Baka's Adventures

To start, I just want to apologize-especially to my Rotary club, for my silence! After being somewhat consistent for 5 months, I disappeared. But hopefully that told my followers that I was keeping busy and having a wonderful time.

As of today, I have exactly 28 days left of my exchange, which will be spent scrambling to get things done (but in reality, it's really not possible) like somewhat organizing the thousands of photos taken the past 9 months, finish putting on all the collected crap on the Rotary jacket, and visiting places in the area.
So far I only have one of those tasks accomplished: the Rotary jacket. The other day I spent a total of three hours sewing on all of my patches (total of 15, and more coming) and other weird items. I had not realized until recently how useful these blazers are. And not to mention, an easy way to show off everything you did.

Because I don't have the time to describe the events of the last few months, I will briefly explain:
February- travelled to Frankfurt (GER) and London, to visit friends of mine. Then I went on one of the Rotary bus trips, which lasted exactly one week. We visited a bit of southern France and north Spain (Barcelona, Figueres, Lloret de Mar), and had the opportunity to go to the Picasso and Salvador Dali museums.

March- our Rotary district took us, on an extended weekend, to Paris. We were joined by three other disctricts and had a talent show one night.

April-Rotary bus trip numéro deux, 12 days visiting Munich, a ski town in Austria, Italy (Venice, Florence, Pisa), Monaco, Switzerland (visited United Nations in Geneva) and a few cities in France. My favorite, no doubt, was Venice. Italy in general. Thankfully there were not many tourists at the time and therefore we did not have trouble finding a gondola (which is something everyone should do if ever in Venice).
After 12 days on a bus, I headed to Vienna, Austria to pay a visit to my cousin, whom I had not seen for 3 years. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was there during the volcano eruption in Iceland and could not get back to France for three days. To add, I had to spend 20 hours on a bus to Paris because my second flight also got cancelled the minute I was about to board. In truth, I found the situation rather funny, and realized that my situation could have been a lot worse. I wasn't in any type of hurry to get home.
If I remember correctly, we also had another "exotic meal", for which I made peach cobber. It turned out quite well.
So far in May I made two mini trips to Luxembourg and Marseille, both visiting other exchange friends in France.

I wonder how I will ever be able to stay in one place??

I will wrap up quickly: As the title says, it is already bientôt la fin, or "nearly the end" of my exchange. There have already been many tears shed, and I cannot imagine how it's going to be when I actually leave. I realize that I will never be ready when the time comes, but perhaps it's for the best.
This year has given me so much. And even though I will not be classified as an exchange student after stepping off the plane, I figure that I will be an exchange student forever, at heart.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all three of my wonderul host families, my counselor, Rotary district 1520, to those at Lycée Montebello,and above all, my beloved family of exchange students. I will be visiting you ALL in good time. JE VOUS AIME.

Thank you to Bismarck Rotary Club, District 5580 and my family, for making everything possible.
See you on the other side...

Cholpon

So January has passed, which means that I have spent 5 months in France.
5 MONTHS! It's halfway over already.
But like the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun". And indeed, I am having THE time of my life.
Now, when I say this, it sounds like I party every day...and so if I were to describe my average day here in France, you guys would think I was mad. If you take my average day in context, there is nothing extraordinary about it. But in the end, it's the little moments in the experience that make it great.
Like...understanding something that your host dad said to you that you normally wouldn't have understood.
or, succeeding in finally making French friends.
or playing video games with your host brother, new family bonding in general.

Because when an exchange student has 5 months left in their foreign country (or maybe it's just me) there is suddenly this time bomb in your head, and you will suddenly say "IL FAUT PROFITER!!!" which means, more or less: "I need to enjoy". And suddenly, you become happy all the time. You want to do crazy things, be a person you normally aren't, take risks. That's what is so fun about being in a foreign country: you can be the person you've always wanted to be.

There is this incredible freedom that washes over you, and it's great. Little things that used to bother me before, now I just laugh it off. Because there is no TIME here to be grouchy or whiny. Anything inconvenient comes along, you shrug and keep going.

