Mon voyage à Guingamp

Day 1

I split my journey into 2 bits. For the first leg of my journey, I travelled down to London with Lewis. It was really emotional but I was so lucky to have the support of someone, when I was feeling so apprehensive about the next few days (months) ahead. Lewis gave me a hand with my bags, which made me so nervous about the next day when I'd have to do it alone, and whenever I thought of that I'd get emotional knowing that I wouldn't see Lewis for at least 4 weeks.

I was rushing around so much that I managed to get to London with just a few tears. But it was hard!

Once we got to London we found our hotel, which was right opposite St Pancras Station and dropped off my luggage. We had a lovely meal, and then came the tears. I felt like I was on a mini break, and I didn't want it to end. I knew how difficult the following day would be, saying goodbye, carrying what felt like 70+ kilos of luggage across Northern France and being in a completely new environment that I'm expected to call home for the next 7 months.

After trying to calm myself down, and watching Bake Off, it was time for sleep. HA. I got no sleep, at all. I couldn't switch off, I worried so much, and I wanted to catch the first train home.

Day 2
Morning came, and soon enough we were stood by the Check In at St Pancras. All morning I'd had a steady flow of tears, but I was only nanoseconds away from sobbing my heart out. How was I supposed to walk through the gate when my fiancé was the other side, waving me off, and then going home.

I know I sound so ungrateful about having the opportunity of a lifetime, but I'm a home bird and suffer with homesickness and anxiety like you wouldn't believe. I managed a smile when the man on the luggage security desk was really nice and told me not to worry because it wasn't forever. 

I managed the Eurostar fine, besides the miserable woman sat next to me, who did a lot of grumbling when I asked to squeeze past to pop to the loo. However, when we pulled into Paris Gare du Nord I was frozen. I was so scared I wanted to stay sat in my seat and wait for the journey back home. I felt sick and generally rubbish. All these feelings plus the stress of having to carry my luggage across Paris made for a really positive start to my Year Abroad!

I managed to jump the queue for a metro ticket because I was the only one with change, and I hopped onto (clambered with stupidly big/ heavy bags) onto Metro line 4 to Gare Montparnasse. There I have about an hours wait until the next train, so I managed a few bites of my sandwich before I felt sick again. 

By the time it got to boarding the final train, I was an emotional wreck again. I'd managed this far, with tears, but this was the train taking me far away from home to a new place that quite honestly I didn't want to be going. Anyhow, I boarded, with much ado with the luggage situation. A grumpy old(ish) man was very dismayed at the 2 minute wait I had caused him by trying to put my luggage into the luggage rack. It goes without saying that he offered no help, but instead sighed loudly at my struggle. 

After that I found my seat and had a good cry (again). It all got too much and I even resorted to locking myself in the train toilet to have a cry in peace.

After what seemed like hours (because it was!) The train pulled into Guingamp Station. I made my way around to the gate which is where I met Jacqueline. 

Here is the end of the hardest, most emotional day of my life...