Le weekend

Top - View from Cathedrale Major

Middle - A street in Le Panier

Bottom - La Cathedrale Major

Vendredi. Le Panier. J'habite au Panier mais aujourd'hui j'ai fait un tour du Panier. Je suis allee a la vieille charite et la cathedrale major. J'ai achete un poireau et je suis rentree chez moi pour cuisiner avec le micro-onde. L'apres midi je suis aller a la poste pour collecter un colis. Il y avait beaucoup de monde, en fait, I was impressed that people were prepared to queue so patiently. There was a woman, obviously drunk, in the queue who kept trying to push infront of everyone but the person serving was having none of it. I think I was in the post office for over half an hour. I couldn't believe how long it took them to give me a parcel. I needed proof of identity as well as the form that had been pushed through my door, then I had to sign to say I'd received it. It reminds me of the other day when I wanted to pay money into my bank account, I could have understood it if I were to have been withdrawing money, but paying it in and I needed une piece d'identite!! Complete madness. Apres avoir allee a la poste je suis rentree chez moi et j'ai commence a lire un livre en francais. Je me suis deprimee, j'etais toute seule a l'appartement. Une autre assistante m'a demande de sortir, il y avait un grand renzez vous au Vieux Port pour toutes les assistantes. Je ne voulais pas sortir mais je me suis forcee. Nous etions 11. J'ai fait la connaisance de Aimee, Guy, John, Scott et Ed. Les autres, je les ai deja recontre. It was hard to keep up with everyone - their names, where they were from, which uni they were at. We were sat around 3 tables and we sort of ended up splitting into 2 groups - one either end of the tables. C'etait vraiment bizarre parce que Ed habite a Leicester et il est alle au meme ecole primaire que moi au meme temps! En fait, on est y alle ensemble! La soiree se deroulait et nous etions quatre, on est quitte le Vieux Port et nous avons fait la connaisance de quatre etudients suedois, tres gentils. On est alle a Art Hache ensemble mais on n'est pas reste longtemps, c'etait un peu nulle. Le lendemain, je me suis levee a 10h and Liz came round to use the internet (her's isn't yet connected) and also take a shower (as she has no hot water, there is a leak in her appartment too) After we went to her flat and met up with Ed en route. Later on we went to Le Vieux Port and met up with Aimee and a new assistant - John (a second John!) We went to an italian restaurant. Aimee and Ed left but me, Liz and John continued. I went home before they did although Liz told me that they went home shortly after me. It was good to meet people. I've liked all the assistants I've met so far. If I hadn't have made the effort to go out and meet people I would have been friendless and lonely and quite possibly not having anywhere near as good a time as I actually am. It is true - it is the people that make the place. On Sunday I went to Le Vieux Port to meet Liz, Gemma, Ed, John and Sarah. I didn't stay long. Marseille was a bit mad because the French rugby team were playing in the world cup at Le Stade Velodrome which is in Marseille. I went home and stayed in the rest of the day preparing myself for my first day at school...

Same wavelength?

10h30 Vieux Port metro. My word it was cold! I left at 10 because I had to go and buy credit en route. I was a bit early so I say down to wait. Wind, wind, wind. Cold, cold, cold. Brr. I was meeting another assistant. English. Rachel. We share the same surname. When we finally managed to locate each other, which took a bit of doing. It was a case of 'can you see the orange lorry?' 'Yes'. 'Ok, I'll see you by the orange lorry in about 5 seconds'.We eventually stumbled across each other, both wind swept and cold. Coffee, coffee, coffee. French coffee, mmm. We sat inside in an attempt to warm up. Rachel is from Manchester and at Liverpool university studying French and Classics. She's been here for 2 days. After the coffee we went to the tourist information centre for a map. We couldn't find any so we asked. The lady was marking down where people were from. 'Vous venez d'Allemagne?' Umm, no! After the tourist information centre we walked up La Canabiere to Le Centre Jeunesse which we actually walked past on the way up. We about-turned and walked back down La Canabiere and stopped to admire the 'a louer' adverts. Like everyone else I've met, Rachel's looking for accommodation. She's staying with french people at the minute in the 8e arr... a very nice area. I was there yesterday, I walked the length and bredth of it, suitcase in tow. I showed Rachel what I knew of Marseille which, to be honest, consisted of not a lot! We went in a few phone shops because she doesn't have a french mobile yet. Then we went for lunch - paninis. It was windy and cloudy and there were spots of rain!!! Rain?! How dare it rain?! The cloud was bad enough but rain?! It's like the artic! The waiter person asked us where we were from and from then on it was 'Hello Manchester' everytime he walked past the table. We talked about all manner of things. She is amazingly well travelled when it comes to America. Likes football. We had quite a bit in common and we didn't run out of things to say. We talked about all and nothing. After lunch we walked around some more, Rachel also got a mobile and she came to La Poste with me where a very unhelpful, miserable woman told me 'Il faut toujours apporter votre passeport avec vous.' What was wrong with my driving licence is still beyond me. Then it was a case of needing to warm up - yep, you guessed it, french coffee time! We went inside. It was the kind of place that looked like it had it regulars who had what they considered to be 'their' seats. These 4 men came in and the look on their faces was like 'but you're sitting in OUR seats'! Again, we were jabbering away and laughing. Laughing to the point of crying. It was so funny. Powdered milk and reflections in mirrors. It was good. After we went to check out a museum, but we didn't go in, and then to Monoprix - shopping! After that it was about half five. The day had gone quickly. It had been fun. I felt like we could easily be good friends. Weather permitting we might go to the beach tomorrow. On verra. Anyway, I am now eating les pates fromage-epinards. Auriane isn't back yet. She had her driving test today, j'espere qu'elle a reussi son permis parce qu'elle avait eu plus que 50h de cours! Definitely a 10-stones-in-the-truck kind of day I think.

