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Welcomed by glorious French sunshine
October 20, 2013
Upon my arrival in France on the 21st of September 2013, I was wearing a woolly jumper as I was dressed suitably for the English weather, not ready for the glorious French sunshine. A 3 course meal spaced out over several hours was great when I first arrive but hours of conversation in a language …
First words in Bordeaux
The first words in French are, without a doubt, the hardest. “Excusez-moi, où se trouve l’arrêt de bus?” were specifically my first French words to a real live French person (the lady at the helpdesk at Bordeaux-Merignac airport, to be precise.) It’s a bit like getting into a swimming pool really. You can dip your …
Feeling immediately like a local in Southern Spain
October 19, 2013
Stepping out of the Ryan Air plane onto the warm Southern Spanish terrain was a welcoming assurance of the summery climate we would be living in! We caught a taxi from Jerez to Cádiz crossing the bridge and heading down the long strip of flats and shops which eventually lead to the walled ‘Casco Antiguo’ …
Oh Vienna
Post by Justine Volet Has anyone ever seen the beginning of “L’Auberge Espagnole”? (A French movie depicting the adventures of a Parisian student in Spain) Yes? Brilliant! Because this is precisely what the start of my Year Abroad in Vienna has been like, minus the heat, unfortunately. No matter how “prepared” I thought I was, …
Becoming more fluent in Salamanca
I’ve now been in Salamanca, Spain for roughly nine weeks, and I’m already halfway through the Spain part of my year abroad, which is pretty scary. Time has gone really quickly, and it feels just yesterday that I arrived! Arriving in mid-August, the heat was unbearable. I spent a few days in a hostel when …
I could get used to live here in Stuttgart
Post written by Lucy Kirkup Arriving in Stuttgart for the first time is a moment I will never forget. As my train pulled in to this beautiful city I was suddenly very aware that Stuttgart lies in a valley. Surrounded by vineyards and hills, Stuttgart is a distinctive city in Germany. One thing is certain …
Making friends in Montpellier
From the airplane window I saw the south of France, the coastline, the beach, the blue sky, the sun. For so long I had waited for this moment. It was amazing finally arriving in my new hometown for the next 8 months. Luckily I met three other English assistants at the airport in Montpellier who …
An eye-opening beginning in Toulouse
October 18, 2013
Post written by Harry Canning It has been an eye-opening first month in Toulouse. By now I have just about settled; a roof over my head, a bank account, a mobile contract and a Carrefour loyalty card. These seemingly routine achievements have come amongst numerous other, sometimes bizarre administrative requirements – such as a mandatory …
Settling in France after a four hour trip to Ikea
After finding out I got allocated somewhere I had never heard of, with only one club with a wooden interior and where the university had closed down shortly after the French revolution, I didn’t have high hopes for the French part of my year abroad. I was allocated my third choice – Orleans-Tours and I …
‘La vie est belle en Toulouse.’
October 17, 2013
As the summer of 2013 drew to a close I was uncertain of what lay ahead of me. The prospect of moving to Montauban, Southern France seemed both overwhelming and exciting. As I left my hometown of Colwyn Bay I felt a great sense of independence as I began my adventure. On arrival, my main …
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