My first week in Nice is drawing to a close and what a week it has been.
I arrived last week after getting back from Beirut. After a busy summer and the build-up to coming here, when I finally arrived, for the first time in months, I had nothing to do. Well not for a few days anyway, as my friend from Sheffield wasn’t arriving until the weekend.
So here I was, standing in my apartment in Nice with no friends, no life, and nothing important to do. There was only one remedy – the beach.
And what a remedy it was. I had been so busy before coming here that I had completely forgotten the human body can’t function without sleep. I slept solidly on the beach for two days.
A bottle of sun cream and fifty gallons of water later, I decided that I should start sorting my life out, if not just to buy some more water and sun cream. Massive mistake!
I thought it would be wise to get a phone and let my parents know I’d arrived safely (yes, three days after arriving – it’s fun to keep them guessing).
Insisting on speaking French didn’t go down so well. Turns out I actually don’t understand French. Somehow with my fluent Franglais I managed to sign myself into a 12-month contract (I’m only here for 10 months) at £40 a month. Well-done Patrick!
I also realised that I’m pretty good at spending money I don’t have.
I am working here and earning a phenomenal 400€ per month (not so phenomenal actually… it will buy me a Disaronno and diet coke and about a week’s rent).
I need to sort out the Erasmus grant and the CAF (housing allowance from the government) because if I’m ever going to afford the yacht in Monaco I’m eyeing up, I’m going to have to start making some money.
I’m pretty worried that my French is not going to be fluent by the end of the year, which is awkward since the main aim of the year abroad is to gain fluency in French. Since it’s such a tourist area, whenever I speak to anyone in French they just respond in English.
I think when I was organising my year abroad, I just cared about being in the sun for a year…which quite frankly is biting me in the arse right now because it’s raining! I am taking it personally. How can it rain on the Riviera?
I suppose, however, that the odd rainy day here or there will do just nicely to write my journals for university.
We are being marked in a new way this year, which basically involves blogging our lives in French. I think it will be tough because my French is really bad.
I know I’m making it sound like I hate it here, but I’m actually having the time of my life! It’s an amazing place and the people are gorgeous too. I am determined to find myself a wife (or a girlfriend at least).
I went to an English/Irish/Australian bar called Wayne’s last night and it was amazing. I’m guessing it’s just the watering hole that all the foreigners go to.
It might take some time but I think I will become quite the local.
Related posts: