Mediterranean: La Ciotat

I know it's been a couple days since my last entry, but it's not entirely my fault (the internet has been down a lot here lately). I'm gonna try to write this entry quickly in case it crashes again soon. This Monday, I went with Anne, Antoine, and Leo to La Ciotat on the Mediterranean. As it turns out, we spent most of the day apartment hunting for Leo (who goes to school there), and maybe an hour or two at the beach. Luckily, the sea isn't too far away, so it's not like all my dreams of spending all day swimming and sun-bathing were crushed or anything. All in all, we had a good time at the beach, although I admit the water was just as cold as the ice-cold Alpine river we swam in the day before.

The one thing I've noticed so far about the French which is much different from Americans is the fact that, generally speaking, women aren't as body-conscious. They seem to be much less concerned with their looks, and it doesn't matter as much whether they are fat or thin, short or tall, etc... I think many women do care about presenting themselves well, but they only accentuate, never complain. I think American women could learn a lot from this. Too many of us are engrained with the thought that a different sizes are bad. We exercise to look thin, and when we eat too much, we feel guilty about adding on a couple of pounds. Life should be more about celebration and taking it easy, which are two things the French are excellent at. Anyway, I think I'm going to end this entry now so I can upload some pics and take a little break. I'll try to post again soon, and I hope you are all doing well at home!

River Adventures

I'm writing this blog just after my last, but I wanted to split it up because there was a lot of stuff from yesterday. Today was again a long, fun, busy day. Manu made lunch (curried chicken and rice), and Leo and Sebastien + friend (older host brothers) visited and ate with us. Manu taught me how to play chess after lunch, and when Anne returned from work, we jumped in the car for another day trip. This one turned out to be to some river-trekking adventure in the mountains. The ride there was beautiful, and we stopped by this remote area, where we had to descend a rocky, steep trail to get to the water. I was very proud I didn't fall, but there were some moments where I was pretty close. There were a few other people at the swimming area, but it wasn't an official beach or anything.

I must say I was kind of surprised, (being the American that I am) when everyone started changing into their bathing suits right on the river bank. No one seemed concern about being exposed in public, so I didn't make a big deal out of it, but I must admit, it felt a little weird.

The water was absolutely freezing in the river! It's apparently a river that flows directly from the Alps, so I'm not lying when I say the water is ice cold. I went cliff-jumping with Charlotte a couple times, but no one stayed in for very long. We got out and basked in the sun, and Sebastien, Anne, Antoine, and I decided to go on this trek through the forest. We must have looked like the weirdest group of people, walking barefoot in our bathing suits through all these trees and bushes, but we had a pretty good time.

When we got home, I spoke to my parents on Skype, and I was so happy to hear from them. I do miss my family, but my French host family has been very good at making me feel welcome and they always keep me busy, so it's a good distraction. Tomorrow, we're headed for the Mediterranean, so I'm charging my camera, preparing to wake up semi-early, and mentally packing a bag. It should be another long day in the sun, and I'll try to update you all soon!

Saturday Market and French Dinner Parties

These past few days have been crazy, and it's difficult to find time to write, but here I am! I was planning to write yesterday night, but we got home late, and I was exhausted from the day's adventures. It feels like it's been so long since yesterday morning, because we always seem to fit in so much, but here is what I remember: I woke up and my French host dad, Manu, drove me, Charlotte, and Antoine into downtown Privas, where there is an open-air market. It's open every Saturday and Monday, and the streets are crowded with people who are shopping and bargaining. We stopped for a few minutes at a cafe, where I conveniently ordered a "cafe" (thinking it would be a regular cup of coffee) and of course, it was something much different. It was the smallest, strongest espresso I've ever had, and there was no sugar. For those of you who know me well, you understand that this is a big problem. However, Manu must have seen me make a face when I tried it, and he ordered me sugar before I could ask!

We left the cafe after we finished all of our drinks and walked around the market. Antoine bought me and Charlotte bags of French candy at a cute little store, and we stopped at a boulangerie (bread shop), fruitier (fruit shop), and charcuterie (meat shop). Of course, this whole time, I looked like such a tourist taking pictures and carrying my French/English dictionary, but it's the price I pay for keeping all of you back at home updated! Manu made lunch when we got home, and soon after, Anne came home from work. I thought she said we would be going to my high school to meet people, so I grabbed my wallet and dictionary, and started thinking of questions to ask about my classes and schedule. However, we got in the car and started driving in the opposite direction. I hunkered myself down, not knowing what to expect. As it turns out, we drove all the way to Valence again where we stopped at a patisserie (pastry shop). After Anne bought 2 cakes, we drove maybe 30 minutes away to a chateau near the mountains.

