France
This summer I am going to have the opportunity to go to France for a couple of weeks with the French class, and as the school days are winding down I’m gradually becoming more and more excited about the trip. Although I have been busy doing homework and studying and have yet to even think about packing a suitcase, mentally I have been making various notes as to what I should be getting ready for.
This last week my host sister, Margaux, whom I will stay with for about a week during the trip, has been able to keep contact with me through e-mail. Me not being perfect at French, and she not being perfect at English (though thankfully enough she does speak English!), the e-mails obviously aren’t always fully gramatically correct, but nonetheless we have been able to keep a decent conversation going.
I was under the impression that being in France for the beginning of June I would be able to attend school with my temporary host sister, but as she is in high school, I was informed that she gets out of school the same time Uni does.
I was attempting to think about the different things I would want to do while I was in France, something that would give me a taste of the French culture. Something that I can’t get here in America.
But then I realized that no matter what, even if I do just go shopping (and obviously we can go shopping in America), being able to do something ordinary in another country is a new experience in itself.
For example, Madame Lopez informed us that when you are in France it is considered impolite, when walking in to a grocery store, to not say hello to everyone you come into eye contact with. Personally that seems a little strange, considering if I went to a store, and a bunch of people I didn’t know were saying hello to me, instead of feeling warm and welcomed I would more likely feel compelled to leave.
There will be many little things that I will have to get used to as well. For example, as it is throughout most of Europe, the electrical outlets are different. On top of that, not only will it be harder to use my many hair dryers, hair straighteners, hair curlers, etc., but since we will be constantly traveling from city to city, I was told not to pack any of those things if possible. “You will get there and be dead tired from lugging your heavy suitcase everywhere. The lighter the better.”
I would also imagine that I would want to buy quite a few authentic French items, but attempting to communicate with already stressed-out sales clerks will be more than a hassle.
Usually as summer progresses, I tend to gain weight if anything since I spend the majority of my time eating and participating in minimal physical activity. Contrary to what I’d thought, though, for the trip it was recommended that we bring belts in our suitcases since our pants will most likely be too big at the end of the trip.
I suppose this is because on top of all the walking around we will be doing (especially since we are not allowed to drive motorized vehicles — even scooters), our meals will be limited. This isn’t to say that we will be starved, but instead we will all be on budgets, and unlike sitting at home over summer in America, it’s not well accepted to just open up the refrigerator and grab a snack every hour or so. This will most definitely help me to learn (forcibly nonetheless) to resist my cravings!
In general, I’m really looking forward to the trip. It’ll be quite a new experience, and hopefully not too difficult!
— Lizzy Warner