Le Chateau de Grignan et autre chose!

Hello hello everyone,

So, I just finished at two week fall break! Not something we have in the states- and it was great. The coolest thing was definately getting to see a local chateau, aka castle. I'll try to give some history but mostly I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! I really loved it, the architecture, the story, everything. But yes, I am a huge history nerd ;) 

This is something I find really interesting. Pictured here, is the local church for the village and chateau. When it was constructed it was necessary to gain permission from the pope, because the path on the roof was considered allowing people "to walk on god" 

Host parents! 

The room of the King! 

Also over break I went to valence with my exchange student friends, and spent one evening with my French friends.. Loved both. :D <3

Also, Halloween! I went to the house of my third host family for dinner and then we went trick or treating! Me, the exchange student there, and their daughter who was visiting from college! I haven't been trick or treating since I was 4 or 5, but it was fun to be silly with friends! :) and the candy wasn't bad either ;) 

And of course the homework. A lottt. Haven't recieved grades for anything yet, but I felt accomplished doing homework in French :P 

In other news.. I don't have a lot :) I think I'm making good progress with French.. I understand around 93% of the conversations, the next goal I have it to be able to talk. Still when I talk my words get jumbled and I sound a little like the teachers in the Charlie Brown series ;)

Everything is good, someone told me before I left that October and November would be the most difficult months of my exchange, and now I think I understand why! Your no longer the new foreigner, but it's also still obvious that your foreign.. And with the approach of thanksgiving Christmas (and for me personally, my birthday) it's easy to feel lonely and start to miss family and close friends.. However, fortunately I have very kind host families, who are always willing to help, great friends, and the simple realization that I'm living in a beautiful place of a beautiful country!

Ok that's all I've got for now! 

Until next time, 

Xoxo 

Sydney 

A week in the life of me

Haha, so I couldn't pass this one up- there is something funny to me about seeing "mr. Propre" instead of mr clean. ;) 

A funny story for you all as well- mostly any Americans reading this. But I'll give you a little insight into how were seen in France :P 

In history Thursday the professor was discussing territories, and how humans naturally find their territories- the same with countries- however when he started discussing how these are marked he asked who marks their territories? 

A student after much thought raised his hand and replied, "the Americans?" 

Don't know if I want to know his thought process behind that one :) 

In other news I received my first french grade this week, and for a test I couldn't really read, I was decently happy with my grade. Not happy enough to announce it on the internet however ;) for anyone curious, the grades are not based off of a A-F scale but instead 1/20. 

Last weekend I went to a birthday party of a friends. I loved being able to spend time with french people my age, and I had a great time. It's so nice to have friends and feel welcome. (For the record everyone I spend a large amount of time with always makes me feel welcome, it's more of just a general observation) <3 

On a different note this week has definately been the hardest of my time here- but no one ever said it would be easy. I've struggled a lot with french, and gotten easily frustrated at some cultural differences, and been a little homesick. However, as if nothing has changed I love it here, and couldn't imagine it any differently.. 

Looking to the future, Tommorow I am going to a fair with my host family and Sunday my 2nd rotary weekend! In 2 weeks, I will have a week and a half of no school for which I'm super excited!! 

And finally, I met the first french person here today that said my accent was cool. Haha thanks very much mr.doctor. :P 

Ok then,

Until next time, 

Xoxo 

 

Just a plain ol blog post :)

Hi everyone!! 

Hope all of you are good! :) So I know, I'm increadably late, and ill be honest I have no real excuse other than I've been trying to immerse myself in my life here as much as possible. (And im afraid that this really isnt that interesting to anyone :P )So, if that means a little less with the blogging, I'm sorry! Haha.. I will say this though, the school days on Wednesdays here are very short- so I'm going to make it my goal to update every Wednesday. So keep an eye out for that. :D 

I've had a couple requests- so with this blog ill talk about differences in culture, differences in style, and throw in some pictures to top it off.

Culture differences: 

School! 

So.. School here is definitely really different than in the states. For those of you that know, high school here is set up a lot more like an American college. I start class at different times everyday, finish at different times every day and do not have the same classes everyday. There are 3 years of high school here and 4 years of middle school, instead of 4 years of high school and 3 of middle school. During high school you will pass through seconde, premiere, and terminale. Beginning in premiere, you choose your course of study, which is either L, literature, ES- economic and social, or S scientific. Personally, I'm in premiere ES. My school said it was the best class to learn French in quickly ;) For the record, economics class in French, I understand nothing. Haha :P 

The teacher/ student relationship here is also very different. As another exchange student here said, "the teacher is only there to give the information, not to be your friend." Which is in most cases very true. They give the information, and if you don't understand- well that's your problem.. A good example for you, 2 weeks ago my history prof told the class that the time of the course was changed to 1 hour earlier for the next week.. Well, I definitely didn't understand that in French, so what do you know the next week I go at the regular time, and everyone else Is leaving. Embarassedd... :P 

Now before I make school sound horrid and awful I will say, some of my professors do make an honest attempt to help me, and can be quite nice! Also, I think my French is progressing rapidly at school, even if I do have to go word by word with the dictionary. :D

Food!! First off, let me just say I love the food here. The bread, the cheese, the fruit, and the list goes on. But in terms of differences, meal times are different, and eating in between them is a defianate no no. Breakfast is right when you get up, then lunch around noon, however dinner is much later than in the states.. 7:30-8:30 ish.. 

Hmm.. What else? 

