I Was Hoping...

Getting fondue in France!!! Adela, Liz, Talya, Me and Kara. :-)

I've been a bit busy lately.  Right now I am procrastinating tackling all of the reading I'm responsible for tomorrow.  

I'm finding myself homesick!  I think the charm of the program has started to wear off; even the little mannerisms of my homestay family have started to get to me.

Going to France last weekend was so wonderful.  It was a bit of an escape... I was with four other American girls in a very touristy, comfortable environment.  Yet, at the end of the weekend, I had to return "home."  I struggled to explain my experiences to my family in French, trying to be considerate of the fact that a day trip to Geneva is a big deal for them, let alone a quick trip to Val D'Isere for the weekend.  How can I communicate humility and modesty in a foreign language when I can hardly say that a Canadian won gold and the Swiss won silver and bronze?  

Sometimes I worry too that I am not what they expected.  First of all, Jess told me that she was hoping to host a boy.  I asked her what prompted them to host anyone at all, and surprisingly, it was Jean-Claude's idea.  She warmed to the concept once she considered that they don't know many people in Morges and could benefit from more human interaction.  Thus, I worry that they are disappointed if I leave for the weekend, or even if I stay in my room blogging, doing homework, skyping, etc.  Did they think I would be a fluent French-speaking male?  Who am I to them and I am fulfilling their expectations?  I wish I could stop worrying about trying to please my family-- if I had the assertion to do what I wanted and feel comfortable, I think it would make everyone happier.  

Anyway.  On a brighter note, I chose my topic for my literature review paper (which is the precursor to my ISP.)  Earle was surprisingly exuberant.  I went to the Red Cross library to do some preliminary research to make sure that I have the resources I need.  It will be interesting frequenting the ICRC library since I have to give them my passport and be escorted by a secret-service looking guy each time (maybe eventually they'll let me walk there on my own...) As far as resources, everything looks good so far!  I had an eerie feeling that if I indeed use this topic for my ISP, and indeed use my ISP as my base for my hoscho thesis, I essentially began research on my senior thesis today.  Wow.

I am looking at the clock and deciding I might call it an early night and skim the reading in the morning... all of the Kollys have "la gripe" and I am doing everything I can to stay healthy!