2 Months Down, 4 To Go

I can’t believe how fast the time is flying at the moment.  How exactly did 2 months manage to pass already? It just seems like last week that I arrived here.  It has taken me until now to really start branching out in my life here and I am really starting to settle in.  I am getting to a point where I know the good places to go (mainly bars!), the best places to shop, where not to go, etc.  Although don’t get me wrong, I have so much more to discover yet!  I plan on making the best of my remaining 4 months here to do that.  I’ve finally started making friends with more French people too, which often proves to be difficult when I can really be quite shy at times with new people (you wouldn’t think so hehe), never mind when attempting to speak my 2^nd language.

Citadelle Park, 20 minutes walk from my place, 10 minutes from my office

In terms of the cultural differences here, there are so many! For example, in England when you clink glasses and say cheers when spending times with friends, you don’t necessarily look them in the eyes.  Here, when you say “Santé” (health) or what ever else, it is so rude not to look at each person individually in the eyes.  In fact, apparently it’s bad luck if you don’t and you will have bad sex for a certain period of time (really not making this up!).  It’s also rude if when shaking a person’s hand you aren’t looking at them in the eyes; something I just wouldn’t worry about in England.

Also, if you are out in a bar or relaxing with a big group of friends, you really would not know amongst that group who there was in a romantic relationship.  I met a group of Americans who had done some research on French romantic relationships and it appears they are so different to English or American relationships.  In England or the U.S.A., if you were out with your partner, regardless of who was there, you would probably most of the time be next to them, either holding hands or at least with some bodily contact (or at least in my experience and from discussions).  It’s almost like putting a stamp on that person and saying “they are mine” hehe.  Whereas here, it is far more relaxed.  You could be talking to many different people throughout the night (male or female) and at the end you will come back together, but not necessarily hold hands or anything until you are on your own.  There has been some interesting conversations about these differences!!!

The French also love their “Soirées”.  These are gathering at people’s houses, normally with a lot of beer (this is after all the region of beer, right next door to Belgium, with the Flemish influence).  Not that I complain… 1) It’s so easy to just relax and gossip at a person’s house and 2) It’s beer, what more is there to say!!!  Normally, most people will also have a cigarette in their hand.  Health campaigns do not seem to have an impact here – I’ve never seen so many people smoke!  There is always somebody outside our office “’avin a fag”… C’est dommage (it’s a shame)!

A beer in a relaxing bar :-) A "Monaco" and a "Desperados"

When not at house gatherings, why not hit the bars?! Lille has a great variety, from cheap relaxed bars near where I leave in an area called Wazemmes, to posh bars in Vieux Lille (the old part of the town).  This area has so many beautiful buildings, but everything is just a tad expensive.  However a great thing I’ve discovered there is Salsa!!!  Free lessons every week… amazing.  I’ve already seen a few salsa bars and had a couple of lessons… Gotta get my groove on!  My friends and I have decided that’s definitely our weekly “rendez-vous”: Mercredi, 20h, Baobab Café hehehehehehe.  Wow, I’m starting to sound like a tour guide!

A picnic with friends (on a rare sunny day)... I took the pic!

Another very French thing is that they love their picnics.  This was one of the first things anyone told me here.  If the weather is nice, grab a sarnie and nip to the closest park.  I often do this at the fountain at Beaux Arts… Just sit and relax whilst eating my lunch.  It’s a great way to unwind ready for an afternoon of work.  I also love just watching the world go by.

In terms of seeing any more of the country and other countries, I haven’t really travelled yet as I’ve been trying more to settle here, but all that is to come.  I may pop to Luxembourg in a week and a half (figured why not).  I’ll travel by Covoiturage (check it out online – you can share petrol costs) and Couchsurf for accommodation (stay for free on somebody’s sofa). I will also go to Montpellier (South France) in 2 and a half weeks for my midterm training and afterwards I will travel around the South for a few days.  I may even go into Italy for a couple of days if my funds allow me to.  Then in September, I’m going to Barcelona in Spain for 4 days. I also went to Brussels in Belgium back in June.  So I’m not doing badly really… You can really make a volunteer budget go far if you know how!

That’s all from me for now about cultural differences.  I shall update soon regarding how the project is going.  I can’t complain… I am very happy in my life in Lille, despite constantly being frustrated with my level of French!  But hey, slow progress is better than no progress at all.  Anybody who may think going to another country is a sure-fire way to learn the language is wrong. It takes hard work and motivation, with a lot of commitment, but it is all worth it!!!

Giving my first presentation in French :-)