Excuse me, what'd you say?

I'm by no means an insecure person. I know I don't look like a supermodel, and I've accepted it. I've accepted the fact that I'm a short person and will probably never be tall. I'm a walking train wreck before noon. I'm mean anytime after noon. I'm one of the most confusing people you could ever meet. I'm an obnoxious girl, with an even more obnoxious laugh. I'm probably too honest and I'm way too loud. But I've learned to accept all of this. One thing I haven't accepted yet is my incredibly strong southern accent.
I've been constantly teased about this accent for as long as I can remember. Throughout the years, I've accepted the "if you can't beat them, join them" idea. I make fun of my own accent sometimes, but for the most part I can't even tell that I have an accent. I'm not really sure where I picked up this accent. None of my family members have accents, and only friends I've recently met have them. People never believe that I'm from West Virginia when they hear me talk. I always get asked if I'm from Tennessee, South Carolina, or Alabama.
I guess I haven't really had trouble speaking English until I came to a foreign country, in which they don't even speak English. I speak no French, but I've attempted to learn the basics, like asking do they speak English. However, when I ask, no one understands a thing I say. After minutes of confusion between myself and whomever I'm talking they finally will realize what I said. But, then they can't understand my English! What's a girl to do? I've tried to tone down my accent, but it's impossible. Maybe I should carry around pen and paper with me or just learn how to get around without having to ask for help. Nonetheless, I have a month to figure this out!
- Erryonna