Parlez-vous Anglais?

I like France, I like the country and the language. But living here is something very different. I still like France, I've learnt that sometimes, they do things better than we do. But the opposite is also true. Living abroad opens your eyes to differences both the good and the bad. I've been learning French since I was 11 years old. I remember starting with the simple 'Je m'appelle Geoff, j'ai vingt ans' etc etc. Then we moved. Where I moved to, they had been learning French since they were 9 years old. They were already pros at the introducing yourself business. They had already moved onto 'Je voudrais un hotdog' and that sort of stuff. All of a sudden there was a significant gap between my ability and there abilities. In Year 8 (my second year of learning French) I was in the top set.  How strange, I was in a top set with people who I was supposed to be as good as, but there was a gap.

 Then in Year 9 (a new school) came a bizarre experience where I could say very very basic stuff, and then a series of slightly more complex stuff but missing out on a few in between bits. To be honest with you, I don't think I've ever made up that gap. Yeah, I know how to use the stuff they learnt, but not in the same way. I've not had that extra 2 years of practise and so I find myself in a situation where I still make silly little mistakes.

Now, moving to France and speaking every day in their language. There are barriers to overcome. Confidence being one, I was always afraid of making mistakes. My French is decent, but you don't want a situation where you speak the language, and a French person looks at you and says 'Eh?'.  But, I've learnt that that is exactly what you need! You just need to try.

You are not always going to be able to say everything. Academic French and practical French are two very different things. I was told to keep something 'branché'.  My first reaction was 'WTF does that mean?'.  It means keep it plugged in.  So, every when living here, you are going to struggle. Fact.  (Future year abroaders, get ready for this.  You're not going to know things, but not knowing things is actually how you learn things).

The biggest thing I've learnt though is that living totally in French is out of the question.  I tried not phoning home for a while at the start of the year. But then, one day I broke. My mum said to me 'Why did you phone, it'll cost a fortune?'.  My answer: 'I don't even care, I just need to speak English to someone'.  That's going to happen. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You can't turn your back on your mother tongue. I read BBC News more than I read French news. Just because you are abroad, doesn't mean you turn your back on the UK. Just take that chance to embrace a new culture as well as your own.

Have a good week folks! 

Snow in France, Round 2!

Last term it snowed in France, I even blogged about it. Then last week, it happened again. When it snows, they don't really shut the school. But hardly any of the students bother going in. This leads to me turning up to a class and get told 'You know what? There's like 5 of them, you don't need to stay'. Then I wait for the next lesson. It happens again. It's not all bad, in theory I'm getting paid for doing very little. But I'd rather be doing something rather than reading a book I'm not really enjoying. Most of the students have the excuse of busses not running though, so I shouldn't complain really.

So, it did snow. And it snowed a lot.  I woke up on Saturday and the ground was just covered in white. But that's nothing compared to Sunday. On Saturday at about 22:00 it started again, Sunday became a nightmare of a day. Busses got cancelled, trains broke down. But I give the French this, when it comes to gritting the main roads, they do it much better than the UK.

There's not too much to say from the last week or so, I've been inside a lot due to the snow. This weekend I'm seeing some friends from University, so I'm sure there'll be something to talk about there.

 On Saturday I made it to Disneyland Paris to take some photos, you can check them out on my flickr

I met the mouse.

Creating unexpected magical memories

It's rare that something happens and I feel the need to write it down right away, but tonight that happened. I realise that this little story might not interest anyone but me, but it's my blog.

During the year so far I've made plenty of memories.  Memories that will stick with me for a life time. Most of the things I do are planned, but today I didn't plan anything, and today perhaps I've made my favourite memory of the year. But what constitutes as a magical moment? That depends on the person I would say. To me, a magical moment is a feeling you get. Every magical moment may feel different, but when it happens you just know. I felt it during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. I felt it as Bradley Wiggins won his Tour de France, and I felt it at my first university summer ball. 

This afternoon I had planned an afternoon browsing the sales at the Val d'europe shopping centre, and that happened. Then I thought I'd browse the sales at Disney Village (they are pretty poor by the way!).  Then I randomly popped into the Walt Disney Studios park and got taught how to draw. I can't draw.