Jessica

I helped Jessica move her suitcases today. She rang me last night to ask me if I'd mind helping her. She's storing them at a teacher's house. One of the teachers from her school said she could because she's going to Munich this weekend and can't really keep them at the hostel where she's staying. She has sort of found accommodation, she just needs to sign the paperwork and sort things out. It seems there's more paperwork for Americans because they are not part of the EU. They have to get visas and a carte de sejour and have a medical examination. I don' t have to do any of that, thank goodness! Anyway, I said I'd meet her at 12 at Le Vieux Port. That would give us until 13h when we were meeting Ohio Sarah and Andrew at Le Vieux Port. I went on the metro with her from Le Vieux Port to Saint Charles and, bless her, she paid for my metro ticket because I was helping her. We went to her hostel, where she's been staying, to get her bags. The hostel was quite nice, I'd happily stay in it. It was just across the road from the station. She had two suitcases. One weighing 20 kilos and one weighing 30kilos! Then there was her guitar too... She took the heavier of the two cases which had a broken handle making it hard to wheel, and I took the lighter one and the guitar. We went back to the metro station and had to go down the stairs because the escalator was out of order. A very kind man helped us carry the cases down the stairs. Then we got on the metro and went to Rond Point du Prado. We went up the escalator and out onto the street. We wanted number 24 avenue du Prado. Trouble was, there are 2 avenues de Prado! Both going in opposite directions! Looking at the address we could tell we needed the avenue de Prado heading towards Castellane because it was in the 6e arr rather than the 8e arr where we currently were. We had no idea how far down Avenue de Prado number 24 would be. We were standing outside number 287... it could be quite a way! I was ok because I had the lighter suitcase with the pulling handle. In a strange way it was fun and the sense of achievement when we arrived at number 24 was amazing! Besides, Jessica's nice, I like her. I met one of the English teachers from her school who was nice. I was a bit disapointed that she spoke to us in English but I guess being an English teacher it was to be expected! After we had left the suitcases and guitar with the teacher we were running late to meet Sarah and Andrew. It was about 14h30 when we got there... But we got there! We went for a drink and then thought we'd go to a museum but first we had to go to the post office - I needed to collect my post and Sarah wanted to buy pre-stamped envelopes. Andrew didn't come with us. He went, I think, to meet some other people, I'm not really sure. After the post office we decided it was maybe a bit late to go to the museum. We didn't know what time they'd be open until and by the time we got there... We decided to go shopping instead! There is a new H&M opened on la Rue de la Republique. Auriane (my colocataire) tells me that la Rue de la Republique is undergoing major change. You know, it's the road I've been going on about - the one with all the roadworks that gave me such a bad first impression of Marseille. I can kind of see it. There are big name shops opening up along there and the roadworks are progressing and appartently they are building an underground carpark there too. Also, it kind of makes sense that it could become a street with big name shops as it connects the centre - Le Vieux Port and La Canabiere with La Joliette which is supposed to be an up and coming area. So, watch this space! Marseille is moving on right in front of my eyes! Anyway, after a bit of shopping we went to get something to eat - paninis. Then we went out separate ways home. Now I am sat in my appartment writing this. Auriane has gone back to Monaco to take her driving test and I am considering going for a shower. That's all for today really. It's been a good day. I enjoyed moving the suitcases even if it was hard work!

An assistant from England!

Today was quite plain. I went to Monoprix and bought envelopes. I went to the postoffice and posted postcards. I did the washing, started to look at my timetable for next week - where I have to be and when, how to get there etc. I had lunch. Then I went to meet Lucy - another assistant. Although this time she was from England. Chester to be precise. At Oxford university. She's been here a couple of days and is staying with her cousin. She's lucky to have someone here to stay with and who knows the area. Her school isn't in Marseille so she hasn't decided whether to live in Marseille or Aix yet. Both are equally as far from her school - which is near to the airport. She was nice, friendly, outgoing. I hope she decides to live in Marseille. I was planning on going round Le Panier but I never quite got round to it. I must. It's practically on my doorstep so I have no excuse! That's really all for today. Sigh. Maybe something interesting for tomorrow, who knows?!