Instead of going on a high school visit, we ended up at a French dinner party. As it turns out, it was Anne's high school graduation, and there were about twenty people there. Everyone was very nice, and I had a few good conversations with the other guests. We played many games, including boule, the traditional sport of Southern France. It basically involves two teams that compete in throwing medium-sized metal balls nearest to a small, yellowish colored ball. After the games, everyone sat around a large table for conversation and a few hours after that, we finally ate. For dinner, we had pâté, sausage, bread, cheese, pasta salad with seafood, and wine. It was all delicious, but I was glad when the party ended at 11:30. I was exhausted, and when we got home, I used a mint in substitute for my toothbrush and an anti-bacterial surface wipe instead of my face wash. It felt like the longest day ever, and bed never felt so good!

Crinoides and Cheese Pastry

Hello again everyone! Today was a long day, and I'm excited to go to bed soon after I write this. I woke up and played Wii with my host brother, Antoine. We get along really well, and while I can't understand a thing he says, he never seems to get impatient and always wants me to play with him. We ate lunch not long after outside on the patio. There was chicken, salad, roasted vegetables, and of course, the French staple, bread. The one thing I noticed that is very different from my family in America and my family in France is that my family in France is much more insistent on eating outside regardless the circumstance. We had a nest of bees attack us, and rather than taking our food inside, we had to trap every single bee under individual glasses. It was a long process, but the task was eventually completed and we were able to eat our lunch in peace.

After lunch, we drove Charlotte, my host sister, to a nearby town where she could catch the train to Lyon. She goes there often to visit a friend in the hospital who was in a bad car accident 3 months ago. Anne, my host mom, Antoine, and I drove to Valence, a much bigger city than Privas, where we walked around a mall and the park. I would have brought my camera, but I misunderstood her and never realized we would be going anywhere far in the car. It's too bad, though, because Valence is a beautiful city, and the drive there was gorgeous. Anyway, Anne bought me a novel in English at a bookstore, so I've got something to keep me busy besides Just Dance and Wii Sport.

On the way home from Valence, we stopped at an archeological site where anyone can look for fossils and parts of prehistoric animals. I think the place was called Pont Aux Etoiles, and we found tons of crinoides (star shaped creatures that lived over 26 million years ago). It was a pretty cool place, but we left after a few minutes because of a freak thunderstorm/torrential downpour. Anne gave me a tour of Privas for the first time when we returned, and I saw my school and the rest of the city. It looks so different from anything in America, and it's nice to have a change.

So far, my host family is treating me very well. They are completely opposite of the rude and self-centered French stereotype. They have been some of the most welcoming, friendly, energetic people I've ever met. They always include me in their activities and if I don't understand something, (pretty much every sentence), theatrics are used so I know what's going on. They don't smoke and I haven't seen them drink wine yet, but the one stereotype that holds true is the good cook stereotype (I'm so glad it is this stereotype that holds true). My favorite meal so far in France was definitely the dinner we had tonight. I asked what it was called, and I didn't understand the answer, but whatever it was, I will volunteer to eat it again! It was some kind of puff pastry filled with this amazing cheese. I know it sounds normal when I describe it, but trust me, it is so much more than that! All in all, it was a good day, but I'm definitely tired out. Next time I go anywhere, I'll try to remember my camera so I can take lots of good pictures!

Oh - and one more thing: I finally got my suitcase!!! It was a happy moment, and I teared up a little when I saw my bag of toiletries. Luckily, everything was intact, and now I don't have to change into dirty clothes after I take a shower. How I love clean clothes and my loofa!

My Arrival in Privas

Well, it's been a long few days, but I'm finally in Privas! My first flight from Binghamton to D.C. was kind of sketchy (small, loud, shaky), but we (the other exchange students from my district and I) were all running on pure excitement and anticipation. Everything was just peachy keen until about 15 min. into the flight when I realized I left my computer charger at home, which was of course the one thing I told myself I wouldn't forget in the morning. When we arrived in D.C. I bought one for $120 (yikes!) but it's the price one must pay for their own stupidity. C'est la vie.

I was glad to meet the other exchange students flying to France in D.C. Everyone was in the same boat, with the same feelings, and we got along pretty well. After a few hours of exchanging pins, eating food, talking, and playing cards, we all started to freak out when the whole building started shaking. A few things fell from the ceiling, and the cards we were playing scattered around. Let me just say, an airport is not a good place for an earthquake. We all thought a plane had crashed into our terminal, and we were relieved to find out a few minutes later that it actually was a 5.8 earthquake.

