I know that I frequently talk about food, and yet it is such an appealing topic, so why not start there for today's entry?
Lately I feel like Madame has been reading my mind because another delicacy that I have been dreaming of since I arrived in Paris has been eggs! I love that the French eat eggs often, but not for breakfast, or course, because that would too closely resemble an American tradition. More and more I find that “American” means not “French”, and vice versa. I will not complain however because that is why studying abroad is so valuable!
When I opened my door this evening, I was struck by the familiar smell of caramelizing onions and my heart skipped a few beats! All that I needed to know is that there were onions and I was already sold! When I was called for dinner, I tried not to drool when I saw the crepes on the table! I have never had something so delicious in my life, or if I have it has been replaced! A simple crepe of onions, fromage, "lardons" (bacon), and an egg sunny side up seduced me at first bite! I love cooking dinner at home but it is magnificent to find heavenly surprise four nights a week at the dinner table that I would have probably never prepared for myself, and for which I didn't lift a finger. Many fingers were lifted, however, as soon as I sat at the table! Even though it means that it is almost the weekend, I am a little sad that after tomorrow I must wait until Monday to eat with them again! Yes, I am well aware of how strange that sounds, especially since I finish my intensive two-week class this week finally!
Now I hesitantly change the topic to academics, which seems a little less friendly these days. I was disappointed to learn that my current professor is leaving after Friday, and that she won't be teaching classes for MICEFA once the semester starts. She returns to her University in California, but I selfishly want her to stay. My teacher has become a friendly face, and like the Madame and Monsieur, I will never forget her. She taught us so much more than French grammar for the first two weeks since I arrived in Paris! Each day she welcomes me to Paris and French culture with open arms, and she has emotionally prepared me for what is to come. I do not know if I am ready for her to leave so soon! I feel like even knowing that she was staying in France would be better than if I knew that she was heading back to the United States. It is not like I wish that I was going back with her, but at the same time, I do not want her to leave. I guess that is one of the many steps in this program, however and I am just emotional because everything is so new here still.
I am starting to feel at home here and today I didn't even hesitate on my metro commute to class. I have to change lines three times and yet it only takes thirty minutes because the Paris metro system is that efficient! Normally I doubt myself or double-check just because I am anal and typically do the same with my alarm clock at night. This morning, however, I just knew not to worry. It made me feel fancy and almost French for a minute until I remembered that I still couldn’t understand casual conversations around me, which will complete my initiation into French culture. I will relish in this moment, nonetheless, because after next week I will once again be a lost pup in the city starting at a French University! No exclamatory remarks can possibly capture my horror at this thought so I will simply choose, “Holy moley,” and leave it at that! Baby steps, I figure, baby steps.
Wish me luck on my exam Friday, because I might not write again until after then!
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