Ok So it suddenly got so much better after that (if you are reading this from the top, please scroll down to read the post below first, or else it won't mame any sense!!)
Well after I left the Internet cafe, last wednesday, I met one of the other American assistants, Kelly, She currently lives in Mauberge about 15mins from here, but she is hoping to find a place to live in Valenciennes, so she had just been to look at a flat, and she was just going to the station to get the train back, so I walked with her. We both got on the train, and we swaped numbers so we could arrange to meet up again. When we got to Aulnoye the train stoped for a while, I got off, and when I got to my flat the train was still in the station, then I saw the 1st 2 coaches pull away! It turns out that only the front coaches were going to Mauberge, and Kelly was on the 3rd coach! She then had an 1/2 wait until the next train, So she came up and saw my flat, and had a cup of tea while she waited! It was really nice to speak to someone else in english for a change.
The thursday and Friday were so much better in the school too. We actually did english lessons! it was really nice, the teacher introduced me, and then she showed them my map of the UK and explained (in french) about how the UK was made up of 4 countries and England was just one of the 4. Then she had some Photos of British things, (like Big Ben, Cricket, Pounds, Cup of tea etc) and French things, (like The Eiffel Tower, Boules, Euro, Wine etc) and the children had to guess if the thing was British or French. They seemed to really enjoy it, and I think they liked seeing things that were different in Britan! Finally I showed them some British money, they loved finding the Queens head in the back of the coins!! In the end, I did the same lesson with the 7-9 year olds, then the 6-7 year olds, then the 9-11 year olds, except with the older children the teacher got the children to name other counties that spoke english, and then they had pictures of american things as well!
On Friday afternoon, I got a text from Kelly saying that she was going to go to Valenciennes to meet up with some other assistants, did I want to go? I said yes, but because I had school on Sat I had to get the last train back to Aulnoye, which unfortunatly was 10pm! I met some of the assistants, and they said that they were going to be watching the Rugby, (gotta stop, lunch break is over, will go to internet cafe afterschool to finish!)
Right so school has finished now, so I can continue, Yeah so some of the assistants said that they were going to be watching the rugby on sat, but the only way I would be able to, was if i could staty at someones flat Sat night cos the last train would be half way through the match!! Luckily one of the American assistants said that I could stay at his on Sat night. Unfortunatly since most of the assistants showed up at about 9:15 I didn't really get a chance to meet them all, cos I had to go which was annoying.
So on Sat I had to get up to be at the school by 8;30 which was fun! The kids played Handball for about 1 hour, which was quite fun to watch, especially as most didn't seem to know the rules and were just making it up as they went along! Then I had another English lesson, which was quite fun, the teacher taught them how to say Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening, and then she gave them all English names!! So now not only do i have to remember their actual names, but their English ones as well! In the afternoon I went swiming, I haven't been swimming for ages, forgot how hard it was!! But the hot tub and the shower afterwards was nice!! Then i was going to go on the Internet, but there were no spare computers, so I phoned Mum and Dad for a bit; Then, due to extreamly stupid train times on Saturdays, the only train I could get to Valenciennes left at 6:30, Luckily Michael (the american assistant I stayed with) was able to meet me at 7 and we got something to eat, before going to the bar, where everyone else was to watch the Rugby.
When we got there it was packed, mostly with French supporters, but the English assistants had got a little corner, with flags and stuff! Most of the american assistants decided to support France though, some even went as far as having french flags on their faces! (they felt pretty silly afterwards!!!) It was a really great atmosphere in the bar, i think my favourite bit was hearing the commentry even though it was all in rapid fire french, and the commentator only seemed to know one English player, Johnny Wilkenson!!! It was funny to hear the change in the tone of voice, from quite confident about 15mins before the end, to disbelief, and then sadness at the end!! Despite being massively outnumbered we still managed to get some chears going, and at the end the French were very nice, and some even came over and shook our hands, saying it was a good game, so that was nice. Afterwards we were all on a bit of a high, and walked arround Valennciennes for a bit, then a few people decided to go into another bar, so we went in there; it was really nice cos we could all sit down and talk so i got to meet about 15+ other assistants, and I made sure i got numbers of most of them. It was really werid going from not knowing anyone, to suddenly knowing a big crowd of people. They normally go out each weekend, and loads of people have said that I am welcome to stay on their floors over the weekend, which is good.
On Sunday a big group of us met up and went for lunch at Flunch, Which is a kinda fast food self service restruant, the food was really nice and quite cheap too, and it was great to be able to talk more with the people I met the night before. After lunch, because it was so hot and sunny, about 6 of us decided to go for a walk round the park. It was really nice in the sunshine with all the french families out and the kids playing and stuff. We walked arround Valencenniens for a bit, I've no idea where, but down all these little side streets and stuff, it's a really preaty town. Then i had to go to get the Train back to Aulnoye. I had a really good weekend, and I'll definatly be meeting up with them all again soon!