But, I did make this: 

I had dinner, then saw the time. 18:30. I had time to wait for the bus. So I thought at that moment I would go into Disneyland park and ride Big Thunder Mountain (One of my favourite rides). I arrived at the ride at 18:40 and saw a 15 minute queue sign. Perfect, enough time to ride it and get out the park and get the bus at just gone 7. The queue was not 15 minutes, they had begun the process of shutting down the ride. I eventually boarded at 19:02. Disney Dreams (the nighttime spectacular had already started). The train leaves the station. This is where it begins, I saw the fireworks coming from the castle in the distance as my train whirled around the mountain. Brilliant! We arrived back, there were people waiting for the front and back carriages only. 'Mesdames and monsieurs, vous pouvez faire une deuxieme tour'.
Lesson 1:  big thunder mountain is one of disneys most popular rides. It's fast, family friendly and beautifully themed.
Lesson 2: You NEVER get invited to go again on a Disney ride.

So the train left the station again. This time even more fireworks, the fireworks in Disney dreams are colourful and rather beautiful. So seeing these in the distance was a real treat. You may never experience this, so you'll have to trust me, it's an image ill never ever forget. As we arrived in the station people changed 'RETOUR RETOUR'. We didn't get a third go, but the woman came over the announcement system wishing us a 'très très Bon soirée'. I then walked down liberty arcade serenaded by a beautiful song from the film Tangled. I arrived at the bottom of a deserted Main Street and I didn't leave as intended. I stayed to watch the end of dreams. I was surrounded by about 15 other people all spaced out. And as I ended I just felt a strange feeling. I smiled and did that almost cry but not cry thing. It's a beautiful show, but nothing will compare to how I saw it tonight. Thank you Disney.

How do we mark memories? Since the Olympic Games got awarded to London I've been caught in the pin collection craze. I have all the x years to go countdown pins. But they say we can attach memories to pins. Indeed we can. About 70% of my Olympic pins have various memories of the games attached to them. Disney parks also have a pin collection craze. I can attach memories to all my pins. Tonight I bought a big thunder mountain pin badge. And the story you have just read is the memory attached to it.

Bon weekend!

La Rentrée

Bon Voyage!

Right then folks. Christmas is officially behind us (Sad times), we've enjoyed those first few days of a new year and it's back to reality. And my reality is a year abroad. So, on Sunday 6th January I boarded a Eurostar to head back to France. (Not such a bad reality really...). But before I tell you what I've been upto my first few days back, here is a quick rundown of how Christmas went.

I arrived back in the UK on the 22nd December and the first thing I did was grab a Nandos in Kings Cross. Not because I was hungry, but because there weren't going to be many chances over the next few weeks and I needed to take this one, I had missed it a little bit. I got home, and then slept. Oh boy did I sleep. Christmas itself was nice and quiet, just as usual and the way I like it. I didn't bother with the sales until the 27th December (and even then, I only really wanted the Michael McIntyre DVD). Then we went to York to see the grand parents for a couple of days. Not the most fun you can have, but it was nice to see them. New Year was another quiet affair with a bit of watching a DVD, then Jools Holland/Fireworks on TV (Never really made a big fuss over New Year). On Saturday 5th I saw some friends from Uni, which was great fun and I hope to see them again, in France real soon.

Packing to come back was a bit of a chore, that I left until last minute. Cramming all the stuff you got over xmas in a small case was a hard job, but luckily the security guys in London didn't want to have a look in. Taking it all out and repacking it would have been a nightmare. When I say things were crammed in, I mean it. It's amazing how returning with a few more t-shirts than you left with causes such problems.

Back in France and it all felt quite normal very quickly. I went straight to the Thistle pub to do their pub quiz, and a few minutes after seeing friends, doing the usual 'How was Christmas/New Year' catchup that we are all so familiar with as you tend to do it every year at Uni, it was just on to normal topics of coversation. It was like we never left, well aside from the fact that I had a few cases. I spent Monday in bed, only moving to go to a few shops in Val d'Europe. Tuesday I was back in the school. After doing my first two lessons, I wasn't needed for the rest of the day, so I went home and just chilled out watching TV. Imagine my delight at discovering a button on the TV that changes the language to English on dubbed shows. Wednesday was the first day of the French January sales, I'll check those out tomorrow (Friday 11th).

