The First Week of School...Let the Headaches Begin

I am just finishing up a study session with my favorite host brother Pierre. We were working on translation English phrases to French. I am pretty sure I learned more French than he learned English....helping with homework has many advantages. 1. Pierre seems to like me a little better each time we finish! 2. I always learn useful French phrases 3. The pictures in his English book are super funny.... So far in school I have had no homework....this is solely because within the week I have not yet had the same class twice. Before I go any further I just want to say I have wonderful friends that help me whenever...and wherever I need them. I am just saying...when you get stuck in the bathroom stall because the locks are weird and three girls pull from the outside just to make sure you get out in time for class...that is friendship. I also love my school...they are one of the best in the regions and the teachers are super cool.

Okay now that that is out of the way. I can finally tell my loving, adoring, passionate crowd that French school pretty much stinks. I go to school from eight in the morning to six at night. I think taking this much foreign language might damage your brain....permanently. I get massive headaches(I have taken to carrying around tylonal everywhere I go) from all the French. I have a glorious English class once a week for two hours....its like heaven on earth. I am taken from my mine field of unknown French words to an oasis of "English Only" Hallelujah Chorus take it away: When I first started school I was ashamed to tell my classmates that my school finishes four hours before theirs does. But then I started noticing something...hardly anyone plays sports(I mean like lagit varsity...practice every day sports), there is no choir, marching band, real art program, sports teams, or school clubs. All of my friends dont play sports...and they dont really have their hobbies well developed. I realized that even our American school system is not as vigorous(and some what tedious) as our European counterparts, we have something much more important. Our students are more well rounded. I play an instrument, play a sport, I paint almost everyday and I firmly believe my education is as good as the rest of the students. So what should society value more? I am not sure but I know from being in both situations I love finishing at 3:00 in the afternoon. When I finish at 6 I just feel like crawling into bed. But, the other students make it it bearable...we whine and moan together to pass the long hours in the classrooms. We fan each other with our planners to beat the heat. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I understand a little more French each day. I can laugh and speak with my classmates. I can understand a little bit of my teachers lectures. And now I have now learned,with much pride, to tell the dog to GET OUTSIDE (in French of course)!!! Au Revoir