Do You Need Directions?

Today I stopped at the bookstore on my way home from school, and when I left the store, there were two women standing in the square, staring at a map and saying “Place Darcy?“ in very confused American accents. I stopped and asked them if they needed directions, and they were so happy to see me and hear English. I pointed them in the right direction (which made me feel like a local) and then we chatted for a few minutes. They asked me where I was from and how long I was here and told me a little about their travels. After I had told them how to get to the Place, one of them said, “Do you live here?“ and being able to say yes was one of those moments where you sort of see your life from the outside. It really hit me after that that I do indeed live here, in France, and I can give foreigners directions and I can speak French and this is real life. They also started complimenting Dijon and telling me how they had just arrived but it seemed like their favorite area of France so far. They asked me how I liked it, and I found myself saying that I love it here, and as I realized as I spoke the words that they were true.

We chatted a little more and then they wished me good luck with the rest of my stay. They were very enthusiastic and nice and very grateful. It got me thinking about a lot of different things during the rest of my walk home. It is so interesting how everyone has a sense of patriotism, whether we always realize it or not, and how there is an inherent link between countrymen and women. It is something that is usually dormant when we're at home, but out of the United States, it's so easy to find your sense of patriotism. The women were so glad to see me, as if I was a familiar face, even though I was a complete stranger, and I was in such a good mood after I talked to them, like I had just run into a friend. It is sort of a comforting thing, the type of thing that gives you a little more faith in humanity.

That interaction also reminded me, once again, of how the littlest things can make the biggest difference when you are doing something like traveling or studying abroad. I had had a really stressful day and I was really tired and in a bad mood, but just giving these random Americans directions and having them be so nice completely lifted my spirits. It is just another thing that goes to show you how easy it is to feel like nothing is going right just because you are dealing with things that are different, but how people can always make you feel better. We all need some directions sometimes, and I think it might be just as helpful sometimes to give them as it is to get them.

In other news, the end of this week marks a month of classes! How did that happen? Being in class for so long each day is not getting easier, especially with the addition of our class at the political science institute. For the last two weeks we have pretty much just been going to class and working and stuff-- normal life! It's weird, but it truly is starting to feel like normal life here. The better I get to know the city the more I love it. Amber came to visit last weekend and it was so much fun and so, so refreshing to be able to hang out with her for three days. We had such a great time and we have more visits planned. Speaking of which, it seems like I have been spending half my time planning trips lately, which is a lot less fun than it sounds, but I know it will all be worth it soon! I'll keep you posted on my plans once I know them better!

We're leaving tomorrow for a weekend of vacationing in the Loire Valley, so I will have an exciting post with lots of pictures of chateaux next week after we're back! :)