Oh, what the Dickens!

If you've seen the entirely-too-brilliantly-indie Zooey Deschanel/Joseph Gordon-Levitt film 500 Days of Summer, you know what I'm talking about when I refer to the split screen separation between Expectations and Reality.

Today (that is, if you count 1:28 am as still belonging to the previous day's date) triumphantly marks the six week anniversary of my arrival here a la Reunion. This means that I am precisely one-fourth of the way through my six month stay on the island. I feel both accomplished and flabbergasted, like I predicted this and yet was surprised nonetheless. It's kind of like waking up the morning of your birthday to realize that at this moment here, right now, you've just officially begun the experience of being your new age. It's really no different from yesterday, but the very knowledge of your new state creates a difference nonetheless.

A few things I expected, but have learned that only experience can truly teach:
1. Tropical islands are HOT.
2. Body odor is no more pleasant when it's your own. If anything, it's more unpleasant. [Take this as you will, but I really honestly didn't know what my own sweat actually smelled like until living here.]
3. Life is going on without me at home.
4. I am making friends here. Real ones.
5. Home is absolutely precious.
6. I'm learning a lot of French.
7. I have a LOT more French to learn.

Things I knew, but forgot to expect:
1.God still answers prayer. He also provides in tangible ways.
2. I'm still the same me. I get bored, restless, hyper, tired, stressed, frustrated, affectionate, lonely, and goofy at various times.
3. Social interactions are seriously difficult when you don't feel confident with language skills.
4. A city can look entirely different and have a different personality to you depending upon your mode of transport. Foot vs. Bus vs. Car = three different things entirely.
5. Frequent exposure to sun makes pale people tan. Or at least less pale. This process may be gradual, or else painful.
6. French toiletries work differently from the way American brands work.
7. When I read, it makes me want to write. Unfortunately, this does not apply to French literature.

So basically life here is really good, a little challenging, and altogether quite livable. I feel the most striking thing I've noticed is that, while living among all these people of such different backgrounds from mine, I see that there is nonetheless this incredible commonality between people. It doesn't matter who it is: another American student, a Norweigan student, a Reunionais professor, the man who sits under the big tree in his tank top, a runner training for the Grand Raid, a little London-born eleven-year-old.... I see myself in all of them, and them in me.

One last note before bed: I began my first week of teaching English in the elementary schools this week. Day one was pure chaos, but today went very well. I also found out (two notes then, I guess.) that the week after next, all classes after 1pm are cancelled, for some sports something. Didn't think I would be getting a spring break, but apparently I'm practically getting one anyway!