Salut tout le monde!


I hope all is well! Since my last post, I have been very busy and have had a great weekend. 


Thursday, I had an oral that all the students in Premiere have to take. I, obviously not speaking French all that well, had a very simple task. I just had to read Ma Boheme by Rimbaud and then analyze it. I told the teacher that gave my oral, that Rimbaud was just a teenager when he wrote this and explained the hidden metaphors about life as well as the allusion to the Greek mythological character Orpheus (Orphee in French). I did rather well I must say! I am really liking my courses about poetry and analyzing them. The oral got me out of some of my classes Thursday, so I had a short day :-)


Friday was a very, very exciting day! After school I came home and got ready to go out with some friends at the Comedie, which is the center where everybody hangs out. It is filled with stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and such. First, I went to go see The Hunger Games, and this time it was successful. The movie was sooo amazing and I recommend that everybody goes, but read the book first! Anyways, after I met up with three of my friends Clara, Charlotte, and Elisa. We walked around the Comedie and sat around in a park and just talked and hung out! There was a group of guys that serenaded us with their own original songs—very entertaining. They liked my American accent ;-) and I am yet to find a single French person that can say, "Amanda." We hung out for a while (and they all smoked their cigarettes) and then we continued to walk around. I learned that my friend Charlotte lives just right above a creperie and next to the movie theater in the middle of the Comedie! I was so jealous. It is such a cute little area and most of the streets and building were made in the middle ages. 

Charlotte and Elisa

Clara, Elisa and me

Clara and Charlotte waited with me in the Comedie before Ludmila came

This is the tram stop in the middle of the Comedie

At 11, me and the girls walked back to the center of the Comedie where the tram comes through. I was supposed to meet Ludmila, who was hanging out with her boyfriend, at 11 and ride the tram together back to Port Mariane to get picked up. We had a little trouble though…as me and Ludmila were standing at the Tram stop, which is big and crowded—and safe—she got pick pocketed! Well, maybe robbed is a better word to use. A man that seemed a little suspicious that was standing near us, walked over to Ludmila and took her phone out of her hand, yanked her purse then took off! At first when he walked over to us, I thought he was a friend of Ludmila's coming to say hi….
Ludmila put up a pretty good fight, but he managed to take off with all her stuff! I was too shocked to do anything at first, but after a few seconds of realizing what was happening I chased after him and he dropped her bag. Ludmila was so scared and already on the tram! I got her bag for her but we were both terrified! Unfortunately he got away with her iPhone 4S. When we got back to Nathalie, we went the police station and currently they are reviewing the video cameras from the tram station to see if we can identify the man. There have been numerous reports in the past few months, and they believe that is it the same man…what a crazy experience!


We are both fine though and didn't let it ruin our weekends. Saturday morning, Ludmila, Olivier, and I went to a big sports shop sale—think the Chicks (now Dick's) big tent sales. I didn't really have anything to buy though, except for chap stick :-) 


In the afternoon, Olivier drove me out to Meze where I had my AFS retreat. It was an overnight stay and I made so many more friends! I really clicked with a girl, Olivia, from Canada who was feeling a lot like me. She is on a shorter stay though and leaves in 5 weeks. She is living in Avignon and I think I am going to go visit her on my next break in two weeks. I also really liked Khem, a boy from Bangkok. He was super, super funny and called me Mandy (which sounded like Maddy with his accent). The two of talked about Ugly Betty and Taylor Swift hahah! All of us talked a lot about similar experiences and the ups and downs that come with being an exchange student. I learned that a lot of people have been feeling similar to me—more independent, more cultured, more open minded, and more lonely. But not necessarily lonely in a bad way. There is just a lot more time to reflect and learn about yourself, as you are not constantly with friends, and do not really have someone to tell all your secrets and whatnot to. Everyone agreed that this is the hardest thing we have ever done! But we also agreed that it is the most self satisfying and coolest thing that any of us have ever experienced. As I said in my last post, a friend told me its the "first time you can breath" when you are with the others. I have to agree. Not that I have been having a bad time, but I finally got a lot off my chest and I could talk with people who completely understand what I am going through. I made a lot of friends from all over the place, Chile, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, the list goes on. I can't wait to meet up with them again in early June! 

