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Sunday, 21 October 2012

Bourges- Part I-II

Well, I have to say it's been a while since our first trip to Bourges- I believe it was another somewhat early morning start, which was thrilling for poor Isy who didn't quite get enough time to shake her hangover but plenty to acquaint herself with train station toilets.

On the upside, it was a beautiful sunny day and Bourges is quite a pretty little town- a big step-up from Issoudun, boasting a gorgeous Gothic cathedral (Saint-Étienne) and streets that feel like you've just stepped into the Middle Ages:


Gotta love all the lattice-work.


We met up with a LARGE group of assistants from around the area- I think there was about 15 of us, which led to a bit of trouble at lunchtime... All in all, it felt like a bit of a school-trip. We visited a French comic-con, which I have to say is nowhere near as exciting as an American one. There were no people dressed-up, it was a rather quiet affair with a bunch of elderly French people smoking at the door- dull. However, there were some interesting displays and I believe everyone was rather pleased to see some Lord of the Rings illustrations.



Then came the tourist train- which again, didn't scream fun as we were all packed in like sardines, and an elderly French trio and a German group joined our car. After what was not so much a quick-shop at H&M (German boys can really take their sweet time in there- eh Sam?), our Issoudun group headed home with a Rachel (an assistant in Vierzon) in tow. I really enjoyed my day out in Bourges, but have to say it felt ace getting back and sitting down to watch The Twin Towers with pizza and a cuppa.



Bourges part II: We returned to Bourges for Katie's birthday. This time the weather was less than cheerful, but I believe we set out with a better mood- more sleep makes for better company. Isy also had a new camera which she got snap happy with:

Check out the girl in the background- stinkeye much? Of course we immediately noticed this and started laughing, but unfortunately she seemed to notice too and thought this was the perfect time to practise her English. Although not looking at us, she proceeded to shout "Fuck you! Fuck! Do you speak English?" It was such an awkward situation, I was quite glad she didn't stick around when we got off the train.

Anyhow, we arrived safely in Bourges, met the birthday girl and got drinks- while the others got 1 euro wine that came in a plastic bottle, I splashed out a bit and got some Desperados, and thank god as their drink tasted like vinegar! It was quite a nice, chilled-out evening, again we had a large group which made it somewhat difficult to talk to everyone. We had a meal (goat's cheese and salad for me AGAIN- this is the soul thing I can find on any French menu that is vegetarian, I am most likely never gunna want it again when I return home) then headed back to the flat for a few drinking games and some Spice Girls. It was a good night, birthday girl got well and truly trashed,and started speaking in nought but French which I have to say was rather impressive! 

Next morning the hangovers were cured by Pat a Pain and another H&M shop before getting the train back to Issoudun, pizza makes a most excellent breakfast. 

Friday, 12 October 2012

Meetings.

As you can imagine with all the paperwork we have to fill in, there also comes plenty of meetings. The first meeting for assistants in this region took place in Orléans, I cannot say I was particularly thrilled about having to catch a train at about 6.45am, but hey ho. Ultimately, I felt the majority of this first meeting was a waste of time- literally everything I needed to know could have been summed up within 30mins, but instead us Europeans had to sit through talks about Visas etc. and of course there was time wasted on stupid questions which led to me pulling my scarf tighter and tighter around my neck.

However, I got some pretty pictures while on our whistle-stop tour of the city.




The French love their water features...

And this man loved his teddybear so much, he took it to work and strapped it in the passenger seat, I'm absolutely gutted that he sped up as soon as I got my camera out. We'd seen him earlier in the morning too.






And our second meeting took place in Chateauroux, I can't say it went to a good start- Isy and I were late, the ticket office at the train station wasn't open so we had to spend our last pennies buying tickets on the train, then we got slightly lost in the city, were sent on a wild goose-chase around the school trying to find the other assistants, then were so happy to find out that lunch would cost over 5 euros. Fortunately the professeur  in charge was very understanding and kind. 
The other assistants appeared lovely, though I have to say I felt very outnumbered on the carnivorous front as they all berated vegans whilst going on about how they couldn't live without meat. I also found the lunchtime chat about Proust a bit difficult to digest. I have to say I found it amusing that one of the assistants seemed annoyed and surprised that his kids knew nothing/couldn't care less about politics, cos you know- 11-15 year olds today, I just can't get them off their wee soapboxes. 

I saw this yesterday on The Breakfast Club FB page, thought it somewhat appropriate. 


As for my most important meetings- with the students, I have to say I've got a lively bunch at the college (tweens) and I've got another mixed lot at the lycée (teens). For the most part I'd say they're a good bunch, though I've heard some tales at the college e.g. one kid stood up and said their teacher dressed like a whore, while another class gave their teacher a present of a toothbrush as a hint he had bad breath... All I can say is I hope I don't get any presents this year, though as I'm my usual unkempt self, I may be presented with a hairbrush at some point no doubt. 



Sunday, 7 October 2012

Paperwork, first impressions and a cat called Captain Nemo.

Hell, the French love their paperwork. No sooner have I filled out one form, then I'm presented with another- usually in triplicate, with a demand to sign 'here, here and here'. I've now lost count of how many times my passport has been photocopied. I feel like I've maybe signed my soul away somewhere along the line. At the moment, I'm still to fill in forms to make sure I get paid properly by my schools and tittering away at the choice of 'concubinage' under 'family status'.


On another note, I arrived in Issoudun at 2am- having spent all day travelling from Orkney (I had a 6am start), meaning I didn't really get to see my surroundings. In fact, for the first day all I did was sleep, which led to the French couple (who I stayed with the first few nights) to call me "our little doormouse". For the first few days, they went to work, leaving me without a key and therefore no way to come and go as I pleased, which meant I was very late in exploring my surroundings and getting things like bank accounts sorted. However, I'm now moved into my flat, getting semi-organised, and I've been lucky enough to find 4 other language assistants- 2 Brits, one German and one Spaniard, in this small town, so I'm actually far from lonely here.

Oh, and I've made a friend who hangs around my flat- Captian Nemo, he talks NON-STOP! I swear even French cats sound nasally.

He's quite fond of chasing the squirrels- there's tonnes of red ones here, naturally they're a protected species but Nemo doesn't seem to realise that.