Now what did I do in January? Oh yes....there was yet another Rotary weekend, a big exotic meal again. This time I made knoepfla soup (I swear there are a hundred different spellings...) which turned out to be quite a success. The French like creamy stuff. Some of my other exchange camarades from the southern hemisphere left, and were replaces by new ones. Recently I moved into my 3rd host family (which also happens to be my 1st) and life is great.
Another school break is coming up here, and I have planned a couple trips. I will be taking a train to Frankfurt to visit a friend for 5 days, then to London for 4 to visit another. Haven't forgotten how convenient it is to travel when in Europe! I will also be going on a Rotary bus trip in southern France and Spain. I am not exactly sure what they have in store for us, but a week on a bus full of exchange kids sounds plenty adventurous enough already.
I DO know that we will be going to the Picasso museum in Barceloa and also the Salvador Dali museum somewhere close to the Spanish-French boarder. But I will write all about that when I return.

Didn't have that much to say this time around, but that was expected. Time bomb, you know. Can't stay too long on the computer.

This is Cholpon, signing off.

Today was the day I finally realized what it means to be an exchange student. And believe me, I do not want to be a warbling idiot, but sometimes it is necessary.

Today was the first day a group of exchange students packed their bags and headed to Paris to catch a plane back to their respective homes. Because they come from the southern hemisphere, they arrive in February and leave in January.
Now before I arrived in France, I had gone to Rotary weekends back in the States. I noticed then that the group of exchange students were... tight. They were a family, always together. And I wanted that, and told myself that I would have a special group of my own when I started my exchange. But little did I know what that actually meant.
The "oldies" or so we call them, received us and were our guides around the city, they told us what to do, how to use the metro, where to go and who to ask if we have problems. They were there for us.
It is amazing, the exchange program. Here are these teenagers from all over the world; with their own lives, their own story, culture, way of life, friends, interests. And when you meet them, even if you have never spoken to them before, there is no barrier. Because all of you have a special connection-- it feels as if you had met in another lifetime.
It is amazing what kind of relationships you can make in just 4 months. Perhaps it is because we live the same story, we can talk to them about our experiences, our ups and downs, we can tell a random story about meeting a guy on the metro and they will understand and laugh with you.
At one point all of us were cursing Rotary. They bring us into a foreign country and make us meet people from all over the world, only to have us say good bye at the end. It is hard to cope with. There are so many memories, inside jokes, awesome conversations. You learn so much from these kids.
Exchange is truly something special. I could say that it is too hard to see everyone go-- but I would not give up this experience for anything. I do not know if I have changed or not in these past months, but if I had to make a guess, I would say that I have. And I am thinking that it was for the better, whatever that change may turn out to be. I do have better street smarts now, I do know that. Living in Europe and figuring stuff out on your own, living with different host families, dealing with a different culture. Perhaps I am more mature, more spontaneous, more crazy, more tolerant, I do not know.
But I do know that every kid out there that has the chance to do exchange should do it.No matter where you choose to go. You may have those days when you just want to go home, but in the end, you won't remember the bad things. You'll just remember all the awesome things you did, and above all, the people you met and the impact they made on you.
And I still have 5 months left!!!!
I have been thinking about how it is going to be in June, and I can already tell that it will be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. But I am going to make the best out of the time I have left.
And before I give my usual update, I would just like to say thanks to the Rotary Exchange Program. You have given me the best year of my life. I hope that the program keeps growing.
North Dakotans young and old, but kids in general: Get out. Just get out. There is no use being holed up. I have known so many people in my life that have the money and resources to travel, but they have no desire to do so. I never ever understood this. Perhaps you are content where you are? Just like the famous quote from Mr. Moore: "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." Perhaps you'll be one of those people. But traveling suits everyone, I tell you. It doesn't matter who you are. It makes you a better person. A more tolerant person. and a less whiny one, to add, to see the troubles outside your own little world, to have appreciation for what you have- and this goes for Americans, especially. I do not know if I could go back to listen to teens complain about school (American education is horrifyingly easy, and I don't care who argues with me) or because they didn't get what they wanted for Christmas. In the end, it doesn't matter. The world is changing. And since we are still the 'world power' at least for now, we need to know a little more about what is going on out there. How sad is it that people don't know what the capital of our country is? Jaywalking was hilarious, but when you look at it, it's just plain sad and embarrassing. People think Americans are dumb, and when I look at people like Miss South Carolina, I believe it. It is true that the American education system fails when it comes to Geography in schools. But honestly, just look at a map once in a while. Watch the news.
oh, and here is a SUPERB idea: travel