This is Khem!!!

All the AFSers

Olivia and Me

On Sunday, all of our families came to see us and have a big lunch together. The parents all talked (I imagine about the ups and downs as well) and Nathalie and Olivier told me how many parents were having problems, and they were lucky and happy that we get along so well. They said that when they told everyone that I was a breeze, everybody was shocked that the American was the best behaved! I am really happy that my family thinks so highly of me, and I am seriously so blessed that I met Ludmila and got the opportunity to live with her family and have a second mom, dad, and more sisters. However, I am still offended that everyone was shocked that the American was easy! Why do we have such a bad representation? I mean, I know there are ignorant, classless, self-absorbed people in the states, but they are everywhere. As I have said before, and continue to think, I love the French! But there are people here that are unbelievable. And that is just a part of life. It kind of bothers me that everyone here is so judgmental of Americans. For being such a liberal country, I would think that they would be open and willing to learn about others and have open opinions. With that being said, I am just so glad that I ended up with the best family in all of France! I love them.


After our AFS luncheon, Nathalie, Olivier, Emma and I (Ludmila stayed home studying) went to Sete, just next to Meze. It is a fishing town and just gorgeous! The four of us went to a very modern and abstract museum and saw some of the coolest/scariest/creepiest/funniest art ever. One of the highlights of the museum visit was when Emma took me and Nathalie by the hand and told us to close our eyes. She walked us an exhibit and said OUVRIR! When I opened I screamed bloody murder and jumped as high as a kangaroo! She put us in front of a creepy doll/wax human that had a crazed expression and mascara running down her face. I freaked out!! And then we were all overwhelmed with laughter for a good 5 minutes. We found Olivier and did the same thing to him. He too jumped! I took a picture of this doll, and it doesn't look as scary as it was! I mean I am a fan of scary movies and horror flicks and what not, but gosh was this creepy! 


There were lots of cool exhibitions and all sorts of cool art! I have found, however, that 90% of the artists featured in this museum are seriously disturbed. I found a Canadians interpretation of the United States…refer back to my previous paragraph about stereotypes for how I felt about that. I would put a picture up of a tiny portion of it, but the F bomb is seen in the shot, and I don't want to offend anybody :-). 

In case you can't see, this is Winnie the Pooh being held gun point…I am telling you, these artists live dark lives...

This is what we sat at first…then took a little walk...

than saw this!

I am loving the old French movies! My friend gave me Le Mepris to watch starring Brigette Bardot and I just love it! The culture here is fantastic

After the museum we went to a little cafe and had crepes and Nutella and a coffee. The coffees are tiny little babies! But everything in France is much smaller than everything at home. We came back home and I had an early evening, being so tired from the lack of sleep the night before!


Today, I just had two hours of class and got to come home early because my French teacher is giving out the Orals to another group of students. Tomorrow I have one hour of English, SIX HOURS in between, and then two hours of history…should be interesting.


I have been talking to Ines, a French student that did an AFS trip to Foothill High last year. We remembered each other and Mrs. Cogan, my French teacher, gave us each other's email addresses. She lives in Montpellier and is studying at a university. I think we are going to hang out sometime this weekend, if all works out. I am looking forward to see her again and pick her brain about being an exchange student.


I am also very excited because this week there are nine students from Santa Monica coming to Lycee Joffre. They have been corresponding with my English class for a year and tomorrow I will meet them. They are all two years older than me, but it should still be nice. My class at Foothill was supposed to be the group that comes, because at first they were corresponding with us (that is how I met Ludmila), but our district wouldn't allow the exchange. Regardless I am excited to talk to some California natives!


