Back from Hiding! (Part 1: Text)

Please note: This is the post that is mainly an essay. If you're looking for photos, they'll be up much later!

In my last post, I posed a challenge to myself: to kick the next day in the derrière. (I also said that I'd write a new post that same day, but time never allowed for that to happen. Excuses, excuses... but it's the truth.)

So, I woke up Monday morning with a good attitude. Ended up waking a little later than planned... kind of had to run to class (like I said, Little Running Mustard... had Dijon mustard on my sandwich today without even knowing it, by the way,) definitely didn't look my best, but guess what? I had an awesome day.

I mean it when I say this: SLEEP MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. If you know me well (or maybe even not so well, considering I had a classmate last semester sit next to me one morning and say "Tea today? I'm not used to seeing you without coffee,") I'm kind of a coffee fiend. But I also recognize the importance of a good night's sleep. It seriously changes your outlook on the day.

I'm not attributing all of the credit for a good day to a good night's sleep, of course. I needed to get the homesickness out of my system. I never let myself get upset when I was home, and it finally got back around to me.

But now I feel better than ever. I'm not just saying that, either... I'm really happy right now. Homesickness will probably come back at some point, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

SO! Fun and funny things that happen (storytime!):

-Found a comfortable bench in the park around the corner from me. In the blazing heat of the "canicule" last weekend, I sat with a book I'd been anticipating with excitement for a few weeks now, and it was PERFECT. Do you know how hard it is to find a comfortable bench? Very hard. It was by chance ("par hasard") that I came across this one... made my day amid my homesickness.

-Last Sunday I ALSO decided to walk to Place Plume(reau) and get some ice cream, because man... I mean it, France was HOT.
So I grab ice cream at one of the stands, and notice there are tables nearby. "Can I sit there?" I asked (in French). "Of course!"
So I sit there.
But then... I finished my ice cream.
And I didn't want to leave.
But the inner server/American in me was saying "go away. Somebody else gets this table now."
But I wanted to stay and read.
So the woman from the ice cream stand walks by me and I ask her as politely as I could, "Is it okay I stay here?"
She looked at me like I was an idiot. Foreign students, she was probably thinking, I swear. "Yes!"
So I embarrassed myself but I accomplished going out on my own to a cafe for the first time... something I plan to do frequently so I can rest and write and read (which I now know I can do! Asked my host mother about it... "Yeah, you could get a coffee and stay for two hours if you'd like. You paid, you have the right to stay there." Some things just aren't the same as the US... and this, I'm not going to complain about.)
So I'm excited to do this in the future, with more confidence and peut-etre caffeine instead of ice cream...

-My host mother is really encouraging me to engage with French. She teaches English and German to French adults through her own private business, and she gave me tips on how to learn more through everyday routines. The other night I stayed in and we watched a "policier" film together-- scared me a little, but it was great! I sat with a dictionary and notebook at hand, writing down maybe a total of 20 words/phrases I didn't understand, looked them up, and overall got the gist of the two-part movie. She's very helpful if I'm at loss for a word, and her support/encouragement, plus the conversations we have at breakfast and dinner really do help me continue to speak/practice French outside of class. Plus, I'm learning about very, very delicious French cuisine from her. I'm very lucky!

-Today I had to pick up a package from a post office I've yet to visit... I usually go to the one near school. But this one had my package, so I made my way over there.
First good thing: Wanted to make sure I was going in the right direction/didn't pass the place, so I decided to ask the woman who was walking near me. Ended up having a conversation with her the entire way over. It sounds silly, because I have spoken with native French speakers in the past (before I've ever even gone to France,) but this was the first time I think I've ever felt this comfortable speaking to a total stranger in the language. She understood everything I was saying and I understood everything she said in return. To add to that... she was incredibly nice and helpful. At some point during the conversation I realized "Holy crap... that was easier than it should have been."
Second.. did I mention that people are nice here? I mean it. From the moment Lily and I had problems at the train station to this past hour, people have been helping me constantly with the greatest kindness. I went on the wrong line at the post office and the woman was extremely kind about it, didn't make me wait on the other (long) line. I know better for next time!
THEN.
Wait, this is a great story:
So, one night I walked home via Colleen's street. Was able to walk all the way to her apartment, then take a right and head down a main (but dark) street towards my house, another 10/15 minutes or so away.
As I was walking, I saw a [big] man standing on the other side of the street.
Just. Standing. There. In front of what appeared to be an empty lot.
Scared me so much I stopped in my tracks for a second. The only other time I've been so scared was once in New Orleans with Julie...
SO. Today as I walked back to my apartment, I decided to take this street again and view it in the daytime. Maybe understand where that man was standing, and why.
... Guess what, ladies and gents:
IT'S A FREAKING MILITARY BASE.
I was simply terrified when in fact, I was probably in one of the safest areas possible that night. The man was part of the military keeping guard.
Ohh so typical of me to be scared of something with absolutely no justification. Well, live and learn!

-Tonight, came back from La Guinguette and decided to take the bus. Didn't want to walk 30 minutes alone, I was going in a little earlier than everyone else.
I must have "no sense of direction" written all over my face. A car pulled up to me and two younger guys asked if I was lost (which of course, I was wary about) and they kindly pointed me in the right direction.
Then, I waited, and panicked when it was past 12:28. That's when the bus comes, right?
Nooope. 12:38. Where is my head?
Finally get on the bus. But Alexandra doesn't know how to use said bus, apparently, because she A) sat in the ONE ENTIRE SEAT that hides oneself from the bus driver, who didn't see her in his rear view mirror to make sure she got off at the right stop, and B) one must press the "stop" button (this tiny little thing next to the seat) to tell the driver to stop. So what happened?
She missed her stop.
I have to tell you, I was so scared. I thought I'd taken the bus for nothing and would have to walk home alone, only later than before.
But the bus driver and his co-workers were extremely helpful and kind. They told me not to worry, they'd take me to another bus that would get me home in ten minutes. I think they saw how scared I was and despite my stupidity they didn't reproach me or anything; they explained why I missed the stop and told me what to do in the future (who knew something as simple as a bus could be a challenge abroad?) They didn't make me pay again or anything, and I can't express how grateful I am towards them.
I'd also like to add that two of my friends kept tabs on me all night when I was on the bus and made sure that I got home safe. Thanks you guys :) Knowing that I wasn't up all alone during that ride was extremely comforting and I truly appreciate it!

In such a "scary" world, I've got to say... there are so many good people out there. More, I'll admit, than maybe I originally thought.

Pictures should be up tomorrow! (Or, in my case... later today)