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now about December.
It was a great month, with lots of snow, which I loved and had missed. Some southern hemispherers that had never seen snow before enjoyed themselves immensely. I remember one occasion at 5 o'clock in the morning. The snow had settled and it was peaceful, no cars, no sound. and we had so much fun. Making snow angels in the middle of the street, having a massive snow fight. I got about a week and a half more of vacation because of a student strike that they apparently do every year. The government attempts at passing yet another reform, and the students do a "blocus", letting no one into the school. The French are always striking. It's great.
Christmas was not the same without the fam, but fun just the same. I received a t-shirt and some pins for my Rotary vest--which was greatly appreciated. (That is what Rotary exchangees live for- to find crap to put on that jacket.)
We ate lots of Creole food, because like I mentioned before, my host family is from the island of Reunion, off the cost of Madagascar. The host mom's sister and family were here for several weeks, and it was a learning experience. I come to France not only to learn the French culture, but also the culture of Reunion. Now how awesome is that? And now if I wish to go to Reunion, I have a place to stay.
And then I went to Paris. For five days! It was INCREDIBLE. Paris is huge. There are too many places to see, one needs at least a month to cover the whole area. And a week out of that month would be just to go to the Louvre.
So here are the places I saw:
The Louvre
Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge
Notre Dame
Eiffel Tower
Champs Elysees
Arc de Triomphe

I did a whole lot of walking in Paris, but for now the above is what people would recognize. The Louvre is HUGE. I think it might be the largest museum in the world? Or close, even so. It is incredible, and the Mona Lisa is tiny. I would very much like to return and see what there is to see instead of running around like a headless chicken, trying to at least get through one section of the museum in three hours.
Art demands time, and since I actually like to really look at art, naturally I did not accomplish anything except seeing the Mona Lisa.
In fact I learned that if one would spend one second at each artifact in the museum, it would take 3 whole days. 3 whole days!!! to go through the Louvre.
Notre Dame was incredible as well. I just kept thinking of the Hunchback of Notre Dame while I was there. But it is truly an architectural wonder.
The Champs Elysees is wonderful to see at night. The trees on either side are lit up, it's wonderful. However I found that during the daytime it is just a very large street with ridiculously expensive shops and restaurants.
And of course at the end (or beginning?) of the Champs Elysees is the Arc de Triomphe. Very cool. And I certainly did not know that there was a 'unknown soldier' tomb there as well.
Ah, and the Sacre Coeur. It is absolutely beautiful. and what a view from that hilltop! (for those of you who do not know, the Sacre Coeur means literally "Sacred Heart" is a Catholic church on top of a hillside in Paris.) I went there on the 31st of December, and was lucky enough to stumble upon a mass. Quite a thing to see. It is in a town called Montemartre, which is a beautiful, ancient town that swerves and curves and awesomely European. There are interesting looking buildings, along with the cafe in the movie Amelie--Les Deux Moulins, which is there as well. There is also a famous artist's square in Montmartre, I swear the best artists of the world are there. They do portraits of people, cost is 50 euros but totally worth it.
Also, quite ironically, the Moulin Rouge is just down the street. In fact, one may even call that area the "Red Light District" of Paris. Sex shops everywhere, but one gets immune to those kinds of things in Europe.

