Why study in France? Besides the fact that it's super-chouette...

I've been studying French for almost 8 years now - that's a reasonably long time. And after a certain point, there's really nothing else that will take your language studies to a new level other than travelling to the native country of that language and plopping down there for a while. 

If you've studied well and absorbed your years of lessons, hopefully that plopping down will be graceful. Even if it's rocky as all get out though, you're still about to learn some amazing things in high concentrations. 

So with all this preparing and packing and planning I'm doing right now as I get ready to leave for Nantes, I'm hoping that my transition into this new environment will be a graceful one. It probably won't. But oh well! That's where all the fun comes from - right?

What I'm interested in is that maximum concentration of learning. I've been drinking from the sippy cup of French language and culture studies for the majority of these 8 years. My few college courses could be considered more close to drinking from a grownup glass, I'll admit that. But what I'm ready for now, is an injection of French. Hook me up to that IV!

Now, no amount of French blood transfusions will ever transform me into une française. I don't think that a full body of authentic French blood in my American veins would even raise any legal qualms as to my identity. But that doesn't matter. What I want to come away from this semester with is understanding.

I want to know what it's like for people to live in France as it is today. History is certainly important, but I can read about that in pricey textbooks. What I'm interested in is the here and now, the quirks that social researchers haven't gotten a chance to record in publications yet.

What's a day in the life of a Frenchman like? What's it like to wake up in the morning and attend French schools? To study for le bac? To buy your bread freshly baked from a boulangerie in baguette-form instead of a processed, sliced loaf in a plastic bag in the aisle of a supermarket? What's it like to know your country has produced some of the world's greatest intellects and set the stage for our modern concept of the rights of human beings?

More importantly for some of us Americans: what's it like to view the United States from the other side of the Atlantic?

I want to know the answers to all of these questions and so, so many more. I'd also like to sound more normal when I speak French with people. Maybe fit in with the students at the Université de Nantes (which was founded in 1460, can you believe that? Eat your heart out Austin College, est. 1849). Maybe be able to express sophisticated opinions concerning politics, religion, and philosophy (if I can think of any). And maybe make some friends. I like those quite a bit.

As you can see, there's a lot I want to get out of this one semester. Oh, did I mention that I'd like to gain a greater sense of independence, confidence, and well-being, and also grasp God's purpose for my small life? 

It's going to be tough, but I'm going to squeeze the most out of these next four months as possible and enjoy the heck out of it all the while. I am so ready to tackle whatever crazy cultural obstacles come my way. It's going to be adventure! And I'll be taking notes every step of the way.