That question really bothered me 7 months ago when I was still in Indonesia. I was laying on my bed, browsing photos through Instagram just like what an ordinary girl would do before I closed my eyes to sleep. I tried to remember when was the last time I did something for the very first time? I remember how I thought that my life was just another ordinary-boring-not special life as anyone else on this earth. I remember how the thoughts of myself bothered me a lot that day.
"Wow! How boring my life is!".
But then my exchange year happens.
There are lots of things that became my first time here in France. Beside the normal and the expectable things such as "eating bread" and "eating bread in France". But the real first things which going to make this post seems like a list written with paragraphs.
My very first time going somewhere more than 7 hours in the airplane. The longest time before France was China. It was 7.30 in the airplane and when I went to France it was more than 20 hours in total. It was also the first time I transit in 2 countries.
My very first time leaving the country for such a long time. I mean, it describes enough. I lived in a city called Medan. The third biggest city in Indonesia and it is located only around 1 hour from the closest sea and 2 hours from the closest mountain. I competed in a lot of competition in Indonesia, that also counts as all the national competitions that made me leave the town for a week or more. I also travel a lot with my mother or only with my twin sister abroad. But leaving the country to be a young ambassador of my country, it's just something that I couldn't imagine before this actually happens to me. Realizing that I would have to think a lot in a new language that I've never heard before, I would need to build a new person with an image that I didn't know how it will turn out to be, I would have to try to find friends as much as I can in such short period time with the language that I hope people understand.
My very first time having a family that doesn't even have any blood-related to me and knowing that I'm not adopted, I'm just so lucky to have this awesome family. Also my very first time to meet someone who is going to become the people who I will call them "Maman" or "Papa", they are my second and third host family. They are so nice too. This is also my very first time having sisters without the same blood nor the same hair color nor the same skin color nor speak the same language.
My very first time eat desserts regularly since in Indonesia we don't eat desserts as often as French does here.
My very first time giving a presentation and public speaking in other language beside Indonesian and English.
My very first time take the train and bus regularly to go to school because in Indonesia it's normal to drive illegally to school.
My very first time to call people from all around the world my family.
My very first time that got lost is a daily basis. I love this one. I love to get lost here in France since I think that I'm here only for a year and I think get lost is a really effective way to know the town better and discover what others don't know. I like to do this with Maria Laura, a Bolivian girl who goes to exchange with Rotary too and she is in the same school with me so we are so close to each other. We usually just go to the subway, close our eyes, point at all the stops it will go and wherever it is, we are going there for sure!
My very first time putting on real hot scarfs. This one is actually so stupid because I didn't know how to put this on in the very first time. I ended up almost choked myself because basically what I did was only roll it up on my neck as tight as I could.
My very first time cooking something without surveillance. In Indonesia we have the people who usually do the houseworks. Whenever I tried to cook something, they were always there, taking care of me just in case I do something wrong. But I eventually cooked a Dadar Gulung in the Thanksgiving day which is of course, my first thanksgiving ever.
My very first time feel the temperature lower than 12 degree. The lowest was in China. But it was still acceptable because it's 12, no big deal. But here, it's already 1 up to -1.
My very first time having school until 6 p.m. In Indonesia, the school finished at 1.45 p.m so we can do other activities after school outside the school.
My very first time living in a country without hearing the adzan 5 times a day. In Indonesia, the majority of the population are muslim so we hear Adzan 5 times a day regularly.
My very first time watch a dance performance in an opera and watch an opera. My very first time see a runway show. My very first time have 4 dishes in a course. My very first time eating desserts as a habit. My very first time try Bollywood dancing. My very first time being in a mask party. My very first time going to a concentration camp.
My very first time see the snow. For the people who follow me on my instagram would have know my update so often since I upload a lot there. But at 7th December 2014 I saw my first snow in Strasbourg. I was so happy that I cried.
There are too many things that I did for the very first time here in France. I realized that I would never done that in Indonesia and I also realized that, it all started with one big thing that I did for the very first time "decide the hardest and full of risks and face the scariest fear". 1 month before I took the plane. France was the scariest fear and I didn't want to go anymore. I almost lost the big chance to do another very first time thing but then I controlled myself and now I think that if I didn't do that, all the things that I did for the very first time here in France, would never happen...........
