Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Saint Louis...so far.

I've been home a few days and it's definitely had it's up and downs. I've spent a lot of time with my Mom, Brandon, Jason & Sophia, my granddad, and my great aunt. Tomorrow I'm going to see my other grandparents for lunch and spend a few hours at their house.

I haven't been as motivated as I thought I'd be to workout, but I'm sure after a month of just roaming around not really lifting weights or being in a gym setting, I'll be ready to work when I return to the states.

With just a few more preparations to take care of, the time before my trip dwindles and Sunday morning does not seem so far off. I still don't know what I want to pack, how many "going out" clothes I want to bring--because I'm not going to Paris to go out, but I know its something I should experience, especially since the drinking age is 18, not 21. But I guess it all depends on how my House Mother, Madame Dru, feels about me going out. I know I need to be careful about my daytime clothing, however. The French can be very judgmental about appearances and if I'm not careful, I could be seen as a prostitute, or worse, someone just giving it up for free.....in my classic outfit even! (jeans, a tank top and flip flops) So outfits have to be carefully planned because this time around I won't be on a tour bus the majority of the day; I'll be on the metro, talking to people, sitting in cafes, and going to classes with French professors instructing me.

I think clothing should be the least of my worries though. Look how silly that last paragraph seems now! I should be more concerned with safety or getting along with my family and how classes will work out. The learning ethic is much different than anything I am used to. Instead of the professors almost spoon-feeding me information, the classes are setup more like a graduate program in the U.S. where a program is developed but the learned information rests entirely on the students' shoulders and the professor acts as a guide, or a mentor. I'm fine with this type of instruction, but with only 4 weeks to adapt and absorb information before exams and then returning to the states, I hope I can adjust quickly!

Anyway, better throw a load of laundry in, and go over my to-do list one more time.

Next stop: Washington D.C. & then Vienna with Grandma Pidge