Do you speak any french?

Je parler un peu francais. Yes, that is what I've had to repeat to several different teachers and students at my new school. Mon dieu, quelle journée. I was so exhausted after school today, both mentally and physically. Physically mostly because I have not had coffee today. For all of those who know me well enough will understand what a struggle for me that is. 


So anyway, my alarm clock rang at 7.00 AM today, but I was wide awake at six o'clock already. It actually wasn't bad because I went to sleep at nine yesterday, so I got just the right amount of sleep. I showered, got dressed had a bowl of cereal and left. I was ready, or well as ready as one could be, to face the day. 


First was French class. Not that bad. I did feel like a complete idiot though when the teacher asked me to introduce myself and I couldn't understand what he was saying, because his mouth was moving a way faster speed than my brain. I felt like an idiot many times today, but luckily everyone was so nice. 


The second class was math. Oh dear do I hate math. I was so stressed out about math, but that too to my relief was not as bad as I feared. The teacher was very nice and understanding. After that I had P.E. We played indoor hockey. It was pretty fun, even though it really wasn't my sport. Emma and I decided to switch that course for an English writing course though. We thought it would be more beneficial for us. We tried to switch P.E for another French class, but it wasn't possible.


Last, but not least was biology, which surprisingly was the easiest. I understood a lot of what the teacher was saying, because a part of our course contents is stuff I learned in my previous school. Thanks Riitta. 


Our days are not too long, which is great. Everyone was so nice to us today. We had multiple people coming up to us inviting us to eat lunch with them. I felt like I was in a high school in some cliché teen movie. You can tell that the school has had many exchange students before, because everyone seems to know what they are dealing with. 


I just really need to get over my fear of speaking french, otherwise I will not learn. Oh well, I am gonna cut myself some slack. It was just the first day. Tomorrow will already be easier. Most likely I will fall asleep at nine o'clock once again. Now, it is time for me to go refresh my memory with some passé composé ( french past participle grammar).


Au revoir!

strawberry fields forever

A dip in the pool and a trip to the farm. That's yesterday for you in one sentence. Yesterday was a really lazy day. The weather was beautiful, so we were laying in the pool catching the last hot rays of the summer sun. After a really relaxing afternoon I was eager to get off my butt and do something, so we went biking around with Emma. I am used to riding a city bike, so riding on this huge mountain bike was pretty strange.


We drove down to the lake and regretted not taking our bikinis with us. The water was warm and clear. We decided that today we'd go out for a swim before heading off to choose our courses.


After dinner yesterday we went to a farm near by to get some green beans. I haven't been to a farm in ages. Okay, it wasn't an actual farm with cows and pigs, but a vegetable farm with pretty much everything. It was absolutely beautiful out there, and so peaceful. They grew all the vegetables you can think of, and strawberries and raspberries too. It was really nice, but the city is still where i belong.


At the moment I am sipping on my coffee, ah heaven, and soon I'll be heading out to the lake with Emma.
I still feel a little strange being here, but everything has gone really well so far. School is just around the corner though, and that makes me a little nervous.

new town, new deal

 I arrived safe and sound from Helsinki to Cochrane last night. After a seventeen hour day of flying, I arrived at a small airport in Timmins, Ontario and received a warm welcome there from my new host parents. From there we drove another hundred kilometers to Cochrane. The bed was at that time practically screaming out my name. I was done for the day. So far everything seems great. With me, during this year, I have a danish "sister". As being an only child in my family having a sister feels great. I couldn't have hoped for a better sister.


This morning I settled in and unpacked my stuff. Until this morning I really hadn't even realized that this is actually true. All just felt so surreal. I am far away from home, and living with people I met yesterday. It feels really cool though. Luckily I don't get homesick easily, but I really do think that homesickness might hit me hard at some point. 


I actually didn't have that many expectations of Cochrane, but I can honestly say that so far so good. The people seem nice and my host family have really made me feel welcome here. School starts in a couple days and I kind of have mixed feelings. Nervousness mixed with a little bit of fear and a whole lot of excitement.
On Monday we'll go by the school and select the courses for us. 


It's seven thirty in the evening and I am barely awake. My eyelids feel like a hundred pounds. I guess it's not too early to sleep since Emma just popped into my room and said good night to me. So I am gonna head to bed -my new twin sized luxury bed.

-I kind of find this sign funny-

We'll see how long I'll have the energy to keep this blog . This just seems like an easy way to keep people updated.

Maintenant, Bon nuit.