Day One

Today marks the first day of my five months abroad in Toulouse.  I'm leaving behind my friends, family, girlfriend, dog, cat, and lots more for five months of French immersion with people I have never met in a country to which I've never been.  It's a gamble, but maybe the wine will make it worth my trouble.

I won't go into details about the journey here; it went very smoothly and I had no issues whatsoever.  My host "brother," Guillaume, picked me up at the airport with his girlfriend and helped me get settled into the apartment.  I have a room with double door windows overlooking a Toulouse street, and a bathroom right next door.  Madame Auban, my host "mother," is a social worker and certainly defies the French stereotype of cold and unwelcoming.  She has given me a liberal reign over the kitchen and living room, and we sat and talked for a while about each others' families, friends, and interests.  I can tell we are going to get along.

There are certainly aspects of being abroad that are already strikingly different.  First off, all the outlets are different so you have to be prepared with a converter.  Then, the toilet is in a different "bathroom" than the shower and sinks, so you have to make two trips if you're so inclined.  Lastly, the shower has no curtain, so if you don't lock the bathroom door then you should be prepared to put on a show for the next unlucky (or lucky?) soul who wanders in to relieve themselves.

Overall, the beginning of my trip has been interesting and very much a whirlwind.  I've been thrown into speaking almost nothing but French all the time, and it isn't easy by any measure.  There is definitely a language barrier, but in a few weeks times I expect to be getting along nicely with the French.  Now I've got to get a hold of the jet lag and I'll be set.  Orientation starts early tomorrow morning.