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 …
Making friends in Montpellier
October 19, 2013
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 …
‘Scuse my french
October 16, 2013
Post written by Georgie Suttie My first impression of France is that nothing is straightforward. No internet until you have a bank card, no bank card until you have money, no money until you get paid. And forms galore. Having spent the summer in Spain, this experience will be somewhat different. In comparison to Valencia, …
Life in Bordeaux…I’ve never felt more popular in my life
October 13, 2013
What a busy three weeks it has been; finally I am able to sit down with a cup of tea and say a little ‘bonjour’ from Bordeaux. I hope that everyone is doing well. It’s amazing here. I’d love to say that all the clichés and stereotypes about French people are wrong, but I can’t… …
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