I’ve woken up early this morning and because I’m already packed and have half an hour spare before leaving for the station, I thought I’d write a little something as it’s officially THREE DAYS before I go home. I’m just staring out of my window as it’s such a beautiful day. Blue skies, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing, birds are singing and there’s a lovely smell of croissants and bread. I feel like I’m in a Disney movie! It’s quite sad thinking that I’m not going to be here much longer, and I’m not going to see the friends that I’ve made here pretty much everyday. Me and a few of the girls from St Leu are going to Lyon for a few days and I can’t wait. We’ve all worked really hard as teaching assistants and now that’s over, we’re celebrating completing our year abroad before parting ways :( 

I spent all day yesterday packing (clothes were literally flying across my room, I used a sweeping brush, the works), and I hate how bare my room looks now. Whenever I move into somewhere new, I try to make it my own as quickly as possible, so I can’t wait to make my bedroom at home in Derby mine again after it’s spent the last two years as a study/launderette/spare room/cat’s playroom!! I’ve got so much to look forward to over this long summer as well; I’m going to Ireland in a couple of weeks, then to London, and will hopefully indulge the travel bug I’ve always had but has developed over the last year since being with my boyfriend and whilst living abroad - my passport’s seen so much light this year it doesn’t want to go back into a drawer! I can’t wait to go back to work, chill out at home, and see all of my friends from home, uni and abroad. I’m hoping for lots of sun over the next few days so that I can go back with a little bit of colour to my face and when people ask where I’ve been, I can say “oh, I’ve been living in France for the last 7 months, the weather’s gorgeous there….” Slight lies seeing as I can probably only count about 2 weeks of sunshine the whole time I’ve been here but oh well…

It’s going to be goooooood. For now, it’s off to Lyon! xxx

I don’t usually write posts on this blog so I’m sorry if its boring…

The final two days of my English teaching in France are coming up and I can’t believe how fast 7 months have gone! I’ve had a (at times) great experience of teaching (keeping the vocation in mind mum, don’t worry!), I’ve met some really great people that I hope to stay friends with long after we say au revoir next week, and I’ve had an invaluable opportunity of living independently abroad. This is especially surprising as its coming from the girl who couldn’t even stay a full night at sleepovers because she was homesick!

France is a beautiful country and I’m so happy to have been a temporary Frenchie, even if it was just for the fab wine, cheese and patisseries! Having Paris only an hour away has also been very nice… I think this experience has made me a stronger person in some ways, I feel more confident when I speak French (which was my only objective when I moved here) and I would definitely like to live and maybe work abroad again, just perhaps with someone else to enjoy it all with next time..

I love to travel and explore new and interesting places - even if its the end of the road or a completely new city - and I’ve enjoyed showing off my new surroundings to visitors - I still amaze myself when I know which side streets will take me home (after the third or fourth attempt).. It’s definitely not been the easiest year for me at times and I’ve really missed loved ones, my job, my cats, my dog… But I’ve made the most of things, and have loved being able to tell people what I’ve been up to and something new I’ve learned, even if its a fact about France (did you know that the patron saint of baking was from Amiens?! Yes sir.)

I’m not sure yet how I’ll feel when I leave next week (I definitely won’t miss this accommodation) but I cannot wait to go home, travel some more, write these essays and try to do well in my final year at uni. Now I’ve had the experience of working and earning proper money, I’m motivated to improve my language skills, update my terrible CV and go after a job and a career path I really want, whatever it is… I would love to work for a business, a magazine, a publisher, or my dream job of working in Paris for Chanel, Dior or any other big fashion house - I need a job that will allow me to continue buying nice pants essentially (please hire me Uncle Karl).

I’ll stop rambling and get back to posting pictures and videos on here. Maybe with the occasional bloggy bit? For now its time to finish my last week at school, get packing, have one last trip to Lyon with the girls and GO HOME! And then to move on to the next big thing… Celebrating my first ever anniversary with a boy! :-)

A bientôt xxx