I’ve rewritten this entire post maybe 3 times? Initially, it was supppeeeeer pissy, it was whiny, it was negative. The second time it was a little more constructive, a little less whiny, but negative nonetheless. So, let’s see how this one goes. Hopefully, another step in the right direction.
Hey! So, my first few days in Angers… Where do I even begin. I could tell you the story of my eventful days travelling to Paris, and then eventually to Angers. But we’ll save that for some other time. I could complain and moan about how outrageously disorganised the whole set up here is.. But I won’t. I’m genuinely feeling positive about my next 5/6 months here. Am I still horribly anxious? Of course I am! The first French person I spoke to replied to me in English immediately. The second, I didn’t understand what they were talking about. It’s fair to say it hasn’t been such a great start. But I knew that this was what it was going to be like. I knew I was going to be confused, and that’s ok. As long as by the end of it all I’m not so confused. If by the end of it my French has got even marginally better, it’s been worth it. Of course I want to come on in leaps and bounds, but hey, let’s walk before we can run!
It’s scary, but it’s nice to feel challenged. It’s nice to feel like I’m working towards something. As it was with teaching, it’s something I’m going to have to face and overcome. Am I dreading almost every encounter I have with French people? Yes. Am I going to fuck up over and over again before I get anywhere? Of course I am. Did I avoid going into the kitchen to make food because a big group of French students were in there? Regrettably so, because right now writing this at 3am I’m absolutely frickin’ starving! These are just things I’m going to have to face, I know I’ll get there eventually.
Anyway! Angers. Like any mild-mannered Brit, the weather is a hot topic for me. The weather has been awful. However that has yet to dampen my spirits in the same manner it has with my jeans,shoes, and socks. I actually think I’m going to quite like it here. It’s a pretty small city, it seems pretty chilled out, I think it’s going to suit me. Maybe there’s not as much going on as there is in Liverpool, or even Sheffield. But that’s not to say I’m going to sit in my room and be bored and lonely until I leave, hell no. I like that by changing my “home*” I get to re-explore(?) and rediscover the place where I live. That’s probably why I like travelling so much, I get bored of the same places. I like to find new ones, where I can do exactly the same thing but differently. Am I going to find a flat white better than the one at Tamper? I doubt it. Will I find somewhere a more chilled spot than Parque Grande in the middle of Summer? Maybe not. But what will I find instead? I’ve already bested the best pastries I’ve ever eaten in England and I’ve yet to visit a proper French bakery. Who knows what’s in store for me as the semester goes on… Alls I know is I’m excited for what’s to come.
Tomorrow is Friday, here’s my plan. Now I’ve learnt how to select my modules I’ll hopefully go to my first class. I’m going to go to the library, get myself a French grammar book. I’m going to a book store to buy my favourite book in French to get a new perspective on things – L’alchimiste de Paulo Coelho. French studying hard begins tomorrow. Hopefully this will make me more confident in the long run, I want to start writing in French, really writing. Writing like this.
Thankfully the negatives I’ve heard and experienced about Angers haven’t clouded the positivity I have for the potential that this journey has. It has the potential to be the best experience I’ve had yet, I won’t let anything alter of that mentality. Onwards and upwards, got that Friday feeling!
Hope y’all have a nice weekend,
Flynn! x
* Home,to me, isn’t a place. It’s a feeling. A vibe. Home is feeling like you can be yourself and flourish, as yourself. In that sense I have a lot of places I call home… Maybe Angers will become one too.
Let's go on an adventure. 