Bon soir!
Been a while since the last blog update, sucks to be you eh? Not hearing about my fabulous life in France must be shit!
Since the last hopeful and uplifting blog entry, my positive attitude seems to be continuing! Although, I dont want to mislead anyone into thinking that this has to do with France/French people/School. It mainly has to do with visitors/Christmas time/BEING HOME!
The level of my excitement for going home is reminiscent of a child writing their list to Santa; the feeling that its coming and youre on a countdown. So far, my blackberry messanger contacts and my facebook friends have been subjected to a daily countdown...we are currently at 24 days! Eeeeek! Planning what to pack and take already. This is how sad my life has become! Have also planned an all day and night date with my man on the friday which includes Harry Potter, Dinner and Drinks! Cant wait to dress up! Since arriving en France the dressiest thing i've worn is an h&m dress, with tights and brogues! My fake tanning has been cut down dramatically, as has the straigtening of my hair! Its not that i have lost any pride in my appearance, its that they kinda dont care in this country and i was also told in school that my skin was an "eeeeedious" colour when i put fake tan on once! So why bother?
Speaking of this, I have a new visitor arriving on thursday, my delightful friend Donna who is going to a lot of hassle to see me! It includes a flight from glasgow to beauvais (Boke), a bus from beauvais to paris gare du nord, and a train from gare du nord to Lille Flandres! Now if that isnt friendship, i dunno what is! All the rest of you lot better take note, Donna has set the bar! This also means that the aforementioned tanning and hair straightening will have to be kick started again. For all of you who know Donna, high maintenance is being kind! If i turn up at the train station with my hair tied back, pasty white with no make-up on she won't hide her disgust! It might be a good thing to get back into this beauty regime again, seeing as i will be greeted at Glasgow central by my man in 3 weeks! Looking forward to my weekend with D, can't wait for a proper gossip...I miss the pub sorely for our little catch ups, much to Charles' disgust! I swear he's regretted putting us on the shift since that first fateful saturday!
Anyway, I will be in school tomorrow-Shocker eh? I'm hoping this is the first week since arrival that I will be able to do my contracted 12 hours without any greves or illness or lack of professional ettiquette! We'll see how it goes though!
Love to you all
Bisous x
Monday 22 November 2010
Wednesday 10 November 2010
Little Ray of Sunshine
Bonjour!
As the title of this shows, I have decided to turn over a new leaf! As much as you all get a kick of my insane ranting and general hostility toward the French (especially Miss Sweeney as I'm sure i've brightened many a dull day for her), for my sanity and that of my loved ones I have decided to be calm. Calm Ciara...you guys can call me that (although not really coz it's laaaaame). Honestly, looking back over my blog entries I see I have a lot of rage, most of it justified yes, but still too much. This is a year abroad. A year away from Uni and the chance to experience another culture is pretty amazing.
This new attitude does not change the fact I miss home like mad and actually in all honesty, can't wait to see my loved ones again. However, anger towards France does not make the time pass quicker. I have come to realise, due to recent happenings just how amazing my boyfriend, family and friends are. It actually lets you see the ones who are your actual friends, who still make the effort to contact you while you're not in the same country as them. The general concern and support people have shown me is absolutely amazing. I know i am a pretty awesome person, and the lack of my presence in your life may lead to depression, but was genuinely shocked at people's thoughts for me.
I also read on a friends blog that her and her boyfriend recently had the discussion of "are we talking too much while youre away/am i ruining the experience" and I can totally relate to that as Chris and I have spoke about this also. I can honestly say, that without blackberry messanger I would be home. The fact I can text him something good/(mostly)bad and get his response right away makes it so much better. There are many who will think this is ridiculous, but the man honestly keeps me sane and this year abroad has totally made me appreciate him.
The same goes for my family, in particular my brother Paul. Always there by bbm, always someone you can count on for advice and support etc. I suppose nothing has actually changed because I've always known that my family members are there for me no matter what, but it truly makes you appreciate them when you no longer have them. No doubt by Christmas day, I will have argued with every member of the Fitzpatrick household a few times over, including Ruairi; Chris and I will have fallen out at somepoint over some ridic thing; and I wont be keeping in touch with many of my friends on facebook or e-mail. But i know the minute i return to Lille, it'll be right back to normal. Can honestly say this year would not be possible without them!
Gonna leave you with this quite strange blog entry. I felt it had to be done to show my love and appreciation for everyone, and to show that im not a cold hearted much as many would think! Going to see the social network tomoz with my new lads can't wait!
