Check in 5: Landmarks

     Throughout of lives we set goals, make timelines and plans, and it's important to look back and reflect on how far we have come. I`m am at a point, both in my exchange and my life, where a lot of change is happening. I`m reaching several major "landmarks". I am about to reach the halfway mark in my exchange, which seems to be unbelievably short and long at the same time. Honestly, my exchange has defied all laws of time and space. How can it feel too long and too short at the same time? How can I want to go home, and want to stay here at the same time? Again, a lot of change, a lot of conflict and a lot of reflection. But that's not all! I am about to turn 16! An age than in my mind has always been "The Golden Age".  I remember being little and always wanting to be 16 when playing make believe. To me it was the age of cell phones, shopping, going out with friends (sans the parents), an age of true independence and character building. Can it really be here already? It is hard knowing I won't be with my friends or family, but in many ways, that's part of the what makes is the magic age that it is. I am becoming the person I dreamed about all those years ago, and it feels amazing

     Many of you are asking: How is it going? Do you like France? What are you doing? And the truth is, I could answer many different ways. I could say, yes it`s going really well, I don't want to go home! or I could say I miss my family and friends, and the ease of people around people who speak the same language as me, both culturally and orally. Both answers would be correct, but which would you rather hear? I could say I like France! It`s beautiful and new and exciting. I could tell you about how I ate escargot and how the toilet paper comes in all the colors of the rainbow. I could also tell you that French people are more closed off and I am embarrassed to speak in French which makes it even harder to talk in school and make friends. Both are equally true. As for what I am doing, right now I am writing this "check-in" in English, and wearing traditional Moroccan slippers (babouch)  I got on my recent trip to Morocco! Not very French of me, but hey! I`m American. An American who likes to experience as many different cultures as possible.

     I was lucky enough to be able to spend almost two weeks in Marrakech Morocco! It was amazing, even though travel abroad while on exchange is actually discouraged by my program. It is said to be disruptive, but in many ways it helped me. In France, I go to school, and speak French as much as I can, but there are usually English speakers as back-ups if I need them. Before I went to Morocco, I had definitely taken this for granted. While in Morocco, I was seeking out the francophone, because for the first time French was the easier language, though it was not necessarily always at hand. I would ask people, do you speak French? And for the first time, I wasn't necessarily the one struggling to communicate and searching for words. I have come so far already, I may be embarrassed by my accent, and scared of saying the wrong thing, but I came here to learn and that's what I am doing. This is an accomplishment worth celebrating, just in time for the turn of my 16th year.