Introduction to a French Girl
A collage of what I like (Source: WordArt)
I really
don’t know where to start, so I’ll just write whatever pops into my mind.
Hi! My name is Melanie, and I’m an
exchange student from France. My major in France is English (it’s like having
French as your major here). However, here I do not have a specific major which allows
me to discover new things. I’ll graduate this Spring, and I’m considering doing
a Master of Education next year (you need to have a master in France to teach
and take an exam). Being in the United States for my last year of an undergraduate
degree is really helpful for my future: my English improved, and I studied subjects
last semester that opened my eyes to things.
I’m not
from mainland France, but from an overseas department/region of France ( like Hawaii to the US). I was born and lived there for 13 years. And then I
moved to France. I wrote about Reunion Island for my favorite place. I have
Indian, Chinese, and Black descent (which is quite common there). I can speak French,
English and Reunionese Creole. Growing up in a place where diversity is the island's essence forged me.
We can say
that I was pretty active scholarly speaking: I was the class president from my
first year of high school to my last one; I was also a student representative
at the board of directors in high school. And then president of a club at my
university for 2 years. I love being active and organizing events.
That’s the four things that I love to do: reading, playing the Sims 4, sleeping, and eating tasty food. When I was younger, I enjoyed writing stories but stopped, and I don’t even know why. So, I think this class will reconcile me with it? I enjoy traveling: I visited Seoul, Barcelona, Washington DC, New Orleans, and Mauritius. I also traveled a lot in France.
I’m really
impatient to start this class and discover stories.
Hi Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI think it is really cool that you are an exchange student, and know multiple languages. I took Italian here at OU for a few semesters, and thought it was cool to be able to come up with some sentences. It looks like you have traveled to some pretty neat places. (I would like to travel to Seoul one of the days after the pandemic) I have also never been to France, but heard great things about it!
Including a word art collage is such a fun thing for the Introduction, Melanie! And even though I am old, ha ha, I like BTS so much too. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so glad you are having a good study-abroad adventure! There are some great faculty if you stay at OU to do a master's... do you know Ben Heddy? I follow him at Twitter, and also a grad student in his lab, Murat Turk, and they are doing really important work on learning and motivation; I think it is really inspiring! Here is their Twitter: Ben Heddy and Murat Turk.
I also have to say: speaking Reunionese Creole is one of the coolest things I have ever seen someone mention in an Introduction post for this class! For the Caribbean projects I am working on right now (I did an Anansi book, and now I am working on trickster Rabbit stories), I have been using Creole sources from the Caribbean and also from the U.S., and, wow, it is all so beautiful and fascinating.
Now I am excited to see if this class can reactivate your story-writing life!
Hey Melanie,
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a super cool person. I spoke 2 languages (English and Vietnamese) and that is hard enough for me to keep up already, but for you. It seems that you know multiple languages and Reunionese Creole. I have never heard about that before, but I bet it is really hard to learn. I must say that you love travel and I do as well. What is your favorite country that you have been to before?
Hey Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your introduction. Majoring in a second/third language can be hard. I speak 3 languages fluently, but there are times I still mess up. I took Japanese for a year, and I can barely speak it. Also, I too love BTS! I had plans to go see them last May. I bought tickets and I was so excited but the concert got cancelled due to the virus outbreak. I really hope you enjoy this class! Good luck!
Hi Melanie! That is so cool that you are from France! It was really awesome to learn about you in the introduction. It is really cool how you can speak so many languages. I wish I could learn multiple but my brain never seems to comprehend new languages as quickly as I'd like it to. I loved learning about the places you have traveled to!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie,
ReplyDeleteStarting, what an interesting life thus far! I've always wanted to travel Europe and explore different forms of society, because I've been cooped up here in Oklahoma my entire life. I think it's awesome you have an interest in pursuing a master of education. Several of my family members are teachers and have taught at various different levels in their life. The world needs more teachers, and I heavily admire those who have an attraction to it!