Not too much has happened this week, but I'll get around to getting something interesting to blog about soon, I promise.

But to everyone reading this, HAPPY NEW YEAR. Or as they say here in France, BONNE ANNEE!

Reflecting on the first three months

How lucky am I, to visit places like this when ever I want

Through a year abroad, we gain not just a greater knowledge of the language in which we study but we also gain a greater acceptance of the world. This is certainly true in my case. I will admit to grumbling about French ways of doing things during my first three months abroad. But since I've got back, I've also found myself saying 'Actually, the French do have that spot on'. There is no right or wrong way of doing something, we are told that everyone is different, this is also true for countries. Sometimes, as a people, the British are not tolerant of other nations. We see our ways of doing things, and everything else is wrong. We speak English, the most widely spoken language of the world, therefore we do not need to learn any other languages. See what I mean? So, acceptance of different cultures is a big thing that I have learnt.

I think back to September, a few days before I leave. I like to think that this blog has mainly been positive about the year. But it has not always been like that, sitting in the port of Dover, I was dreading leaving. I was to go, live in a studio apartment all alone. Throughout my life, I've always been surrounded by people. When I moved to university halls, I knew that I'd not really be 'alone'. This time though, totally alone. I arrived, got into my apartment. My Parents stayed for two nights, but then they left. I was alone, in a foreign country until Christmas. However, early that week I put a plea on the assistants page on facebook if anyone wanted to meet up in Paris. A response! On the Wednesday that week I met Kirsti. Then on the Friday, we had a picnic in the Parc Buttes Chaumont where I met lots of other assistants. Then again the next day, and the next etc etc. Basically, a friendship group was formed. I was not alone, I know I wasn't the only one who thought they would be alone. A number of great days/nights would be spent with these people, I know I probably wouldn't have enjoyed my time in Paris without them. In short, the reason I am enjoying my year abroad is because of them; and so a huge, massive THANK YOU goes to them. Without friends, I'd have been miserable in France, can't wait to see them again. I've also met up with University friends which has again been great. Thank you goes to you as well.

Great friends are hard to come by, but this bunch are amazing. It's missing Max and Hayley, downside. But I love this photo!

The work itself has been pretty simple mostly. Teaching English to people roughly my age is not the hardest job in the world if you teach them things that interest you and them equally. I like showing them movie clips and discussing them. Has my French improved? Almost certainly, I don't speak it as much as I want to, and perhaps this will become part of my new years resolutions. But I certainly understand more, when I'm being spoken to and watching television. I had a conversation with somebody recently, doing a study placement you learn academic French, doing an assistantship you learn the french the kids speak, but also the stuff printed on forms.

The first three months for me have more being about settling in, the next four months (and maybe even more), I would like to practise some French and visiting the sights and sounds of the city, but also of France itself. When I found out I was in the Parisian region, I wanted to travel a bit. Next term, even if it is just two or three times I hope to actually do that. I've enjoyed the experiences, and am really thankful to friends for making it an amazing experience.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012: What a year!

Oh my oh my! What a year. As we approach the end of it, I've got in a bit of a reflective mood, a mood not at all helped by my Christmas presents (Yes, Olympic themed. Last time I promise!). I think where I was a year ago, personally. The opportunities I've been given, and where I am now. 2012 has been kind to me.
I think back to July, August and September and I cannot help but have a massive grin on my face. My Games Maker journals are still in France (and I am at home in the UK), but I intend to read them again very soon.
I sit here now, watching the entire Frank Turner Olympic games opening ceremony performance, I'd give anything to be back sitting in that stadium once again. But whilst the event itself is over, and I've moved onto a most amazing year abroad, the memories remain and I am currently creating new memories.

