Decisions, Decisions

Yesterday (true to my word) I tried out some French Manga and I must say, this is probably one of the best decisions I've made in France! As I have previously mentioned, novels in French are much to difficult for me (plot lines, sarcasm, slang, French phrases, lots of words) and Manga really bridges the gap (aka it has explanatory pictures and fewer, simpler words). When I realized what a fantastic decision this was, and how much it helped me, I decided to write a post on my best - and worst - decisions abroad so far. This should be interesting...

Best Decisions

• Reading French Manga.
• Why: Easy reading level, with pictures to help me figure out tough words.
• Suggestions: I really love the series "Nana" right now. While the main character is a bit annoying, the storyline is easy to follow and though the language is simple I am still learning new words. I have not yet read "Drôles de Racailles" but I look forward to it!
• Reading French Graphic Novels.
• Why: Same reason as Manga! However, I have to admit French Graphic Novels are probably better for me than Manga, as they are written by French authors, not translated from Japanese to French.
• Suggestions: I absolutely loved the Graphic Novel "Le Goût du Chlore". It follows the few encounters of a ex-champion swimmer and a scholiosis-plagued existentialist. However, it was admittadly word light, so not much reading at all. I also started "Le Bleu est une Couleur Chaude", a very heavy book focusing on a young girl's untimely death. I picked it up thinking it was a light-hearted book about the color blue... Oops! Nevertheless, I found what I did read very touching (and comprehendable!) Finally, I just started a series called "Le Chat du Rabbin" which I find extremely fun! This series is about as fantasy as it gets. The main character is a talking cat (who gained the power of speech by eating a parrot - what?!) who lives as a pet of a Rabbi and his daughter. So far, all I know is that the cat wants a Bar-Mitzvah... It's hilarious, interesting, sassy and understandable!

• Reading the Newspaper
•  Why: To keep up with local, national and international events, duh! Not only does this keep me informed, it also gives me an insight into French journalsim (and yeilds me eligible for regular conversations!) In addition to this, reading the news helps my French. I had a very entertaining experience yesterday: while reading the newspaper, I stumbled upon what I had to believe was the best section of the paper ever! It was easy to read, had rational pictures and even political cartoons that I could understand! It was... The children's section. Whatever! I'll take a simplified summary of political events any day! Also, I really enjoy the games on the back...

• Making a Blog
• Why: This is fun! If you are thinking about studying abroad (or are about to begin) I highly recommend that you keep a blog. Not only does it convince you to recount your experiences (which makes them even more prevelent in your memory), it also is a great way to keep in contact with your home country - without staying too much in contact with your peeps back home (as facebook tends to do)
• Trying literally every food that is placed in front of me
• Why: Everything is delicious! Well, that's not true. Nearly everything is delicious! While this "try everything" attitude has messed a bit with my weight (screw that!) it has proven to be a very helpful disposition. Not only does openmindedness lead me to new discoveries (Such as cheese. Cheese is amazing!) help me connect my host family, friends and even strangers. Really, who wants to invite a picky eater to their house for dinner? No one. I found out very quickly that my willingness to taste (and subsequently devour) foreign foods was a big people skill.  As a result of my willingness to try new foods, family friends of the Girards are always inviting us over for dinner parties because 1) they know I won't snub their delicious dinners and 2) they get a kick out of seeing me discover wonderful new concoctions! My friends are also constantly showing me new delicacies. Who knew that being an omnivore would count as a social skill?!
• Being socially proactive
• Why: Being a "planner" in your friend group is very important. It's easy for us exchange students to become 'passive friends', the relationship equivalent of dead weight. You talk with them, you laugh, you have fun, you accept invitations, but you never extend invitations. This is very important to do, as it 1) let's your friends know you want to hang out with them, 2) it lets you hang out with friends and 3) it lets you choose the activity (which is important, as locals sometimes forget about localized activities that are foreign to you). For example, I recently asked my friends to come paintballing with me! Despite our school's close proximity to a paintballing range, my friends never would have thought to go because they are not the curious exchange student, I am!
• Going to the local library
• Why: Well, this is pretty self explanatory - you will find great books, meet neighbors and experience some more local flavor. Personally, I love my local library as it is inside a beautiful old building and harbors loads of wonderful, easy to read graphic novels.
• Taking solo walks
• Why: while this is a solitary activity (and should not be overindulged, lest you isolate yourself from your host family) it is a delicious experience to discover your town and, for me, the surrounding countryside. I personally have explored the nearby château, the local canal (and bike path), a beautiful nature path, and three different routes through the countryside.
• Finding a niche with my host family
• Why: This is pretty self explanatory! It's very important to find ways to bond with your host family. I personally bond with Odile over english, Jean-Yves over checkers and soccer, and Louise over horses (and tweenager things!)
• Clothing
• Why: Well, this is more of a what. The pieces of clothing I brought that I most use are...
• leather jacket (collarless)
• black knee high boots
• black ballerina flats
• long gold necklace
• short silver necklace

