les photos!

Here are two links to an online photo album. If the first link doesn't work, click the second and just browse the pictures.

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii261/dsstraub/Car/Famille%20Toublanc/?albumview=slideshow

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii261/dsstraub/Car/Famille%20Toublanc/?albumview=link

À bientôt!

13 juin 2008

Bonjour à tout le monde!

This post is the beginning of a very long, yet preciously finite endeavor, which will ultimately find me exactly where I am today. However, my adventures and experiences in France will, in the end, redefine me as a person.

Voici les faits (here are the facts):

After traveling to New York City, NY, I will have a two-day departure orientation (August 20th - August 21st). On August 21st, at 7:00 PM, I will board a plane at the JFK airport in New York City, and fly to the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France, arriving at 8:50 AM (August 22nd). After two more days of arrival orientation, I will either board a train, or be picked up by my host family in Paris. That's when the real journey begins.

Family Member Information:
Mr. Jean-François Toublanc, Host Father
Mrs. Lucie Toublanc, Host Mother
Ms. Marie Toublanc, Host Sister (age 12)
Mr. Guillaume Toublanc, Host Brother (age 10)
Mr. Pierre-Louis Toublanc, Host Brother (age 8)
Ms. Pauline Toublanc, Host Sister (age 6)
Mr. Benoît Toublanc, Host Brother (age 2)

And yet — I'll get my own room ;)

A little about my house: It's a large, recently built house located in Châtellerault, a small town between Paris and Bordeaux. There is a garden, as well as a trampoline.

I will be attending lycée Berthelot, a local school. The school system in France is exceptionally different from that of the United States, so, if I "convert" it to English, I'll be a Senior in high school. However, in France there are neither Seniors, nor high school. It's confusing and strange — but — c'est la vie.

My host family describes themselves as "calm...relaxed...[and on a] regular schedule". If you know anything about me, you know this is going to be an interesting year. The family is Catholic , and regularly attends church. No one in the family smokes, nor do they have pets (maybe Pepper can come now?). The Toublanc family lived in Rochester, New York for three years, so they do know English. Also, Lucie, my host mom, knows Spanish :D!

"We have a quiet life. Lucie is at home for children. She takes care of the house and make sure life is comfortable at home. She likes painting and takes courses for clothes making. Jean-François his busy at work. He works for automotive industry as engineer. He comes home late every night but likes to take his launch every day at home with the children. All children go to school except the last one Benoit. They play sport every week on Wednesday and have catechism in the morning. They go to school by feet because we are living very close to the down town. Marie, the oldest, go to school all the week near Poitiers and she comes back only for the week-end. Marie is 12th and likes girls plays. She has a light handicap and is follow in a special school during the week. Guillaume is playing handball and likes to play with Lego. He also likes to read. He has s a stron character when he disagree with something. Pierre-Louis is a very quiet boy but is very voluntary. He likes also sport, basket and swimming. Pauline is our charming girl. She likes dancing and wants to please everybody. Benoit is the latest and with his 1.5 years start to talk. He always smiles.

"During the week, Lucie his busy with the children activities, but sometime, Lucie and JF have pleasure to walk in the near area in order to discuss together. During the week-end, we go to the market place , JF is working home or is gardening. We go every week at the swimming pool all together. On Sunday we go to church in the morning and go visiting family, friends in the afternoon. We can also go to ride all together. We like listening music, Lucie is playing guitar and we have a piano. Lucie his very good cooker and we love typical French launch and diners. We read a daily French newspaper. We help at school.
Lucie and JF have monthly meeting outside with other members of a Christian community. We go to north of France few times per year to see Lucie's family.
During holiday's, we love go outside discovering regions of France.

"We spend 3 years in US in Rochester NY for JF's work and we enjoyed it. Children learned English at school. We really discovered how it is important to go outside a country to meet other cultures and people. To have foreign English student will keep the children taking care of foreign people and will help them to maintain their English. It will also give the opportunity for the student to discover our a French family is living, our culture and our history. It is a good shared educational experience on both side."

I took those quotes from the packet I received on my host family. It was written by my host family, so there are a few minor English grammar mistakes. In the packet are also many beautiful pictures of my host family, as well as France. I cannot upload those pictures onto the internet, however, I do have some pictures online I will include.

Now, as far as school is concerned, all I know is that I will have eight hours of philosophie a week, and I will have French, Spanish, and English (it's a national requirement) classes.

68 days in counting.

À bientôt,
Dakin S.

P.S. I would like to include two special shout-outs today. Thank you, Annette Kade Charitable Trust, for awarding me an AFS scholarship for the amount of $1500.00. This is an incredible gift, and I appreciate it immensely! I would also like to thank the Plymouth AFS Chapter for awarding me the Franchon Amundson Plymouth AFS Chapter Student Scholarship, which covers the cost of my flight to and from New York City. Gayle, thank you so much for this opportunity. It was you that made it possible.