One of the things we were talking about, was what to do during our Toussaint holiday which is from 27th Oct- 7th Nov, quite a lot of the English assistants are going home, but i don't really want to, so I was wondering what the American assistants were going to do, a Few of them were planning to go to Toulouse for a week or so, so i might go with them.
I had orginally thought that Dad and Natasha were coming during the first few days of the Toussaint holiday, because I thought that was when Natasha's half term was. Apparently not, they are actually coming next sunday!! Luckily i am only working tuesday afternoon while they are here, so we should still be able to do the same things. i am still really looking forward to them coming, but now i have to work out whether I will be able to go to Valenciennes to watch the Rugby final, and still be able to meet them at the Train station on Sunday afternoon!!!
Well thats me up to date
Till the next time!
Becca
Monday, 15 October 2007
Updates - Part one
I know I'm rubish at updating this, but i've been really busy, so this update has to be in 2 parts, It's the only way to explain the sudden change in fortune I've had over the past week. In actual fact this post is a copy on an e-mail I sent to my friend last Wednesday, which explains how i was feeling at the time.
Wednesday 10th October
I'm currently in an internet café type thing in Valenciennes, (well I say café it's more somewhere for young people to find jobs and stuff, well thats what everyone else seems to be doing) and it's free, but only for 1 hour, so I don't have long. Valenciennes is a town about 1/2 hour away by train from Aulnoye, I ended up here, cos it's wednesday, and so the kids aren't in school, and I wanted something to do. In fact i've just spent the last 2 hours just wondering aimlessly round the town. I did manage to buy a landline phone, so at least when I get evrything set up, I'll actually have a phone to make calls on! But thats it! Theres no point me going into any shops cos i've barely got any money, I've got about €100 to last me till the end of the month!! Well I do have money in my English account but I was hoping to save that, just in case I don't get paid at the end of October, ( I should do but only if all the correct forms have been recieved by the head office in Lille by today. I filled them all in at the begining of last week, I just hope they all got sent off on time!) SO I was basically wondering whether I should either keep wondering round, or go back to Aulnoye, when I found this place! So now I have something to do for another hour yey!!!
I started work in the school yesterday, well I say work, all I actually did was sit in the back of the classroom "making notes" for 3 hours. They didn't even do any english lessons, they had maths and science lessons. The maths I just about managed to follow, but I had no idea what they were doing in science, It took me about 15mins to work out the were doing biology, and were talking about body parts!! I really have no idea how I suposed to be of any assistance to the teacher when I don't even know what it is they are doing!! I'm working again on Thursday afternoon, at least this time i think they are actually having an English lesson, Though it is their first lesson, so it's all in french anyway!
still haven't heard anything from the girls I met last week, so I think I'll be spending another weekend on my own
Sat should be ok cos I'm working, and then I thought I'd go see what the Swiming pool is like, and then I can always go tot the internet café I found the other day for a bit, Sunday I have no idea what to do, cos EVERYTHING is shut on sunday, seriously in a town with very little to do anyway, sundays are even worse cos there is nothing to do. I was so bored last week I ended up cleaning the flat!! Hopefully by next weekend I should have internet, so I can have something to do.
I think that is the worse thing about being here, being on my own practically all the time, I meen the people in the office are nice enough, in fact eveyone I've met has been really really nice to me. But there is no one else I know who is my own age, even the other assistants live at least 15 min away by train, so it's not like I can just pop round to chat to them! I guess i'd gotten used to having people round me to talk to that being on my own is just a bit of a shock, i don't know, Right now I can't wait for Natasha and dad to come over during half term (she doesn't know yet so don't say anything!) not just cos I haven't seen them for ages, but also because it meens that for 3 whole days I'll actually have someone else to talk to!!!
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Ok so thats how i was feeling last wednesday, Read the post above, to see how it all changed.......!
Wednesday 10th October
I'm currently in an internet café type thing in Valenciennes, (well I say café it's more somewhere for young people to find jobs and stuff, well thats what everyone else seems to be doing) and it's free, but only for 1 hour, so I don't have long. Valenciennes is a town about 1/2 hour away by train from Aulnoye, I ended up here, cos it's wednesday, and so the kids aren't in school, and I wanted something to do. In fact i've just spent the last 2 hours just wondering aimlessly round the town. I did manage to buy a landline phone, so at least when I get evrything set up, I'll actually have a phone to make calls on! But thats it! Theres no point me going into any shops cos i've barely got any money, I've got about €100 to last me till the end of the month!! Well I do have money in my English account but I was hoping to save that, just in case I don't get paid at the end of October, ( I should do but only if all the correct forms have been recieved by the head office in Lille by today. I filled them all in at the begining of last week, I just hope they all got sent off on time!) SO I was basically wondering whether I should either keep wondering round, or go back to Aulnoye, when I found this place! So now I have something to do for another hour yey!!!
