I must admit that it is really hard to finish something (this blog) that documents a labor of love because it feels like I am closing a book that I never want to finish. Coming back to America was probably the rudest awakening to reality that I've ever had to experience. As I explained to my tour director Anna, this trip was the highlight of my life and I'm so grateful that I was fortunate enough to be able to join this group to try and struggle to fulfill my credits at UAF.
So on the final day everyone gathered for the last API dinner, and not even being a surprise at this point, I of course was in the wrong place for our meeting. Eventually after having returned to the residence hall, broken down in front of the front door attendant, I was then able to use their french phone to call up Anna and then have her meet me specifically. Anna then chuckled to herself and asked me "Michelle, qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui?" (Michelle, what did you do today?) because it was no secret at that point that every day was an adventure for me! (Without even trying sometimes!!) I told her that after class I went to the Post Office with high hopes of sending off my books to no avail. So anyways the Post Office adventure was a real opportunity for requiring fast paced french. At first I thought maybe if I just pack a pile of books, I can ship them book rate, Right? Wrong! They wanted to charge me 160 euros to send about 15 pounds of books. Of course all of these verbal exchanges were done in French, therefore this process was mentally and physically draining (because I had to carry this weight back and forth from the Post Office to my room). Somehow the employee at the Post Office led me to believe that I could send around 7 lbs. in a box to convert to kilograms, so I thought I would try again and repack all of my stuff into three boxes to avoid paying the ridiculous prices. Well long story short. I went home and repacked everything and did a massive schlep only to find that the price remained absolutely the same. Instead of one ridiculous flat fee, now I had three boxes that added up to 160 euros. Frustrated and tired of carting around des livres très lourdes (some very heavy books) I stated to the man at the Post Office counter "Désolée, mais je ne peux pas!" (Sorry, but I can not do it!) So after the final defeat and realization that I would have to integrate my heavy books within my luggage, I decided that the best thing that I could do to feel better would be to go shopping. Kind of a bizarre train of thought when your bags are bursting at the seems but whatever! I decided to go to my favorite magasin (store) La Galerie Lafayette. This store is the French equivalent to Macy's which Fairbanks, Alaska is also lacking, therefore I considered this place to be a "Promised land of Fashion." So at the "Galerie" I ended up buying a pair of jeans to go with this chemise (shirt), chapeau (hat), des lunettes de soleil (sun glasses), et une veste (jacket) that I planned to wear in order to look very European while traveling to my homeland. Well, after traveling for like 30 hours, it's hard to say if anyone looks glamorous or European after that, but just the same, I tried, and here's a picture of my outfit.
So on the final day everyone gathered for the last API dinner, and not even being a surprise at this point, I of course was in the wrong place for our meeting. Eventually after having returned to the residence hall, broken down in front of the front door attendant, I was then able to use their french phone to call up Anna and then have her meet me specifically. Anna then chuckled to herself and asked me "Michelle, qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui?" (Michelle, what did you do today?) because it was no secret at that point that every day was an adventure for me! (Without even trying sometimes!!) I told her that after class I went to the Post Office with high hopes of sending off my books to no avail. So anyways the Post Office adventure was a real opportunity for requiring fast paced french. At first I thought maybe if I just pack a pile of books, I can ship them book rate, Right? Wrong! They wanted to charge me 160 euros to send about 15 pounds of books. Of course all of these verbal exchanges were done in French, therefore this process was mentally and physically draining (because I had to carry this weight back and forth from the Post Office to my room). Somehow the employee at the Post Office led me to believe that I could send around 7 lbs. in a box to convert to kilograms, so I thought I would try again and repack all of my stuff into three boxes to avoid paying the ridiculous prices. Well long story short. I went home and repacked everything and did a massive schlep only to find that the price remained absolutely the same. Instead of one ridiculous flat fee, now I had three boxes that added up to 160 euros. Frustrated and tired of carting around des livres très lourdes (some very heavy books) I stated to the man at the Post Office counter "Désolée, mais je ne peux pas!" (Sorry, but I can not do it!) So after the final defeat and realization that I would have to integrate my heavy books within my luggage, I decided that the best thing that I could do to feel better would be to go shopping. Kind of a bizarre train of thought when your bags are bursting at the seems but whatever! I decided to go to my favorite magasin (store) La Galerie Lafayette. This store is the French equivalent to Macy's which Fairbanks, Alaska is also lacking, therefore I considered this place to be a "Promised land of Fashion." So at the "Galerie" I ended up buying a pair of jeans to go with this chemise (shirt), chapeau (hat), des lunettes de soleil (sun glasses), et une veste (jacket) that I planned to wear in order to look very European while traveling to my homeland. Well, after traveling for like 30 hours, it's hard to say if anyone looks glamorous or European after that, but just the same, I tried, and here's a picture of my outfit.
So after buying my new pair of jeans I went over to my friend Catherine's apartment, a friendship that originated from the past B&B guests (The Thuerry's) and summarized my French vacation. Overall I found that this was one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life. I guess I had never relied so much on the generosity of people who I hadn't known previously and was not related to. Not trying to sound too deep but this trip provided me with the message that humanity is wonderful. I have come to the point where I am unable to watch the news anymore because it is too depressing. I wish that instead of the news about all the terrorists somehow there could be a feature about the wonderful people who helped me. Despite there having been a slight language barrier, it's amazing for me to be able to say that I made every plane, train, and bus connection while on my European journey. I know single-handedly this would have not even been close to possible but as John Lennon said "With a little help from my [European] friends" traveling was made possible.
Besides giving Catherine a summarized break-down of what I happened in France and what I grew to love about life in France, I found that it was time to go. Unfortunately for me I wasn't achieving this overall sense of closure that I had anticipated. You know when you get that feeling like you have unfinished business and must return in order to bid a more acceptable farewell. I noticed that as time grew closer to avoid saying Good Bye people would just say "Hope to see you soon" or one guy at my residence hall said "See you next year."