Before arriving in Lyon, France, I thought I was good at French. I could write better than I spoke, but I could definitely get by. Wow, was I wrong.
I'm not good at French at all.
I've been in France for three weeks and I can't even go to buy some fresh bread at the boulangerie, or a newspaper at the tabac, without thinking about what I have to say. Plus, my head is constantly mixed up with my two languages.
Honestly, though, I already have noticed improvement in my speaking ability. I attribute this to forcing myself to go up to French people and have a conversation. I also share an apartment with a French woman named Afifa and living with a native speaker forces me to speak French whenever I'm home.
I have not started real classes yet, but I can tell the French university system is not going to be easy. There is a huge misconception that study abroad programs are all play and no work, but I fear this won't be the case for those of us studying in Lyon. A French professor bluntly told the U.Va. group that he has no qualms failing a student and said we should expect to receive some failing grades -- quite a shock to all of us.
My classes begin next week and I still don't know what I am going to be taking. Some departments have not even printed U.Va.'s equivalent to the course offering directory yet.
But, "C'est la vie!" This should be an interesting semester, and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
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