Discovering culturing differences

Having been here for almost three and a half months, I feel it is high time that I address some of the cultural differences I’ve experienced since being in France. Some of them are a little bit funny, and others are just bizarre. But I was talking to a friend recently and certainly compared with the UK, there are quite a few culture changes which have been a cause for adjustment for me.

1. Lunchtime.

Lunchtime isn’t just a meal here. It’s not about grabbing a meal deal and eating it as you walk along back to the office. When you have lunch here, you spend a good part of your day eating, drinking wine, and chatting business, after which time you stroll casually back to work, probably after 2 o’clock. This was weird for me at first since I am so used to eating on a time limit, but the French really have the right idea! It’s the perfect way to find some relaxation during the work day, and enjoy what you’re eating!

2. Sorry we're closed.

Now I really do live in the middle of nowhere in England- sandwiched between more in-the-middle-of-nowhere villages. But on a Sunday, if you want to buy something, you will still be able to find numerous places which are open. Not here! Everything closes on a Sunday. The shops in town do open for the morning but are all shut up by 1 o’clock. If you want anything at all in the afternoon on a Sunday, you’re screwed- even the big supermarket in town is shut. I’m all for Sunday, day of rest but Sunday afternoons in France are like being part of a ghost town.

3. What are you staring at?

On the metro, on a platform, in the shops, the French stare. Here’s the situation: you happen to glance up and see a middle aged woman staring right at you from a few aisles away, but she doesn’t look away when you catch her- not like English people would out of embarrassment! Instead, you look away and when you glance back, she’s still staring! You start to think maybe there’s something on your face, when there’s not you begin to stare back, and yet she won’t stop! This is something which several of my friends have also faced, with both men and women of differing ages- I’m not sure what it is, but it’s definitely weird.

4. Mind my bubble.

I did a post last year about how much I like my personal space, and I believe this is partly an English thing too. So when I came here and people started walking by with centimetres to spare despite having space all around, I was hugely uncomfortable. I’ve suspected several people of pick-pocketing me because they have stood so close when looking at train times or a map. There just doesn’t seem to be this sense of spatial awareness- everyone’s space is everyone else’s. I haven’t quite come to terms with that yet.

5. Marry Me

Answer: no. This one addresses French men, and the handful of stories I’ve heard from just a few people. French men are forward. Where us English are modest about our feelings, and shy away from telling someone that we really do like them, the French plunge into feelings headfirst and don’t understand the word ‘no’. I’ve heard several examples where one date= girlfriend/boyfriend status, or an expectation that you will sleep with them. English girls I’ve met have been shocked by how forward the French men are here. What I haven’t worked out is whether they act worse because we’re English, or if it seems worse because we’re English.

6. Don't wait for the green man.

The little green man at pedestrian crossings means absolutely nothing here. When it changes to the red man, people walk anyway. When it changes to the green man, cars drive anyway. There’s really no perfect situation here, so I’ve learned to throw my life on the line along with every other French person and just cross when it looks relatively clear. It’s also another way to tell who’s French and who’s foreign- the French just walk, the tourists hover until the green man comes up, and then get caught anyway.

7. Puff away.

The difference between England and France for smoking is really quite incredible, considering we’re only separated by a tiny bit of water. So many people smoke here that I genuinely believe I have suffered more from passive smoking since I arrived here than I have in my entire life. Walking out of the front school gates, a cloud of smoke awaits; waiting of the platform, a puff of smoke comes my way; going down the street, a wall of smoke hits me from a passerby. I don’t know when they missed the health warnings, but clearly some message didn’t reach the French. Smoking seems to be almost inherent in their culture.

I’m sure the longer I live here, the more differences I will find, but for now those are some of my favourites. I will add more as and when I discover them. In the mean time, if you know of any strange cultural differences, post a comment below!

Hello December

Why, oh why has France not caught up with the modern age of having accessible internet wherever you go? Posts have been minimal due to my internet being minimal, and I’m actually writing these offline to post in the two minutes where my internet might suddenly decide to return.

So HELLO DECEMBER!! And HELLO CHRISTMAS. You’ve been a long time coming, and in a weird way have come round far too quickly at the same time. I can remember last Christmas like it was yesterday and yet so much has happened since then. But let the festivities begin! This year I am feeling far more excited about Christmas than I have during the last few years. I think it is probably because I’ll be going home as well to a wonderfully decorated festive house, with a cozy fire and warm blankets, and fluffy animals because they’ve grown their fur! I cannot wait.

I keep getting scolded by people who say I shouldn’t be wishing away my time in Paris because I want to go home so much, and honestly I’m trying not to! But it’s been seven weeks since I was at home and, although life is 100 times better here than it was, home is still where I really want to be. In six months’ time, when I’ve finished, it may be that I feel utterly different about life here, but for now it is an experience I'm using to help me grow as a person, and to help improve my French.

