Author: Erika Wilmes

I decided to wait two weeks to post about my new life here in Le Puy, some time to get accustomed to my family, the town, and school. And WOW is life wild! I don’t even know where to start.

School

So here, I’m in the 10th grade. The 11th and 12th grade in France begin preparing students for the BAC/aka the national test that defines what you do for the rest of your life whether you pass or not. And since I don’t take the BAC because I’m not a French citizen, I’m in year 10. All of my peers are 15 years old, but I have actually made friends that are pretty cool and mature.

The classes are pretty odd compared to the USA. Students don’t choose what they take-there’s no “AP” or “Honors” you are just with a random group of 30 other students and you all take every class together, which I actually love because it’s a great way to make friends since you’re with the same people all day everyday all year. Also, the schedule changes every day, and usually day’s are really long.

For instance, Monday’s I start at 9am and end at 4pm, but Tuesday I start at 8am and finish at 6pm, Wednesdays start at 8am and end at 12pm (All of France does this), Thursday 8am-4pm, Friday 8am-5pm. Lunch is an hour everyday. I have Physics/Chem, Biology, French (like an English class…literature/writing), Math, English (the language-it’s a great break for my brain), some type of Sociology class, Economics, History/Geography, European History in English, Health, Civics, and Gym.

I don’t know if you can understand what taking Physics in French is like. Trés difficile. The first week I honestly thought my brain was just not working because it was so hard to understand anything, but now that I’ve finished the second week, I can pick up at least the topic of conversation or of the lessons, but it’s a good thing I’m here to learn French and not physics!

And the school lunches! Man am I impressed. Yesterday, we had pasta with salmon and today we had chicken with ratatouille. Can you say parfait! Always fresh baked bread, always fresh fruit, always a real meal… lunch is seriously my favorite part of the day.

Students are super organized. If the teacher writes something on the board for students to take note of and then underlines it, every single person in the class pulls out a ruler to draw a perfectly straight line on their already lined paper. Almost all of the girls use big purses instead of backpacks-which fits in with the fashion stereotype of France.

And my final comment on school-the teachers. The style seems to be fairly the same as in the US; some teachers lecture the whole class, some write notes on the board, some give handouts and talk about them, etc. But technology is utilized a lot less, and the respect is much higher. When you enter the classroom, you don’t sit down until the teacher says you may. If you’re talking and the teacher moves you to the front, you don’t complain or try and argue. And…teachers don’t have rooms. You have a class in a certain room, and the teacher goes to that room just to teach that class… there are no decorations on the walls or pictures of their family etc.

Also-I’ve become the topic of my English class. The teacher has me read poems and words out loud for an “American” accent, and gives them assignments like “write five questions in English to ask Taylor about her life in America.”

Anyways-Yeah. I’m enjoying school and the days are going by quickly; it’s really difficult though…the most challenged I’ve ever been. (And that’s saying a lot because last year I took AP US history)

      New things

I expected all of these things, but they’re something to comment on.

Smoking (Fumer)

Everyone. Everrryyyone smokes.14 year olds, 40 year olds, girls, guys. I knew “yeah a lot of people smoke in Europe” but this is just wild. In the morning, after school, lunch breaks, in between classes…people are always smoking! I see girls rolling cigarettes inside the school. People making handmade cigarette boxes out of construction paper in class. It’s seriously so strange. I know like two people under the age of 30 who smoke cigarettes back home. Usually, I have an insanely low tolerance for cigarette smoke, I can’t stand to be around it. But now, it doesn’t bother me. I guess all this second hand smoke is making me aloof to it…which honestly kind of scares me.

Kissing

“Bonjour!” “Salut!” *Kiss, Kiss*

I’ve never had my cheek kissed so many times by so many people. And I never know if its 1, 2, or 3…which makes it really awkward when I pull back and the person is still trying to kiss me. Especially when that person is a stranger. When I’m with my host sister and her friend walks by and kisses her on the cheek, they’ll say “Salut” and kiss me too…even though we haven’t even been introduced. I guess I’ve always compared it to hugging your friend hello/goodbye…but I don’t think I’ve ever hugged a stranger just because they’re with someone I know.

Breakfast (Petit Dejeuner)

A piece of a baguette, butter, jam, coffee (drunk out of a small bowl), and juice. When they say “Petit Dejeuner” it really is petit. But so good! Fresh bread, sometimes cake, and super fresh and rich coffee-which I have gotten used to drinking black (Im proud of that!)

Teens

After school, kids go hang out in bars. Some drink beer (drinking age is 18) and some just drink this flavored syrup-water drink, which is popular like in the states it would be a soda or tea or something. Today I had a Sirop de Framboise (strawberry syrup drink).

The obsession with New York City and American music. “Have you ever been to NYC?” “Do you like Justin Bieber? I don’t” “Have you seen The Fault In Our Stars? The Hangover? Hunger Games?” “What kind of stores do you like?” “You’ve never had frog? Snails? Really?” Sometimes in French, sometimes in English.

