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.