An update on the last two crazy weeks

I have literally travelled the last 4 weekends in a row...it started off with magical and oh so happy Brussels, then Manchester, then the fun weekend that turned into a nightmare in Munich, and finally Quimper in Brittany on the French coast. I'll try my best to work my way through them all!

Manchester was so much fun. It was awesome to see my friends I met in Biarritz again in their own home town! We went to Chatsworth House on Friday after I got in at 6 AM in the morning and stayed nearby at a hotel one of my friend's families owns. Chatsworth was more like a fairy tale castle. There were so many cool little things to see, like a massive hedge-maze and tons of fountains and caves. Saturday night was my friend Jonny's going away party before he left for Dubai for two years and it was literally me, one other girl, two moms, and about 50 rugby player guys. They are all like brothers to me so it was fun but very hectic with all the singing and dancing!

Going to Oktoberfest was one of the most impulsive decisions I've ever made. Was it worth it? Yes, of course, but the ill circumstances that befell me were not too appreciated. First of all, it is basically a Disney Land for adults. The tents are literally insane, and the food and drinks are over priced but good. I really like the German language and culture. The people are so cheerful and although the language might seem a little lengthy, it really is cool to listen too. I really wanted to get one of those German dresses that all the girls wear there but the cheapest one was like 100 euros! Geeze Louise! I met tons of cool people there, but I have no way of remaining in contact with them because my purse was stolen on Sunday, our last day there. I felt like SUCH an idiot because at the last second I decided to put my passport into my purse in case the terrorist attacks that had been predicted actually happened so I could prove who I was, but of course, that decision came back and kicked me right in the ass. Needless to say I had my purse stolen from me right out of the bathroom and because of the drunken mess that was the crowd, I had no way of chasing after the person. People kept telling me to smile and be happy when all I could do was sob and yell at them that they would not be so cheerful if they were in my place. I honestly could have hunted across Oktoberfest for the person and used my kick boxing skills to beat them to the ground, but I'm sure I would have been knifed or something like that. So we went back to the train station and I was smuggled illegally across the border into France. It was an overnight train, and that night military officials did security checks to make sure there were no terrorists abord. LUCKILY everyone in my carriage was dead asleep. Except, of course, myself, who was shaking in terror pretending to be fast asleep. The military guy opened the door and barked something in German, and when no one responded he slammed it shut and went on to the next carriage. I kept thinking that they'd come back, but they never did. I was getting ready to throw myself under one of the seats and hide away. Fortunately it never came down to that! Arriving back in Lille was a mess especially because my room and dorm key had been in my purse. Why hadn't I taken them out!? I keep kicking myself for not taking enough precautions but honestly, I know for next time, and if I keep giving my self enormous guilt trips like I did ALL last week when I was practically depressed and close to suicide the entire time then I wouldn't be able to enjoy my time here. I keep telling myself that I need my passport to travel when I keep forgetting that I am in one of the most gorgeous countries in the world...le France. It was great to see all the Santa Clara students that I know there! I ran into Alexandra, Austen, Michelle, Sam Seely, Brian Whitfield, Blake Martinez, etc. It was a nice little reunion! I wish I could say I have my own pictures of the experience but of course, my camera was in my purse so some stranger out there can enjoy the pictures for himself. UGHHHH

So last weekend, as in three days ago, me, Vero, Josh, and Mike embarked on a trully integrational adventure. We went to this kind of orientation/ hazing for Freshmen at the IESEG Business school here in Lille. It was in Quimper or Quimpy I forget the exact name, as opposed to La Rochelle where I originally had been told we were going. The bus left at midnight instead of the anticipated 9:00 departure, and it was a grand total of ten hours abord a bus full of screaming French people. Needless to say, I think my French has perfected itself. When we got there, the four of us international students immediately went to our room and crashed, and when we got up there were tons of activities for us to engage in, like sumo wrestling, slip and slides, enormous twister games, etc. It was a once in a life time experience, that's for sure, and luckily I met TONS of really cool French people which I don't think many SCU students abroad can say. I feel like all the American students in American programs abroad only hang out with English speakers. It was really cool to chat with tons of French students who have studied abroad in America and are willing to talk both in English AND in French.

So I've gone through a lot these past 4 weeks. I went to the Embassy in Paris last Friday to apply for a new passport, and honestly, whenever I think of urgent trips to Embassies in foreign countries I envision Americans in rags and without shoes throwing themselves upon the doorstep, and I guess I was a little wrong. I made my situation seem incredibly urgent, though, so I was one of the first people to get in :) I was just my usual charming self. This weekend will be much more low key, especially because I can't leave the country...and then the next weekend Vero and I are hopefully going to visit my dad in Basel, Switzerland and go to Grendelwald, and then the next weekend is my Nordic adventure up in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. I cannot wait!

I don't know how a suicidal or pessimistic person would have handled what I went through last week. I basically wasn't a person. I had no ID, no passport, no money, not even a phone. I have never felt so alone and so empty in my entire life. I have no close friends here and no family in Lille. People were willing to help me financially but it was mostly in a "oh you poor thing!" Kind of way. I hate when people feel sorry for me so I kept trying to make my situation seem way better than it was while talking to people, when in reality it was the worst possible mess I could get myself into. To make matters worse, I was INCREDIBLY sick. I had bronchitis and a high fever of about 102 at least one day, so I couldn't even explain to people my dilemma. When I went to make the police report I couldn't talk, so luckily one of the French teachers came with me and helped. My throat has been unusually achey...I thought that the pain there would have diminshed with my tonsil surgery but I guess not. I went to the gym again today though and was fine so hopefully it's all downhill from here :)

Ugh, I got to go finish up some homework now. I have an Introduction to French Institution for Exchange students IN FRENCH tomorrow so I have to be perky and alert for that. When you're really tired in the morning its hard understanding English let alone French. Then Wednesday I have my British Literature class and then Thursday, my busiest day of the week, I have American Literature, British Slavery, and my French class. None of them are TOO bad though which is good! And my professors are all really cool. Anyways, I'm out for now. I could say a lot more about my travelling adventures but it would take up an entire novel.

Bisous pour tout le monde xxxxxx