February 23, 2015, by Sunita Tailor

Caves, Quimper, and Crêpes

This blog post was written by third year English and French student, Amelia Smith from the School of English.

Four months into my year abroad and all is going amazingly.

I got to celebrate my 21^st Birthday here, and even my parents flew in for the occasion! It was great to show off my new life: introducing them to friends, absorbing the beauty of this city that I’m so proud to call home. Everyone came out for drinks in a cave/ wine cellar (could it get more French?) and having a room full of friends from France, America, Canada, Spain, Australia, England, along with my parents was just the most amazing feeling.

Last weekend, me and a group of my fellow language assistants took a trip to Quimper in Brittany. We peered at the pretty city from under our umbrellas, a Breton seaside town in January was just as expected…cold. Luckily we sheltered in the Cathedral – which was stunning. As great as it was to see Quimper, the most fun was had all together in our apartment, we cooked a huge curry, sang along to guitar tunes and generally had a fab time in the warm.

So this weekend we stayed in Rennes. I can’t believe the vibrancy of this city, there’s absolutely always something to do! There was a wine festival on – it would’ve been rude not to go! We sampled all kinds of wines, champagne and chocolate. It’s surprising how all those little sips do add up, the day ended with 9 rather jolly Anglophones rolling into a Lebanese restaurant and eating Falafel.

Today we went to a flea market in Place des Lices. Still shocks me how the assistants here are all so similar, we’re from every corner of the globe yet we like and want the same things. I’ve never been with a group of people who are so like-minded, it is amazing. So we mooched around the market, looking for any must-have French antiques and vintage clothing. And then, as regular as clockwork, Sunday crepes! We go to the same Creperie every Sunday, getting to know the serveurs by name. We all love the Tartiflette Gallette, a delicious gallete with potato, bacon, onions, cream and cheese.

Teaching is still going great, starting to get to know the pupils now. They’ve got exams coming up so it’s getting serious, you can feel the worry in the air – the French students reeeally work so hard! I’ve started volunteering in a Primary School. Little French children are ridiculously cute, I get to teach 2 whole classes and it’s so much fun! When I hear them singing our rendition of ‘If you’re Happy and you know it clap your hands’ in the playground, it’s so rewarding; it really feels like I’m making a difference.

Only 2 weeks to go until the school holidays! Crazy! Lots of travelling around Europe planned, so excited!

 

 

 

 

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