J'arrive!

I'm here! And it's like I'm living a dream- I keep thinking that this is just a week long vacation stay and not really my whole school and family for the next 4 months! It's been absolutely fantastic here. I'll start at the beginning.

Atlanta to Philli. Philli to Munich on a 7 hour uncomfortable flight. The whole time I kept thinking, "when I get to France, do I take a bus or a taxi? can I afford a taxi by myself? How do I know if there are other american students waiting  in the taxi line?" but I reminded myself again not to worry, that things would happen as they needed to. 

Sure enough, while waiting in munich to board my last connection to Marseille, up walk 2 classmates of mine from a vanderbilt french class!! I was SO excited to see them, as were they. We all boarded the plane and headed to France where the three of us could split a cab and have it take us directly to the Vanderbilt in France School.

It is so beautiful here. We flew in over blue blue blue clear waters on the coast. Its a perfect temperature and this town is absolutely fantastic. It's a whole labrenth of quant cafes and cobblestone avenues with little cars, mopeds, and people bustling down them. There are fountains all over the place, which gives the city its name [aix = waters]. Right outside of my 4th story window we can look down onto the friendly streets and there is a huge beautiful cathedral RIGHT there. 

When I first arrived I opened my room window and could hear organ music pouring from the cathedral! Oh I was so excited. I hope I'll be able to practice there, it'd be so convenient! 

view from my window looking down onto the street

My bed  before I unpacked

My 4 other housemates are awesome. Every one is so excited to be here, really fun and friendly, and we are all a bit nervous about speaking french. I tell you what though, it's coming back quickly! One of my roommates and I spent a few hours walking all around Aix this afternoon. It was so beautiful outside.

This evening we got to see all of the vanderbilt-in-france students- about 35 of us or so! We all walked down the street in a small parade of americans [+6 french students] to get a dinner in a nice restaurant. There was a lot of speaking in French which is coming more and more easily, but every so often we'd tell a funny story in english. It's just been so much fun so far. I keep forgetting that I am really going to live here for a while, call it home, know this city as my own and these people as my friends! I can hardly wait. Classes start on the 9th. 

I'll take more photos tomorrow. Thanks to every one for supporting and caring for me. All of my love! -dani