forced to say goodbye

the end of the semester is coming to a close (well for those who are leaving a least, i still have a couple finals in january), and what does that mean? it means a start to new adventures as winter break begins (so get prepared to hear about lots of travels in the upcoming weeks!).

but unfortunately, it also means saying goodbye to some of the people that have made this study abroad adventure as amazing as it has been. without them, this experience so far wouldn't have been the same, and as much as i look forward to my next 6 months, it is saddening to realize that some of my closest friends won't be by my side for it. to be honest, when i first thought about studying abroad, and what friends i might have made, it never really occurred to me that i would be spending a lot of my time with other UC students, or that they would become some of my best friends. when i think about that now, it seems kind of mind boggling that i feel so close to people that i met just 4 months ago! never in my life did i think i would make friends that would become my new family so quickly. but i guess that is what happens when all of us are suddenly thrown into a new city, a new country, a new culture, and expected to suddenly become a part of it. we look to each other for support, because who would know better what you are going through than someone who is going through the same thing? when someone says they are homesick, even if you are not, you can understand and try to help them through it. or when someone says that as much as they miss their friends, they just couldn't imagine going home anytime soon, you understand that too. it doesn't necessarily matter which side of the situation you are on.

i also can't believe how quickly this first semester went by. beginning with the intensive language program that i don't think anybody really enjoyed, and then trying to figure out what classes to take and realizing that this was probably going to be harder than anticipated.
i remember the first week of classes when i went to a class i was sure i would be taking and realized that i didn't really know what i was getting myself into. everybody was already on the same page, talking fast and laughing at the same jokes. a project was assigned and i had no idea what was going on. and worst of all, i was the only international student. i walked out that day holding back tears realizing that this class i had been so sure i was going to take, just wasn't going to work out. how scary that had been! luckily i realized i would be able to take something else instead, and did manage to find classes where i didn't feel so completely and utterly lost. 

and look at us now! our french has improved, classes aren't as scary, this city is home, the public transit makes sense, and you finally feel like you fit in... well sort of haha.
i really do feel like i have three cities i can call home now: sacramento, santa cruz, and now lyon.

i have figured out couchsurfing. how to buy train tickets. and plane tickets. met tons of amazing people who i really hope i won't lose contact with as we go our separate ways.

its the end of one semester. and man has it flown by. but this is just the beginning. and i've been told the next 6 months will go by even faster. before i know it, it will be the end of my adventure.. but i don't really want to think about that right now!

oh and some inside jokes i will miss when certain people decide to not come back to lyon after break (i realize that these wont make sense to you readers, but keep in mind this blog is for me to look back on in the future too. so there ya go):
at least you're pretty
thanks mom
points