Seven Week Update

**disclaimer: though this was published in my eighth week here, it is still my seven week update because I like the sound of that more.

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I definitely intended to publish a seven week update, rather than a one month update. One month updates are too mainstream and anyways, who wants that much information from me? Imagine reading something like this one a month. Personally, I can barely sit through writing this, and I know for a fact that I will not so much as give this article a second glance once it’s published. I suggest you click away now. It will only go downhill from here.

Now that we’ve weeded out the fake fans, let me tell you about the past seven weeks. I’d prefer to tell you about thoughts and growth and vibes rather than listing inaccurate descriptions of places and people (maybe this should be called “Seven Week Vibe Update.” Thoughts?). Alors, allons-y !

Part One: français !

When I arrived, I had little more than two years of French knowledge under my belt. Enough to speak about the weather. Not enough to analyze Socrates (true story: my philosophy teacher asked me to write an composition on Plato’s Theaetetus and I just couldn’t).

I’ve gotten to the point where I can understand short phrases without thinking of the English translation. I am always surprised when this happens.

I’m very happy when I speak French. Every day, I’m able to express myself a little easier. Recently, I spoke with some friends about dogs and sunscreen and cities and about whether I prefer Canada or the United States (my answer: je préfère la Californie, toujours). And we only spoke in French.

I still trip over words and pronunciation. I still struggle to understand my math teacher, who speaks about mile a minute. I still can’t read Balzac. I still, to my dismay, cannot analyze Socrates.

But progress is progress, right? I couldn’t use the future simple tense when I arrived and now, I can definitely use it sometimes.

Something I didn’t anticipate before coming here was the possibility of confusing the languages. On multiple occasions, when thinking back on a conversation I’ve had in French I’ll believe that I spoke in English.

On a related note, when I’m told something in French and try to remember it later (while thinking in English, as per usual) I cannot easily remember what I was told. This has happened with the movie Joker and also with a math test. Pas bien.

Part Two: Friends?

Yes? I hope?

I feel like I’m lucky because, so far, I haven’t felt extremely lonely. Literally everyone has been so nice to me, which for some absurd reason I didn’t expect.

I have a group of people who I regularly eat lunch with and spend time with during the breaks now (s/o y’all are great) and it’s also getting easier to speak to my classmates.

At the beginning, and still sometimes now, speaking to my classmates is scary. I don’t really know why, because they’re all super nice and probably willing to hold a conversation with me. With a bit more time it’ll become easier.

Part Three: English!

It’s already falling apart. I’m having trouble writing this article for reasons other than writer’s block.

Part Four: What’s cracking now and what will be cracking in the not too distant future?

Other than my bones, not too much. I’m on vacation for the next two weeks! In the middle of October!! Thank you French School System, very cool.

I’ve also started playing soccer here! I haven’t been able to play in any games yet because my soccer license from the U.S. needs to be transferred to France and that is a process, but I think it’ll all come together in the next few weeks. Also, rather than playing keeper, as I’ve done for the past eight years, my coach wants to play me at midfield or forward. We’ll see how that turns out!

In mid-December, I’m going on a school trip to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands and soon after that I have another two weeks of break. Not to flex or anything.

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So that’s it. C’est ça. My seven week update.

Hope you enjoyed! Always feel free to hit me up with questions or just to talk because I am sometimes a Lonely Exchange Student.

À bientôt !