My first week with my new host family went way better than I expected, I mean with so many animals and kids who has the time to be homesick?

I spent the first 2 days totally unpacking my suitcases and decorating my room with the help of 11-year-old Melyssandre and 7-year-old Florestina who had given me some of their drawings. There was a massive heat wave all over the region and each day it was over 35 degrees! Fortunately, there’s a swimming pool in the backyard and I basically lived in it throughout the week. Due to the heat, I had a weird as skin reaction. Huge red welts covered me and I was a bit freaked out but luckily it faded after a few days.
The Charrier’s invited me into their family with open arms and I slotted in very easily. It’s only been one week and yet I have spoken more French than I ever had. At my previous host family I sometimes spoke English, I didn’t realise how much I did until now. Fortunately, this family only speaks French so I have absolutely no choice – Perfect! I think having a TV also helps (there wasn’t one where I was before), watching the little Disney kids shows with Flo has improved my speaking a lot. It’s also interesting to see a different way of French life, there are many differences I’ve noticed:

• There is not a room where all the clothes rest
• The food, in general, is a bit different (however of course there is still a l’entrée and the baguette and cheese).
• Every day at 4 o’clock we have a small meal called a Goûtée, it’s like afternoon tea. Apparently, this is normal is most French families. I think I didn’t have it in the other family because Elisabeth was German and many of the things we did were very German.
  Those are the main differences, the rest aren’t really worth mentioning.

This family is really tight-knitted. Everyone does everything together and I love it. On friday we went to a show held my the students of the primary school. Flo and Melly both danced in it and it was pretty cute. I think I’ll be very happy here.