Cheese on toast

As I sit writing today's entry I'm eating cheese on toast (with branston pickle of course). Today has been uneventful and quite dull. I went to Le Vieux Port to meet Ohio Sarah and two other assistants - Jessica (who, for some unknown reason, I keep wanting to call Jennifer!) and another Sarah - this one from California so she can be California Sarah. I've only ever met 6 Americans in my life and 50% are called Sarah, hmm. I wonder whether it's a popular name in America?! We went to a cafe and then I went to the supermarket and came home. Liz came round to use my internet and then we went back to Le Vieux Port to meet with New Orleans Sarah and Ohio Sarah. We went for something to eat and then Ohio Sarah had to go because she was looking at an appartment. After a while I headed back home and New Orleans Sarah went to look at an appartment in La Joliette. And that was my day. Apart from learning another american word - you ask for the 'check' rather than the 'bill' in a restuarant when you want to pay. Oh, and I had an American georgraphy lesson too. That's all. So, nothing to report really. A demain.

Sweaters, closets and sidewalks

Yesterday (Sunday) I did some more housework and then went to meet Liz at Le Vieux Port metro station. Sarah New Orleans was there too. I hadn't met her before. I call her Sarah New Orleans to distinguish her from Ohio Sarah. To make matters even more confusing, not only do they have the same first name, but the first middle name too! Anyway, we took all Liz's things to her new appartment. We went on the metro, it wasn't too bad because there were usually escalators. We changed metro lines at Saint Charles to go to National. Then it was 'a couple of blocks' to her appartment where there was 'an elevator'. We actually went into number 8 and knocked on the door of an appartment before realising we were supposed to be at number 6! Oh well, we just took all the stuff back down, next door and then back up again! Liz's flatmate Luca seemed really nice. His friends were there (don't ask me to remember their names - there were 4 of them!) We sat talking to them for a while before helping Liz to unpack. I hung some of her skirts in 'the closet', handed her the blue tac, sorry, I mean 'tac' and when I asked her if she wanted any drawing pins I should have said 'thumb tacks'... US dress sizes are odd too although I think I quite like the idea of being a size 6 (US sizes of course!) as for when she told me she had a shoe size of 8 I was amazed until I learnt that it was the equivalent of a Euro size 38 which is infact a UK size 5!! So not only am I improving my french but I'm learning American too! After Liz had unpacked we walked back to the town centre. We got a drink and then bought some bread and cheese before coming back to mine. We ate the bread and cheese - the bread was still warm, hmm, delicious! New Orleans Sarah used my internet to look on appartager.com. She's still looking for somewhere to live. After, we walked towards La Joliette but the address of the appartment was weird - 'boulevard vingt cinq' - it doesn't seem to exist. She's going to look at it today (Monday) at 20h but needs to ring up for directions first. After that we headed back to Le Vieux Port to meet up with Ohio Sarah and then later Andrew. They're all American. It's quite interesting. What I would call a 'purse' they refer to as a 'wallet'. What I would call a bag (as in a hand bag) they would call a 'purse'!! And a 'jumper' is a 'sweater'. To them, a jumper is a long sleeveless dress! Oh yeah and 'shall we walk on the pavement?' 'The what?!' 'The pavement.' 'Oh, you mean the sidewalk!' It's funny. When I got home I had a shower and spend some time talking to Auriane. You know, french driving tests are weird. When you take your test there are 3 other people (as well as you) in the car. There is the examiner, your instructor and another pupil. It seems one pupil goes first and then the second. The exam lasts 35 minutes and you have to do 3 manouevres. The same as in England except there is no left reverse - they do something different instead, I think it might be bay parking but don't quote me on that one!

