Le Pain Quotidien.

Well, I’ve officially survived the rigorous first 5-weeks of classes of my study-abroad program.  I’ve written 2 dissertations, given 3 oral presentations (and learned that 10-20 minutes of speaking in French is easier than I thought!), and have taken the three-hour final exam, which was another dissertation written in-class.

Reliving these past few weeks, I’m grateful for the transformation that’s taken place in me, during which I’ve really become accustomed to living here and have made some really great friends.  It’s the little things that make me aware of the adjustments I’ve made. I love the fact that I know no longer need to pull out a metro map to know how to get to certain places.  I use all sorts of French phrases without even thinking about it, even when I’m speaking English or around people who don’t speak French. Sydney’s two friends from the States were visiting this past weekend, and I kept saying things like “Attends!”  or “bien sur!” or “On y va?” The fact that these little phrases have become reflexes that I say without even realizing what language I’m speaking is definitely something to be proud of. While I was in Barcelona (more to come on that later), surrounded by a truly foreign language, on multiple occasions I’d overhear a conversation in French and understand it, hardly realizing that what I’d just heard was even French. It just sounded so soothing, comforting, normal.

I’ve become a frequent customer at more than one boulangerie and am now recognized there. Granted, this is more due to my friend Dan and his regular baguette consumption than to me, but nonetheless, the lady who works at the boulangerie with the red-awning down the street recognizes us 3 Americans and greets us with an extra special, friendly smile ever time any of us enters. This is a fact I’m quite proud of, because while I disagree that the French fit the stereotype of being ‘cold,’ they definitely take some time to warm up to new people. One particularly special day last week, all three of us were there buying baguettes, and, just as we were turning to leave, she said “Attends!” and reached under the chocolate counter, filling a small bag of chocolate-covered orange rind for us.  It was a very special day.