Maria's First Report from France

September 17, 2005

Well, it all started Friday morning, and after I woke up I still didn't realize that I was getting ready to leave for one year....anyway, I finished packing some last few things and off I went to the airport. Once we got there, I got my boarding passes etc... Basically, I was on a plane ride for 8 hours; it was a little boring but at least watched 2 movies, listened to the radio, and read a book, until I got to Frankfurt, Germany. There, I went through Customs and they stamped my passport; a few minutes later I found myself sitting in another plane on my way to Charles de Gaulle, Paris. When I got off the plane, I just followed the signs which said "Sortie" or Exit, and 2 minutes later I saw a lot of people holding signs obviously waiting for family or friends. I started looking for my host family and found them immediately. They received me with a "Bonjour!!!". I was a little bit nervous, and when I tried to speak, all the french that I know was gone... I explained to Sylvie (my host mother) that no one checked my visa and my passport and then she told me that it is ok, that I only have to go back inside to look for my luggage.

I went back inside and asked a guy from customs if they had to check my passport and he said with an accent: "no, here in France we don't care about visas just go to the screen and look where your luggage is going to come out..." On that moment I wanted to scream to the guy because I woud have been here 2 weeks ago, and because of my french visa that took longer than what I expected I dind't travel with other exchange students, and now they are telling me that they don't care about visas!!!!!!! whatever....

I've been here for 5 days now. I like it here, and at least I speak a little bit of french and if they speak slowly, I can understand pretty much everything. On the second day, my host family and I had lunch with the neighbors which one of them is my host mother's brother. At the table they asked me if I wanted "mouton", and I said yes because I look like normal meat, but after I said yes they asked if I was sure because it is "sheep"; I think I didn't want to understand that it was actually sheep... but when my host dad made the sound "meeehmeeeh" everyone laughed and I decided to try it because everything here is going to be new for me so... it tasted like normal meat but a little but different.

Monday was my first day of school and it was interesting because some teachers speak really fast but others said that they would speak a little bit slower so I could understand them. I like the system of the school here due to the fact that everyday I start and finish at different time and I can go home for lunch because almost everyday I have 2 hours of lunch. Everyone here is very nice and they really try to make me feel like I am in my own home, and I think I am going to get used to it very quickly.

Today there is a dinner with the rotary club and all the exchange students here in my district and I can't wait to meet all of them.

I think that is all I have to say for now... Love u all !!

Thanks Rotary for making this possible!!!!

A bientôt !!!

Maria Barona