Friends

Top - the view towards Le Vieux Port from Notre Dame de la Garde

Middle - Notre Dame de la Garde

Bottom - the view over Marseille from Notre Dame de la Garde

Today has been a really good day. I started to write my postcards in the morning after I'd cleaned the bathroom. I then got a text from Sarah asking whether I wanted to go and meet her and Liz at Le Vieux Port. I couldn't text back because I didn't have any credit left so I went out to buy some credit but I got side tracked. I think because it was around lunchtime alot of the 'tabac' shops where I could buy credit were closed so I joined the queue for le petit train to go and see Notre Dame de la Garde. The train was almost full but I squeezed in and the man opposite me said something in English! I said to him 'are you English?' and he said he was. He was quite old - definitely retired. He asked me whether I was on the cruise to which it gave me great pleasure in telling him I lived in Marseille. Anyway, I got talking to him and it turns out he's from Leicester! Glen Parva! Small world. The train ride to Notre Dame de la Garde didn't take long and the commentary was in both French and English. It was quite steep in parts - up hill the train went slow and down hill it went quickly, it was quite funny. It was a tiny train - open air. More like wooden carriages joined together. It was a miracle they didn't become detached! When we got to Notre Dame de la Garde the views were breathtaking. I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower but this was better. It was amazing. You could see the whole of Marseille. I walked around photographing the view and trying to work out where things were. I could see Le Panier and the cathedral so I could see roughly where my appartment must be. We went in the church which was just beautiful inside. So amazingly decorated, so much detail. Like nothing I'd ever seen before. I walked around looking down at Marseille with the man (who's name was Paul) that I'd met. He was so well travelled! He's been to so many places. He was on a cruise and only had a day in Marseille. He'd definitely chosen the right thing to do - going to see Notre Dame de la Garde, it is by far the best thing I've done/seen in Marseille so far. (Yes, I think it might even beat seeing Le Stade Velodrome...) It was nice too to have someone to talk to, better than going around on my own. I will definitely go up there again. You could walk but the little train was so much fun and quite cheap at only 5 euros. After, we got the train back to Le Vieux Port and went for a coffee together. He was travelling on his own. He'd been in Barcelona only yesterday but this was the last day of his cruise. I was glad that I'd met him, it had given me someone to talk to and I had been company for him too. He was quite interesting. He told me about Prague, because it's somewhere I would like to go. He's going to Brazil in a few weeks. He travels alot but always on his own now. I guess he meets lots of interesting people from travelling around so much. He had to go at 17h because of getting the bus back to the boat to go home, back to Leicester. Such a coincidence. I can travel all this way, to the south of France and meet someone from where I used to live in a city the size of Marseille! Small small world. After he'd gone I remembered I was supposed to be buying phone credit so I went into Monoprix for a bottle of water and some phone credit. As I was making my way home Sarah text me again to ask whether I wanted to go for a drink at 19h. I text her back saying I was sorry, I'd got side tracked with a tourist and had only just got credit (several hours after she'd text me the first time!) and that I would pass on the drink because I'd only just got home and was tired. But then I thought no, I should make the effort and go out. It's only a 10 minute walk to Le Vieux Port. So I text her again saying there was no reason why I couldn't come, only my laziness. I met her and Liz at just after 19h mais en route j'ai vu encore le meme homme que hier! Celui qui m'a demande pour mon numero de portable, celui qui m'a donne le sien, celui qui je lui ai donne mon adresse email! Il s'arrete pour me parler au Vieux Port. Il semble d'etre gentil mais je ne suis pas sur. Il m'a dit qu'il m'a envoye un email mais je ne l'ai pas recu. Il m'a dit aussi que j'ai des mains belles et les cheveaux aussi... J'ai passe une heure et demi avec Liz et Sarah dans une brasserie. J'ai pris le meme boire que Sarah, on a parle pendant une heure et demi et puis on est partie. Liz is moving into a new flat tomorrow in the 3e arr and we offered to help her move her things. She said we could go round and watch a film or something in the afternoon. She's going to text in the morning. It's hard to believe that these are the same two girls I met the other day. I like them. We get on. Friends. Anyway, I came home and ate, showered and now I'm tired. I'm glad I went though. It was fun. So, all in all I've had quite a busy day! I also discovered that washing powder is quite expensive! I even went in the shop along Rue Colbert but it was still cher. I thought things were supposed to be cheaper in France?! Well, now I'm going to bed, the number of typing errors I'm making and having to correct is growing steadily bigger! I'll probably read over the french tomorrow and realise there are so so many errors... oh well.

Bisous et a demain. x

Baked beans

A week ago today I arrived in this city, completely hating it. It's amazing how much can happen in a week. A complete turn around. I like it now. I've done so many things and there are still so many things to do. I have one more week to be a toursit before I start at my school. Who, might I add, I have still heard nothing! Not a thing. I have written, e-mailed and e-mailed some more and they have not replied to anything. If I had their phone number I'd ring them. If it wasn't for them having a website - http://www.lyceeartaud.net/ I would be seriously doubting their existance. Only one thing remains - to put myself on the metro and just turn up - 'bonjour, je suis votre assistante d'anglais'. I hope they aren't one of these schools that sees themselves as having been lumbered with an assistant and so take the attitude of 'what one earth do we do with her?!'

Anyway, today, quite boring to be honest. I've been watching heroes on tv links. I'm nearly at the end of the series... I only meant to watch one episode but they all end on a cliffhanger so it's impossible to not watch the next one! I did manage to drag myself away to go to Le Centre Bourse and do some food shopping. I discovered that there is a 'foreign food' section where there are BAKED BEANS!!!!! Ok, so for what you pay for one can of baked beans in France you could buy a 4 pack in England but still, BAKED BEANS! They even had BRANSTON PICKLE!! Shock, horror. I had to hold on to the adjoining mexico food aisle to avoid falling over with shock. After I left the 'foreign food' section I was quickly brought back down to earth by the unimpressive selection of french food in the rest of the supermarket. Oh well. After carefully transporting my extortionately expensive tin of baked beans home I had lunch and yes, you guess it, watched more heroes. I was forced to stop watching heroes to go and meet another random assistant. Andrew. I was meeting him at Le Vieux Port with Sarah (who I met the other day). I was standing waiting and someone stopped to speak to me 'pourquoi n'est pas tu a la plage?' il m'a demande. 'J'attends mes amis' I replied. What a random question! Il s'est arrete pour me parler. Apres deux ou trois minutes il m'a demande 'quel est ton prenom?' Je n'avais pas le choix, je le lui ai dit. Il s'appelle Magid. Je lui explique que je suis a Marseille depuis une semaine, que suis une assistante d'anglais et que je n'ai pas encore decide ce que je fais ce soir. 'Tu n'as pas encore decide?!' 'Non, je ne suis pas encore decide!' Je lui ai dit, deux, trois fois. J'avais envie qu'il me laisse mais non. 'Donne moi ton numero de telephone et on peut faire quelquechose ensemble'. Moi, j'ai menti 'je n'ai pas encore une portable francaise'. En fin il m'a laisse mon numero de portable et de chez lui et pour qu'il me laisse je lui ai donne mon adresse e-mail, celui que je n'utilise jamais. Finalement, Sarah est arrive et il m'a laisse. Et voila, ca c'est quelquechose que je n'aime pas de Marseille.