I started work in the school yesterday, well I say work, all I actually did was sit in the back of the classroom "making notes" for 3 hours. They didn't even do any english lessons, they had maths and science lessons. The maths I just about managed to follow, but I had no idea what they were doing in science, It took me about 15mins to work out the were doing biology, and were talking about body parts!! I really have no idea how I suposed to be of any assistance to the teacher when I don't even know what it is they are doing!! I'm working again on Thursday afternoon, at least this time i think they are actually having an English lesson, Though it is their first lesson, so it's all in french anyway!
still haven't heard anything from the girls I met last week, so I think I'll be spending another weekend on my own
Sat should be ok cos I'm working, and then I thought I'd go see what the Swiming pool is like, and then I can always go tot the internet café I found the other day for a bit, Sunday I have no idea what to do, cos EVERYTHING is shut on sunday, seriously in a town with very little to do anyway, sundays are even worse cos there is nothing to do. I was so bored last week I ended up cleaning the flat!! Hopefully by next weekend I should have internet, so I can have something to do.I think that is the worse thing about being here, being on my own practically all the time, I meen the people in the office are nice enough, in fact eveyone I've met has been really really nice to me. But there is no one else I know who is my own age, even the other assistants live at least 15 min away by train, so it's not like I can just pop round to chat to them! I guess i'd gotten used to having people round me to talk to that being on my own is just a bit of a shock, i don't know, Right now I can't wait for Natasha and dad to come over during half term (she doesn't know yet so don't say anything!) not just cos I haven't seen them for ages, but also because it meens that for 3 whole days I'll actually have someone else to talk to!!!
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Ok so thats how i was feeling last wednesday, Read the post above, to see how it all changed.......!
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
This is it.....My first steps into English teaching!!!
I know I haven't updated for a while, it's hard not having unlimated internet access, (but that is going to change my internet has been ordered (through Neuf) and should be up and running in the next 2 weeks!)
Anyway just a quick update about my timetable, I'm working in 2 schools, 1 one week, one the next. this way I get to teach all the classes. unfortunatley there aren't enough english clases for me to just assist in them, so I'm going to be assisting in other classes too! Though doing what, I have no idea!!!
I work this week in ecole Steivenart, tues, thurs and friday afternoon, and Sat morning, then next week in Ecole Joliot Curie, Monday and tuesday afternoon, All day Thursday and Friday morning. It meens that every other weekend I get a 4 day weekend, which is good if Iwant to go somewhere. (Unfortunatly the other weekend is just Sat afternoon and Sunday off, so not quite as good!!)
I'm spending the next 2 weeks observing the classes, so I can get an Idea of what I'm meant to be doing!! I start this afternoon in Ecole Steivenart. Finally after 2 weeks I'm doing what I came here to do!!!
Will update soon to let you know how it went.
Rebecca
Anyway just a quick update about my timetable, I'm working in 2 schools, 1 one week, one the next. this way I get to teach all the classes. unfortunatley there aren't enough english clases for me to just assist in them, so I'm going to be assisting in other classes too! Though doing what, I have no idea!!!
I work this week in ecole Steivenart, tues, thurs and friday afternoon, and Sat morning, then next week in Ecole Joliot Curie, Monday and tuesday afternoon, All day Thursday and Friday morning. It meens that every other weekend I get a 4 day weekend, which is good if Iwant to go somewhere. (Unfortunatly the other weekend is just Sat afternoon and Sunday off, so not quite as good!!)
I'm spending the next 2 weeks observing the classes, so I can get an Idea of what I'm meant to be doing!! I start this afternoon in Ecole Steivenart. Finally after 2 weeks I'm doing what I came here to do!!!
Will update soon to let you know how it went.
Rebecca
Thursday, 4 October 2007
I Don't keep a diary
There is a very good reason why I don't keep a diary, I am not very good at updating it! I had this great idea that I would keep a blog, (Which lets face it is a sort of web diary, isn't it) so I could let evryone know what I was up to in Frenchland. Well I hadn't quite counted on the fact that I wouldn't have unlimated internet access like i'd been used to, or just how long it would take to write each post, or how busy I would be in the 1st couple of weeks, that I wouldn't be able to update all the time. Hence the reaaon why "My First Week in France" only goes up to Tuesday, and it's now the following Thursday, and I've only just got round to updating. I'm going to try to do a (hopefully briefer) update of what I've been doing over the last week, otherwise it'll get silly qnd Ill never right in this blog!
Well Wednesday was mostly spent shopping for things for the appartment, (kettle, toaster, rugs, cutlery etc) as well as getting food for the next few weeks, so it was really good having Mum and Dad there to pay for everything!! We also went to a really nice Pizza Place in the evening, in the town, so at least thats one good thing in the town!
