Here. We. Go.
Never been much the type of person who sits down and writes out everything that’s been going through his mind. I don’t know exactly why I decided to sign up for this Geo-Blog in the first place. I suppose I was still in my “I’m going to try new things” mentality so -text message….- Okay. So trying new things, why not add a blog onto that list.
Warning: This may contain much rambling, until I figure out my own style for blogging.
Here I am, Daniel Ryan Watters, from Easton, PA, studying abroad in Montpellier, France. I have been here now for 6 weeks and this is the first time I’m making the effort to write anything down. Why has it taken me so long?
Been too busy this whole time? Not really.
Lazy? I’d like to think not. Don’t think I’ve met the definition for lazy since I’ve been here.
Not knowing what to say? Sure, I’ll go with that one, mixed in with some procrastination.
I’ve been told that these Blogs aren’t really of any interest to anyone without pictures, so (before I lose any of you) here we go:
Obligatory Picture of places that I’ve been:
(Picture here hopefully)
Now, back to my rambling thoughts:
Living in a new country for the first time in my life. Being outside of the Eastern Time Zone for the first time in my life. First plane ride, first visit to a castle, first kebab (not the food on skewers, this kind http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebab ).
First time being in a country where I can’t shake the feeling that it’s just not my home. It’s the same kind of feeling I get, and I’d imagine other people get, whenever on vacation, staying at some hotel on the 15th floor, sleeping on the pullout couch. Yes, I’m on vacation. I’m having a good time with family or friends, but still you never feel like this is your REAL life.
Here in France, I’m staying with a Host family (a topic that deserves it’s own blog post), and even though I’m finally on a routine, with family dinners and my own bedroom and “brothers”, I still haven’t felt like they’ve been…mine… I feel like I’m just a stranger sitting in on another family’s life, never really a part of theirs. Maybe this is just homesickness and it will wear off in time. When I first moved out to my own apartment at Penn State, it didn’t take long for it to become a second home for me. I suppose I just figured I’d have felt that way about this place by now.
Too much rambling, here is another funny video to distract:
Okay, Let’s talk about some of the good things about Montpellier, France, of which there are plenty.
Montpellier is a beautiful, authentic French city located in the south of France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It’s about 13 km from the Mediterranean Sea, a twenty-minute ride by bus, it is a very young city with a thriving nightlife, and enough community activities to keep you occupied for a lifetime. Walking around the city is an adventure in itself as you discover hidden shops, food stands, and bars down alleys one wouldn’t expect to lead anywhere. And there always seems to be someone performing in the center square, known as “La Place de la Comedie”.
I’m really not sure what I did to deserve the chance to experience this kind of life.
Okay, I’m still unsure of the direction I’m going to take this blog in. Will hopefully have it figured out by the next post. May revert back to more rambling. Or maybe will have a very focused/planned out game plan for the next one.
Cheers,
Dan
Location: Montpellier, France