Itinerary
Juneau to Seattle
Seattle to Philadelphia
Philadelphia to Paris
Paris to Lyon=Final Destination
Day 1
The 24th I left Juneau, Alaska to Seattle, Washington to begin my long voyage to Europe. I said my goodbyes to my parents, Virginia(my Youth Exchange Officer from Rotary), my cousin and good friend Jeslie(who missed part of her first day of school to say goodbye), and my dog Inday. Saying goodbye was actually A LOT easier than I thought it
would be. It actually felt good... seeing Juneau from an aerial view for the last time was so weird but anyways when I landed in Seattle I was greeted by Ed Piekarczyk, manager of the travel agency that works out the flights for all Rotary Exchange Students in America, and Justin, a former exchange student who went to the Czech Republic in 2004. I was familiar with Ed because I had stayed in his home for when I went to San Francisco to get my Visa for France back in July. We drove to Ed's house, dropped off my luggage and chilled out for a few hours and then drove to downtown Seattle for Dinner. I've been to Seattle many times before, but I don't recall ever going downtown...It was awesome we drove past the Stadiums for the Mariners Baseball Team and the Seattle Sounders Soccer team! We drove into China town and stopped at an Asian Grocery Store because Ed and Justin wanted Rice Whisky...I forgot the name of it I think it was like Soju??? Anways they couldn't find it so we just went to dinner anyways at a REAL Japanese Restaurant/Sushi Bar called Fuji Sushi. I'm not fond of Fish(I know I'm Alaskan and I don't like fish weird huh?) or sushi for that matter so I went with my American instincts and got a Bento Box consisting of Tempura, teryaki chicken, miso, seaweed salad, California Rolls and an Asian Salad. Not gonna lie, but the food at that restaurant was arguably the best Japanese food I've ever had! So fresh and not too heavy I felt good after eating the food there! Justin and Ed had a plate consisting of very exotic looking sushi. The Owner of the restaurant knew Justin and Ed well for being regulars and she entertained us with stories of her travels and food experiences. She even gave us complimentary dessert(green tea ice cream my favorite!) Its no wonder her restaurant is so succesful because of the great food and friendly service!
After dinner I watched some more TV, took a shower and prepared my carry ons and bags for the long trip to my next stop at Philadelphia the next morning! Ed said he would wake me at 5:30am to check in my bags and catch my flight it slowly started setting in that this is for real... PS- Those of you who sent me texts saying goodbye and goodluck thanks so much you know who you are...
Day 2
I didnt get any sleep the night before or from the past two days because I was so ready and for some reason I just couldnt sleep... I woke up without hesitation changed my clothes and ran my bags to the car and Ed drove me directly to Seatac Airport. He parked and assisted me with all the checking of the bags, ticketing and all that stuff. What was annoying to me was that the man checking bags in at the Airport would not send my bags to Lyon, my final destination, he sent them to Paris and said I would have to pick them up and recheck them in at the Paris Airport...greeeeeat... Ed told assured me if I show the people in the Paris Airport my receipt for what I had to pay I would not have to repay for my luggage again however this failed to happen(keep reading and you'll find out).. Ed was great with walking me through everything! He even greeted my goodbye as my parents had in Juneau, I thanked him for everything he did and I felt that it still wasn't enough because Ed does so much for us exchange students. So again mercibeacoup Ed!
