The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. Red T-shirts, iPads, Kindles, interactive whiteboard, photo exhibition, book sale, tour guides… it’s all go for the Library Day! For the past two months the Library staff have been organising this spectacular event, to promote the Library and it’s resources ( even it’s ‘hidden’ resources) to students, professors, and staff. It is all a bit of a show though, I have to say. The interactive white board was only installed last week, the iPads and Kindles are on loan, there are never TV screens with slide shows on repeat, and there are NEVER this amount of librarians present! But in all honesty, a lot of work has gone into this open day, and it has been great for me as I have had loads of translations to do for various posters/programmes/ info guides so I can’t complain. There has been biscuits, tea and coffee available all day, a fabulous book sale consisting of donated second hand books in all languages, on sale for 1 or 2 euros each! I took the opportunity to buy Le Petit Robert for 2€ (! Literally, they are like 40 quid in England!) , Of Mice and Men (in French), A Midsummer night’s Dream (in French- check me out) and I have to admit… Twilight! (in French too though!) I was staring at all these 1€ Molière and Voltaire books thinking to myself , “ I really should buy these and read them, I am a French student after all” but… I just couldn't bring myself to do it.. Equally, I already have enough stuff to get back to England in suitcases; books are not going to help that! Especially not with Le Petit Robert which is HUGE!!
Anyway, the day is going well, everyone is happy and chirpy and there are plenty of activities on offer. ( Although, like always, I am stuck at the desk hence why I am writing this!) Sadly, not many students have made an appearance, it’s been mostly staff but I think that’s due to lack of promotion, and also the fact that students here think they are too good for the library as they already know everything already. The cocktail later might prove me wrong though. I have given a couple of tours in English and done a bit of interpreting here and there for various demonstrations. Makes a change to usual dull days here, at least I’m not doing pages of data input..
My weekend was brightened up thanks to Ella Dove, whom I visited in Le Havre for the weekend. I realised that she leaves in 5 weeks ( as if!) and I haven’t yet been anywhere out of Paris to visit someone so I had better get on that train before I have no one to see! It was a lovely weekend in Haut Normandy. I managed to see the sea! Before it started pouring it down with rain all day. Well, you’re practically in England in Normandy, so what do you expect. I didn’t mind, the weather didn’t stop us from having a nice lunch, shopping ( buy one pair of shoes, get the other for 1€!), taking a ride on Le Havre’s most thrilling attraction; the funicular, eating crèpes at a great crèperie, and enjoying the wonders of St Patrick’s day with Irish celebrations in the evening! I met her other assistant friends and we went to an organised evening of Irish dancing and beer in a very pleasant environment. Until this crazy Irish metal band came on and kinda killed the night. But it was fun all the same! Sunday, we went to a nearby village and looked around the cute market( we were inspired and have decided to buy a rabbit for our house next year) , wandered along the river and just generally admired the village. Being France, there was not much else to do that afternoon so we took a trip to the port, did a bit more shopping then chilled together before my train back to Paris in the evening. Thanks, Ella, for a lovely week end!
So, what else. Well the only thing getting me through this week is knowing that I am going HOME on Friday , for my BIRTHDAY!! It’s only a flying visit back to Notts, but I can’t wait to see my friends and family for cake and champagne! I don’t have any Easter holidays, or any long breaks at all now so it will be one of my last trips back before the summer! During which I am hoping to stay out in France to work, so it light even be a VERY long time until I move back to England! As much as I have ahd enough of this job and am ready to leave, I am not ready to leave France! Am currently applying for various jobs in various places, but it’s so hard. If you know of anything, please let me know! My colleague got a little over helpful earlier and started phoning the tousit office in Deauville trying to find me a job…! It would be something at least.
No POW tonight as I am getting up at 5 (on my actually birthday- dedication!) to get to the airport, but I think I’ll go to the cinema as France has an offer on at the moment where all cinema tickets are 3.50€. Which is a bargain in Paris.
The weather is very sunny, yay! It sucks that I have to be stuck at a desk all day during it though, but it makes running in the evenings more pleasant. I hope it stays this nice for this weekend!
Nottingham here we come! So glad I only worked a 4 day week this week. Really have had enough! However, there is currently a debate going on between my colleagues as to whether I should put 'très bon niveau de français' or 'bilingue' under the Languages section of my CV... quite a compliment!
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