Some Thoughts and Reflections

As my project is coming to an end (into the final 2 weeks and 4 of those days will be spent in England) I have been doing some reflecting on what this project has meant to me.  It has affected me in many ways and it's impossible to summarise it just into a short paragraph, but below are some points I thought I could make (although it is by no means extensive hehe):

Funny things in France

• The French love to write everythinnnnggggg down ! I'm not joking, they ALWAYS have a notebook with them hehe
• The French are very proud of their food ! (And to be fair, they have every right)
•  I have never kissed so much in my life ! You have to give everyone in the room "bisous"... a kiss on each cheek, when you see them for the first time in the day (unless professional people or people you don't know).  Even us volunteers have began doing among each other !! Culturally immersed n all that ;-)
•  Facial expressions - watch a French person speaking French ;-)

Memorable moments

To name a few ...

• The English workshops ... It's always great to see somebody enjoying speaking English and learning with me !
• Laughing with colleagues .... Naturally I don't always understand the jokes but I have began to; Anyhow it's always funny when they take the mick out of me.
•  Dancing ... Oh how I love to dance ... It's my new passion in my life and it's not that often that something becomes that important to me that I can call it a passion :D
•  Meeting the AMAZING volunteers from other countries and from France... They are all fantastic and I hope to keep in touch with each and every one.

Expectations when I arrived in France

It seems I didn't have too many ... Just can't think at the moment !

• That my project would have a large language focus.
• That activities outside of project hours would be organised.

Actual reality

• Wow that makes it sound like reality sucks ... But it really doesn't !
• I had a language focus in the first couple of weeks to help me get settled.
• I was responsible for English workshops.
•  I developed materials for the volunteers.
•  I was responsible for my own free time and for meeting people.  As it happens, this didn't turn out to be a bad thing as it meant I had to really make an effort.

What I have learned throughout this process

• Time management
• Organisational skills
• Gained in confidence and maturity
• Many cultural differences between the UK and France, as well as the UK and other countries

Words / Phrases I have learned that have realllly stuck

• Zut / Flut / MERDE !!!
• J'ai la dall
• Kay
• Je suis excitée .... I thought it just meant "I'm excited" i.e. to go somewhere ... So now I realise for 6 months I've said "I'm horny" ... hehehe oops !

And others I just shouldn't say !

What I need to do for the future

• Maintain motivation when things are difficult
• Follow my dreams (cheesy I know)

Difficult points throughout project

• Definitely the communication in the language.  I was extremely scared when I arrived and French people were scared of talking to me in case they couldn't speak English when I was stuck.  Also, I've been mocked several times due to my accent, which has now and again dinted my confidence to talk.
• Sometimes I have struggled to be creative within my project, which I think is due to using my creative juices to the maximum in final year at uni (so generally just being tired).
• Sometimes money management ... trains are incredibly expensive in France and seeing as I'm scared of being in a car with somebody driving who I don't know, carpooling (covoiturage, famous in France) doesn't work out too great for me.

Overall, I hope that this been interesting to read.  I shall write one of my more regular chattering blogs soon when I grab a moment.  For now, I am preparing my Youth Pass; a document designed for any European Voluntary Service participants to write about their experiences and have it signed by their coordinator in the Welcoming Organisation. 

J'ai aussi commencé ma demande pour un Masters, mais je te tiens au courant ;-) J'espère que ce sera un succès !!!

Me with volunteers, rather ... erm ... tipsy :-)

A très bientôt mes amis ! BISOUS :D :D :D