On Thursday Mum and Dad went home, I went with them to Lille and we spent some time walking around the town (mainly so Dad could refilm some of the town that had mysteriously dissapeared from the video camera!) We went to the supermarket so I could get a duvet and pillow, then Mum and Dad got on the Eurostar :'( and I came back to Aulnoye. I went to the office where the Brigette's worked so I could use the internet, which was good as it gave me something to do. I watched DVD's in the evening, although it was a bit lonely.
On Friday, I went to meet the teachers and children in the 2 schools I would be working in. They were all really nice, the children in every class wanted to say 'hello' to me, and some were brave enough to tell me their names and ages in English, which was very cute. It seems that there would be some conflict with my classes, where I'd need to be in 2 places at the same time! Which unfotunatley would be slight inpossible! So I sugested maybe doing one week at one school and the next at the other. This works out better, but it seems that i'm doing about 14 hours (over 2 weeks) English, and the other 10 hours in other lessons, doing what i've got no idea!
On Friday night I went to stay at Brigette P's house for the weekend. She has two daughters, Maryléne who is 20 and Anne-Sophié who is 18. They were all really nice to me, We went to Brigette's parents house for dinner on Friday, and I went with Anne-Sophie to meet some of her friends, which was good. We played pool, and Then Anne-Sophie decided that we should all speak English for 20mins. It was really strange, cos they were speaking English with a french accent, I started speaking like that too! And I kept answering in French when they asked me questions in English!
On Saturday, I spent alot of the day on the internet which was good, then in the evening Maryléne's friends came over and they taught me how to play poker! It was quite confusing, even when I read the rules in English, I still mannaged to lose, (good job we wern't playing for real monny!) Though I did teach them the word 'Fold' for when you can't play anymore, they don't have a word in french, they just put their cards down which seems a bit boring to me!!
On Sunday I slept really late, It wasn't entirely my fault. In France (or round here at least) they have shutters on the window insted of curtins, ( though my flat has curtians!) which block out all the light...compleatly it's pitch black. I woke up on Sunday, and cos it was still dark in the room, I assumed it was really early, so I went back to sleep again, When I woke up the next time it was still really dark, but I looked at my watch this time and saw it was nearly 11:30!!!! I reckon it was probably about 9 or 10 when I first woke up but cos it was so dark i didn't know!!
In the afternoon I went on the internet again, and then later Maryléne and her friends took me to this cocktail bar they liked. It was in Belgium! Apparently they are only about 20 mins drive from the boarder, I hadn't realised it was soo close! The bar was really nice, sorta Hawaiian themed, with all sorts of fruit cocktails. I had a Strawberry and Pineapple one which was yummy!!!
Anyway it's getting late now, everyone will be going soon, and I can't really be bothered to write anymore! I'll try to write some more tomorrow maybe
à tout l'heure
Rebecca
Well Wednesday was mostly spent shopping for things for the appartment, (kettle, toaster, rugs, cutlery etc) as well as getting food for the next few weeks, so it was really good having Mum and Dad there to pay for everything!! We also went to a really nice Pizza Place in the evening, in the town, so at least thats one good thing in the town!
On Thursday Mum and Dad went home, I went with them to Lille and we spent some time walking around the town (mainly so Dad could refilm some of the town that had mysteriously dissapeared from the video camera!) We went to the supermarket so I could get a duvet and pillow, then Mum and Dad got on the Eurostar :'( and I came back to Aulnoye. I went to the office where the Brigette's worked so I could use the internet, which was good as it gave me something to do. I watched DVD's in the evening, although it was a bit lonely.
On Friday, I went to meet the teachers and children in the 2 schools I would be working in. They were all really nice, the children in every class wanted to say 'hello' to me, and some were brave enough to tell me their names and ages in English, which was very cute. It seems that there would be some conflict with my classes, where I'd need to be in 2 places at the same time! Which unfotunatley would be slight inpossible! So I sugested maybe doing one week at one school and the next at the other. This works out better, but it seems that i'm doing about 14 hours (over 2 weeks) English, and the other 10 hours in other lessons, doing what i've got no idea!
At lunch time I went to the canteen. When Brigette had been talking about going to the canteen for lunch, I thought there was one near the offices, or in one of the schools, but actually, it seems there is a big canteen that all the primary schools in the area use, and they all go there by bus. It's a bit weird, but the food is very nice!
On Friday night I went to stay at Brigette P's house for the weekend. She has two daughters, Maryléne who is 20 and Anne-Sophié who is 18. They were all really nice to me, We went to Brigette's parents house for dinner on Friday, and I went with Anne-Sophie to meet some of her friends, which was good. We played pool, and Then Anne-Sophie decided that we should all speak English for 20mins. It was really strange, cos they were speaking English with a french accent, I started speaking like that too! And I kept answering in French when they asked me questions in English!
