Bonjour!
I have recently found out that there will be another exchange student in Montélimar! He is Brazilian and seems awesome so far! We will be in the same grade at Lycée Alain Borne (the local high school) and I hope we have classes together. Lord knows I'm going to need a friend.... and preferably one with the same struggles. My first host family will be his second family and his first family will be my third family. I know, it's a little confusing. I still don't know my second family though, which is a shame. My third host family is now in "official contact" with me (even though I already talked to their daughters) and is wonderful! They seem different from my first family, but my parents will still be teachers, so not too different. I probably won't have siblings in my third family except maybe their 20(ish) year old daughter, but change is good.
In other news, I skyped with my host sister today! It is too bad that she leaves for Canada only a week after I arrive, but we have already made plans to go see the Percy Jackson movie! It was initially really weird, because we both just kind of sat there smiling like idiots. Oh well, we started talking eventually. We were speaking both french and english, but she spoke english and I spoke french. It was interesting... but it was pretty fun! I have also skyped a few of the other 1780 students. They are all so nice and awesome and cool and everything. I love every one of them so far. I know I've said that a lot, but it's the truth. I cannot believe I've had the opportunity to get to know these people already! This adventure is turning out to be more than I bargained for, but I'm not complaining at all!
Only 11 days! Au revoir!
Amelia
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Ticket!
Bonjour!
As of today, I am officially ticketed and ready for France! I only have two legs of the trip, one 10 hour long and the other just under 2 hours long. I have already planned out my carry ons (because I'm bringing my mandolin on with me and have to prep for that!) and will hopefully not run into any snags there. My mandolin will count as my carry on luggage (and is exactly 45 inches in dimensions thankfully). I mean I hate to bore you with talking about luggage, but I love my luggage. It's literally perfection (at least for me). I don't have the best seat for the long flight, but hopefully I can snatch one that opens up. I'll be checking every single day for a better seat! Also, you never know, I may be upgraded like my dear friend who is in Finland. Bumped up to business class for free -- I WISH THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME TOO.
Only 16 days left! Au revoir!
Amelia
As of today, I am officially ticketed and ready for France! I only have two legs of the trip, one 10 hour long and the other just under 2 hours long. I have already planned out my carry ons (because I'm bringing my mandolin on with me and have to prep for that!) and will hopefully not run into any snags there. My mandolin will count as my carry on luggage (and is exactly 45 inches in dimensions thankfully). I mean I hate to bore you with talking about luggage, but I love my luggage. It's literally perfection (at least for me). I don't have the best seat for the long flight, but hopefully I can snatch one that opens up. I'll be checking every single day for a better seat! Also, you never know, I may be upgraded like my dear friend who is in Finland. Bumped up to business class for free -- I WISH THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME TOO.
Only 16 days left! Au revoir!
Amelia
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Fellow RYE Students
Bonjour!
So there are some things I'd like to share with you about my fellow RYE students from home and around the world. First off, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ALREADY AND THAT ISN'T FAIR. I'm getting to the point where I'd rather just be there and not deal with all this anticipation. Everyone from 5020 who is already in their host country appears to be having a wonderful experience so far, so congrats to them! We've all been really supportive of each other and have sort of realized that the people who are also going through this are going to be the ones who listen the most. I mean of course your family will care but they won't understand why they care. Before I get too philosophical and deep about this. I'll stop myself.
I've been talking to a few people who will also be going to 1780! They are some of the nicest people I've talked to and I cannot wait to meet them. One that I've talked to is from Canada and she and I are so similar in so many respects. I love finding these friends and just instantly understanding each other (and yes that was extremely corny, I know). We have the same taste in music are both super excited (and super scared/nervous of course), but it's the perfect amount of similarity. Another person going to 1780 (who I just started taking to today) is from Brazil. He seems super cool and is obviously very nice, because all Rotary students are. I don't know what it is, we just all seem to be compatible I guess. Not in the whole eHarmony or Match.com way, but as friends. Not just friends, actually, instant friends. It's awesome.
I'll just leave you with that! Oh and only 17 days until I leave!