It helps that it has been so beautiful here for the last few weeks. The autumn colours are so rich, especially in the wood where I run. With the clear blue skies, and although it is terribly chilly, it’s utterly picturesque. The Christmas lights have also been turned on, so all around the town are sparkly Christmas trees and baubles and icicles! So here are some pictures of the woodland nearby on a lovely autumn afternoon.

  

Paris Catacombs

After weeks of attempting to go to the Paris Catacombs, I finally took myself one Sunday and stood in the queue from 10am to 11am in the cold. All I can say is thank goodness the wait was worth it!! It costs just four euros to get in and the whole tour takes around 45 minutes to one hour, depending on how long you take to wander around the stacks and stacks of human remains. Yep, that's right- if you were previously unsure on the nature of the Catacombs of Paris (I've had many baffled questions asking me what they are), they are an expanse of old mines which have been filled with the bones of six million people.

I didn't really know what to expect from this. I had read many articles about 'undiscovered Paris' where they would quote the Catacombs as something which people often miss, despite their interesting history. I'm still a bit torn on whether I should say this, but I came out having really enjoyed the experience, in a kind of macabre, really intrigued sort of way. It was one of those things which you really have to force yourself to understand what you're seeing, without seeing it through the detached and desensitised eyes of people living in the 21st century. 

Formerly a quarry, mining limestone for building the likes of Notre Dame and the Louvre, in 1786 the underground maze became an ossuary when the transfer of bones from the Cimetière des Innocents began. Gradually, the bones from other graveyards over Paris were also transferred, and those killed during the French revolution were also placed directly into the Catacombs.

There is such a rich and interesting history behind the Catacombs, it seems such a shame that so many people never experience this rather different aspect to Paris. But I truly would recommend doing so, whether you are being a tourist for the weekend, or you've lived here for some time. I loved it because it was so interesting, and a little bit surreal. I stared at the bones of six million people, all of whom had lives and were individuals centuries ago, but now who have been reduced to part of a display of human remains. Incredible.

To get to the ossuary, you're taken through the old tunnels made for quarrying.

Just a tiny section of the millions of piled bones

The Catacombs were filled with barred ways, all part of the maze which made up the old quarry

Autumn Style

It’s November: think beautiful colours in the trees; think chilly mornings and gorgeous sunrises; think curling up with a mug of hot chocolate; and most of all think of those gorgeous layers and accessories you can pull back out of hiding.

I have finally invested in a long cream chunky knit cardigan, with elbow patches, from Zara. It’s great for laying and I love wearing it over dresses, to make a previously summery look, a bit more suitably autumnal.

I also eventually decided on the pair of boots I wanted and purchased them recently from Clarks (find them here). Clarks’ shoes always have reasonably hefty price tags, but failing to find what I wanted anywhere else, I tried these on in the shop and they are the comfiest boots I have ever worn. Seriously. I should listen to mum more: it really is worth paying more for quality. While I was on a roll, I also got this bag which matches, and I have had a lot of compliments on it. I have to admit, with the price tags I was unsure about keeping both after having bought them (I’ve become obsessive about spending even a penny of my money) but am so glad I have kept them- I can tell they will be season staples.

At this point, I should probably confess that I have an extreme obsession for accessories this season. I don’t know where it’s come from, but anything from adorable cloche hats and snoods, to structured totes and statement necklaces, prompts little heart signs to form in my eyes. I really do need a job! This is going to be an expensive year!

Here’s some of the things I’m obsessed with at the moment and have treated myself to in the last few months...

• Pretty earrings: these were actually my prom earrings bought from a small independent boutique.

• Statement necklaces: to glam up any outfit! I like wearing them over jumpers or plain long sleeved tops.

£20, Next

£10, Next

•  Loving hats generally: very Parisian chic, and adds that little touch of class.

Cloche hat in aubergine, £25, M&S

• Anything fluffy!!! I obsessed over this combination for so long, I was particularly drawn to the warm fleece lining of the snood. So glad I finally invested though as the snood has certainly served me well already. The prices noted here are RRPs. I don't think I actually paid full price for any of it, which makes all these treats that little bit sweeter.

Hat, £20 and snood (fleece lined) £25, both Oasis

Franglish- Making friends in Paris

I finally got around to trying the event that was recommended to me, and in hindsight I had been making excuses after excuses just because I realised that it took a lot of guts to do. But mum gave me some good advice before I went: remember, everyone there will be in the same boat. And sure enough, they were.

So Franglish organise about four weekly events running from about 7-9pm, held in different bars depending on the day. I went on a Tuesday where it was held in the Lizard Lounge in the Marais, and I would definitely return. For roughly one and a half hours, the native French speakers joined us English speakers for 15 minutes where we would spend half the time talking in French, and then switch to English- great for practising speaking. 

