From a New Perspective

Bonjour!

Unlike my fellow mousquetaire I don't have as strong of a reaction to French culture. Don't get me wrong, I am not having anymore luck finding French friends than she is, but I am not surprised. It's difficult to work around cultural differences (most of which I feel completely unaware of) and I think we are just missing something. It could be that the French students themselves are as intimidated by us as we are of them or maybe we are just not being outgoing enough. It would be dishonest to say that we leap at every chance we get to speak French or say hello or start a conversation. Maybe the problem is as simple as we don't understand how daily interactions work here.

That being said, I think things are starting to look up in the friend department. We have finally made some French acquaintances (only one of which has been from our university). In fact, we have finally been invited somewhere!!!! Ok, I know that makes me sound like I'm thirteen again and its my first time being asked to a party or dance, but after long weeks--which feel like years at times--constantly feeling like I'm socially unacceptable, I am LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. My excitement, however, is coupled by the fear of making social blunders. I have never been invited to someone's apartment in France before. We learned in our culture class that if you are invited to dinner you need to show up 10 minutes late and bring a gender appropriate gift (flowers for women and wine for men). I don't have any idea what I'm doing and I hope that I don't screw things up so badly that she doesn't want to be friends.

As far as money is concerned.......................................

WE DON'T HAVE ANY!!!!!!!!!!

We have been here for four weeks now (I think) and we have still not received our stipend from the school! It is absolutely ridiculous that they can't give us an actual date; but what can we expect with the famous French bureaucracy at work?


Despite the problems we've had adjusting, and despite my love and loyalty to my home country, I love France. I love the lifestyle, the food, and even the classes (well, I think I would like them if I could understand anything that was happening). Other international students may be ready to go home, but I wish I would've come a semester earlier.


-Caitlin