Au Revoir France & Merci a Tous

This is simply to let you know that I am still alive & well here in La Rochelle, France & to say au revoir to such a great experience!

Believe it or not, I have been a little busy.  Well, a little busier than I've been here.  I just finished up a law class today & I begin and end my last course next week.  I still don't understand how this school works - I just follow my schedule & go where it tells me to go & take the exam.  My law professor is from Argentina & I'm not sure that he understands the school either.  He has been my favorite professor up until now (not that I've many to choose from) & is helping me with my little incident - he's also married to an American woman so he obviously is doing well with his life.

I'm getting ready to wrap up my stay here.  My sister arrives on Sunday April 29 & will stay here with me unil Tuesday.  We will then begin our trip together to Paris, Rome & finally to Greece where we will take a cruise around the Greek Islands.  & before I know it, I'll be on my way home!

I'm going to guess & say this will be my last post here. So...
Though I had regretted my decision in the beginning of all this, I'm glad I stuck it out.  I have met a lot of great people here from all over the world - China, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, & my 'locals' from the US.  I'd recommend studying abroad to anyone - but one piece of advice - you have to just do it without thinking about it.  I found that was my one problem - I thought too much of what & who I'd miss from home.  But that all will be there when you get home & you'll learn to appreciate it all even more.  Although I may not have received much education in the past 4 months, I have still certainly learned A LOT - about myself, about life, about other cultures, & so much more.  I thought these 4 months would've taken forever to go by - but it feels like just recently I was arriving.  It will be sad to leave my host family - they have been great to me - but it will be great to see my family & friends at home.  I'm looking forward to so much when I get home along with seeing everyone - driving myself to where I need to go, having an income, watching the Phillies win, dressing down more than dressing up, a constant hot shower, using my cell phone to call & text, graduating from college & entering the real world, Ang finally turning 21, speaking English all day everyday, the last sibling to graduate high school (!) & of course summertime!

THANK YOU to all who have read my blog throughout my journey & all your kind words.  I land in Philadelphia on Saturday May 12 & after visiting family, you'll know where to find me - hint: it starts with a V...

Merci & au revoir!
& when I find the time, I will share some photos of my upcoming travels! 

happy Easter

I hope you have/had a nice Easter holiday.  A lot different here than being at home today.  It's practically just another day here.  Yes, she bought some chocolate, & I think we will have a nicer meal than usual later today.  Coming here I had expected France to be religous - & it's far from that.  It's only my host mom & the 2 younger kids.  The older 2 come home next weekend.  The good news is that my sister will be here in exactly 3 weeks from today!

In other news, I finished another class this past week.  Which leaves me with 2 more classes - & the next 2 Saturday's of another class I had started about a month ago.
Last weekend, french students from this school currently studying at Shippensburg visited Philadelphia and stayed with my aunt & uncle.  They had a great time - not sure when they're leaving the US if I'll get a chance to meet them when I get home. 

Students are required to be abroad for 2 years - including an international internship.  They usually go to 2 or 3 different countries. 

I really have no news to share with you.  Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Happy Easter!