Exploration

 Exploring the city has been the main activity on my agenda the past couple of days. I think I am beginning to figure out my way around town. I like to walk most of the time, because it helps me remember how to get places and make a mental map. Walking in Caen also lets me enjoy my beautiful surroundings. I keep expecting people to pop their heads out of windows and sing "Bonjour" like in Beauty and the Beast. However, I have also begun taking the tram system if my destination if further away.

Today, we tried to find a bank downtown to set up French accounts, but never could find it. We asked several people for directions, but no one had heard of it. We are going to try again tomorrow, hopefully with its address in hand. While downtown, we stopped at a Boulangerie (Bakery). I bought what I think was called Une tarte chèvre tomate, which was tomato and goat cheese on bread, and un pain au chocolat. I ate the tarte first and saved the bread and chocolate for later. Both where amazing and inexpensive! I will definitely be making bakery visits often over the next four months. The food here is delicious. I have had crepes, quiche, galette des rois, and more!

La tarte chèvre tomate

Pain au lait, Camembert cheese, nutella and an apple.

 I also went to Le Château Ducal, William the Conquerer's Castle, while some of my friends were in class. It was so bizarre casually walking around such an historical place. Not many people were around the castle. It felt like I had the whole place to myself. I climbed up walls to little lookout windows, from which it seemed like I could see all of Caen. I took lots of pictures, and plan to go back soon to visit the museum and the art gallery with my friends.

Outer wall of Le Château.

Part of the interior of the castle.

I am slowly speaking more French, asking for directions, talking to my host family and/or roommate. I can't wait for classes to start. I am sure with them my French will speedily improve. It will also be nice to have a schedule and routine. We are also planning on visiting Paris for the weekend!

Finally in Caen!

I can't believe it is already Saturday, and I am in Caen! It still feels like Friday to me, but I guess traveling internationally probably messes with your sense of time. I am settling in to my new surroundings in Caen, and have already unpacked all my stuff.

I traveled in a group of four girls, all participating in the same program. Patricia, Savannah, Skylar and I met up with Jessica once we got to France. We have had a lot of fun finding our way to Caen, and I expect the rest of the semester to be filled with even more fun!

It was slow getting here though. The first leg of our trip was delayed, due to some mechanical issues with the plane that was taking us to Chicago. When we finally arrived in Chicago, we almost immediately boarded the plane that would take us to Paris. Neither flight was too bad, but I started to get a little cabin fever at the end of the last one. I couldn't seem to fall asleep, and was disappointed in the Rock's performance in Journey 2 :)

It felt really good to be on land again when we arrived in the Charles de Gaulle Airport ! It had just snowed, so it was cold, but beautiful. Once we got off the plane, went through customs, and found our baggage, we had to find our bus driver that would take us to Caen. We had a little trouble finding the sign we were meeting under, and I ended up having to ask directions from information (who spoke English). We passed the driver up the first time, and even told him that it wasn't us he was looking for. Luckily, we eventually realized he was, in fact, our bus driver and he drove us to Caen. Most of us took a little nap in the van.

The Tessiers picked me up at the Université and took me back to their house for a curry lunch. I had no idea how little French I knew/understood until that lunch.  However, the Tessiers are very nice and forgiving. They have been speaking a mixture of French and English to me. Hopefully my French will improve quickly so I can better communicate with their three children: Marine, Clara and Arthur. They have lots of energy and are very sweet. Clara already made me a drawing for my room.

I also got to go to the grocery store with Laurent to pick up some things for my breakfast. I chose Frosted Flakes (here Frosties) for a little taste of home. Now I am settling in for the night to hopefully catch up on some sleep that I did not get on the plane last night.

I don't think I am actually homesick yet. I am just questioning if I am crazy for doing this, and wishing I had practiced more French before I came! I am sure in four months I will look back and laugh at my adapting in the beginning, but right now it is a little overwhelming. Maybe I will wake up tomorrow and remember all my French from the past two semesters :)

I have to go back to the university on Monday for Orientation. I am excited and nervous to get started! I can't wait to fall into some sort of routine or schedule.

À bientôt!