It wasn't the worst day of life, but it sure wasn't a good one. Everyone has their fair share rough starts in life and one of mine happened today. The morning began early, typical, since I had to meet with Camille before class in order to fill out various paperwork. As I slugged to the international building in a mist of rain with no jacket on, I had a bad feeling that today would have many bumps in it. Why am I always right when I want to be wrong? The first bump was with my OFII form. Apparently Camille had forgotten to tell me that I needed to bring it today. I had made sure, double checked even, that I had everything in my backpack for which she had asked. Of course the all important document was the missing link. She told me to just return after lunch with the form. In hindsight in adding to my burdens I had my computer in my backpack and was wearing new shoes which need to be broken in. It's only about a mile and a half back to the dorm, no worries right? Then class happened. I kept telling myself that everything will be fine, the professor will understand the situation and give me a reassuring smile and tell me that I have nothing to worry about. Wrong again. The professor strolled in, scanned the room, and asked what I was doing there. Of course I'm not sure if that's what she asked me, she spoke nice slurred French, to which I responded with a blank stare. I then told her that I was an exchange student studying abroad. She answered with a prolonged "oui?" which assured me that there was a problem. She went on to tell me, in the slow manner used when speaking to a challenged child, that her class of documentation research was too difficult for exchange students since French was not their native language. Hold up. I had my schedule approved by my coordinator who said that all of my classes were fine. All I could muster was a "d'accord madame"; I become nervous when teachers call me out in front of an entire class of students that I don't even know, so weird. Plus, she would not let me leave the classroom. Instead I was locked in the room while she reviewed the syllabus in a fast snippy manner. Crap. Well I did my best to listen and take notes, the girl next to me even shared her's in an effort to help me. At the end of the class I came away with maybe half of the information reviewed. Double crap. I was also pulled into the hallway in order for her to once again tell me that I didn't belong there and should instead take the beginner course. Two things, couldn't she have done that earlier instead of making me look stupid in front of everyone, and triple crap. I decided to just go to lunch and think things over. Fortunately I found my lil' group of friends and explained what had happened. They were in the same exact boat. That did make me feel better, but I still needed to return to the dorm to pick up the OFII form and probably change my shoes. After turtling, I love to make up verbs, to the dorm and back and handing in my OFII form, I was told that I had to visit a doctor before being accepted in France's universal health insurance. It would have been fine it were only one appointment. Guess how many are mandatory. Four. All of them are already scheduled too, no flexibility. The day was just becoming more and more pleasant. I then finally went to the library to use my computer, which had been on my back the entire day. Once there, I e-mailed my coordinator about the situation and was basically told back to take the easier class and grow a pair about learning French, in a manner of speaking. I then droned my brain by watching you-tube videos for some well needed English language r&r. I'm currently back at the dorm and feeling much better about my day since I just wrote this blog about it. Looking back I definitely exaggerated on parts, but that is how I felt in the situation so it's not really untrue. I just have to keep trying, whether I like it or not I will make mistakes on my journey to become better and eventually a fluent French speaker. Though it will help if my other professors just give me smiles instead of speeches. Fingers crossed.
September 17th
It wasn't the worst day of life, but it sure wasn't a good one. Everyone has their fair share rough starts in life and one of mine happened today. The morning began early, typical, since I had to meet with Camille before class in order to fill out various paperwork. As I slugged to the international building in a mist of rain with no jacket on, I had a bad feeling that today would have many bumps in it. Why am I always right when I want to be wrong? The first bump was with my OFII form. Apparently Camille had forgotten to tell me that I needed to bring it today. I had made sure, double checked even, that I had everything in my backpack for which she had asked. Of course the all important document was the missing link. She told me to just return after lunch with the form. In hindsight in adding to my burdens I had my computer in my backpack and was wearing new shoes which need to be broken in. It's only about a mile and a half back to the dorm, no worries right? Then class happened. I kept telling myself that everything will be fine, the professor will understand the situation and give me a reassuring smile and tell me that I have nothing to worry about. Wrong again. The professor strolled in, scanned the room, and asked what I was doing there. Of course I'm not sure if that's what she asked me, she spoke nice slurred French, to which I responded with a blank stare. I then told her that I was an exchange student studying abroad. She answered with a prolonged "oui?" which assured me that there was a problem. She went on to tell me, in the slow manner used when speaking to a challenged child, that her class of documentation research was too difficult for exchange students since French was not their native language. Hold up. I had my schedule approved by my coordinator who said that all of my classes were fine. All I could muster was a "d'accord madame"; I become nervous when teachers call me out in front of an entire class of students that I don't even know, so weird. Plus, she would not let me leave the classroom. Instead I was locked in the room while she reviewed the syllabus in a fast snippy manner. Crap. Well I did my best to listen and take notes, the girl next to me even shared her's in an effort to help me. At the end of the class I came away with maybe half of the information reviewed. Double crap. I was also pulled into the hallway in order for her to once again tell me that I didn't belong there and should instead take the beginner course. Two things, couldn't she have done that earlier instead of making me look stupid in front of everyone, and triple crap. I decided to just go to lunch and think things over. Fortunately I found my lil' group of friends and explained what had happened. They were in the same exact boat. That did make me feel better, but I still needed to return to the dorm to pick up the OFII form and probably change my shoes. After turtling, I love to make up verbs, to the dorm and back and handing in my OFII form, I was told that I had to visit a doctor before being accepted in France's universal health insurance. It would have been fine it were only one appointment. Guess how many are mandatory. Four. All of them are already scheduled too, no flexibility. The day was just becoming more and more pleasant. I then finally went to the library to use my computer, which had been on my back the entire day. Once there, I e-mailed my coordinator about the situation and was basically told back to take the easier class and grow a pair about learning French, in a manner of speaking. I then droned my brain by watching you-tube videos for some well needed English language r&r. I'm currently back at the dorm and feeling much better about my day since I just wrote this blog about it. Looking back I definitely exaggerated on parts, but that is how I felt in the situation so it's not really untrue. I just have to keep trying, whether I like it or not I will make mistakes on my journey to become better and eventually a fluent French speaker. Though it will help if my other professors just give me smiles instead of speeches. Fingers crossed.
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