Bisous xxx
As the title of this shows, I have decided to turn over a new leaf! As much as you all get a kick of my insane ranting and general hostility toward the French (especially Miss Sweeney as I'm sure i've brightened many a dull day for her), for my sanity and that of my loved ones I have decided to be calm. Calm Ciara...you guys can call me that (although not really coz it's laaaaame). Honestly, looking back over my blog entries I see I have a lot of rage, most of it justified yes, but still too much. This is a year abroad. A year away from Uni and the chance to experience another culture is pretty amazing.
This new attitude does not change the fact I miss home like mad and actually in all honesty, can't wait to see my loved ones again. However, anger towards France does not make the time pass quicker. I have come to realise, due to recent happenings just how amazing my boyfriend, family and friends are. It actually lets you see the ones who are your actual friends, who still make the effort to contact you while you're not in the same country as them. The general concern and support people have shown me is absolutely amazing. I know i am a pretty awesome person, and the lack of my presence in your life may lead to depression, but was genuinely shocked at people's thoughts for me.
I also read on a friends blog that her and her boyfriend recently had the discussion of "are we talking too much while youre away/am i ruining the experience" and I can totally relate to that as Chris and I have spoke about this also. I can honestly say, that without blackberry messanger I would be home. The fact I can text him something good/(mostly)bad and get his response right away makes it so much better. There are many who will think this is ridiculous, but the man honestly keeps me sane and this year abroad has totally made me appreciate him.
The same goes for my family, in particular my brother Paul. Always there by bbm, always someone you can count on for advice and support etc. I suppose nothing has actually changed because I've always known that my family members are there for me no matter what, but it truly makes you appreciate them when you no longer have them. No doubt by Christmas day, I will have argued with every member of the Fitzpatrick household a few times over, including Ruairi; Chris and I will have fallen out at somepoint over some ridic thing; and I wont be keeping in touch with many of my friends on facebook or e-mail. But i know the minute i return to Lille, it'll be right back to normal. Can honestly say this year would not be possible without them!
Gonna leave you with this quite strange blog entry. I felt it had to be done to show my love and appreciation for everyone, and to show that im not a cold hearted much as many would think! Going to see the social network tomoz with my new lads can't wait!
Bisous xxx
Sunday 7 November 2010
Casse Toi, La France!
Salut!
For those of you who didn't hear my breakdown, or who I didn't tell...this has literally been the worst week of my life! I seemed to be coping well with Chris leaving...until i returned to school! School is definately the worst thing about my time here in France! I HATE to be negative because i know this is meant to be the time of my life and i should be making the most of it, although if one more person says those two phrases to me again, I may stab them right in the face, however people dont realise how hard it is!
Returned to school after a short holiday on Thursday am. My first two hour class had a test for the first hour/hour and half so i was told to just sit. and watch them. do their test. in silence. whoopee for me. Since their was only half an hour left, there wasnt time to do a lesson so I was told she didnt need me and i should just go to the salle des profs until my next class. I met my next class' teacher who said, Oh Ciara, my class have a test today so I dont need you. Bearing in mind these were my only classes of the day and i had just paid 13euro for a train ticket to get there! Have these people never heard of e-mail? text? social and working etiquette?!?!
So, I returned home, in the vain hope that tomorrow would be better. Aye, good one Ciara! Arrived in school at 7.30 for an 8am start. I was determined to be positive and not let anything get me down. Quelle Suprise, that didnt last very long! There was no sign on my teacher in the staff room, so at 8am i made my way to class. There was a teacher there who informed me my teacher was sick and I was to take the class. I knew this wasn't right. I am not a trained teacher, and being patient and dealing with a binch of brats is not my forte! However, i knew the class so i thought, okay just this once. From 9-10 i had a break, so i made my way to the salle des profs where a fellow english teacher sat with me. In walks an office lady. She asks where the english assistant is, and proceeds to tell me i will be covering my ill teacher's classes to me, while handing me her timetable. I knew i wasnt allowed to do this, this was not part of my contract and i do not get paid buttons to be somebodies supply! While i have a frown on my face, she turns to the other teacher and says, does she speak french? To which the english teacher replies, bah not very well.....
*In My Head* HOW THE FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW IF I SPEAK FRENCH OR NOT?! YOU DONT LET ME SPEAK FRENCH TO YOU, YOU IGNORANT DICK!!!!
