Tag: france

Bienvenue a Aix!

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Finally – my first post from Aix! (Applause.) For any of you who aren’t Blackberry addicted, and thus haven’t been able to BBM me during this past week, I have no internet in my host home so blogging, Skyping and other things of that nature n’existe plus pour moi.

But I finally cracked the Tumblr code and figured out how to blog from BBerry – wahoo! Let the blogging commence…

The first week has definitely been a whirlwind – of emotions, experiences and time zone changes but I’m slowly getting used to (and falling in love with) my new surroundings. My host mother, Marie-Claire, is so nice and its getting easier everyday to have actual conversations as opposed to her talking and me nodding, smiling, and adding an occasional “oui.” Thank goodness!

As for my program, there are 32 of us that make up the American University Center Provence (AUCP) class of Fall 2010. 30 girls, 2 boys. So its basically the Tulane Freshmen class ratio but on a smaller scale in France. Other than the lovely Audrey Bowes, I didn’t know anyone before coming to school on Day 1. And making friends in French was definitely an unexpected curveball that made getting to know people much harder than its ever been for me. But, somehow, we all made it work!

And now, after a week of orienting and french reviewing, my first real day of classes starts bright and early tomorrow at 9am (ew) and I’m taking a break from my first reading assignment to sit by my sun-filled window to squint at my -2 size font and write my first reflection on Aix. Things are just getting started and I am so excited to finally find a rhythm to my day, complete with classes in French, baguettes by the mouthful and afternoon after afternoon spent in the shade of a cafe awning with an espresso by my side and a sea full of new people to watch. (Yes, I drink espresso now, Dad!) Bienvenue a Aix, readers! There is definitely more to come!

Chipmunk cheeks here!

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And, yes, I’m talking about my face. It’s been 4 days (of hell) since I got my wisdom teeth removed and while it didn’t hurt at all during, I really and truly felt mislead. Once that numbing gel and Novacaine wears off – DAMN – it hurts. I had a friend who called me a few hours after her surgery asking if I wanted to go out “tonight” and as I laid on my couch I began to wonder if she was a robot, because there is really no way that’s possible. Really, Aliza, that’s impossible. Needless to say, I’ve been groggily laying (drooling/sleeping) on my couch for the better part of my last week in the US and am -.5% closer to being packed for my next 5 month’s abroad. (I unpacked from my Hawaii trip -somehow- and now just have empty suitcases and misplaced socks.) Always the acheiver. But I consider this post some small step out of my kodeine induced and prolonged stupor – I mean, if I can string ABC’s together, outfits might be next. Maybe. Probably not. Delusions are good medicine, too.

But really, the packing has to start sometime. And this swelling has definitely added a new twist to my French accent. By that I mean, I kind of talk with a lisp now. As if I weren’t worried about the language barrier before…I’m just hoping I won’t have to perform my well-rehearsed French explanation of why my host family looks to be housing a small rodent instead of a student.

On the plus side, I finished “Lost” Season 6 which means that I finished the entire series in one summer. Before you applaud this amazing feat, I should say that – as Suzy can attest to – there were some hard times on this road to success. I chose Jack over dinner, Sawyer over Tasti D-Lite and even Kate (that two faced little -) over IsaShakes (which you know I love). But now that it’s over I guess I have to move on to a new obsession, something else to be unhealthily attached to…and before you say pain pills, my prescription runs out in a day. Damn it. Next best thing: Pretty Little Liars! C-Fed, I blame you for this…

Since when did Move-In Day become something I’m jealous of?

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With half of my friends going abroad, and half of my friends staying in New Orleans it’s easy to see why I would feel torn between France and it’s old colonial territory of Nouvelle Orleans – isn’t it? My feelings of regret for exploring the world are shared with many of my friends – some of whom have left and others of whom are still trying to fit just one more pair of shoes into an already about-to-explode suitcase. International Brat Syndrome, as we have termed it, is best characterized by feelings of self-pity, frequent visits to “MyTulane” and an almost constant repetition of the phrase: ‘do you know what it means, to miss New Orleans?’ on almost every social networking site known to the college population.

It’s clearly a testament to Tulane that I would feel pangs of jealousy even at the thought of moving stranger’s boxes up Monroe’s 12 floors, by foot, in 98 degree New Orleans heat, just to be side by side with my New Orleans crew. In fact, until now, Move-In Day has never sounded so good – and that’s saying something, considering last year I got a drawer full of free Tulane t-shirts.

The only word to describe this feeling – about to embark on a 5 month voyage into French society – is bittersweet. Someone once said that “where ever you go, there you are.” And there is validity to that. But I can’t help but think that while I may be only physically in one place, my heart can be in many. And while New York will always have a piece of it, New Orleans and Tulane have more than earned the piece of me that I’m leaving there this Fall. Still, I am more than excited to get to France and spend the next 5 amazing months of my Junior year as a resident of it’s countryside. I’m so excited that I feel like I am an embodiment of my packed-to-the-brim suitcase: about to burst at the seams but trying to fit just a little bit more in everyday.

(Our attempt to spell “TULANE” really fell apart at the “N”…)