Well, I did it. I some how discovered a men's volleyball team/gathering/club. I truly don't know what to call it. But it meets twice a week for like two hours, which is super awesome!!! I also found another day that is from my other college (French Business School). So now I will be playing volleyball 4 days a week. Currently I have played 3 times this week (yesterday and twice today) so I am super sore! My shoulder is going through a little syndrome I personally call Pussidus. Which is a medical term for you wimping out. Another great thing is that not many of the guys there speak English... so FINALLY I am forced into using French.
After the practice (I discovered a better word for today) a guy offered to drive me home, which was great because I didn't have to wait for the bus! On our 8 minute drive to my dorm we had a great conversation in broken french/ broken english. It was great to not have someone to be able to understand what I was saying in English (or completely understand) and having to try and recreate a sentence in my head. Finding different words and putting them in different places to attempt to get what I wanted to say across... and the craziest thing happened. I didn't die, he didn't laugh or kick me out of the car... so I would call that progress. Me like many people who are trying to learn a second language get so stuck on having to speak well and being absolutely sure about every little phrase we speak that we spook ourselves out of speaking. Instead if you just attempt to speak, they will attempt to understand you and you will be able to build off of that experience.
To anyone else who is attempting to learn a language, please just speak with a person who speaks your target language. If you can master just a few simple phrases and understand a few words you will be able to begin speaking with someone. If you can't remember the word, just play charades and they will understand what you are saying.
I hope everyone is enjoying reading my journey in France. I know I don't post a ton, but the majority of it is all the same and sort of boring.... Because I am studying all the time ;) ;)
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