Bringing out the American in me...

I've been in France for just over a month now and it feels like I've been here at least a year. I got the same feeling when I was in Latvia. I can't help but think how strange it's going to feel when I'm back in England - for good this time.

Sunday was a very big day for me. As I've mentioned before, I'm a Buddhist and belong to Soka Gakkai International (SGI), an international Buddhist network. SGI has cultural centres all over Europe and it just so happens that there is one in the south of France, in a small town called Trets to be more specific. There was a meeting for all the Buddhists in the local area, where we studied the writings of Nichiren Daishonin. It was all in French but was thankfully translated into English for me and an American woman.

I made it!

The butsudan (to protect the Gohonzon inside)

Just behind Trets: La Montagne de Saint Victoire.

My mum has often raved about "Trets" (this centre) and the atmosphere surrounding it, but I think it's one of those things that you have to experience for yourself to truly understand. Now, I understand...

I'm really starting to see the difference between American and British English when in conversation with other international students.

Here is a list of my observations so far:

bathroom - toilet

class - lecture

course - module

store - shop

study - revise

schedule - timetable

I've found myself starting to use American English in some situations, just for ease of conversation. After all, one has to adapt to one's environment, correct?

"Do you have a lec... class tomorrow?"

I had my first midterm on Wednesday. I think it went well; I tried my best anyway! That was just one of 5 exams, with two more coming up next week. I'd better get on with this "studying" then...

1 down, 4 to go.

"The discovery of commonalities bridges the distance between people’s hearts" - Daisaku Ikeda