HAPPY BIRTHDAY & Registration Day - Day 6

Even though I made it here, it's time to start studying. To be honest, the last few days, I had forgotten that my true intention here was to study and learn more about marketing and creativity. I went to registration and sat beside my first ever friend here, Sebastien. We discussed that I could call him "Bas," even though he didn't normally like it. He is from the Netherlands and just the nicest, sweetest guy. A girl, Eva, who had also met Bas, came to sit beside us as she was from the Netherlands as well. We all hit it off right away and I was happy to learn that she was living in residence too!

Presentations started on Health and Safety (the regular boring stuff). I mostly spoke with Eva over lunch. Then we got a presentation from our Program Director, Marie Taillard, and Laurence Claviere. Every student said their name and nationality. In the end, we are 47 students, 30 nationalities, 14 boys, 33 girls. Everyone seemed to have a very long list of places where they had been so I felt a little out of place when all I said was "Claûde, I'm from Canada." We also each said a little something special about ourselves to our neighbour who had to announce to the class the special thing. Bas said "Claûde plays professional soccer." Right away I had to correct him and say, "No no no, just competitive." A solid laugh to break the ice with the whole class.

The presentation made me feel ecstatic, scared, nervous, curious etc. It's a totally new approach to business that encourages out of the box thinking and new ideas. 

At sometime in the middle, Marie walks in with birthday balloons and a box! I was actually hoping it was someone else's birthday. Marie walked up to me, and as Eva and Bas knew it was my birthday, they started singing "Happy Birhtday." The whole class quickly joined in. You can imagine how red my face was. I read the card, and of course, it was from the family! What a GREAT family I have. Mom thought it was going to go to my room but I guess the reception desk and Marie decided it would be best to announce it to the whole class!a

Afterwards, we had a nice cocktail hour which was nice for all the students to get to know each other. There was also alumni there so I asked them if they fount it difficult. They both said that it was extremely difficult but that it also gets easier. So only time will tell.

All night I was referred to as the "birthday girl!" It was truly very nice to have everyone celebrate my very special day with me.