As I mentioned in my last blog, I had a 4 day weekend which I took advantage of to go back to Notts for some home comforts. It was just perfect. I really needed it and it did me some good, seeing family and friends and just being in m own big double bed with my cats!! The weekend went too quickly, but it was amazing being home. I had had a bit of a bad week the week before, so was in need of some TLC! But then, as I wanted to say, it was back to reality for me and has been the past few weeks.
Currently sat enjoying a bowl of Heinz tomato soup with my leftover French baguette after a long and jam packed weekend spent in Paris. HEINZ!!! Yes, the real deal, found in a Casino supermarket in Paris! Along with other 'typical' English-associated delicatcies such as Baked Beans, Strongbow (lol), Digestive biscuits, PG tips, Jacobs crackers, Dr Pepper and Marmite. It's funny to see what other countries associate as being English food. I had a little moment of excitement when I saw the 'Angleterre' isle, so tried to take a photo but was told by a plain clothes guard that it was 'interdit' to do so!! Then, while I was in line at the till, he approached me again asking me to delete any photos I had taken, and to show him while I was doing it! Seriously, The French! So I do apologise for the lack of photo evidence!
So this friday was another excuse for a Bank Holiday. To be honest, I am pleased to have had the Friday off as for some reason I was exhausted by wednesday! I had originally planned to take up an offer from my colleague to stay in her little house in Normandy with her and her mum for the weekend, but she only offered me one night and it didn't really seem worth it for one night when I have a potential 3 to benefit from, and plus the train fare was quite a lot just for a flying visit. I have to big up my colleague actually (the hypochondriac! I feel bad saying that before), as she has been very kind to me, taking me under her wing almost just by calling me for a little chat! I am hoping this will eventually turn into 'Come over for dinner' Or 'Lets meet for coffee' or something! But anyway, instead I was lucky enough to spend the whole weekend in Paris thanks to Sylvia's colleague who kindly lent us her apartment as she was away this weekend. It was so nice of her! We didn't have to worry about how we were going to get back or having to cut our night short or whatever, because we were able to just hop on a train or a bus to her apartment. I spent friday shopping for a phone contract and a new coat, both of which I found, then met Sylvia for coffee before wandering along the river and Notre Dame to the Latin Quarter for dinner. We finished off the night by going to the cinema to see Polisse; a film about Child Protection Unit in Paris, very powerful- a few tears were shed! But it was nice to be out doing something cultural, and even though we got out at midnight we did't mind because we knew how easily we could get back and go to bed!
Saturday was another day of sight seeing and wandering and shopping, and we also had coffee and dinner with another Southampton-Paris student who we know. We ate in a nice student area, and I had cheese fondue!! After saying our goodybyes, Sylvia and I wandered along the river and towards the Eiffel Tower, its spectacular at night. Then successfully caught the night bus back to our pad. Simple! So yeah, just headed back to HEC today (Sunday), I went on my long run ( started my training schedule, no slaking now!), did my laundry (always an effort) and spent about 2 hours on skype to my parents ( love them) so haven't really got much done on my list which I was hoping to do! But hey, I always have time to kill at work so I can always do stuff at work!
I really am not joking. I love work because : its good money, I have French colleagues with whom I speak French all the time, socialise with them over lunch, I interact a lot with students and meet new people, but my goodness it is so BORING!! If I do have work to do I complete it pretty quickly and then behind the desk all afternoon, you can't help but go on facebook! :S I try to find excuses to get up and walk around a bit, otherwise my bum just gets sore. I have been running during my longer lunches which is great, as I have just enough time to shower afterwards and it means that I don't have to think about running in the dark after work. Its scary how dark it gets so quickly, and last week there was even a spooky fog cloud over campus which didn't move for days which made the place look like the scene of a horror film or something. I kept thinking Jack the Ripper was going to jump out at me. Luckily though, the sun had his hat on this weekend which made Paris even more wonderful.
There was another crazy CUSSON dinner last week, but it was very chaotic! For me it wasn't as enjoyable as previous ones. They had overbooked, so I didn't even have a chair to sit on, or a glass or cutlery! The people around me were rude and didn't want to make the effort to talk to me. It was too hot but people refused to open the window. There were constant drunken chants echoing everywhere which made it hard to talk and think. I kept getting ignored by the waitors.And to top it all off... I had to eat lasagne! It was a very stressful moment for me, as a vegetarian,but I blame the useless waitor who refused to get me a salad or bread. Can't blame him though, in a noisy environnement 'Lasagne' and 'Salad' are very similar words, clearly... But I wasn't paying 15€ for nothing!
To be honest, I am quite pleased at how well I have done so far being a vegetarian in France. I think it is getting more recognised, but it's still not really understood! I don't understand why a salad is always given rather than a simple plate of veg and rice or something?! At the canteen it's usually the hardest because I never really get a 'substantial' meal because a lot of stuff has meat in. But even in restuarants there is almost always something I can eat and so I shouln't go too hard on myself for eating like a spoonful of mince the other day! :S I remember trying veganism once a few years ago, and that DEFINITELY wouldn't work in France! Imagine Paris without Nutella Crèpes!
My first English grammar class was a success. I think! Very challenging for me, giving an English lesson in French, but it helps with grammar between both languages and it opens your eyes to the difficulty of our language which we take for granted! I was thrown into the deep end by having 'Auxiliaries' as my first lesson, but hopefulyl next week will be a bit easier as my student has requested that we do 'Questions'. This opportunity has also opened a door to another French contatc, as we regularly text to try and arrange meeting up for coffee or something. I even had an offer to stay at her house one weekend, but would that be weird to stay at my colleages house with his daughter?! Any excuse to get out of the campus though I guess!
Glee club is progressing well, we have a concert at the beginning of Dec which we are preparing for. I am also going to sing a song with two of my flatmates which will be exciting!
I am going to a big student Mass service at Notre Dame tomorrow night, what an amazing experience that will be! I love Notre Dame, it is so pretty. But apart from that not much more to look forward to this week. Work, running, Zumba... the weekend!
Ruth/Lily/Doofs, whatever you call me :p xxxxx
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