Reflections

So here I am, at the brink of Christmas vacation, staring out my window at the pillowy white snow that has blanketed the ground here in Amiens. Today seemed like the perfect day to reflect on my accomplishments this semester.

After a tumultuous exam period, that resulted in me feeling not so well, I emailed my professor asking for advice. He thought that at this point, it would be a good time to look back and see how far I have come in such a short amount of time.

**This is in no way meant to be bragging, just a way to review my successes.

1. I have settled in here. I have even started calling Amiens 'my city'. I came into this year assuming that I would stay here for a year, learn the language, and leave. I didn't think that I would end up having such an emotional connection, and pride for such a small city in the north of France.

2. I have really pushed my boundries to speak French. In England, I would speak French with a few of my friends, but it was only with a select few. I definitely wasn't comfortable speaking French with strangers. Now I have conversations with the chemists, the lady at the till, the doctor, and my French friends. I honestly didn't think that I would be as 'fluent' (and I still use this term a bit loosely...) as I am now. It is pretty easy to speak French without thinking 'conjugate this -er verb in the correct tense, use the correct article, then add the noun.' It is much more like 'j'ai mangé du pain hier.' (I ate some bread yesterday...which is true.) While I am not fluent, sentences come out much more fluidly.

3. I have a bit of a 'wellness' routine. While things here can be pretty crazy, with the strikes, and the differences between UK and French universities...It can be pretty stressful. However I have learned a few things that make me feel a bit more relaxed. For example, I pick up my 'Courrier Picard', a few times a week, and I attempt to read it. If I am super stressed I will walk through the city, taking time to pass the cathedral. It is a little bit of a reminder of the beauty here, and it always makes me feel better.

4. I have traveled until my arms have nearly fallen off from carrying suitcases. I really feel lucky to have had the opportunity to see parts of France that I never would have seen if I hadn't decided to do French as my degree. I got to experience the arrival of St. Nicolas in a tiny town in the Vosges, and I have seen every type of Christmas market out there. This has all been done while improving my language skill, because I have stayed in France. I actually counted today the number of cities I have visited in France, and the grand total is 17! That is more than the amount of cities I have visited in the UK, and I have lived there for two years! I feel like I have truly been given such a wonderful opportunity to see a country and all its different cultures.

5. I have developed a taste for wine. This might not seem like a big deal, but the French are so proud of their wine and cheese, and I often joked that I would be the worst Frenchwoman ever...because I detested wine, cheese, and charcuterie. Still, I have been trying to expand my palate and try new things that I wouldn't have chance to if I were in the States or in England.

6. I have learned to decode some French 'argot' or slang. I now understand what people mean when they say 'mon pote' or 'ma puce'. These little things I can sometimes sprinkle into familiar conversation so I do not always sound like I am giving a formal speech!

7. I kept myself from making friends with just English speakers. Sure, a lot of my friends do speak English, but I have definitely made an effort to speak more French than English in daily life.

8. Just in general, I have made some amazing friends from all around the world, and I feel so lucky to have found them! This wouldn't have been an accomplishment, usually....but I had to do it all in French! That is a big deal. Nonetheless, I am so happy I have gotten to know these people, and they have enriched my life.

So I leave you with those thoughts of mine. Hopefully it didn't come off as bragging, as that was not my intention. I guess I just wanted to make the point, that just as little as 4 months in another country can really mould a person, and make them grow.

Joyeuses Fêtes!