So despite my family hosting students for the past ten years, I managed to surprise them (only me!).
Monday, when I got back from school no one was home yet. I couldn't exactly remember the security code so I waited, and waited, and waited hoping someone would come back from work. Finally, I decided I remembered the code and opened the door. I couldn't find a light switch so I hit what I thought were the correct numbers and waited. For about twenty seconds I thought I was fine. Then this awful blaring noise rose up all around me. Halogen lights started flashing. NO! NO! NO! I run to the kitchen and find Cathy's number and then run back into the hall to get the phone. The alarm stops, perfect I think, I will have time to call Cathy before it starts again. But the stupid phone doesn't work! Some perfectly poised French lady is telling me I need a card. I don't have a card! So I run to get the OTHER phone. And as I'm running the alarm starts up again, louder even more high pitched. I have visions of mean French police bursting in like a SWAT team and demanding what I am doing in this house and me struggling to explain myself through tears and poor French. I dial Cathy's number on the second phone and wait. She picks up, I frantically explain, as best I can, what I have done. She tells me the code but, of course, I can't here her until I stow away in the pantry. Then I run back out to the hall to stop the alarm (which I still can't see because I still can't find the light) and everything stops. Just like that it's over.
I am still a little shocked this happened to me, but I'm already laughing about it. After everything I have been through this is "c'est normal", as the French say, for me and for study abroad.
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