Angers….Great Place, Great People, Great Times

Prepare yourself….It’s a long one!

So here we are…(I believe that I have started other posts with that phrase!) It is the end of the first stretch. The first hurdle has been jumped; successfully! I have survived half a semester here in France. And its been, how do I put it (?): easy?

Ok, maybe easy is the wrong word to say, but it hasn’t been hard, difficult or horrible. It’s been one of the best times of my life! I am having such a great time and in some ways it is sad to be leaving the party (though, to be honest everyone is). However, at the same time I have never been so excited to come home and see all the wonderful people who I have not seen for bloody ages!

But here, things have ran smoothly. I haven’t done anything wrong, I haven’t pulled any huge faux pas, and (I think) have improved my French. It’s something which is hard to gage though. How do you tell if you have improved in a language? You can be in one situation, say with friends and understand everything they say, however, five minutes later can sit in a class and end up thinking “Je ne sais rien!” I find it essential here to not get bogged down when I do not know what is being said. Ask, research, and usually I realise I do understand what is being said…I just don’t understand the accent!

One moment which assured me I wasn’t completely stupid was last Friday afternoon in one of my many 3 hours music classes! I understood nothing…but the expression of quoi?? was also on the face of all the French. That helped…I am on the same wavelength!

So, the end of half a term, and it’s impossible for me to say what has been the best moment, because there have been so many. But, Tuesday night was one of the really good times. 1st, it was Elaine’s 21st birthday. However, Elaine was ill, so we had to cancel our plans to go out. So we had a party in instead for her. Made a cake, played games, drank and Ajo dressed up. See picture…He was a present. The biggest Elaine has ever had! Seriously seeing him come through the door like that was one of the funniest moments in the life. The guy is a genius though! Funny too!

Then, I left and went out with Spanish, and ended up at Falstaff for Karaoke! Oh it was fun! Had a bit of a husky voice yesterday…wonder why!?? So many great people were there, had such a laugh, and a really good sing. Many photos on, and still to be loaded on to Facebook (when it lets me!)

So I say in the title people, and will quickly show a few of the many great people here in Angers!

ANGLOPHONES!

These guys below are great some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. Like a second family…we have many great times, in coffee shops, smoking out kitchens, cycling round lakes and vineyards, drinking beer and laughing at YouTube videos.

To the left you will see two Irish men: Dave and Conor… Well one Irish and one semi-irish…he is technically British, but we’ll gloss over that one!

To the right, we have more Irish, in the form of Lisa. She’s cool and has no fear. Trust me, when she’s on a bike, she is one dangerous girl! Traffic lights, cars, one way roads, everything, she makes the rules! By the way, she doesn’t always dress like that…just on Saturday nights…

 

 

Next we have Elaine. My Savior… I use her fridge, so I don’t have to share and risk having all my food nicked. However she has only got her room until the end of December…so after that I will be moving into someone else’s. If she ever offers you homemade soup, accept it. Its awesome!

Next Anna! Once again Irish. She shares a lot in common with another Anna I know. Although Irish, she is of Yorkshire decent, wears contact lenses and does psychology… ring any bells with anyone?

Now we move on to Nicola (Nico)! She seems to avoid many photo opportunities. As demonstrated here, as she dives for cover! When Nico has a couple of drinks, you know it’s going to be a good night. Somehow she has picked up the name Nico, think that’s Lisa’s fault!

 

 

 

 

So above are my six principle co-habitants, who I will see everyday. Then there are few other anglophones who I see a lot.

Here you have Scottish Claire, with Americans Sarah and Rachel! Don’t get to see these guys as much as I’d like. But whenever I do see them, generally we are going in the same direction…to the bar.

 

Ashley! Facebook freak number 1. He caused us all a bit of a worry when he returned to England and no one knew he’d gone. Then lost his passport and didn’t come back. We all worried, ran round for a while, thought shit what’s happened, then got told he was safe in England… and relaxed!

 

 

I know there are loads of other Anglophones here who I have not included. But this can’t go on forever! Promise I will try later and feature you all! But this will bore everyone if I go on for much longer. BUT I have to include another group of awesome people too!

FRENCHIES!

So these guys below are awesome. For many reasons, like the guys above, but for one even better reason…they speak to me in French…and I learn…slowly to talk back to them, without saying the feminine form, or saying merchant instead of méchant. They are patient, helpful, and (like the guys above) are some of the nicest people I have ever met!

 

So we start with La Petite Bricoche: Amandine. The first French person I ever went to a nightclub with. I knew I could trust her when I paid for her to get into Midstar after only knowing her for an hour or so, and she paid be back on the following Tuesday. Amandine like to talk about Breton food a lot…so we are friends very easily. She introduced me to the wonder that is Kouign-amann, and for that I will always be grateful! Ever want a cool drinking-partner look no further. She can drink me under the table quite easily…like the Tuesday at le snooker proved. We love Desperado's!

Next, in the centre, we have Max. This guy has taught me more French than any teacher ever has. He has the amazing gift of telling you that what you have said isn’t good French, without being insulting or patronising! I love our chats about the US elections. Never mention McCain or Palin within 100 metres of this guy; unless you want to talk about how much you hate them for hours…which to be honest I am quite happy doing. He also knows how to make a lecture fun “Obamaba……”

Third in this section in Camille, La Petite Joint. I’m not really going to explain that one, but basically something with her name, is like cannabis! The reason we get on so well is quite simple. We’re both mad. We take delight from insulting each other, making fun of each other, and doing stupid things. Though she has introduced me to the delights of Gad Elmaleh, an amazing French comedian. Who is a genius! She doesn’t drink that much, but to honest, doesn’t really need to! Thanks for all the film posters!

We then have Delphine (La petite chat) Miaow! Delphine is cool. She is, to me like a little cat. She has a cool tattoo on her neck and will always willingly miaow back at me when I miaow at her! (I know it sounds random). She is difficult to get a photo of, but this one was a bit sneaky! Don’t think she knew I was doing this!

Next Sarah. My sort of MSN buddy. She thinks it’s cute when I mess up in French, and refer to myself as if I was a female. Which is great… I don’t feel so sill when I say that I am stupid woman, rather than stupid man! Behind her is another Camille….one word for this girl…crazy! But cool at the same time…Did not realise til this week she was in third year!

Again, there are many others who I would love to include here, but really I want to go to sleep now, so will have to leave it there!

Thanks to everyone who I have met. Not just the anglophones and the french, but all the other nationalities here. You are all awesome people, and maybe soon I’ll get the chance to talk about you too!

Have great holidays….it’s only a week until the party re-commences….and I can not wait!

And as a treat…here is how to go about France, knowing little or no French!

 

xxxx