When I first arrive in New Caledonia, a small Melanesian-majority French colony in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, my French is shit. Like properly shit. Like, people can’t understand me when I try to order a baguette.
I knew it had to be bad. I did nearly fail half of my university French classes, and…
My host family is kicking me out. I found out today at school when our contact at the vice-rectorate came up to me and said she needed to discuss something.
“But don’t worry,” she says, “you’ll see a new place next week. Oh, and don’t take it personally."
I speak to my host that afternoon.…