Tuesday, 20 March 2012

The post-settling-in and pre-holiday slump.

A weekend of rain caught me by surprise. It's the first rain I've seen in over a month, but I still moaned. Can't take the British out of the Brit. Of course, I managed to go for a walk in Geneva while it was bucketing it down, got thoroughly cold and miserable, then came home and had a bath before I caught hypothermia. On the up, I discovered that my ski jacket is indeed as waterproof as the label claimed. And I did spend a wonderful hour in the bath. So, not a complete waste of a Sunday.


It appears that I have hit what I have declared is the post-settling-in and pre-holiday slump. This is the time when you start to realise that this is now your life. You have found a routine (hurrah!). You notice that only having enough clothes to last you 7 days means that you wear exactly the same thing every week. The security guard in Carrefour starts to recognise you. You've developed a taste for Brie and therefore you miss cheddar slightly less. Of course, not all of these things are bad, but you get sick of other people expecting you to be photographed next to ridiculous tourist attractions just to prove you're on your Erasmus year having the time of your life. And you start to think, a bit of normality wouldn't go amiss, which makes you think of the most normal place in the world, which has to be home. This isn't being homesick, this is being ready for a holiday at home. Quite a different thing. 


Oh I am having the time of my life, believe me! I just feel I could have made more of an effort these past few weekends, I can almost feel the contempt people possibly have for the girl who lazes around on a weekend instead of running headlong at most of Europe. I can hear the 'I wish I had the opportunity to do that...'s lining up right now to batter me about the head.  


However, luckily I don't give two hoots what anybody thinks. Unless you've been through this, you quite frankly have no right to comment or tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing. Neither do I care that your second-cousin-once-removed travelled and had the time of his life and worked as a barman on the Costa del Sol and got fluent in Spanish overnight. No he didn't, and even if he did, why do you think that is the perfect model of a YA? Remember the phrase 'hindsight is a wonderful thing'...


Anyway, enough of me moaning (sorry, it happens when you decide to blog when you should be snoring away). Instead of filling my last free weekend for a while (due to visits, a trip home, and more visits) with wearing myself out, I have taken the very wise advice of Winnie the Pooh: 'Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.' Wise words Pooh. Especially abroad. Other countries have different sounds, different smells, a veritable ambiance which is different. And as such, I do not believe I have wasted my time at all, rather soaked up the culture and my beautiful surroundings, not to mention caught up with sleep and got all this week's work done.


And in fact, we have done some things, they just happen to be what we want to do, and not things that people expect us to do. Today Claire and I discovered that we're right on the edge of the countryside, with a farm and little village which very much resembles the outer edges of Galgate, and there was a wonderful heron and another bird which Dad has identified as a Black Kite swooping about. Now if that isn't lovely, I don't know what is. Simplicity is soul-restoring.


Right, I'm going to shut up and go to bed now. Phew. Feel better for that though, I think I've been wanting to say this since September! Next time you hear someone's going to spend some time abroad, here's a list of things not to say:
1) You're going to have the time of your life.
2) You should make the most of it.
3) Oh can't be bad, going to live abroad for a while! Wish I could get away.
4) A year-long holiday! Lucky you!


Till next time blogeurs, when I shall have a very wonderful set of visitors to write about! Yay! 
Loves xxx



Sunday, 11 March 2012

A church, an encounter with Swiss efficiency, and a Specsavers appointment in the brewing.

Bonjour tout le monde!


Well it's been a week most ordinary. Last Sunday and this Sunday I braved church, which is always interesting when you move to a new place. This one's called Crossroads and is an English-speaking church, which is really quite nice! Some would say it's cheating, I say: why make life harder? If I didn't go to this one I'd have to cross the border, which is a nightmare on a Sunday. Besides, this church is right up my street, the people are very friendly and welcoming, and it feels like a little bit of home.


Aside from that, I generally felt pants last week. I think it might be time for new glasses with the amount of headaches I've had recently, but that's going to have to wait till Easter. Specsavers here I come (grumble groan, it's going to involve the usual talk with the optician about how I don't really need new specs because my eyes haven't changed that much, and me explaining that I'd rather not shell out for them but functioning with headaches isn't my idea of fun...)


Yesterday I found my way to the Jardin Botanique, which was a pain in the backside to get to because it seems half of the buses in Geneva don't run on a Saturday, even though there's times up at the bus stops for them. So much for Swiss efficiency. Anyway, I finally made it there. It's not all that interesting unless you're a botanist. I look at a rock with three different types of moss on them and I think 'oooh look at the pretty colours' and then move on, but I'm sure botonists don't. Anyway, I then made my way to Lake Geneva and had a nice little wander along the quay, but this time there wasn't any ice! I also stopped into C&A and maybe bought two tops. Oops. Oh well, only having about a week's worth of clothes is a pain, two tops mean washing doesn't have to be done in such an emergency every Tuesday. 


That's me done for today Blogeurs, I'm hitting the hay. I'll try to do something more interesting this week!

