Arrived in France

So I arrived in France on Monday aftermoon, after a not so bad flight form London City airport. I flew with 2 other assistants, and we were met at Pau airport by a lovely lady named Christelle. Basically she's been doing everything she can for us since we arrived. She drove us to our flat, helped with the paperwork, even took us shopping!

The flats pretty basic but ok, feel like I'm settling in so that's good. Only downside is there's not oven, just 4 barely working hobs and a microwave. Don't think I'll be getting many nutritious meals while I'm here! Although there is a Dominos near by, so I may be calling them a little too often...

 My clumsy nature surfaced only minutes after arriving, I managed to whack my head on the car boot, resulting in an attractive lump on my head which had now thankfully disappeared! And since then I've amused people with my constant tripping up, which is nothing new I guess!

The week has been pretty good, I've had the typical French croissants, crepes and baguettes, and had a good night out last night with a few too many malibus. The 50 minute walk home sobered me up though, as the apparently 24 hour taxi rank decided not to answer their phone, so we were left with no other means of getting home!

Asides from the 4 other English assistants I'm living with, (2 English, 2 American), I've met another English assistant who actually goes to my uni, never met her before though, and her Spanish flatmate. Also a Canadian assistant who lives in a nearby town met up with us yesterday which was nice. There's also other assistants and friends of them etc who I've met, and everyone seems really nice, which is good :).

The mountains are so pretty and in fact so is the whole city. We've spent alot of time exploring, doing jobs such as opening a bank account and getting a bus pass inbetween. It was exciting to recieve my first post this morning, containing my new bank card, even if when the post lady rang me up before hand I thought she was telling me she was coming to clean my toilet! God knows how I thought that, but anyway, a few minutes later she knocked on my door and handed me my post, so lets hope she didn't realise my error!!

Today's been a very lazy day, which was much needed after the tiring week and late night last night. Overall, Pau is great, I miss everyone, but it's such an adventure :) xx

Welcome!

Hi, welcome to my blog! As this is my first post I'll explain a little about my self and why I've decided to start a blog.

I'm Kirsty, I'm 20 years old and a student of French and linguistics at the university of Leeds. I'm about to start my third year - which for language students is a year abroad. I'll be spending my time abroad as an English language assisstant in a primary school in a city in south-west France, Pau. I will be leaving England in 3 weeks to get settled in before my work contract starts, so I thought now is the ideal time to start my blog, as I can include my preparations as well as my time spent in France. I'm really excited about spending 7 months in France, as I love travelling and can't wait to experience the French culture. But, (there's always a but isn't there?!) it will be hard leaving my family, friends and boyfriend behind. But I will have to get past this, and make the most of this amazing oppertunity!

So, I fly to Pau airport on 24th September, and from then on I'll be staying in some halls at the university in Pau, which should be good as I'll get to meet lots of people my age. However, I'm not sure what it'll be like sharing a kitchen with 20 others! Thank God I've got an en-suite! Once I get there I've got over a week until the training day for language assisstants, so I'll have plenty of time to set up a French bank account, the internet, a phone, and do some exploring!

I'll leave you with a link to some information on Pau, and a couple of pictures, as I'm going to get ready now, I'm seeing Michael Mcintyre tonight, can't wait!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau,_Pyr%C3%A9n%C3%A9es-Atlantiques