So, I haven't updated in a while and I apologize. I've been busy with school and exploring Grenoble.
Classes are going well, aside from one. They're all in French, but most of them are completely manageable and I understand what's going on. Then there's this one class. It's the History of Modern France, which would be totally interesting if the class wasn't in rapid French. On top of being extremely difficult to understand, it's a ton of work. Luckily, there are 3 other Americans suffering in there with me. I mean, I know it will drastically help my French in the long run, but right now all it makes me want to do is cry, eat McDonalds, and drink PBR.
Aside from that, everything is going really well. Last weekend, a group of us took a trip to Lyon so I got to see Kati and DC, which was amazing of course. The trip was good overall; it was really nice to get out of Grenoble for the weekend, especially because when we left the bar, we didn't have to worry about climbing halfway up a mountain. Fall break is next week, so I'm going on a trip around Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Paris with a few friends.
The French is getting easier to understand and speak. I feel like Americans just have to go abroad to really learn another language. We have no demand for it like Europeans do, since driving from state to state is like driving to another country for them. I just wish there were more pressure for us to learn other languages... I feel so far behind everyone else when it comes to that.
As far as culture goes, I feel like I've become progressively more Southern since I've been here. I literally said, "Just holler when you're ready!" to somebody yesterday and immediately wanted to slap myself in the face. It's surprising because I felt like the opposite would have happened, but it's cool. I can embrace my Southern culture. Except for when I use words like "holler".
It has been really cool seeing the way so many other cultures work, though. My building is full of people from all over the world and I can definitely tell so many differences. People from English-speaking countries are similar enough. The guys are all so much more respectful towards woman than American guys are- seriously boys, watch and learn. Also, when French people make plans with you, they expect those plans to go through. Americans will make plans with someone and then it never happens. Or, if you go out with a group at night, most of the time everybody just ends up doing their own thing. Separating is okay... Americans are fine with saying, "Okay, we want to go to this different place, we'll just catch up with you guys later". French people are more like, "okay, we're going out together, we're sticking together all night", so they make plans and compromise around what everybody in the group wants to do. It's not a bad thing by any means- friendship is just taken more seriously here and they aren't as casual about "hanging out" with people as Americans are.
One thing I've noticed is that Americans LOVE to trash our country. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "I can't wear that, it looks American". Or, "Stupid Americans" coming straight from an American's mouth. It's like, yeah, okay, some people give us a bad name when they run around, being loud and obnoxious, screaming in English and refusing to learn other languages, but it also gives us a bad name when all you do is talk badly about your own country. Just own it. Just because it's a stereotype that Europeans hate Americans doesn't mean that they'll think you're cool if you walk around trashing your own nationality. Remember that if you go abroad.
Basic chores are SO different for me here than in the US. Going grocery shopping has been interesting. I'm used to seeing Mom load up a cart full of food from Publix a few times a week, keeping the kitchen fully-stocked at all times. I've had two "major" trips to buy groceries here. By "major" I mean that instead of just buying baguettes, Camembert, and pasta, I'll throw in a vegetable or something. Like, yesterday, I additionally bought a half-dozen eggs and mushrooms and considered that a "major" shopping trip. It's hard, though. Anything you buy has to be lugged up a mountain, then there isn't much fridge room, and the kitchens are a bit shit, so you're not really encouraged to make anything that isn't incredibly simple. Like pasta.
Laundry has been different, too. It's really inconvenient. You have to go between 9-9:30 on Monday nights to sign up for a time slot for your laundry. It only costs a euro to use the machines, but you have to hope that there will be a convenient time available, then you have to rely on somebody else to bring you the laundry key on time. I've been in France for over a month and I JUST did my first load of laundry this week. Thankfully, we have sinks in our room, so I've been hand-washing a good bit, but it's harder now that it's cold and clothes now take a couple of days to dry. But, inconvenient laundry situations really make you realize exactly how "necessary" doing laundry really is.
That's all I've got for now. I need to go work on a project for this God-awful History class.
