The Pros and the Cons of a Helping Hand

I met Jacqueline at the station on Thursday, and then she took me back to her house to meet her husband Pascal and son Benoit. She told me I'd be staying the weekend and maybe moving into the school apartment on Monday. We'd sort my bank account and the internet out on Friday as well as visiting both of the Lycées that I will be working at. All good I like a plan, but things aren't always as easy as you think they will be.

Jacqueline and her family are lovely, and welcomed me in English and continue to speak to me in English, this has been great in terms of making me feel at home, but I know I'm struggling with my French at this stage. When they switch to French I only really understand 30-40% of the conversation, and as for replying...ha.

The trouble is, as great as it is to have things planned for me, it would be good to sort things out in my own time. At the moment I keep needing an early night because I keep getting awful headaches, but I feel rude going to bed early to Skype home and then going to sleep, but I'm sooooo tired. In the last few days I have spent so long travelling, and concentrating on what everyone is saying that my brain needs to rest by 20h. 

Also I haven't been able to unpack because I am only staying here temporarily until after the weekend, so there's absolutely no point in unpacking to pack again, but I really don't feel at home yet.

AND, what is the deal with eating so late at night? I can't wait until 9 or 10 to eat. Especially after having been so busy in the day. If it comes down to food or sleep, I choose sleep every time.

I'm so lucky though, she had been SO helpful, translating things when I don't understand, helping me open a bank account, sorting out the internet, and introducing me to my flatmate. 

I have been able to use their internet to Skype home, and she has insisted that I phone home whenever I want. 

I know that if I have any problems I have somewhere to go, and someone who is so willing to help me. 

Things aren't so bad at the moment, I just really miss home.

But as the song goes, the only way is up (baby).....