I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update all of you but my bags didn't quite make it with me to Pau so I've been without a way to charge my laptop...
Days 1 & 2: I survived the hardest parts of the trip- saying goodbye to my family and my home and managing to get through three different flights. It was as difficult as I expected to part with my family at the airport but I hadn't expected the amount of emotion that came from Spencer and Sabrina. (Not to embarrass them) they both fell apart! At the same time that I could hardly stand saying goodbye, I was so touched to witness the obvious strength in the connections between the five of us. After that, I went through security and the hassle of taking off and unpacking everything electronic and what not (all with my family watching, teary-eyed) and then I waved my final goodbye and went forth to my terminal. I met two girls from the same USAC program while waiting for my plane so I didn't feel too alone after that. The flight to Chicago was about 4 hours but felt longer. However, it didn't feel nearly as long as the 8 hour drag to Paris. Thankfully I met many more students while waiting for that flight so I recognized a lot of faces when we got off in Charles de Gaulle (Paris). Did I mention that I checked two 50-pound bags and had with me a heavy carry-on and 200,000,000-pound back pack??? I was so dreading the customs process in Paris because I expected to have to re-check my bags- which would mean hauling all of that weight around by myself- and have my carry-ons rifled through by security. Luckily, customs ended up being nothing more than a stamp in my passport. And while I was sooo happy to not have to man-handle all of that weight from my luggage, I'm thinking this is where my bags were misplaced. After the short hour and half flight to Pau (which feels much shorter when you pass out on the plane from exhaustion) I found out that I was one of three students whose bags didn't make it to Pau. Oh well, c'est la vie. My host mom Christine was in the airport to meet me. She kissed me once on each cheek- the French way- and then talked with a woman at Information about my bags. They arrived on that second day (January 4) at my host family's home (thanks to Christine) and I am so incredibly relieved to have all of my things. Christine has been so kind and generous... she lent me a nightgown and shampoo/conditioner while I waited for my luggage to arrive...
Needless to say, I was exhausted when we got to the house! I had been up for more than 24 hours and all of a sudden I was entering a stranger's house in the middle of the day while my body was craving the middle of the night. I felt sick from all of the traveling but hungry at the same time. Christine made me a snack while I settled in with my lack of baggage upstairs: a plate of four whole cheeses (at least one was a brie), some bread, a tangerine, and hot tea. I ate as much as I could but the more that went down, the more sick to my stomach I felt. While I was eating, I met Christine's youngest daughter Emmanuelle (18). She was asking me questions in rapid-fire french and, as I could understand maybe three of them, it was an awkward conversation. Eventually she went into the living room to watch TV with Guilhem (13). Sick with the flu, the poor guy was asleep on the couch when I got there. I finished off my tea and then went upstairs to take a nap. I think I slept for close to three hours and felt enormously better when I woke up. When I went downstairs, Lionel was waiting to greet me. He's a very nice man as had been sharing a lot of his personal interests and thoughts with me since I got here.
For dinner, we had a nice hot soup of carrots, potatoes, onions, and pumpkin. Naturally, I was the last one eating. When I realized this, I quickly sopped up the rest of the soup with my homemade wheat bread and on came the next course. We had tarte des tomates- a tomato tart. It looks similar to a flatbread pizza or quiche but is very thin and not at all saucy. It had cheese, herbs, and whole slices of tomato baked inside and Christine served it in slices that were cut with scissors. Finally, there was a spinach salad to eat with the tart. It was a very delicious meal but unfortunately I was still not feeling well. Throughout dinner I talked (in french, the best I could) with Christine and Lionel. Of course, they did most of the talking, but at least I can understand most of what they are saying to me; I just can't yet respond all that well. When we were done getting to know each other better, I went up to take a shower and get ready for bed. I was able to talk to my family on ichat for a bit- which made me terribly homesick- and then I crashed for the night (which was about 9:30p). I tossed and turned all night long with my yucky-feeling stomach but woke up with enough energy to start the next day...
Busy, crowded Paris Green, spacious Pau
