Hey there readers (if any of you are left!). I'm sorry I haven't posted in forever, I've just been so caught up in things going on here that it slips my mind. So much has happened since my last post. Since then I have traveled to the exotic country of Morocco, where I accomplished one of my life dreams of finally making it to the continent of Africa! (But no worries, I will be back to Africa soon enough, I know it!). Going to Morocco was one of those experiences I will never forget. I don't know what I expected, I guess I thought that since it used to be a former department of France that it wouldn't be that much different but honestly, I've never experienced anything so different in my life. In France, I experienced a culture shock that was ongoing and subtle but Morocco was like in your face, boom boom boom! My friend Emma & I had so many moments where we would step outside, walk around for an hour, and then would have to head back to the hotel just so we could "regroup". In the end though I think it was a good experience for me to have because it took me outside of the western culture and showed me something completely different from what I know.
I can't believe my time in Aix is almost up already. Next week I have 3 final exams and then I am DONE! Within that time I have to completely pack up and move out of my apartment, cancel things like my phone plan, insurance, bank account, etc, etc. And, of course, nothing in France is that simple so every process is twice as long and twice as complicated just because I am not familiar with the process. In the end though, I know it will work out!
I wouldn't say I'm homesick at this point but I am just getting really excited to go home and get back into the daily swing of things even though at this point I know that my reverse culture shock is going to be probably one of the hardest parts of this whole experience. So many things I know have changed about me, I can't even necessarily pinpoint them, but I know they will all stand out when I get back to the States. I am excited to see all of my friends and family though, that part I know will be good.
So with that said, I think it merits the time (does that make sense or is my English just that off?) to talk about my upcoming plans for my last two months in Europe. So as I said before, next week I have 3 finals and then I am finished with school in France (for better or worse, personally I think for the better). I have exactly one week to pack up all of my stuff, say goodbye to some of the good friends I've made here, and then head off on my summer travelling adventures. So I leave Aix on the 16th to head to Paris where I will meet up with Selby! We will spend 3 or 4 days in Paris before heading to Barcelona for the weekend! My mother arrives the day after Selby leaves and we will head immediately to Aix where we'll stay with my French family for 4 days and explore the south of France. Then we will head back up to Paris for 5 days & hang out with my chérichou, Ingrid! After my mom heads out I had almost two weeks where I wasn't sure what to do with myself. So what did I do? Of course, I went on to ryanair.com, found the cheapest flights out of Paris, and will be making my way up to Edinburgh, Scotland for a few days where I'll get to see Tim, one of my best friends from elementary school! After that I will finally get to make it to the home country! NORWAY HERE I COME! I'm hoping to get the chance to make it up to the small village that my family comes from and meet my cousins that my uncle found but alas, we'll see how things play out. After my Scandinavian adventure, I will finally be reunited with my chère Becky for an amazing French and Italian adventure before we fly home together.
I have so many mixed emotions going through me right now. Stress with all the things I have to do/plans to make for trips, exams, etc, and then excitement for all my trips, seeing people I haven't seen in almost a year (especially my mommy!!!), and most of all, to finally be HOME! This trip has been the single most amazing/incredible/special trip of my life and I wouldn't take back a moment of it. I learned a lot about self-reliance, living independently, & travelling. These moments I've passed here will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Bon, je vous laisse (I leave you).
Love & gros bisous depuis la France.
-Doogie
