with internet.

Yesterday after my arrival in the train station I was picked up by my program advisor and taken into the city by shuttle. We were dropped off at la poste just inside the city walls, and there I met a teacher from the institute and a fellow student who walked me to where I am staying. I was grateful that she asked if I would like to speak English because by this point I was far too tired to be able to understand anything in French, let alone respond in French. So I got a mini tour of the area walking through the inches of snow that have perplexed this city. (It’s actually a little humorous, the only thing people can talk about is the snow and how it’s basically shut down the city. To those in Illinois, this is nothing compared to when Bloomington snow plows are a little behind. Imagine no snow plows, no salt and a whole city full of tiny twists and turns and only caterpillar tractors to get rid of the snow and ice.) Good thing I just walk everywhere! Actually I haven’t done too much walking. After I met my host, Edith, I stayed in all night trying to figure out how to connect to her internet. She didn’t exactly know, and I went to bed last night pretty distressed that I hadn’t figured it out yet. I figured I just needed some sleep, because I was probably over-reacting about the whole thing.

This morning I woke up and had breakfast. I sat down for cereal and she had put out two bowls. I didn’t think much of it until she asked me if I wanted coffee and proceeded to pour it into the bowl I wasn’t eating from. I seriously almost laughed out loud. They drink their morning coffee form a bowl, like soup. I guess that’s the first strange French thing I’ve encountered. Anyways, after that I quickly went to work at the internet again, but obviously this time I got it to work!

Having internet here has made me feel so much better about everything. I am not going to sugar-coat it, I am still really nervous about my language skills and living here. I really really miss the comfort of home and the knowledge that I can just go anywhere and do anything without having to worry about speaking another language. I guess this feeling is a little like when you first move into your freshman dorm and you don’t know anything about the campus or the city. If you can remember the feeling of when your parents left you at school for the first time, it’s like that times a million. I definitely miss home in Bloomington right now, I definitely miss the house in Champaign, and I even miss the flat in London! Mostly though, I miss all of you. I know we will talk as much as possible, but of course it’s always different being in a new place without knowing anyone right away. It’s also hard for me to accept that I won’t see anyone for the next 4 months. (Unless of course you would like to visit Europe, because that would be spectacular.) But anyways, enough of the depressing thoughts, I really am quite ready to just take my classes, meet my fellow students and explore my city. I think I probably won’t be able to blog as much, but obviously I love it so I’ll try to get in as many as possible. For now I’m just going to study my French, start to put my things away and settle into my room.

Also, pictures of everything will be on facebook soon! Love you all!!!!