Soo, it is now officially only two weeks until my departure! It still seems far off though and I don't think it'll hit me until Im on the way to the airport. Since then I have bought a nice big rolling suitcase, some space bags (hopefully I can fit all my clothes in my luggage), and luggage tags. I still haven't decided if I should bring full size bottles of shampoo and soap or if I should just bring some travel sized ones and then buy some when I get there. Decisions, decisions...
Also looking for some French roommates! I met a French girl on CS who was also looking for roommates and said that she was about to go meet someone else and they were going to start looking for apartments, and that she'd me tenir au courant (keep me up to date). Hoping to hear from her soon! If not, oh well, Im sure Ill meet plenty of people while Im there.
I've decided a good way to meet people would be to join some sports clubs. All I have to do is buy a "carte de sport" (sports card) and then I can go to all sorts of different sports classes from aerobic and abdos-fessiers to musculation, danse, and équitation (aerobics, abs/butts, weight-lifting, danse, and horseback riding) plus like 20 or 30 other classes. I am so excited! I think the club I really want to join though is the randonnée pédestre sportive (hiking/trekking). The only deal with that is that I would either have to have un moyen de transport (a means of transportation) or I would have to procéder au covoiturage (partake in carpooling). I think this club would be not only a good way for me to meet other French students, but it would also allow me to explore the natural surroundings around Aix. Not gonna lie, Im imagining myself hiking up into the hills and looking out over provençal lavender fields with the Mont Ste. Victoire (the mountain to the north of Aix) in the background. ahh, how perfect would that be!
I have also decided to bring my clarinet along and join the CHORAUM (CHoeurs et Orchestres d'Aix des Universités Marseille) aka orchestra/band (Damn these French people love abbreviations!). I figured since I will apparently (or at least according to our professor in residence) have much more free time at the French university than I ever would here, I should take advantage of getting involved and doing extracurricular things, which I think will really help me get to know some of the local students at the UP.
Im so excited except for the housing situation, which is still unsolved until I get there (although I have been looking at online listings for apartments and rooms for rent and marking the ones I want to look into when I get there). I have also taken care of my first semester's program fee, which is one less thing I have to worry about before I leave. Looks like now all I've got to worry about is taking my final on Thursday, moving out of my apartment, and then coming home and enjoying the last week I have with family and friends before I pack up and head to Guadeloupe, and then LA FRANCE! Im going to miss it here a lot! I've come to love Madison this past year and couldn't be happier with my decision to transfer. Ill be back though for my senior year (although I may be "partaking" in an extra semester, but that's OK with me, especially in this economy...).
Well, I'm gonna try and get some shut-eye (I fell asleep at 8:30 and then woke up around 1am and was unable to fall back asleep, hence the 2am blog entry...).
Will be posting again at least once more before I leave Im sure!
Paix,
Doug
Days to departure: 14
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