Morocco Eve

It's always like this - the night before a big trip I'm anxious, and even though I'm tired I feel like I couldn't possibly go to sleep. I know I will, and so I should just go to bed, but it's like I'm afraid I'm going to miss something, forget about something if I let myself fall asleep.

My bags are packed, both of them really. My large suitcase I'm leaving behind in Grenoble, I'll recuperate it on my way to Amiens before heading back to the states. It's carrying all of my souvenirs and winter clothes (and I'm hoping that it's not going to be overweight!!!). My smaller suitcase is what I'm going to be living out of while in Morocco, and then Amiens/home. I can't forget my shampoo and toothbrush tomorrow.

There are a few things training around my room and closet, which haven't found their places in luggage. While I'm worried that I'll forget one of them, they help make the room still feel habitable. The little stuffed bunny from Easter is still on my nightstand, random things still litter my desk, along with my computer, my bag is still laying on the floor. But the hangers in the closet are empty except my clothes for tomorrow, and the shelves have been stripped of their contents - replaced by suitcases with layers of stuff. My train ticket to Amiens is waiting on a shelf for my return.

If I can get myself to turn off the computer, and my brain to slow down, the butterflies will eventually settle down, and I will be able to go to sleep. It's all about the first step.

My last week in Grenoble

I knew this time would come, and I knew it would be hard to believe that so much time had passed, but it doesn't cease to amaze me that my time here in Grenoble is so close to being finished! Today is Wednesday. Tomorrow I have class with Victor at the University. Friday I will be finishing up my packing. Saturday I leave for Morocco. An afternoon + two days + a morning = three days.

The weather has gotten a bit better in order to see us off nicely. Yesterday was gorgeous! I met up with Christian and we hiked up to the top of the Bastille for a picnic lunch. It was a good hike - translation, I'm a bit sore today!

Last night was our end of the program diner with API. We all met up at "Les dix vins" (The ten wines in English, but it sounds way better in French). Marie and Sarah from API were there to celebrate, but not Anna. She's on maternity leave (which is the reason for Sarah's job with API) and as a matter of fact just had here baby girl last Friday! Victor was there as well, and Paul will return on Friday to come with us to Morocco. Three students were missing, as they are taking advantage of exam free days by spending some time Nice - aka the Mediterranean.

I'm about halfway through the massive packet Victor gave us to read. Some information on Morocco, and a lot of poetry and introductions to the poets. We are going to meet all three of the poets we are currently reading.

Right now I'm kind of in an in-between mood. I know I want to go to Morocco, and I know that once I get there it is going to be amazing. However, at the same time I'm rather exhausted: I have just spent 5 months in France, culminating with 5 days of exams, topped off with trying to work out registration for Seattle U for Spring Quarter - it has been more complicated than it should me, plus I'm in a different time zone and can't knock down peoples' doors. At least I've got pretty much everything organized here. I think I'm going to have everything packed and ready without any real last minute crazed rush, which is rather impressive for me.

By the way, while I'm in Morocco, I really doubt that I'll have time to or the option of using the internet. Therefore no new posts, no uploading of photos. However, I should have time once I get to Amiens, and if not, I will really, really, really try my hardest to post stuff before my life in the states picks up again... Really, I'll try!

Exam update...

I'm done!!!

I just finished my last French exam this afternoon! The last five (school) days I sat a total of 8 tests: University and National language proficiency exams, plus finals for History of French Art, Vocabulary, Contemporary French Literature, and Twentieth Century French History.

I decided, for the National Exam, to take the next level down (B1) from where I was placed - the logic being that it's 50 Euros less expensive, and I'm not sure I could pass at the next level I've been taking classes (B2), mostly because of a 10 minute oral presentation, for which you are given 10 minutes to prepare from a short text, and upon which you are subsequently questioned for 10 minutes. Comparatively, the B1 oral was a cakewalk: I'm sure I passed! In fact, now that I'm on the other side, I probably could have passed the B2, but it's still more expensive...

So, now that I've finished all of my exams, my semester in France is officially over, BUT, the quarter (Seattle University time) is not yet over. SO, we have Victor's travel study class - boohoo! While I do have an enormously thick packet I need to start working through - should have already started working through actually - we'll be talking the actual class in Morocco. We leave the 22 of May. I'm terribly excited! But I plan on relaxing, reading some French BDs (comics books), and watching the French film series of "Les Miserables."

Life is good without stress...

Finals week(s)

So. Finals have started. We had our French language exams Thursday and Friday. This weekend I am going through my art history notes, because the final is on Monday, and as many times as the professor told us he does not want us to memorize everything, deep down inside he does. So I am diligently refreshing my memory of French painters – starting with classicism during the reign of King Louis XIV (17th century) all the way through the beginnings of modern painting (think Picasso and eventually abstraction).

On the Brightside, after Wednesday I will be finished with all of my testing - some people have exams through the next week. On the dimmer side, I have 6 exams squeezed into those three days! The DELF (the national French competency examination) is split into two tests: oral and written: Monday and Wednesday morning. Tuesday morning I will have off, but that means both vocabulary and literature in the afternoon. Monday afternoon will be the history of art final and Wednesday afternoon will be Contemporary French History.

Evidently we should get our grades mid June – just enough time to get over the trauma of exams before reliving it! But in the mean time, I will get to study Moroccan literature and culture, in country, for almost two weeks! Then I’ll come back to France, pick up what’s left of my 5 months in Grenoble, and head to Amiens to see the Avronsart family one last time before leaving the country. Juliette will still be in exams, but I’ll be able to relax a couple days before my flight leaves from Paris June 6 – Anne told me that she’d drive me to the airport, which is a huge relief to me. It wouldn’t be too difficult for me to get myself to the airport, but I would stress about it.