Wow! The last time I wrote here was before leaving to come to France 4 months ago!! *hangs head in shame for 5 seconds* ok shame time's up! So I really have no idea where to begin! I have been so busy with my new french lifestyle, busy meeting great new people and discovering new places and things that I haven't been able (or have been too lazy) to sit down and write everything that's been happening around me! But anyways I have so much to say that I'm gonna try to say it all in a nutshell (walnut sized). So voilà (hec yea that's a french accent!!) my thoughts on life thus far in Lille, France as an english teaching assistant, presented in the most concise form ever!
Chelsea à la Lille:
1) European art and architecture fascinate me immensely <3
2) Dogs are everywhere! In hotels, restaurants, streets, trains, metros and trams!! And yes I do bend down to
pet them and talk to them in baby talk!! love doggies! (I am yet to see a single cat though.....hmmm)
3) I now see whey they call fries 'french fries'.....you can't go to any restaurant and NOT be offered fries
4) people do indeed bathe here!!!! frenchies being stinky is such a myth (or perhaps I live in the somewhat civilized part)
5) I get sick almost every 2 weeks with the drop in temperature....one day 16°....next day 0°!! (all a huge cry from my 34° weather which I'm used to back home in Trinidad!!)
6) The house I live in was broken into the 1st week of November and my laptop, ipod touch and camera (all less than a year old were stolen) as well as other items from my other housemates' rooms...wasn't a very nice welcome but hey crap happens at least I'm alive and well! (had to buy the cheapest computer which is FRENCH with a FRENCH keyboard ugh and the cheapest digi cam which doesn't work at night....sigh c la vie!)
7) French keyboards take some getting used to but are awesome: éèçࣵ§ù XD
8) Nutella is EVIL and the DEVIL - finished a MASSIVE tub in a week, pants were too tight, felt ill...EVIL!
9) I've travelled to: London (England) Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux,(France) Brussels and Brugges(Belgium), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Cologne(Germany)...too many incredible stories to right here..AMAZING TIMES WITH AMAZING PEOPLE!!! I plan on going to Grenoble (south France by my trini friend), Geneva(Switzerland) and Milan,Verona,Venice,Florence and Rome in Italy for February Vacation, Spain and Portugal in April and wherever else in May before I return to the Caribbean!!
10) MY SLEEP(the basis upon which this blog was created in the first place) has VASTLY improved!!!!! still not perfect but i have made leaps of progress for which I am eternally grateful to God above!!
11) I am becoming DOMESTIC! I cook, do housechores, laundry etc...good housewife in the making! lol
12) teaching english to my students is an awesome and meaningful experience and I love it!! I love the challenge of teaching teens and engaging them in fun learning activites that motivate them...I love seeing the difference from when they were disinterested and bored towards learning english to being cheery and very friendly when they enter my class! YAY!
13) I immensely miss carnival, my beautiful, warm and vibrant islands, my family, my doggies and my bf...Europe is absolutely amazing and I would stay here ONLY if a) I was single or b) my loved ones were living here with me. actually naaaa I can't live here too long....love the food, energy and carnival too much!!!!!
So there is the very condensed recap of my life. For those of you who read my blog before and know about the issues I dealt with for the roughly 3 years before this experience, you would notice the INSANELY HUGE change in me....I am truly blessed and truly grateful for this opportunity...a big jump from where I was a few years a back to where I am now! I have learnt and grown so much despite the mistakes that I have made and despite straying a bit from the path I'm meant to take but life is like that. You falter and wander off but once you find your way back sooner than later, it's all good.....
'Barcollo ma non mollo': I may stagger but I won't fall (Italian Proverb) BISOUS!
Paint me as surprised to learn that you're interested in art and architecture...lol...I guess some part of me did rub off. But, I do LOVE your blog, you've done a splendid job and you don't need to "steal" from me...:)...You're maturing into a woman, Dad and I can be very proud of and one I'll definitely be happy to call "friend". So soak-up all the experiences you can, take care and enjoy yourself. Oh, by the way I'm looking forward to your cooking a meal for me when you get back (note to self - buy Pepto)...hahaha...Lov Ya, big hugs, Mom
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