Again, I have noticed a lot of stereotyping here in France. As I have mentioned over and over, no one is religious here. But I have found that people have problems with the religious ones. Apparently it is super weird to pray and go to church every week. They are also very, very prejudice when it comes to the Arabs. One of my closest friends here is Arab and when I told this to my family their eyes became the size of the moon. Don't get me wrong! They have no problem with me hanging out with her or anything like that, they were just surprised because Arab's usually associate with Arab's and native French people associate with native French people.  They have also been keeping track of the American President Candidates and were shocked when they heard Mitt Romney was a Mormon. They asked me how he even had any supporters and I explained to them that in the USA there are a lot of religious people, but regardless, one is rarely judged on their religion and instead their ideas and character. I have many Mormon friends and it's no big deal. It is surprising how such a liberal, modern country has so many strong opinions. Please don't think I am now generalizing and stereotyping, though. This is just a recurring theme that I have noticed. But maybe its just the South! Or just my town! I don't know. I am keeping an open mind about the French and want to continue learning about the culture, even if I don't always agree with everything they think or say.


As AFS has often told us, it's not better, it's not worse, it's just different. It is different! But I appreciate it. I love living in a country where everyday is a mini adventure! I am one day going to look back on this experience and know how it shaped me. It is teaching me to keep my eyes open and my mind open. Every experience is new and I just love it! I am so glad that I have had this opportunity and I hope that I am giving the French a taste of America and teaching them to keep their minds open a little bit more as well.

I seriously am so blessed that I have a family that is just so great. My host family always helps me with my French and always makes me feel like I am apart of the family. I seriously couldn't be any happier! My sisters are perfect! Emma makes me laugh all the time and Ludmila is always here to talk to and we relate so much. Olivier and I watch sports together heehee and I am going to make him a baseball fan by the time I leave! It's one of my goals! Nathalie has just been the greatest. It has been really helpful that she is a teacher at my high school, and therefore she helps me with my homework if I need it, and talks to the teachers to make sure everything is squared away. She is also always there to give me a motherly hug when I need it. It is weird not having my natural family around, but I have grown so close with the Exbrayats that I consider them my family too. I couldn't be luckier!

Wow sorry for the length :/


A bientot tous le monde!

Salut!


First of all, I want to apologize for the delay in the post. I try to do one every Sunday, but I was busy all day Sunday (which will be explained) and the week is typically hard to get a post done, with school and whatnot. Luckily, I had a short day today therefore finished my homework early and now I am making up for lost time!


Ok so after last Sunday's trip to the beach, I had a busy week of school and soccer. But, I found time last week to take pictures of my little trail that I love so much. I took about a billion pictures, and I am sorry if you get bored with them all. I tried to pick out a select few that I liked the best! It truly is amazing, and its just 5 feet from my front door. I love all the nature here in France.

My house can just barely be seen in this picture…it's the square/modern looking house right behind the tree. It looks really far from where I am standing when I took this picture, but in reality I walk across the street and it is all of a 5 second walk.

There are a lot of bikers and roller blader's (is that what they are called??) as well as runners! I am never lonely :) 

About a half mile down, there are horses. They are always out and are so beautiful. It is definitely a nice change from running in California and seeing cars...

This is my favorite picture! I took it right as the sun was setting.

The colors are so pretty in this picture! I can't wait to see how they progress through spring and the rain season.

During my week, I didn't do anything all that exciting. I went to school and came home and did homework…nothing I like to consider "blog worthy." But I had an awesome weekend.

Friday and Saturday we laid low and got ready for our (my) adventure on Sunday. Emma had a dance competition in Carcassonne, home of the Carcassonne Castle. Living in the United States, I obviously don't see many castles…so this was a very special treat. I went with Olivier, Nathalie, and Emma. Ludmila, again, had to study for a big test. She takes the Science track, that is very academically demanding, equivalent to an AP track. I take the Literature track, which is rather simple. I totally know what Ludmila is going through though, and I am happy for a semester's break of those long stressful days! But moving on, the Castle was enormous! We were there for hours and I don't think we even covered half of it. Again I apologize for the millions of pictures that I am about to put up (feel free to quickly scroll) but it was absolutely breath-taking. 

Ca c'est moi devant le chateau!

Emma had her dance right before, hence the makeup and slicked hair.

Another thing that I just love about France is how small everything is. I am used to streets that can fit 2 or even 3 cars on it. Here, you are lucky if one can fit! 

This is the other side of the castle.

During spring and summer, this area is filled with lush green grass…unfortunately the cold winter snows have killed off most of it for the time being. 

