Always do What you are Afraid to do

This is the view from my porch at sunset... how cool is that?!

 "Always do what you are afraid to do" -Emerson

I've been thinking a lot about this quote lately. In fact, it's the "divise" (motto) I chose to write on my "Portrait Chinois" for school. It explains so much about me. I've spent my entire life living under a rock (even though I'm sure some who read this will say otherwise). I lived like my French cats live. When someone (or, in my case, something) new comes along, they run and hide. However, once the person leaves, the cats turn around and wait for the person to come back. I used to live in a state of fear. It was the same mindset for every new thing: "I want to do this, but I'm afraid of..." and then I would go through this long list of trifles- pathetic reasons why I chose not to do something.

Last year, I opened up. Last year, I found my confidence. I broke out of my shell, tried new things, and said "yes" to virtually everything. Then, I discovered the concept of youth exchange, and that opportunity was the ultimate "yes" to conquer them all. 

I'm so happy I made this decision. It's only been a week and a half, and I have already met so many interesting people, and done so many interesting things. I learned the importance of public transportation. I learned that it is okay to ask for help sometimes. And finally, I learned that even when you feel like a mess one day, it doesn't necessarily mean the next day will be bad, too. 

A lot happened this week. I started school on Monday at the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée (CLA). The first day, we had to take a test to see which group we would fit best in. Originally, there was supposed to be six groups: 3 letters, A, B, and C, and then numbers 1 and 2 for each letter. However, the schedule got changed at the last minute. Now, there is simply A1, A2, B1, B1+, and B2. I got placed in the B1+ class, which is pretty incredible! The French? I'm picking it up FAST. We have a really great teacher for half of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Yesterday, we did this awesome group activity where 2 people had a picture of a painting in front of them, and they had to tell everyone (in french) how to pose so we would look like the people in the painting! It was so fun! I'm not a huge fan of the teacher we have for Monday, Tuesday, and half of Wednesday though. I'm pretty sure he thinks I belong in a lower class (it's amazing how adults will judge your knowledge based on how old you happen to be). I'm the youngest student at CLA. There's a couple 19 and 20-year-old's, but I'm the only high school student! It's actually kind of awesome how everyone gawks when I say how old I am. I guess I do look older than I am!

There's only 8 people in the class, so we all have gotten kind of close over the past week. There's about 45 or 50 students at CLA from a bunch of assorted countries around the world. There are 3 or 4 other Americans that I know of, some Italians, Russians, a Belorussian, a Greek, some Serbs, Chinese, Mexicans, and a LOT of Japanese people. In fact, I made friends with 3 Japanese students! I also met a really awesome Italian named Enrico, who's a monk back in Italy! There's a lot of people studying to be theologians at CLA. It's really neat!

I've been having lunch with the same 4 people every day- Enrico, Tomoyuki (Tom for short), and Mana, along with assorted other people, depending on the day, the time, and where we are. Tom, Mana, and I even hung out after school! We went to the pâtisserie, where we had our first experience of an instance where it costs more to eat outside. How bizarre is that? :D Then we went to the department store downtown, where everything was so expensive, I was afraid to touch it! I saw this really cute sweater, and I was gonna buy it, too... until I realized it was 165 Euros! WOAH!

Last Sunday, I spent the day baking cookies with Véronique! Then, my 2 future host families came for a visit! I met my host brothers- Benoit, who went to Canada on exchange last year, and Corentin, who went to Australia. It's so great having people in my "families" that know what I'm going through right now! 

Benoit, Corentin, and me!

My second host family!

My third host family!

And Véronique and François! :) My current host family

Okay, I really need to go to bed before I pass out. Here's a couple other things I learned this week:
-How to take the bus to school (and what to do if you take the WRONG bus!!)
-The French use a LOT of butter in their food
-My host family REALLY LIKED my gifts... and the Reeses :)

Bonne nuit! :)