The French exchange students have left our homes. They are now off to Orlando to experience more of America with their younger sister and parents. I have learned to love both of them, even though at times they drove me crazy and practically to tears. Normally, an exchange would be nothing like these last two weeks that mWd and I have shared with these two French girls. When I get another French student in October, there will be planned outings through the giant group they are coming with, and school will give me some relief from their constant presence. These past two weeks mWd and I have worked our butts off to make them happy, not bored, and certainly not hungry. We have taken them to countless restaurants, including ones serving Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Bolivian, and plain ol' American food, as well. We have painted pottery, blew glass, went boating (practically every day), went to the beach, went to the pool, went kayaking, went tubing, shopped, toured museums. Together we watched both RIPD and the Way Way Back (my new favorite movie!). Maélia thought my family was probably crazy as we watched episodes of the Bachelorette, Teen Wolf, Duck Dynasty, and Keeping Up With the Kardashians. She laughed louder than all of us when we watched Sharknado and Project X. She learned to love Pitch Perfect as well as I do (I've seen it 8++ times). She now occasionally snickers, "vertical running", remembering Fat Amy. She's learned that my favorite flower is the hydrangea, and points them out to me whenever she sees one. Her sister, Alyzée literally made me smile all the time. I definitely have a soft spot for her. Maélia has seen my obsession with tumblr, and ice cream. She's learned to appreciate frozen yogurt and Starbucks. She's fallen in love with the American stores, everything from Forever 21 to Urban Outfitters. She taught me how to make her cupcakes, and I taught her how to make my favorite cookies. She learned just how obsessed I am with the royal family, and jumped for joy with me when Prince George Alexander Louis was born. She now knows that I am literally ALWAYS tired, which I told her probably ten times a day. She always had her camera around her neck, documenting her stay in America.
The girls were by no means perfect guests, by American standards they would be considered impolite and they literally harassed my brother, but no one is perfect which we all understood.
We now have so many inside jokes, such as "Sorry for you", "Banagram!", "Non Ouai/No way", and "Kill yourself".
They've taught me "Ouai gavée" (poor spelling), but definitley told me NEVER to say it outside of their hometown.
This experience has been truly life changing. I learned how important it is to put on a happy face, even when I am about to cry. I have learned that it is okay to express my anger, but never to them. Even though they were very different than I am, they were still girls struggling to express themselves in a new language, and people who only wanted to make new friends and learn about the American culture. I have gotten SO much closer with mWd's family (who were basically strangers to me before).
I will miss them so much, but I will forever cherish the memories we've made, and the new friends we have become.
XOXOXO,
Kels