On Saturday, I spent alot of the day on the internet which was good, then in the evening Maryléne's friends came over and they taught me how to play poker! It was quite confusing, even when I read the rules in English, I still mannaged to lose, (good job we wern't playing for real monny!) Though I did teach them the word 'Fold' for when you can't play anymore, they don't have a word in french, they just put their cards down which seems a bit boring to me!!
On Sunday I slept really late, It wasn't entirely my fault. In France (or round here at least) they have shutters on the window insted of curtins, ( though my flat has curtians!) which block out all the light...compleatly it's pitch black. I woke up on Sunday, and cos it was still dark in the room, I assumed it was really early, so I went back to sleep again, When I woke up the next time it was still really dark, but I looked at my watch this time and saw it was nearly 11:30!!!! I reckon it was probably about 9 or 10 when I first woke up but cos it was so dark i didn't know!!
In the afternoon I went on the internet again, and then later Maryléne and her friends took me to this cocktail bar they liked. It was in Belgium! Apparently they are only about 20 mins drive from the boarder, I hadn't realised it was soo close! The bar was really nice, sorta Hawaiian themed, with all sorts of fruit cocktails. I had a Strawberry and Pineapple one which was yummy!!!
Anyway it's getting late now, everyone will be going soon, and I can't really be bothered to write anymore! I'll try to write some more tomorrow maybe
à tout l'heure
Rebecca
Saturday, 29 September 2007
My 1st week in France - Tuesday
Tuesday 25th September
Breakfast at the hotel was only served until 9am, so we had to get up early, (for me anyway since I was used to not getting up much before 10!!) It was just pastries, which I really like, that's one good thing about the french, having cakes for breakfast!! There was no tea which was a bit annoying, (well there was tea but no hot water!!) We checked out off the hotel, but they let us leave our cases there which was good, as we still had 3 hours until the train to Aulnoye.
We went to the station (as the hotel was right oppersite) to buy the train tickets. It seems the machines at the stations here only take cards, which is a bit anoying as I like to pay with cash, but which happened to be quite good for me because it meant Dad had to pay with his Mastercard!!!
We went for another wander round the town, and then it started raining so we went inside a shopping centre, but it was quite small, I was stating to feel quite tired by this point, so sat down to have a rest. It was only 11am, so we still had 2 hours to fill, we all looked at the maps of Lille to see what else we could do. Mum spotted that there was a Zoo which had free entry not to far away, so we went there. Unfortunatley it took nearly 45 mins to get there, and to find the entrance, so we could only look round quickly. It was quite small, but it had a few birds, and monkeys, and zebra and things. Was very nice considering we didn't have to pay!
It was then nearly 12:30 so we went back to the hotel to get our cases and then to the station. it was then I realised I was very glad we got the tickets earlier, there were loads of people in the station, and we would have probably missed the train if we'd had to queue to get tickets then! Unfortunatley our train left from the platform furthest away from the station, so we had to pull the cases all the way, and only just made the train! It was just over an hour until we arrived in Aulnoye, I think I fell asleep on the train for a little while!
When we arrived we (or rather Mum and Dad!) had to carry the suitcases down some steps, under the tracks, and up the other side! When we came out, there were 2 women who cme over and asked if I was Rebecca, I said I was and they introduced themselves as Brigette, (They are both called Brigette! one is Brigette L, the other Brigette P!) They took us to my new flat, which is litrally right across the road from the station!
I'll try to describe the flat a bit, but when I get my own internet I'll take pictures and put them on here. Well, after what Mum had been saying about the bedsits in Ashford, I was feeling really worried that I would end up with something horrible, damp and dirty, but in fact it is lovely. It has a wardrobe, which easily fits all my clothes in, a desk, a bed, 2 bedside tables, a bookshelf, a table, 2 chairs, a seperate bathroom, though there is only a handheld shower which is a bit anoying becase I like to have showers rather than baths. The kitchen...well it's not really a kitchen, more just a hob and a sink in a cupboard, with a fridge underneath, nevertheless it's all clean and tidy, especially after Mum cleaned all the surfaces! (Thank you Mum!!) And it's just fine for me, plus there is enough space if people stay over to sleep on the floor!
Right so having arrived at my appartment I then had to go to the wardens office (the guy who looks after the building) to sign loads of stuff. Mum and Dad were still with me, and the Brigettes were managing to speak in french and in english, which was more than I was doing! I was despratly trying to speak French, but it was really hard to find the right words to use.I actually have no idea what I was signing, it looked like the rental agreement, but I'm not sure what it said, so I hope there are no problems! Mum and Dad still didn't have anywhere to stay the night, and there were no hotels in Aulnoye, but the Brigettes said they would find somewhere.