I had read reviews before I went which said that it was a bit like speed dating, and I have to admit it did have that sort of feel to it at first. But you soon forget that once it all starts. I found it pretty fast paced, which was great for keeping the ball rolling and meeting as many different people as possible, but also meant that there wasn't a lot of time to exchange contact details. However, at the end, you can stick around and hunt down the people you got along with to create friendships- something which I am glad to say I did.

Sometimes conversation was slow but that completely depended on who you were talking to and I actually had a great chat with others. Genuinely, I had a great time, and it was so nice to hear people say, hey- I just want to practise my English. I would absolutely recommend this event to any English speakers in Paris looking to improve their French. It was fun, and everyone there was very like-minded so you're bound to find someone to hit it off with.

Don't hesitate for the amount of time I did- I already regret not having gone sooner and will definitely be going again. Here's the website for more details: http://www.franglish.eu/en/home

Autumn in Paris

This is my first post since I've returned to Paris! Good news: I'm settled back in and am busier than I was last term. Bad news: I'm still somewhat low on the friend count. But in spite of that, I took myself to Notre Dame on a beautiful autumnal day to appreciate exactly what is round the corner from where I work. Click here through to my Paris page for more photos...

Role Models

This is overdue but I've been talking about it a lot with my students recently: role models. Who do you look up to? Who inspires you? Well, I'm pretty sure the words coming out of your mouth in recent months will not be 'Miley Cyrus'. Yep, that's right, this post is tackling that issue.

I'll admit that I'm a little isolated out here and I'm not too clued up on what's going on in the outside world. But when I heard about the VMAs which seemed to be the start of this 'spiral' (downward or not, you decide for yourself) for Cyrus, I was genuinely shocked. I mean, okay I know I'm only 20 years old and maybe I'm being a prude but I have been genuinely quite astounded at the way it has become pretty much accepted for celebrities, particularly female celebrities, to parade around wearing next-to-nothing. Add to the mix the completely inappropriate touching of oneself (and others), which is televised and in front of an audience, and I'm not really sure what one wants to accomplish. Apart from losing respect... Oh, and selling records.

Perhaps I'm overlooking something blindingly obvious here, but as a girl close to Miley's age, I can't think of a reason why she believes filming music videos like "Wrecking Ball" and taking photos like the Terry Richardson pictures are a good thing. Maybe she's proud of her body? Great, good for her, because she is hot and her body is amazing- but you can show it off in other ways than just taking off your clothes. Sadly, that music video was actually moving and I love the song, but she completely lost me when it flicked to her naked body rubbing over a wrecking ball. Thanks- but no thanks.

A student said to me the other day: "I don't know how I feel, because have you actually watched her interviews? I can't judge her as harshly after watching them." No, I haven't watched them. Maybe I should because I genuinely don't know her side to all of this, and I will admit that. Apparently in one of these interviews she said that she was showing fans how she was baring herself to them, and not hiding anything. So... How do you explain licking a sledgehammer then? 

I am a bit of a feminist, and you could say that that it is Cyrus' right to be able to express herself in the way that she wants. But actually, I don't agree. I never thought it was possible to revert feminism so far, or to literally embody so openly female sexual stereotypes. I understand that she wants to break away from her Disney image, and I can understand why. But when I look at people like Selena Gomez (who seems to have done so seamlessly), I can't see that as a genuine reason for her actions. It is in part due to her Disney image that she has a fanbase to begin with, and what she seems to have forgotten is that some of them are young. Thrusting sex into their faces- excuse the pun- is telling a countless number of teenagers that, to be sexy, to be desirable, to be successful, you must take your clothes off, and you must throw your sexuality into everyone else's faces, particularly men's.

Whether or not celebrities choose to be role models, I think what has to be realised is that they are. Like it or not, if you're famous, people know you- they know what you do, how you act, how you dress, and you have influence over others, regardless of whether you want to. So whilst it may still be their life, for millions of teenagers out there, celebrities are idols, and inspirations, and will guide their actions, thoughts, and looks. That's a huge responsibility.

Perhaps I'm misjudging this girl; after all I don't know her, or her real reasons for what she's done- I only know what she's chosen to show the world (which is pretty much every inch of her body). But put it this way, if that were me, I don't think I could name a single person- including myself- who would be proud of me. And I certainly couldn't name anyone who I would want to look up to me.

Home Sweet Home

The phrase ‘home is where the heart is’ might be a sickening cliché but I have never felt this is more true than when I came home from France for the first time in six weeks. Everything, from my own bed and working internet, to the view of the countryside and my animals, is something I always try not to take advantage of, but is something I wholeheartedly appreciated after being away for a while.

The transformation since I’ve left is really quite dramatic. No more are the full green trees, the luscious grass, and the colourful flower beds; in fact it seems like the magic has gone a bit (NB: this has nothing to do with your beautiful gardening mum, I blame the weather entirely!). That is until I get inside, curl up next to the fire in a blanket on a real sofa as the nights draw in. And then suddenly I see everything with this warm glow as I appreciate just how lucky I am.

