Jour Deux

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Day 2 I was scheduled to meet Vero at 10 am to meet more of the administrative staff. I went to the teachers staff room and it flooded with teachers of all sorts. The english teachers found me and I introduced myself, actually more like they knew exactly who I was. They asked me questions in English and French. They were so gracious in speaking to me in English since they knew I just got here yesterday. After meeting everyone in the administrative building, Vero showed me where I could eat lunch at the school, where I could make copies and where I could find various people and places if I need anything. I’m sure I will have to ask around again since somethings are a blur.

I went home and tried to find something to do to entertain myself but this just resulted in me laying down and crying a little at how i didn't know if i would adjust and how tired i still was. but i had like a minute to cry because in walked the german assistant with the previous years german assistant. they both speak french, german, and english. I think they’re both hesitant at speaking English but they did anyway. Now I should have mentioned that this was my second time meeting both of them since i had seen them at various points on campus so the fact that they were in the apartment wasn’t unusual. The german assistant whose name is Sabine is really sweet. She lives really close so she just came for the day to see what things she could bring back to the apartment. Her and the other assistant understood that I was feeling lonely and assured me not to worry and that I wouldn't be lonely much longer since all of the teachers like to have the assistants over for dinner or holidays. Sabine also said she was bringing her car over and that maybe we could go places on the weekends so we didn’t have to stay in the apartment. This made me feel a lot better. They invited me to lunch but I couldn't go because I had to stick around and wait for my pillows from the cleaning lady Lulu. Lulu is one of the nicest ladies I have ever met and while she only speaks French I can always understand her and she recognizes when I don’t get something. I responded to her in French and she told me my French was very good. I have received this compliment a few times now, always to my amazement since I think it is terrible. I always thought here though that I would be scared to speak around other French speakers but really they just expect it and they know I am not French so they expect my American accent and that I’ll mess up and for some reason that makes me feel better. The frustrating thing is that I’ve realized how much vocab I’ve lost over the years so there are many things that I wish I could just blurt out but I can’t at this point. I am glad I’m around so many French speakers since I think it’ll make my French a lot better and faster.

After Sabine left the apartment, I unpacked my things, hung pictures and tried to make my room seem a little less drab. Over time I know I’ll acquire more things. So far making these changes made me feel better and by the time I was done it was time to meet up with Vero again for our grocery shopping trip. I spent about 50 Euros on food which is about the same if I would have gone grocery shopping at home. Some things were more expensive (peanut butter) but now at least I have food. I came home and made dinner and then headed to the computer lab to use the internet there and the french keyboard that makes me type wayyyyy slower. So to all of you who got messages last night, be thankful! :)
Then I called home to my sister and mom, went back the apartment, did some reading, organizing and went to bed around 9 something. I didn’t sleep well at all, had a couple nightmares and in a foreign land with no one to talk to this was especially scary. I thought about going back to the pay phone and calling one of my friends since it was day time at home. Instead I laid awake for awhile.

Day 2 = success.

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