January - June
These few months for me were very slow, not a lot significant happened. I basically went back to University and had a ball. I wrote essays, went out had fun. I miss that a fair bit I admit. University people reading this, come to Paris. Pleeeeaasseeee...
In February I had my first training session for my London 2012 games maker role at the Wembley Arena in London. Not a lot learnt I'll admit, but the hype for the games began there. We were basically given a few hours of games promo and learning a bit about security and being alert. Stuff we all needed to know really (not that there was lots of things everyone needed).

The flame arrived in the UK, and we got a glimpse of what was to come. Then the Jubilee. I get into this sort of thing, and I really did want to London to see the Thames pageant. But it rained and I decided that it really wasn't worth a day in the rain. But nonetheless I watched it on TV, and it was amazing. For me, it wasn't so much celebrating the 60 years of our Queen (Although I did feel that was a momentous occasion), but more the sense of the country coming together for something that is important. The concert was just amazing. When it comes to national events, we don't do them often. But when we do, we get em' right.

July - August (12th)

July was the month that the 99th Tour de France would take place, now me being a huge cycling fan knew that Wiggins had more than a good chance of winning it. So I actually found the race a tad dull. (I know, I know, but Britain won! It just wasn't a great race, sorry!). I almost booked a Eurostar to Paris for the final stage, but it was a tad expensive. One week later, I'd be donning the poppy and purple and be working on the cycling road races. But first, we had to get through that whole Opening Ceremony thing. For years people had been saying 'Oh, it'll never beat Beijing'. For me, it did. It was human. I was lucky enough to see it twice. On Monday 23rd I saw the rehearsal, and came away amazed. So I went online the next day, used a ticket checker. It went beep. Boom, got my ticket to the real thing. I was blown away, twice. I got away from the stadium really late, got into my hotel room at about 2:30 ish.  I turned on BBC News and got the reaction of it. Then 3 or 4 hours later I wore my games maker uniform for the first time. The cycling road races were just amazing. Excellent atmosphere from the Surrey locals, the Olympics came to their doorstep and they embraced it. Next stop, experiencing the games for myself at the Olympic park. The atmosphere was electric. The Park was stunningly beautiful. Everything was perfect. I couldn't fault the experience at all. I don't think I'll ever forget what it was like. I described it as a theme park for sport. Having being to Disneyland whilst on my year abroad, I'm spot on. 'Shall we go to the beatbox next?'. That type of idea. The cycling time trials was another unforgettable day. I was working on crossing points, and playing with spectators of guess what country is next. They loved it. Proper central location in Hampton Court too. I saw a few things, but the stand out for me was Beach Volleyball. (Go on, laugh...). But the atmosphere there was unbeatable. I'll never forget the stadium wide conga lines. It was a fun night, it was Super Saturday, everyone was happy. I had a Union Flag with me, and was getting high fives as I walked the streets of London afterwards. I had a front row seat in the velodrome, and then got back to work. This time in Hadleigh Farm for the Mountain bike events. I was on perhaps the most remote area of the track, blowing a whistle all day. But looking back, it was great fun. Even without spectators on training days (Yes, games makers were even where the sport isn't), it was quite fun. Race days were exhilarating though. To know you are a part of a team bring these massive events to the public, and that they are enjoyed around the world. That's what being apart of the Sport team gave me. A sense of pride. During the Paras, I was event services, a different sort of pride there. Sport team delivers a competition. What a thing to be able to say.
I remember the last day of the games (August 12th), we did a workforce competition. We got given a race number, if our number won, we won. I got #3. He won. I got a cuddly Wenlock and a pink foam finger. But, it was tinged with sadness. The games were over, one last thing remained. I took my seat in the Olympic Stadium, it was time to end the games. I left not feeling sad, it was a great day. I left tired, happy and proud.

August - September 10th
Paris bound.  My upcoming year abroad was approaching. It was time to find a place to live. Did that. Parfait.

