Salut!
I've been told countless times that the Year Abroad is all about adjusting.
Adjusting to new food, adjusting to a different culture, different traditions, fashions, language, blah blah blah! This part of my Year Abroad is exciting to me. I want to learn about French life, start eating a whole load of cheese AFTER I've already had a delicious meal, get used to (and even embrace) shops not being open for 2 hours over dinner time, know which wine goes with what and when and why, and mostly, wear a scarf everyday and it be acceptable. I've read blog posts about reverse culture shock, where you can't get used to your own culture after your year abroad; I want that to be me. If I could, I would become French.
BUT I can't get used to the idea of leaving behind everything I know. I'd love to say that I'm adventurous, and have got no problem with leaving my home, fiancé, family, friends and rabbits, and that a year isn't a long time, but this isn't true. The very thought of any of this triggers my anxiety to the point that I have to concentrate so hard on taking a full, deep breath, that I can't think about it any more. The truth is, I'm a home bird, and it took me preparing to move abroad to realise this.
Things would be so much easier if I could move to France with a suitcase full of everyone and everything I love. Like I said before, I'm so excited to learn about and enjoy the culture, but I'd be more excited if I know I could wake up next to my other half every morning, and pop to my parents' houses if I felt like it, or at the very least, know that all the shops are stocked up with Dairy Milk for days that I'm feeling miserable and missing home.
No. The next year of my like will be lacking in Dairy Milk, gravy, tea (I don't even drink tea, but if I did...), chocolate digestive biscuits (see tea), affordable make up, red lippy (apparently this is a no no en France) and anything else that I can't think of right now. I know this is appears to be a pathetic shopping list of things that I can't have, but seriously, the thought of living without everyone I care about for 8 months is really hard for me to deal with. I'm sure I can't be the only person who feels like this, can I?
I've even put off looking for flights because that makes everything too definite. Don't get me wrong, I know how lucky I am, and 90% of the time I am beyond excited about the year ahead of me, but to quote Ronan, "life is a roller coaster". This Year Abroad is as much about me developing as a person as it is about me learning French, and all I can try to do is think positively and make the most of this 'once in a lifetime' adventure.
Okie doke. I think this post is miserable enough for me to leave it here.
Thank you for reading!
A bientôt!
x
p.s. I really am excited about my year in Guingamp
p.p.s. I don't usually quote Ronan Keating and this quote will NOT be my year abroad tagline
p.p.s. I really will miss my family, friends, rabbits and of course Lewis so so much.
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Routes Into Languages | Adopt A Class
Salut!
As many of you fellow 'year-abroaders' may be aware, the run up to your year abroad is a time of constantly checking emails, running for the post in the morning, and the like. A few weeks ago I received an email from uni about a scheme called Adopt A Class with is run by the organisation Routes into Languages.
I did a quick google search about the scheme which has been running in Wales for a few years now, and decided I'd like to be a part of it. The scheme involves students who are about to venture on their year abroad 'adopting' a class. During their time away, the student stays in touch with the class via emails, Skype, postcards and letters. The correspondence can include topics relating to the curriculum such as travel, places in the town and food and drink, or can simply be a humorous anecdote about something that happened in the week. The aim of the scheme is to encourage the ever falling number of students taking MFLs at lower levers (GCSE) to increase. This is something I am particularly interested in, with wanting to be a language teacher myself, and taking part in the scheme will provide some insight to the potential reasons why children aren't taking MFLs and how this can improve.
After agreeing to take part in the scheme, I attended a training day at Manchester Metropolitan University, where I was told that I was a part of the pilot scheme in the North West. I was assigned my school, and with quite limited information, I had to contact the school and make a presentation.
I managed to arrange a date that suited both the school and myself, and after a very early morning, three trains, a replacement bus and a half hour walk, I finally met my class. In all honesty I wasn't sure what to expect. I managed to sit down with the class teacher and discuss what we both thought would benefit the class, our ideas and thoughts about the scheme and so far, so good. Our ideas very much complemented each other's, and I'm really hopeful that the scheme will be a success.
My class are a mixture of Year 8s who have never done French before, and Year 9s who are about to start their GCSE years. Fingers crossed I can bring a bit of French life and culture into the classroom through my postcards and letters. I know when I was in school, I'd have loved the opportunity to speak to someone who was doing what I wanted to do.
I shall leave it there for now, and keep you updated on whats happening with my adopted class.
Until next time,
Jess
x
As many of you fellow 'year-abroaders' may be aware, the run up to your year abroad is a time of constantly checking emails, running for the post in the morning, and the like. A few weeks ago I received an email from uni about a scheme called Adopt A Class with is run by the organisation Routes into Languages.
I did a quick google search about the scheme which has been running in Wales for a few years now, and decided I'd like to be a part of it. The scheme involves students who are about to venture on their year abroad 'adopting' a class. During their time away, the student stays in touch with the class via emails, Skype, postcards and letters. The correspondence can include topics relating to the curriculum such as travel, places in the town and food and drink, or can simply be a humorous anecdote about something that happened in the week. The aim of the scheme is to encourage the ever falling number of students taking MFLs at lower levers (GCSE) to increase. This is something I am particularly interested in, with wanting to be a language teacher myself, and taking part in the scheme will provide some insight to the potential reasons why children aren't taking MFLs and how this can improve.
After agreeing to take part in the scheme, I attended a training day at Manchester Metropolitan University, where I was told that I was a part of the pilot scheme in the North West. I was assigned my school, and with quite limited information, I had to contact the school and make a presentation.
I managed to arrange a date that suited both the school and myself, and after a very early morning, three trains, a replacement bus and a half hour walk, I finally met my class. In all honesty I wasn't sure what to expect. I managed to sit down with the class teacher and discuss what we both thought would benefit the class, our ideas and thoughts about the scheme and so far, so good. Our ideas very much complemented each other's, and I'm really hopeful that the scheme will be a success.
My class are a mixture of Year 8s who have never done French before, and Year 9s who are about to start their GCSE years. Fingers crossed I can bring a bit of French life and culture into the classroom through my postcards and letters. I know when I was in school, I'd have loved the opportunity to speak to someone who was doing what I wanted to do.
I shall leave it there for now, and keep you updated on whats happening with my adopted class.
Until next time,
Jess
x
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