Fin

Fin
The French word for "The End"

My exchange is over, it's been finished for nearly two months now.

June 27th, 2013 I drove to the airport from an apartment in Paris with my host sister and my host mother. We parked and entered the airport. I wasn't sad, in fact I could have nearly danced with excitement! I was incredibly anxious to see my friends and family back home, back in the good 'ol US of A, back in Seattle and Tacoma, where I could catch a bus to the Puget Sound and breathe in the salty air, and turn slightly to see the fantastic Mount Rainier in all its glory, displaying a hue of pink and orange as the sun kisses it goodnight. Home. I was homeward bound.

Don't get me wrong, I was saddened to leave my friends and family in France, to leave my exchange life, and to return to "reality", but I had already said my "Au revoir"s and "À bientôt"s. I was ready to go home. I checked my luggage and waited a while around the airport with my stomach in knots making it impossible to eat anything without feeling ill. Finally Marie's escort arrived and we kissed my host mother goodbye before slipping into the security line and continuing to the appropriate gate.

At this point Marie and I were absolutely giddy with impatience! She was to spend two weeks at my house and discover the brilliant NorthWest before returning home. We were the first to board the plane, and we wore smiles of utter joy the whole time. The only time during the flight did I cry over leaving my loved ones in France was after watching Les Miserables... (don't judge me!)

Anyhow, I spent the duration of the flight watching movies, reading the lovely messages people wrote in my journal, and trying to sleep a little. It's always a struggle to fall asleep on planes for me due to my not-so-terrible-but-slightly-above-average length.

Upon arrival, Marie and I waited for our luggage and advanced toward the gate which my family was waiting at. We were riding up an escalator when I heard frightening screams and thought to myself, either there's a terrorist attack and we're going to die or those are my best friends who just saw me. Sure enough, I looked up and my family and 3 of my best friends were holding signs and shouting down at me. Terrorist attack indeed! I stepped of the escalator and immediately gathered whoever was there into my arms. It's a wonderful feeling to hold those you love and whom you hadn't seen in 10 months, but it also strangely felt as if I never left. On the way home we all stopped for a smoothie (which the French lack) and my friends were taken aback to find that Marie had never had a smoothie before then.

I walked into my living room and saw a massive amount of food on the dining room. (Hint 1)
I proceeded upstairs with my luggage behind my brother and at the top of the staircase he looked to his right and shook his head and looked back at me. (Hint 2)
After I walked a couple more steps a bunch of my friends popped up and peered over to me and shouted "Surprise!" Oh la la, they sure got me! I thought all thought all that food was to be consumed by me, myself, and I! ;)

The evening contained catching up with these familiar faces and playing games, venturing out to the local park, and each a LOT of food! (I still didn't have much of an appetite.) By the end of the night Marie and I were absolutely exhausted and our jet lag got the best of us. Possibly too well because we woke up at 6am the following morning.

Well, that's how it went....the finale to my year as a Rotary Exchange Student. What an incredible year. I will never forget it, it will always live on as a beautiful memory.

Huh..a memory indeed..two months later some of it seems as if it were a dream. It's a little sad, I don't imagine a lot of people to be totally ecstatic that their year ended. Sometime's I feel frustrated that it's ended and I yearn to visit my families and friends quite soon. However, I am indescribably thankful and happy that it did happen. It changed me, everything about it changed me. It made me grow up quicker and mature rapidly. I don't mind the change, I haven't found anything I don't like about changing and maturing thanks to this experience. I am so grateful for it.

So, thank you, to everyone who made this possible. Thank you to the Rotary club of Tacoma (Tacoma 8) the Rotary district 5020, the district 1720, the club of Bourges (Bourges Jacques-Coeur), and everyone affiliated with them. Thank you to Emily Voorn with It'sYourWorldTravel, who made the whole visa process incredibly easier, and to my fantastic host families. I couldn't have asked for better ones. Thank you to God, who's blessed me abundantly with His grace and love throughout my whole life, and to my family and friends who've supported me. Thank you mom and dad for wanting this for me as much as I wanted it, and for supporting me. I wish I  could share my stories with you, dad.

