Post number two: Host Families. So where and with who might I be staying with, your asking? Well, an obligation of Rotary is to put me up in somebody’s home for about 3-4 months at a time, meaning I will be living with 3 host families throughout my stay. After finding out I would be going to France, my applications were then sent over there, and it was up to the French Rotarians to place me in a district. Let me tell you, Rotary loves to make you wait. It probably wasn’t until late February, early March until I heard anything more from France. My outbound coordinator called me to tell me that I would be placed in the French district 1700, a region in the southwest of France, near the Spanish border. I was really happy because I wanted to be in the South of France, but even with that, they still didn’t know what town I would be in or who I would be living with. My French district 1700 was pretty big, and I could have ended up either somewhere in the mountains or right on the Med. Sea. However, even with the little bit of info, I was still really happy about the info I found out. When I mean Rotary likes to make you wait, I really mean it. The next bit of info I received from France was less than a month ago. And finally, I received all I had been waiting for! My guarantee form showed my city I would be going to, my first host family, and the school I would be attending. I was soooo happy because I was one of the later people to find out all my information. Some people have known for a few months already! But there are still a few people, like the ones going to Turkey, who don’t even know what district their in yet and their leaving in about a month! Ahh! Okay, so I’ve been in contact with my first host family and they are soo soo soo nice! (You better watch out parents, you just might be replaced! =]) In the Gardet family, my host father is named Thierry, my host mom is named Martine, my host brother is named Rudy (he is 17, but he will be going to VA for an exchange year thru Rotary as well), and my 11 yr old host sister is named Noemie. I also have a cat named Marmotte. I have been in correspondence with them by emails and thru facebook, and yes I’ve been speaking to them in French! They told me my French is very good, however it takes me a really long time to think out what I want to say them. I can’t wait until next year this time when I will be hopefully fluent in French! They have also already planned some trips for us to go sailing and horseback riding on the Mediterranean, in a town called St. Cyprien, as well as a few other things. They live about 10 minutes from the center of they city, and it will be easy for me to take public transportation to get around and explore, something that we definitely lack here. They have also told me that my other host families live very close to them and that they too have have a few children in their families. I havn’t been in contact with these families yet, but I hope to do so soon! That’s enough for the host families for now!

Au revoir!

Rebecca