Updates and Stuff*

*(One of the most unfortunate things about a very public travel blog is that I probably shouldn't swear nearly as much as I would like to. That is why the title is Updates and "Stuff"! Because we are public and a PG blog that adults will read! Hello adults! Please continue my employment and you general respect of my character! In return I shall try to conduct myself tastefully on the internet!)

2 and 1/2 weeks, guys. Actually, "everyone." 2 and 1/2 weeks, everyone. We use INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE on this blog. Or at least make a valiant effort towards it.

We've now arrived at the point of January where it is becoming a pressing reality that I am leaving in 16ish days. AIFS (The American Institute for Foreign Study, the company that is in charge of us abroadees whilst in France) has sent me my Pre-Departure Packet! Which was thoroughly exciting considering there were a few delays:

1. I submitted my application half a month after the deadline. Like a boss. I was not aware it existed until then.

2. I listed potentially serious medical conditions on my health form (as we all know, my body and brain are in fabulous fabulous working condition and never cause me any trouble, ever! Ah haha it is SO grand! ) and thusly had to get a bunch of doctors notes.

Yet alas AIFS is now confident I will probably not die in France. And has sent me a Pre-Departure Packet!! *angel choir!* At all the study abroad orientations I went to at Chapman, there was virtually no relevant information presented, other than the fact that we needed to get visas.

Here is a typical study abroad info session at Chapman:

Student: How will I get to Europe?

Study Abroad Person: YOU CAN GET HERPES IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

Student: What will I eat?

Study Abroad Person: PEOPLE GET RAPED IN OTHER COUNTRIES TOO.

Student: But how will I pay for housing?

Study Abroad Person: DON'T PUT YOUR WALLET IN YOUR BACK POCKET.

Student: What language do they speak in that country?

Study Abroad Person: DON'T WEAR TSHIRTS WITH AMERICAN FLAGS ON THEM.

Student: How will I take care of myself??

Study Abroad Person: YOU CAN GET PREGNANT OVERSEAS.

By some grace of God I've sort of managed to figure out how I'm getting to France and what I'm supposed to do once I arrive. Our Pre-Departure packets contain an itinerary for our orientation in London and also a list of all the people studying abroad in Cannes through AIFS this semester. Many of them have begun to friend me on Facebook. Already. I am sighing slightly. Later they will be my friends and I shall laugh like, oh, wasn't it hilarious when you friended me 30 seconds after you got that list in the mail?? But right now I'm JUDGING. Just privately stalk me until we meet and then you can play it cool like you aren't already completely familiar with my online persona. And THEN friend me on Facebook and we'll all pretend like we didn't know everything about each other already. THIS IS THE 21st CENTURY.

(Once again, if you don't know me very well or were expecting me not to be as equally obnoxious on this blog as in real life...I'm very sorry. You don't actually have to listen to me. Most people don't.)

The other thing AIFS sent me was luggage tags. That is all.

I'm going to start making a list of the items I need to start accumulating and begin that whole journey with amusing photographs. Stay tuned.