Is That Really You ?

When I was in year 11 at school many years ago.

I met an exchange student from Quebec,her name was Chantale.I'll say her name in the hope that she stumbles across my blog one day.
She was on a life changing experience,a 12 month exchange with an Australian family.

We instantly bonded.She was a little older then me,more worldly and so interesting.
She taught me french and we used to swap letter's between classes everyday.
Chantale made me write those letters in french and we would laugh at my mistakes.

She used to sleep over at my place and I would make her watch all my favorite Australian DVD's. She never complained. I loved her bright sunny outlook on life.
I love how grown up and travelled she was. She had a fierce sense of direction and Independence.

She was incredibly opened minded and we spent hours talking about her customs and traditions.

I had never met anyone like Chantale,before I knew it, our 12 months came to an end.On that last day before she went home. I gave her my favourite piece of jewellery,a silver heart locket with my name on it. She had always loved that locket. I remember telling her that a piece of me was going with her.

She gave me her French to English dictionary and wrote a sweet little message inside.

We tried to keep in contact,but letters were hard, and I missed her terribly. I even phoned one day, but no one could understand my Aussie chatter.
I gathered that Chantale had moved and that was where the contact ended.

I have spent many years searching for Chantale,now alot easier thanks to the Internet.

I have never found anything no trace nothing,but today that changed.

That little French- English dictionary, the one she gave me 20 years ago, fell out of my linen cupboard.

It just fell out on the floor from an old bag. For a second,I looked at it and went to toss it back into the cupboard, but something made me open it.
There staring at me was a photo of the both of us and a message....

It read... "Write me...I'll miss ya and remember,no matter where we are in the world. When I see the moon, I know you will see it too. I'll wave and if you look closely you will see my shadow and I will see yours waving back at me...Friends forever....."

So I picked up that dictionary and I logged onto face book,like I have done so many many times.

I willed her to be there and for a second I was disappointed that she wasn't,but then the 3rd photo down,that face, that hair...is that you?....

I clicked on her friend list and they are all from her home town...oh it has to be you!

Please let it be you.....

I sent her a message...and I so hope I hear back and that she uses Face book,now my biggest fear is that the account is old, or she does not use it. She only has 22 friends,so maybe it's not a huge time waster of hers...

So close....so so very close....

Wish me luck, wish us luck.....