It has now been over a week since I have arrived in Bordeaux, France. There is much that I must grow accustomed to – a great change in scenery, a different way of life, colder weather, and orienting myself in a foreign city with a foreign language.
I am living with a host family consisting of Agnès and Pierre, a Bordelais couple who have spent most of their lives in France. They are very kind and welcoming, but it took a bit of time to learn about their lifestyle and how I can do my best to integrate myself (m’intégrer) into it. They live very eco-friendly lives: biking and walking to most of their destinations, minimizing plastic usage, and making sure to finish every bit of food on their plates. All of this at once came as a bit of a shock to me, and I can tell already that I am going to both slightly struggle and learn a lot.
The buildings here are rich in history. On my first day, I was able to bike through the city with Agnès and Pierre, trying to soak in all the details of the architecture along the way. As they explained to me in French, most of the buildings that are here today were built during the 18th century, making them hundreds of years old. This is dramatically different from everything in my home city. Just the fact that I get to appreciate this new type of beauty and art, basically everywhere I look, makes this trip even more exciting to begin.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet the other students from California who are studying abroad. Many are very likeable, and there is a diverse mix of personalities. For the next week I look forward to getting to know them better and learning how I can best assimilate into this Bordelais culture.
This is my neighbor’s cat Canelle. He is stinky. 
Rue St. Catherine 
My host parents!
Matt en France 