500+ exchange students from 35 different countries in Paris for the weekend.
Yes. It is as wonderful as you're imagining it. Maybe even better.
This weekend, the two Rotary districts in Paris hosted the "JRJ Weekend" that happens every 2 (maybe 4?) years. Basically, Rotary gets all of it's inbounds together for a fantastically amazing, beautiful, unforgettable, exhilarating, and just all around wonderful weekend.
Friday, my district took the bus up to Paris. After 7 long hours on the bus, we finally arrived at the Hostel. Now, this Hostel was not the classiest place. In fact, there were only 3 outlets per floor. On my floor, they were being shared by about 35 girls... Definitely not enough for all the hair straighteners and cell phones. But anyway that isn't what was important. What is important is the people. My district of about 40 students shared the hostel with two other districts of about 20 and 30 students. I was the first from my district to go talk to one of the others. Once everyone realized that no one was going to bite, everything went really well.
Saturday morning we piled into the bus after breakfast and drove to a spot in front of the Eiffel Tower. This was the first time that all the exchange students were in one place. It was so crazy and hectic. There were hugs happening everywhere and a bunch of different languages being spoken. I got to see some of the Americans that I got my visa with in San Francisco as well as some people who I had friended on Facebook knowing I would get to meet them. Everyone took lots of pictures. I, being the slightly crazy person that I am, went up to random groups of people that I didn't know at all and started random conversation and then hugged everyone. I also retained A LOT of names. I surprised myself at how many names I was remembering.
After the Eiffel Tower, we went to a presentation. Now, mind you, we were 500+ exchange students who wanted nothing more than to TALK TO EACH OTHER. Needless to say, we didn't really pay attention to the presentation. I felt bad for the speakers, but at the same time, they didn't really consider the fact that we would all instantly love each other to pieces. Following the presentation, we took "Les Bateaux Mouches" along the Seine River with our districts. The sun was shining and everything was so beautiful. I spent the ride talking with one of my best friends just about life in general. I think it brought us a lot closer together.
Saturday night was the grand event. It started with a chaotic "organization" of the flag presentation. 500 students in one hallway with Rotarians yelling different orders. Lovely. After the presentation got underway everyone found seats and waited for their turn to sing their national anthems. Once all 35 countries were done, we sat down to eat dinner/walk around aimlessly to find our new friends. During dinner the talent show started. Each district presented something really cool and/or adorable. Two of my Brazilian friends, one of my Mexican friends, and I sang a medley to represent our district. It went really well (despite the fact that we had been losing our voices all evening).
Once the talent show ended, everyone went to the dance floor -- including the Rotarians. Now I thought it was weird when I danced next to all the Latin Americans, but Rotarians next to Latin Americans is something else (that is absolutely wonderful). The night ended around 2 am, but with the hour change, it actually ended at 3 am. We got back to the hostel at 3:45 am and had to wake up by 7 am that morning. I took advantage of the empty showers (there were only 2 per floor for the girls) and ended up going to bed around 4:15. Basically I was dead on Sunday.
Sunday morning we all went to Versailles. I had been to Versailles for the bus trip, but I didn't really get to see the gardens the first time. After walking through with my friend who had never been there, I met up with some friends I had made the night before and wandered through the gardens with them for a few hours.
My district left Versailles around 2 pm. The bus ride back was LONG. It took about 7 hours to get to Lyon, but those 7 hours seemed to last a day because I couldn't sleep. At one point, everyone on the bus was asleep...except me and the driver. Ugh. But it was alright I guess since I didn't get bus sick. I ended up back in Montélimar around 9:30 pm and at the house around 10:00 pm.
This morning I woke up sick, so I didn't go to school. Hooray for sleeping all day. I just feel bad for the exchange students who had to face that today after such a gloriously tiring weekend. I wish I could go back and relive every second of it. Hopefully I'll be able to see some of these people again. They truly add a whole other side to this experience and I love them for that.
Bisous,
Amelia
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