First impressions

So I've now been in France for just over a week and the things that have struck me the most are:

• The number of people who smoke in France is enormous

• The amount of cheese on sale is crazy, but it is impossible to buy cheddar 

• Student life in France is very different, there's no freshers week, no university societies and almost no one outside on campus even at lunch time

• French people think it is cold here, it is not cold, I am quite happy in dresses and flip flops and I am a big wuss

• I live opposite the only bakery/shop in St Etienne open on a Sunday (lucky for me!)

so far I'm enjoying myself lots, finishing every day exhausted and more or less understanding people!

St Etienne!

Well this is it! I'm now in St Etienne having arrived yesterday and I'm all settled in to my apartment. There are 4 of us living together - 3 English girls on a year abroad and a French woman. I'm sharing a room which is a little strange as last time I shared a room I was about 7 and sharing with my little brother! Yesterday evening I went to a language café and spoke a mixture of French and English and I've discovered how difficult it is to speak French when my brain is mostly asleep. I'll be spending today exploring and hopefully not getting too lost and then this evening I'm off to a housegroup that's run by the Church I'm working with here. Hopefully I'll be able to understand most of what's going on and get to know some of the people I'll be spending time with over the next 6 months :)

So! If anyone is reading this then hey, welcome :) 


Next year I'm heading off to live in France for 6 months followed by another 6 months in Spain so I wanted a way to be able to keep people updated with what I'm up to, this was what I came up with.

Hopefully I won't be too boring and maybe I'll see you soon!


x