Finally in Strasbourg

I've been here for a week now, and wow is all I can say (as I sit in an Italian cafe, a few blocks from school). I've already quite the crazy experiences, and the one class I've had, I really enjoyed!

Homesickness comes and goes. The day I left (last Monday) I bawled my eyes out most of the day, and Brandon could barely make it out the door to class. I have to say, leaving him has been the hardest part. It was like a nail being torn from the finger, so to speak. I really do feel like, even if I'm having a wonderful day, that half of who I am isn't here. A crucial part of me is thousands of miles away, and I can't just turn around, go a few streets away, and get it. There's no "I'll see you tomorrow after class," and a simple return. 6 hours time difference, an ocean, and more money than we have right now stand in the way.

 However it's a lot better already. I'm trying to adjust to using French on a daily basis (though today someone misunderstood "bouteille d'eau" as "potato" That's definitely not something I ever counted on happening hahahahaha!), and it's going all right. Sometimes people switch into English to help me out, and sometimes I don't mind. Sometimes, it's annoying because I WANT to get used to using French regularly. Nothing else I'm living here...I need to be able to do as much.

Overall though, I love it here. It's so much more wonderful than Fort Wayne. I've barely been in my dorm long enough to do anything other than sleep and shower. There's so much to do and see. I finally met up with Tom today, which was great. It was nice to see a familiar face, and to not feel so alone. And I had my first tarte flambée which was YUMMY! :-D Everything here is so pretty. Sadly there's also a lot of graffiti but oh well. It's so wonderful to just walk around and see what's here.

But anyway I had better be going. I need to get home, and get things ready for tomorrow, and get a shower and all that lovely stuff.

<3Erika