A Bit of This & That

Bonjour all!

What a week! Unfortunately I don't have too many photos to share today as this week has been a blur and I've been more concerned about having somewhere to live and something to eat. That said, hopefully this week I'll have more chances to be a bit of a tourist ;)

This week has been challenging but also very rewarding. As much of many of you know that I am very good at pretending to speak French, thus far I've realized I have a lot to learn! This week I've had to set up a bank account, a phone plan, and move in! Aside from the language barrier, French bureaucracy is a nightmare. France is certainly more of a leisurely country. Oh, you would like a bank account? Well, the bank is closed for 2 hours for lunch. Ah, you're here! Come back tomorrow for a rendezvous. Oh, you now have a bank account and want your money? C'est dommage, the bank is now closed. Come back tomorrow. It doesn't help that the rules change every time you visit, either. That said, I find I am understanding all the words but not when strung together. I am going to be incredibly more tolerant back in Canada when people try to speak English- speaking in a foreign language is not easy!!!

I've found the culture very interesting. Each morning I've been going to the local patisseries and boulangeries (pics to come!) to buy fresh-from-the-oven baguetttes and pain au chocolat. Here, they eat Nutella like we eat peanut butter. I even saw Nutella paninis! However, I've yet to find anywhere like a Second Cup or Tim Hortons where you can get a coffee to-go. I'm not sure the French do on-the-go. Their lifestyle is much slower paced than ours! In restaurants or bars, you can sit for hours and must press them for the bill- there's no quick in-and-out!

I believe I have discovered the secret as to why French women don't get fat. Many people walk or bike to get where they have to go and the cities are very walkable. I've done an incredible amount of walking here, and French culture is considerably less dependant on automobiles than in Canada. My next challenge is to find a cheap bike while here to get around!

Nevertheless, despite the challenges, I love France and Tours (pronounced "Tour"- I know, I made that mistake too!). It's been a blast meeting all the other international students, going for a picnic in the park or sitting out at the Place Plumereau! Despite the emotional and physical drain, I'm excited every morning to see what I am going to do next :)

A bientôt,
Z <3