by Elise Helene Keeler
June 15th, 2008 – First Time with Host Family
One of the parts of the trip that intrigued me was experiencing family from the French angle. Family is such a big part of my life, and it was important for me to have “someone to come home to.” My first meeting with my family started off on the wrong vote because I had come in on a later train. This happened because there was some confusion at the train station, and a bunch of us ended up having to take a later train. I finally got settled into my new room, and I was looking forward to my first meal with my family.
The mother let us know that the meal was ready by ringing a bell; definitely a different way to alerting us that it was dinner. Back at home, mom would always just shout up the stairs let us know it was dinner time. Desiree and I got downstairs to the dining room area, and everyone was standing around the dinner table. I didn't want to sit down just in case I would be assigned a seat at the table.
The mom ended up asking Desiree and I both our ages. Desiree is older than me so she was given a seat next to the dad, and I was given one next to the mom. I thought this was very odd. Each time we had dinner, Desiree and I would know where we were sitting based off of where our napkin holder was located.
The meal started out with salad and a meal that looked like a pie type dish. Just looking at the dish, I knew it was cheese, and I was already worrying about how I was going to handle all this cheese in France. I waited to start eating until everyone started eating because I wanted to make sure I was doing everything correctly. The dad brought in wine and offered it to all us, but I didn't want any.
The pie type entrée was made of cheese, and I didn't like it at all. In fact, I didn't like it so much that it almost came back up. I noticed right away the differences from American dinner to French. From start to finish, we were sitting at the table for about two hours. Most of the conversation was in French, but every once and a while one of their daughters would speak in English for us. When it was time to send the food around for seconds, it went in the exact same order. Desiree, me, mom, children, and then dad would be offered the food. With each new course, the table was cleared. The dessert was yogurt or apple sauce. Desiree got apple sauce and she said it was pretty good. My yogurt was also pretty good as well. It was definitely not like the American dessert of cake or ice cream.
Our first meal there was also Father's Day, which made me home sick because I wanted to be with my dad as well. The daughters went upstairs and delivered presents to their father. It was interesting to see the type of present they would bring out for the dad. He received a book about weather and then some coffee beans (I think). When the meal was beginning to come to a close, the mom began collecting the plates up from all of us. This informed us that dinner would come to a close.
Desiree and I both tried to help clean up, but the family insisted that they would do it. We both stood downstairs for awhile wondering what was next, but they just looked at us like we needed something. I guess dinner time is the period for conversation, and after dinner, you are on your own. So we both went up to our separate rooms; Desiree's room was on the second floor and mine on the third.
I took a shower and went to bed much earlier than I would in the States. I don't know if I could have stayed up any longer at that point. I was just exhausted, and I had a big day ahead of me for my first day at Nantes. We would be taking classes with students from Ohio State University and Bowling Green University so I was looking forward to meeting them and getting started!
June 30th, 2008 - Life Is Good: Getting Over the Cultural Shock
The first week in France was a bit of an adjustment for me. I had trouble eating at dinner because I am not a fan of cheese, and the language barrier frustrated me. Then I decided to try new foods. This was the best decision I made because it helps experience the culture.
These are the yummy goodies we just bought from the patisserie that is a few yards from our front door. The lady who runs it is helping me pronounce words. So if I return, I can pronounce ‘delicious goodies'. That is a good thing right? Well, the one on the left is a Chausson Aux Pomme. It is kind of like an apple turnover. The one on the right is a chocolate éclair!
After a busy week at school, all of us were excited to head to Marseille, in the south of the France, on Thursday. Once we got checked into our hotel, we headed to Chicken Bawa (yes, you read that right) and I ate CURRY (crazy huh?). It was pretty good. Dominic made me try it because he wants me to broaden my food selection.
Our first full day in Marseille was spent at the beach. The beach is surrounded by mountains and it is rocky, but I got to swim in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.
July 10th, 2008 - European Union Institutions – What We Miss
My time in Brussels is over, which is a very wonderful thing. It has been rainy the whole time, and everyone has been a little bit on the grumpy side...even me. We did four institution visits involving the European Union: The Commission, Council of the European Union, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee. They were all very interesting and informative. Though at times, I really wanted to go to sleep. I think I am getting so overwhelmed with the lack of sleep.
The tours of these institutions were really informative. I was amazed at the presenters at each place. One of the ladies that talked to us was just head over heels in love with the European Union, and it made me excited about it as well. Some of the others kept on making jokes about the system, and it made me wonder if they really don't believe in what the EU is trying to accomplish.
We had a great adventure on our first day in Brussels because we were told there was an English bookstore nearby. Heather, Desiree, and I were so excited because we are all running out of books to read. I ended up buying three books, and one of them is so good that I'm almost done with it. Everything has been so much cheaper in Brussels compared to everything that we have been experiencing. I was able to buy dinner/lunch for a day for only 4 Euros. It has been a little lighter on my pockets.
During our stay in Brussels, I looked all over for a waffle truck. I finally found one on our last day there. I had one with bananas, chocolate and whip cream. The whole time I was eating it I kept on thinking about how excited I will be to return home and to start my diet. And that last sentence was completely the truth. I really don't like eating so unhealthy, which I haven't even eaten that bad, per se. Still, I wish I could eat my carrots, bananas, and apples every day.
Before we had been to Brussels, I went with a fairly large group to Barcelona, Spain, and I absolutely loved it. What a great place to be! I even got to use some of my Spanish knowledge. Now since our time here is over, Desiree and I are headed to Munich. We still have some time on our hands so I composed a list of things that I wish I had here.
What I Miss of US:
1. FAMILY and FRIENDS
2. Unlimited amounts of water
3. Being able to stay on my diet.
4. Ice
5. Cold Milk
6. LaRosas (who wants to go get it once I return)
7. Deveroes Summer League
8. My laptop
9. Cammy the Camry
10. My pink room with my COMFY bed (my bed in Nantes, has a mattress that is bigger than the box spring...I have fallen off of it a couple times)
What I will miss of Europe:
1. BREAD
2. Éclairs
3. Having the capability to travel to other countries
4. The Efficient Transportation System
5. All this AWESOME vacationing
6. The beautiful beach (but not the topless women)
7. The way women view their selves; not self-conscious like us.
8. GELATO
9. Great sales!
10. Being on my own and making my own decisions.
I can't believe how quickly this trip is going! I am having such a blast, and the feelings of homesickness have slowly dwindled away. I am looking forward to returning to the States and telling everyone about all my adventures.
