une élève

je suis une élève americaine qui étudie en france cette été

[mylifeinlyon]

Post-Arrival

Bonjour mes amis,

I arrived in Lyon a week and a half ago and I would be lying to you if I said it wasn’t difficult to adjust to being abroad. Although I am staying with a host family, for the first few days I felt so alone in this big city that was so unfamiliar to me. I had a lot of trouble doing random things - communicating with cashiers, asking for directions, or even reading the menu at restaurants. Despite struggling for the first couple of days, I was very happy to meet other students; both from WMU and from other universities around the planet. 

When classes began, it was very nice to feel a sense of routine and really helped me to get situated in Lyon. It was comforting knowing that I wasn’t the only one who was nervous, scared, and homesick. Within the first few days, I went with a few other WMU students to explore the beautiful city of Lyon. We went to a handful of museums, as well as some delicious restaurants and just meandering through the busy streets. 

And even on the nights where I felt the most homesick or exhausted, the one thing that always turned my mood around: the food. The food that I have tried here is among the best cuisine that I have ever experienced in my life. The best pasta, salads, and more that I can even imagine. 

I also realized that although everyone struggles a bit with their feelings and getting well-adjusted at first, I will never forgive myself if I don’t live in the moment and enjoy my time while I’m here, because I am sure that before I know it, it will be time for me to fly back home in the blink of an eye. And after I had that epiphany, I finally realized that I had found my place. My place is a country that I have dreamed of visiting for most of my life, in a beautiful apartment with a lovely host-mother, attending a university with some new friends, in a city that is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Of course I miss my friends and family back home, but I will not allow that to affect the extent to which I will enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Au Revoir,

KH

[mylifeinlyon]

Traveling Alone

Bonjour mes amis, 

The furthest I’ve ever traveled completely alone was when I traveled to Detroit on a train. I’m from Kalamazoo. Some of you probably know where that is, and some of you probably do not. And the distance from Kalamazoo to Detroit is roughly 140 miles. In just over a week, I will start my journey abroad by traveling 2,933 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Keflavik, Iceland. Once I arrive there, I will probably be confused and stressed out for about six hours until it is time to board my next flight, which is an additional 2,282 miles.

Now not to get into my love for math and statistics, but that means that I am traveling over 37x as far as I’ve ever traveled alone. And even with that in mind, when I went to Detroit by myself, I just took the train and didn’t have to deal with TSA or the unavoidable stress of international airports.

I can’t stop thinking of the “what if?”s.

What if I lose my passport? What if they lose all of my luggage? What if my flight gets canceled? What if something happens to my family when I’m gone---or to my 14 year old dog best friend?? What if I get to France and actually don’t understand a thing?

I know that most of these things are either unavoidable or completely irrational, but some of them are valid concerns. I go to California every year to visit my dad and grand parents. I am genuinely shocked that my luggage hasn’t gotten lost yet. It’s bound to come sooner or later, right? Statistically speaking? I mean, we’ve all read travel horror stories. I just don’t want it to happen to me when I’m studying abroad in France. Or ever, but like, I really don’t want it to happen for France.

However, I must say - when I traveled to Detroit by myself, I had the most wonderful time and it actually ended up being (what I consider to be) the best day of my life. Granted, it is because I went to Detroit to meet one of my celebrity idols. Whatever the purpose though, I thoroughly enjoyed traveling on my own. It was stressful at times, but also liberating because there was nobody that I had to compromise with or anyone telling me what to do or what not to do. As a very stubborn and slightly hot-headed person at times, I enjoy traveling alone because most of the time, what I say goes.

Au Revoir,

KH 

[mylifeinlyon]

Pre-Departure Feelings

Bonjour mes amis, 

I am coming here to share some of the feelings I am experiencing right now, nine days before my voyage to France officially begins. I think it would be an understatement to say that I am overwhelmed with emotions. And almost any emotion you can think of too: sadness, happiness, excitement, anxiety, worry. I could go on and on. 

I am so excited to go to France. I’ve wanted this for so long and the thought of this actually happening makes me want to pinch myself. It’s so hard to believe that any of this is real. And I am going to France a week early to live on my own for a while? That is so unbelievable. Truly a dream come true. 

I am sad because I don’t want to have to say goodbye to my family, friends, and girlfriend for five weeks. I know that it doesn’t seem like a super long time and that I’m being dramatic, but I don’t think I’ve ever gone 38 days without seeing someone important to me. But who’s counting, right? 

I’m worried for my layover in Iceland. Such a pointless thing to be worried about, I know. But I don’t speak Icelandic and how am I supposed to know if anyone there speaks French or English? Granted, my layover is about 6 hours and that should be plenty of time to figure out my way through an airport, with or without help. 

I am excited and nervous to meet my host mother. She seems like such a lovely woman, and her apartment looks wonderful. I’m just a bit nervous about speaking exclusively French at home. But hey, if I’m not working on my French out there...what am I even doing? 

I’m a bit nervous for the courses. I just don’t completely know what they are about and how intense they will be. I’ve learned in my French courses at WMU that the education system in France is much tougher than that in the United States. 

With all of that being said, I am looking forward to my adventures in France more than I’ve ever looked forward to anything in my entire life. I intend to keep uploading posts and updates and photos to this blog whenever I get the chance. 

Au Revoir, 

KH