After getting out of security I had a little time to kill so I went to the Starbucks to get some breakfast. As I walked out I found Camille or "Dori" (her other name). I know her because we had met in July when all the exchange students going to France and Spain had to go to San Francisco, California to get "interviewed' in order to obtain Visas to enter their respective countries. Camille was the only other exchange student going to France besides me on the flight to Philly from Seattle(because she's from Washington) so it was good to have someone to talk to. We was chillin' at the gate and I sat next to her and we conversed about all things French. We boarded the plane and went on our way to Phillidelphia home of the Philly Cheese Steak(which I unfortunately didn't get to try). The flight sucked because I didn't get to sit next to Camille and they didn't give any food or soft drinks just water...that and I was in the middle seat.. When we landed Camille and I had a bathroom break and took a 10 minute walk from our gate to the gate of our connecting flight going to Paris. Hahah I dropped my itinerary as we were and didn't know, but luckily a kind man told me I had dropped it and if I hadn't known I dropped it I would have been screwed... But anyways the Philly Airport was crazy huge. As we walked into the gate's seating area for the flight to Paris we noticed a HUGE row of kids sporting Rotary blazers covered with pins. The blazers we wear are a big help... There looked to be at least 25 of us there and supposedly there would be 40 of us total because flights were still coming in. We sat with the other students from all over the lower 48. When asked what state I was from they all went crazy when I told them I was from Juneau, Alaska(It was really funny actually). I met kids from Indiana, California, Wisconsin and even Canada! I look back and see two familiar faces in Emily(different from Canadian Emily later in the story) and Marissa that went to the San Francisco Visa Trip along with a few other exchange students I had not met. A few minutes later I see another group of kids that also I remember and know from the San Francisco Visa Trip: Nick, Madisen, Lycia and Leah. It was funny because we only knew each other for one day before, but it felt like we knew each other for a long time ha. They said they were gonna grab food so I opted to go with them because I was pretty hungry myself and Camille came along as well. Hahah we walked and caught up with each other about preparing to leave, etc and searched for something to eat because it would be the last meal we would eat in America for a year... Leah, Camille and I decided to settle for Chinese food while Madisen, Nick and Lycia went for McDonalds(hahah typical Americans..) So we split. We got our food and decided to eat close to the gate just in case. We ate and talked more and than soon enough it was time to board the flight to Paris. I handed all my West Coast buddies an Alaskan Flag pin for their blazers and we boarded. It sucked because I literally wasn't with any other students on the plane until I realized there was one in the row ahead of me to the left her name was Emily and she was from Canada. We talked about France stuff, excitement, Juneau, Alaska and how she didnt say "eh" at the end of her sentences like the other Canadians hahah. The flight from Philly to Paris was long but very legit. There was a TV for each individual seat that included a bunch of movies and TV shows(I went through 3 movies during that flight hah); They also served us a legit dinner that included a main course of chicken covered in a sauce served with potatoes and green beans, a salad w/ dressing, a roll w/ butter, a delicious little piece of cake and a side of ginger ale(my choice) to wash it all down.. After the meal I attempted sleep because I was so tired, but that didnt work because of the excitement of finally being in France, there was a baby crying like mad in two seats next to me and just me thinking about things as usual ha. About 2 hours before the flight landed they served us a warm apple pastry w/ orange juice which I murdered because I was oddly hungry.. I looked ahead of me to find Camille in the seat ahead of me and asked if she was sitting there the whole time. She said she had moved up there because her TV wasnt working and we talked briefly then she had to go back to her seat because she left her carry ons in the storage area of her old seat so she left. I talked to Emily from Canada more and we traded pins. I have to say that was probably the coolest plane ride ever.
Day 3
We FINALLY got off the flight which I think took 6hrs and I took my took my first steps into French land! It was 7:00am French time when I arrived... from there I along with the other 40 students straight to baggage claim(which was hard because the baggage claim was crowded, it was hot, and it felt like forever to get my bags. When I finally got my bags I went exited the Security exit thing and from here this is where things got difficult... I had a connecting flight to Lyon which I needed to find the gate to, two 50 pound suitcases, two carry ons and a blazer soaked with sweat.. that plus I was lost... I looked around to see a bunch of the exchange students I had traveled with happy to see their host families holding signs and smiling which sucked for me because I wouldn't see mine until later that night.. Since I was lost I decided to ask the lady at the Information Counter how and where to go to my next flight. Luckily she spoke English. She told me to go back and take a shuttle to my gate which would take 15 minutes. I thanked her and ended up exitting the airport to find a bunch of buses that I assumed would lead me to the gate like she said.. I waited for 5 minutes with my bags and asked a few people working