Bonjour!

My room

5 days here! Sitting at the airport I finally became really excited. It was part because I was happy about having a straight flight there, and part that everyone spoke French who were waiting to get on the plane. [The packing process on Tuesday extended to Wednesday morning due to laundry, and a last minute dilemma; my ipod erased all my music, luckily I had it on backup drive. So I never got to go ice skating. I don't think I had ever folded so neatly yet as much as I tried I could not fit everything into 3 bags. Around noon my euros finally arrived at the bank. "Au revoir" to the family, and Uncle Dave, my Dad, Mom, cousin Jay, and I, were off to the airport.]

Though they were reluctant to leave me at the airport with too much time before my flight because they thought I didn't learn my lesson from the last time I took a nap and almost missed my early morning flight to Alaska.

But alas! I had a young seat partner who seemed to be highly entertained by the other people on the plane, there's always that one person... Brenna, my roommate warned me that not as many people really do speak English in France, and the plane made it evident. He tried to speak to me, it was all french. And quick. I told him I don't understand, then I think he thought he started to speak English, but I still could not understand a word. Though he smiled the whole time. I only got 2 hours of sleep on the plane, there was actually a lot of turbulence, and landing in the rain is neat because it shoots up a wind/water tunnel as we land.

Fabien and Mark

Exiting the plane I heard someone tell the stewardess he was heading to Metz. Turns out, Mark, is a GTL student on my same plane, from Jouisey (New Jersey). So we journeyed off together passed through customs, went to pick up luggage; It was a relief to run into my seat partner again so we knew we were in the right place. I do know how to say where is the train, though I still looked confused when I asked him, because although CDs teach you how to ask questions well, they don't teach you enough about how to receive directions. So as a result, he led the way cheerfully. I guess he just thought we were really funny.

We found the train ticket booth, luckily bought the right ticket, and waited a bit. Bathrooms cost 50 cents. Expensive trip. Thennn somehow we ran into several other people all from GTL as well. Fabien speaks french fluently and this is a good thing.

Shuttle from TGV to Metz

The train is very conveniently designed, landscape is gorgeous! The train cars pass by so close to other trains though it thumps the window and scares you have to death if you were previously leaning your head against it. I really just want to get a horse and ride it across the country! After the train ride we hustled off very quickly into the rain, then shuffled under not-very-helpful cover. Welcome back Alaskan weather, I missed you -_-. But, I told the group "at least it is not icy cold," right on que hail whipped along with wind that was incredibly strong especially for being right up against a hill that you would think would block it out. It was to crowded to take the elevator. Up the puddely stairs with four bags of luggage, and pants soaked a good 6 inches up my leg. The shuttle from that station to Metz came soon, though the driver only spoke French, so Fabien translated the driver's instructions for us. Unfortunately buses were not running so we all had to get taxis, Fabien again set up for us.

Very adorable grill

Though the taxi drivers knew where lafayette was, they did not know the location for ALOES. Possibly because it is actually called SUPLEC. After driving around unsuccessfully, and not being able to speak to him in French, (btw they are not pretending they don't speak English, they reallly don't know how) I told him to take me to lafayette. I got a better map and some instructions. Left one bag there and headed off to SUPLEC. I got there at 3:30, luckily, because the manager of "ALOES" actually leaves at 4, not 5. [outsidestove-> She too only spoke French, as well as the maintenance lady who kindly showed me around the place. It has been one huge game of charades.

Closet

I get to "my room" and the other girl in there is speaking french too! Little did I knwo she said "Je ne comprends pas." Which means, I don't understand (French). But it just sounded french to me, so I said "Je m'appelle Olivia" Well then she thought I was French too, we were both so relieved when we realized that neither spoke French. : p

Bathroom

Of course, I was not in the door but a second when she says, hurry up we are meeting with people to go to the store quickly. Oye. Well it was good to get my sleep on track muy pronto. 

My room, Desk angle