A rare moment of nice weather to see the sunset from my room

There was an abundance of home-cooked meals which were incredible, particularly the apple crumbles (with our own apples I might add), so thanks mum! And I was greeted with a gorgeous Victoria sponge that mum had baked for me as a welcome home munch. Needless to say, I’m eating less now I’m back in France to compensate for all of those goodies!

Obviously being at home again meant I basically jumped on Toffee, who was barely able to give me the ‘who are you?’ look this time. I feel so bad, I’m not a horse and I’m under no impression that he thinks like that really. But I do know that being away like this is not doing my bond with him any good, and he is a pony who really does benefit from a horse-rider bond. Worse still, as soon as he gets remotely used to me again, I’ll be jetting off back to Paris. Heartbreaking. But I took him out for a hack by myself in the second week, and I have never felt so happy galloping across the fields on him. It was utterly fantastic and he is a super pony.

Welcome Home!

I managed to get up north to see my grandparents as well. They haven’t seen me for quite a long time, and I haven’t been able to get their calls in France so I haven’t spoken to them either. We have written several letters but it is still difficult because I do miss them a lot. Living so far away from them really sucks too. I would love to be that granddaughter who could just pop over to their house for a cup of tea, I wouldn’t even mind if it was an hour away; but it’s three and that’s rubbish. I am so grateful that we were able to see them before I returned to France.

This post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that I also met up with my lovely friends. It was as if we had never been apart and after we had a brief catch up about work and our placements, we proceeded to catch up on all of the gossip and drama in our lives. It was over too quickly, and I miss them all already.

There really is nothing like home, and nothing like the things you know, the life you know. But I suppose what I have to remember is that things which are unknown to me now, could actually be some of the best things in my life one day. So whilst I don’t want to go back to France, and I don’t want to leave home, I must remember the opportunities and experiences which present themselves and for which I will probably be as thankful for in the future as I am thankful for the life I already have. 

Puss in Boots eyes as I have never seen them before- she saw me packing

Parisian coiffeuse!

Yes, I have actually had my haircut by a Paris hairdresser. If you know me, you know how precious I am about my hair. Not in the way that I'm always having it done/spending hours on it, in fact I'm the complete opposite- I barely ever cut it. But when I do, I want it to be perfect. So it took a lot of guts to do this, and to explain what I wanted in French. Aside from the fact that a little misunderstanding about shampoo treatments which added more to my already above average bill, I was pretty happy. My side fringe was a little too short, as are my layers but it's already settling down and she did make it look super glossy when I came out. All in all, I think we can call that successful!

Cute waves and my highlights are still making an appearance!

Side view of the a-little-too-short side fringe

Progress

Firstly: There’s still time to use the EXCLUSIVE OFFER CODE for PrettyandBling’s Etsy shop. Quote RTB10 to get an exclusive 10% OFF any purchase! CLICK HERE!

So, hi from Paris again! How is it October already? Not only October, but over a week into October. And also just over a week until I go home. That means I’ve spent five weeks here, which has gone incredibly fast and, at the same time, feels like an entire year. That’s no bad thing: I have got myself into a routine and feel so much more at ease now; it’s as if I’ve been doing it forever.

However, I haven’t, and I know I still have a lot to learn. Over the last few days, I have listened to, and spoken a lot of French and I really do generally feel like I can understand more, especially when it’s fast. The teachers are really making an effort to help, which is excellent practice for me and they have welcomed me as one of the staff with open arms. In fact, I have been invited to dinner by several of my colleagues which makes me feel a little bit warm and fuzzy as I realise I must be making a good impression!

Read the rest of my Paris post here.

Beautiful, beautiful Montmartre

Book Review: Gone Girl by Gilllian Flynn

I have just finished reading Gone Girl, after attempting to draw it out for as long as possible so that I would still have something to do when I am in France and the internet decides to stop working. But it was so hard to put down! I genuinely haven’t found a book this brilliantly written and thought provoking for a long time. Sure, I like my exciting but trashy crime novels, yet the quality of that writing certainly doesn’t match up to this.

The best thing about this novel is that there is no messing around. Within a couple of chapters, the reader is presented with the problem/crisis. For the rest of the novel, one is presented with pieces of information, literally interwoven between the alternate narratives of Amy and Nick. A part from a few characters in the more classic novels, like Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein for example, I have never, ever had such a turmoil over who to trust, which narrator is reliable, which story is real.

So here come the SPOILERS… And you really do not want to spoil this book for yourself. My summarised verdict is right at the end of this post, minus any spoilers.

