Change

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be older. I desperately wanted to drive, to own a debit card, to watch grown-up movies, to go to high school, to have a job, to go places without the undermining supervision of my parental units. I wanted the hour hand to turn faster. I wanted the days to pass by like the seconds did. I wanted to grow up. To BE a grown-up.
Of course, here I am now, and I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I am seventeen. I am eleven and a half months away from being that "grown-up", and in some ways, I already am.
The ironic part is, now that I'm grown up, I wish that time would slow down. I wish I had time to breathe, time to sleep, or just time to sit back and watch the world. I spent my whole life wondering why time seems to fly by. François says that it's not the time that goes by, it's the changes we make that make time have the illusion of flying by. When we grow old, we have more stuff to occupy our time. Because we have more stuff to do, the time, of course, flies. Alors... it's not the time that changes. Time is, indeed, a constant. It's us humans that change.
I am changing families in 16 days. A part of me is really excited! It'll be a new and completely different experience- filled with new adventures, new challenges, new loop-de-loops. I get to view France from another set of eyes! I get to meet more people and try new things! Plus, I'm incredibly excited to live with another INCREDIBLY AWESOME family! I seriously couldn't have asked for a sweeter set of families! That is why, as much as I am excited, I'm also a little sad! I've gotten so used to being around this host family. They were such wonderful teachers. I seriously wouldn't be nearly as amazing in French without them teaching me things. They introduced me to so many good french foods, cheeses, and traditions, and François and Véronique always had the right thing to say when I was sad or confused. As different as my host family is from my family at home, I still feel like I have a "family" here! I felt like I had a place there, and I really hope they felt that way too!
We cannot stop the world from turning. Things change whether we want them to or not! People change. We get older, bigger, wiser... Part of me still wants to be that little kid on her swing set, laughing and screaming out of sheer joy and happiness, with all the time the world had to offer. But, at the same time, I couldn't ask for a better place to be right now. I mean, what is life without change, really?

So on Wednesday, Kate and I went to the most amazing pizzeria, and then afterwards, we ate the most AMAZING ice cream/tiramisu EVER. It's crazy, I can't believe it's been over 2 months since the day I met her, and we've already changed so much! We used to be those awkward Americans. Now, as crazy as it is, we are becoming more and more like "one of the French". As "American" as we still are, things are changing! A part of me wants things to stay the same. But then, a bigger part of me just wants to let go and see where the world takes me! Exchange really is like a roller coaster... and here I am, holding on for the ride of a lifetime!

So, world... turn! I'm ready.