So, I moved into my halls, which is all good. Had major issues with paying for my rent because I didn't have a french bank account which basically involved me being on the phone to England for about an hour and my mum having to go to the bank for me...but whatever, it got sorted! Heather from Lloyds TSB Midsomer Norton sorted me out, and now I'm all paid for the next three months.
So, my room. Well, it's more of a 'studio' thing, have a bathroom and a tiny kitchen thing, desk and bed...oh, and a big Somerset flag on the wall. Good times. Here are some photos of my temporary home here! There is a man who works downstairs who is crazy! He obviously knows I'm English, and when he was first showing me my room, he was asking me loads of questions and seems to know the most random words of English, which I don't remember at the moment, but he's mad. Nice, but mad. Very helpful though and I think he takes pity on me because I'm English! Technically haven't met anyone in the building, I've seen people in the escalator and they're very polite saying hello and things, but not had a conversation with anyone yet. But it's all good. So I have 2 electric cooking rings, a fridge, and a microwave. No oven, which is a bit annoying, but I'm dealing with it and trying to be organised and freeze meals to reheat! It'll do me anyway!
So, I felt a bit rubbish at first. I've never lived alone for a start, so didn't know what to do with myself except put my music on and pretend not to be alone. It was not particularly nice, but gradually I've got more and more used to being by myself, and not having to worry about anyone else getting in the way! In fact, I'm almost enjoying being entirely independent! When I hadn't met anyone, I felt a bit down, but I had Aisling around, and she helped me sort everything out. I met up with someone I was speaking to before I left home who I met through a partnering scheme, to talk to about things. We went out for a drink in Vieux Lyon (the ancient and prettiest part of the city), and she was lovely. She invited me out with her and said not to hesitate if I was bored or fed up, much the same as the Mouillets said before I left. If I felt sad or lonely, I am welcome up there, which is lovely. To be honest, I never really got that down, just got a bit frustrated because I had no alternative! Even if I hadn't taken it, the opportunity to do something else would have been good! But that's all good. I signed up for another partnering scheme about a week ago, and met a girl called Shaista. She too is interested in music and gigs, and invited me to dinner the first night I spoke to her. She's really nice and last night we went to a gig at 'Le Sirius', a container boat thing, moored on the Rhone (Lyon has 2 river's running through it). Saw 'The Yeasty Kids' (yes, I don't know either), and Ravenhill. They were both pretty good, and it was good to be out again, even if there was not cider at the bar!
Finally having an address has meant that I've been able to do all the things I couldn't do before. I've opened a bank account and finally have a travel pass to use the public transport as and when I please. Yay! There is a bit of a weird system here with banks. The card gets delivered to the bank and you have to collect it, as yet I have no PIN number, and no card....but hopefully by the end of the week I might be able to access my own money!!! Oh, and the strike on public transport didn't go on as long as it was meant to. It ended about a week ago now, the strikers gave in and obviously saw that the chaos was driving the whole world mad!
Have made 2 trips to IKEA, which was a rave. One of which was a Saturday, I tell you, don't do it! It was a nightmare, but I have everything I need and it means that, like today, I don't do the washing up every 5 seconds! You'll be pleased to know that IKEA on this side of the channel is exactly the same as home, except all the price tags are in Euros. Simple really!
Had a lazy weekend this weekend, didn't really do a lot, just bummed around in my room, doind not a lot and enjoying it! On Monday I went to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which is right in the centre of Lyon and is great. It's free for students under 26 so seeing as I can't access my own money, that was a bonus! It's fairly big, and has lots of ancient Egyptian stuff, the mumified head I found a bit morbid! My favourite part was the 19th Century art. Rodin's 'The Thinker' and Monet's 'Charing Cross Bridge' were my favourites. I love going to art galleries, they chill me out and make me think, was a very good thing to do. Went to sit by the side of the Saone(the other river) afterwards, and found a really nice spot, which is most likely going to become the place I go to sit when I have nothing else to do! A very calming spot. It's starting to become wintery here now though, so I couldn't stay there for long as I wasn't wearing a coat!
Helped out at a day for those who might be going abroad next year yesterday. Just speaking to people about what it's like in England, and what places are like. They put me on the wrong stand though, so I couldn't talk about Southampton because the people I was speaking to didn't have Southampton as an option...but I spoke about England anyway. :)
Lessons are slowly getting easier, they're not easy yet, but easiER. I'll hopefully get there eventually, just trying my best to concentrate these days!
Here endeth the lesson. It's a bit longwinded, but it's been an eventful couple of weeks!
Bisous!
xxx
