September 1, 2010

Today was Orientation at the University of Nantes. I got up early and took the tram to the Uni and then waited around with a ton of other students until they called us into a big auditorium where we were introduced to our teachers, program and were required to take a placement test. Let's just say that this placement test was a little more advanced than my french was. So I did the best that I could and I think I am in the beginning level. I am going to try and get into the second level at least though because come on! I can speak a little french and I definitely know more than the students who have never taken french before! I am pretty sure 90% of the students were asian which was really encouraging seeing as how I know they will kick my but in just about everything. So I need to remember that I am not competing with anyone here, but only challenging myself. After the orientation, I sat down on the sidewalk outside and looked around at everyone and had a few thoughts:

1. Is this even worth it? It is going to help me at all to be in the Uni, because so far I feel like I am not improving at all!

2. I can do this, I just need to try harder than I have been.

I decided to go with the second thought. I took the tram to the City Center, went and bought a really good french sandwich which was served on a baguette. Mmmm. It was delicious! I sat down at the city center fountain and ate my sandwich while I listened to french music on my i-pod. As I was enjoying the lovely day, the drunk man that ran me over yesterday was sauntering around with his socks half on his feet and he spotted me and came within 4 inches of my face and said something weird in my face. I just looked at him and then got up and left just as he was laying down by some other people in a model position. This guy is definitely not right in the head.

Anyways, I walked around for about one hour and went into some shops and tried to speak a little french. It was pretty hard, mostly because people don't want to be patient with you, but I realize that I can't let this discourage me. So I kept trying. When I got home, I tried to speak most of the afternoon with Vanessa in total french. I have my best friend, my french-english dictionary and I have been impressed with how many things I remember from my studies! I only had to look up a few things. So I feel this is the way I am going to push myself. NO MORE ENGLISH- unless I am on here of course. I am even trying to only listen to french music and I am reading the Book of Mormon in french and I will start reading a novel in french as well.

I don't have any pictures up today, so I apologize for that, but sometimes I don't want people to know I'm a tourist here ya know?! I'm trying to act like I'm a real french person.

The leaves are starting to fall - and it's really lovely. Scarves are soon coming out! :)

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!