The One Where I Panic For No Reason.
Okay so, it’s September, and so that means in less than one week I’ll be heading back to school. As I mentioned before, during September I will be spending one whole month in Paris trying to Frenchify myself further by taking an intensive French course at La Sorbonne!
So, I should be all happy and dancing around right?
Instead, for the past week I have been having little anxiety induced heart palpitations. Each night I’ve been grinding my teeth so hard in my sleep that I’m about to give myself a case of TMJ. Dude, I feel like I’m about to start kindergarten or something. I know y'all think I'm just a cool, go with the flow good time gal, but in reality I'm a totally nerotic control-freak over-achiever, and thus--I'm so nervous I might actually pee my pants. Today I actually went out shopping for “school clothes” because I want to look especially spiffy so that the cool kids at La Sorbonne with play with me during recess. But even shopping could not chase away the butterflies in me belly.
Sidebar: I scored 2 pairs of rockin’ jeans that were already midget sized so that I didn’t even have to take them to the seamstress, 4 shirts (one left over from “les soldes” which was only 7 euros), and 4 fancy colorful scarves that are so long and beautiful that I can wrap them around my kneck several times and the ends still dangle happly at around waiste level----All for around 200 euros. Do I know how to shop or do I know how to shop!? *patting self on the back*
In other news: The agency I rented the apartment through actually makes videos of some of the apartments, mine included. As you can see in the video, apparently Its right across the street from the Louvre. Take a sneak peak at my over-priced hipster apartment:
Anyway, please feel free to use comments to comfort me and tell me how silly I’m being, and how I don’t need to be a nervous wreck because it will be awesome and there will be many nice peoples in my French class, and that surely I will be able to handle 5 whole hours of French lessons each day because I’m not an idiot and I will in fact be able to learn some new French language skills eventhough I feel all old and some days I feel like by brain has shrunken considerably over the last few years and is now just floating around in my skull like the last pickle in the pickle jar, but this is not true so it would pay to relax and just enjoy the whole experience.
Right?
20 comments:
Oh my gosh, you are soooo lucky. I would love to do that! And you're going to be fine.
First, nice place! Love it!
I'm sure you'll be fantastic at school. There is no way the cool kids won't invite you to be their bff when they see your dangly scarf and midget pants :)
Seriously though, good luck. It sounds amazing :)
You have no reason to be nervous, there will be lots nice people in your class because none of them will be French! I'm starting my masters in a few weeks with all the artsy Frenchies and have sent eight different pictures to my most fashionable friend to decide what to wear the first day, but am still panicking on a daily/hourly basis.
But even if everyone in your class is lame, you can still go hang out at the Louvre, in your awesome apartment, or one of the many cafés they showed in the video. And if my 91 year old grandfather can learn Spanish, your pickle-brain has absolutely nothing to worry about :-)
Awww - like a pickle in a pickle jar? You is da' bomb my friend... I'd be freaking out too but it's only a month and you are gonna have fun adventures to share wif us here!! And there is plenty o' wine in France.... when in doubt drink up!
Are you kidding me? You have a French boy hubby who can help you nail your homework! I am sure he is just a phone call or e-mail away. I cannot believe you will be in Paris, taking language classes (that you cannot fail because of unfair husband advantage) and that if you do fail will require you to return to Paris to try again. Um, sounds like a win/win to me. By the way, can you adopt me? ; )
You'll be fine! And if you have any freak-outs or need a break, just shoot me an email. I live right down the street and we can go grab a coffee (or even a Starbucks *gasp*) and chill out in the Luxembourg gardens.
Well, I can tell you that you'll probably come away satisfied with your courses at the Sorbonne; all the people I met at La Catho who had studied previously at the Sorbonne said it was by far more intensive and they improved much more, which I think is great! Made me wish I'd studied there in the end. Your French will improve exponentially with their classes! :)
You will be a hit at school!!!
Now me?
I would never make it to class with cafes and bakeries all around me lol
You are an artist! This moment in your life is yours to expand upon, to express, and a moment to fully claim. How do you want this canvas to look? how will you frame this shot? what medium will you deploy to illustrate, to capture this moment that can only be created by you? I think you will be fierce, not afraid; I think you will remember that now is precious, not precarious; and I think you will glide through the air with the wings of learning, relying on your own intellectual and creative acuity. I think you will be just fine...
To quote Bob Marley: "Don't worry about a thing,'Cause every little thing gonna be all right..."
You will be fine...All of those Parisians will marvel at your fabulousness.....
Seriously just relax it sounds fun to me....Would leave this cubicle and swap places with you in an instant.....
Take a deep breath and just be yourself, you will be fine.
This is, afterall, PARIS and you will be living a 1 minute walk from THE LOUVRE...
Great apt. and great deals on your school wardrobe.
Have fun and don't forget to keep us updated!
It's natural to be nervous about being in a new situation and meeting new people, but it will be great! I met some wonderful people in my Italian class in Rome. In fact one of the great regrets of my life is that I was too shy to take a nice French couple in the class up on their offer to visit them in Aix when I was traveling in France.
Okay Madame K, that does it!
You live a charmed life some of us can only dream about, girl. Stumbled on your blog some months ago and was intrigued. I'm a Black woman w/a degree in French & last visited France in 1977 (yeah, I'm old enough to be your mum). So seeing that sweet apt. and the surrounding 'hood. Well, I had to comment for the first time. Enjoy your class and your chance to live in Paris for a month. What could be so hard? You already speak French daily, and as another reader noted, have your hubby to help. I can't see anything that's not fabulous about this experience! I just hope to get to Paris one more time before I croak! (no pun intended)
ok, it's going to be fine. i did an intensive course at the sorbonne in 2003 and it was great for my french. there were americans in the class but *i did not speak english with them*. this is important, and will open up your friendships to the other nationalities in the class because you'll all be on the same playing field.
my teacher was hard core (no drinks on the desks except during the absolute worst days of the canicule) , no talking out of turn -- she treated us like children and some folks took umbrage with that but it was all good for the majority.
your head will hurt from all the french but it will help when you get back to east france. the trick will be to keep it there, in your head, when you get back. i've been very sloppy (having babies has turned my brains to porridge) but i understand a lot more because of my course.
deep breaths and you have the absolute right idea: enjoy the whole experience. and enjoy paris! and the luxembourg garden if you're over by vavin...
bisous baby, et bon courage!
You're bound to be the best student in the class!
Incidentally, you're so lucky to live in a flat that close to Angelina's! I'm insanely jealous...although I would most likely die from a chocolat chaud overdose if I lived that close.
sounds like fun! I could use a refresher course, but working seems to get in the way...
My son will be entering the third grade on Monday, and he is more nervous than a pig facing slaughter. Sorry, did I offend the vegans? I'll tell you What I've told him(for a month): Think positive and good things will happen. Bring the positive energy to you every day. Peace out, and I envy you, Madame K.
Very cool. :)
dude! that is a fancy schmancy neighborhood! not to mention a super cute flat! woohoo!
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