Small Disasters and Other Thoughts from Day Zero

Whew! It feels like just last week I got home after my last exam (wait, that was last week) and now I’m hopping on a plane across the Atlantic. I’m so excited to be chosen by GEO to share my experiences as I explore Paris and Annecy this summer! This dialogue is “Exploring French Culture Through Movie Comedy,” under Professor Catherine Dunand. I’ll be spending a week in Paris, and another four in Annecy staying with a host family. Since this journey’s just starting, I haven’t experienced very much at all yet, so I’ll start with introductions.

My name is Anson Huang. I’m from Reading, Massachusetts, and I just finished my first year here at Northeastern. I’m a chemistry major; I intend to focus on organic chemistry, and someday I’d like to help develop new medicines. I got my start in writing from fiction, but at Northeastern I’ve developed some more journalistic skills after joining the Huntington News and NU Sci teams. I also love music, both listening to it and creating it as a pianist and songwriter.

So why is a chemist/writer/musician taking a dialogue about foreign films?

The major draw for me was the chance to visit France. I took French during middle school and high school, and I loved the language. The comparisons I found between French and English really shifted my perception of English and even language in general. But I never truly got the chance to use French outside the classroom setting, despite all the skills I developed. So when I discovered that I could take a month-long dialogue to France, I couldn’t let the opportunity go to waste.

I’ve never been much of a movie buff; I’m not one to sit still for two hours, even in comfy movie theater seats. However, I have a deep appreciation for stories. The French films I’ve seen all have wonderful characters, and the comedies are fun without playing into shallow tropes, leaving room for complex interpretations. I’m really interested in watching more French films to see if that trend holds up, and what makes them so good.

Why I’m excited:

• This is going to be my first time in Europe! Up until now, my vision of Europe has been a picturesque, old-timey wonderland of cobblestone streets dotted with impressive architectural feats. I’ll finally be able to put real memories to go with the landmarks that people who have actually been to Paris talk about. The Arc de Triomphe! The Eiffel Tower! The Champs-Elysées! (I am going to be such a tourist in Paris, and you know what? I have no shame.)
• I also think living with a host family is a really unique opportunity. Unlike a simple study abroad with dorm rooms, my stay with a host family will grant me an intimate view of what French home life is like. Family life is such an important part of cultural identity, so I’m looking forward to experiencing that atmosphere and learning what may be similar or different from what I’m used to in my own home.

So why am I still shaking in fear?

• I’ll be away from home. Alone. For an extended period of time. I’ve had a sort of safety net at Northeastern, being so close to home all the time, and this is the first time I’ll be truly away from my family. In a way, it’s like going off to college all over again: surrounded by unfamiliar faces and unsure of what comes next.
• A month, while short, is still a long time to go without companionship, and I’ve never had the most gregarious personality. Will I be able to make friends abroad?
• I am a notoriously picky eater in my family. What if I don’t like my host family’s food? What if I have a social faux pas and make things awkward? What if we just plain old don’t get along? I’m putting myself in the hands of nigh-strangers, and I’m really praying it works out in everyone’s favor.
• And, of course, my classes. It’s been a year since I last took any French, and I haven’t brushed up very in-depth. What if I’m no good anymore?

If you’re planning to participate in a dialogue or study abroad, you might share some of these fears too. I’ll revisit them at the end of my time in France and talk about how they changed, whether they came to fruition, and how (and if) I overcame them.

I’m remaining positive, though, and here is why: I’ve just landed in Paris, and I already have a list of small, ordinary disasters that have plagued me so far. For your entertainment and sympathy, I’ve compiled them briefly.

• While waiting to board the plane, I found myself talking to a native French speaker. I managed approximately half a sentence before she responded, “Oh, you must still be learning.” Ouch. Of course I didn’t expect to fool a native speaker, but it hurts to have been called out so fast.
• One hour into the flight, I went to the bathroom in the back and opened the door with the VACANT sign on it, only to find that it was distinctly not vacant. A properly scarring experience.
• Many of the digital screens on the seat backings were not working, so the crew restarted the system in-flight, resulting in over an hour of flashing overhead lights and spooky flicker patterns.
• After I told the flight attendant I wanted water, he responded with “Nice!” I smiled back at him, glad he appreciated my healthy choice. Of course, then I realized he had actually asked, “Ice?” So after smiling like a madman for two seconds, I promptly shook my head no and attempted to sink deep into my seat.

So, you ask, how does this help? All you’ve learned is that so far on this journey, I have been followed by mistake after mistake. But let’s put it this way. If I can survive that many messes concentrated in an 8-hour period, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll survive this month after all.

Cautiously optimistic and ever yours,

Anson