Wednesday Morning - 9:30am:
Wake up. Have shower. Realize I'm about to embark on one of the most exciting and terrifying adventures of my life. I stuff what's left of my room into my enormous bag, my parents help me load the bags into the trunk and we set off for JFK.
After calling into my school for a quick goodbye to my closest friends and driving for about a half an hour, I look into my camera and realize that I've forgotten my camera battery and charger. This is horrible news, especially for someone with a photography blog, and my parents and I quickly start researching nearby Best Buys. Luckily we found one near the hotel where the SYA Departure Meeting was being held.
Wednesday Afternoon - 12:30pm:
We arrive at the hotel and there is the typical awkwardness that is 60 kids meeting for the first time. After milling around and talking to my parents for a while as more and more kids filter in, the meeting starts. We are greeted by the president of SYA and our Resident Director. After the hour long meeting, we depart in our car, headed for the airport.
Wednesday Afternoon - 3:30pm:
We check our bags and say goodbye. Surprisingly, no tears. I'm a fumbling mess as we go through security, dropping things here and there as i attempt to put my shoes back on. A group of us continue on to Gate 44, where we are supposedly leaving for Paris at 5:30. Everyone meets, and we prepare to depart.
Wednesday Evening - 5:30pm:
A few announcements are made and groans and moans are heard from the SYA kids as we learn that the flight isn't taking off until 8:45. And we have to move to gate 3. We all gather our things and trudge through the airport to gate 3, where we settle down and await our plane, anxious to get on board. New people are met and we all bond over the experience.
Wednesday Evening - 5:45pm:
Another Announcement. Another Move. Many more groans. Gate 12, here we come.
Wednesday Evening - 9:00pm:
We finally board the plane. After a long wait, more class bonding, and many attempts to stuff my overpacked carryon into the compartments, I settle down on the plane. Literally 1 hour of sleep on a 7 hour flight.
Thursday(ish) Morning - 10:45am:
We land at Charles De Gaulle and make our way through customs, pick up our bags. After an exhausting adventure of getting lost int the airport, we finally make it to the buses.
Thursday Evening - 7:00pm:
We arrive in Rennes! I meet my host mother, Maryvonne, and my host sister, Clémence, and we take a picture outside the school. I get home and pass out from over tiredness.
So far i understand most of the French that's been thrown at me, albeit I've had to ask for a few words and I think stuff gets lost in translation. But so far, so good.
Yours in dysfunctional French,
-L
No comments:
Post a Comment