Hi Melanie! I think it is so cool and fascinating that you are an exchange student. I think it's amazing that you grew up with so much diversity and can speak three languages. I have so much respect for people that can speak more than one language; it's not easy for everyone. Also, I think it is so important to get back to doing things we loved as a kid, so I am super excited for your time with this course and all of the creativity and writing that comes with it. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! You have a very impressive travel history! I've been to a lot of places in the United States, but I've never been out of country. I'd love to visit France, and many other places someday! Hopefully after the pandemic ends I can start traveling. I think it's so cool that you can speak so many languages. I'm trying to learn Spanish, but I don't have much time to practice. I hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! I have been to France a bunch of times, and love it there! My dad actually lived there for a long time and went to medical school there. He still has his tiny student apartment in Lille (have you ever been?). I don't speak a lot of French, but know enough to get by. I would really like to learn more though!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! I think it is amazing how you are exchange student and from France! I personally have been wanting to go visit France for the longest time but haven't gone yet, hopefully I will be able to go soon. That's amazing how you speak 3 different languages! I personally am bilingual and honestly I forgot/mess up so props to you for speaking 3 languages!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteWow! You seem like a really impressive person! It must be so strange and interesting to go to school in a foreign country. I considered studying abroad, but never worked up the courage. I was nervous to live somewhere that I do not speak the language and do not have friends. Good for you! I wish I could be so brave! I have been to France before, and absolutely loved it! I spent 10 days there, split between Paris and Normandy. I learned so much about the culture and history and truly fell in love with it. It is also impressive that you speak three languages! I am minoring in Spanish and am almost fluent, but I have found it to be very challenging. Good luck!
Hey Melanie! Last Spring semester, I was starting to make some tentative plans to visit France during the summer, but as soon as the pandemic took hold in the US, those plans stopped. I would love to visit, so perhaps after I can get vaccinated (the sooner the better!) I will be able to visit. It is interesting that you were able to make it to Oklahoma for this semester even with the pandemic going on, so I hope you have felt safe the whole time! Good luck with graduating and your master's degree!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, I can relate to you with the amount of languages you can speak! I speak 4 languages, and sometimes I’m confused on which one is which?! I love that you’ve been quite active during your academic career, it is amazing to see the amount of involvement and impact you’ve created at your high school! I would love to visit France one day! Have an amazing semester ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! I think it is so cool that you are an exchange student and that is something that I would love to do!! I like you also love to travel and I am sad that we are unable to do that right now and hopefully soon we can. I also like that you can speak a couple of languages I am half Russian and half Ukrainian so growing up I learned both including English as my first languages. Also congrats on being so close to graduation!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! I hope you're enjoying your time here as an exchange student, but I'm guessing COVID-19 has kind of thrown a wrench in any activities you could do here in the States. You're so lucky to have traveled to Seoul, I was planning to spend some time in Japan and Korea last summer before the pandemic stopped all my travel plans. Congrats on graduating soon, I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! I find it super cool that you are an exchange student and have had the opportunity to travel and learn from other places across the world. I would love to know how education in France compares to education you receive here. With knowing all of those languages, I am sure you will do great in the education field. You also have great english from what I can tell, your writing is really good! I hope you have a great last semester at OU.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! That is so cool that you are from France! When I was in high school my best friend did exchange in Belgium and then while she was gone her family hosted an exchange student from France. I always find it interesting that when people do exchange they find themselves in Oklahoma of all places, but I hope you have enjoyed your time here! I also love the Sims 4, I can't even imagine the amount of hours that I have put into that game. Have you heard the rumors about Sims 5? I'm really intrigued about what they are gonna do with the game next! I hope you have been having a good semester so far and I look forward to reading more from you!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! It is awesome that you are from France! I have always wanted to visit there. I have thought about studying abroad I am just unsure if it is what is right for me. I also have been to New Orleans, it is actually the place I used to write my favorite place blog post! I hope that you enjoy your last semester here at OU and if you decide to go into education I wish you luck!
ReplyDeleteHello Melanie! It's such a pleasure to meet you through your authentic and inviting introduction. I am a music education major, so it was very cool to read how you are considering teaching. What subject are you interested in? I bet whatever it is, you will excel at it! I understand the struggle of enjoying writing but not having the time for it, I hope this class will reignite that love of storytelling within you. I hope you have a fantastic last semester, I wish you an early "Congrats!" for your graduation in May :)
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteI love the collage you made! It's hard to convey who you are in introductions, but this collage of single words that describe your/your life gives a lot of insight to who you are without even needing to explain it in a bunch of sentences. But I loved reading your introduction all the same! Out of anywhere in the US, why did you decide to study here? And since you said you don't really have a major here, what subject have you enjoyed learning about the most? Also, loving to read, sleep, and eat is a whole mood. I can relate. I've never played Sims though, but I would probably become addicted if I did. If you do decide to pursue your Master of Education, I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Melanie!! That is so cool that you are from France! When I was in high school (here in Oklahoma) I was VP of my school's French Club, and my high school actually had a number of French exchange students visit each year, and I got to host a girl at my house for two weeks, which was an amazing experience. I too love to travel, and the summer before last I studied at Oxford and got to go to Paris one weekend, and it was everything I dreamed of. I want to go back someday! My friend who is also French lives in the Chauny region, and I hope to maybe visit her someday. Last thing--I also love the Sims!! My favorite is Sims 3, though I do have Sims 4 and some of the expansions. I haven't played much in the past four years I've been at OU, but I still keep up with the news of new expansions and things. I hope you are having a great final semester! Yay for graduating :)
ReplyDeleteHey Melanie!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cool that you are from another country. How are you liking it here? I believe doing a master’s in education is a neat idea. It is amazing that you can speak three different languages. WOW! You were very active in high school. I have to agree with you. Reading and eating food are some of my favorite things to do as well. I love travelling as well. I have been to India, Washington D.C., Orlando, to name a few. But those are the only places that I think are high destination places. I really want to continue travelling when I get older.
