Not only is today Easter, but it also marks the end of my first week with my new host family!
I must say it has been my best week in France so far! I have really been enjoying myself here, both with my family and at school!
At school I am in what is called ES, which is the economy section of my grade. Therefore I have History, Math, Economy, Spanish, English, French, PE, and a class similar to criminal justice. It was only the first week but I'm finding that I am able to participate in these classes a lot more than I could at my last school. There is another exchange student in my class from Australia with another program. So on Friday our economics teacher asked us to do a small talk on the things that shocked us when we came to France or just the big differences.
The things that shocked me in France when I got here were:
1. The amount of smokers. Almost everybody here smokes. It was really shocking for me when I saw kids outside the school all smoking together while their teacher walks by and also seeing kids roll their cigarettes in class under the desk. I was shocked to see this much smoking and how everybody is so open about it!
2. PDA (Public Display of Affection) is everywhere! Here I have seen so many couples making out in public, sometimes even in the halls at school. The French are definitely a lot more showy about their relationships than people are in America. If people here are in relationships, they'll show it!
3. Everything closes down on Sunday. Sure in America stores have shorter hours on Sundays but in France everything literally shuts down. It is truly a day of rest and a day to be with the family or friends. At first I didn't like this, but now I find it to nice to have a day with nothing to do where you can just spend time together and relax.
4.Everyday you have school for a different amount of time. Usually I start at 8 but I finish at different times everyday. Wednesday is a half day so I finish around 11 but Mondays are long so I finish at 6
5. Substitute teachers are very rare in France. If the teacher isn't there you simply don't have class. I really like this, but for the French students it's not a good thing because they have to take the BAC(the test at the end of the year) and if the teachers not there they won't learn the material.
6. Lunch is much bigger in France. Here it is a full on meal usually with bread (like always, lots of bread in France!), an entree, main dish, yogurt or cheese, and dessert.
The first one is what really surprised the other students in my class. They were shocked to learn that smoking isn't as popular in the states and if students under 18 were to smoke in public, there is a good chance they could get in trouble with the law. It's really a huge part of their culture here!
Anyway, I have definitely been enjoying myself at school, but also with my family! Brief, this week: Monday I went to my host sister's handball practice, Wednesday I went shopping with my host sister in our town, Thursday I walked around with my host mom after school and she showed me some more of the town, and then Friday we went to a French basketball game! Then Saturday we went to Dijon and did some shopping! It was my first time to really see a big city in France and I had a lot of fun. One thing I really love about France is all of the old architecture. It's so beautiful and has a lot of history. Then Saturday night we went to my host dad's parents house for dinner and Sunday to my host mom's parents' house for Easter lunch. I enjoyed meeting the extended family of my host family and they were all so nice and welcoming. Our Easter meals were also delicious, but huge! There was about 6 or 7 parts to the meals. They really know how to eat here in France!
Well that is my week briefly! I already feel so at home here and like this is my real family! I can't begin to say how thankful I am for this family!
I must say it has been my best week in France so far! I have really been enjoying myself here, both with my family and at school!
At school I am in what is called ES, which is the economy section of my grade. Therefore I have History, Math, Economy, Spanish, English, French, PE, and a class similar to criminal justice. It was only the first week but I'm finding that I am able to participate in these classes a lot more than I could at my last school. There is another exchange student in my class from Australia with another program. So on Friday our economics teacher asked us to do a small talk on the things that shocked us when we came to France or just the big differences.
The things that shocked me in France when I got here were:
1. The amount of smokers. Almost everybody here smokes. It was really shocking for me when I saw kids outside the school all smoking together while their teacher walks by and also seeing kids roll their cigarettes in class under the desk. I was shocked to see this much smoking and how everybody is so open about it!
2. PDA (Public Display of Affection) is everywhere! Here I have seen so many couples making out in public, sometimes even in the halls at school. The French are definitely a lot more showy about their relationships than people are in America. If people here are in relationships, they'll show it!
3. Everything closes down on Sunday. Sure in America stores have shorter hours on Sundays but in France everything literally shuts down. It is truly a day of rest and a day to be with the family or friends. At first I didn't like this, but now I find it to nice to have a day with nothing to do where you can just spend time together and relax.
4.Everyday you have school for a different amount of time. Usually I start at 8 but I finish at different times everyday. Wednesday is a half day so I finish around 11 but Mondays are long so I finish at 6
5. Substitute teachers are very rare in France. If the teacher isn't there you simply don't have class. I really like this, but for the French students it's not a good thing because they have to take the BAC(the test at the end of the year) and if the teachers not there they won't learn the material.
6. Lunch is much bigger in France. Here it is a full on meal usually with bread (like always, lots of bread in France!), an entree, main dish, yogurt or cheese, and dessert.
The first one is what really surprised the other students in my class. They were shocked to learn that smoking isn't as popular in the states and if students under 18 were to smoke in public, there is a good chance they could get in trouble with the law. It's really a huge part of their culture here!
Anyway, I have definitely been enjoying myself at school, but also with my family! Brief, this week: Monday I went to my host sister's handball practice, Wednesday I went shopping with my host sister in our town, Thursday I walked around with my host mom after school and she showed me some more of the town, and then Friday we went to a French basketball game! Then Saturday we went to Dijon and did some shopping! It was my first time to really see a big city in France and I had a lot of fun. One thing I really love about France is all of the old architecture. It's so beautiful and has a lot of history. Then Saturday night we went to my host dad's parents house for dinner and Sunday to my host mom's parents' house for Easter lunch. I enjoyed meeting the extended family of my host family and they were all so nice and welcoming. Our Easter meals were also delicious, but huge! There was about 6 or 7 parts to the meals. They really know how to eat here in France!
Well that is my week briefly! I already feel so at home here and like this is my real family! I can't begin to say how thankful I am for this family!
My new town
French basketball game
Cheerleaders or as the French call them, Pom Pom Girls
Dijon architecture
Lucky owl in Dijon
Dijon again
... and again
... and again
Easter egg hunting, there's my host sister and her two cousins
After the Easter Egg hunt with their Kinder eggs!
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