Most people either are really curious about America, want to hear me say a weird word like “grenouille” [(frog)…seriously that word is really hard to say] or want to practice their English on me.

Nightclubs. There are like 5 in the city, and you can go as young as 13. And people do. I think I’ll go with my host sister in a few weeks. Very curious if the nightclubs here are like what we consider a nightclub in the US, because I’ve never been to one, and wouldn’t be allowed now much less when I was in the 8^th grade.

Cultural differences, y’all. I’m learning a bunch.

Absolutely loving my time here. The first few days were rough in terms of adjusting to the language/a new house and family and accepting that I’m here, but I’m feeling much better now that this is starting to feel like my life. Can’t wait for the language barrier to be at a minimum!

Wow! What a full three days.

The first was spent waiting around at the airport, going to the Eiffel Tower (and climbing up to the 2nd floor with an amazing view of Paris) and spending time at the hotel.
The second day we went to a beautiful church (the name slips my mind right now) and the Castle of Versailles… Then we went on a dinner cruise on which I tried liver unknowingly. That was interesting..

The last day we went to The Louvre, walked on Champs Élysées, and went out to dinner. Then Saturday we went to Notre Dame in the morning before heading to our trains to go to our host family!

I enjoyed Paris, but it’s nice to be in a little french village. I’ll update in a couple of weeks with info on how it is living with a new family/going to a french school, but for now I am still trying to process it and just trying to adjust best I can!
A bientôt!

Coming to you live from the Newark airport.

Wait… What? It’s August 26th? I’m about to go to another country to live with strangers and go to a new school spoken in a foreign language? And stay there until January? For the past 6 months of preparation it hasn’t felt real until today. After hours of applying, thousands spent, complications in the visa process, and pretty much an entire summer away from home before this, I didn’t really accept I was getting on a plane to go on this adventure until I was hugging my friends and family goodbye. It’s been an emotional day for sure, but I’m trying to be brave and remember what an incredible opportunity and journey this will be! The first 4 days will be an intro week in Paris; touring museums, shopping on the Champs-Élysées, and yummy French café meals. Then I will take a train to Lyon to meet my host family to head to Le Puy En Velay !!

I’m really excited, scared, happy, sad, and a bit overwhelmed with the whole “I have no idea what Im doing or how any of this will work” but I am just going to try and trust the process.

See you in Paris!

Sorry to wait two months to post about this trip, I’ve written lots of drafts just never got around to posting.

What an incredible trip! So much culture and history within French Canadian people and territory! It felt so European and so French the entire time we were there.
The people were all incredibly nice and patient with the French Club and our limited level of French proficiency. The cities were both spotless clean.
Montreal felt very New York City style-a big city feel (although Old Montreal was more of European style)

We went to some really cool places and did some awesome things.
One of my favorite memories was on the 2nd day we had time to roam around Old Montreal and shop/eat and my friend and I decided we want crepes at the last minute so we quickly ordered and scarfed down a crepe the size of my head and had to sprint to get to the group. **Side note– the streets are cobblestone and I almost fell on my face approximately 3 times.

Quebec City though— I fell in love! Such kind people, such beautiful architecture, and such good food!

My favorites here: Stopping to talk to an amazingly talented artist and even understanding some of her French! and eating lots of poutine: fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Yum!

 

Montreal streets, crepes, and famous pulled pork, Olympic biodome, pretty churches, and city sidewalk public music

Quebec City: amazing European streets, beautiful views, talented street vendors and fun times. 

 

Hey all! On Saturday WHS french club will be going to Quebec for a week! This is very exciting as Quebec is Canada’s largest province and the main language is french! The week will consist of really great food, really cool (yet touristy) sightseeing, and a chance to speak french in an everyday setting… something I’m super excited to try out.

This trip is very exciting as I’ll get to be in a french speaking place and start practicing-while getting to hang out with my super cool french teacher & classmates.

I will try to post throughout the week!

À bientôt!

This week I have been emailing back and forth with my host sister, Thuy! She is 17 and will also be a senior next year. I am really looking forward to automatically having a friend and someone who can help me meet people! She likes to do jazz and modern dance, and I will probably join that with her to keep myself busy and to meet new people. She also said there is a big medieval festival in September in her town, and you can walk everywhere–So fun! She says there is a big cinema and she and her friend go to a night club I think–she was writing in English and it was a bit confusing as to what she was saying. And she loves shopping (yayayay)

I think talking to her is really helping calm my nerves and be more positive about leaving…I guess it makes it easier knowing we will be able to be friends and get along. It also seems like she likes to practice English because she almost only writes to me in English-she even sent me a school project of hers to ask if i can correct her English! I am excited that im forming a bond with her and I hope we become really close:)

The school days are from 8am-6pm!! This will be veerrry interesting to see what such a long day is like, but there is a long break in the middle of the day.