There was a bit of a problem when they realised that I didn't have insurance for the building, (I have travel insurance for myself and my possesions, but it is not easy to insure an appartment, when you don't know where it is or what it is like!) and after a lot of discussion in french, which I didn't really understand, it was decided that I needed to open a back account and get insurance through the bank. The next thing I knew we were walking round the corner to the bank, and half an hour later I had an account! I only had a vauge idea what they were all saying, but managed to work out that I have an account for 7 months with a debit card so I can get money out, and insurance which will cost 6€ per month. After signing some more things, and geting photo copies of my passport it was all done. I am so glad the Brigettes were there, cos I never would have been able to do that by myself!
After ,we went back to the appartment and unpacked a bit. Then the Brigettes took us to there office to sign some more things, and to try to find somewhere for Mum and Dad to stay. After a lot more discussions in french, during which me, Mum and Dad just sat in the corner, not reqlly knowing what was going on, it was decided that Mum and Dad could stay in the Hotel School in the town. It's not actually a hotel, more a training centre for people to work in hotels, but it has a few rooms, and Mum and Dad could stay in one of them. We would also be able to eat in the canteen that evening.
Brigette L drove us back to my flat, though we stoped at the supermarket next door first to get a few bits quickly. It was then that I realised that the French don't have fresh milk only UHT milk, which takes some getting used to!!! Mum and Dad picked up their suitcase and we went to the Lyceè Hôteliere, which was in the centre of the town, about 20 mins walk away. The people at the school were really nice, one of the students spoke very good english, so he was in charge of looking after us. Their room was really lovely. The only problem was that they had to be back by 10pm each night becaise that was when they locked the gates! We ate in the canteen which was a fairly good meal, and then Mum and Dad walked me back to my appartment. I didn't have a kettle yet, so I had to boil water on the stove to make tea!! We made up my bed, but I didn't have a duvet, so I used my sleeping bag insted!
After Mum and Dad left, I looked around, and I suddenly realised that this was it, I was going to be staying here, in a country where I couldn't completly understand the language, with people that (however nice they were) I didn't know, away from all my family and friends, and quite sudenly I just burst into tears, I just stood there in the middle of the room crying for about 15 mins, before deciding that I really should get ready for bed, which I did, Mum and Dad phoned about 5 mins after to say that they had got back OK, and to say goodnight, which nearly set me off again, but I calmed myself down, put on my laptop to listen to music, and wrote a list of all the things I needed to get the next day, (there was quite a lot!) before finally going to sleep;
Breakfast at the hotel was only served until 9am, so we had to get up early, (for me anyway since I was used to not getting up much before 10!!) It was just pastries, which I really like, that's one good thing about the french, having cakes for breakfast!! There was no tea which was a bit annoying, (well there was tea but no hot water!!) We checked out off the hotel, but they let us leave our cases there which was good, as we still had 3 hours until the train to Aulnoye.
We went to the station (as the hotel was right oppersite) to buy the train tickets. It seems the machines at the stations here only take cards, which is a bit anoying as I like to pay with cash, but which happened to be quite good for me because it meant Dad had to pay with his Mastercard!!!
We went for another wander round the town, and then it started raining so we went inside a shopping centre, but it was quite small, I was stating to feel quite tired by this point, so sat down to have a rest. It was only 11am, so we still had 2 hours to fill, we all looked at the maps of Lille to see what else we could do. Mum spotted that there was a Zoo which had free entry not to far away, so we went there. Unfortunatley it took nearly 45 mins to get there, and to find the entrance, so we could only look round quickly. It was quite small, but it had a few birds, and monkeys, and zebra and things. Was very nice considering we didn't have to pay!
It was then nearly 12:30 so we went back to the hotel to get our cases and then to the station. it was then I realised I was very glad we got the tickets earlier, there were loads of people in the station, and we would have probably missed the train if we'd had to queue to get tickets then! Unfortunatley our train left from the platform furthest away from the station, so we had to pull the cases all the way, and only just made the train! It was just over an hour until we arrived in Aulnoye, I think I fell asleep on the train for a little while!
When we arrived we (or rather Mum and Dad!) had to carry the suitcases down some steps, under the tracks, and up the other side! When we came out, there were 2 women who cme over and asked if I was Rebecca, I said I was and they introduced themselves as Brigette, (They are both called Brigette! one is Brigette L, the other Brigette P!) They took us to my new flat, which is litrally right across the road from the station!