Right from the start, I honestly did really want to like Nick. But the “lies” kept creeping in and that absolutely did what it was meant to for me- I began to wholeheartedly distrust him and wanted to scream, “Just tell the truth goddammit!” I got so frustrated with how annoyingly ignorant he could be to his situation. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in my exasperation after he gave that ridiculous smile at the first press conference- who does that?! But at the same time, I desperately wanted him to sort himself out because I think I knew he was innocent, even when it was initially set up to make him look guilty, it just wasn’t quite right.

Being a literature student, throughout the entire book, I was aiming to be one step ahead, to spot the clues when they were given, and to pick apart these characters. I was successful in some of my thinking: for instance, early on I decided Amy was alive; I thought Nick was having an affair; and at the end, when Desi came back into the picture, I realised pretty quickly he would be the solution. But I can’t work out whether these deductions were a result of being subtly directed by Flynn, or the result of some good literature skills. It’s at times like these, I wish I could read a book for the first time without over-analysing everything. (At this point, my good friend would probably say: #litstudentproblems.)

When I suspected Nick of the affair, it practically coincided with the explosive words “I’m so much happier now that I’m dead. Technically, missing” which confirmed Amy was alive. These words gave me an incredible sense of female empowerment as I thought: my god, you clever girl, it serves him right. Yet this was another way that Flynn played with her readers: after a few more chapters, instead of thinking ‘heroine’, I was thinking ‘psycho’. In many ways, Amy was the strong feminist character, from the moment we discover she’s alive, to the realisation that she is literally kind of crazy. She has her reasons sure, but I suppose what has deemed this book a thriller is that she doesn’t deal with these issues in a sane and levelled manner. Hats off to her though, the plan she does create is bloody brilliant. It’s just a shame that it ended up sacrificing feminine authority a bit, but perhaps what partly makes this novel such a page turner is how difficult it is predict where Flynn will go next. And making Amy a mentally unsound, revenge-driven wife was certainly not on that list of predictions.

I significantly remember reading most of this novel with my eyebrows knitted together in confusion, and concentration. Trying to work out who did what, who was to blame, who to trust was a constant turmoil. There were obvious gaps in Nick’s narrative, and Amy’s diary entries got my feminist side up so that he further plummeted in my estimations. And yet there was something holding me back on trusting Amazing Amy. She was just too perfect, and yet ironically, I agreed with everything that she said about not being the whiney wife and allowing her husband to do his own thing. But I suppose this is all to do with the theme running throughout the narrative about one’s own identity, and whether it is inherent, or whether it’s something we can create ourselves…

This leads me to the “Cool Girl” chapter: one of my absolute favourite parts. It’s an impressive comment on the social constructions of today. Actually, it is almost wrong that I call it social constructions because it is individual men and women who bring this upon themselves- not just the varying influences in society. Guys want this perfect girl: the one who will watch football with them, doesn’t nag them, gives them total freedom without feeling tied down- the perfect girlfriend. This is Cool Girl. And I know exactly to what Flynn refers in this chapter, and it is amazing for somebody to write about this so explicitly, so unexpectedly. As women, we know she’s the one the men want, and the one we want to be. But Cool Girl doesn’t exist. Yes, women know about this figure guys want, and they try and recreate it, but I agree that there really is no such thing. I’m no exception- there have been times when I have told, or have desperately wanted to tell, a guy something which I know they will think is amazing, because it matches this image of perfection. “Cool Girl” highlights this conflict within individual identity: of being who you really are, or being the person you want to be.

My verdict: definitely a great read, and well worth picking up if you haven’t already. The ending is a little anti-climatic, but I have since realised that’s because there is a sequel. Nevertheless, this is a totally different take on two individual’s relationship, how they come to understand each other, as well as themselves. And it’s just a little bit deliciously twisted, too.

Popping to Paris

Sitting by the river Seine in Paris last Friday night, sipping wine and appreciating life, I told my two new friends that, by the end of the year, my aim is to be able to ‘pop’ to into Paris, to my favourite café, or to my favourite spot along the river. Well, that vision doesn’t seem so far away...

... To read the rest of this post about my adventures, click here to visit the Parisian Life page on this blog.

By the Seine in the sunshine

My first macaroons!

Etsy buys and an EXCLUSIVE offer!

I am LOVING my new knuckle rings from Etsy shop PrettyandBling, click here to visit her shop (EXCLUSIVE OFFER for her jewellery below). This shop offers a selection of dainty handmade jewellery and comes beautifully packaged. She's based in the UK which was perfect because I didn't have to pay astronomical postage fees to have them shipped from the US. It took me a while to decide if I liked this new knuckle ring thing but actually I’m in love with them! It’s great when I want something a little bit more subtle to wear but still gives my hands that bit of much needed glamour. They are so delicately made, and the gold and silver entwined metals look amazing, and it means I can mix and match it to go with all my jewellery- perfect! They also both looked awesome with my new manicure which lasted the longest any manicure has ever lasted on me, perfect for my new busy French life! The colour was a Jessica polish called Intrigue. 


