As my stay in Tours continues, I slowly see myself becoming more and more accustomed to le mode de vie français (French way of life). Although my host family situation definitely took some time getting used to, my host parents have really helped my language progression as well as my acclimation to French life. It’s the little things that make all the difference between living in France and the US. Between the rigid set of dinner courses instead of eating family style, saying bonjour before any first interactions throughout the day, and the overall laid-back manner of living, France has surely taken some time getting used to. I’ve gone from my typical mornings in America of scarfing down an entire bagel during the slightest lull in between errands, to leisurely sipping on a single cup of coffee for hours while talking to my friends at an outdoor French café. At first, I thought that the slowed down way life that the French are famous for would irritate my restless nature, but I have to admit that it has started to grow on me. Le mode de vie français is dangerously infectious, I’ve even started having cravings for French cheese if I do not eat it for “dessert” at least once a day. WHO EATS CHEESE FOR DESSERT?!? WHO AM I BECOMING?!?
Anyway, this week my fellow HC students and I have really bonded after some crazy adventures together. On Tuesday, we had a French cooking class where we made beignets. On Wednesday, we went to the nearby city of Chinon, where we were able to walk in the footsteps of Joan of Arc, as well as do some wine tasting at a local vineyard. Then on Saturday, one of the HC students planned an entire day trip to the famous Château Chenonceau for the group because the one at the Institute was canceled(Thanks again Abby!!). This was definitely the highlight of my week. For the past seven years that I have been studying French, I have seen countless pictures of Chenonceau and other châteaux from the Loire Valley in my textbooks. Seeing the Château and its grounds was the perfect French trip for me. I am so glad that Holy Cross have this month long immersion program in Tours, partially because of the great location for châteaux visiting, but mostly because I am having such a great time with the rest of the Holy Cross kids who I will soon be leaving for Dijon while they go to Strasbourg. I am really going to savor these last two weeks coming up because I know that they will be my last weeks of complete comfort for a while.
À bientôt!
-Sean
Leçon du jour: Prenez le temps de vivre (“take time to live”)