We went to meet Andrew (he's very shy, nervous. American, spent a year as an assistant in Arles last year and is studying and being an assistant this year) and then to une brasserie at Le Vieux Port where I had un jus d'orange making a mental not to myself that I must learn the french for other drinks - I'm getting bored with 'chocolat chaud' et 'jus d'orange'!! After that I came home, showered, ate, went to bed. Nothing special. Auriane is going home for the weekend, again. I have no solid plans for the weekend. Maybe I will go to Notre Dame de la Garde, I havent been there yet. And also, Le Panier - it's right on my doorstep and I haven't even walked around it yet! Then there are my postcards to write and I think the bathroom needs a clean...

Cow parade

These cows have been to Barcelona, Manchester, Marseille. There were 68 of them and we really wanted to do the cow parade but we didn't realise the cows were being removed on October 11th, we thought it was October 18th. Oh well. Here are my 3 favorite cows of the ones I saw. I photographed quite a few but I didn't get to see all 68 cows. Nevermind.

Top - is it a zebra? no, it's a cow!

Middle - flowery cow

Bottom - cow crash

Gill on French TV!

Well, what a strange day. The morning was pretty ordinary. I stayed in, sent a few emails, posted on a few walls on facebook - nothing special. After lunch I went back to Le Palais Longchamps to take photographs. It's so beautiful. I still can't quite believe how big the fountain is! You're walking through an ordinary Marseille street and then all of a sudden appears this huge fountain and well, statue like structure with gardens - beautiful. I spent a bit of time walking around the gardens and then I walked back down La Canabiere towards Le Vieux Port stopping at Le Centre de Jeunesse to look at les petits annonces for jobs. I was standing there for quite a while, reading them - there were alot of them and they were in French! I found one that interested me and began writing down the details. A lady approached me 'Bonjour' she said. She asked me whether I was a student and why I was looking for a job. She said she was doing research for a report to promote Le Centre de Jeunesse and find out what kinds of jobs students do. I said 'je ne suis pas francaise' thinking she wouldn't be interested because I wasn't french but she said 'tu viens d'ou?' and when I said 'Angleterre' she said 'mais tu parles tres bien le francais'. Anyway, she asked whether she could film me for her report!! I agreed. So, she filmed me looking at les petits annonces and then she interviewed me asking what kind of job I was looking for, why I wanted a job, whether I'd found anything etc. I answered her questions probably making a million and one grammatical errors but she seemed happy enough. She said that there was a leaflet that Le Centre de Jeunesse published and that if I went in and asked for it they would give it to me. She also said 'en fait, j'ai besoin de toi' - she needed me for her report. But that was ok because she was providing me with information I wouldn't otherwise have got. She filmed me walking into Le Centre de Jeunesse and asking for the leaflet. The lady that worked there explained to me what Le Centre de Jeunesse offers and asked me whether there was anything I would like to know. I asked for a list of language schools in Marseille because I said I was looking for a job teaching English. We were filmed as she took me to the bookshelves and pulled off a ringbinder, she then showed me how to use it. I was then filmed looking through all the language schools and noting down any of interest. They were really helpful, probably more helpful than if I'd have just walked in and asked for information on language schools. I guess I was doing them a favour by appearing in there report and in return I got lots of information I wouldn't otherwise have got. I wouldn't have gone in if the reporter hadn't told me about the booklet. I wouldn't have known that it was a place I could go for such information. The reporter was really nice, she was quite young, probably in her 20's. Her name was Helene. She said she lived in Berlin for a while so she knew what it was like to live in a new town in a different country. She gave me her mobile number and said if there was anything I wanted to know or anything then just to call her! After I'd finished looking through the information I left feeling quite content - I was going to be on french tv!! La Chaine Marseille (LCM) at 19h. How exciting! Me on french tv!! I will so be watching it!

I walked the rest of the way down La Canabiere and bought some postcodes and some stamps. I took a couple of photos and then, confidence up, went to join the library. I hadn't got a clue what to say, I saw a sign saying 'L'inscription' so I said 'je voudrais faire l'inscription s'il vous plait'. I haven't a clue whether this is right or not but the lady understood me and I was soon a fully fledged memeber of La bibliotheque Alcazar. I was really pleased because I understood everything she said and she seemed to understand me too! I went upstairs to the fiction section and borrowed two books - one in English and one in French. The French one is by Ian Rankin. I know I like Ian Rankin so, providing it isn't ridiculously complicated language, I should be ok.

