Getting to Know Nantes!

Today is the first quiet, relaxing day I've had all week. It's been a whirlwind trying to speak a second language, adjusting to cultural differences, meeting the 90 other students in the program, and taking care of all the necessities that come with settling into a new place. Tomorrow I finally start classes - I'm hoping some sense of order will follow.

Last weekend, our orientation kicked off with a 4-day trip to Vannes, a port city in the region of Bretagne, or Brittany. It was a truly wonderful introduction to French history and culture - we explored a few old chateaus and charming coastal towns. We never had a bad meal; breakfast and dinner at the classy hotel in Vannes were plentiful and rich, while on our various excursions we ate ham and cheese crêpes with cider at a veritable crêperie, tried fried oysters at an oyster festival, and splurged on a delicious variety of homemade chocolates at a cute candy shop.

Of course, another essential part of this orientation was getting to know our fellow IES students. As there are 91 of us in the program (about 30 more than they had just last semester) this is no easy task! Nonetheless, it amazed me how a small conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bus or at dinner could so easily blossom into a close friendship. And almost immediately we separated ourselves into small groups, with some collectively choosing to speak French while others ignored the language rule for a few more days. I've been grateful for other students whose persistence with trying to speak French as much as possible has encouraged me to do the same. Still, it's nowhere close to coming out naturally. But at least it's a little more eloquent than my German.

While it was a wonderful experience to meet people from all over the world at the Goethe Institute, it's been just as refreshing to meet fellow American students, all between 19 and 21 but from all over the country. Many come from small liberal arts colleges like Alma, and with that comes a certain kinship that we share in conversations about our educational experiences and future plans.

After returning, my past week was consumed by full-day orientation sessions at the institute. Lots of rules, information sessions, practical and historical tours of the city, and French classes to wake up our language skills from summer hibernation. (Meanwhile, I still catch myself thinking of certain German words before French ones - even the simplest words like the days of the week and seasons).

At my maison d'acceuil, the process of becoming a new member of a French family is going even smoother than I'd expected. With the full plate of orientation each day and a 20-minute bus ride to and from the town center, I would usually arrive home around 7 or 7:30. But with dinner at 8:30, this hasn't been a problem. My host siblings always have exciting stories to tell at the dinner table, though sometimes they speak so quickly that my host mother, with one look at my confused expression, gladly recounts the tale with even more humor and flair. The food is fresh and divine, with an abundant selection of cheese and fruit at the end of each meal.

Soon to come (and hopefully before another week passes): first impressions of classes in France!