"Wow! How boring my life is!".
But then my exchange year happens.
There are lots of things that became my first time here in France. Beside the normal and the expectable things such as "eating bread" and "eating bread in France". But the real first things which going to make this post seems like a list written with paragraphs.
My very first time going somewhere more than 7 hours in the airplane. The longest time before France was China. It was 7.30 in the airplane and when I went to France it was more than 20 hours in total. It was also the first time I transit in 2 countries.
My very first time leaving the country for such a long time. I mean, it describes enough. I lived in a city called Medan. The third biggest city in Indonesia and it is located only around 1 hour from the closest sea and 2 hours from the closest mountain. I competed in a lot of competition in Indonesia, that also counts as all the national competitions that made me leave the town for a week or more. I also travel a lot with my mother or only with my twin sister abroad. But leaving the country to be a young ambassador of my country, it's just something that I couldn't imagine before this actually happens to me. Realizing that I would have to think a lot in a new language that I've never heard before, I would need to build a new person with an image that I didn't know how it will turn out to be, I would have to try to find friends as much as I can in such short period time with the language that I hope people understand.
My very first time having a family that doesn't even have any blood-related to me and knowing that I'm not adopted, I'm just so lucky to have this awesome family. Also my very first time to meet someone who is going to become the people who I will call them "Maman" or "Papa", they are my second and third host family. They are so nice too. This is also my very first time having sisters without the same blood nor the same hair color nor the same skin color nor speak the same language.
My very first time eat desserts regularly since in Indonesia we don't eat desserts as often as French does here.
My very first time giving a presentation and public speaking in other language beside Indonesian and English.
My very first time take the train and bus regularly to go to school because in Indonesia it's normal to drive illegally to school.
My very first time to call people from all around the world my family.
My very first time that got lost is a daily basis. I love this one. I love to get lost here in France since I think that I'm here only for a year and I think get lost is a really effective way to know the town better and discover what others don't know. I like to do this with Maria Laura, a Bolivian girl who goes to exchange with Rotary too and she is in the same school with me so we are so close to each other. We usually just go to the subway, close our eyes, point at all the stops it will go and wherever it is, we are going there for sure!
My very first time putting on real hot scarfs. This one is actually so stupid because I didn't know how to put this on in the very first time. I ended up almost choked myself because basically what I did was only roll it up on my neck as tight as I could.
My very first time cooking something without surveillance. In Indonesia we have the people who usually do the houseworks. Whenever I tried to cook something, they were always there, taking care of me just in case I do something wrong. But I eventually cooked a Dadar Gulung in the Thanksgiving day which is of course, my first thanksgiving ever.
My very first time feel the temperature lower than 12 degree. The lowest was in China. But it was still acceptable because it's 12, no big deal. But here, it's already 1 up to -1.
My very first time having school until 6 p.m. In Indonesia, the school finished at 1.45 p.m so we can do other activities after school outside the school.
My very first time living in a country without hearing the adzan 5 times a day. In Indonesia, the majority of the population are muslim so we hear Adzan 5 times a day regularly.
My very first time watch a dance performance in an opera and watch an opera. My very first time see a runway show. My very first time have 4 dishes in a course. My very first time eating desserts as a habit. My very first time try Bollywood dancing. My very first time being in a mask party. My very first time going to a concentration camp.
My very first time see the snow. For the people who follow me on my instagram would have know my update so often since I upload a lot there. But at 7th December 2014 I saw my first snow in Strasbourg. I was so happy that I cried.
There are too many things that I did for the very first time here in France. I realized that I would never done that in Indonesia and I also realized that, it all started with one big thing that I did for the very first time "decide the hardest and full of risks and face the scariest fear". 1 month before I took the plane. France was the scariest fear and I didn't want to go anymore. I almost lost the big chance to do another very first time thing but then I controlled myself and now I think that if I didn't do that, all the things that I did for the very first time here in France, would never happen...........