Of course i didn't say this, i just said No...this isn't my job and she replies, yeah but who else is gonna do it?! So i get bullied into taking this timetable. This means i miss all my own nice classes and im stuck with bratty brats!! The last class of the day were the worst. There were 28. They were 14. I was about to fucking explode! As i had no prep for these classes, i made them do presentations of themself. One smart arse stood up and said "I like Scottish girls and I like sex". Typically, the class laughed. I didnt. I gave this boy, of 14 years, what can only be described as a death glare. I mean i almost growled at him. Once he saw my face he went white, apologised and sat down.
It was literally horrible. I cried hysterically for about half an hour when i got home and phoned Chris who told me to phone my mum. She calmed me!
So, from this entry you can decipher that i hate school. However, good things are on the horizon!
I have Donna visiting in 2 weeks. Barcelona in 3 weeks, and home in five weeks! Something to keep me going!
Hope this didnt depress you that much, thought i'd keep you updated!
Love and Bisous xxxx
For those of you who didn't hear my breakdown, or who I didn't tell...this has literally been the worst week of my life! I seemed to be coping well with Chris leaving...until i returned to school! School is definately the worst thing about my time here in France! I HATE to be negative because i know this is meant to be the time of my life and i should be making the most of it, although if one more person says those two phrases to me again, I may stab them right in the face, however people dont realise how hard it is!
Returned to school after a short holiday on Thursday am. My first two hour class had a test for the first hour/hour and half so i was told to just sit. and watch them. do their test. in silence. whoopee for me. Since their was only half an hour left, there wasnt time to do a lesson so I was told she didnt need me and i should just go to the salle des profs until my next class. I met my next class' teacher who said, Oh Ciara, my class have a test today so I dont need you. Bearing in mind these were my only classes of the day and i had just paid 13euro for a train ticket to get there! Have these people never heard of e-mail? text? social and working etiquette?!?!
So, I returned home, in the vain hope that tomorrow would be better. Aye, good one Ciara! Arrived in school at 7.30 for an 8am start. I was determined to be positive and not let anything get me down. Quelle Suprise, that didnt last very long! There was no sign on my teacher in the staff room, so at 8am i made my way to class. There was a teacher there who informed me my teacher was sick and I was to take the class. I knew this wasn't right. I am not a trained teacher, and being patient and dealing with a binch of brats is not my forte! However, i knew the class so i thought, okay just this once. From 9-10 i had a break, so i made my way to the salle des profs where a fellow english teacher sat with me. In walks an office lady. She asks where the english assistant is, and proceeds to tell me i will be covering my ill teacher's classes to me, while handing me her timetable. I knew i wasnt allowed to do this, this was not part of my contract and i do not get paid buttons to be somebodies supply! While i have a frown on my face, she turns to the other teacher and says, does she speak french? To which the english teacher replies, bah not very well.....
*In My Head* HOW THE FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW IF I SPEAK FRENCH OR NOT?! YOU DONT LET ME SPEAK FRENCH TO YOU, YOU IGNORANT DICK!!!!
Of course i didn't say this, i just said No...this isn't my job and she replies, yeah but who else is gonna do it?! So i get bullied into taking this timetable. This means i miss all my own nice classes and im stuck with bratty brats!! The last class of the day were the worst. There were 28. They were 14. I was about to fucking explode! As i had no prep for these classes, i made them do presentations of themself. One smart arse stood up and said "I like Scottish girls and I like sex". Typically, the class laughed. I didnt. I gave this boy, of 14 years, what can only be described as a death glare. I mean i almost growled at him. Once he saw my face he went white, apologised and sat down.
It was literally horrible. I cried hysterically for about half an hour when i got home and phoned Chris who told me to phone my mum. She calmed me!
So, from this entry you can decipher that i hate school. However, good things are on the horizon!
I have Donna visiting in 2 weeks. Barcelona in 3 weeks, and home in five weeks! Something to keep me going!
Hope this didnt depress you that much, thought i'd keep you updated!
Love and Bisous xxxx
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Encore!
Awrite lads? Missed me? Aye, thought so!
Since my last post, beaucoup has happened...including the arrival and departure of my man!
On the saturday i took the train up to dunkerque and the plan was to meet him driving of the ferry looking absolutely fabulous. Of course in true ciara en france style, did that fuck happen! My train got me in for 11am France time, 10am british time which meant Chris hadn't left on the ferry yet! I had about 3 hours to kill before i'd see him. I took a look about and saw some boats and ports so thought all i had to do was walk five minutes to get him. Thus, i settled down with my Twlight book and a large drink in McDo and was happy as larry. I resembled a child at christmas, that was all about to change!
