I realise it has been a while since my last blog, so I do apologise for that! I am reading from fellow student's blogs that those doing British Council placements have something ridiculous like 8 weeks left of their year abroad, whereas I on the other hand am only half way through my internship and have another 5 months to go! Oui, la vie est dure... But I guess the more time in France, the better? Let's evaluate.
So since I am half way through my year I have asked myself 'what have you learned so far?' and 'what can you expect from the next 5 months?'. Well in all honesty, I feel like I have come to a bit of a standstill in terms of what I am getting out of this experience. I don't feel like each day bring exciting/new experiences anymore, and work is definietley not a challenge. There is nothing I can do that will bring my French to a better level I don't think. It seems like since Christmas I really haven't advanced, and it's just because evry day is the same and I am not doing challenging tasks or anything. I am trapped in the campus bubble, not getting insight into the 'real' world of France/Paris. Ok, I am at an advantage by having a French boyfriend, with whom I can watch French TV, listen to French radio in the car, talk to on the phone and in general just about n'importe quoi, but otherwise my conversations at work are not that rich and the evenings are spent gossiping in English with the girls!! I have really had enough with this library placement. In terms of having tasks and things to do, well, I don't have any! Yes, each day I have to spend 20 minutes putting magnetic strips into reviews and then putting them in their correct place but that's hardly using my French! There are sometimes students who email and ask for a book to renewed which is my job to do for them ( they are not clever enough to do it themselves online) so i'll respond to a few messages in French or English, but it's always the same phrases so no real extention to my vocabulary there. And since I am not qualified on data base research or book covering/preparation, it's always down to me to be left as the person at the welcome desk. Sat on my bum having nothing interesting to do. Sure I can read French magazines and stuff but come on, would you want to do that all day? I need to make the effort myself to do more grammar and vocab learning, and to just strike up conversations myself with students/my colleages. I do tell my colleageus that I am here for anything they need help with. But that doesn't stop them putting up a bad translation on the English website because they didn't get me to check it first!! Of course, the students never cease to amuse me and brighten up my day when they come up to complain to me that the colour printer has printed thier documents in colour...
I have learned that the French are very laid back. I know that seems cliché, but it's so true! 'Coffee after lunch? I've already had an hour and a half break but sure, why not?!' 'This book was due back last monday, but I'll just bring it back the next month, no bother'. 'I'll meet you at 8' and they arrive 20 mins later. 'I'll respond to your email when I get back'. 'I'll just send it to them when I'm ready'. 'Excuse me while I take this phone call instead of serving you'. 'We'll give you full details the night before' 'I'll come and get you later sometile'... I could go on. I have also learned that Gare du Nord is a hotbed for weirdos and teethless men. The same man approched me three times at three differnent places of the station when I arrived yesterday, and I coudn't tell you even what he was asking me because he was talking jibberish. I have equally learned that France are just a little bit behind the times. You can't scan barcodes on library cards, you have to type in the number manually. Online banking is about a week behind date, and equally you can only check your bank balance at your actual bank cash machine, not another bank. Finally, train timetables are not to be trusted! So these all seem like negative observations, huh? Well I have to say that despite what we say I find the French verys honest people. They are just open and will tell you the truth. Perhaps this is where we get the idea that they are 'rude'. I would say differently. Not rude, just honest. I ask my colleague how she is, and she tells me exactly how she is. Even things like emails and texts. Naturally as a female I tend to elaborate and write everything out in full with terms of endearment, hearts and smileys and kisses, whereas the French will literally just respond to the question you asked using as little words as possible, followed (if you're lucky) by a full stop. No messing about with the French! Moreover, greetings and introductions are very important to the French. Everyone you pass around campus is likely to wish you a 'bonjour' whether you recognise each other or not, and also I have found that when you arrive at work in the morning, colleagues make a big thing about saying 'Bonjour' to each other, and on some occasions some of my colleagues have evn sought me out just to say 'I realised we haventt said hello yet today!'. It's nice :) And then there's the whole bisous, a kiss on each cheek even on the first meeting of someone. How is that being rude?!
Anyways, I am SURE that the next 5 months will be great and that things will come up to keep me going. I already have lots of exciting things to look forward to before Easter. I was in London this weekend for a flying visit to spend with the family and we went to see the stage performance of War Horse which was just fantastic. And this weekend my parents, godparents and other family friends will be in Paris for this bloomin' half marathon- and DISNEY LAND!! Quite exciting. I WILL go to both parks, even if I have to do it in a wheelchair following my run aha. Once the half marathon is over I don't know what I am going to do to fill my time with! (The words 'year abroad research project' keep flying around my ears!). Then at the end of March I will be in Nottingham celbrating my 21st Birthday (old, much) and the weekend after that I am going to Château de la Loire with friends here, then I'm seeing Drake in Paris, not sure what I am doing over Easter week end yet but perhaps something fun will come up then too! Am also looking to try and get tickets for Mamma Mia in French in Paris! I don't get any more 'official' holidays until July now. No easter, no half terms. It is currently French holidays and despite the lack of life on campus the library has still decided to stay open. Its almost one o'clock and so far ONE student has walked in the library... This week is going to drag I can tell. I have 7 days worth of congés left to take before I leave, so I need to think of how wisely I can use them. There are an insane amount of Bank Holidays in April/May which I could make use of for long weekends so I'll have to see. I feel like I am not making the most of being in France to travel around and visit people around Europe- I need to get my act together! One of the restraints of working full time is that come the weekend I just want to relax as I only have two days to turn arund and recover and prepare for the next week! But time is going so fast, there soon will be no more weekends left!
The sun has got his hat on again at least in ol' JouY en Josas which naturally lightens the mood of things. I am pleased that cold spell is out of they way, now we can move into spring and Easter and happy bunnies prancing everywhere :) I kid you not, there are rabbits on campus! And the FATTEST cat you have ever seen. And ladybirds everywhere. And ducks. And green parrots. And red squirrels. Quite the nature park HEC campus!
Clearly I am running out of things to say as I have started rambling on about the wild life here. Time to call it a day and say bye , to be honest ( see what I did there).
Bye.
(And again)
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