Hi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard being oversees for school during the pandemic! I hope you have been enjoying the US and I hope everything has been alright for your family! I am sure they are probably having a better time in France than we are here! I think graduate school is a great idea, I personally am thinking about applying to graduate school in a year to become a lawyer. I know I am commenting on this late in the semester, but I do hope that you are enjoying the class thus far and are discovering stories and creativity within yourself as well!
Hi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have enjoyed the United States, even though this year was a very unique one due to the pandemic. I have always wanted to visit France and was actually going to last summer (until Covid). My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe for when Covid is over and France is definitely on that list! I have always wanted to learn another language, as I only know English. I took Spanish in High School, but I have not really maintained most of it. I want to at least relearn Spanish since I want to be a doctor, as there are definitely language gaps in America. During my time volunteering, I have been around families who do not speak any English. I don't want to have a gap like that in between myself and a patient, so I really want to learn Spanish this upcoming year! I hope you are having a great semester.
Very nice to meet you, Melanie! I hope you have enjoyed your time here in America. I also wish you the best of luck if you do pursue your Master's! Based off what you talked about you seem to have had a very interesting life so far. I also really like reading and enjoying tasty food, especially making the food myself and then enjoying. I hope this class has been as fun for you this semester as it has been for me!
ReplyDeleteHey Melanie!
ReplyDeleteI hope this semester has been going well for you. Its really cool that you are from France and studying over here. I hope Covid hasn't affected your time here too too much or your family back in France. Good luck on getting your master's and finishing off your career at OU!
Hi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, so exciting to not have a designated major and just learn about so many different things. I also really appreciated how you related where you are from and what you do to common things in the United States. I am not the most educated about France and that helped me understand your background a little more. I had no idea you needed a masters to teach in France! I think that is really cool because you need to know and love a subject to be able to enthusiastically teach it to others (that was super wordy sorry). Also, I LOVE FOOD, if you need any suggestions on delicious eats around Norman/OKC/Edmond/Moore let me know! I might have some good places for you! If I could go back in time, I think I would love you as my teacher!
Hey Melanie!
ReplyDeleteHaving the chance to finish up your undergraduate in an English-speaking country must have been an incredible opportunity. It’s unfortunate that COVID likely restricted how much exposure you have to native speakers though. I went to school in Germany for my Junior and Senior year of high school. Moving to a completely new place like that definitely opened a lot of doors for me, and I hope that you’ve been able to find some to open as well!
Hello Melanie. I too am a big fan of sleeping as well. I make sure to get 8-9 hours of sleep every night. I also think that it's you cool you like to play the sims. My sisters used to love to play it. I think that it is cool that you are able to study English in the US as I feel like this is a pretty good place to learn English. I had a good time getting to read your introduction and I wish you the best of luck with completing your degree.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great intro! Sleep, reading and eating great food are all things that are important to me as well! I play the Sims 4 from time to time but my current video game love has been Assassins Creed Valhalla and the Elder Scrolls Online. All of those games have so much to do that if I play too much it can feel like a full time job! Doesn't make them any less fun though. I love that you're finishing up at OU as an exchange student. I wish you all the best in your future studies!
Hey Melanie,
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool that you are from France! I really enjoyed reading your intro story; it was very cool to learn about you. I also enjoy sleeping and eating tasty food. I never played the sims but it always looked really fun to design your own world. Good luck in the future and what you decide to do with your English major.
Hi Melanie! That is really cool you're from France! That transition must have been something! I also enjoy eating tasty foods and I want to travel all over the world to eat some of the best foods. Learning another language must be difficult as I am trying to learn Spanish and it is pretty hard so good job to you because it seems like you got English down pretty well. I hope you have a successful future!
ReplyDelete