The start of my French adventure...

So basically, as you all know, I will be spending the next 6 months of my life in France and then a further 4 months in Germany. I thought this was a good excuse to start a blog as it’s a way of keeping everybody up to date without having to send loads of emails!

I have just finished my first week working at the school here, so thought this would be a good time to start.

I’m living in a city in the Nord Pas de Calais region of France on la Côte d’Opale, called Boulogne sur Mer. It’s really beautiful and not completely unlike York to be honest. There is a old town bit with city walls and the town hall.. this is quite touristy, in fact I ventured there today to have a look around and was greeted by a host of English children on a school trip. It enlightened me instantly as to why Europeans don’t like the English (no offence). They were swanning around as if they owned the place speaking so loudly in their English accents; I just kept my head down and kept walking! And then there’s the new, more modern part of the city.. this is where most of the shops are and where I live. Boulogne is one of France’s biggest fishing ports, but it doesn’t smell like fish, it has pretty boats and is by the sea so I’m happy :)

 I'm loving the French life and everyone who I've met so far has been really lovely. The French are given such a hard time by British people for being brash and rude, but I’ve found the opposite to be true. Well, when it matters anyway; nobody helped me with my bag at the station and they don’t open doors for you, but they are very hospitable and caring. I’ve already been round to 2 of the English teacher’s houses and stayed with the headmistress, and I’ve only been here a week. The other teachers at the school are very welcoming, although it's difficult for me to get in with staff room banter at the minute because my French isn't the best (although it is getting better) and they speak so fast! I understand bits of what they say, but mostly just smile and laugh when they do.. awkward. I've mostly just been observing this week in school and doing bits of marking.. the kids are great though, so funny and sweet! I’m living with parents of a little boy who goes to the school – they own a B&B with 4 B&B rooms and then 5 rooms for students.. In my room I have a double bed, a desk, a sink and a wardrobe, and I share a kitchen, shower and toilet with other students.. it's not bad, other than the fact the kitchen has no oven! French people are so weird – who doesn’t use an oven?! So I can't bake cakes.. sad face. Although I feel if this is the worst of my problems, I’m doing pretty well!

One thing that is very strange for me is spending so much time on my own, I'm so used to knowing lots of people and running from coffee to lunch to cell to church and whatever else is on in my busy York/Holywood life! Here, I'm pretty busy with school during the day, but in the evenings it can get rather lonely, I don’t really know anyone outside the school. I have spoken to my mum every day since I got here.. she has been amazing :)  I miss people! Especially people I can talk very fast in my accent to and laugh over a caramel latte with! A lot of the time I wish I could just transport friends over here for a few hours in the evening. But I guess it'll get better in time and I will meet more people,  I haven't even been to church yet, so I'm going to try out the only protestant church in my town on Sunday, hopefully I'll make some friends! Unfortunately there is no service in Boulogne this week so I'm going to have an adventure to Calais to see if I can find it there. We'll see :) I definitely feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be, God is good; I just have to settle a little. Thank you for all you support, messages and prayers, it means a lot. I will update this again soon.