Bonjour bonjour...
It's been quite a week... but I'm here, perfectly fine and well and not half as grumpy as I was before I left. So let me try to begin...
Following goodbyes in my glorious hometown, a mammoth road trip and a graduation I got to the airport at stupid o'clock on tuesday morning. The flight was not too bad, although there was an almighty bump up at 30 000 feet when we hit a bit of 'disturbed air'. That woke me up a little...
Once in Nice, I meandered around a little then went into work. Since Bastille Day was the day before, everything was a little bit manic but it was alright. Its a small place and since its high season at the moment its really busy with lots of students coming and going. On the upside at least it keeps me occupied but it does feel rather like being thrown in at the deep end! But then again, I do appear to quite like doing that. Idiot.
I spent most of the week with Marie, the other stagiaire that I'm replacing. She has been incredibly helpful and patient, so its rather annoying that she is leaving so soon. I didn't get an official welcome until Friday, when iced tea and brioche were laid on and my boss, William, rambled on for a long long time. It was quite uncomfortable. He did, however, tell me the French way of doing things, a little more about his way of doing things and then said he hoped I would fit in well. Apparently, I have 'l'air sympathique' which I have chosen to translate as 'you look alright I guess, although I'm not sure yet' so hopefully I will fit in as he wishes. There are some characters working there, but on the whole they have been really nice and welcoming.
In fact, so far as characters go its quite annoying that that Steven chap (I forget his name) wrote that 'Year dans le Merde' book as I feel like half the people I come across are worthy to be included in something or other... I'm rather gutted that he beat me to it. Maybe I should attempt the Nicoise version...
So what else have I been doing, other than work? I went out on thursday night, where I ate random tapas sat on a cushion in some tiny bar in the old town (I even had a dish with plantain in it... it allowed me to shut my eyes & pretend I was in Africa for a second) We then wandered around a little more after that, & although its rammed with tourists at the moment there is a good reason for that - the old town is really very very pretty... all tiny winding streets which make up a little maze until you run across a market, or a church, or you find yourself back on the beach. I like it a lot. And thats not just based on the fact that if you can navigate your way through the maze you can go to Fennoccios & find 80-something flavours of ice-cream. Honestly.
On friday night I went out again, until somehow it was 6am. I'm slightly unsure as to how that happened, since I only went out for one drink, but it was good. In one bar there was a guy playing accoustic guitar & when things got a bit busier he decided to play guess the song. Now, I had some qualms about the key he was playing in but in the end I gave in & ended up winning a t-shirt. Brilliant. Not so brilliant? It has the work 'funk' written on the front. I might not be wearing it so much.
Yesterday I went on a mission to find a beach towel & bought myself another pair of flip flops since I've been walking around so much I've worn my old pair out. Spent the afternoon on the beach, had a rather nice dip in the sea then took myself back home. Home for the meantime is a little studio I've rented whilst get settled & find something else. Fingers crossed, I think I've found that something else & I should be moving again on August 1st. I actually can't wait.
xXx
Following goodbyes in my glorious hometown, a mammoth road trip and a graduation I got to the airport at stupid o'clock on tuesday morning. The flight was not too bad, although there was an almighty bump up at 30 000 feet when we hit a bit of 'disturbed air'. That woke me up a little...
Once in Nice, I meandered around a little then went into work. Since Bastille Day was the day before, everything was a little bit manic but it was alright. Its a small place and since its high season at the moment its really busy with lots of students coming and going. On the upside at least it keeps me occupied but it does feel rather like being thrown in at the deep end! But then again, I do appear to quite like doing that. Idiot.
I spent most of the week with Marie, the other stagiaire that I'm replacing. She has been incredibly helpful and patient, so its rather annoying that she is leaving so soon. I didn't get an official welcome until Friday, when iced tea and brioche were laid on and my boss, William, rambled on for a long long time. It was quite uncomfortable. He did, however, tell me the French way of doing things, a little more about his way of doing things and then said he hoped I would fit in well. Apparently, I have 'l'air sympathique' which I have chosen to translate as 'you look alright I guess, although I'm not sure yet' so hopefully I will fit in as he wishes. There are some characters working there, but on the whole they have been really nice and welcoming.
In fact, so far as characters go its quite annoying that that Steven chap (I forget his name) wrote that 'Year dans le Merde' book as I feel like half the people I come across are worthy to be included in something or other... I'm rather gutted that he beat me to it. Maybe I should attempt the Nicoise version...
So what else have I been doing, other than work? I went out on thursday night, where I ate random tapas sat on a cushion in some tiny bar in the old town (I even had a dish with plantain in it... it allowed me to shut my eyes & pretend I was in Africa for a second) We then wandered around a little more after that, & although its rammed with tourists at the moment there is a good reason for that - the old town is really very very pretty... all tiny winding streets which make up a little maze until you run across a market, or a church, or you find yourself back on the beach. I like it a lot. And thats not just based on the fact that if you can navigate your way through the maze you can go to Fennoccios & find 80-something flavours of ice-cream. Honestly.
On friday night I went out again, until somehow it was 6am. I'm slightly unsure as to how that happened, since I only went out for one drink, but it was good. In one bar there was a guy playing accoustic guitar & when things got a bit busier he decided to play guess the song. Now, I had some qualms about the key he was playing in but in the end I gave in & ended up winning a t-shirt. Brilliant. Not so brilliant? It has the work 'funk' written on the front. I might not be wearing it so much.
Yesterday I went on a mission to find a beach towel & bought myself another pair of flip flops since I've been walking around so much I've worn my old pair out. Spent the afternoon on the beach, had a rather nice dip in the sea then took myself back home. Home for the meantime is a little studio I've rented whilst get settled & find something else. Fingers crossed, I think I've found that something else & I should be moving again on August 1st. I actually can't wait.
xXx