Busy Livvy B.

Hi again! Today was another long day. And I feel like I wasn’t nearly productive enough. I guess that’s the American in me shining through. Most of us are still searching for apartments, and a few of us have already found one, myself not included. I had an appointment to see one this morning, but it turns out it was rented 10 minutes before I got there. Then I had a spur of the moment phone call from someone I left a message for on Friday and went to see that apartment, and the girl literally said she didn’t want to live with an American because she had lived with one for the past 2 years and basically wanted to remember what it’s like to live with a French person again. That was discouraging. It kind of put a damper on the rest of my day.. As if the ominous clouds looming overhead weren’t enough.

On the bright side, though, I have a rendez-vous tomorrow to meet with one of 3 girls who are sharing an apartment and looking for a roommate. It sounds promising, and I haven’t hoped for anything in a very long time as badly as I am hoping for this to be the one. I’ve only been searching for 3 days and I feel like all of my resources are exhausted and I’m tired! Hearing about everyone else’s successes makes me feel like I’m never going to find a place, and even hearing about everyone’s experiences with meeting potential roommates makes me feel like I’m not doing nearly enough. It’s so frustrating, but I know I can’t give up and I know I can’t afford to be so pessimistic because that never pays off.

Tomorrow will be a busy day too. I have to do laundry, which I’ve been trying to do for 3 days already and have just been way too caught up in apartment searching and stuff. Then at 11:45 we have a welcome picnic for all the exchange students, and after that is our academic orientation. I think I finally get to choose my classes and make my schedule. Our very first intensive language class is from 5-7pm and then my rendez-vous is at 7:15pm. Apparently it’s only a 15 minute walk from campus so I’m hoping it’s a straight shot and I don’t get too lost on my way there. Wish me luck!!

I finally bought some postcards today so I can send some out and you can see what my beautiful town looks like. And I’m still working on getting pictures posted online but the internet at the café I love so much is too slow and a friend of mine got in trouble today while she was trying to post pictures because apparently it was taking up all the bandwidth and was slowing down everyone else’s computers. *sigh* Silly Americans.

So the homesickness is hitting me just a bit. I think once I finally find a home/apartment I might be okay, but I really miss just being able to pick up the phone and talk to whoever I want. I’ve nearly used up both of my phone cards for calling the states and I can’t afford to buy more, at least until I get settled in somewhere and can figure out a budget for myself. It’s lonely sometimes even though everyone I’ve met is super nice. I just miss seeing familiar faces and having someone to talk to who knows me and knows who/how I am. It’s hard to get to know someone from scratch and so far I haven’t met anyone I really feel I can do that with here. Silly Olivia. I’m so childish and shy when it comes to meeting new people. It’s really a pretty crappy thing. Maybe once I get more comfortable with being in a new place I will open up a little bit but I can’t figure out what makes me this way and how to change it. Maybe it just takes time.I think it’s bedtime for me. I miss you all. -Liv