• Maximizing on my cultural differences
• Why: This may sound strange, especially as exchange students are always told to "blend with the local culture". Obviously, compatting with the local culture is very important to the study abroad experience. But one has to remember that being an individual is always recieved with enthusiasm. I personally have recieved a lot of positive attention from my peers due to my differences - some of these differences because I am American, some because of my own personality. For instance, being an athletic girl in my school is very rare. I was faster than all of the girls (and at least half of the boys) in my swimming class. I am also a bit of an oddity because I play soccer. Not a single girl in my school plays the sport! Finally, I really stand out in math. Yes, I am a math geek. And I am proud! Well, here in France my strength in math really stands out. In the USA, I am one year ahead in math, and thats not even taking into consideration the fact that the typical math class at my US school is 2 years ahead of the typical math class in Combourg. As one might guess, my math-geekiness takes on a whole new intensity here!

Worst Decisions

• Not being socially proactive earlier
• Why: While I am now taking the initiative to plan outings with my friends, for the first month or so I was not a "planner" and while this did not necessarily hurt my friendships, it definitely wasn't as fun as being socially proactive is!
• Eating so much bread
• Why: Yes, I know French bread is fabulous. Yes, I know I should take advantage of it. But come on you guys! I need to leave room for the delicious dinner, salad, cheese and desert. I simply don't have room for so much bread! Actually, I think this is a life lesson:

*** Never fill up on bread, no matter how good it is ***

• Packing crazy clothes
• Why: You must understand, when I was packing for France, I packed the most normal clothes I could find. However, coming from the crazy clothes capital of the world (and going to the worlds most fashionable country), it was inevitable that I would get the fashion a bit skewed... My most controversial item of clothing is a maroon and black striped crop top with a fake turtleneck and cut out shoulders. Seriously, it looks super cute on... But I haven't worn it once. A close second for "clothing I should not have brought" is my black maxi dress. But isn't that normal enough? Well, it turns out that the floor length gown is MUCH too fancy for school, and nearly every other occasion. Now, I must clarify, I am not changing my style due to peer pressure. If you know me, you would understand that the girl who wears a kimono and monster boots to school in the USA is not very likely to care about other people's clothes judgement. However, living in such a different clothing atomosphere naturally changes one's style sense. Being surrounded by a certain style has exposed me to a new way of dressing that I am naturally adopting.
• Zero-ing in on a friend group... Too early
• Why: You may remember me mentioning in one of my early posts how I shifted friends groups in order to stop being a "mute puppy-dog". Well, while this shift in camaraderie was necessary (and has greatly helped me) it did create some awkward acquaintances. I believe that I could have avoided this entire situation (a switch in association, awkward relationships) had I simply spent my first 2 weeks or so 'unattatched'. As a teenager in a foreign land, I automatically leeched onto the first group of friends that presented themselves to me. And while these people are wonderful, welcoming and interested in America, it just didn't work out. In the end, our interests just didn't match up. Had I spent my first 2 weeks in Combourg floating about the class, getting to know everyone, I would have quickly found that I belonged to another crowd.