I suck at keeping a blog.

I'm just going to jump into it.... no one judge me. It's been a month and so yes, I suck at keeping blogs- I know. Oh, and I've lost my connector chord for my camera so this post will not have any pictures :(

On the last day of school before the Autumn Vacation (which was the same week as Muse) most of my afternoon classes got cancelled for a school dance. For me, when someone mentions a school dance, I think of party lights, and pounding loud radio music and everyone in a pit in the middle of the dance floor jumping up and down and enjoying themselves. However, this was different. It was a dance of traditional Bretagne music and dancing. There was a band playing funny instruments and singing in the traditional Breton language (which I guess is similar to what an Aboriginal language is in Canada. At first only a small group of people were dancing in the middle of the dance floor but eventually most of the people in the gym were linking pinkies and swinging arms back and forth while they shuffled in a circle. I joined for two rounds, but then I was done. It's the kind of thing where it's exciting for about 5 minutes and then it becomes repetitive and a little bit boring. So I spent the rest of the time watching and talking with Lais.

The week after was the break. We had family members come to visit and stay for awhile. There was Sandrine's brother and his family, Sandrine's sister-in-law and her son, and the Grandparents. Constance, Quintin, one of the cousins, occasionally Baptiste and I watched movies, mostly in French, for the whole week. All 3 Paranormal activities, Drive, Mission Impossible 3 and that movie where Johnny Depp plays a Vampire. I didn't understand the ones in French all that much but it was good to watch.

I have to admit, I was feeling really homesick during that week because it was Halloween and I was missing the celebrations and festivities of the holiday back home. Especially since nothing is really done at all for Halloween here. It was one of those holidays where I didn't realize just how badly I would miss it.

Novemeber first was a sad day. The whole family went to the graveyard to visit the grave of a lost family member. I wasn't sure if it was socially appropriate for me to go too, but I went along anyway. It was hailing and so we did not stay long, we stood in front of the grave for about a minute in silence, left flowers, and we left. I did say a private prayer for everyone as well.

Sometime in that first week, I dropped my iPod and it died for the last time. Fell flat on it's face, my poor baby. Now, I can listen to music and take pictures but that is it. It doesn't scroll easily and typing is impossible.

The week after that was Lais' birthday. We went to her house for a soiree, and then I stayed the night. We didn't sleep until nearly 5 am and we slept in to 12. Then we came back to Sandrine's house and we went to see Skyfall with Constance. It was really good!! I couldn't understand the story much but it wasn't difficult to figure out who had to die when or what was going on. Lots of boom boom boom p-tttttt bhooooooophhhh!!!

Lais slept over again on Tuesday night and on Wednesday, we took the bus into the neighbour town of St. Brieuc to go shopping and to visit Sebastien (from Equador) and Amit (from India). It was really really nice to see them! I bought a plaid shirt, some earrings, a jacket (but it's not warm enough!) and a necklace.

Later that week, I went again into St. Brieuc with my family. A friend of Sandrine gave me her boots, cute little caramel coloured heel boots with a heel, and Sandrine bought me my Christmas present! A pair of beige boots with a mini heel! I do love them but I don't get to wear them until Christmas.

We ate lunch with Sandrine's friend and then went to a mini super-market with crazy amazing prices on everything! I bought hair product, nail polish, and nail stickers for less than 16E ! When we tried to leave though, Sandrine's car broke down and so we spent the night at the friends house. She was an amazing cook and so that was okay. I also loved loved loved the painting in the dining room. We took a taxi home the next day.

School... probably not much exciting.... I finished my Arts project. Drew a picture and assembled everything. I don't know the mark on it though...

Lais and I tried to speak French... it was too difficult. But our French has improved!

Had a couple more head-butts with teachers... They don't seem to understand how difficult it is to learn a language. That gets frustrating.

Two girls from my district here have left! They both asked to go home. One girl from Argentina and the other from Arizona. Then there was an issue with the American girl at my school who is only allowed to speak French here. She left school... had problems with her family. She wasn't sure if she would be going back to California or if she's be relocated but either way, she definitely wasn't staying in Lannion. I think it's really sad, and I was sad to see her go. Exchanges are not easy at all and I guess not everyone can handle them.

I had plans last weekend to go visit my friend in another town but those plans fell through last minute. Instead, I spent the weekend with my family, we went to go see Christmas decorations in stores and then we went to see the new Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn part 2 (except in French, they renamed it Revelation). That was really nice. I actually understood some scenes. I didn't get all of the dialogue, and after watching it online in English later I realized there was a lot that I didn't get, but it's an improvement!!! I spent the night at Lais' house and came back home for lunch.

Tuesday night, I made a Canadian meal for my family: Pancakes, bacon and eggs. I know they really loved the pancakes even though they weren't super keen to try the maple syrup with them. The bacon was a little cold and I'm not sure they were a fan of the eggs either. But at least the pancakes were good!

I tried going swimming with Lais on Wednesday but there wasn't enough space in the lanes for us unfortunately. Just old people swimming really slowly. We spent the whole time in the shallow pull kicking our legs of the edge of the pool because Lais said that was supposed to be good for your butt and talking. I also accidentally insulted a woman when I referred to her as "tu" and not "vous". Oh well, you live and you learn. There was no hot tub at the pool and that kind of sucked... I miss hot tubs. But apparently there is another pool close to Lais' house which isn't as busy and has a hot tub! She will check it out, see if it's good for swimming laps and if it is, we will go there again soon!

Sometimes, I still really do miss Canada. But it's weird... I miss the things that even I don't get to see a whole lot when I am there... things like the snow, skiing, the mountains, warm cabins. I miss the nature and how relaxed and spontaneous it is. I miss my friends a lot too. I'm sad I'm not there to graduate with them, and I miss my family. I've talked to other students and almost everyone is feeling the same way too. I think it has to do with Christmas coming up soon. But I'm glad I'm here. This experience is definitely worth it... worth all the ups and downs.

Oh, and one last thing! I am going on two Bus trips next year! The first is at the end of February and I will be visiting Versailles, Paris and Barcelona, and the second is a Europe trip to tons and tons of Countries in Europe! I don't even know all of the countries but I am beyond excited! It will be fun!

My dad is also coming to visit me in Spring time, right around Easter. If I get permission from Rotary, I will get to go with him to the South of France for a week too. It will be nice to see him, my step mum, Cas and baby brother Tom.

A tout a l'heure!!