Home stay

Sunday, 25 February 2007

So the home stay has definitely proven to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done.

During my orientation, the home stay director commented that culture shock takes on many forms, such as unhealthy eating habits, or just a constant feeling if exhaustion because everything is harder. She said the something so basic that we would do without even thinking back home, like going to the store and buying batteries, is much harder. And she was right: I don't even know where I would buy batteries, so good thing i don't need them. Some light shopping yesterday proved very difficult, as I was only able to get like 3 things from my 10 item list. After 4 hours.

I've never been homesick before, and I don't really know what to do with myself to make it better. I found an exhibit on New York art and I can't wait to check it out. My gift to my home stay family was a book of New York photographs and i can't stop reading it over and over.

Even with all this, there are some definitely cool things about my home stay situation. I live with a woman named Monica, who is a psychoanalyst, and also a Jazz singer and plays guitar (what a wacky combination!) Her boyfriend, Rafael, is always over and plays the saxophone. They perform together in a Bossa Nova band and my first night with them they gave me a mini concert. I have my own room and toilet, and the apartment is on the top floor of the building, so we have direct access to the terrace/roof.

However, Monica and I don't really talk. When we do, I feel like she's already disappointed in me. She hardly ever smiles or laughs, and when she does it looks sort of strained. I think I'll have a lot of freedom, no curfew or anything like that, but also, with independence comes little assistance. She seems overly protective about things like me taking the subway (something I feel confident doing on my own) but then only points me in the general direction of a place with wireless (something I have no idea how to find out on my own.) For the first few days at least, I wish I had a really friendly host mom, who would take me by the hand if I needed it and show me the neighborhood. We'll see what it's like in time.

My classes begin on Monday, and I already have an intimidating amount of homework.

With the purchase of a cell phone my social life will be more in my hands, and hopefully the other students with host siblings can share some of their built in social circles.