Finally, the Eiffel Tower. Or more correctly, Tour Eiffel. I remember when I saw it for the first time. I cannot describe the feeling... it was great. To be by one of the most famous buildings in the world. And to add, it was at night, the lights were on, it was perfect. The thing itself, if it did not have such a reputation- is not that beautiful. But everything that it represents is. Love, Paris, France.
And it is a terrific view from atop the tower. You can see all of the city.
There was a light show at the Eiffel Tower for New Years. Every Parisian and every tourist must have been there because it was so crowded. Unfortunately the fireworks were puny and there was no countdown so everyone was a bit confused-- but magnificent all the same. How many people can say that they brought in the year 2010 at the Eiffel Tower?
Me.

Paris is a great city. And I did not stumble upon any mean people. Perhaps I got lucky, or maybe tourists are just prejudiced. But overall I found them quite nice.
The Paris metro is easy to learn, but very sketchy.
So if anyone is going to Paris soon and has any questions, don't hesitate.

I apologize for the long update- half of it was indeed, just rambling, but there was some interesting stuff there as well.
Wishing you all a Bonne Annee! (Happy New Year!) Remember that we only have 2 years, apparently, until the world ends. Profite, les gens!
And I'll leave you on that note.

A bientot!
Cholpon

It's the first of December, I cannot believe it! Three months and 5 days in France.
At the moment I am using a fellow exchange friend's laptop, even though I borrowed it in order to finish all of my college applications...which has been quite a pain in this past month. why do they have to make things so complicated, anyway? and those application fees, just to enter some documents on the internet? ridiculous!

A few things happened in the last month. In the first week, I went to Brussels yet AGAIN to take one of my SAT Subject tests. I hopped on a train right afterwards to go back to Lille, and we had another Rotary weekend with "Repas exotique" or "Exotic meal" in which everyone had to make something from his/her country. I made pumpkin pie, it was Thanksgiving month, after all, and to my relief it turned out quite well. It was amazing getting to try cuisine from all around the world: Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia...the list goes on and on.

The next day we visited Canada. Yes, Canada; I didn't mess up. This is because there is a patch of land here that is solely Canada's; the French gave it to them after the Canadians succeeded in claiming it back during WWI. There is a memorial there, and each year they have a little gathering to honor those who died in WWI. Bagpipes and all.

A week later I changed my host family. This family has only two children, both girls...one is 17 and the other 11 (soon to be 12 this week). They are very welcoming and sweet, and I get to have exotic food! Because in fact, the mother and two daughters are from Reunion, a tiny French island colony off the coast of Madagascar. Cool, eh?

I went to Germany again, except only for a day. We went to a town called Koln....it's a very windy place, let me tell you. But there is also a huge cathedral and many beautiful Christmas markets. For the first time, I had Christmas spirit! It's hard to have that when there is no snow and no Christmas music playing everywhere.
There is also a Lindt chocolate museum in Koln, I strongly suggest that women never enter that place. Chocolate has extraordinary powers.

Thanksgiving: On Thanksgiving, I had chicken soup and french toast. How awful is that? No turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes..... I did miss it. The only reason I didn't make a meal for my host family was because I was in Koln, visiting chocolate museums and being miserably cold.

THOUGHTS

School is getting better, but I have decided that I will have trouble getting up in the morning every day, just because it's a drag... and will be forever! The school system here in France is messed up, in my opinion...there are no extra curriculars, no school teams or spirit. It is strictly an institution...with bad heating and no water fountains; but it does have a condom machine. Which is always empty. Stereotypical? I THINK NOT!

The eight hours of philosophy per week is not getting any more fun, especially since my teacher expects me to do the four-hour tests in which you answer questions like, "Time, is it a sign of our weakness?" Which I totally bombed, by the way, and only wrote 1 1/2 pages out of the expected 4. He doesn't understand that I can't write in French very well, much less answer ridiculous questions like that.

The French is coming along, but sometimes I feel that I have made no progress at all. I had been searching for a class to take, but they are definitely not cheap.