Au revoir!
Amelia
So there are some things I'd like to share with you about my fellow RYE students from home and around the world. First off, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ALREADY AND THAT ISN'T FAIR. I'm getting to the point where I'd rather just be there and not deal with all this anticipation. Everyone from 5020 who is already in their host country appears to be having a wonderful experience so far, so congrats to them! We've all been really supportive of each other and have sort of realized that the people who are also going through this are going to be the ones who listen the most. I mean of course your family will care but they won't understand why they care. Before I get too philosophical and deep about this. I'll stop myself.
I've been talking to a few people who will also be going to 1780! They are some of the nicest people I've talked to and I cannot wait to meet them. One that I've talked to is from Canada and she and I are so similar in so many respects. I love finding these friends and just instantly understanding each other (and yes that was extremely corny, I know). We have the same taste in music are both super excited (and super scared/nervous of course), but it's the perfect amount of similarity. Another person going to 1780 (who I just started taking to today) is from Brazil. He seems super cool and is obviously very nice, because all Rotary students are. I don't know what it is, we just all seem to be compatible I guess. Not in the whole eHarmony or Match.com way, but as friends. Not just friends, actually, instant friends. It's awesome.
I'll just leave you with that! Oh and only 17 days until I leave!
Au revoir!
Amelia
Monday, July 29, 2013
My visa is here!
Bonjour!
So as you know I was in San Francisco a week ago applying for my visa. It arrived only 6 days later! 6! Usually processing takes up to 2 weeks and I got mine back in less than a week! The visa itself is this sticker thing that takes up an entire passport page. Next up is getting my ticket from IYWT, which will hopefully happen sometime this week!Everything is getting so surreal and I cannot wait to leave!
Only 23 days of waiting left! Au revoir!
Amelia
So as you know I was in San Francisco a week ago applying for my visa. It arrived only 6 days later! 6! Usually processing takes up to 2 weeks and I got mine back in less than a week! The visa itself is this sticker thing that takes up an entire passport page. Next up is getting my ticket from IYWT, which will hopefully happen sometime this week!Everything is getting so surreal and I cannot wait to leave!
Only 23 days of waiting left! Au revoir!
Amelia
Monday, July 22, 2013
San Francisco Visa Appointment
Bonjour!
Things are finally getting accomplished! On Monday, July 22, my lovely IYWT agent, other students going to France, and myself went down to San Francisco for the in-person consulate appointment. I'll get to that later though. First, I'd like to share one of the coolest things I've discovered about the Rotary program this weekend.
On Sunday, I went up to Seattle to spend the night in a hotel close to the airport with 3 other RYE students as well as my IYWT agent (since our flight was at 6am the next morning). One of the girls flew in from Montana, one was from Seattle, and the other was a girl from who is actually going to Spain. The girl from Montana arrived first, myself second, the girl from Seattle third, and the girl from Idaho last. We all got acquainted in no time and were way deeper in conversation than I ever thought imaginable. We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and took some cheesecake back to the hotel room (which, mind you, we never ate and also left in the San Francisco Airport's waiting area...oops?). We had barely known each other a few hours and it already felt like weeks or even months. On Monday we grew even closer and became such rapid friends in less than 24 hours. This is one of the unseen or unmentioned aspects that Rotary Exchange brings you: the opportunity to make lifetime friends in a day or two. It happened at Outbound Orientation and it happened this weekend. Making connections with people so quickly is a part of this experience that I wasn't expecting at all.
