If you were to ask me what my favorite thing to do on campus, I would tell you that it’s the walk from Les Horizons (the men’s dorm) to La Clairiere (the women’s dorm) around 9:45 p.m. Why do I have a specific time and why of all things is that my favorite thing? It is true, there are intramural sports happening every night, Bible studies can be found anywhere on campus, there’s choir practice on Fridays, and Thursday nights there’s Tahitian dance lessons for the ladies. So, why that walk?
In the evenings, I edit photos, study, and hang out with some friends at Les Horizons, because ironically it’s quieter than La Clairiere. On a regular basis, I forget the card that let’s me back into the dorm after the doors lock at 10. so, I start my walk back around 9:45, sometimes a little earlier and with the lampposts lighting my path, the silence is broken with words of Goyte, Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, and Ellie Goulding. The singing wouldn’t be complete without a dance number to accompany it. This is the one moment in my day where I’m not tempted by Facebook, having to converse with a human, or reminded of homework. I get to be as loud and as ridiculous as I want. Everything is put on hold for that 8 minute dance back (I usually perform two musical numbers). This my dance.
Thankfully, I have never run across anyone while walking back, though I’m pretty sure some of the Theology students have heard me belting out the middle of “Somebody I Used to Know”. However, I don’t think it would surprise anyone if they came across me dancing and singing, because I’ve been caught multiple times “dancing to a tune in my head” in the lunch line, in between classes, and while waiting for people. I’m actually pretty sure that most Theology students know me as the-girl-who-dances-a-lot or the-girl-with-the-nose-ring.
Life in France is definitely more relaxed than in America. I only have four hours of class each day, lunch break is about two hours, we aren’t required to do much, except go to class and practice French on our own. Curfew is at 11, but considering we live in a small town and classes start 8 a.m. that’s nothing to complain about. It’s a small school with 36 in the ACA program and some odd number Theology students, we’re all testing the waters to see whose the most compatible to hang out with and while there are some set groups, there are also still some floaters. While we have friends and family back in the states, giving us the support we need in our year away, we are a family whether or not we like it, because we are all we have. For the next 2.5 quarters this is all we have. This is home.
Where is the Adventure 