Orientation and Tour

The first day of school is such a unique experience.  The air smells just a tad bit different and the trees and buildings have a slightly different color.  It is almost like a switch goes on and people's steps are a little more certain and filled with purpose.  The electricity of excitement can almost be tasted.  Groups of people are delighted to see each other and cannot wait to tell each other all about their summer vacations.  Of course everyone is a little bit sad that summer is over, but on the first day of school it doesn't matter.  Before a student gets to school they have probably tried on three to five different outfits, agonized over how to style their hair and have had their backpack packed with fresh notebooks and pens since the night before.  This unique day is only experienced a few times in ones life, and today I experienced my last first day of school.  

I am sad that during my last few years at Oregon State I took this wonderful feeling for granted.  I forgot what it was like to be excited about education and learning something new, instead I viewed school as a chore.  Classes were boxes on my ever expanding check-off list.  Everyone always told me this was the time of my life and it would go by faster than I wanted it to, but I did not believe them.  And today, knowing that it was my last first day, there was a sadness that weighed on my heart.  The adrenaline and expectancy is energizing and almost addicting.  Finding my way to the classroom I looked around at the French students and wished I was one of them, I wished that I could be in their shoes and study forever.  However, times change people grow up, and now I am facing the reality that I am growing up.  Sure I will always be a kid at heart, and I will value the ways of being youthful, but at some point life must go on. 

I met the other AHA international students for orientation in this fabulous old building in the heart of campus.  Our director went over all of the necessary information and eased that anxiety one always feels when attending the first day of class and not knowing what to expect or what is expected of you.  We had lunch in the cafeteria and oh my goodness who would ever expect a three course meal for lunch in a school cafeteria!? Sliced vegetables, baked potato slices, calamari, brie and chevre cheese with bread, and chocolate mousse.  Um hi?!  After lunch we went on a tour of the downtown area.  The cobblestone streets are simply darling and all of the stores were bustling with activity.  There was so much to see I cannot wait to go back and explore everything a little more thoroughly.  After we all bought and activated basic pre-paid cell phones our director took us to the Cathedrale St.-Maurice.  I will post pictures - but they do absolutely no justice.  It took my breath away.  It had a sense of holiness and majesty.  Our tour ended with a glass of wine at a cafe; simply marvelous.

A note on my french:  my confidence has boosted 1,000 times what it was when I first arrived.  I have been speaking only french with my host family the past two days, which has helped tremendously.  Therese is so patient and repeats herself all the time until I understand what she is saying.  I am actually thinking in french!  As I have been writing this entry I have fought the urge to mix in french with everything, but held myself back so you all don't get annoyed and quit reading my blog - c'est tres difficile! 

Tomorrow morning I will have a placement exam which will determine what level of french I study for the next four weeks.  Time to study!