My French Improves

Bonsoir à tous ceux qui lisent ce blog J

I finally have a timetable! It’s taken several weeks of trying classes, changing classes and going back to classes I had already thought I wouldn’t do but my University week is now scheduled as the following:

MONDAY
13.30 – 15.30: Erasmus Grammar
16.30 – 18.30: Contemporary History (Seminar)

TUESDAY
09.00 – 10.00: French – English Translation
10.00 – 12.00: Contemporary History (Lecture)
16.00 – 18.00: French ‘Perfectionnment’ (a continuation of the 2 week introductory course)

WEDNESDAY
16.00 – 18.00: French Civilisation

THURSDAY
08.00 – 10.00: History of the French Language

I think my timetable is quite nice and Cardiff have been kind enough to not ask too much of us while we’re abroad so that we can develop our French in settings other than at the University. All of these classes will give me 20 credits (Cardiff require 18) but I have friends with much busier timetables needing to achieve 30 credits, so I’m definitely lucky. I feel much better knowing what I am doing, where and when and so can begin to plan to do things in my spare time, allocate time to do work for Uni e.t.c.

It has been an eventful few days in Chambéry – and to think I thought such a small place would be boring!

On Thursday evening, my French knowledge was truly put to the test when a friend of mine tripped on some stairs, hit her hair and knocked herself unconscious. Another friend helped me get her to her room and I then had to call for an ambulance as there was a lot of blood. I was a little panicked on the phone talking to the operator as I answered his numerous questions worrying that he wouldn’t be able to understand what I was trying to say, but he put me at ease by telling me that my French was perfect and he understood everything. 20 minutes later, three paramedics arrived (1 more than in the UK, which I found a little odd) and I explained the situation to them as they examined her head. I did the majority of talking and translating and it was decided she had to go to Hospital for some treatment. The hospital was quite eerie, empty and silent and we were just left on our own for a long period of time and I didn’t really know what was going on. They didn’t really seem to want to say much, perhaps they thought we couldn’t speak French. We were eventually taken to a room where treatment began and I just concentrated on keeping her mind off what was happening to her head by talking about random things such as what we were going to dress as for Halloween (through I haven’t actually decided yet!) Thankfully the doctor and nurses were patient with us as I translated back to them what she was saying, and then back to her the questions they were asking and despite a few moments where I had no idea what they were saying to me, it worked out pretty well. Thankfully she’s going to be fine and although the circumstances were not perfect, it was definitely an opportunity to put everything I know to the test and I was definitely quite proud of myself for being able to do so.

This weekend Ailie also introduced us to a French girl called Charleen – she’s lovely and is glad to speak French with us which is wonderful as so many other French/Erasmus students want to practice their English with us. We’re planning to go ice skating with her soon, that’ll be fun J! I spent most of the weekend resting and relaxing due to the lack of sleep after everything that had happened. Sunday evening saw the inaugural “Come Dine with Me Chambéry.” Team GB plus a few others have split ourselves into groups and each Sunday one group will cook for the rest of us. Week 1 had an Indian theme and was prepared by Pia, Jessie, Ailie, Sam Forbes & Anya. There were 3 curry dishes (mild, medium & hot) plus rice, a cooling white sauce and a desert of Ice Cream with biscuits and honeycomb. Yummy! I thought we may all have a spoonful each as there are so many of us (22) but we each had a mound on our plates and it certainly went down well. I will be cooking with Hannah, Beth, Alex, Chris & Freddy but not for another few weeks. I would share our theme but the others may be reading and there’s a lot of secrecy surrounding the whole event, every group wants to win though the prize is yet to be decided.  

 

Come Dine With Me - Week One

 

Otherwise this week has been quite quiet. On Tuesday evening, Audrey (my French friend who had a year abroad in Swansea last year) went to a French-Irish bar for a drink and to converse in French which was nice and I learnt some new words from the conversation – In return I helped her with her English translation. The temperature is falling quickly and Christmas lights and decorations are already beginning to adorn the streets of Chambéry which look particularly beautiful in the “ville ancienne” (old part of the town – Photos to follow when they’re switched on!) The rain seems to be falling more and the mornings and evenings are noticeably chillier – Hopefully there’ll be plenty of snow to look forward to!

This week I also received a Birthday present from my best friend at work who recently moved out to Austrailia – It’s taken forever to arrive but the wait was certainly worth it! She had a set of cufflinks made which recycle an old Atlas – One says Chambéry, the other Valencia. This is perhaps one of the most thoughtful things EVER and not only will there be a memory of my 21^st Birthday but they will also be a perfect reminder of this exciting year. I plan to wear them to my graduation in the summer of 2014. It feels forever away but It’ll be here before I know it...

Yesterday evening there was an Erasmus event at o’pogues, a nearby Irish bar where I met some new people and spoke plenty of French and Spanish – always good. The evening ended with everyone drenched though as the rain TRULY poured!!! Tomorrow (Saturday) I’m going on a randonnée (walk/hike) in Chartreuse National park where Mont Granier is situated, one of the highest cliffs in France. I don’t know if we’ll be climbing to its summit or whether just in the general area but I guess I’ll find out soon enough! We have an early start and have to meet out coach at 7.45am. These walks have happened every Saturday since the start of the semester going to different areas of the region. However due to the deteriorating weather and temperature, this is the last of the year and so I thought it’s best I participate in one! Hopefully it won’t rain and the weather will allow some photos to be taken! Sunday will see the second ‘Come Dine with Me’ event and then it’s back to University on Monday.

In 2 weeks we have the Toussaint holidays. Some friends from home have arranged to come and visit me towards the end of November and I am also hoping to arrange a trip to Paris in early December where I will meet a friend from Cardiff to celebrate her birthday there for a weekend. It’s near the middle of October and time is speeding by. That said, I am definitely feeling more confident with my French than I was 6 weeks, learning new things while also putting into practice thing I’d previously learnt but may have been buried somewhere deep within my mind. This is reassuring to know. Yesterday I bought a shirt from a shop called ‘Joules’ and whilst making conversation with the lady who served me, she discovered I was from the UK and told me I spoke French well – always good to hear and an extra confidence boost! Hopefully I won’t forget everything when I go to Spain! I have also met another Erasmus student who is from Valencia and will return there when I go next semester so if I have any queries or questions I’m sure he can help me. There are also students from Cardiff currently living in Valencia and next semester there will be 14 Cardiff students there – it’ll almost be like being in the UK!

I’d better go and get some sleep now as I have an early start tomorrow!
To end, 2 pictures I took at the end of a University day on Wednesday – A rainbow. I’m really settled and happy here now and this rainbow seemed to sum it all up J

The View From Campus

 

 

Over l'hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)

 

 

À Bientôt!