Bordeaux update 1!
So I guess an update is long overdue, people have been hounding me for info. Sorry for the delay guys, but I just really haven’t had the time so far, but now…
The flight was quite fine. Long, but fine. I slept for most of it and also watched a movie called Limitless. It stars Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro. If you haven’t watched it yet, I suggest you do so. It was easily one of the best movies that I’ve watched for the year so far. Didn’t have any problems in London, except to find something to do with myself for 6 hours. The first thing that came to mind was let me send an email home to let them know I’m alright. So out comes the laptop and wireless connections are available. Yay. Except NOT ONE of the wireless networks had free access. Yes big big London Gatwick airport and no free Wi-Fi. I mean even Norman Manley airport has that. Jeez.
It’s been a pretty big adjustment for me. Not only am I living on my own for the first time, but I’m doing so in a foreign country, all the way across the Atlantic. It takes some getting used to. Things like supermarket shopping for myself and doing everything for myself essentially is new territory. Oh and importantly no car to drive where I want to go, when I want to go; BIG change lol!
Speaking of that, so far I’ve been getting around by tram. I actually like it! The trams run regularly and luckily there is a tram stop very near to where I live. They make the adjustment to public transport very bearable.
I live in a student’s residence on the university campus. It’s not in the city centre, but neither is school and it’s just a few tram stops away in any case. This is a big-ass university campus. You have to take the tram/a bicycle/ car or some other non-pedestrian form of transport to get from one end to another. Parts of the university even have different ZIP codes. Luckily where I’m living is very close to my department. I can’t believe my luck where that is concerned; I can almost see the building from my window. Very importantly, I have my own bathroom! Which is really super because I don’t know if I could quite deal with sharing a bathroom with like 20 other people like in some of the other residences. I shudder at the thought.
For the last week and a half I’ve been going to French classes at the Alliance Francaise here in Bordeaux. The first day was pretty strange. I had to do a placement test to see which level they would put me in. So I did the test and about an hour later I was in class… it was horrible. I didn’t understand a thing that was going on. Apparently they had grossly over-estimated my French abilities and put me in a class way beyond my capacity. Mind you, in these classes, the teachers do NOT speak ANY English, so trust me, mi did lost bad bad. Anyhoo, the teacher realized my distress and helped me get transferred to another class. Much better. Still French all the time, but at least at a pace and level that I could understand…well at least better than before.
That first evening after French class, we had a walking tour of part of Bordeaux. I was very happy at first because the guide seemed to be doing the tour in English. However, this was short-lived as he promptly proceeded to switch to French when the English words escaped him. Since most people seemed to understand him, he continued in that fashion until he felt like speaking English again. Smh. Needless to say during the French segments, my mind wandered and I decided to use the time in a more useful fashion by taking pictures when he switched. I was good though, because I got to get a bit of a feel of the city centre, and I got to take pictures :). The city centre is very picturesque and statlely. I really love how the architecture and ambiance have been so well preserved.
In the ‘group’ I’ve been hanging out with there are Germans (vast majority) , Italians, Ukrainians, and a British guy. Over here people drink wine like juice. Seriously. Every evening at least with dinner, there is(are) a bottle(s) of wine ready and waiting. As a matter of fact, I’ve been out several evenings since I got here and not once have I been offered a glass of juice of any sort. Beer very often, soda maybe, juice no, wine yes! Lol. The people who have befriended me so far are very social and meet up as a big group or various sub-groups very often. Bear in mind that I’m saying this and I’ve been here only 2 weeks.
On that first Saturday we went on an excursion to a Chateau/ vineyard as well as to the beach. Yes, the beach. At the chateau, in a wine region called Medoc, we got a tour of part of the vineyard and an explanation of what exactly they did to grow the grapes, the wine- making process etc. etc. Then wine-tasting! Ok I like wine, but this expert wine-tasting, sniffing, swirling whatever is not going to be my thing. Just drink the wine dammit! After we left there, we drove up and down a bit and saw other very beautiful chateaus (giving a very C17th/C18th kind of vibe).
Now my dear friends, about the beach. As SOON as I stepped off the bus, I had to draw for my sweater. Yeah yeah, it was bright and sunny, pretty blue sky looking like something out of a vacation brochure; but it was cold. The waves, as Rakay noted on a pic I have up, looked like they were out to kill somebody and I knew immediately that that sea water was not coming into contact with me at any point for the day. Admittedly, once we were sitting down in the sun for a bit, it got pretty warm, hot even, but then the breeze every now and again. The European people were quite happy of course; yeah man bikinis and all that, while I was well covered up. Not to mention that there were no trees. The friends found it very funny that I live on a tropical island, yet still I didn’t want to just sit baking in the sun all day. Go figure.
