Last Monday I was very happy for the sun and warm temperatures when I got out of music class at six o'clock in the evening and found my way to the bus stop by myself (for the first time!!) and then realized...I had forgotten my bus card. Making the decision not to go back to the school and ask for help from the kid with spikes in his face, I decided to use my new ("new"...hand-me-down from a host sister.) cell phone instead, also a first for me. Sitting on the side of the road, I attempted to understand my host dad through static and traffic, which wasn't easy, but I finally got that he wanted me to ask the bus driver to let me ride to Menetou, where my host dad would be waiting with my card. This was successful, and I was very relieved to finally get home around seven, where dinner and stinky cheese were waiting for me as usual.
Monday's trauma was balanced out by a relatively easy week. My French is coming along very well, and I am able to have conversations with my classmates and follow the lessons at school, even if some of the details are still lost. Sometimes I'm still a little unsure about what's going on around me--for example, a random rock concert on a Friday afternoon (during class!) seemed strange to me, but turned out to be a part of the Semaine des Arts at my school. After zoning out in theater, I missed the part where we decided to perform our play outside...in a tree. But, all in all, I think these were acceptable things to be confused about.
And, finally, I've been bringing American culture to France, as well. I had Wednesday afternoon off, and since I didn't have anything better to do, decided to make cupcakes. The shape was somewhat of a failure (turns out, we don't have a muffin tin...) but they tasted alright, and were a success with the family. I also made potstickers (that's American, right?) which was a good, familiar taste of home. Mixed with requests to translate Lady Gaga lyrics, presentations about the United States, and the Internet, I don't feel too far away at all.