PrettyandBling has even been kind enough to offer 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE from her shop with this code, exclusive to my blog: RTB10. You're welcome! :) Verdict: Etsy will be my new buying space. Get shopping! 

This could all work out okay...

‘Home’ is a word which is difficult to define. For many, it is used loosely to refer to where they live, but it means more than that. Home is where you are most comfortable, the place you long for when you’re alone or upset, or even just cold. Home is the one place to which you know you can always return and everything will be better once you’re there. That’s how I feel about my home in England, and almost felt about my house at university. And I can feel that my little room in France will also be like home one day.

I have been here two weeks now, which has gone so quickly. I have just finished doing my first full week of teaching and went on a school trip to Chartres on Tuesday which was beautiful, but exhausting. I spoke French for the entire day, listened to French for the entire day and even read French. So although it was difficult, it was so good for me. I’m using my free time to get to know the area and have even visited the riding school to have a lesson, and book another four which I did all by myself, and all in French! It’s little things which feel like real achievements and they make me a little bit happier each day....

...To read the rest of this post about my adventures, click here to go to my Parisian Life page on this blog.

La Défense will definitely become my shopping heaven

My new home

My first view of France coming out of the channel tunnel

I’ve spent my first weekend at Notre-Dame-Les-Oiseaux, having arrived on Wednesday night at around 5 o’clock. The first two days were extremely difficult, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Initially, it was incredibly lonely. There is no one close to my own age and all I needed the first night I was here was a bit of a hug really, preferably from mum! But even in just a few days, I feel so much happier and am beginning to appreciate my situation, rather than resenting it!

I am speaking French more than I had hoped and it has turned into another thing to worry about as my skills are more than rusty, and it is no exaggeration when people say the French speak incredibly fast! I know it will be good for me in the long run but in terms of settling in, it’s certainly making things more uncomfortable. However, I did bring a few grammar books with me and I am constantly trying to look up things I’ve forgotten or don’t understand. One of the nicest things is that everyone has been so patient with me and the school is so friendly.

When I met with my supervisor on Thursday afternoon, I felt so much better afterwards. She gave me a tour of the school, introduced me to everyone I would need to have contact with, and even said I could sit in on my first English lesson with her. Of course I jumped at the chance, and actually ended up teaching for a bit which was really exciting! She even took me into meet the Headmaster of the school which was so scary as I had to talk in French but I understood him and I think he understood most of what I was trying to say. It’s small successes like that which have made me feel far better about being here. Keeping busy has been extremely beneficial in helping me settle in.

However, there have been other challenges: my internet doesn’t work; at best it’s ridiculously sporadic. So I can’t Skype, or even post a photo on Facebook to let my friends know I’ve arrived safely. And friends are what I need at the moment. I can’t imagine I will find anyone my age any time soon either, especially because I’m unable to get online and look at the date of the next Franglish event in Paris to meet like-minded people.

I was also lacking a few rather essential things which I just assumed might have been here for me. I had no duvet, and no towels, no hand soap and other little bits like tissues. But then, like a fairy godmother, my cleaner came along and has really looked after me! She speaks no English and her French is more difficult to understand because she’s Spanish so there really was a language barrier. But we eventually managed to understand each other and she realised what I needed and when I returned to my room later, she had brought me duvets and towels and now each time I return to my room she has brought me a little something else! It really is small, kind gestures like that which mean the world to me at the moment.

The school is also genuinely beautiful. I am staying in the chateau next to one of the turrets and look out to the front of the school. There’s a lovely little room with space to sit and a hob to cook on, a television and radio and it looks out across the park on which the school is built. Furthermore, the town is gorgeous, with little cobbled streets and bakeries and smaller gift shops. There’s even a market on Sundays with all the stalls you could wish for.

Everyone really has been extremely welcoming and kind. The ladies in charge of boarding, have been a great help in showing me around, getting to grips with the way things work, and helping me improve my French. I have recently met another guy who is working with the international students who has been absolutely amazing. He was here last year and is working with the international students. His French is much better than mine so he offered to come and help me do a few admin bits on Friday morning. By lunchtime I had set up my bank account, been to the post office, and bought my navigo pass! We were very productive, and I was so grateful to have that little bit of knowledge beside me.

A beautiful Friday morning

I have been invited to a shopping centre and cinema a few stops away on the train this afternoon with a few of the students, and I seized the opportunity. Now that I can get out and about with my navigo pass, I think it will make me feel a lot better because I’ll be able to do things.

I think the most difficult part is when I keep thinking, it’s okay, it’s not for long and then suddenly have to catch myself when I realise I’m here for a year. And the earliest point at which I can return home will be toward the end of October. That’s hard- especially when it’s all feeling very difficult still. I’m so glad the placement tutors recommended we take photos because, although it kind of makes things worse looking at my family, friends and animals, it also gives me a bit of comfort to know they’ll be there when I eventually return. 

