So I figure now that I am nearly half way through my stay, it would be a good time to introduce a form of the so-called Cultural Adaptation Curve, which will give you some insight to my emotions over the past month and a half (I can't believe I've been here this long...).
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| An estimation of one's emotional state over time. The higher up on the curve, the happier one is. Picture taken from: Half the World Away http://liveteachsmileayearintaichungtaiwan.blogspot.fr/2012/06/culture-shock-part-1.html |
So the above diagram is a bit blurry. Let me break it down for you.
Anticipation Departure: I don't think I need to explain this. By now, most of you know how difficult it was to get my Visa. Enough said.
Arrival Confusion: I think I'll actually touch up this subject briefly. When I initially arrived in France, I was so tired from not having gotten a decent night's sleep in nearly 48 hours that I didn't know which way was up. After a couple of days, it was absolutely exhilarating to be in Paris, but at the same time, I was anxious to meet my host family. Then, when I arrived in Grenoble, the confusion truly set in. I remember sitting at the foot of my bed, just staring at my luggage, thinking to myself: What have you gotten yourself into?
The Honeymoon: To be honest, I don't think the honeymoon period actually hit me for a week. I had a rather difficult adjustment, because there were so many new things happening so quickly. I was being thrown into the language, and I didn't exactly realize how little I had actually know. All I knew was that I had a good base; a good place to start.
The Plunge/Initial Adjustment: I'm not exactly sure when the plunge actually happened for me. I wouldn't say that I had a drastic plunge, but more or less a series of mini-plunges, and I can't think of one time where I have been at an absolute low. To explain this, I will simply outline the past week, and briefly describe my emotional states.
Starting happiness value: 100%
Saturday: This was of course the day I visited Annecy, and I was on cloud nine. I loved seeing a new city, eating new foods that I had never tried before, and seeing a festival from a different culture unlike anything I had seen before. After eating myself into oblivion, I considered myself to be 100% content.
Happiness Value: 100%
Sunday: For some reason, this past Sunday i was absolutely exhausted for no apparent reason, and I had started to feel sick. Being sick at home is bad enough, but being sick far, far away from home is far, far worse. That night, I ended up walking around the city aimlessly for hours, reflecting on my inner thoughts and writing. By the time I went to bed Sunday night, I was physically drained. Happiness value: 75%
Monday: And so Monday was as usual much better than I had expected. Classes had started once more, marking the beginning of yet another week. Everything seemed to be working out perfectly. Happiness value: 90%
Tuesday Morning-Afternoon: Tuesday are always a particularly interesting case for me, because I have classes essentially for 9 hours straight. At the start of the day, I am never optimistic for the day to come. In fact, most of the time, I absolutely dread it.
Happiness Value: 60%
Tuesday Afternoon: Once I am finally done with my academic day, I rush home to get ready to run with the guys. Every Tuesday, I run to the Bastille with a group of French guys in the evening, just when it becomes dark. Before we begin, and even during the run, I find that I'm a bit more energetic, although still exhausted.
Happiness Value: 85%
Tuesday Evening: After running, we go back to the apartment and just talk and eat, sometimes without leaving until nearly 11 o'clock at night. By the time I leave, I feel like I'm on cloud nine. Cultural interaction with real people! Amazing!
Happiness Value: 100%
Late Tuesday Night/ Early Wednesday Morning: This is probably where my mind is going through the most turmoil. I have drastic ups and downs, where I am either ecstatic to be in France, or upset knowing that I'm going to have to leave in... okay, so we're not going to think about that right now. Never can I get a restful night's sleep on a Tuesday.
Happiness Value: 70% - 100% (oscillating somewhere between these two values for hours on end)
Wednesday: Wednesdays I am typically exhausting, and have to wake up early to finish the homework that I didn't get a chance to do the night before. Typically, I also have extensive homework assignments due on Thursday, making Wednesdays even longer. Today, I spent four hours in a cafe working on homework. Not cool.
Happiness Value: 85%
Now: I'd like to say I am pleasantly content this Wednesday night, having made a lot of progress with post cards and such... But now, I'm exhausted, so it's time for bed! Bonne soiree!
Mike
Avec plaisir!
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