I'll try to describe the flat a bit, but when I get my own internet I'll take pictures and put them on here. Well, after what Mum had been saying about the bedsits in Ashford, I was feeling really worried that I would end up with something horrible, damp and dirty, but in fact it is lovely. It has a wardrobe, which easily fits all my clothes in, a desk, a bed, 2 bedside tables, a bookshelf, a table, 2 chairs, a seperate bathroom, though there is only a handheld shower which is a bit anoying becase I like to have showers rather than baths. The kitchen...well it's not really a kitchen, more just a hob and a sink in a cupboard, with a fridge underneath, nevertheless it's all clean and tidy, especially after Mum cleaned all the surfaces! (Thank you Mum!!) And it's just fine for me, plus there is enough space if people stay over to sleep on the floor!
Right so having arrived at my appartment I then had to go to the wardens office (the guy who looks after the building) to sign loads of stuff. Mum and Dad were still with me, and the Brigettes were managing to speak in french and in english, which was more than I was doing! I was despratly trying to speak French, but it was really hard to find the right words to use.I actually have no idea what I was signing, it looked like the rental agreement, but I'm not sure what it said, so I hope there are no problems! Mum and Dad still didn't have anywhere to stay the night, and there were no hotels in Aulnoye, but the Brigettes said they would find somewhere.
There was a bit of a problem when they realised that I didn't have insurance for the building, (I have travel insurance for myself and my possesions, but it is not easy to insure an appartment, when you don't know where it is or what it is like!) and after a lot of discussion in french, which I didn't really understand, it was decided that I needed to open a back account and get insurance through the bank. The next thing I knew we were walking round the corner to the bank, and half an hour later I had an account! I only had a vauge idea what they were all saying, but managed to work out that I have an account for 7 months with a debit card so I can get money out, and insurance which will cost 6€ per month. After signing some more things, and geting photo copies of my passport it was all done. I am so glad the Brigettes were there, cos I never would have been able to do that by myself!
After ,we went back to the appartment and unpacked a bit. Then the Brigettes took us to there office to sign some more things, and to try to find somewhere for Mum and Dad to stay. After a lot more discussions in french, during which me, Mum and Dad just sat in the corner, not reqlly knowing what was going on, it was decided that Mum and Dad could stay in the Hotel School in the town. It's not actually a hotel, more a training centre for people to work in hotels, but it has a few rooms, and Mum and Dad could stay in one of them. We would also be able to eat in the canteen that evening.
Brigette L drove us back to my flat, though we stoped at the supermarket next door first to get a few bits quickly. It was then that I realised that the French don't have fresh milk only UHT milk, which takes some getting used to!!! Mum and Dad picked up their suitcase and we went to the Lyceè Hôteliere, which was in the centre of the town, about 20 mins walk away. The people at the school were really nice, one of the students spoke very good english, so he was in charge of looking after us. Their room was really lovely. The only problem was that they had to be back by 10pm each night becaise that was when they locked the gates! We ate in the canteen which was a fairly good meal, and then Mum and Dad walked me back to my appartment. I didn't have a kettle yet, so I had to boil water on the stove to make tea!! We made up my bed, but I didn't have a duvet, so I used my sleeping bag insted!
After Mum and Dad left, I looked around, and I suddenly realised that this was it, I was going to be staying here, in a country where I couldn't completly understand the language, with people that (however nice they were) I didn't know, away from all my family and friends, and quite sudenly I just burst into tears, I just stood there in the middle of the room crying for about 15 mins, before deciding that I really should get ready for bed, which I did, Mum and Dad phoned about 5 mins after to say that they had got back OK, and to say goodnight, which nearly set me off again, but I calmed myself down, put on my laptop to listen to music, and wrote a list of all the things I needed to get the next day, (there was quite a lot!) before finally going to sleep;
Friday, 28 September 2007
My 1st week in France - Monday Part 2
Right I have the computer for about 1 hour so I can continue with my week. I should point out that I have discovered that the keyboards in France are different to the ones in England, so if anything is spelt really wrong then it's because I'm not used to this keyboard, (and it's not just an excuse for my terrible spelling honest!)
Right so we arrived in Lille, (me with extra chocolate down my top!) and went to our hotel which was only about a 10 minute walk from the station. I was already to speak my first bit of french to the man in reception, but he obviously heard us talking in English beforhand because as we approached he spoke to us in English! And his english was far better then my french would have been! The hotel was quite nice, we had a tripple room, and it was fine for one night. We dumped the suitcases and went for a wander round Lille.
The town itself is really nice with lots of old buildings and cobbled streets, we had a look in the shops and found a nice sandwich bar to eat in, which led to my second attempt at french, at which the guy just looked slightly puzzled, until I asked in english, then he understood!
We had a look in the big shopping centre, (Very nice with lots of shops!!) and then went back to the hotel for a rest, (well, it was 5pm, I'd been up since 6:45 and I'd lost 1hour time difference!!!)
About 8 we decided to go to find somewhere to eat , we found a really nice resturant and so I went to try my 3rd attempt at French, I asked for a table in french....The waiteress replied in English!!! I was going to ask for a French menu, but I was too tired to try anymore french, and it was easier with the english, at least I could be sure what I was eating!! By the time we had finished eating it was after midnight, so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep!