on the buses if they knew English so they could direct me to exactly where I needed to go.. No one spoke english so a frustrated me walked back into the airport and right there I saw Camille with seven other students. They were being led by an Exchange student from South Africa that has been in France for 6 months now she was told to lead us newbies to the right area. If I had not seen them I would have probably taken a bus going into Paris and be lost forever hahah..good thing thay didnt happen.. I told Camille how GREAT it was to see her and she told me she was wondering where I had been because she remembered I told her I had a connecting flight in Paris as well. We walked in and went into a train that would bring us to our gates. It sucked because I had to ditch the luggage cart I had been using and this made this leg of the journey a living hell(thanks for not sending my bags straight to my final destination US Airways guy... you suck) I was sweating so much because I had to carry my two 50 pound suitcases all by myself and the 2 carry ons up and down flight of stairs, into elevators, and along walkways and wearing the blazer made me even sweatier..sounds like fun huh? FINALLY I make it to the right part of the airport, but sadly... I would not be able to go past security yet because I had a ridiculous layover that would last a total of 7 hours in the Paris airport that would prevent me from checking in my bags because it was only 10am in France and my flight would leave at 6:55pm so it was way to early to check them in so I couldnt go past security and chill... The South African Exchange Student that led us to the gate said she's really sorry I have to wait and told me good luck because she had to leave, I thanked her and sat down with my bags for an hour. From there I walked around the airport at least 17 times, bought a coke for 5 euros(4 American dollars so it was definitely a rip off), tried reading the menu at a fast food restaurant but decided not to order anything because I was so annoyed carrying all my bags and I couldnt pronounce anything, attempted charging my Ipod touch but couldnt because I forgot to realize that the plugs were different, wandered into a store that sold Energy adapters and ended up buying the wrong one so I ended up returning it which was hard because the clerks didnt speak english, I got the right adapter after I returned the zrong one and charged my camera, Ipod Touch and tried connecting to the internet on my laptop, realized I had to pay for Wifi at the airport so I gave up, I walked the airport another time and saw Nick and Madisen who I talked to very briefly because they were with their host families changing their American dollars into Euros, I ate a Reeses cup from my back pack and did my best not to fall asleep because I was afraid someone would steal one of my bags or something from while I was sleeping, I fell asleep for a minute at least 5 times then waking up in a panic, then I decide to go wash my face in the bathroom to stay awake, I then sat again and realized it was the PERFECT time to check my bags(I seriously could not believe it took that long but I was relieved). I run to the ticket counter ask the guy worked there that spoke english to help me, he directed me to the line to check my bags and the lady checking bags at the counter I go to ended up being able to speak English, but she had a heavy Asian accent which made her hard to understand. I told her about the receipt I got in Seattle that showed I had already payed 55 dollars for my luggage. She for some reason didnt accept it which was very annoying so she made me pay another 55 dollars to check my bags...as mad as I was since I was so damn tired and cranky I decided to just pay the fee. I'm still annoyed thinking about it right now and if I could go back in time I would complain but it is what it is.. She gave me my boarding pass and I went through security and almost got lost yet again because I read my boarding pass wrong and went to the wrong gate luckily I noticed and there was still a good 30 minutes before my flight to Lyon. I found the gate looked for Rotary blazers and found two girls named Thea from Canada and Anna from Lake Tahoe, California. We talked and traded business cards and blazer pins and then I left momentarily to buy these little French cookie sandwich things that cost 1.50euros(they were good but not worth it. When I got back we boarded the plane..well started the process to board the plane... we had to show our boarding passes and Passports, walk down a flight of stairs show our Passports and IDs again, Take a 5minute bus ride(I met 3 other girls 2 from Mexico and 1 from Chicago going to Lyon as well during this time haha) to the actual plane and than show them our boarding passes once more. That had to be the most work Ive ever had to do to get on a plane no joke. I went into my seat(a middle seat again...), stowed my bags and buckled my seatbelt and looked out the window once more. From there I remember opening my eyes and looking outside to see we had FINALLY landed. It then started to cave on me this is seriously it and I would officially be done and finally home in France. I wiped the tired look off my face and retrieved my bags from the claim. I decided to wait for the other students because I didnt wanna get lost again as I did in Paris. We all walked out together in a group waiting anxiously behind the frosted slide door that led straight to the exit where our host families would be waiting. I remember walking out hesitantly only to look out in front of me to see my host family smiling and welcoming me with a big sign that said "Bienvenue Jericho!" I smiled myself and waved hello and shyly approached them and then awkwardly performed my first French cheek kiss thing to my host mother Dominique