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