I now realize why everybody from this side of the world wants to carry home alcohol when they visit. Spirits over here are WEAK. I was playing a small drinking game the other night where everybody had to take a sip of whatever it was we were drinking and not swallow until the very last person (of about 20 people) took their sip. So many people were dying by the time the bottle was half way around and I was like… that’s all? Lol. Then I had to explain that over here our rum is like 65% and we drink that on a regular basis. What were having that night was about 40%- did absolutely nothing for me. Lol. Gerard can you imagine if I gave them puncheon? ( Trinidadian rum-80% or so).
Well that’s all for now folks
A bientot!
P.S- Oh yes, you know that thing you see in movies where French people kiss each other on both cheeks when greeting each other? Well they really do it! All the time… to any and everybody… everytime they see you. So we’ve kinda had to pick up the habit and trust me it can get quite tiresome after a while when there is a roomful of people to say hello to. It takes some getting used to, but I guess its not so bad after a while 🙂
I'm soo happy you're settling in nicely. This blog was lovely. Now if you don't mind…. when you have a lil free time… please stalk, kidnap and ship Christophe Lemaitre to me…. no rush, take your time. Well Ms. Smarty pants continue to enjoy the journey and keep blogging!
haha…looks like I have some new reading material to look forward to. :-). I'm pleased to hear all is going well in France; especially hearing about your new experiences (lol even the ones that may take some getting used to..being on ur own).
Hope those french classes kick in soon lol, I'm sure you will be putting them to great use 😛 (pastries!…lol i kid). Love u lots girlie and take care. *hugs* <>
PS: Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire
Salut Renee,
Your french should be tres bien by the time we meet again! lol
I can't wait for you to come home and give me double-cheek kisses!
i wonder if theres cowitch in France *strokes beard*…hmmm im happy that you seem to be adjusting well…my parents are secretly happy youre gone because I have no use for the house phone anymore v_v…you are missed terribly but I expect you to keep me up to date 😉
It's good that you have a group of friends alerady, it should make everything easier…kissing strangers on the cheek…that must be interesting but it's a great excuse to get a kiss from someone you like. I hope french classes turn out to be good…as for me, it was a traumatizing experience that turned me off from french for years. Language of love?? HA! 🙂 Keep it coming, loved this blog!
Wow Ren I am super happy for ya!!!! I know you will enjoy urself despite the little technalities of settling in and so on…..cant wait to hear of ur amazing experiences :D….love to see ur journeys in life…from Captain Ren Sparrow (lol) to Ren the explorer (hehe)……always a pleasure to see you reach new horizons……take care hun :)(Kim Clarke)
Ren, it all sounds soooooooo good…I kno someone who would have LOVED for me to read your experience so far to him…and i would have enjoyed reading this to him too…i hope u keep the updates up!!
ps. im gonna watch that limitless movie…i havent as yet…
Glad to see you've settled and made some friend's ren, i guess this could be the chronicles of Ren. Keep us updated, always want to hear about how you managing over there
Ren, making me miss Bordeaux bad bad…. keep having fun there for me 🙂 <3
Wow. Good read. I'm happy ure settling in ok. The blog is a very good idea. Plz remember 2 update regularly. All d best with the languages. Know u'll master then, cause u good like dat. Good 2 know uve found a group 2 hang with, a nice apt and that ure doing well despite .. U go Ren!!
LOL!! All i'm hearing is Wine drinking, wine tasting,Rum rum and more rum….lol. Damn Rum belly Renee yuh c man…. mwah!!!
All in all this is no surprise to me hun, it was only a matter of time before you had a bunch of ppl following you up and down. You're lovable like that. So happy for you.
Continue to keep us posted *kisses both cheeks* 🙂
yay!!….cant wait to hear more!…you go ren!..chu! ^.^
RENNNNN!!!! This was a nice lil read! Glad you've settled well and as Vaughan said, its no surprise you have your faithful followers. I'm surprised they didn't meet you at the airport to carry your bags! Even though you are gonna miss my birthday I'm glad your having a wonderful and noteworthy time!
Wine dis and wine dat! I love how it sounds.
A bientot to you too!!! MUAH!!! Love you Ren!!!
Renee i knew you'd be fine. You were ust born to travel! you'll adjust to the kissing and the wine and all that very soon (probably by the next time u post)….anyhoo, u nuh see Thierry Henry yet? OO Lordie wen u do plz propose to him for me…I'll send the ring!
yay Ren!!!! i'm so happy u actually did the blog thing. i'm looking forward to more posts! glad ur managing as I knew you wud. dwl @ wine drinking.
HAve fun! And send on d pics!
P.S. missed u for world championships..i had no female to discuss the events with. lol
Yaaaaay!!! Update! I'm delighted veeery delighted to know all is well and fun even. Now i feel somewhat reassured that I won't keel ovr and die from this "doing everything for myself" era when i get there. Thank heavens! And as Rhae sed, this was a nice read. 🙂
Lol! this was like a story book! like "Renee in wonderland" or summ! Take nuff nuff pics and have fun! oh right….u shud study too! :p
K so im verrryyyyyyyyy late. Smh. Glad to hear all these details, trus mi. Hush up about this 'luck' business plz. Str8 BLESSINGS. deliberate favour =) *hug*