The four of us went on a virtually guided tour around the chateau. I debated having my guide in French, but ultimately found the English channel easier. However, I must say that in the last week I have started to realize a difference in my French progression. People would tell me it is better, and up until this week I hadn't of even realized! 

This is one of my favorite photos I took. It shows the different layers of the outside and inside, as well as a cool view of Carcassonne! 

The town is what I like to call "typical French" with the tiny streets, tall buildings with balconies, and orange roofs. Soo pretty!

The churches are just amazing. Emma put a candle under the Saint of good health, even though they do not believe. I still find it strange how this country can be full of so many gorgeous cathedrals and have so few church-goers! 

After hours of walking in the cold and rainy weather, we stopped for a coffee and hot chocolate. I normally am not a fan of hot chocolate, but France may have changed my mind…note my new ring :)

We soon drove back to the theater where Emma had her competition. Having dancers in my family, I have been to quite a few competitions. I was surprised to see how similar the whole thing was! Emma does classical dance, and is one of the cutest ballerina's I have ever seen! I have been telling her about all the different dances my sister does, and she is so jealous! I think the two would get along very well. 

This is at the end of day when all the dancers sat on stage and waited to see if they placed. Emma got a "prix seconde!"

Ok, I know this is awful photography. But I thought I would include it just to show you how cute she is!

After the awards ceremony, we drove home. We didn't get home until about 11 pm and therefore I didn't have time to update! Monday morning I got to sleep in and then I went to one hour of class starting at 3. Not much happens for me on Mondays…Yesterday, however, I got a little bit of shopping done. I went to the Polygon, the shopping center just across the street from my school, while I had a two hour break. I bought my best friend Hayley's birthday present!!! And then a few books to keep myself busy. I have been continuing to read and am now starting the Great Gatsby. My friend has it in French, so after I read it in English I think I am going to reread it in French and see if I understand. 

Today was bittersweet…for those of you that have read The Hunger Games I am sure you are getting excited about the film that comes out on Friday. I have read the books and am obviously a big fan. I was so excited to hear that the film came out today (two days before all you Americans!) in France, and had a whole day of lunch, shopping, then the movie with a friend. As we were going to buy our tickets, the salesman told us that they had made a mistake and were not showing the movie in VO (original version with subtitles) until the evening…unlike posted! I was very upset! But Sirine and I continued to walk in the rain and then eventually took the tram home. I am planning on seeing it with her on Friday after school. I took a few pictures of my little adventure today, but Sirine wouldn't let me get any of her! Sorry :/

That big tall building is the library where I bought my books yesterday. Walking around in the rain was a nice change!

The blue oval-looking thing is the "Polygone" where everybody shops. Around it is the Comedie, which is HUGE and full of amazing French designers and small streets and stores that date back to the Middle Ages. 

This is the ally where the cinema was located.

Our movie was supposed to be at Royal Cinema…but the Royal Cinema employees give out false information… :(

I got ONE shot of Sirine…from the side. She is very, very nice and kind of shy. She is in my English class and I, being new, know that feeling of shyness. But, I am obviously not a very shy person and invited her to be in my group for an assignment. We have been hanging out since!

So sad. 

After my movie mess up, I came home and did some homework for a little. AND THEN, my fabulous Aunt Vallarie called me from London! We chatted for a while and she always puts a smile on my face. Her and Uncle Jim are there for a few days, and we have been corresponding. Those two crack me up! She is in the midst of sending me a care package, so my excitement continues!

As you probably know, there was a man in Toulouse that shot a few children and a school guard. The whole country has been grieving over this, as it is the first time in France's history that children have been shot at, at a school. Luckily, early this morning, the man was caught and is to be imprisoned. Yesterday, in all the schools around France, we participated in a minute of silence in honor of the people killed. It was really sad. 

But, I do not want to end on a negative note! I am very excited for this weekend. I have an AFS retreat with all the students in the Languedoc-roussillon region. We are all meeting and spending a weekend together full of games and bonding! I am really looking forward to it, and as another friend in AFS told me it will be the first time that I can really breath. I only know 2 people in my region so far, but I can't wait to make more friends from all over the world. 

I hope all is well for everyone.

A bientot!