Sunday, August 29, 2010

premiere post from France

Je suis en France.. I am in France. Today was my fourth day in beautiful Antibes. I left Milwaukee on August 25th at 12:00 after saying goodbye to my family and friends. At that point I was such had soo many emotions-nerves and excitement took over my body for the majority of my first flight. It did not seem real to me that I was actually leaving my family and life behhind in WI. Once I landed in Philidelphia and immediatley reconized some kids in the lovely Rotary Blazer so we took a bus to our terminal together were we met up with over 50 other exchange students to France. The flight was good I watched 3 movies and unsucessfuly attempted to sleep. Once we landed in Paris excitement once again took over my body as I took my first stepe in Paris. It was pretty hectic getting to my gate but me and the ither 2 kids flying to Nice eventual setttled in and took off. When I landed in Nice I startign freaking out, I was soo nervous but really excited to meet my host family. Once I walked pass baggage claim I saw eager faces waving towards me and snapping pictures. I was soo brain dead I could not form any fluent sentances. But, I met my lovely host family who too me off to my new home. And so my adventure in France officially begain...

My host families house is SOO gorgeous, there is a pool wit
h a hamock and is surround by Palm trees, lemon trees, and a forest. It honeslty felt like a dream. Antibes is the most beautiful city I have ever been to in my entire life- with the aqua blue medditerian sea surround my huge mountains. The family is very nice and welcoming in their home. But, i do find the language barrier very difficult. I took French in the US so I thought i had a basic knowledge, but after comign here I realize I really have nothing. Everybody speaks so fast and their accent is very hard to understand- even basic sentences like "are you hungry?" leave me confused. Today I went to "aqualand" which is a waterpark in Antibes, I went with my host brother ( who is in university) and his girlfriend and then we met up with her friend and her boyfriend. It was fun and the veiw from the top of the slides was amazing. But, I could barley undertsand a word they were saying and none of them spoke any english. It's very frusturating no being able to communicate my thoguhts. I hope I am able to catch on fast.

On Friday i attended my first french Dinner Party. It was at one of the Rotarians house- which was incrediably stunning with a veiw of the whole city of Antibes and the sea. The food here is very good but i dont always know what im eating. Yesterday at dinner I was eating meat and my host dad says that it was sheep. That was interesting, personally I prefer steak. i was eating an appetizer and my host mom informs me Im eating Fois Grois. Also, in France the DO NOT belive in leftovers. my host parents kepp on filling my plate untill the food is gone.

Tomorrow I am giving a presentation at the Rotary club (ahhhh in FRENCHH) and then i might visit the lycee I am staring on friday. So, hope everythig is goin well in the States, I miss you all very much!

p.s the spell checker is in French so excuse the spelling errors!

a bientot
hannah

2 comments:

  1. Chére Hannan,

    You are a VERY lucky girl !! It's a long way from WI n'est-ce pas? I was the artist in residence last year for three months in beautiful Antibes and lived in the Villa Fontaine - place Kazantzakis - it was heaven. I also was the artist in residence the summer before. I have just returned from Antibes after another seven weeks in Paradise.

    So, congratulations on your Rotary exchange ... lucky, lucky you ! I will visit your blog from time to time.

    If you would like to see my paintings you can visit: www.annelizabethschlegel.com

    Have a great year in Paradise !!

    Ann

    Ann Elizabeth Schlegel

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oops ... Je suis désolé, I meant to type 'Hannah'

    ReplyDelete