So I decided to start this travel blog so that family and friends could read about my experiences and stuff since I don't know how often Ill be on facebook.
I thought I would post once now before I leave so I could talk about my plans, feelings, and apprehensions I have about leaving (and excitement too!). It's so hard for me to believe that this is actually happening right now, especially since I am in class for the summer and have so many other things going through my mind. If you had asked me two years ago, I would have been very doubtful about my going abroad or ever actually making it to Europe. It was always the same things: plane tickets are too expensive, I don't want to travel alone, I wouldn't know where to stay/what to do, etc, etc... But now my dream is coming true and Im leaving in 4 and a half weeks! I must say how unbelievably grateful I am to my family for supporting me and helping this dream of mine become a reality! I am going to miss them terribly next year and I know it's going to be very difficult, but I think it's something I've just got suck it up and do.
Before I make it all the way over to La France Métropolitaine (the French mainland), I will be heading to the overseas French département of Guadeloupe, which is a small island in the Caribbean, to visit my good friend Ingrid and her family! I am so excited and can't wait to meet her family! They have been unbelievably kind to me already (we've met over skype haha) and I can't wait to explore the Caribbean. I have been working out all summer in preparation to climb the volcano on the island, which Ingrid tells me is quite difficult, but I am setting a personal goal to make it to the top! (and hopefully back down!) From Guadeloupe, I will be leaving straight to Paris, where I will spend 3 days with Ingrid in her apartment. I just couldn't go straight to France without stopping in Paris first and seeing the Eiffel Tower! I am also excited for Ingrid to show me her school, Sciences Po, which is an extremely famous school of political science in Paris.
After Paris, I will be heading to the town which I will call my home for the next year, Aix-en-Provence. (Aix pronounced like "ex"). Aix-en-Provence is a small town of about 150,000 people in the south of France about 30 minutes from the big city of Marseille on the Mediterranean. It is known for it's famous outdoor music and opera festivals, as well as once being the capital of the kingdom of Provence, before it was taken by the Romans. It is also the hometown of Paul Cézanne and where many of the scenes of his paintings come from. I can't wait to see some of the lavender fields that Paul Cézanne painted and go hiking up in the mountains in the north!
While in Aix, I will also be doing a program called Classroom Connections. I have been paired up with Mrs. Christen's advanced French Language class at Memorial High School in Madison! I will be connecting with the students throughout the year and talking about my experiences in France via letters and skype! I am kind of nervous about skyping with them, but I am sure I will find plenty of things to talk about and hopefully encourage the students to continue their studies in French and look at the world with an open mind.
But while this all sounds lovely, I still have so much to do before I go, it's overwhelming! Besides finishing with my class, I need to start thinking of what to pack (what do I bring for a whole year? What do I leave behind?). As well as mentally preparing myself to say goodbye to all of my friends and family and leaving behind my life in the states to create a new one in France.
Before I go (I know, this is a long-a** post!!), I would like to thank one of the people in my life who has been there for me constantly through the rough times and always encouraged me to keep going with my French, Lisa Rodgers! Without Lisa, I would certainly not speak French as well as I do today and would not be preparing myself to go spend a year in France! Thank you so much Lisa for always being there for me! I will miss you terribly and I can't wait to share my experience in France with you!
Ok, well I hope you all follow my blog and I promise, the next ones won't always be so long-winded and will be better written!
Paix,
Doug
Days til departure: 35
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