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Un long-weekend dans les montagnes

Apologies for the lack of blog of late, but things have been a little hectic. The uni is uber-organised, so classes are actually going reasonably well. There's only been one that sucked my soul out and necessitated a hot chocolate after so I could function well enough to get home, so that's not too bad. I need to find something to replace it but at the present time I have Mondays and Tuesdays off, so I'd rather not suddenly get something (mainly because I'm planning a few weekends away, and travelling on Tuesday is so much cheaper...)


Claire (flatmate who is also from Lancaster, for those of you who haven't been updated), arrived with her Mum, and we did a lot of food shopping and sight-seeing. On Saturday we went to Anzere (a ski resort in the mountains) and I stayed until yesterday. It was absolutely stunning, the mountains are like nothing I've ever seen before. I tried to take pictures but they really don't do them justice at all (but still, have a look!). Before you ask, no I didn't ski. I would like to return to the motherland with all my limbs if you don't mind. I can do without a trip to hospital.


Anyhow, I'm just waiting for my next lecture. I might geek-out and do my translation work for tomorrow's class (which I may or may not be allowed to take, as I'm still waiting for Lancaster to say yay or nay as it's a Master's course and so I apparently won't pass the exam, but the nice tutor said I could take it and he'd write a report for Lancs and they can decide at the end what grade I should get. Glad to see nothing changes on the emailing front.) One thing is certain, this is a heck of a lot easier than Bilbao was!


P.S. Flat Ted and Millie also having a great time.

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Je suis à Genève!

Bonjour bloggeurs!

Well I have arrived after a remarkably stress-free journey (which involved 2 buses, a train and a plane). First win of the day was being bang on 20kg according to Difficult Jet's scales (I'm sure they add a few kg just to charge you more).



The journey was pretty unremarkable, but it was fine, can't complain. My amazing landlady met me at the airport and took me to my flat, which not only sings and dances but pretty much turns somersaults as well. I didn't do much before collapsing into bed (which has pillows so fluffy I kept falling off them in the night!) with Millie, my marvelous hot water bottle, and Flat Ted, who is happy to be on the move again.
Just to prove I was on a plane...


This morning I slept in a bit, then drank a fair amount of tea while googling where the tourist info is. I'm technically living in Ornyx, but practically speaking I'm in Ferney-Voltaire, which is on the French side of the border. Anyway, I found the tourist info, asked the nice lady how to get to Geneva etc, then faffed about for a million years getting change for the bus as the machine doesn't take notes. I finally made it to the bit of Geneva I was supposed to be at, then I got slightly lost trying to find the transport office, which was right under my nose, en fait. I got my 'carte de base' (which is a free thing you need in order to buy monthly travel tickets), and got the bus back before my good luck ran out!


On the way back I saw the UN building (I had wondered where it was on the way there and we stopped somewhere called 'Nations', must have had my eyes closed because it's huge). I called at Carrefour on the way home, didn't even need my directions to wander back to my flat and make spag bol. 


All I can say is, I now remember why I love the Francophonie. The people are very pleasant and I've not spoken English all day, even though I know for a fact that the tourist info lady and the bloke who gave me my travel card both spoke English. People say hello when you pass them in the street. They don't look at you funny because you're a foreigner. Things couldn't be more different than when I went to Bilbao, and although I appreciate that having done it once it's a heck of a lot easier to do it a second time, things are different. As long as the uni doesn't annoy me too much over the next weeks, I might never leave!


Thanks for the love blogeurs, now who wants to come visit? I CAN SEE THE MONT BLANC!!!!

Sunday, 12 February 2012

Reflections on being home.

I am such a bad blogger when I have nothing to moan about! Sorry for the lack of blogging but I've barely stood still since I got back. I won't bore you with all the details, but I've managed to visit all the family members I needed to, and seen my new baby niece (nawwwww!)


Anyhow, this blog post is something I've wanted to write for a long time, but I needed to wait till I'd been back in England for a while before I could write it. I went to Lancaster first (which is becoming something of a tradition but it's just been more practical that way) which was lovely. Seeing everyone was great, and although it fits like an old glove it really does serve to highlight the hundreds of miles of difference between old me and new me. And the fact that I haven't got a clue about the pain in the backside that final year appears to be, and therefore I'm very little use when people are going through tough times, though I can still brew a decent cup of tea (Lucy 1-0 Spain). Has to be said, I really don't want to do final year if that is what it looks like. But hopefully my year doing something different will be good because I've had some distance from the Lancaster bubble. 


Home home (that is, York home) is less weird, because I've been coming and going from York for two years already, so it's just like normal. The only thing I have noticed is that my accent is back, partly because I am tired as anything and partly because I've had to attempt a daft accent for 5 months, the time to be myself is now, before I go back to being an Erasmus tourist. 


And, for those of you who were wondering, I did have a very lovely Christmas/Birthday at home home too (several in fact, due to wonderful parents and wonderful friends!)


