Ici, finalement... (Here, finally...)

A warm hello to my friends and family from Grenoble!

I'm seated in an overstuffed chair in my residence's private library, surrounded by tons of french books and a few other students on their laptops.  "La bibliothèque" is in a separate building from where I am living, but within a stone's throw, and it's the only place I can get wireless right now! 

Today I took the SBB (the crazy nice trains of Switzerland) from Basel to Geneva and Geneva to Grenoble. The Shumans sent me off as they would a daughter: they helped me purchase my ticket, they carried my luggage through the station until they literally had it sitting next to me on the train, and Mrs. Shuman sent me off with a great variety of sandwiches, snacks, and treats.  I felt very sad to bid them goodbye, yet I knew that I had a memorable day ahead!

When I arrived in Grenoble, which was nothing short of a bustling metropolis at 4:30 in the afternoon, I found my way to the tram stop, which I took into the heart of the city.  There,  I was supposed to catch a shuttle bus up the mountain to my residence, le Rabot.  I had no idea where to go once I got off the tram, and after an attempt to ask an older woman about "la navette pour aller à Rabot," I meandered toward where other buses were stopping nearby and decided to wait awhile.  This was the most unsure I felt since I began my travels.  However, as I continued to scan the area, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible with my two large suitcases, I saw the small sign that I was looking for, a sign for Rabot.  It's location meant I was exactly where I needed to be!  Certainly, the Lord guides every step, my friends.  La navette came minutes later and I was on my way up to Rabot with about 5 other students!

The narrow road snaked back and forth up the mountain; the bus driver even had to stop mid-turn and back up to get more clearance a few times.  The view of the city got more and more spectacular.  Le Rabot is an old french fort, so as we drove in, I literally felt I was entering a castle.  I easily found "l'accueil" (the reception desk) and met a very nice Candian girl, Jessica, there getting her mail.  She ended up staying with me while I checked in (aka while the kind woman talked my ear off in french for 10 minutes, and I did my best to get it all....), and then Jessica helped carry my luggage up to another building further up the hill (ugh...) where we were both living!  I was exceedingly grateful for this new friend; you have no idea!  The building we live in is called Chartreuse (un joli nom, n'est-ce pas?) and I have a room all to myself, as I thought.  It's cozy (small but just fine), with trimmings in pink (poor boys, I thought).  I immediately opened the windows, which you can swing out so the entire area is open.  The breeze felt so nice and I instantly disovered my wonderful view of the city!  I've yet to explore the entire residence... I'll save decribing it for another day..... but I definitely made my bed right away and unpacked to some Chris Tomlin music (fancy that, for all those who know I sometimes give him a bad rap... :).  The internet does not work in my room yet, so here I am, in la bibliothèque.

Yes, it's true; seven blogs later and I'm finally in the place that my blog picture so wonderfully depicts.  It is even beautiful on overcast days (as was today), and I am anxious to explore the city tomorrow.  I have felt every type of emotion today: sadness, excitement, nautiousness, joy; confidence, frustration, gratefulness, relief.  Overwhelmed a little, yes.  I think these first few weeks of getting lost, meeting strangers, testing language skills, and trying not to miss family and friends will be difficult enough.  And yet--the Lord is my shepherd, I am not lacking in anything.

Pray for patience as I try, fail, and try again with the language; pray that the Lord would direct me to people I can be friends with; pray I would always hold tightly to my faith and to the hope I profess.

Thanks for your excitement and support; you really give me extra confidence. As it's almost my bedtime.... bon soir, tout le monde. :)