I have gotten homesick a few times, randomly. I got to thinking about the company of my awesome parents, or choir, or my friends back home. I was so happy when I received a box from home! Inside were socks, tights, sweaters, a scarf (see the pattern, here...it IS cold!) PopTarts and Hot Tamales, among other things.

Overall, I am still enjoying my experience immensely. There are so many things to do, to see...and one year is not enough. Trying to make the best out of it!

Wish you all a Joyeux Noel and Bonne Anee!!!
Until next year,
Cholpon

p.s I POSTED PICTURES ON THIS SITE! finally.
check them out!

Bonjour!
So it's been a little over two months, now. wow.
October has gone by very fast, in fact I don't even know what to write, exactly!

In Mid October I went to Brussels, Belgium, to take one of my SAT Subject tests. I stayed at a friend's apartment; consequently, it was a Belgian girl I got to know because she was an exchange student in my district in the States this past year. It's amazing the connections you make! Even though it rained like hell, and I got lost in the city for a couple hours because I refuse to put credit on my phone (cellphones are expensive!), I had a great weekend. My friend insisted that I try everything Belgian (fries, waffles, and a ton of other things) and we spent a great deal of time just walking around the city. Brussels is cool place. It's so dynamic, and beautiful, and just awesome.

...and the test went okay, too.

And I suppose I should also add that Rotary organized a weekend at Mont Saint Michel. Other Rotary districts from all around France were there.
Our disctict made it a longer trip, and we got to visit places other than Mont Saint Michel. On the first day, we went to Arromanches, which was one of the places where D-Day occured, on the beaches of Normandy.
The next day was hell, for some people. We went to Mont Saint Michel, no, not inside but around. For some of you who don't know, Mont Saint Michel ( which I'm just going to call MSM from now on) is a sort of a city, with an abbey at the top. It actually reminds me of Gondor; Lord of the Rings, anyone? If MSM were white, it would practically be Gondor. Anyhow, the place is surrounded by water...but only at night. The tide falls in the morning, leaving sand and some jellyfish here and there. And, of course, it provides for a four hour walk for those who are up to it.
The Rotarians thought we were up to it. So we took our shoes off ( some of us were smart enough to bring shorts along, too) and we walked about 8 miles around MSM, in the cold. There was quicksand in some spots, ( and it's not quicksand like in the Princess Bride, you actually have to stand for a while) and there were mini rivers here and there that we had to cross. Those who wore jeans were extremely unlucky.

In short, it was a very tiring day, but we had a meal with traditional Norman entertainment and a dance afterwards.

The next day, we had the opportunity to go inside MSM. It was a beautiful day, hardly any tourists, a couple hours to explore and take pictures.
Overall, a very cool weekend.

Moving on...
On October 24th, the first break began. Ten days. A godsend, really. School in France isn't too great. Long school days, hard classes.
Lydia, a girl whom I also befriended while she was in Bismarck two years ago, picked me up and I spent a week with her at her home in Germany. Although it was cold, it was very nice to see her again. I got to experience German school, German life, etc. I managed to pick up some vocabulary, too...but I have to admit it was frustrating not being able to speak at all. But Lydia was there to translate.

I spent the rest of the weekend with my host family in Germany, consequently my host mom's cousin lives not too far from Lydia's.

THOUGHTS:
It's cold. And I thought I would be able to endure it. I'm a North Dakotan!!! But it's not the same type of cold, you see. In ND, it's dry cold. Here, it's WET. just wet. The kind of cold that seeps into your skin and doesn't come out.

I am wishing that they had something here like the YMCA. I feel like a blob, no exercise. It's frustrating! And where I am living now, they say it's too dangerous to go running outside. Ugh.

This week the Rotary students have to make something for the " exotic meal". I am going to attempt making a pumpkin pie. Wish me luck!

Mom, dad, Shawna, Craig, Linda, my aunts and uncles, Love you and miss you all! Thanks for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

And of course, all my amazing friends, I miss you all.

Thanks again to those in District 5580 and to my club in good 'ole Bismarck!

Until next month or maybe earlier,
Cholpon