*sigh*

I can't believe how lucky I am ! 3 days later and all is still grand!Friday,Yzabel, Cannelle , and I went to the Frejus/St.Raphel beach. It was very beautiful,the only beach I remembered going to was in New England, and it was very cold!At the beach we met-up with a very good friend of Yzabel,Patricia, who also happens to be Jillian's marraine(godmother),and her son.Even more extremely nice French people!
Saturday we stayed in Les Arcs during the day. we swam in the new pool, and me and Yzabel walked to the ...(pronounced pree) newspaper/ book/candy/general store, and bought postcards of Les Arcs.After we got home, we went to a birthday party. The "party" was very layed-back (unlike in the USA)and quiet.I don't know if birthdays are generally like that, but it was very nice.*note*:The girl who's birthday we were celebrating, was 20 something I think,so possibly birthday parties are bigger for younger kids. There were about 10 people there, and they were all very interested in me. I wasn't able to communicate in French very well, but there were a few English speakers there who helped me comunicate.I struggled speaking french , and then they insisted I speak English. They asked my opinion on Obama,(they all liked him very much), and if I thought there had been change. I talked about the current health care debate and many other things.
Sunday,(today),Claude, Cannelle,Yzabel, and I went to St.Tropez. It was incredible. We saw a lot of Yachts,mansions, ect. And went on a boat tour that showed mansons of famous people,(ie:A place that Paris Hilton rented, a villa that cost thousands and thousands of dollars a week,and yacht that is worth 100 million, and that Sylvester Stallone rented for 100,000 FOR ONE WEEK!!! It seams kind-of ridiculous to me, all the money spent on homes, and other stuff in St.Tropez, but I'm not saying I wouldn't mind living there! We ate ate a nice restaurant,(I had sea-fish, a la Americano ).We also walked through the beautiful streets and ate gelato...(I don't understand how the French stay in shape!!!). Tomorrow I'll meet the principle of my school ,classes start Wednesday.I'm slightly nervous,but I think/hope it will be fine. Yzabel assures me it will be. I miss Fayette, and everyone there, and I hope all is well.


P.S :I realize I posted a gazillion pictures, but I haven't had time to look through them. So sorry if there are lots of repeats or bad pictures(To see all the pictures, not just a slideshow,on the slideshow over there ---> )

P.P.S.: The rumor about the French not liking non-French speakers, and that there very mean to Ameri...United States Citizens, is complete bogus!!! My French is awful, yet my family, friends of the family, and random people I don't know at all,(like the owner of the postcard store) are incredibly nice to me.If I went to the US and spoke as little English as I speak French, I think people would be a lot less understanding of me.So...Keep that in mind all you French nay-sayers!!(not that anyone reading my blog is!)

P.P.P.S: You can call me at 660-672-4414, It's a local number, so it's cheap for you , and I have unlimited calls for a year! hope to hear from you soon!

Everyone:Thank you so very much for your support. Especially thanks to my family, friends,and Rotary members. I'd also like to thank the Academy, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here now .ha ha. But seriously, Thank You all so very much.

Disclaimer: I LOVE U.S. BIRTHDAY PARTIES

I've Arrived!

I can't believe it but I'm here! The flight was good, but long. 17 hours from the time I got on the plane in KCI and stepped off it in Nice. I was extremely nervous until, while waiting for my luggage, I looked through the gate and saw a group of smiling people waving at me. I walked through customs(a man behind the counter said “May I see your passport?" I kind-of showed it to him, and he gestured to go out) and walked into France. My host-parents, and people with Rotary were there to greet me. I went with my 'parents' and rode in the car from Nice to Les Arcs. We stopped on the way and Yzabel bought a fresh baguette. We arrived at the house and I unpacked, and we ate lunch , french fries:) ,steak, bread with various chesses, (Yzabel showed me what part of France they were from),and salad. We then went to Frejus/Saint Raphael, and I saw the sea. It was very beautiful. We came back to Les Arcs, I met friends of the family, and we walked to a restaurant. When we got home I went to bed,(I hadn’t slept for 29- ish hours). This morning (almost afternoon) I got up at 11:40, went down stairs, and ate "breakfast", Kellogs brand chocolate cereal, and a croissant (made a a local bakery)with nutella and jelly. Today,Yzabel ,my sister,Cannel, and I went to buy school supplies at a local mall with a wallmart-type store attached. Now I'm 'home' and need to go eat dinner(ratatouille).Afterwards at 1:30 AM were going to watch the two moons, Mars(which will look very big) and the Moon.
It's un-believably beautiful here,(the town, country, house, people).My parents are incredibly nice. As my,(real)mother said, "I've hit the jackpot!". The Rotary handbook said that this feeling of euphoria will come and go...but right now I can't imagine it going anywhere!

Six Jours

Today Fayette school started...I wasn't there. Instead I was at home getting ready and stressing out.It was so weird to not be in school.

I'm amazed how time can fly. Just a while ago I was saying only 4 months, then 4 weeks,...now 6 days. I can't comprehend that in less than a week I will be in France. I often ask myself,"What was I thinking?"...an entire year away from where I've lived my entire life, and (likely) a couple months without being able to communicate(in speech anyway, luckly i'm awesome at charades)

I think we've finally got all the clothes and supplies I could possibly need...for the rest of my life.

Today i went to Fayette's Rotary meeting, and talked a little bit about my upcoming trip. It was great to see so many people so excited for me, and to see how much support i have back home.

I also bought a Skype number and subscription today so I can easily keep in touch with my friends and family. I also attempted to teach mom how to use it,(emphasis on attempted!).She was amazed that she could call my computer through the house phone.

So ,this is it, here it goes! The next time I write I'll be there, in France! Hopefully I'll have some pics to share too.

Au revoir États-Unis!!!!