I move to Geneva on Wednesday, so no doubt there'll be more interesting bits to read then.
Till the next time :) x 



Monday, 23 January 2012

Saying 'agur'

Hello Followers! (as I've now left Spain, I can't call you blogueros anymore and as I've not hit Switzerland yet I can't say 'blogeurs' yet, so live with being called a sensible name for a few weeks)


Well yes, the end happened. The last few weeks in Bilbao got a bit mad, hence the lack of blogging, but I had one last exam (which wasn't all that fun, but this time last year there'd have been no way I could even attempt to write three essays in Spanish on Medieval Literature in an hour and a half. So even if I fail that exam, it's still a victory). The rest of the time was spent meeting up with people, and showing Kate around (as we had about a week's cross-over between her coming out to Bilbao and me leaving). Pintxos (Basque tapas) happened, as did Txacoli (Basque white wine), and chocolate con churros. I feel like I spent a week eating!


So I said 'agur' for the last time while leaving the Chinese shop that had practically set me up for the semester with mugs and teapots and such, and rammed as much into my hand luggage as possible due to Easyjet's rules on weight limit (basically, your hold luggage has to be 20kg or less, but your hand luggage can weigh anything as long as you can lift it. So a blanket, 3 jumpers, all my electricals and work went into one rucksack with a bit of brute force). I was still 1.5kg over when I got to the airport, but the nice lady didn't charge me so I consider that an epic win, given just how many clothes I brought back!


Right now I'm in Lancaster, chilling my beans in the Learning Zone and even working on my dissertation (shock, horror!) It's hilarious that I'm procrastinating from looking at DELC310 by doing 6000 words of translation, but this is the way I roll these days. So hard-core. I'm having a nice time though, I just feel a bit useless as everyone else is so busy and I have no idea what they're going through anymore, not having done final year yet. 


Reverse-culture-shock is also a condition I feel I should probably write a self-help guide for in the near future. It's an interesting phenomenon that no one ever talks about, so I'll get round to it soon.


Right, dissertation time. See you soon people!

Monday, 9 January 2012

The trip to the home of Manuel!

Hola blogueros!


So I went to Barcelona (hence the title of this post - Manuel from Fawlty Towers was from Barcelona)! I was met by the AMAZING Laura and Liria, and we had a disgustingly decadent brekkie of waffles with choccy sauce! We found my hotel, which was right down by the Sagrada Familia (you know, that great big church designed by Gaudí which hasn't yet been finished...) and it's so impressive I can't even describe... you should all book a ticket and go see it, you have to be there!


Anyway, we had some amazing tapas for lunch, then Liria and I went to Casa Batllo (another of Gaudí's creations). We think we might buy it when we have enough money! After, we met up with Laura again and we did something else. But right now, it escapes my memory! 


On Thursday we went to the gothic quarter and had an amazing tour round by one of Laura's friends who knew lots about the history - he should really get a job as a tour guide. We also went to the port for some lunch, and a crepe. Hilariously, a bird chose this moment to poo on me and Laura nearly killed herself laughing at me. Typical! Anyway, no harm done and the good luck came true as after, Laura and I went to the Sagrada Familia (as in, inside it!) It was impressive, what can I say? You do really have to go to see it in person! But the more impressive thing is that  we managed to walk straight in, which was incredible as the day before there was at least a 2 hour queue when we walked past it. See what I mean about good luck?


We went to watch the parade for Reyes, which I found brilliant! Such a novelty to see the Three Kings come in a parade and throw sweets out for the children. Dinner followed, then we all collapsed into bed!


Friday was my 21st, so I had a nice lie-in, then called big sis (as it's her birthday on the same day). Then I went to meet Erin for coffee (the same Erin that came to Bilbao a few blog posts back!) and we had a Starbucks - well when in Spain! Laura then took me to her house where her mum had done a lovely dinner for us, with a birthday cake and everything, it was lovely to spend time with a family too. We went to Park Guell (another Gaudí creation... anyone spot the theme emerging?) and wandered round there, then we all went to see these fountains in another park which have different coloured lights put on them, and music plays, and the fountains put on a little show! It was amazing! Sadly, they only did one performance because there was a technical issue so they had to cancel the rest, but what we did see was brilliant! From there we went for a birthday drink in a bar on top of the old bull fighting ring (as bull fighting's been outlawed in Catalonia they turned the Plaza de Toros into a shopping centre). There was a great view over the city, and we took advantage of a last few hours to chat as I had to leave ridiculously early the next day to get my flight back to Bilbao.


The flight wasn't too stressful, though my body clock is all confused after eating McDonalds at 6am (I know, weird!), falling asleep on the flight (which is only about 40mins long) and being woken up by an air-hostess telling me I had to turn my MP3 player off for landing. That would have been fine, but she spoke to me in Catalan first and I was genuinely sure for a moment that I'd forgotten all my Spanish! But by the time I'd got off the flight, waited for the bus, taken the metro and got to my flat, I was past being tired so just watched TV and napped a little bit for the rest of the day!


Anyone who wants to go to Barcelona, give me a yell, I'm up for a second visit! And it was a GREAT way to spend my 21st :) BIG THANKS to Laura and Liria for making it so wonderful and helping me to see as much as possible in very little time!
Till next time blogueros x