Good morning! Yesterday was my first day of school as some of you may know. I think over all it was a good day, except that i corrected the English teacher on how to say climbing - the ‘b’ is silent – and i think i possibly shouldn’t have done that... i was going to have a melodramatic recount with the assistance of comedy, but didn’t get a chance to last night, And then all my jokes flew out the window this morning when I heard the news that my friend Jessie, from school, passed away from leukaemia last night.

I am kind of in shock at the moment... because from her facebook posts I assumed she was getting better... she was a beautiful person and cancer's a bitch. Sorry to be sad, but that’s the way i feel today.

p.s. it is snowing. And tomorrow is a new day - See you then.

Lots of love, Danika

 Hi again! Sorry it has been a few days. Time is flying by too fast already me thinks! The weekend is over, but that’s ok because I am starting school tomorrow! Yesterday, my family and I - expect Julie because she was at a friend’s house - went to our other house in a country village called Poulciaux which is about 30 km out of Aix. I have put photos on my face book because I can't figure out how to do it on here! It’s a town of about 900 people, and is very sweet. There are vineyards in every directing, but they all look a bit skeletal in this winter season. Jean and I played the play station - well he played, I watched, because I suck at that kind of thing! We watched a movie in French too, but I’m not exactly sure what was happening - oh well, I’ll watch it again in a year. For lunch we had home-made 'French fries’, German sausages with mustard cream and a salad. Then we had lemon tart, and two other tarts that jean and I had walked to get from the local bakery.

We couldn't stay the night though, because Jean had a rotary meeting with the local club at 9 the next morning about his exchange in September - he is going to Australia woop woop! i went as well to meet all the Rotarians who have helped make this trip possible for me. turns out I sat there for a few hours trying to understand what was happening! Je ne compriands pas!!! Oh well, there were free croissants so i was happy. Then the mic was passed around and we had to introduce ourselves and say a few words. i was literally the only foreign person there, so i had to get together in my mind what i could say – in french.
i said: "bon jour, Je m'appelle Danika. J'habite à Aix en Provence, mais Je viens de l'Australie. j'ai dix-sept ans, et je parles tres peu le francais, pardon. Je suis content avec mon famille. merci beaucoup". this says: "hello, my name is danika. i live in Aix en Provence but i come from Australia. i have 17 years, and i speak very little French - sorry. I am very happy with my family. Thank you a lot”.

Yay for Danika!

After the rotary seminar, my family and i went out for lunch in a pretty classy joint. P.s everyone puts their elbows on the table! And French people aren’t arrogant, they’re really nice! Little bit of trivia for you.  Anyway, i had sushi. Oh wow, it was amazing. Then we went for a walk and voila! Here we are, the weekend is over and i only have like... 356 days left in France :’(

Until next time, au revoir xxx

bon jour possible followers! my name is Danika Smith and i will be taking who ever is willing to read, on my journey of a lifetime in Aix on Provence. i will start by saying that my grammar and spelling is not amazing, so don't focus on that!

Aix en provence is located in the south east of france, 2o km above Marseille. it has a population of 140,000 people and prides itself on art and water fountains and features. i live in the heart of the city in an apartment which is where my family lives during the week. however, on the weekends we go 40km out of town to their villa in a country setting. i havent been there yet so i wiull have to fill you in later on what it is like.
 i have four family member. My host parents are Charles and Anne, and my siblings are Jean and Julie. jean in 15 and julie is 13. i will be going to school with Jean, but julie goes to a different school until she reaches year 10, when she will also go to jeans school. the school is only a 2 minute walk down the road, and at noon it is common for us to return to home to have lunch. i havent actually started school yet. i start on monday and i am really excited i haven't relly had a chance to meet any new people but that time will come!

today, i got up at 7 and the sun still hadn't risen. im actually shocked though, because i havent found the weasther to be shockingly cold. i think this is due to my geographical location. it has been sunny everyday, but today was a bit windy. i started my day with some freshly squeezed orange juice made by Anne, and when everyone had left and gone to work/school, i had the house to myself. i did a bit of skyping with my auntie and then got ready for another walk through town. at 11:30 i put of some layers and my sunnies and headed off. i instantly ran into my brother Jean and we decided to go hunting for a killer pain de chocolat or similarly, a chocolate croissant. he took me to the "best bakery in town", but they had completely sold out.... so i got a regular croissant - and it was amazing! it cost 1 euro. tomorrow i am gonig to get up early and make sure i get there in time for a fresh pain de chocolat!

when we got home Jean cooked lunch for Julie and myself. he fried up some crepes filled with cheese and ham. yum! then we had cheese with bread. after an hour or so of hanging out, they both returened to school and i went shopping with Anne for some groovy outfits that i could wear to school. i dont have to wear a uniform to school and although that is great it is also a little scary...

anyway, a bientot, dinner is on le table xx

Farewell Australia and Hello France

One more sleep and I leave for my Year in Provence. Watch this space... xxx