Ma Vie en France

Bonjour tout le monde! Je m’appelle Audrey  et j’étudie à Paris ce semestre!

Whew, so glad that after five years of French classes I can at least tell you that my name is Audrey and that I’m studying in Paris this semester.  I’ve been in Paris for about three weeks now and I’m happy to report that my French has already improved!  Sort of.  The primary reason that I chose Paris as my study abroad site is that I constantly have opportunities to practice my French.  That being said, I’m here with a bunch of Americans and it’s so easy to speak solely in English with them that there are days when I can go almost all day without using any French.  This is the blessing and the curse of going to an American University in France.

Living in a French household has been helpful though.  My host mom, Madame Raynaud, speaks mostly in French except for when I make my confused “I actually have no idea what you are saying” face.  (Unfortunately, that face is a reflex at this point…I have very little control over whether it appears or not).  Ultimately, I hope to speak as much French as I can to become as close to fluent as possible in the months that I have here in Paris.
 
When it comes to food, however, my French is impeccable.  I am perfectly able to order a baguette from a “boulangerie” or a crêpe with nutella from one of the many stands that grace the streets of Paris.  And although I am normally vegetarian while at home in the U.S. , here in Europe I have decided to be more adventurous and eat meat.  (I tend to not ask what type of meat it is when I am eating it and just enjoy the taste…)  Madame Raynaud makes wonderful meals for my roommate, Emily, and I twice a week and thus I have tried many different kinds of meat (some mysterious and others not).  At these dinners, Madame Raynaud speaks lots of French to both Emily and I. At the end of dinner, we always make sure to tell her how good it was and ask if she needs any help with the dishes (she never does).  She tell us not to worry and that she will do it.
 
Madame Raynaud is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.  It has been and interesting adjustment to life in her house as opposed to my apartment in New York where I am completely independent.  She does my laundry for god’s sake!  When I thanked her for vacuuming my room the other day, she seemed surprised and said “C’est normal!”  It’s amazing but guilt-making at the same time.  
 
I can’t believe it’s already been three weeks, so much has happened (the above picture is from a trip to Montmarte which is a beautiful city on a hill).  Yet there is so much left to learn and discover (and lots of baguettes in between)!  I hope everyone is settling in nicely and enjoying being abroad as much as I am.  À toute à l’heure!