Sunday, 20 July 2008

Back from the mountains!

Finalllllly I'm back from the mountains. We were staying in a place called Le Sauze, it was lovely but painfully quiet and at times very very boring. There is loads of stuff to do if you're around the ages of 7-14 but after that it's not too good. We went for about 5 picnics... hurrah. I did do some fun stuff though, we did rafting and this thing where you have to swing around in the trees. The boys did karting which I secretly wanted to do but apparently it was just for the boys.... psh. Yesterday we did this thing called Le Parpaillon and its a road that is about 2500 metres up. You need a 4X4 to do it though because its not even a proper road. Luckily they have a range rover... though I might add that there was 7 of us in the car which is the stupidest thing I think theyve done so far. It meant none of us could wear seatbelts. It was in general quite a nice day though, despite that.
There isnt really much else to update on to be honest, which lets you know how boring the place was... my french is improving though I think! I'm missing everyone at home loads, and I'm missing going out on a night and talking to people my own age because I have done none of that for 3 weeks. I like the fact that the French all eat together but it annoys me about how much emphasis they put on eating. Their day quite literally revolves around eating! They neve go out on a night unless it's to eat...




Anywayss, I must go!!!! xxxxxxxxxxx

Sunday, 6 July 2008

Off to the Mountains

Just thought I would do another post before I go t the mountains with the family for 15 days. Had a busy few days really, went to aix-en-provence with the family but didn't get to look around at all because it was all a bit of a rush. I've taken hardly any fotos so far because I haven't really been anywhere where I could. Disappointing really. It rained in Aix-en-provence but it was that light it wasn't really worth talking about haha. Friday was supposed to be ,y day off but it consisted of going to Gardanne for the market and then Anne Gael thought it would be good for me to go to the shopping centre with Marie. It was alright, but as Marie doesn't like shopping I only got to go into a sweet shop, an ice cream shop and virgin megastores. Not really a day off then...
Saturday we went to a pool party at the house of PMs work colleague. It was a masssssive house and started out pretty well but we'd been there since 12pm and by 8pm they decided to go out to dinner together. I was bored by then as I can't really join in with the conversation much when I don't understand what theyre saying half the time. ALso. adding to this, everyone was very drunk. Marc, the guy whose party it was started being rude to me, just joking on but I really wasn't in the mood for it because he was saying stuff in French that I didn't understand then laughing at me. So, when we finally got home I burst into tears and AG happened to knock on my door and saw me crying. She had came to apologise for Marc and then she started crying saying that she felt awful and that she hoped I didn't want to go home...lol. I reassured her that I was tired and etc etc and I didn't want to go home and when I came downstairs this morning she had bought me a t-shirt to say sorry...bless her. PM also apologised so all is well. Soooo, eventful eyyy?
Today, we're just packing to go to the mountains and stuff like that. Think were going to Italy on tuesday which will be nice!
Anyway, gotta go now as I have to actually pack some stuff!
Byeeeeeeee xxxxxxxxx

Thursday, 3 July 2008

A post at last!

Hellooo, sorry about the complete lack of posts on here but I've been on the internet twice whilst being here and people have been peering over my shoulder both times haha. So far, everything is going really well, the family are really nice and are being very understanding with regards to my terrible French. The two kids Marie and Matthieu are both really well behaved luckily so I haven't had any problems in that department!
The place I'm staying in is very... rural, shall we say. There is a bus stop just outside of the house but I think the bus comes about twice a week. I saw it for the first time today which probably says something... Other than that though; the house is nice and about 200 metres away from the house is the house that their grandparents live in and they have a big swimming pool. Basically all weve done since I got here is sunbathe by the pool and sunbathe by the sea. Can't complain!!
Marie had her 13th birthday party yesterday, and of course I had to supervise it. Ten thirteen year olds... in a swimming pool. I got pushed in the swimming pool by one of the boys, typical, haha. It went quite smoothly though, with only one person crying (Matthieu, he got pushed in the pool) so all was well.
They took me out for a meal last night to celebrate passing my exams. I had lobster... when in Rome and all that... Had a good laugh with Pierre-Marie and Anne-Gael on the way back in the car as they were both trying to sing along to English songs. I had to explain every line they didn't understand lol. Also, there appears to be no rules regarding drinking and driving in France?! Same goes for using mobiles whilst driving and smoking in public places... PM and AG do all of these things.
Apparently PM is taking me out driving on Saturday which should be an event in itself. Anyway, have to go... I'm going to the swimming pool again haha

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S I apologise for typos but this is a French keyboard... gah

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Two days to go!

Sooo, copying off Kirsty and Nikita I am also going to do a blog. Sadly, my commitment to these sort of things usually isnt good but I will definately try to keep you all up to date! I'm not sure if I will be able to find a computer when I'm in the Alps/at the beach but there maybe a cafe with computers in it or something!

So, two days before and I am starting to panic about the amount of things I need to pack compared to the amount of space/weight I have to pack them in. Strangely enough I am worrying more about this than the fact I am going to stay with a family that I've never met before! I also had a nightmare last night that I forgot to take my money with me :-s.

I will be getting up at about 4am to go on Saturday which should be fun, and then there is a 6 hour wait in Stansted to contend with. It's going to be a longggg day, but I'm sure it will all be worth it!

Right, I'd better actually go and DO some packing instead of just sitting writing about it :-)

Michelle xxxx