The Paralympic games began on August 29th, August 28th I got an e-mail. I was asked to join the Event Services team at the Olympic Stadium. I accepted instantly. Sorted out my UDAC appointment (At LOCOG they love acronyms). Then, arrived at the Olympic Park. The day was a Wednesday. It was 5:30pm, time to re-enter the Olympic Park. I had a ticket to the opening ceremony of the games, and my word. We'd done it again. The lower budget show was just as impressive as the olympic equivalent. And left us all with the thought 'I am what I am'. The next 11 days would challenge the UK public perception of disability. Has society contiuned the thinking? It's too early to judge that. Thursday was one of my 2 days off of the games. Friday I was at UDAC. 'It's good to have you back, when do you start?' said the games maker. 'Tomorrow', I replied. Apparently some people go straight from UDAC to their first shift. Mental people. I then went to the park and used my Olympic park day pass to see some wheelchair basketball before the ticketed session of goalball. I have so much respect for these athletes. And then something happened, I've watched paralympics before. I always think how brave the athletes are. I appreciated in these Paralympics that bravery doesn't come into it, or shouldn't come into it. I started respecting the athletes for their athletic performances. I was hooked. As I got home that night, I pieced together my Paralympic conversion kit and the fiddly Velcro and got to bed. The next morning I needed that 5:34am train to get to the Park in time for that 6:30am shift, that I was always late for, but we weren't needed before 7:30. You arrive and the park is empty. It's perfect. Check in, go take my seat in the stand (or seating bowl), get the briefing. The park opens to guests and we prepare to greet our guests. That day I was on circulation. Making sure guests were ok. This was the day where I basically sat on info point and checked in prams, we had a massive pram issue. I ended up holding a baby at one point. But I left feeling so happy, I was doing a more spectator side job. It was only getting better.
Next day, I was in the velodrome in the morning, and doing the evening session in the stadium. That day I watched a doorway for hours. Missed Pistorius' 200m. But ended up getting into the media stands for David Weir's first gold medal. Result. Got home about midnight. I'd be up again the next morning for that 5:34am train. I was back on mornings.
Today it was spectator information point again. I decided to rejig our white board to include information we were always asked about. Arrows basically to various things. You know you've done a good job when on closing ceremony day, 7 days after you redid the board your writing still remained on the board.
Tuesday was a day off, and I slept in. Watched the games on TV. Wednesday, back again. This time ticket scanning. Ticket scanning sounds dull, but it's great fun. You compete with other games makers. On average we each scanned 1000 tickets. Afterwards I went to the pool and watched some swimming.
Thursday morning I turned up to the stadium. Not to work, but to watch. Some some great athletics. Thursday evening, T44 100m night. I was on circulation and queue management. But snuck in to see the big events.
Friday, day off. Went and saw table tennis.
Saturday night, was on seating bowl duties. Saw basically all the events.
Sunday night, was working. Supposed to watch a stair case. Went and watched the ceremony once our guests had entered.

The next day was the Athletes Parade in London. Once again I got very little sleep. Joined all the other games makers in trafalgar square, excellent atmosphere. Then went to the pub and casually met two GB handball olympians. Standard really.

September - December
You'd think after all that, it'd just go back to normal. What is normal anyway?  It was time to start that year abroad that I mentioned earlier. So, I was to spend the next year in Paris. I'm writing a proper reflection blog about this later, but I've been having a ball. I've met a great bunch of people and become friends with them. Enjoyed the city, made unforgettable memories. You'll read about that soon, maybe around New Year's when I get round to writing about it. But when they say the year abroad is the best time of your life. They do mean it. It's not what you do, but the people that make it. I can't wait to get back there. (Like I said, I'm not writing a lot about that now, there's a lot to say. I'll write about that in a separate post).

How do you pick a highlight of 2012? You just can't. So much has happened. When I look back on my life in however many years time, 2012 will have a ring around it. That year there, that was a good one where everything just seemed to go right. May 2013 follow on from that.

Joyeux Noël, Merry Christmas

Being wished Merry Christmas by a bus. Sweet.

I'll let the bus do the first part of the talking.  First of all MERRY CHRISTMAS - JOYEUX NOEL, thank you so much for reading my blog. It's not a huge readership, but it was never intended to be. But thank you! Now onwards with the post....

