February 12, 2020
I’ve noticed that over time, I have been able to understand and speak more french. I find it hard to understand classes, as everyone talks so fast, but at home and outside of classes I can participate in conversations. The science classes are the easiest for me (aside from english, of course) because scientific terms are very similar to their English translations. Sometimes, I can say an English word in a French accent and people will understand because it’s the same word in France! I have so many people helping me out and guiding me at school and at home. I have met a lot of the family and they always try to speak english when they talk to me, which is super sweet of them. The teachers are very patient with me at school, and the students are so nice. I have made a lot of friends here, I only found it awkward when I first met people. While here, I realized that we don’t really need to speak the same language to bond with other people. We can use other means of communication. Here, we communicate through facial expressions, hand gestures, and even dancing. Dancing is how I met a lot of people, in fact! Camille keeps me in her sight at all times, and if she can’t be with me, then I’m with another friend. Everyone is very supportive, and I am so lucky to have this host family and school community!
Coming here, I didn’t realize how much the US impacts other countries. Some people don’t know English, but they know all the words to popular English songs! I learned a song in French, too! Apparently, I don’t have an accent when I sing, but it’s harder for me to speak without one. I brought gum from America to school one day and everyone loved it! There were cries of “Oh! Elle a le chewing gum!” and swarms of people waiting for a piece, it was so funny! The classes also speak a lot about America, which I definitely wasn’t expecting. We study other countries, but we don’t necessarily focus on another country as in-depth as they do. I’m learning things about my own country I have never learned before! It’s so cool to see my home from a different perspective, and to see what people think about America. There are a lot of both good and bad things that I have heard from students. I’ve had a few people bring me a map of the United Kingdom and ask me which part I was from! They seemed to get even more excited when I told them I was from America. They probably thought I was either really crazy or really cool!
I have started writing a pamphlet for Camille about Gould and America, because she has never been there. I am so excited for her to meet everyone at Gould, it’s going to be so great! I love making pamphlets, I don’t think one can ever be over prepared for something. When I brought my roommate, Danielle, home for Thanksgiving with me, I made a pamphlet about each one of my family members and explained everything she should expect! I doubt that she read the whole thing through, but the point is that I like to help people prepare. Anyway, Camille’s America pamphlet consists of slang words and phrases that are used commonly in the US, as well as vocabulary specific to Gould Academy, such as the names of buildings and terms used exclusively in our school.