Interview and Sending Orientartion

Last Friday I had my AFS interview. A volunteer from AFS came to our house and talked to me about myself and what kind of family I was a part of and what kind of family I would like to be a part of in France. She was very kind and helpful, and I think she convinced my mom, who still wasn't sure, that going abroad would a good experience. :-) I just have to finish my application now and then we can send it off and hopefully get a host family.

Last Saturday I went to sending orientation for AFS. We got to sit in a meeting for six hours while the volunteers told me and other future exchange students about all the scary stuff about being an exchange student and how to deal with it. We talked about our hopes and fears and some fun stuff too, and we got to talk to other people from Ohio who would be going abroad at the same time. I met a girl from Shaker who will also be going to France next year and we were really excited. Maybe we'll meet up, but the best part is that we'll have our own host families and friends and make new connections. It's still a while until I leave, but I'm starting to get excited. I couldn't wait to leave for France after the meeting was over, especially since some of the students already had host families. We learned some really useful things and heard stories from former exchange students and I'm glad I met the people I did. We'll have a lot of fun.

Le petit triangle

On Sunday I went to Le Petit Triangle Cafe with my family for brunch. We ate crepes and I had a chocolat chaud and it reminded me of eating in my favorite cafe in Paris, Cafe Charlot. I remembered listening to the people speaking French, which I hardly understood at all (eavesdropping on others' conversations, I couldn't get past "Bonjour, ca va?") and eating delicious food. Best was the chocolat chaud. Being in Le Petit Triangle brought back the memories.
The crepes also reminded me of an experience everyone should have when they go to Paris. It was a cold, rainy day and we had been walking around all morning and all afternoon. We'd walked past Notre Dame a few times, trying to decide if it would be worth it to pack inside with everyone else. Our shoes and socks were soaked and we were about to just go home, when Maggie spotted a small, steaming crepe stand with nutella jars on display. We stopped to buy some and they brightened our rainy afternoon. They were the most delicious thing in the world just then.