It's Christmas time. I'm getting lucky with the fact I'm getting to experience this 'French Christmas' before quickly darting home for the real thing. (Sorry France, your Christmas just isn't as good). But I thought, well, why not do a little blog post talking about what sort of things I've experienced in France during the festive period. First thing to note, it's a little bit different. They love markets.

A Market near Notre Dame de Paris

Look, there is a market! Next to Notre Dame. Actually this one was quite arty, and more unique. But you pay for that arty unique-ness. It was also one of the more expensive markets I went to. Now the Parisian markets aren't that great (Sorry Paris!). They are very same-y. Take the Champs-Elysées market, unfriendly store owners and the same things over and over again. Seriously, if you like Churros for you this place will be heaven. It was, however, quite festive. The one in La Défence (I know, I know, not Paris. But close enough) was just not festive. I went with my friends on the 1st December and I wanted to come away feeling really festive. I just didn't. I felt more festive on the train that at that market. So instead we went and saw Rise of the Guardians at the cinema. Lovely film, reasonably festive too. On Tuesday I visited the market at Trocadéro. This one was actually the best one in Paris. Every stall offered something unique, but still the usual Maple Syrup stand, and Churros (Seriously, they are obsessed with those things). But for gifts, this one was great (However, I had already bought presents at...). The Christmas market in the town I'm staying in, Meaux. 'La Foire Gourmand' was something quite special actually. A Christmas market that sold exactly what I wanted. Gifts! Split into two zones, the zone artisanale and the zone gourmand, the market sold everything. I visited the Gourmand section last Friday after work, and tried some delicious home made sweets in the Vosges (I regret not buying some), saw some lovely cheeses and wines. The thing that got me, was the British stand. I bought a nice big bar of Dairy Milk for €2, and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps for 35c. Parfait!

Trocadéro Christmas Market, not a bad background

The Zone Artisanale was equally as good providing me with a good chunk of presents. They sold everything from jewellery to wooden door plaques for kids. And at reasonably prices! You could go with a €20 note, and come back with a fair amount. Fair play, that doesn't happen too often in France. Also, I was asked each time I bought something if I wanted it gift wrapped. To which I replied yes. It was free, if it was rubbish I could just do it again myself. Luckily it was not rubbish, actually very good. Dear Meaux. I might possibly come back some day for this xmas market, it was seriously quite good. The best one I went to this year, hands down.

So what else happens in France? Well, Christmas trees go up, the kids get excited over the Pere Noel (Santa). But of course, mixed messages over what can and can't be said or celebrated in schools. I've met some assistants who've said that even putting a tree up would be seen as breaking that old rule of 'Laicité', the school reception doesn't care, and put one up anyway.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe or something, well it's currently sat in Place de la Concorde. And I must say, it's rather beautiful

The Pere Noel magically flies over the Champs-Elysées

Now onto the more over the top Christmas approach offered at Disneyland. Whilst it may be over the top, one day there is enough to make you feel truly festive. You walk into the park, and they are playing Christmas Carols down Main Street in what sounds like 'Salvation Army' style. There's a giant Christmas tree (fake obviously), there are snowmen figures near the Castle. You can meet the characters in their Christmas outfits. Yeah, it snows too through the magic of foam type stuff. There is a 'Christmas Cavalcade' which is awesome, It's a Small World has had a festive makeover (Personal favourite is the mermaid singing Jingle Shells), Frontierland sees a Christmas village being set up. But the most magical things of all, the lighting up of the tree and the castle. Wow. As a Kid I always wanted to visit Disneyland at Christmas. My wish has been granted during the year abroad. How cool right?

Goofy and Pluto in front of the castle.. sort of.

Santa in the Cavalcade de Noel

Told you it was a big christmas tree

Castle at night

Santa in It's a Small World

Now I've experienced what Paris, and France is like at Christmas. Which is interesting (their Christmas Dinner is just odd to me), but I can't wait to get home and experience a home Christmas. It'll be nice to have some home comforts for two weeks too actually. I leave you with one more picture of Paris at Christmas. (I'm sure there'll be more next time).