Checking in

In my last post I promised myself (and you, lovely readers) that I would actually achieve something this term and - most crucially - enjoy doing so. So, here's a check-in, one week on, to see how I'm doing.

• Learning German from scratch through 'tandems' three times a week with my three German friends
  This is actually going pretty well, thanks to my lovely friends. Although I've been a little slack on homework, I've had four 'tandem' sessions so far and apparently my pronunciation is pretty good (thanks, Bach, you're a dude).
• Improving my French through 'tandems' in Lyon.
  Again fairly successful with one session, albeit brief. Unfortunately it turns out my French pronunciation is pretty poor...
• Snowboarding weekends!
  Two attempts; two failures. I think this one will have to wait 'til the new year.
• Getting a head-start on my dissertation (two books already bought, and one borrowed..)
  Not sure how much I read of David Bellos' Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything* this week before I started dozing off on the train, but that still counts, right? 
• A promise to myself of more nights out!
  A resounding success with three consecutive nights of social drinking in its varying degrees: drinks with the Bourg assistants in the Quinet kitchen; the Irish pub in Bourg with teachers from my flatmate's school; an ERASMUS night in Lyon and a (not) gay (enough) club.
• Getting fit: a teacher gave us a bike for free, so no excuses!
  I managed one slightly precarious trip to Bouvent lake during which I only almost got run over three times... then the rain arrived. 
• A casual interpreting job
  Still to hear whether they need me on Wednesday. Fingers crossed!
• Observing some French literature classes
  Merde, I forgot about this one! I'll ask my flatmate about it tomorrow..
• Lots of travelling
  Only Lyon since my last post, but I did neglect to mention my quick stroll into Geneva whilst waiting for the train after my return flight:

Taking in the lakeside view in what must be one of
the most expensive cities in Europe with an alfresco
lunch of Mum's sandwiches. Capitalism can suck it.

• Volunteering as a project coordinator for UnicefCampus
  Set up a meeting for this afternoon, the guy cancelled... I'm officially signed up, though!
• Getting better at this blog thing...
  Leaving it over a week doesn't really cut it, does it? I'm truly sorry, as I'm sure you're all devastated.

*The book's actually really interesting - in fact, I recommend it - I was just ridiculously tired.

On proactivity

I like being busy. I know this might sound alien to students who conform more closely to the Young Ones stereotype, or even that of University Challenge, but I can't think of anything worse than sitting alone in my room for entire days or evenings.

In sixth form I took four A-levels (don't confuse me with a nerd; I practically failed one of them), had weekly singing lessons for my grade 8 (conveniently a day after my A-level Music practical, also my birthday...), sang in far too many choirs, became a music prefect and worked in a bar... yet I was always first to say yes to a night out ("...but the exams aren't for another week!")

Much the same in university: where others wait for 'the fear' to get an essay done, I have to plan weeks in advance of concert season around jobs, committee duties, auditions, mass, rehearsals and - of course - socialising. The lifestyle has its disadvantages: I don't take well to just sitting and reading for any considerable length of time, which could be seen as a drawback in an English degree...

Therefore, as you might imagine, I had a few concerns about moving to a different country. Language assistants only work 12 hours a week, so to do with the rest? If you read my 'Week in the life' post you might have some idea, and you might also remember that I ended on an optimistic note:

"Sunday
As you might have already known, or read here, the 'day of rest' is very restful here in France. So far - apart from that one time we went to the rugby and the cinema - it's been an opportunity for lie-ins/hangovers, lesson planning and laziness which is gratefully received by my lazy alter-ego, but I'm sure after the holidays I'll be back on form with not a moment spare - or so I hope."

Like-minded friends will be glad to hear that I have begun to fulfill my own prophecy within four days of being back.

So what am I going to take on in the remaining few weeks of term?

• Learning German from scratch through 'tandems' three times a week with my three German friends
• Improving my French through 'tandems' in Lyon.
• Snowboarding weekends!
• Getting a head-start on my dissertation (two books already bought, and one borrowed..)
• A promise to myself of more nights out!
• Getting fit: a teacher gave us a bike for free, so no excuses!
• A casual interpreting job
• Observing some French literature classes
• Lots of travelling
• Volunteering as a project coordinator for UnicefCampus
• Getting better at this blog thing...

All of this along with my two choirs, never forgetting, of course, my actual job.

Two weeks off for some dead saints? I'll take it...

I've missed half term. As a British student you're hardly aware it's happening until you go into town and it's full of kids "who should be in sch—! Oh..." Despite having a holiday in October for the first time in ages, this year's half term actually started off as normal: my parents came to visit. 

We only paused for two nights in Bourg as it doesn't have a huge amount to offer for a holiday. Nevertheless, two nights was enough to pack in a fair amount of excitement:

Early Christmas present.. :)

First try of Poulet de Bresse
(actually quite boring..)

Then to Lyon! We did all the normal tourist-y things but the highlights for me were:

The marionette museum

and a fantastic big band at the famous 'Hot' jazz club.

We flew back together, then parted ways as I headed to Exeter to spend a wonderful week-and-a-half invading my boyfriend's house (sorry!) and seeing my lovely uni friends. I miss student life, and it was difficult being there almost as an outsider, with new freshers I didn't know and changes I hadn't registered (the Long Lounge is now the Kitchen Café?!) Seeing my friends running around with heads full of deadlines, concerts, committee responsibilities and society drama I ruefully said "I miss being busy".

Now, though, as I sit here listening to The Swell Season after a morning at the market, a lovely shared lunch with the girls in the Quinet kitchen followed by a movie (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, if anyone's interested) I'm starting to think it's a good thing that my year out is just that: a year out.