A Little Trip to Bath

When I finally got around to visiting my godparents in Bath, it turned out to be a beautiful weekend which was perfect for seeing the sights of the city. Getting off the train, we had a bit of afternoon tea in The Pump Room, next to the Roman Baths, and I had the most incredible mocha ever. Then we took a little tour and saw the town centre, the cathedral and Pulteney bridge. I indulged in a brown quilted Joules jacket in the sale as we made our way back. And I have determined that I definitely want to own a house on either the Royal Crescent or the Circus at some point in my life! Successful trip. And as always, thank you to my lovely godparents- they are superstars.

My new quilted jacket, made that little bit sweeter by being in the sale.

A Gooey Slice of Paradise...

I have long wanted to make a cheesecake as part of my baking venture, and being an avid New York cheesecake fan (especially the one from Waitrose- lush), I always imagined that I would start simply... Cue the deliciousness which is the white chocolate and strawberry cheesecake seen on UK morning programme, Lorraine, and the temptation to launch straight in was too much. And I am pleased to say, the risk did pay off! Since this was my first time making anything remotely like this, I struggled with how it was meant to look consistency-wise, and parts of the recipe were very simple and vague and left me at a bit of a loss. However, although it could have been more solid overall, this was absolutely incredible as a sweet treat. A very sweet treat considering the amount of cream that went into it... Here's how to make it: 

Ingredients:

230g digestive biscuits
80g unsalted butter melted
200g white chocolate (proper cooking chocolate is best as white choc can often be temperamental)
400g mascarpone cheese
100ml sour cream
300ml double cream
80g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1. Crush the biscuits to fine crumb in a food processor, or with a rolling pin. Mix in the melted butter until crumbs are all covered. Place the mixture into a buttered 23cm loose-bottomed spring form cake tin, compress down and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. If you don't have a spring form tin, I put baking paper around the outside of my tin so it wouldn't stick.

2. Gradually melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and then set aside to leave to cool slightly.

3. Cream the mascarpone, chocolate, sour cream and sugar together along with the vanilla extract, until light in weight.

4. Whip the double cream to soft peaks then fold the two together. Set aside.

5. Halve the strawberries then place around the outside of the tin with the insides facing out. Place a few more in the bottom of the tin then cover with the cheesecake mixture, making sure to smooth it into the gaps. Chill for at least 1 hour to set (mine required about 2 in the end to set properly).

6. Remove from the tin then decorate with the remaining strawberries, and dust with icing sugar (optional).

Definitely give this a go, even if you're beginner baker like me. It was actually really easy and, the actual preparation time was fairly minimal. Plus, it's delicious. 

The finished result!

New Adventures

I'm writing having finalised the last details of my placement year and can proudly announce that I have been accepted at a school just outside of Paris to teach English. Spending a year abroad in France has been a goal of mine for a long time, principally because I never want to lose my ability to speak French having studied it at A Level, and needless to say, also because I absolutely adore the country. But now that it's all started to become real, I am incredibly nervous. I suppose that's normal but that does not make the idea of me going to somewhere completely unknown for a year, where they not only speak a different language, but have a whole different culture, any less scary.

More than once I have found myself asking... Is this really what you want to do? What if you hate it after a few months and can't do anything about it? And then I remember that I'll be leaving my horse and all my friends and family, and it's almost enough to make me cry and hide in a dark corner, far away from reality. But I also know that this is the perfect time to do this: mum can look after the horses; and, thanks to that wonderful thing called technology, I can keep in touch with friends and family whenever I need to.

It'll be scary and intimidating but it'll also be one of the most exciting and incredible things I will ever have the chance to do. I've set up a separate page on my blog dedicated to my Parisian adventure and hope to post updates on everything I do, the people I meet, and the places I visit. But for now, I better start practising my French! A bientôt!! xoxo

Discovering Etsy

My friend told me a while ago about this site which she deemed "like eBay, but better". This sounded too good to be true! I love eBay but I do think it's getting a bit too commercialised and it's starting to overlook all the little gems that are hidden in the depths of the website. So when I finally got around to visiting Etsy, I got super excited. 

If you're into genuine vintage items, handmade jewellery and loads of other cool, unique gifts and accessories, this is the place for you. Everything ranges in prices so it can suit every pocket and the items are just gorgeous. I think the greatest thing about this site is that everyone is so like-minded: we're all interested in the same style and want to buy and sell genuine items. From what I've heard, although I can't yet speak from experience, the site is welcoming and is absent from any of the hostile tensions which quite often exist between buyers and sellers on eBay. I have read several online reviews of the website because I've been interested in buying a few things and, naturally, you always want to know that the website is safe/you're not going to see your money disappear. Whilst I've found the majority are very positive, particularly one reviewer who had set herself up as a new seller, there was one website where many of the comments underneath were hugely negative, with 1-star ratings littering the section. But I haven't been put off that easily. Etsy seems like it was literally made for me and my tastes and there are too many lovely things on there that I simply cannot wave bye-bye to. So, I'm, taking these with a pinch of salt and hoping that it's only those with bad experiences who have taken the time to comment. Like eBay, there is a feedback system with a percentage rating and obviously, you avoid those that look even vaguely dodgy... I'm going to give it a chance.