Now, back to the actual visa appointment. So everyone either flew in or drove to San Francisco. Those who flew in took the BART (San Francisco's version of the Tube in London) to a location a few blocks away from the consulate. Once we arrived near the consulate we all killed time in Chinatown while the local Californian RYE students trickled in. In one of the shops, I heard a couple speaking in French and was going to talk to them (or at least attempt to), but my buddies were leaving the store and alas, I had to follow. We had lunch at Cafe de la Presse, which was alright, but no where near as good as what we'll all get once we're actually in France. We all tried escargot and I was not a fan of the texture (at all really), but the flavor was delicious (garlic and butter, so that's a given). After lunch we went to the consulate for our 2 o' clock appointment with Jean-Luc. It wasn't what one would expect when hearing they are going for an "interview". You just sat there in front of them and handed your papers and passport in through the window. The only reason you hand to go in person was so that they could fingerprint you and take a photo of you. The woman who worked with me seemed very nice, but they were muttering in French behind the glass... I don't know what they were saying exactly (it was pretty muffled), but I did catch a few words and phrases, which I was proud of. After the appointment itself, we all flew home and I talked the entire flight with the other girl from Seattle. Like I mentioned before, it became so easy with the other RYE students to just talk and actually express emotion in ways that our usual friends frown at. We also ended up sitting next to a Rotarian from the other girl's district! We talked to him for a while and gushed about the program just a bit (ok maybe a lot). Seattle didn't greet us with rain (thankfully) and I believe everyone got back to where they were supposed to be safe and sound!
I should get my visa sometime late this week or early next week!
Until then, au revoir!
Amelia
Things are finally getting accomplished! On Monday, July 22, my lovely IYWT agent, other students going to France, and myself went down to San Francisco for the in-person consulate appointment. I'll get to that later though. First, I'd like to share one of the coolest things I've discovered about the Rotary program this weekend.
On Sunday, I went up to Seattle to spend the night in a hotel close to the airport with 3 other RYE students as well as my IYWT agent (since our flight was at 6am the next morning). One of the girls flew in from Montana, one was from Seattle, and the other was a girl from who is actually going to Spain. The girl from Montana arrived first, myself second, the girl from Seattle third, and the girl from Idaho last. We all got acquainted in no time and were way deeper in conversation than I ever thought imaginable. We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and took some cheesecake back to the hotel room (which, mind you, we never ate and also left in the San Francisco Airport's waiting area...oops?). We had barely known each other a few hours and it already felt like weeks or even months. On Monday we grew even closer and became such rapid friends in less than 24 hours. This is one of the unseen or unmentioned aspects that Rotary Exchange brings you: the opportunity to make lifetime friends in a day or two. It happened at Outbound Orientation and it happened this weekend. Making connections with people so quickly is a part of this experience that I wasn't expecting at all.
Now, back to the actual visa appointment. So everyone either flew in or drove to San Francisco. Those who flew in took the BART (San Francisco's version of the Tube in London) to a location a few blocks away from the consulate. Once we arrived near the consulate we all killed time in Chinatown while the local Californian RYE students trickled in. In one of the shops, I heard a couple speaking in French and was going to talk to them (or at least attempt to), but my buddies were leaving the store and alas, I had to follow. We had lunch at Cafe de la Presse, which was alright, but no where near as good as what we'll all get once we're actually in France. We all tried escargot and I was not a fan of the texture (at all really), but the flavor was delicious (garlic and butter, so that's a given). After lunch we went to the consulate for our 2 o' clock appointment with Jean-Luc. It wasn't what one would expect when hearing they are going for an "interview". You just sat there in front of them and handed your papers and passport in through the window. The only reason you hand to go in person was so that they could fingerprint you and take a photo of you. The woman who worked with me seemed very nice, but they were muttering in French behind the glass... I don't know what they were saying exactly (it was pretty muffled), but I did catch a few words and phrases, which I was proud of. After the appointment itself, we all flew home and I talked the entire flight with the other girl from Seattle. Like I mentioned before, it became so easy with the other RYE students to just talk and actually express emotion in ways that our usual friends frown at. We also ended up sitting next to a Rotarian from the other girl's district! We talked to him for a while and gushed about the program just a bit (ok maybe a lot). Seattle didn't greet us with rain (thankfully) and I believe everyone got back to where they were supposed to be safe and sound!
I should get my visa sometime late this week or early next week!
Until then, au revoir!
Amelia
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Family!
Bonjour!