It's proper when you get on the bus, enter a store, ect. To say bonjour to the driver/salesperson, and au Revoir when you leave. This is always an-awkward one for me as my accent is a dead giveaway I'm not from here and clueless ;) 

Also, in the states, everyone is always very excited about exchange students. Have to talk to them, and all that jazz, here definitely not. My class, has really not talked to me at all,  except for a group of  girls that I helped in English class, but once I was done helping they were done talking :P and the random guy that offered me his notes in French class, thanks dude. 

On the contrary, I've met some people in terminale through my neighbor who I love to hang out with, they're always super nice and understanding of my horrific French, :D 

Ok- differences in style! 

Well the main difference is- when you leave the house- you look nice. It's simply that. There is never any of the American habit of running to the grocery store in your sweats or sweatshirt. And you defiantly would not dare wear anything like that to school. 

I don't have many comments on that one, it's just kind of how it is. I don't mind it, but it means having to get up earlier than I did for school in Ohio- it also means that all of my Firestone band hoodies just sit in my closet. Super sad day :'( 

Ps, if anyone from Firestone band is reading this, I love you guys a ton, and hope you have an Amazingggg season!! <3 

Back to style, 

Girls it's pretty much the same just dressed up. My dress clothes in the states are everyday clothes here, (with the exception of jeins) Everyone seems to have these georgeous leather jackets of some type.. Seriously, believe me when I say georgeous... If only they weren't soo expensive :P 

Guys, well sorry to the American guys, but they just have better style in general. :) It's ok for guys to wear scarves here, and it's also really common... Again, just nicer and more dressed up.. 

Ok I've kind of run out of things to say.. So lets do this- if your actually taking the time to read this, maybe leave a comment for me with something you'd like me to talk about in terms of cultural differences etc for next week? Or just say hi. That's cool too. :P

Annecy- rotary weekend, September 20-21

Yes, so very very French.

So I went to the market one Wednesday, and wanted to buy a piece of local fruit to much.. And for no particular reason I went to pay and the woman selling the peaches wouldn't take my money, and said to go eat and enjoy myself.. I was actually really touched haha :) :) and now the audience goes... "Awweee" ok good.

Ok, until next time then!

Hope everyone enjoyed :) 

Xoxo

I'm here!!! :D

Ok, ok. I've been here a bit now so I guess I'll talk about what's been going on, but I can tell you already I will have a hard time trying to find time to update often! I guess I'll work on it :D the other thing is, I'm really would love to tell you all about every little detail, and that's impossible without sending a recording of my entire day, and well, that's just weird.

I think i can sum it up in 4 words, I LOVE IT HERE!!!! :D

Incase that isnt enough for you, I'll highlight the important bits.. 

Friday, I arrived in Lyon at about 12:30, after a late takeoff in Paris (about 45 minutes) and honestly I would have been increadably impatient had I not fallen asleep the minute I sat down. :D 

-that's the one thing no one told me to expect, for the first days your tired no matter how much you sleep! :P infact, I just woke up from a 3 hour nap! Hopefully now I'll be a bit more caught up. 

That afternoon, on the way to st Peray we stopped at my host grandparents for dinner! And I tried French sausage for the first time! As well as a plethora of cheeses! Papi Ellie and mami Susan (the grandparents) were sooo nice, but they don't speak any English! Nothing says welcome to France like talking with your hands all the time! :P 

My host sister meet me at the airport in a welcome Sydney t-shirt! Super cute!! :) 

I won't go day by day from here, too much! But over the next couple days we picked up my bus card, school books, and supplies! 7 school books, and that doesn't include the classes I don't need books for! Help! Haha :) 

Sunday, along with the other exchange students, we hiking at "the chateau du crussole" visible from pretty much anywhere in the area. 

The Rhone river, and a small town. (Not where I live) 

The view of valence! Where ill go to school! 

And my personal favorite! Saint Peray! :D bottom left. 

And me! Haha

Me and Thomas! My host brother from my second family! :) 

Clara et moi! <3 

some of the food! My host mom, super good cook! :D 

Ratatouille!! Yum! I now feel a stronger connection to the movie! :P

Did I mention the lemon tree in the backyard?? The other night we cut one off for the fish, during dinner! :D not something you'd do in Akron! 

Angie and Clara! Awwwee! 

And just because, the view from where I'm sitting right now! :D love it!! 

In short, I'm happy, it's amazing here, my host family is sooo nice! Sorry America, but I have no desire to come back anytime soon! :D 

Although I still can't get over the fact that the word is the same for a fly, and to sneeze. Ok, means a hiccup, and that school paper is a bunch of little boxes, not lined like in the states, and he sign for perfect means zero.. Haha. :) 

Lots of love, 

Syd

What can I say?

                

14 days!! Wow, where did the time go? It seems like yesterday it was just an idea and now, now I'm leaving in 14 days. 

For anyone who isn't up to speed, I'll try to recap a little! 

My name is Sydney Heersink, and during 2013-2014, I will be in Valence France as a rotary youth exchange student! 

Do I speak French you may ask? I have had two years, so nothing major, but to me isn't that the whole point? Taking a small amount of knowledge weather it is language, culture, etc, and growing it into something worthwhile and complex? :) 

And why do I want to be an exchange student? It's something inexplicable- just like the title says, wanderlust. A strong inexplicable desire to travel. I ADORE traveling! I want to experience another culture and another place. I also love the way French sounds, and the landscape, and basically I just want to EXPLORE FRANCE! :) 

I consider it a huge honor that I received the opportunity! I literally have the sweetest host families, ill live in a beautiful area, and I could not ask for any more! 

Ok stick with me and I will keep you all updated!! Pictures too! Feel free to post any questions/comments I would love to answer them! 

I hope to get another post up before I leave, maybe even on one of my flights! If not I will talk to you in France! 

:) 

Xoxo 

Sydney