Ever Lived Abroad? The Adaptation Process

[angryzen]

I'm studying abroad in Paris right now. I landed yesterday morning, and I haven't been happy since. I realize that it's part of the culture shock. They talked to us about it before we left and gave us all of the warning signs. It isn't the language, and it isn't the people, streets, or roads that have got me down in the dumps.

I feel completely out

Comments

[razycrandomgirl]

I haven't lived abroad, but I hope it gets better for you soon. I'm sorry everything's all stress-y right now. *hugs*

I am having some school issues right now. It seems my classes have been dropped because I'm an a-hole. Not their words. I'm my own worse enemy. Tomorrow I'm gonna see if I can get my course selection back, get on a payment plan -even though the due date has past- and pay half the bill now.

I don't know how to bargain so if they tell me I have to pay the whole thing than I might cave just to be let in.

I'm such a horrible procrastinator. I don't know why I wait so long for things.

At least when you're out there you'll learn to be even more independent. That's a good thing. I'm sorry they were being assholes to your friend too and I'm glad you have each other to rest on.

*hugs*

Happy trails Alta!

[angryzen]

Thanks, Cana! *Hugs*

You're in college, right? You forgot to pay the tuition?

[razycrandomgirl]

I'm trying to go back.

Hopefully they'll let me in. I registered on the very last day ... the guy told me that I had to pay that day, but I can't remember if I brought money and I'm not used to doing things on my own so I get lost easily.

I'm such a dependent. I'm ashamed.

Update more. I just fixed it so that when you make a post it lets me know. ;)

[angryzen]

Lol. There's no need to be ashamed. It's through trials like that that you'll learn. *Supports you*

Yeah, I will.

[noreenn]

Oh gosh!! I'm supposed to lurk around all Bonnie related things and not say a word (your podcasts :DD) but I'm very sorry you're experiencing such a thing so here I am

[angryzen]

Thank you for responding!!! It's really good to know that even French citizens have a hard time with these things sometimes. You were actually helpful with the the websites :).

I'm going to start school sooner than I thought. I applied to Paris 7, and I'm going to choose my schedule on Tuesday.

My friend and I, and a third girl, are starting to look for apartments. One of the websites we're using is appartager.com.

[noreenn]

Haha, yeah, my friend is actually an expert in all things metro/bus and whatever :D But I think the first time you take a specific metro/train is always scary/complicated.
Cool for the schedule. I went to Paris 10 for the last 3 years and I always got my schedule in the middle/end of September. Good luck with that !
And I think I know the UK version of appartager. I looked it up and I know I went through "easyroommate" which had the same layout. I finally got on spareroom though because you had to pay to send a message with content on easyroommate. Is it the same with appartager?

[angryzen]

I'm not sure yet. A friend of mine who's gone through it already and found an apartment said that the best thing to do is pay a small fee to become a premium member because then you'll be able to see everyone's profile and pictures of the space they're offering to share.

[ladygawain]

So I am a bit of a lurker on your podcasts and happened upon this conversation and felt the overwhelming urge to give you a huge, big hug. I actually meant to post this days ago but didn't find the time and then chickened out. I know, slightly creepy, I am something of a stranger to you but I thought I'd commiserate. I came to the US roughly five years ago for college, having never lived outside my country, or even been outside since I was maybe ten years old. I'd never been away from my family, any of that

[angryzen]

Thank you, Magali! I'm glad you posted. I totally understand about not having enough time, because I had been meaning to write my second post about studying abroad for days now. Lol. I do have other study abroad students that I'm able to talk to about the process, and it does feel good because they're all going through it in one form or another.

Did you study in the U.S. for a year or more than a year?

[ladygawain]

You're welcome :)

Oh that's really good that there are others going through it with you!

I studied in the US for 3.5 years, and spent a semester studying abroad somewhere else -- it's kind of addictive, lol. So yeah, undergrad essentially.

[angryzen]

Wow. Lol. I couldn't study abroad until I had four semesters of French. I'm a junior right now. I can't imagine stretching this out for a year, let alone 3.5. I think I would like to come back another time for a lengthy period. Right now though, I feel like I need to stick to the semester I signed up for and then go home and re-group instead of stretching it out. Lol. I have a friend I met through the program who has flip-flopped so many times about whether or not she's going to stretch her semester into a year. Lol.