I’m finishing up one month of my study abroad program and it has flown by. I feel really comfortable in La Rochelle as I’ve ridden my bike all around the small city. My host family has been incredible; we joke around, sing and they openly teach me aspects of the french culture. It was a little challenging at first to always speak French around the house, but I found that it helps me to consider that I have no other option to communicate with them unless I speak French. Aside from my home life, the classes I’m taking do not require as much homework as my classes did in the US, so I’ve had more time to explore the city and learn French first-hand. 

I signed up for a cardio- fitness class at the school gym and it’s been quite the experience! The exercises are challenging, but the mental exercise to listen to instructions in french counts for something too. I’ve been able to meet French girls my age which has made a difference in relating to the culture. It’s been difficult to meet French students, because my classes are only foreigners, including the group of Americans from CofC. Nevertheless, I’ve had fun times with the other Americans as well. The other day, myself and two other girls from the program decided to get our haircut together. We were all hoping for the best, because if the hairdresser didn’t understand our description in French of what we wanted, the result would be scary! 

I find myself adjusting to the culture in small ways that I wouldn’t have expected to before. For example, I’ve definitely gotten accustomed to the meal courses and the order of each food. First is the aperitif, then the entrée, then the main dish, then cheese with bread, then comes dessert and to finish you usually drink hot tea or coffee. I’ve also learned where to go by my groceries at open markets or supermarkets, and the process of asking for certain foods in French is not as intimidating. Additionally, speaking French has gotten a lot easier, and it’s not as difficult to understand the conversations around me and I now know familiar expressions. The small adjustments I’ve made have helped me become more comfortable living in France and have driven me to try new activities to learn even more about the culture.