About 1pm, unable to take the excitement and sick of looking at my watch every 16 seconds i decided to walk to the port and wait there for him, as chris said they were slowing down and he could see France. This is where havoc ensued! His port was called Port Quest, and i walked 6 and a half miles through shitty building sites and duel carriage ways, and was still follwing signs for Port Quest! By this time, Chris was off the ferry and driving about France on the phone to me trying to find me. I was hysterical and my battery was running low. I was walking down duel carriage ways crying and noone would stop for me to ask directions, not even the police!! Eventually, we decided the best idea would be to walk back to the train station to see if he could find me. Thus i journeyed back! I eventually got to the train station, and while trying to find a street address for him to put in his sat nav, i spotted the fancy alloy wheels of a honda civic and i knew it was MY honda civic! I had found him eventually, thank fook! After our hugs and kisses i looked in the mirror and saw my tear stained face with make up halfway down it. Lovely. Looking Fabulous Ciara :|
The week quickly showed that France was not for my man. He hated it, and I think he thought i would be enjoying it much more! In the space of a week he got 3 parking tickets, as there are no signs in France to tell you wwhere you can and cant park! Also, he had brought a hefty amount of money, but as i had NONE we were running low with all the wine drinking we were doing! Also, i realised i was back at school sooner than i thought! We came to the agreement that i needed to get into a routine to try and get the most out of the experience and this going home was better for him! In hindsight, its for the best, althought on Sunday night i was a total wreck! I miss him already but know we are better than ever :)
Still no further forward with my love for french people! Still rude. Still smelly. Still sleazy. Lille is delightful though, as Rachel Ward will tell you! Went to the zoo and saw some animals for free! Tis always a sweet treat!
Been feeling homesick recently but think its gradually lifting now! Got Donna coming out to visit me in 3 weeks so thats keeping me happy and then I'm home on the Eurostar on the 16th of |December! How exciting eh? You all better be grateful for my presence!
Think im rambled enough in this post! Back to school on thursday so will no doubt have some tale to tell after that!
A birntot! x
Since my last post, beaucoup has happened...including the arrival and departure of my man!
On the saturday i took the train up to dunkerque and the plan was to meet him driving of the ferry looking absolutely fabulous. Of course in true ciara en france style, did that fuck happen! My train got me in for 11am France time, 10am british time which meant Chris hadn't left on the ferry yet! I had about 3 hours to kill before i'd see him. I took a look about and saw some boats and ports so thought all i had to do was walk five minutes to get him. Thus, i settled down with my Twlight book and a large drink in McDo and was happy as larry. I resembled a child at christmas, that was all about to change!
About 1pm, unable to take the excitement and sick of looking at my watch every 16 seconds i decided to walk to the port and wait there for him, as chris said they were slowing down and he could see France. This is where havoc ensued! His port was called Port Quest, and i walked 6 and a half miles through shitty building sites and duel carriage ways, and was still follwing signs for Port Quest! By this time, Chris was off the ferry and driving about France on the phone to me trying to find me. I was hysterical and my battery was running low. I was walking down duel carriage ways crying and noone would stop for me to ask directions, not even the police!! Eventually, we decided the best idea would be to walk back to the train station to see if he could find me. Thus i journeyed back! I eventually got to the train station, and while trying to find a street address for him to put in his sat nav, i spotted the fancy alloy wheels of a honda civic and i knew it was MY honda civic! I had found him eventually, thank fook! After our hugs and kisses i looked in the mirror and saw my tear stained face with make up halfway down it. Lovely. Looking Fabulous Ciara :|
The week quickly showed that France was not for my man. He hated it, and I think he thought i would be enjoying it much more! In the space of a week he got 3 parking tickets, as there are no signs in France to tell you wwhere you can and cant park! Also, he had brought a hefty amount of money, but as i had NONE we were running low with all the wine drinking we were doing! Also, i realised i was back at school sooner than i thought! We came to the agreement that i needed to get into a routine to try and get the most out of the experience and this going home was better for him! In hindsight, its for the best, althought on Sunday night i was a total wreck! I miss him already but know we are better than ever :)
Still no further forward with my love for french people! Still rude. Still smelly. Still sleazy. Lille is delightful though, as Rachel Ward will tell you! Went to the zoo and saw some animals for free! Tis always a sweet treat!
Been feeling homesick recently but think its gradually lifting now! Got Donna coming out to visit me in 3 weeks so thats keeping me happy and then I'm home on the Eurostar on the 16th of |December! How exciting eh? You all better be grateful for my presence!
Think im rambled enough in this post! Back to school on thursday so will no doubt have some tale to tell after that!
A birntot! x
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