Better late than never!

It's now been exactly one month since I left the States for France. I had hoped to get my blog started much earlier, but... well I'll save the excuses. For now, I'll let the pictures of the first month speak for themselves.
In short, Week one: I felt like a zombie (well-fed, at that) After spending my first night in France with my host parents, Monique & Michel, I left for a long weekend of off-site orientation with the rest of my American classmates. The coast was wet, windy, & rainy: perfect for bonding? All in all a charming 'pause' before the marathon of the next week.

Week two: I felt like a computer on information overload. Orientation at the Institute was extremely valuable and much needed but unbelievably exhausting. As English is restricted at school the concentration factor in day-to-day conversations was off the charts.

Week three things were feeling much better. One day after class I stopped into a 'papeterie' looking for stationary and came across a postcard that perfectly portrayed my feelings at that moment. On the front was a little girl, tongue out, eyes squinted, hand awkwardly grasping the pencil as if she were learning to write for the first time. Feeling like a 6 year old again in more ways than the language factor has been extremely humbling. All in all, I took the adjustment process as it came- awkward silences at the dinner table and all. Today, a month into the adventure, I really can't believe how much easier everything feels. Just as promised by the professors at school I am picking up on random conversations on the tram and in the streets and am comprehending class lectures enough to pipe in here and there with my own thoughts. :) It's a funny thing to think in two languages at once- and very exciting. Yesterday a six year old, definitely a little older today, perhaps middle school is around the corner.

Thanks for being patient with me as I got situated. Better late than never!