2 Days!

Well, more like a day and a half now, but that wouldn't really be a very snappy title now, would it?

Still haven't packed. Don't really know where to start. Not good. Still finishing the last few bits and bobs: scanning important documents, printing off maps so that Dad knows where he's going (!) etc etc. Have so far managed to get a few things as classroom aides - including stickers! Yay! I like stickers, and this is how I know I'm going to like being a teacher :P. Have got my money, am trying to sort out a bank account in France, have tried phoning my contact in France and successfully (maybe) left an answering machine message in 'French'. So hopefully she'll get back to me...and if not, I have the lovely Catherine Ferant to sort me out on Monday.

I was rather under the impression that the whole French thing would let one 'sink or swim', but they've actually been surprisingly helpful so far: getting us accommodation, offering to meet us at the station, taking us to our schools. It's all lovely :) And most helpful for someone like me!

I'm off out tonight for tea with my Fiancé. It's our last few days to spend as much time together as possible :(. Sadsome.

Leaving on Saturday morning at ridiculous 'o' clock to drive to Folkestone (?) to get the train to France - it's so easy for us British, but I do sympathise with the Americans who have to come over - that journey cannot be fun. Stopping off at a hypermarket en route to Chartres to buy me fresh groceries and a bike ^^. Yes, I'm going to be vaguely active this year and actually ride places! The getting to Chartres, hopefully not becoming too lost, and meeting M. Roques to see my apartment. Spending night with family , unpacking Sunday when they're gone, and hopefully meeting up with the other assistants in Chartres. Quite busy I feel!

Finally, some sad news: I want to say rest in peace to our wonderful Linguistics Professor, Richard M Hogg who passed away due to a heart attack a few weeks ago. He really was a brilliant teacher who made Linguistics fun :) Also to Robert Jordan, the author of the 'Wheel of Time' series.



My next entry should be in France! Please send thoughts, prayers, post, email, texts, sweets and love - I'm going to need them all!

Love Nielle

First Post

Ok, so I'm not actually in France yet, but I have to start somewhere. :)

This is my 'blog' for my year as an English Language Assistant in Chartres, France 2007/2008. I'm at The University of Manchester doing French and Linguistics, so this is a compulsory year abroad for me - but very much wanted. I'm hoping that it will be a fantastic experience and that I'll enjoy myself immensely. I'm creating this as a record of my experiences that I can share with my friends, anyone curious and those taking part in the scheme next year.

What am I doing at the moment? Well, I've just finished my summer job - at the wonderful Paultons (! - no really, it's lovely) and am now just trying to prepare some lessons, spend as much time as possible with my boyfriend, and finish up all the forms and other official details. I'm leaving for France on the 22nd of September, which gives me a week to prepare everything I need (including a bank account and a new phone!), and settle in. I receive my Arreté de Nomination some weeks ago and am teaching in one Primary school; Ecole Elémentaire Pu Le Mail in Chartres itself; as far as I can work out it's about 5km from where I'm staying.

I'm staying in an apartment (not sure which yet - it's a choice of one of two) let by a M. Roques who on the phone sounds lovely :). I'm not expecting luxury, but its apparently fully furnished and equipped - hopefully I can make the rather Spartan Frenchness my own little home ^^.

Anyway, I don't imagine I'll write again until just before I leave, so good bye for now and wish me luck!

Nielle x