Bon Voyage!

Finally, after applying a year ago, I am in France!

My last night at home, my family, Deborah, and my best friend Anna came to eat a gastronomical French feast my mother prepared for an entire day. I woke up to hearing her in the kitchen at eight in the morning beginning to make the dough for her puff pastry. The pesto puff pastry was absolutely PERFECT! It was flaky and light and tasted like heaven. Bruschetta was the other appetizer which was equally full in flavor. For the main course Mom prepared a shrimp and crab quiche. After dropping part of one in the sink (good job Dad :D), we devoured the scrumptious pie-like entree with a big salad along side. Finally, for dessert, Dad baked molten chocolate cakes. The gooey center mixed with some vanilla ice cream tops my list of top three favorite desserts. They were exquisite. Some of the best food I have ever eaten.

The company wasn't too bad either. I was so happy to see my family gathered around the "Bon Voyage Leslie" centerpiece on the dining room table. As we ate the delicious meal described above we were all our usual loud selves. Just happy to be together before I hopped on my plane and Lauren drove back to school. After long hugs with my family members, I had to say a teary goodbye to Anna. In between sobs we each communicated our hopes for one another in the coming school year and our excitement for the wonderful things bound to happen to each of us. It will be hard without Anna; without having the ability to call her at a moment's notice because something only she would think is funny happened. I know our friendship will grow stronger though as we each become our own person. We will be able to teach each other such different things when we reconnect next summer. It will be wonderful!

The next day was D Day. Departure Day. This day had been looming around us for several days, even weeks. It was almost oppressive to know I was being taken away all at once from everything I've ever known to be put somewhere COMPLETELY different. A place where I don't even understand much of what is being said. Lauren left that morning to drive back to school. I miss you already Lauren!! Having a sister 13 months older than you creates quite a bond. The longest we had ever been apart (prior to last year while she was at college) was a month. Lauren left around nine that morning. I held it together while I told her bye and gave her a hug (something we don't usually do because she doesn't like to be touched), but after, in the confines of my bathroom, I broke down a little bit. We're already working on planning a skype date though.

The last friend goodbyes I said were to Alexander (Fred Big Owl Lucas Weatherford), Bradley (more formally known as B Rad), and Deborah. The lunatic boys I call friends brought me an obnoxious, button-down American flag shirt. I plan to wear it the first day of school (well, maybe that wouldn't be the best first impression). After they help load my two 48 pound bags into the car (haha thanks y'all) I gave them each a hug. Deborah went back to her host families house after sending me off as well. Now to the airport...

I told myself I wouldn't cry at the airport, but I'm already pretty emotional. This is a big step for me too. So after a few tearful hugs and kisses Mom, Dad, and Lucie dropped me off. I couldn't look back at them at security because I knew I'd probably fall out on the floor if I did (sorry Mom, I know you'll probably start sobbing when you read that). Such a bittersweet feeling. I was so extremely excited to be off to France after an eternity of waiting, but to leave the most important thing in the world to me, my family, was hard. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.

It actually sunk in, what I was doing as the plane from Memphis lifted off the ground. It is so odd to have talked about something for so long, to explain it to everyone, to hear the praise of how brave it is, and then finally have it happen. As the plane took off I started to wonder if I was doing the right thing, if I was really going to be able to take the plunge. Every anxiety and doubt was thrown out of my mind, though, when I heard a family conversing in French before boarding the plane from Chicago to London. I couldn't help but smile. What an opportunity this is! I am so fortunate to be able to have an experience such as this, and it is because of the ones I love and cherish so dearly that I have the confidence to take off, to explore the vast world and make it a little smaller by understanding a different culture. For the long flight to London I was on a gigantic, two-story airplane. The five year old girl sitting next to me had the cutest little British accent. So many people, from so many places. It's crazy to think that everyone on that plane had a life and a story from places all over the world. I started freaking out in the London airport. The terminal had so many stores and so many people. I couldn't find where my gate was on the departure board, but finally I realized they release the gate numbers only an hour before a flight. All was good. I felt like I was going to vomit everywhere. I was so nervous before boarding the flight to Nice. Well, probably more anxious than nervous. After sleeping a little on the plane, I woke up to find the Alps underneath me. Thankfully, I had a window seat. I got to see the beauty of France from an aerial view. Quite exquisite. Nice is beautiful. Well, at least what I saw from the airplane was. The runway is right off the Mediterranean so it seems as if you are going to land in the water when the plane starts descending. Huge yachts and sailboats were out on the bright blue water. It looked like a scene from a movie. After getting my passport stamped and grabbing my bags (Nothing was lost) I met my first host parents. They are both so sweet, and our communication is pretty good. So I was thankful.

The two hour drive from Nice to my town was so incredible. New scenery that is just breathtaking. The first glimpses of le mer (the sea) were gorgeous. I was so excited to finally see the quaint little villa I'll call home for the next few months before moving to my second family's house. Such a French house it is. No air conditioning (none in the school either, it's a French thing). So that'll take getting used to. Also, the toilet is in a separate room than the rest of the bathroom. Also something I'll have to get familiar with. After a nice dinner with my host parents and cheese following, of course, I am in the bed about to let exhaustion take over me. I didn't want to get behind on my blogging (I just love that word) so I pushed through the weariness. If I have any grammatical errors I'll blame them on that. I don't think I'll have bad jet lag. I get to sleep late tomorrow! Woo hoo! And I plan to post again tomorrow evening once I've explored a little more of the town and unpacked. I'll put some pictures up too. For now a bientot....