On commence "le blogue"
Bonjour!
Today was the first day “on placement”. Woke at 0530 for the flight from Birmingham to Nice.
I like flying, generally. This flight was not quite so pleasant as I would say almost all the other passengers were British holiday-makers. I got stuck next to a bloody child screaming “I want to sit by the window”. However, I was sitting by the window and didn’t want to move.
What could I possibly do? Sit there and listen to the kid carry on and get angry looks for the rest of the flight? No! I took out a copy of L’Étranger (an obviously French book) and started to read it. I pretended to be French and unable to understand what the kid wants, it also rendered the family to scared and embarrased to try to ask me to move. First victory before I’d even taken off.
Arrived at about 1400 (local time) to be greeted by my, not boss exactly, but the man to whom I answer. I’m incredibly grateful for this, as it got me off on exactly the right foot. Plenty of chatting en francais as I arrived at my appartement to sort out things with the landlady. The flat is excellent; large room etc. I like the housemates too, which is… a plus.
I won’t go on about my days in detail, but I think one lesson for today is that the French supermarkets don’t give you bags. For anyone else worried that they might struggle when they arrive: Not only do I feel that I can get by suitably well in conversation, but they do as well. (I heard them saying so, too!)
Contrary to popular stereotypes, les francais are pretty friendly, but that might just be the 15-or-so Socialists I met today.
I think it’s fairly clear that everything is absolutely sorted; I’m blogging which means I have internet, after all!
A bientot!
PS. I was out for about an hour (with sun cream) and still got midly red. Heh.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
heh, yeah, don't give the stupid kid the seat… rely on the fact that they probably don't speak french, despite the fact they are going to france. lol. btw is the big picture of nice simply there to make everyone else feel jealous? glad its going well anyway x
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June 16th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Glad to hear you're sunburning, it's the only thing that's stopping me bubbling over with jealousy
. But nah, it's cool you're settling in well.
Found out where I'm going in France, to an agricultural lycée in Normandy. Should be interesting lol, if not as sunny as Nice.
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July 8th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Enjoy your placement Hadleigh!
You will see, your perspective on a fair few things will change through this experience, simply you will see Britain from another angle.
As for flying can't agree more, "once you have tasted flight you will walk the Earth with your eyes turned skywards, there youy have been there you will long to return" as Da Vinci said.
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