It will soon be my time to leave France and head on to other adventures. I have less than a week left, which doesn't seem possible. It has been an amazing 7 months. I have spent time with people I love, met new people that I adore, and tried my best to get these French kids to speak English. I hope to return someday and live here again, because what can I say, I love France.
Here is what I have learned these 7 months. My French has improved ten fold, which means I'm probably half fluent - I'm taking my French book on our travels so I can keep studying - I still haven't mastered verb tenses and my grammar. I realized I wasted a lot of time watching shows on WatchTvSitcoms.com instead of taking advantage of the only time I'll probably ever work 12 hours a week. Even without a real TV I'm addicted. I learned how to make cheesecake without cream cheese, I've made 4 since I've been here. It doesn't turn out the same (lighter), but its still delicious. I've learned how bad the US is in terms of farming GMOs and small farming in general (thanks Barbara Kingsolver and Vincent) and what its like to live in a farming community. Dad, you won't believe it, but I think I could be a farmer one day. I've realized how Seattle and Bellingham are not the norm, and I how greatful for that. I've learned if you ask someone "Comment-allez vous?" they will think you are from Quebec and therefore that the French we learn in school doesn't always work in France. I have learned that I use French-isms frequently when speaking English, so I'm sorry if I call a bag a sack, answer the phone with a "Allo?" or get a little "pompette", bear with me while I recuperate my English. I have learned that people are generous the world over, and I hope to be able to pay forward their incredible generosity whenever they or others come to visit me.
I will continue this blog as I travel, though it might be harder to upload pictures and such. I hope you will continue to follow along as Bryan and I explore Thailand, Australia and Fiji. You should definitely check out his blog as well, as writing is his profession and he has a much better way with words: wheresweimer.blogspot.com.
Last but not least, I have received the long awaited letter from Seattle University. Unfortunately, it is not my time to start school there. But I am looking forward to the opportunity this gives me to take some more classes, look into some different schools, and not shell out a ridiculous amount for one year of school. I've been enjoying life so far without a real career, I can wait a little longer.
A bientot!