Right now I'm waiting for 19h to see myself on tv! I can't believe I'm going to be on French tv!! Oh my word, I hope my french wasn't too terrible and that I will look ok. I might be recognised! I could be the next celebrity in Marseille... ok, maybe I'm getting a bit carried away... but you never know! hehe.

A day of two halves

Well, this morning I went to Le Vieux Port to meet Gemma again, I also met two other assistants - Liz and Sarah. They were both American. Liz is from New York, she has graduated and being an assistant is something she has chosen to do rather than something that is obligatoire for her degree. She speaks Wallah (did I spell that right?!) She was very talkative and interested in Politics, infact, she was quite interesting. She's been assigned to Lycee Thiers - Angeline's old school! Sarah was a bit quieter, she's from Cleveland, Ohio and her school is in Vitrolles near the airport. She's in the process of finding somewhere to live, but then again, everyone seems to be doing that! From what I gathered she's been an assistant in Aix before, or at the very least she's lived in Aix before. I got the impression she was finding it hard to settle in and was maybe a bit lonely. Anyway, we met up at 11 and decided to go to Le Palais Longchamps. It was easy to find and really really nice. The fountain at the front is huge! I was a bit disappointed because I didn't have my camera with me. I think I might go back tomorrow and take some photos. We sat in the park talking about all manner of things from politics to mobile phones. It was good to meet more people. I only stayed until 13h because I needed to go shopping and I had other things to do. On my way back to the town centre I called in Monoprix and bought some fruit juice, water, milk and tartlettes au citron. I bought the UHT milk, just a small bottle to try. I then called in the boulangerie and bought a baguette and a croissant. I went home and had lunch. If I'm honest I was a bit fed up. Ok, so I'd met 3 people and they are nice but I can't imagine that we will be best friends. I hope to see them again, but it was strange going sightseeing with someone who I had met about 30 seconds ago! After I'd had my lunch I sent a few emails, posted on a few people's walls on facebook and backed up my hard drive. I was just considering how I was going to pass the rest of the day when Auriane (my colocataire) returned. I was pleased to see her because she had the key to the postbox and I could see there was a postcard in there for me but I couldn't get at it! She asked whether I wanted to go out to Le Vieux Port and I said yes. We decided to go now because she had homework to do which she preferred to do in the evening. We went to Le Vieux Port and had crepes and a drink. I don't think I have ever eaten so many crepes in my whole life as I have in the past few days! It's a good job I like them! It was a crepe citron-sucre with chantilly (my new word!) and a strawberry, very well presented. I also had un jus d'orange. I learnt that elle a reussi un concours pour aller a Marseille. She tried to go to Paris but didn't pass le concours so she had a spare year - last year. She studied l'histoire d'art and wants to do interieur design or something similar, she's yet to decide. We sat and talked about random things. About tv shows, stereotypes - fried bacon and eggs for breakfast in England, milk and cookies mid afternoon, it was then I learnt why il n'y a pas beaucoup de lait frais, because milk is not a big part of the french diet, it isn't important, so the UHT milk is sufficient. We stayed quite a while and then walked back. It was nice to spend some time with her because since I arrived I haven't seen her alot. She is taking her driving test next week and will be going back to Monaco for les vacances touissaint.

So, a day of two halves, the afternoon providing a complete turnaround. Just as I thought the highlight of my day was going to be the cheese and pickle sandwich I had for lunch... it turns out that it was not the crepe, but the afternoon company that was the hightlight of my day. A demain.

Forgive me

top - le stade velodrome

middle - parc borely

bottom - la plage

Dear Marseille,

I think I'm a bit like a magnet; a magnet that's attracted to the worst bits of Marseille. My first two days here gave me a bad impression. Le Passage Lorette with it's rats and La Rue de la Republique with its roadworks are in no way, I discovered today, representative of Marseille.

