Finally

WOW! It has been a crazy long day. I got to the airport at 5:30 am Friday and arrived in France at 6:30 am Saturday. I had a 7 hour layover in the Minneapolis/St Paul airport. I finally boarded and found out we would be arriving in France an hour early, it was nuts.

I sat next to a French journalist who was returning after covering the Democratic Convention. It was really nice to talk with him and he gave me tips and told me waht he thought the differences were between everyone.

I got to France just fine and then realized that I forgot to print out my hotel information and the confirmation for my ParisShuttle. Thank God I ran into another student in the program who had it all. It took us about 4 hours from our arrival until we finally got in to the shuttle and then about another hour until we got home.

On the drive I saw a bunch of the HLM's that were in some movies we watched in French class. It was a little eerie. There was a lot of graffiti everywhere. We got to our hotel and settled in then went and explored a bit. I honestly felt so lost and confused I couldn't remember how to order a phone card...called a telecart. I met with my program director tonight. She's nice definately wants us to get the most out of everything. Only two students of us are in a dorm together we are all spread out but she wanted to make sure we aren't alone. Tomorrow I board a train for Tours and my homestay!

3 days until departure

So in three days I leave for France for the semester. I am leaving behind family, friends, and a boyfriend. I would be lying to say I was excited because I am extremely nervous and slightly scared. I have been worrying about fitting in and what I should wear and forgot about the fact that I am going in order to learn more about another culture and myself. 

Well welcome to my blog and I hope this helps both myself, my friends and family but also for anyone who stumbles upon it and can relate! I hope to keep up to date with this as best as possible and to load pictures whenever possible. I know it just a semester but from what I've heard a lot can change in a short period of time!

P.S. As for the interesting name, I love the movie Beauty and the Beast!!