Right so we arrived in Lille, (me with extra chocolate down my top!) and went to our hotel which was only about a 10 minute walk from the station. I was already to speak my first bit of french to the man in reception, but he obviously heard us talking in English beforhand because as we approached he spoke to us in English! And his english was far better then my french would have been! The hotel was quite nice, we had a tripple room, and it was fine for one night. We dumped the suitcases and went for a wander round Lille.
The town itself is really nice with lots of old buildings and cobbled streets, we had a look in the shops and found a nice sandwich bar to eat in, which led to my second attempt at french, at which the guy just looked slightly puzzled, until I asked in english, then he understood!
We had a look in the big shopping centre, (Very nice with lots of shops!!) and then went back to the hotel for a rest, (well, it was 5pm, I'd been up since 6:45 and I'd lost 1hour time difference!!!)
About 8 we decided to go to find somewhere to eat , we found a really nice resturant and so I went to try my 3rd attempt at French, I asked for a table in french....The waiteress replied in English!!! I was going to ask for a French menu, but I was too tired to try anymore french, and it was easier with the english, at least I could be sure what I was eating!! By the time we had finished eating it was after midnight, so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep!
My 1st week in France - Monday
I'm not sure how long I can be on this computer, am hoping to go have some lunch soon, so this will be part 1 of my 1st week in France, I'll add more when I can.
I'll go through day by day, so it doesn't get too confusing.
Monday 24th September
It was raining, and I was all ready to go with my suitcases packed. I had 3 and Mum and Dad had 1, Dad then thought that we might not be able to get on the Eurostar with all the cases, and so wanted me to leave one behind. After opening once case and deciding that no, there wasn't anything I could possibly leave behind and so we would have to take all 4 cases.
After saying goodbye to Natasha and Nan we drove to Ashford station. Due to a mixup with the train times, I thought that the Eurostar train was leaving at 10.23 and so we would need to be there by 9:50 in order to check in, therfore I had a bit of a panic sunday night when I realised that the train we had planned to get from Ashford, (9:11) wouldn't get us there in time and so we needed to get the 8:41 train, which ment us leaving by 7:45, so that we could drive to the station, unload the car, and then Mum could drive home, and walk back again. I've never been to Ashford station that early in the morning, it was very cold, very wet and very busy, And we had to wait in the rain for over 1/2 hour. Mum came back about 8:20 looking surprisingly dry for someone who'd walked, But she'd got a lift, which was good cos she probably wouldn't have made in otherwise.
So anyway we got on the train and went to Waterloo. We went to the check in and Dad gave me the tickets. It was then that I saw that the train was actually leaving at 10:43 and so we could have got the later train... grrr! We had about 1 hours wait so we got something to eat and drink, before bording the train. It was then that we realised that none of our seats were together, Luckily Dad and I managed to swap arround and sit togther but Mum was a few rows in front.
It was a relativly simple journey execpt I managed to pour hot chocolate down my new white top, so I have to wash that at some point!
After 1hour 40 mins we arrived in Lille, France.....
TBC
I'll go through day by day, so it doesn't get too confusing.
Monday 24th September
It was raining, and I was all ready to go with my suitcases packed. I had 3 and Mum and Dad had 1, Dad then thought that we might not be able to get on the Eurostar with all the cases, and so wanted me to leave one behind. After opening once case and deciding that no, there wasn't anything I could possibly leave behind and so we would have to take all 4 cases.
After saying goodbye to Natasha and Nan we drove to Ashford station. Due to a mixup with the train times, I thought that the Eurostar train was leaving at 10.23 and so we would need to be there by 9:50 in order to check in, therfore I had a bit of a panic sunday night when I realised that the train we had planned to get from Ashford, (9:11) wouldn't get us there in time and so we needed to get the 8:41 train, which ment us leaving by 7:45, so that we could drive to the station, unload the car, and then Mum could drive home, and walk back again. I've never been to Ashford station that early in the morning, it was very cold, very wet and very busy, And we had to wait in the rain for over 1/2 hour. Mum came back about 8:20 looking surprisingly dry for someone who'd walked, But she'd got a lift, which was good cos she probably wouldn't have made in otherwise.
So anyway we got on the train and went to Waterloo. We went to the check in and Dad gave me the tickets. It was then that I saw that the train was actually leaving at 10:43 and so we could have got the later train... grrr! We had about 1 hours wait so we got something to eat and drink, before bording the train. It was then that we realised that none of our seats were together, Luckily Dad and I managed to swap arround and sit togther but Mum was a few rows in front.
It was a relativly simple journey execpt I managed to pour hot chocolate down my new white top, so I have to wash that at some point!
After 1hour 40 mins we arrived in Lille, France.....
TBC
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