After opening a bank account at La Poste this morning I met Angeline along La Rue de la Republique. Nous sommes allees a la plage. It's in the 8e arr so we took the metro. Because I haven't yet made my mind up what I'm going to do about getting a travel pass I bought a carte journee. I was worried about using the metro, I can barely manage the London Underground and the Paris metro still confuddles me. It was ok though! There are only 2 lines, I don't really think I'll be able to go wrong... (watch this space - you'll be amazed what I can do!) There were two, possibly drunk, men (if you could class them as men...) at the metro. They asked a question that Angeline seemed to think they already knew the answer to, so it was like an excuse to talk to us. Whist Angeline went to check the signs to answer their question one of them asked me whether I went to 'college' here or something, to which I replied 'je ne suis pas francaise'. He then asked me whether I was Spanish... hmm, do I look Spanish? I think not! They asked Angeline for her first name but then the metro came and we lost them, phew! We got off the metro at rond point du prado. This part of Marseille is different to the centre, there were trees, it was nice. We then took the number 19 bus to the beach. It was beautiful! Well, look at the picture - you can see for yourself. We walked along the beach, past the restaurants and towards where there were boats. The sea was so blue, the sky was so blue. We saw the ferry on its way to Corsica, top-less sunbathing and a strange sculpture. We turned around and went back to the restaurants and ate at Patacrepe. Moi, j'ai pris le crepe 17 - tomates et mozzarella et Angeline a pris le crepe 30 - saumon fume. It was delicious and really big too. After we'd eaten it we had desert, moi, numero 128 - pomme cannelle et Angeline, numero 127 - bananes glaces. I also, in the process of choosing which crepe to have, learnt a new word - chantilly. I saw it on Saturday when I had a crepe in Le Vieux Port but I couldn't find it in the dictionary. I now know, however, that it means whipped cream! See, you learn something new everyday! We sat and ate and talked (and admired the waiter - he was quite cute). The food was so well presented I kind of wish I'd have photographed it, although I would have felt ridiculous doing it at the time... maybe if I go again. I'm sure it got windier as we were sat there, by the end I was quite cold! Yes! Cold in Marseille! I never thought I'd be saying that! We were also both really full too. We took the bus to Parc Borely and walked around there. It was pretty - there was a rose garden and a pond with ducks. I like ducks. We walked around the garden and it was just a nice relaxing walk. By this time I was no longer cold, infact I was hot and there were people running around the park! Madness! After Parc Borely we went to see Le Stade Velodrome! LE STADE VELODROME! I was quite excited about seeing this. The home of L'OM. I want to go and see them play at some point, hopefully they will do well in the group stages of the Champions League and be drawn against an English team... that would be fab! They're in a group with Liverpool but they play away (at Anfield) otherwise I would so have gone to see that! Anyway, after getting over the excitement of seeing Le Stade Velodrome we got back on the metro to Castellane in the 6e arr. We got off and walked around. It was nice there too! I'm beginning to get the impression that every bit of Marseille except Le Passage Lorette, La Rue de la Republique and then a market area off of La Canebiere are nice! And to think I said all those awful things about Marseille in my first couple of posts... We then walked along La Rue de Rome to La Canebiere and then turned right to walk along La Canebiere. That's when I learnt that the market area I'd discovered on Saturday was not a nice bit of Marseille. Well, that's why I stumbled across it, isn't it? I'm a magnet for the not so nice areas! Anyway, further along La Canebiere is much nicer, there are book shops and a cinema and I saw Lycee Thiers which is where the British Council post language assistants and is also where Angeline went, what a coincidence it would have been if I'd have been posted there! After La Canebiere we went to Cours Belsunce and the Library which is like no library I have ever seen before. It is so modern and light and bright. I can see I will spend alot of time in there. They have lots of English books and yes, I know, it's French books I should be reading! The only odd thing was that they look in your bags as you go in and charge you to join. I've never heard of a library charging you to join before, but then you can borrow dvds and cds without paying so I guess it evens itself out. After that we fell upon Rue Colbert which is where La Poste is and is also the way to Le Centre Bourse avoiding La Rue de la Republique and the library is at the end of this road. I've got my landmarks sorted for finding everything - where to cross over - la societe generale or something or other (with a red and black sign) then left down Rue Colbert past the pharmacy. (One thing I've noticed is the number of pharmacies, and bakeries for that matter - there's literally hundreds of the things!) Not one pharmacy or bakery to be found in Brighton and here you can't stop falling over the things! Why's that then? So when you've eaten too much 'flan' (I discovered it yesterday - delicious) you can go to the pharmacist to get better?! Anyway, by this time I was pretty exhausted but happy. Not only had I had a great day but I also felt happier, that I knew where places were, and that Marseille was nothing like my first impressions had led me to believe. Thank goodness! As we were standing on Rue Jean Trinquet a girl came up to us and asked us how to get to Le Panier. Well, as I live there she could follow me. I said goodbye to Angeline, and with this girl in tow, walked home. I took a new route - a route which avoids Le Passage Lorette! It's slightly further but who cares if it reduces my chances of encountering more rats?! Anyway, I was talking to this girl, who also lives in Le Panier (quite why she couldn't find her own way home is still beyond me, maybe because she's only lived here for a few days... like me) She's studying Law at the university in Aix. She commutes by bus but finds it's a long way everyday. I hope to bump into her again, I mean, she only lives around the corner! I didn't ask her name but she seemed nice enough.

And so here I am, completely exhausted but happy. Marseille is nothing like my first impressions led me to believe. I am not dredding spending 10 months here. Quite the opposite - I am looking forward to it. So Marseille, I hope you can forgive me, you are beautiful and I do like you! I have a feeling that we are going to be just fine!

xxxx

Chez moi

Alors, ici on a l'exterieur. Mon appart est celui a la droit avec les volets ouverts. Puis il y a la salle de bains et oui, je sais, le lave-linge est dans la salle de bains!! Apres on a ma chambre et le petit dernier est la cuisine.

L'appart se trouve au Panier - le quartier le plus vieux a Marseille. C'est pres du Vieux Port. C'est un beau appart et je me suis installe bien. Ma chambre est grande avec les fenetres grandes et les volets. Il n'y a rien plus a dire! C'est tout chouette!

