France, Friends, School, and More

Bonjour amis!!

So, let's start off with my last endeavour, France. I went back to France last Thursday with Rotary (my host club, not students, except Joisy). This time I went to the north of France, to a peninsula by the ocean, called Le Crotoy. It was my first time every seeing the ocean. I was completely amazed. It was gorgeous. It rained the entire weekend (except the day we left of course), so it was a bit of a hassle dealing with the weather, but it was all worth it. During the weekend Frederic (my counsler here) said "You will only do this once in your life". It really made me realize that he was right, I am lucky, most people will never see the things I have the chance to, and for me to complain that the weather isn't perfect and I'm a little tired, is completely selfish. During the weekend, I drank hot chocolate with every meal (even when we had seafood), had three course meals every meal (the first thing I did when I got home was went to the scale! Not too bad!), and stayed in a house with people I had never met (Rotarians). On Friday we went to a nearby city for a boat tour (it was just like you see in the movies... gorgeous! Even with the rain!) and to visit the church, Notre Dame Amiens. The church was like nothing I have even seen. It took 68 years to build (back in like 1400). The architecture, decor, and size was utterly amazing.  GAH. On Saturday we woke up early and went for a nature hike through the peninsula we were staying at. We walked through a marsh to another city where we took a train back. The hike was beautiful, despite the cold weather and all the mud. During the hike we stopped for lunch. A picnic lunch the 'Rotary' style here included: wine in wine glasses (for the adults), hard sausage, cheeses, procuttio, and of course baguettes. Very fancy. :) On the car ride home I had a realization.. "I am both adding and crossing something off my bucket list everyday". I am so blessed to have this!

Second, school. First off, my (little) hand hurts from all the note taking I have been doing! I am so used to typing! In Cody I was so spoiled to have such great classrooms, learning materials, and a laptop. Second, I don't even know what the notes I am taking are saying. I usually just copy off the person I am sitting next too (lord knows if I am spelling right). All the kids in my classes like to ask me questions Constantly. And most of the questions are the same.. "Is Wyoming by California? Closer to New York? What is your take on your contires gun control? Do you get a free gun when you open a bank account? Your family has 'more' than one gun?! Have you ever shot a bear? Do you take a gun to school?! Do you know what basketball is?". Let's just say my answers are getting more sarcastic everytime I hear the same question... ;)

So the other day I texted Abbey. Yes, texted, off my Belgian phone. I don't even want to know how many of my precious minutes it cost. I had a free period and was sitting alone on the stairs, and realized how much I longed to talk to 'my people'. By 'my people' I mean my friends and family who I have grown up with. It's hard to describe the feeling of leaving behind all the people, places, and things you have become accustomed to.

Another realization: I have becoem accustomed to being here. It hit me tonight while I was in the shower (the best thoughts always come in the shower of course), that it feels normal to do 'regular things here... like: take the public bus, walk like 5 blocks to school, shower (at night), sleep, and eat in my house here. I also have become really familier with my town now too. At first, I thought my town was huge (massive!), but now I know a majority of the shops and how to get from one place to another.

And to finish it off... a list of things they don't have here (and I miss... kinda)

1. Peanut butter
2. The Beta (a coffeehouse in my hometown... I want a London Fog!)
3. Starbucks
4. American Eagle nad Victoria Secret
5. Under Armour
6. Hugs
7. Backpacks (I carry an oversized purse to school)
8. Nail Salons (I finally got my gel off!)
9. Seventeen Magazine
10. Sanuks
11.