And Then She Was In France.

Well.. Bout Time For Me To Be Hittin’ The Ol’ Dusty Trail.

So I’ve been through quite a range of emotions the last few days. I think I’m finally getting to acceptance, and therefore, sadness. I had to say goodbye (for now) to my two best pals Hannah and Landon today which totally sucked. Like, so bad. Worse than I was prepared for. They make me want to stay. And that’s saying a lot. They’ve totally made this experience what it is and I’m so thankful to have met them.

In two hours I’ll be on my way to the train station. My suitcase is super heavy so I’m not looking forward to lugging that around over the next 15 hours or so. I’m also not totally sure how customs work so that’s got me a bit worried as well.

I think my body knows it’s about to go through a big change. It’s falling apart similar to the way it did when I first got here. Must be stress or something. Unfortunately for my body, the next month or so is going to be full of lots of radical changes so I hope it’s ready. 

Well I get to hang out at the airport for about 11 hours before my plane leaves and then! I get to sit on a plane or wait in an airport for the next 17. And then! 10 days from now I get to go on two 10 hour flights for a total travel time of like 27 hours! Golly gee wiz this is gonna suck! Oh well, makes it even more worth it when I get there.. even though I’m almost surely going to be on the verge of tears from lack of sleep, being totally overwhelmed with everything, and jet lagged. Oh la la la la! Can’t wait!

Anyway, I guess this will be the last blog I write while I’m in France.

As I suspected, it was quite the ride and I did some things and met some people that I’ll never forget. It’s hard to gauge the true impact this experience has had on me at this point, but overall I think it’s everything I could’ve hoped for. It wasn’t all glamorous and shiny like it seemed on the surface, but that’s what made it a real, personal experience. The downs make the ups even better, for sure. I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve changed in more ways than I probably realize. 

Well, on to the next one. 

Later, France.

24 Hours.

In 24 hours I’m gone. 

And I just spent my last evening in France in possibly the worst possible way anyone could ever think of. I sat, in the cold rain and insane wind, at a bus stop, for one, entire, hour. It was miserable. It was raining so hard that I didn’t want to walk home and apparently the bus driver just decided he didn’t feel like making his 4 o’clock stop so there I sat, freezing and wet, waiting for an hour. So that totally blew.

But when I went to get my last ever Super Cookie from La Mie Caline, this bakery that totally rocks, I found out that they’ve got a 2 Super Cookie for 2 euros deal which I’m really glad I only found out about the day before I left Chambéry. That could’ve been a bad deal…

Anyway, I’ve got just about all my stuff packed, my room all clean, my clothes set out for tomorrow, and I’m pretty much ready to go. I’m starting to freak out a little about the weather though, the wind is crazy strong and it’s been raining all day. Hopefully it’ll clear up a bit by Sunday morning..

Well, that’s my last night in Chambéry for you.

I’ll write tomorrow.

So I Think It’s Starting To Hit Me.

In 1 day 22 hours 38 minutes and 50 seconds I’m leaving France. Forever. Well, maybe not forever but not just for a few days to go to Germany or something. I had my last class today. The last time I’ll ever see those cute little Chinese faces of my classmates or do “une petite photocopie” in Mlle Camilo’s class. I’m totally sad, dude. I mean, it’s over. 

I think I’ve been in denial about leaving or maybe just not really let it soak in but there’s really no avoiding it now. In less than 2 days I’ll be on a train for Geneva, never to return. Slightly bummed.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I saw my first two silent films last night and I absolutely loved them. The first one was The Cameraman with Buster Keaton whom I just adore in all his preciousness. And the second was actually made just recently and it was called The Artist. I never knew I could enjoy a movie so much that A) was in black and white and B) had no words. But I did! So much! It was also really nice to be amused by such innocent humor, particularly in The Cameraman. Never have I been so tickled by a man tripping, clumsily breaking a window, or coming out of a dressing room in an oversized swimsuit. It was great. I felt like a little kid again.

Anywho, tomorrow I have a lot to do because it’s my last full day in Chambéry. And then Saturday evening I’m off. 

Almost The End.

Well I’ve got 4 days 11 hours 54 minutes and 3 seconds until my plane leaves from Geneva. And I’m starting to feel really strange about everything. Well, it’s not just now starting, it’s been going on for a little bit now.

I’m so ready to just be home. This week is flying and dragging so much at the same time. There’s so much I have to do before I leave but most of it isn’t anything that can be done until pretty much the day before I go. I’m just feeling restless. I feel like my time here has come to an end already and now I’m just waiting for when I can go. 

I remember probably a month in or so thinking that leaving would be really hard. But for the last month or so I’ve just been kind of done with this place. I feel like all the forums, websites, magazines, etc. have lied to me. Isn’t this the part where I’m supposed to be finding ways to extend my stay?? That’s what everyone said I’d be doing! 

And it isn’t the being abroad that’s the problem, it’s France. I have no regrets about coming here but now I know that France is a place I don’t ever care to live in or probably even visit again. I guess maybe I’d still like to see Paris, but I’ve heard it’s quite overrated. 

Pretty much I just want to see my family. And my friends. And sleep in my bed at my house and eat my mom’s cooking. Studying abroad definitely makes you appreciate what you had back home.

Anyway, I’m just wanting to see how my feelings about leaving progress over the next few days so maybe Thursday I’ll write again and then of course on Saturday, my last day.