Pourrais-je rester?

Octobre est passé et Novembre arrive.

Soon it will be December. Le temps est rapidement passé depuis je suis arrivé. I don't think anyone is reading this now so I decided to write bilingually from now on. Un jour quelqu'un lira et corrigera mes fautes. I tend to make many faults in writing, but I feel like writing is my strength. Je peux à lire le français facilement et ecrit ma penses très clair. However I still have a long way to go before I could consider myself fluent. Je pourrais à dire ce que certains français me félicite au sujet de mon français. Though I am always surprised to hear such a thing. Normalement je pense qu'ils ont fait une politesse parce que je assaye. The most important thing is that I can communicate, I don't have to be perfect yet. Plus tard, je vais assayer à parfaire mon accent magré connaissant ce n'est pas possible. I am a very ambitious person!

Mon rêve: Trouver un bon travail où je pourrais parler les deux français et anglais. Not only do I want that, but I also want to incorporate other languages simultaneously. Peut-être, il faut travailler dans une école. Then, I could have plenty of vacation to travel. Maglé le décision habiter permanent au Nantes, je voyagerai toujours. It is nice to think that I could have a pleasant place to live, and I really think it could be Nantes. Je ne pense pas que c'est trop simple mais la vie me etonne tout le temps. There is no particular reason why I want to stay, I just do. Demenangant est très fatigant un raison de ayant à recommencer ma vie chaque fois. I wonder when I can finally be able to stay somewhere. S'il est possible, je voudrais être s'intaller dans un lieu auquel je pourrais s'appeler chez-moi.

I will keep praying and just maybe I will be able to stay...

¡Yes!

Success!

I have officially been living in France for one month. There are so many things I have accomplished since then. I want to boast of my achievements on this auspicious occasion.

I found a place to live.

I brought a mobile phone, and later I figured out how listen to my voicemail.

I have full conversations en français which proves my fluency is just around the corner.

I have completed four and a half weeks of les cours français, in a level higher than expected.

I have an appointment for a bank account. So close!

I am pushing my limits and achieving much more than I have ever expected.

I am overcoming discouragement and frustration day after day... Yeah!

And, I am even more motivated by this post!

Happy Birthday to me!

This is quite an auspicious occasion. It's my 29th birthday! I have not ever put up a post on my birthday so this one better be good.

This has to be one of the most special birthdays I have ever had. First of all because I am in France and secondly I am living one of my greatest dreams. Today doesn't feel real. I am in between reality and a dream. I am not sure if I have woken up today. Things seem hazy like the entire scene has been sketched out loosely. I find myself staring into blank space. Partially because I sometimes don't understand what people are saying, and the other reason is my dream-like state of mind. Today was everything I wanted. I had a nice meal and everyone spoke in french around me while I mostly listened and responded to questions.

I decided to make a savory tart for "mon anniversaire". The recipe was entirely in french and I thought I could figure it out. I picked fresh herbs from the garden and brought fresh veggies at the Saturday market. I found that it was a bit difficult but thanks to the kindness of Annie, she assisted very well. I even was able to make a apple tart for dessert. Everything tasted good, but next time I will go bigger and better. This is just the beginning.

**My birthday wish of myself is to be more courageous and speak french. It doesn't matter what comes out, as long as it's french!**

First Impressions

Nantes is amazing! I know these words don't express what I mean, but that's all I got. All the buildings are ancient, yet they seem to be aging slowing. By the way, I'm in love with the architecture. What really drives me mad is people seem so unaffected by their surroundings. All of this is normal to them and to me this is most beautiful scenery I have even seen. It's not normal to live in this everyday. In most places you have to travel miles outside normal life for this kind of experience. The streets are clean and everyone looks good. I am physically stunned to be here. It feels like I dream every time I go outside. Somebody pinch me already...

Now I am going to be honest. Part of me is scared. Basically I am not proficient with the language, my US dollars are losing their worth daily, and I have no idea what I am getting into. There is this tiny part of me saying: 'Get out now! Go get a job! Are you insane?' I know it's going to be really difficult for me here. Still that small part on me is minute compared to the joyous, excitement that yearns to be thrilled. Uncertainty is what drives me. My happiness has no bounds. I always knew when I went back to school I would be certain. The truth is, I have not been more certain about anything in a long time. I want to be here, there is no where else I should be. I wish I could be more excited but I'm just so darn tired!

Pre-departure

My next destination is Nantes, France. I leave the 28th of August to study french at the Université de Nantes. I will fully be immersed in the language.

So the wild thing about the next destination is mother nature is stepping in trying to interfere. Whether that is true or not doesn't matter. The fact is hurricane Irene is coming towards us, which may not let me leave on my scheduled day.

As you can see, there are forces greater then me at work. So I will sit back and see how it all unravels.