That's it I suppose...the 'fin' has passed, and onward I go, diving headfirst into my future, making the most of what I can. There won't be anymore posts, and though I rarely updated my blog, I suppose I'll create a new one if I miss writing this one. (Seriously, so sorry for not updating often....you know....had a couple months of jet lag..)

Bisous à tous.

The Beginning of the Goodbyes

La Famille Fayet,

Comment je peux commencer à dire merci? Depuis le premier jour, vous m'avez fait sentir les bienvenus. Vous êtes toujours gentils et je suis reconnaissante  pour tous que vous avez fait pour moi. Je pars avec des bons souvenirs, merci pour ces souvenirs, pour tous les voyages, pour votre bonté, pour tous.  Je ne sais pas quand ou comment je pourrais vous voir encore, mais j’espère quand même que je serais capable de retourner dans le futur et rendre visite chez vous. Vous avez tous toucher mon cœur, vous n’êtes pas que ma famille d’accueil, mais vous êtes ma famille dans mon cœur. Vous avez m’appris beaucoup des choses, vous allez rester dans mon cœur et dans ma vie pendant toute la vie. C’est vraiment dur de vous quitter. C'est incroyable combien vous signifie pour moi en cinq courts mois. Je vous promets que je vais envoyer des photos, des nouvelles, et on va skyper. Je vous promets que je reviendrai un jour. Si vous voulez venir à Tacoma, vous êtes tous toujours bienvenue chez moi.

Encore, merci pour tous. Vous allez me manquer beaucoup. Je vous aime.

Sincèrement,

Lydia Mangan

Ta fille américaine 

Sunday, June 2nd, I left my wonderful Fayet family, and moved back to my first host family. I won't lie, it was incredibly hard to do. The weekend before, my host mom Anne-Catherine had thrown me a little party with my exchange friends and family. At first, I didn't understand why my friends were standing in the living room yelling "Surprise!", but after it was explained that my mom wanted to celebrate my last weekend with them, I was incredibly touched and gave her a huge hug. This family truly made me feel as if I was a part of the family. They included me and my family in their prayers, they took care of me when I was sick in my first few days with them, and were there for me through emotional issues. My host mom was always so sweet, my host siblings were always so adorable. They'll always have a place in my heart and I will miss them dearly. 

The night before my departure I began crying at the dinner table. My host sister, Therese, gave me a hug and told me she loves me, and I said I love her too and everyone said "Awwww" and a couple other siblings joined in the hug, so naturally the tears flowed. Sunday morning I wrote the letter above for my family and attended mass with them. We ate lunch in the garden and they sang songs as my host brother played the guitar. Upon leaving the house, my family played "The Star Spangled Banner" in the dining room so that it could be heard outside, held a large French flag and saluted until the song ended. They sang "The Port of Tacoma" and hugs and kisses were exchanged as I cried and climbed into the van. My host parents, and Therese, Etienne, and Charles escorted me back to my first family. They stayed for coffee, a strawberry tart, and small talk. I walked them back to their car then returned to me first host family.

Parting with my second host family struck me pretty hard. I assumed it was because that was the first goodbye of my exchange and because I was realizing more and more everyday how close my exchange was to its end. I had merely a month left before I would have to say goodbye to everyone. To the wonderful exchange students that had become my closest friends and to my caring families who were so kind and welcoming. It was difficult to think that this amazing experience was coming to a close, but it was inevitable. I knew this would happen from the very first day.

The Fayet family had always been so wonderful to me, they included my family in their prayers, they were there for me when my grandfather passed away, and they made me feel so loved. I really felt like I was a family member. I realize I'm repeating myself, but that goes to show how magnificent they were. This post is dedicated to them for that.

Les Fayets, merci encore et encore. Je vous aime beaucoup. À bientôt.