September 4th: Day 11-- On to Strasbourg!

After our quiz, we boarded the bus again for last stop...Strasbourg! I couldn't believe we were actually going to get there and settle down in a city. Everyone was freaking out about their host family. I wasn't even nervous at first, but after everyone talked about it, I totally was. We knew nothing about them. On the bus we started our academic orientation. When we arrived in Strasbourg, we pulled up to our Syracuse center: Strasbourg edition! A cute house, settled in a nice residential neighborhood. We were given a tour of the four story house, which held 3 classrooms. Then after a bit, we were finally given a sheet with information about our family! My family: A woman: Marie-Jose Marco-Rigaud. Divorced. Journalist. 6 children. 3 living at home. 2 twin girls my age. 1 guy-22 years old. WiFi (yes!). Pets: rabbit? (I still don't know what that means).
The families came in one by one and our names were called and then we shipped off! A cute little woman shorter than me, probably mid 60s was my host mother! She came up close, and of course I didn't realize she was going to do the French thing and kiss my cheeks. So I awkwardly didn't know what to do, of course, but then I figured it out. We carpooled home with my friend Sam's family and arrived at her apartment building. It was a pretty street with a old, nice building. The apartment was on the first floor (which means 2nd in Europe), the only one on the floor. My room was right off the entrance to the apartment, and my first impression was pink! Pink curtains, blanket, chair, desk cover and light lantern! And big! I did not expect such a large room and doors as windows! I was pretty excited about this. They opened up to a little bit you can step out on. I unpacked, and she showed me the apartment a bit but not the whole thing. I also met the other American student living there, John, from another program.
We ate dinner together, with one of her daughters, in her lovely dining room. Wine on the table, bread and some ham dish with cheese in it. (Well get back to the ham later). We all talked in French at the table. It was a bit awkward, but that's normal, but the conversation went really well. That was good, since I know my French was a bit rusty. Yay first night!