France me manque

I really miss France. When I was over there this summer I got really homesick for America, and when I walked into the airport in Boston in August I was humming America the Beautiful to myself. Now, I feel the opposite way. I could easily walk into Charles de Gaulle Airport humming la Marseillaise.
I've never felt this way about another place before that wasn't Holden. Sure, I've missed other places, but it's never really felt like homesickness. I feel like I have some sort of special connection to France now, like it's my home away from home.
I miss walking up and down my street, even though it took forever, and I had to get up early in the morning to catch the bus. I miss the ridiculous heat and the way the cicadas never shut up in the afternoon. I miss my "French family" and the beautiful house I was so lucky to stay in, with the view of the gorgeous back yard and the sparkling blue swimming pool. I also miss the friends I made there from other countries.
One thing I miss in particular was sitting on the back porch in twilight and talking with Berenger (the woman I stayed with's son). He would light his cigarette, and I would stare out at the back yard and pat the dog Aida while we talked about our day and whatever other topics came up. I'm really grateful for his company because otherwise I imagine I might have gotten very lonely in the evenings.
I always feel very proud when I remember conversations I had in French while I was in France because when I explain them to people, I realize I'm translating conversations from French into English. It's a really cool feeling. The weird thing is, that sometimes I feel like I can't even translate them. It's as though you can't just take French and turn it into English; it's not English it's French! French isn't it a translation of English, it's its own entity. That's what's so fascinating about it which I never understood until I went to France. Being completely immersed in another language is amazing. I'm completely convinced it's the best way to learn a language.
I think the reason I feel so attached to France, and like it's my second home, is because in a lot of ways I had to fend for myself. I had the advantage of staying with my mom's friend and her family, but other than that I had to sort of find my own way. I rode the bus every day and walked to classes and in the afternoon I explored the city and shopped for presents for my friends or I want on excursions with the program I was in. I got lost many times, especially my first few days there. As time went on though, I started to know Aix, and know how things were done, and how to get places. It felt like I really lived there, even though I only did for a month.
Wow, I really miss it.