2 months

On the anniversary of me being here two months, I feel like I've settled into something of a routine- 8am start on monday (which means getting up at 6.30) tuesdays off, tutoring Marie-Dominique on Wednesday afternoons, church on Sunday mornings. This post is going to be a bit of a jumble- just bits and bobs that have happened the past week.

Teaching is going well. College is my favourite- I get to play games with the kids and I know enough French to translate stuff when they don't understand it in English. They're enthusiastic bordering on boisterous, but I can handle that, since I only have 6 pupils in my classes. Lycee's a bit more challenging. Had a class of 12 on friday- terminale- ie. about 16 years old. Getting them to talk is harder, they're shy of speaking and my vocabulary in French isn't extensive enough to explain stuff without having a dictionary at hand. Also feel a bit weird teaching people who are only a couple of years younger than me.

The teachers are all really friendly and have done their best to make me feel welcome. Going to Natacha's house for dinner tomorrow- one of the english teachers at college. She lived in England for 7 years and just moved back to France, so we'll have plenty to talk about I'm sure! Have been to two teachers' dinners so far at various people's housees, and last thursday Susan and I went swimming at the piscine at lycee- thursday night is teachers' night, and it's free apart from the 6 euros insurance. (for the year!) Really good to do some exercise again- was going to join the gym up the road but it's 200 euros for half a year (student price) and I know I probably wouldn't go much. So cycling and walking will have to suffice for now!

Money situation is a bit desperate. The cash machine stole my card two weeks ago (because I tried to go over the withdrawal limit of 300 euros PER WEEK, not per day, per week!!) and after having been to Credit Agricole twice to try and recover it, just ordered a replacement card. Had to ask my parents to put money in my English account just so I could pay rent. Not ideal! So all I have is my HSBC account, which I'm loath to use since I'm almost at the end of my overdraft. Really need the CAF money (housing benefits) to come through soon. There seem to be no hard and fast rules as to how long this takes- Rose has already received hers and she applied after Meredith and I- assumedly they'd want the same documents but I had to go and hand some more into the office. Hate French bureaucracy!

Apart from the money trials, everything is going ok. Feel like my French is beginning to improve again, after hitting a bit of a plateau... I'm speaking more French and am generally able to hold a conversation- always nice.

Bicycles and other things

Fell off my bicycle today, cycling back from college- there's a kerb that I'm always a bit apprehensive about on the road before our house, because it's a little uneven. So when I tried to make the transition from road to pavement at an angle that wasn't quite right, and a little too slowly... I went sprawling. A woman immediately stopped and jumped out of her car to see if I was ok (people here are nice like that) ... and after assuring her that 'oui, ca va...' despite my stinging palms and knees, made the sheepish walk back to the house. Washed the mud off my hands and they have bits of gravel embedded in, it's not pretty. And two grazed knees.... feels like i'm a kid again.

It made me think though... when you fall over, the only option you have, really, is to pick yourself back up again. No matter how shit you feel, or how much you want to just sit there and cry in the mud. The past couple of weeks I've been sitting in the mud. There have been days I want to curl up in bed and just cry (and I have) but now I am getting back up again. And I'm aware I'm doing it in a strength that's not my own.... because left on my own, I'm weak.

Toussaint

Thursday afternoon... after a full morning of classes (finally!) and a visit to the CAF office to hand in papers, feel like I've accomplished quite a lot today. A leisurely lunch consisting of a salad with chevre and a mug of hot coffee... perfect. !

Toussaint holiday was just what I needed... in retrospect I wish I'd gone back to England for a week, now I'm really starting to miss home. All the same I had a good time, visiting people and chilling out. Went to see Chris in Paris the first thursday... Domino's (unfortunately the garlic and herb dip not on a par with that in Egham) and a movie in English (yay!) and it felt just like uni!!

Next day I hopped on the train down to Montpellier to see the RH crew down there. Montpellier was HOT! Felt like summer, it was very disconcerting! Friday night the 6 of us (Megz, Diana, Sam, Kate, Bex and I) went to a bbq that a couple of guys from Chad invited them to. They were friendly... kind of too friendly. Maybe we're just too British and reserved, but they were a little scary! One guy kept asking Megan to tell him 'les mots qui touchent' (the words that touch) ... and another kept saying to me 'Tu est africaine... ca me touche!'. The others left after an hour or so but Megz and I rather stupidly stayed on because we were having quite a good conversation with the main guy... but then they kept insisting that we go to a club with them. When we said no they offered to drive us home... and got really offended when we wouldn't accept! All in all, we were glad they didn't gang rape us, though.

Saturday we pottered around town and watched episodes of Extras on Megan's laptop... TV heaven! Saturday night the group of us went to an australian bar- best place ever. Health and safety regulations, happily seem to mean nothing to the management. Dancing on tables is allowed; nay, encouraged. The bar staff habitually bang on the lights with their ice-shovels in time to the songs, and the piece de resistance: they set fire to the bar! Love Montpellier. !

Sunday I went to have lunch with Diana's church, who were very friendly. We went to 'le musee de desert' afterwards- this little house high up in the mountains (which were gorgeous!)--- a protestant museum documenting the story of french protestants during the reformation. Apparently 50% of France converted to protestantism, and were subsequently persecuted/tortured/killed by the catholics... until 2% remained. Nice one, catholic church! I never knew anything about any of it so it was an interesting day, quite sobering when you realise how much people give up for their faith. On a lighter note... Sunday night Megz, Di and I had an amazing meal of kebabs (my first ever!) and went to see the queen... the film, sadly not her majesty (happily in English) and the day after didn't do much. In the evening we sampled the culinary delights of the uni canteen (very good for the price!) then went back to Diana's room to watch Brice de Nice, possibly the best french film ever made! So that was montpellier. !

Megz and Tall Chris came to visit me the following weekend. Had fun wandering round Blois market, buying pretentious books (by pretentious I mean French) and gazing wistfully in the shop windows of various patisseries. Visited Amboise chateau on the sunday which was awesome- such a beautiful day to see it as well. We decided we'll get rich and buy it one day- it's a very cosy castle and we can totally imagine living there. The walk back to the station was gorgeous! On one side of the river the sun was setting and the water was all golden and blue, and the other side the moon was rising...and it was pink and purple. We felt like such hippies, we kept stopping to take photos and say how pretty it was! Afterwards came back to the house for Bonfire Night... unfortunately sans bonfire, fireworks, or indeed, a Guy Fawkes, since such things aren't commonplace in France. Still, ate some nice burgers and sausages and made s'mores over candles (combining the best of English and American customs!) and played Kings (Ring of Fire) after, though I didnt drink much due to my 8 am start on monday morning!

So that was Toussaint... I feel rested but at the same time I am so ready to come back to England for a holiday, I miss people.