Take a look! It's well worth it... www.etsy.com

Once I've made my mind up on what to order, I'll post about my new goodies soon... xoxo

Post-Birthday and Italian Travels

I'm two decades old... And halfway to 40. But I do feel a certain sense of maturity since turning 20, absent in turning 18 and 19, and something I'm sure will solidify itself in turning 21... Next year (!). 

Having a canter along one of our bridleways

I had a wonderful birthday. We had a lovely birthday ride in the morning in the sun across the countryside, and Toffee was, uncharacteristically, an angel! After opening some lovely presents, I was then whisked off to my favourite little nearby pub for some lunch, finishing off with my new addiction- their malteaser cheesecake. Yum. A really lovely day.

But the excitement didn't stop there. Five days later, I jetted off to Italy with my two lovely girls, and did a crazy-fast tour of Rome before heading into the beautiful Italian countryside to stay at my friend's relatives'. It was genuinely one of my best holidays yet, second only to one with my family (because I feel guilty saying that all family holidays were topped by this one crazy trip). In fact, I remember saying to my friends while we were out there, looking over at the incredible view, that it was exactly what I wanted, and that was the sort of life I wanted to work towards. In the middle of the countryside, in a beautiful country, with gorgeous weather and scenery. That's my destination. Now I just need to fill in the journey...

So we started out in Rome, visiting all the major tourist sites, naturally. But we ended up getting lost due to a slightly unreliable map of the city, and for lunch found this cute little café on a side street we happened to wander down. It was the best way to experience a big city, just to stroll down tiny streets, away from the hoards of tourists and find the little gelato shops too, where I tucked into mango and chocolate flavours... YUM.

Proper Italian pasta and pesto

Clearly enjoying gelato

The Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Vatican, you name it, we went there. All in a day (thanks to the impeccable organisation of my friends!). And then it absolutely poured down on us and we got drenched... Probably after getting too cocky about being English and therefore being able to handle a bit of rain- we were soon proved wrong by the storm which went over Rome! Otherwise though, the weather was gorgeous and we had clear blue skies the rest of the trip!

Coming through a park to the Colosseum

Our accommodation for our two nights in Rome was a lovely little hostel in the centre, literally two minutes from the train station. If you're considering going to Rome, I would absolutely recommend you stay here: Rome Accommodation B&B. It was nothing like we expected from a hostel! Seriously reasonable pricing, a lovely, clean room (with ensuite), small and friendly, and a gorgeous little breakfast delivered to your room in the morning made staying in the centre of Rome an absolute delight. 

We soon moved on, however, and arrived in a tiny little village in the middle of the Italian countryside with this view from our bedroom window... Bliss.

We took a trip to the nearest town and it was a though we had literally stepped onto a film set, I've never seen anything so genuinely beautiful as the tiny little side streets of this Italian town. We sat and ate lunch at one of its petite cafés, drinking Prosecco and wine. 

One of the things I miss the most is the food: everything was so fresh! From the perfectly red, sweet tomatoes on the bruschetta, to the herbs the café owner picked from the windowsill behind us with which he would cook our meal, it all tasted so good! It makes you realise how much packaged food we eat in the UK, which is such a shame. 

One of the little streets in nearby town, Panicale

Watching the sunset from a beautiful little restaurant, nestled in the backstreets of Chuisi

We then travelled for a day to Florence, a beautiful city I really didn't know much about. The girls and I couldn't put our finger on it, but we all agreed it was very different to Rome. There was a different vibe, still very touristy, in fact possible more touristy because there were very little chances to escape down quieter side streets. Nevertheless, it was still home to beautiful sights, most notably the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. 

Basilica di Santa Maria de Fiore in the centre of Florence

 We did manage to find a little ristorante off the Piazza della Signoria where I had the nicest salami pizza, and we could escape the tourists and sun for a while. Florence was just different. I still can't put my finger on it but I think it's because it's more manicured that Rome, which has that rugged historical element, whereas Florence is very structured and linear. I could still appreciated it but I think I did prefer Rome by a small margin.

Ponte Vecchio in Florence

I went to Italy because it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit, and when the opportunity arose to complete one of the ten things on my bucket list, I jumped at it. I'm so glad I did. It's currently knocked France from my most favourite countries, and I have to say, I can't see it budging any time soon. There's something seriously enchanting about Italy, particularly about its untouched, idyllic countryside, and I feel like it's a place I could never tire of. I would return there in a second given the chance. Ciao xoxo