The family is catholic but only attends major festivals, but I think Catholicism is very interesting and I would be 100% open to attending weekly services-especially in a medieval and historically catholic french village!

I also received more pictures and info on the family and the town…I am getting really excited! I think I needed to have some more confirmation and comfort to really calm my nerves and worries-and I am feeling much better now and I am so excited to meet ma famille!

This week I have been emailing back and forth with my host sister, Thuy! She is 17 and will also be a senior next year. I am really looking forward to automatically having a friend and someone who can help me meet people! She likes to do jazz and modern dance, and I will probably join that with her to keep myself busy and to meet new people. She also said there is a big medieval festival in September in her town, and you can walk everywhere–So fun! She says there is a big cinema and she and her friend go to a night club I think–she was writing in English and it was a bit confusing as to what she was saying. And she loves shopping (yayayay)

I think talking to her is really helping calm my nerves and be more positive about leaving…I guess it makes it easier knowing we will be able to be friends and get along. It also seems like she likes to practice English because she almost only writes to me in English-she even sent me a school project of hers to ask if i can correct her English! I am excited that im forming a bond with her and I hope we become really close:)

The school days are from 8am-6pm!! This will be veerrry interesting to see what such a long day is like, but there is a long break in the middle of the day.

The family is catholic but only attends major festivals, but I think Catholicism is very interesting and I would be 100% open to attending weekly services-especially in a medieval and historically catholic french village!

I also received more pictures and info on the family and the town…I am getting really excited! I think I needed to have some more confirmation and comfort to really calm my nerves and worries-and I am feeling much better now and I am so excited to meet ma famille!

Today I found out my host family placement! It is a family of 4-the mom, dad, and their 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son. This is so crazy.

Anyways. They live in a tiny town in the South of France.

However, the school I will be attending is in a different town (it looks a little bigger) which is only 5 minutes away from the town I will live in.

The South of France is so beautiful I’m just so excited.

Of course, with another official step taken comes another fear struck inside of me. I guess looking at pictures and websites life just seems so normal! (Which it is of course) I just hope I can get used to life there, but not so much that it stops feeling like an adventure.

More than anything, I’m excited for the day I come home and go into my french teachers classroom and can have a real conversation in french. That will just be incredible!

Life is an adventure, and I dont want to waste one minute of time fulfilling life to its greatest depth of discovery.

 

Today I found out my host family placement! It is a family of 4-the mom, dad, and their 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son. This is so crazy.

Anyways. They live in a tiny town in the South of France.

However, the school I will be attending is in a different town (it looks a little bigger) which is only 5 minutes away from the town I will live in.

The South of France is so beautiful I’m just so excited.

Of course, with another official step taken comes another fear struck inside of me. I guess looking at pictures and websites life just seems so normal! (Which it is of course) I just hope I can get used to life there, but not so much that it stops feeling like an adventure.

More than anything, I’m excited for the day I come home and go into my french teachers classroom and can have a real conversation in french. That will just be incredible!

Life is an adventure, and I dont want to waste one minute of time fulfilling life to its greatest depth of discovery.

 

“Dear Taylor, Congratulations! You have been accepted to Greenheart Travel’s High School Abroad Program in France.”

Eeeep! The words still don’t seem real, but last week, I found out I was officially accepted to study abroad for the fall of my senior year! Any day now we will be sending off the first chunk of the payment-and there will be no going back!

Tomorrow is registration for the next school year, and while all of my friends are choosing their senior classes, I’ll be sitting back to dream of boire du café dans la matinée avec la vue de la France tout autour de moi (drinking coffee in the morning with the view of France all around me-only because I’m obsessed with coffee/ the idea of the solitude of a calm morning in an unfamiliar place) As I will be un-enrolling from my high school here in America (for the fall semester) to enroll abroad!

One of the quirky little things that I too often do is research every little thing I ever have a question about. I’m a very curious person, and lets be real-I can have all the answers with the touch of my fingertips to my keyboard…but it is just so hard to find information on studying abroad in high school! I’ve seen a few blogs, and several “but I cant take AP classes and I wont get into college if I study abroad!” columns, but not the kind of detailed info on the experience that I would normally crave for. However-this realization of really never knowing and never getting to unveil the experience due to the tough search of explanations has made me realize just how unique of an experience this truly is.

As Martin Buber said, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” And I can not wait to experience all of these things-these things that no one in the world could possibly understand unless they do it for themselves. I want to come home with more wisdom, tolerance, and optimism than I ever could have capacity for with out this experience. I guess some people who read this just won’t get it…but I swear this is what I was made for-to go take risks and get out of my comfort zone. I have a feeling that a year from now, that crave for adventure will be so strong I will never be able to shut it out.

Ps. When I say adventure-I don’t mean vacation travel. I mean that I want to explore and discover not just see and appreciate. I want to live and work and study and speak and be apart of other cultures and other lifestyles. That’s the best way I can explain myself.

 À la prochaine!

-Taylor