The flight to Paris was uneventful, as was the 5 hour layover in Charles de Gaulle. I was tired and anxious, and the waiting definitely didn't help. Definitely out of the 3 flights I took, the one to Lyon was the best. I sat next to a young teen from Grenoble, and a Brazilian who was spending the year in Grenoble at a university there. We all spoke different main languages, but bonded pretty well over bad French and good English. By the time I arrived at St. Exupery, I was exhausted and definitely in need of a shower. I went to the baggage claim and waited forever for my bag. Eventually, everyone had pretty much left, except for a few who couldn't find their bags. No surprise, with my luck, I was one of them, and we went to the lost baggage center to complain. After waiting maybe 30 minutes, (I was the last in line) I finally got to the counter where a woman told me my suitcase would arrive at my house in Privas when they found it. To make me feel better, they gave me an XL plain white t-shirt. How generous. Everyone was cleared out by the time I walked out of the terminal. The only people I saw were my French host family, and they all seemed relieved and excited to meet me, as I was to them. Antoine, Charlotte, and my host mother, Anne, all greeted me warmly, and we left the airport a few minutes later.

The drive to Privas took about an hour and a half. We had a nice conversation, I'm not sure what about, but I fell asleep not long into the trip. I woke up close to home, and stared out my window at the beautiful scenery. It's gorgeous here, with mountains, rivers, and old villages everywhere. It's a quaint city, and I feel so lucky to be placed with such a good region and a wonderful, friendly, patient family. My home in Privas overlooks the city and is on top of a big hill in the country. I got a tour of the house, unpacked my white t-shirt, and took a shower before dinner.

All of my meals in France so far have been delicious. We seem to eat outside on their patio a lot. Anne made a delicious dinner that seemed very French to me. There were 3 courses; the first had les cornichons (small pickles), salty pork that had the flavor of bacon, cold sausage (saucisson), bread, beans with vinegar sauce, fresh melon, and grapefruit. Our second course was eggs with delicious Provençal tomatoes. For dessert, we had citron and strawberry ice cream with a fruity sauce. I fell asleep soon after dinner at 10, and woke up a full 12 hours later!

I helped Charlotte and Anne make curried chicken with rice for lunch, and watched some American t.v. in French with Charlotte and Antoine. I know this entry is kind of long, but there's so much to say, and so little time to say it. To avoid going on even farther, let me just say: So far: life is good in Privas, and I'm excited for more!

And So It Begins...

Hello Everybody! My name is Hayley Chwazik-Gee. I recently graduated from Norwich (NY) High School as Salutatorian (I know, I missed it by that much) and am leaving for France tomorrow as a super-cool Rotary Exchange Student. For those of you who don't know me, here is the basic synapse of my life: I dropped out of pre-school at an early age because I apparently didn't get along with my peers, and then I had a "brief" obsession with the movie Pocahontas (I wore an outfit just like hers pretty much every day for several years), I went on to correctly spell words like "Bewusstseinslage" at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and now I spend my free time signing environmental/animal/humanitarian petitions and learning the countries and capitals of the world. Now that you know a bit about me, I will tell you a bit about my blog. I've decided to keep an online journal of my year in Privas (don't pronounce the s), a small city in Southern France. Lucky for me, I get to take one more year of high school because 4 years just wasn't enough. I will try to write about all aspects of French life in the following year: school, food, life with a host family, travels, language, etc...

As a state-park summer lifeguard who sits 8 hrs/day, I've had some time to think about my goals for my exchange year recently, so here they are:

1. Become Bilingual: Right now, my French is pretty limited to asking where to find the nearest food, so considering the circumstances of living with a family that doesn't speak English, and going to a school taught completely in French, learning the language is pretty high on my agenda.

2. Dare to be Decisive: Almost every sentence that comes out of my mouth is a question, and those questions are usually geared towards "What should I do now?" or "Where do you think I should go next?" or "Do I really have to go to the bathroom right now?" You get the point.

3. Obtaining Independence: For 18 years, I have lived under the same roof. I've never strayed far from home for very long, and I usually lack the patience to figure things out by myself. I'm always around someone who can help me out with a problem, and while I appreciate all who have helped me (you know who you are), I've decided that it's imperative to learn to do things by myself.

4. Learn to be French: My main goal for next year is to adopt a new culture. I plan to live like the French, eat like the French, speak like the French, and on and on. From what I've heard, Privas is a pretty authentic French community without much international influence, so I'm going with an open mind and an open heart, and we'll see where that takes me.

Thank you to all of you who will be following this blog next year; I'm sure there will be crazy moments to come, and I can't wait to share them with you! Feel free to post comments or questions along the way; I'd love to hear them. Well folks, next time you hear from me, I'll be in France (hopefully), so bon voyage, and see you soon!