After much anticipation, two weeks of packing, and 17 hours of travel, I have arrived in Aix! My first view of Provence once we poked through the clouds were the mountains, had a jagged stone shape unlike any others I've seen. Much to my surprise, calling my host family earlier this week was more nerve-wracking than actually meeting them, if only because I was quite tired by the time I finally arrived at 9.30am (3.30 my time). Laurence, my host mom, greeted my with a name sign, and after some creative placement of the bags in her tres petit car, we were on our way. The car ride was full of questions about my life. I also found out about the 14cm of snow last week- because of it, everything was paralyzed (Sort of like my experience in Pennsylvanie, I told her!) But, the children were happy sledding and making there bonhommes de neige, so tout va bien.
Still unsure about where of with whom I might be living, as we approached the house, I was told it was an appartement. I first met Coline when I entered, who is in her 6ieme annee, so she is 10 1/2. Cesar, Laurence told me, is obviously still sleeping because he is a typical 17 year old. ("Oh, adolescence", Coline piped in.) I have my own room with windows like the "bonjour" scene a la Beauty and the Beast. After a little unpacking, Laurence told me the regular Saturday routine- tennis for Cesar and horseback riding for Coline, so I went along to see the stables. I then got a demi-tour of Aix, seeing the bus routes and the university. The rest of the day was mostly full of information I could only respond with various "oui, d'accord, ah bon, je vois, okay." Soaking up all this new information (and in another language, no less!) is exhausting! Later in the afternoon, Laurence's friend Valerie came with a gateau des rois, a king's cake, which has a piece of porcelain baked inside. According to tradition, la petite de la famille announces to whom each of the pieces go. Whoever gets the piece because king for the day (en fait, it was Laurence). All in all, it was a very good introduction to la vie francaise.
Today, it was a "dimanche typique" a la maison. Coline and I baked cookies- the perfect thing to do on a cloudy day! Chocolate dough enveloping a piece of chocolate which of course melted when baked. (Not French though, Jamie Oliver, the Naked Chef). I learned that she loves Avril Lavigne and Coldplay, and like Blair, who I babysit for during the summer, her favorite show is Saddle Club! It's nice to know that that on either side of the Atlantique, ten year olds are quite alike.
C'est tout for now. Tomorrow starts orientation a l'universite.
a bientot!
Lauren
Par hasard, here is my contact information:
Lauren Jensen
American University Center of Provence
19, cour des Arts et Metiers
13100, Aix-en-Provence, France
And since I have internet, here is my skype: lauren.e.jensen
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