I have been in contact with my first host family! They seem so nice and sweet and perfect. My host parents both teach at the high school I'm going to. My host dad teaches French and my host mom teaches Spanish. It's safe to say that I'll be getting some grammar lessons at the dinner table :). They have three kids. The youngest is a six year old girl, the middle child is a fifteen year old girl, and the oldest is an 18 year old man(?). The fifteen year old is going on an exchange to Canada when I'm at her home, but I will get to meet her because she leaves four days after I arrive. YAY.
I finished my visa application yesterday and sent it off to the travel agent. I have to go down to the consulate in San Francisco for the walk in appointment on July 22. The day before I'm going up to Seattle to spend the night with the travel agent and two other girls going to France. Then we wake up at 3:00 in the morning to catch our 6:30 flight. Gross. Oh well. Once I have the visa the travel agent will give me my flight information! I already know my arrival date, but it has changed since the last time I told you. My host family requested me a day early! I arrive in France a day before everyone else does. Initially, I felt guilty for having one more day than everyone else....that was short lived to say the least. So I arrive on August 22. I won't fly with any Rotary students (the ones going to France that is), but that's alright. Besides, I don't need anyone else to have to deal with my somewhat psychopathic maneuvering around airports. Travelling alone probably would have been the best option anyway...I'm weird like that.
I hope to start a vlog soon. I'll be posting it on YouTube. I'll also let you know about my life on here, but the vlogs may be more recent. :)
ONLY. 43. DAYS.
Au revoir!
Amelia
PS: The countdown on the blog is no longer counting down to the day I leave; it is counting down to the day I arrive!
I have been in contact with my first host family! They seem so nice and sweet and perfect. My host parents both teach at the high school I'm going to. My host dad teaches French and my host mom teaches Spanish. It's safe to say that I'll be getting some grammar lessons at the dinner table :). They have three kids. The youngest is a six year old girl, the middle child is a fifteen year old girl, and the oldest is an 18 year old man(?). The fifteen year old is going on an exchange to Canada when I'm at her home, but I will get to meet her because she leaves four days after I arrive. YAY.
I finished my visa application yesterday and sent it off to the travel agent. I have to go down to the consulate in San Francisco for the walk in appointment on July 22. The day before I'm going up to Seattle to spend the night with the travel agent and two other girls going to France. Then we wake up at 3:00 in the morning to catch our 6:30 flight. Gross. Oh well. Once I have the visa the travel agent will give me my flight information! I already know my arrival date, but it has changed since the last time I told you. My host family requested me a day early! I arrive in France a day before everyone else does. Initially, I felt guilty for having one more day than everyone else....that was short lived to say the least. So I arrive on August 22. I won't fly with any Rotary students (the ones going to France that is), but that's alright. Besides, I don't need anyone else to have to deal with my somewhat psychopathic maneuvering around airports. Travelling alone probably would have been the best option anyway...I'm weird like that.
I hope to start a vlog soon. I'll be posting it on YouTube. I'll also let you know about my life on here, but the vlogs may be more recent. :)
ONLY. 43. DAYS.
Au revoir!
Amelia
PS: The countdown on the blog is no longer counting down to the day I leave; it is counting down to the day I arrive!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Been awhile...
Bonjour!
Wow I have not done a good job of keeping this blog updated! So a few weeks ago, I found out the city I'll be staying in! It's a town in the Rhône River Valley about an hour and a half's drive south of Lyon called Montélimar. It's a little larger than the town I live in now and looks so beautiful!
Wow I have not done a good job of keeping this blog updated! So a few weeks ago, I found out the city I'll be staying in! It's a town in the Rhône River Valley about an hour and a half's drive south of Lyon called Montélimar. It's a little larger than the town I live in now and looks so beautiful!
I think I got an email from my first host family, but I never got their first email, only their second, so I'm really not sure. I've also been in contact with the daughter of my third host family who will be going to Japan! She's seems really nice and I'm a little bummed that I don't get to meet her. Also, Jayne (my CCO) received my forms today! She sent them to me so hopefully I will have them tomorrow! It honestly does not seem real yet. This has all happened so quickly, and yet so slowly. It's difficult to describe without taking forever and a day.
Only 73 days left!
Au revoir!
Amelia
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