With the Holy Spirit

Friday, June 08, 2007

I missed my bus stop!!!! In the mountains!!! Oh my goodness. It’s been 3 days since landing in France and I’m staying in the mountains, at the suburbs of Lyon. There are 4 of us, 3 guys and me, who are the only ones staying waaay off the central district of Lyon, and somewhere in the mountains at the countryside. Man. We take 1 ½ hours, or 2 hrs to reach INSA Lyon where we’re studying and that means taking 20mins of bus, then ½ hr of train, switch train route two times, then another 15 mins of tram ride to school. It’s not that bad for me, cuz I stay at the base of the mountain, but the other 2 guys are staying at the middle of the mountain, and the last one, staying at the top. Missing my stop is the last thing I ever wanted to do, cuz I had to walk 10 mins to reach the house. Wa biang. Thank God there was still light at 8p.m, cuz the whole mountain route has no lamppost. =/

My host family is really wonderful. It’s a family I’m staying with, and there are 3 boys in the family. The oldest, Laris (26, physiotherapist), Lucas (24, engineer), Leslie (22, medical doctor). Their really funny, and nice, good-looking too! And there’s a sweet Japanese girl, Yoka (22, political sci major) studying in Lyon Université, and staying with me!

School’s been fun. But, I’m exhausted everyday. Really. 3 days of school, and I foresee my timetable for the rest of the month.

6.00a.m – Wake up
6.00-7.00 - Own time
7.00 - 7.30 Wash up, clean room. Breakfast, wash dishes
7.30- Run to bus stop
7.43 – Bus comes. Punctually everyday.
7.43-9.00 – Travel to school. Bus-Train-Tram.
9.00-12.00 – French French French Lessons.
12.00-1.30 – Make way to canteen for lunch.
1.30-3.30/4 – French French French again.
4.00 – 7.00 – DO something. Settle train reservations, go shopping for necessities at Carrefour at city central, or walk around, go sight-seeing with friends. And if possible, go for mass at the Basilica or cathedral
7.00- 8.00 – Travel home. City to suburb takes less time.
8.00 – 9.00 – Wash up, laundry, iron clothes.
9.00-10.30 – Have my daily super long dinner. With Madame Danielle grilling me in French. And Monsieur Jean-Marc also tuitioning me over dinner. Wash dishes, do a bit of household chores.
10.30 -11.30 – Do homework, and revision.
11.30-12.30 – My own time.
1.00a.m – Latest. SLEEP! Wa. Tired.

I’m exhausted. Perpetually exhausted everyday. Lessons are fun but brain-draining, and the Madames use French to teach us French. How cool is that? Sometimes, there will be the blank looks on our face, “Pardon Madame!! Je ne comprends pas!!!” (paar don Madame. Jah neh com-pron pah!) aka, “Sorry Madame! I don’t understand!!!!” Then you’ll see her jiggling actions, to explain again. It’s like playing charades in school everyday. Haha…

Voilà!!! (Vwah lah!-yeah!)
très bien!!! (tekh –biaen!!!- That's fantastic!!!)

-Yours truly ;