On 14th of December (a day after acceptance), I went to Alliance Française de Tachkent and signed up for the course starting in Feb. Alliance was very classy, french vibes, a lot of french native speakers too. Fortunately, my group only had 4 people, which made it almost an individual lesson.

Pros: Alliance is established by French Embassy (so official); teachers were good (mine was Madame Sevara and she was a dedicated teacher for sure); class size was small; and they have this big library of original books in french.

Cons: Classes are rare (not in summer), only 2 times a week, so you will have to spend 5 months studying one level (I think this was to some extent good because I could study passively and manage it with my work which got progressively heavy); administration and sales work very bad, resulting in a bad customer service.

Overall my experience was pretty good there. I have finished A1 (I know very small progress) but at least something before I start taking French in college this fall. You can see a letter I wrote after I finished half of A1, and later my result from DELF A1 after I finished the whole A1.

Was it hard? Not that much. It was a mix of Russian grammar + English words. A lot of things do not make sense though. Everything is either feminine or masculine. Nothing in the middle. 99 is 4*20+10+9 (quatre-vingt-dix-neuf). And of course, the pronounciation is peak. But I think it is going managable.

Now as I see into the internet, I come across French songs, books, or materials a lot. They turned out to be as common as I expected them. And finally, I can like some French reels cuz I actually understand them (a bit). MDR :)

Bon journée à tous)

@Rasulov_Jamshidbek

Last day on earth as an 18 year old.

It feels very normally casual and weirdly strange at the same time.

I never really felt how I aged. My 15 was the same as my 16 and same with 17 and so on i guess. At some moments, I think I matured for my age very early and sometimes (though rarely) the vice versa. Last year, turning 18 was an incredible expectation putting. Because you know, it is 18. So many songs about it, the official age when I could finally go out at night myself, and just generally first step i guess. But as I said, nothing much changed between ages.

My 18th year was incredible if I actually think about it. People tend to forget what they experienced, and for that reason, when I open my gallery I immediately get reminded that I actually have a super interesting and exciting life. I am greatful to god for all. I mean think about it - I finally got in, traveled to another country with the boys, held a steady job, had family and friends whom people look up to, did dozens of interesting activities (be it sports, films, concerts) and finally packing my bags to fly away and start the new chapter in 10 days.

People tend to ask me a lot how old I am. I don’t really give them the answer. Rarely people know. I think it could have gotten our connection a bit into trouble (for me at least) and I still think so. Thus, I hope even after this, we will have the same relationship and respect with all my acquintances and friends (if i was a big bro, then let it stay big bro. Don’t make it awkward for me pls).

And YES. I am just 18, and turning fully 19 tomorrow. I just went to school a year earlier and studied with 06s.

But apparently age does not matter. What matters is who you are and what you do.

And. Forever young.

@Rasulov_Jamshidbek

26 hours till my flight.

Less than an hour.

New Yorkga Tayyora tayyor)

Why no one told me that I have to study in college?!

It has been 2 months since I came to the US, and I could not post at all. It is mostly because I did not really have free time as I focused on experiencing this moment myself live, but I will try to make some posts now.

I flew down to JFK Airport but did not go to the New York City itself. I took the college shuttle and came to directly to Conn College.

Honestly, these roads look exactly like in the movies. Yellow lines, big trucks, high-elevated pickups like Ford F150, and miles instead of km. I also for the first time saw that Chevrolet makes cars that we do not have in Uzbekistan.

I was so tired when I came though, for I flew to Istanbul then NYC, and I slept like a baby on a hard college matress.

@Rasulov_Jamshidbek