"Faire des petits riens de la vie"

I am now half way into Week 3 of my Year Abroad and I've already learnt some valuable life lessons;

1) The little French-English Collins dictionary that you were handed at your leavers' assembly at primary school- the one you took for granted and most likely sneered at- is your most valuable possession. (Thanks, Coddington!)

2) Whether you have tried (so, so hard) to put on your best french accent, no matter how many 'r's you roll, people will know that you are English. So- ALL HAIL, FRANGLAIS! (For the meantime at least...)

3) Just because you're in the wine capital of France it definitely does NOT make cheap Rosé any better than in England... (Miss you Blossom Hill.)

4) Never forget about the power of people; there is a vast expanse of kindness, creativity and energy in the world. Find it, embrace it, nurture it.

My last blog entry left you at 29th September-  since then I have met my fellow British Council Language Assistants (shout out to my Brits Abroad), been to the cinema (twice), had two of the scariest walks of my life (one complete with high-vis excellence- hope you're proud, parentals!), started at my Lycée and Collège, tasted the Bordelaise nightlife and fallen asleep on the sofa of Sylvette's relative's house due to a two-helpings-of-tiramisu coma.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin...*

*This week also marks the first out-loud usage of this very phrase... unfortunately, I kid you not...

Tuesday 1st October: La réunion des assistants

This was the morning of the first 'scariest walk of my life'. It had somehow slipped my mind that at 6:45am (the time of which I had to leave for a 20 min walk to the bus stop) that it would still be dark... Dark? IT WAS PITCH BLACK! Thankfully due to my expansive knowledge of Road Safety I had remembered to pack a high-visibility jacket in my luggage to France (such a good girl). So, I put it on over my rucksack (the proper way to wear it, obviously) and off I trekked. Now, I have decided that the French... they don't like paths. People have disputed this with me. But these people don't know, man, 'cos they weren't there.

You'll be pleased to know that, despite this ordeal, I made it to Bordeaux in time for my meeting. We had a day full of admin (N.B. admin even in the french language doesn't make it any more interesting) but then a few of us went for a cheeky (really very nice) rosé.

Overall impression: British Council has chosen a seriously great bunch of Brits Abroad.

(Then I had Scary Walk: Revisited as an 8pm return Chez Sylvette meant the return of the high-vis- however, this was nothing compared to the morning's effort or what was awaiting me the next day...)

Wednesday 2nd October: Qu'est-ce que c'est le pont?!

In preparation for starting at Jean Moulin and Toulouse Lautrec the next day, I decided that today was the day to take on THE BRIDGE. You see, between St. Macaire and Langon flows La Garonne. Now, I needn't delve into ancient architectural or motor-vehicle evolution, but somewhere down the line this of course created the need for a bridge between the two towns. So, lacking car or bus transportation the only method is By Foot which I have seen executed with my own eyes; people- actual civilians- walking over this bridge. Can you blame me for feeling so blasé? 

The start of my journey was enjoyable...

funky St. Macaire concert poster / great old house / this one reminded me of the house in Madeline where the orphans live- childhood memories!
(felt like I was on the set of Downton Abbey with regards to the electric cables, though- shame!)

I had this DOWN. I had my camera at the ready, the sun was out, what more did I want? This was MY TIME.

Then I hit the bridge and this is where my pictures stop... mainly because I had to conserve all my energy into delving into the crevices of my ancient gymnastics knowledge (thank you, beam) in order to navigate my feet on the 'path'. This 'path' then led into a grassy bank (on the other side of the road barrier!) which, allegedly, is an extension of said 'path'. I had to JUMP at some points to cross over from one part of the bank to the other, dodging the massive road signs that I had to duck under and subsequently narrowly avoiding rolling down the hill to a farmland fate!

So by the time I saw this view:

no can-do with Panorama when on the Pont / nearly kissed this sign

I could have cried.

Safe to say I'm taking the bus from now on. High-vis and all.

The silver-lining was that I didn't have to make the return journey (THANK YOU, POWERS THAT BE!) because Sylvette had offered to pick me up afterwards- retail therapy was on the cards.

probably have just come all the way to France to buy postcards / book with a wonderful hand-written note; 'Livre en forme de kaléidoscope fait des petits riens de la vie. A lire pour la musique des mots...' / Sylvette's encouragement for my first day; 'Libby va en cours aujourd'hui courage'

Thursday 3rd October - Saturday 5th October: Qu'est-ce tu aimes faire pendants ton temps libre?

I went into my schools on the Thursday and I was feeling ready. I was looking forward to seeing the kids, to get a sense of the school, to get stuck into the job that has brought me out here! Thankfully, I was greeted with friendly faces and a good mixture of French/English- as an assistant you can only speak English to the class, so I'm pleased some of teachers indulged me (in all of my franglais glory). I was only observing classes on Thursday and Friday morning- my Assistant Reality started this Monday morning, so you'll hear all about it in my next post- complete with a 'French kids say the Funniest Things' feature and many tips on how to utilise all of your listening faculties in order to avoid answering a question other than the one you have actually been asked...

cinema excursions with Sylvette; Blue Jasmine (interesting one there, Woody) and Eyjafjallajökull (honestly- full of antics of a lunatic divorced couple) / I am officially in France and/or heaven / arc-en-ciel (at least there was something beautiful to come from the down pours that left me with one less pair of plimsolls)

British Language Assistants livin' it up BDX style at cuban bar Calle Ocho / mojit'oh go on then / Eleanor and I (cropped out the leery guys in the background- a bit better, Dad?)

'Next Day' pictures - I am in love with this city 

blue skies and beautiful buildings = Bordeaux 

Sunday 6th October: tirami-sumo

Pauline (Sylvette's niece) invited me to lunch to meet her sister, her four nieces and nephews and her parents. We ate, we drank, we played badminton in the garden and then we fell asleep in front of Bear Grylls (or should I say 'Seul face à la nature'). I felt so welcome and part-of-the-family: it was more or less the mirrored image of a Sunday at home, complete with over-table debates (love and miss you, Family Fox!) A fantastic end to a brilliant week.

And this is just the beginning.