and sister Aurelie and gave a handshake to my host dad Maurice. They were so enthusiastic I was there so that made all the struggle I faced earlier in the day at the Paris Airport worth it. But anyways along with my host family was a lady from the Rotary Club hosting me she talked to me in English and said she needed to see my passport and return ticket.. I got my passport but I remembered that I didn't have a return ticket because Ed said he would send an Email in January asking exactly when I wanted to return. I told her this and she me I HAD to have it(It was a little hard to pay attention because I was still so happy, but I nodded my head and responded with multiple times "yes." Since I didn't have the Return ticket(which she seemed very angry about)she told me she was going to contact my Rotary Chairperson in Alaska and ask him about it, but after that she told me welcome and me along with my host family took a few pictures and from there we went straight out of the airport. After been communicating with my family for the past 4 months in English by email I assumed they would understand me to some degree. Unfortunately that wasnt the case because they had no clue of what I said to them(they only speak very little english). My host Sister Aurelie(who knew english the best communicated everything to me and told me(with the help of a French English Dictionary) mostly everything I needed to know and informed me about other things school, how everything was, etc. Hahah the first thing I noticed as I stepped out of the airport and into Lyon I felt a wave of heat and it was already 8:00pm, being from Alaska its definitely a welcome change(even if Ive been dying for the first two days because it was so hot..) My host family was so nice they pretty much didnt even let me carry one of my bags and they are just the most chill people. What I love most about them is they like to laugh and did their best to make me feel comfortable and they smiled a lot(Thought this was interesting because I read French people think smiling a lot is odd). We drove for 20-30 minutes to their home in Lucenay which is basically right outside of Lyon. There house is very nice it has a big open backyard with a small soccer field, a garden filled with fruits and vegetables, a bathroom with two sinks, a separate room for the toilet, a little kitchen, four bedrooms, a TV room, a dining room for inside and outside, a bunch of toys and a little playground(my host mom babysits children here at the house), and a spot for the computer. At the garage door we were greeted by two dogs, Pepita a small dog and Shelu a Huge dog(my host family watches dogs for people its pretty awesome because it makes me miss my dog a lot less) When we entered the house they showed me my room that had Dumbo wall paper, a bed, a desk, a lamp and closets for me to put my stuff in. I already figured my room was a nursery before from the wallpaper, etc. I settled in and stowed my stuff away and they had prepared dinner. My host father Maurice grabbed a cup and filled the bottom of it with a flavored syrup called Grenadine he poured water to fill the rest of the cup and gave it to me. It was sweet and delicious! For dinner we had fresh tomatoes from the garden stuffed with meat cooked in a yellow broth with a huge loaf of baguette. I was full from just that then all of a sudden they pull out a pasta dish with cheese and then more bread and cheese and then some yogurt. I could not believe how much food I had eaten that night. People in America tell me ALL the time I eat a lot, but here in France I eat the least in my family and I get full everytime crazy huh? We talked more and they taught me some French while speaking to each other in French and I smiled and laughed as if I knew what they were saying. Hahah after dinner my host mom Dominique asks me "Do you wanna douche?" Since I didnt know much French I was confused as to what she meant, but realized that a douche is to take a shower...hahah.. I took a shower told my host family good night and slept so easily that night... What a day...
It took a span of 3 days(one hour each day when we weren't doing anything) for me to write this thing so hope you enjoyed it. I haven't had very much time to blog because we have been out and about so much that its really hard to commit to this, but I'm doing my best to maintain this blog as much as possible. In a few days I'll tell you about exactly what the heck I've been up to here and all sorts of things. Aur Revoir for now and props if you read this whole thing ha...
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| Goodbye Juneau, Alaska! |
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| Hello Seattle |
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| My "Travel Buddy" Camille at Philly International Airport |
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| Philadelphia International Airport |
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| Chillin' in Philly with my homies from the West Coast: Camille, Madisen, Lycia, Nick and Leah |
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| The other Americans heading off to France we met at the airport in Philly |
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| The long flight to Paris which included a pretty legit dinner, access to movies and TV shows for free and big comfortable seats with multiple restrooms |
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| Worst Day of my life: The Layover in Paris... |
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| My New Family: Dominique, Me, Aurelie, Nicole Darmency(Rotary), Maurice |
Hahah Aurelie filmed me walking out of the door you'll notice all the other exchange students ahead of me, my awkwardness, and that you'll probably have to turn your head sideways hahah...
