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Rach's World Adventures!
The dilemmas I have encountered so far as une étudiante etranger:
- The 'Which Side to Kiss' question. This dilemma involves choosing at speed which side to do the peck on the cheek thing that is oh so French. Problem is, which side to go to first? Generally in Lyon it seems to be the left but then there are people who are from different parts of France or different countries where they go right… quite tricky mastering this motion without doing the 'side to side shadow dance' that resembles when you try to pass someone on a footpath and you both go the same way multiple times. But with this version you have more at risk as if you both go the same one it results in a bit more kissing than you may have first intended!
- The 'How to Enrol in Courses' mission. Also known as Mission Impossible! There are no times and course descriptions on the internet. Nope, instead they have pieces of paper with random information pasted up at different areas of the uni, at different campuses and even at a completely different university in Lyon. There is no logic to where or when these bits of paper are up and the people at the receptions of each faculty pretty much refuse to offer any assistance (I actually don't quite understand what their job is!). The tactic is to wander around aimlessly and hope like crazy that you happen to stroll past, and notice, the info that you need.
- The 'How to Survive the Arctic Temperatures' issue. I actually think its warmer now than during my first week here. I'd like to think that I have just gotten used to it but I think that's a bit hopeful! I think the temperature hovers between about -2 and 0 degrees. Makes my complaining about the 'freezing' winter in Auckland a bit feeble… Lets just say that the thermals my darling mother sent over are very very very much appreciated! And also that I have even less hope of looking elegant and French if I keep on wearing thermals under my jeans… hello extra 'curves!'
- The 'How to Fit onto the Metro' difficulty. This is harder to conquer as it is really up to the entire French population of Lyon to work on. Why, may I ask, does everyone here seem to think that moving out of the doorway is beneath them? Huge swarms of people crowd the door, you squeeze in, the beeping of the closing doors begins, and just before you think you are about to get completely mashed by the doors, you manage to elbow your way in a smidgen more and live for another metro ride! Meanwhile, there is a huge space about 2 metres away but do people disperse to allow more people in? Non!
- The 'How to Stay Gluten-free in Glutenville' problem. Must the French make such amazing looking and amazing smelling bread? Everywhere I look is gluten, begging to be sampled. Pain au chocolat, croissants, baguettes, raisin escargots and did I mention pain au chocolat? All day long people are wandering round with baguettes poking out of their bags. This dilemma is made extra hard by the fact that nothing else except bread is cheap…
- The 'Zebra Crossings are Decorations Only' fact. I feel rather fortunate to still be alive after the discovery of the fake crossings! The ones that have lights with green and red men need the green man to walk so why would they have lines on the road as well? And, the ones that have no lights, cars take priority so why do they even exist? I seriously don't get it!!! Crossing roads is made even more dangerous by the fact that I always look left and think 'oh, all clear' and start walking, only to discover (usually by angry tooting French drivers) that there is a huge line of cars hurtling at me from the right… oops!
- The 'I'm Forgetting How to Speak English' predicament. Although some London dwellers may believe I could never really speak English, this one is rather embarrassing. Please do not assume this means that my French is getting so good that its replacing my English. Oh no! Its more that I am starting to think with French grammer. For example "I really have a lot of thirst right now" or even with random French words "I have much besoin to get to uni early today"… I'm pretty sure I am rapidly becoming nonlingual…
- The 'How to Focus on French Grammer When Your Teacher Looks Like Cruela De Vil' dilemma. She seriously is her twin. Not only does she look like her - she sounds like her! Well, like a French version. I think it's the mass amounts of eye liner that curls upwards and outwards at the corners that does it for me… me and my Russian neighbour struggled to keep our laughter silent for the 2 hour lesson. Luckily the other kiwi is a diligent student so I'm not completely destroying our reputation!
But all in all, life as an exchange student in Lyon is not bad at all! The city is gorgeous, there are certain benefits of lecturers not arriving to class, the coffee is great, the cheese is even better, the other student at uni are awesome, my flatmates are amazing (I have had some impressive traditional japanese meals!) and even good wine is super cheap here!
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