Monday - the first of many

I went to meet someone today. Gemma. She's living/working in the 13e arr. I met her by the metro in Le Vieux Port at 10h. I had to persuade myself I needed to make the effort to meet people, English or French. I refuse to spend the year by myself watching the pass on around me. She was an interesting person - from Scotland, at uni in Glasgow, speaks French and Spanish, supports Rangers, Italian boyfriend. She was outgoing and friendly. We went for a coffee and then around some of the shops. We spent about 3 hours together but then I had to leave because I was meeting Angeline and she was meeting some other English students who are studying at uni here. She'd met them randomally at the train station the other day. I'm not sure what she thought of me, quiet? shy? completely different to her? Maybe.

In the afternoon I met Angeline outside the church on la rue de la republique. We went to La Poste and I am going back tomorrow with all the relevant paperwork to open a bank account. We then went to enquire about la carte perso for the metro. It's cheaper to buy it for the year rather than recharging it weekly or monthly but I'll have to think about it. She took me around Marseille - la canebiere, rue colbert, rue saint ferreol, rue paradis... I saw the town hall, opera, centre bourse, le prefecture... She gave me a 'welcome to marseille gift' - a chocolate mug! It's got 'chocolat' written on it and then melting white chocolate dripping down the top whilst the rest is milk chocolate, or at least it's coloured to look like that anyway. I saw some more of Marseille and began to form a mental map of where things are in relation to each other. My sense of direction is quite bad though so I think it will take a bit longer. I arranged to meet her again tomorrow, devant la pharmacie a cote du passage lorette a 10h30. We're supposed to be going to the beach and then to parc borely but they have forecast rain!! It isn't supposed to rain in Marseille!

In a new light

Saturday was better. I felt more positive. I went for a walk with my map to Le Vieux Port which, I was surprised to find, is actually quite nice, ok, it's really nice. I walked all round Le Vieux Port and went in to some of the shops before finding La Canebiere (Marseille's main street). I went in the supermarket there - Monoprix, and found sliced bread and fresh milk! I also bought some other food although I'm still not convinced about the food here... I went in L'office de tourisme and got some information about the area - things to see and things to do.

One thing I noticed was all the people begging on the streets. I think I only really noticed because I have to write a 16,000 (yes! 16,000) word dissertation for uni and I thought of doing homelessness. Well, at least I'll have something to write about. Not that I think it's good there being so many homeless people you understand. Amidst the roadworks, the rubbish, the rats and the homeless people there is something quite likeable and charming about this city. Even if everytime I cross the road I keep looking in the wrong direction for cars. And it's not even safe on the pavements - the motorbikes ride on them! The driving here is a bit mad, I don't think drivers care much for their cars, I don't think pedestrians care much for their lives. They do have green light and red lights, it's just nobody takes any notice of them. If you want to cross the road you just step out. I'm amazed Ensleigh insured me, I swear I'm at least 20 times more likely to be involved in a road accident here than anywhere else in Europe...

Anyway, after walking round Le Vieux Port and La Canebiere I went home and had a sandwich. I then went out again, this time armed with my camera. I went back to Le Vieux Port and took some photos, trouble is you have to walk along la rue de la republique (you know, the one with the roadworks?!) Seeing signs like 'Marseille advance' and 'Le coeur de Marseille bat plus fort' referring to the 'amelioration de notre ville' doesn't quite make up for the mess... Neither does it fill you with confidence when you walk past the site of a knocked down building which appears to have become just another of the city's dumping grounds, with a sign announcing 'le fin de travaux - juin 2004'!!!

Anyway, I took my photos and had a crepe sucre-citron and un jus d'orange alongside Le Vieux Port before discovering a boulangerie, small supermarket and greengrocers in grand rue and then walking back along la rue de la republique and through le passage lorette back to my appartment. Later on in the evening I went out again, back to Le Vieux Port to a restaurant I'd seen earlier. I had une salade italienne and le gateau au chocolat. It was pretty to see Le Vieux Port all lit up at night. And yes, I know, that's three times in one day that I went to Le Vieux Port but a) I knew how to get there and b) it was an area of Marseille I liked! I went back to my appartment and made the mistake of talking to a cat (well, come on, I was lonely) which then followed me and sat outside the front door. As I went to put the key in the door I thought better of it. It was going to follow me in, wasn't it?! I walked up and down the street trying to loose the damn thing and in the end I had to shout and make sudden movements to frighten it off (sorry cat lovers...) it got the message and I could finally go inside.

All in all a complete turn around from the day before. I was beginning to get used to Marseille. Yes, it's completely different to what I expected and yes, it's completely different to anything I've ever seen before in my life. But isn't that part of the experience of a year abroad? I'm living in Le Panier - the oldest quarter in Europe, near to Le Vieux Port and I can see the sea. My appartment is really nice, my room is huge, my two suicases of stuff don't fill it at all. Infact, it looks empty! There's almost too much space! All that remains is to meet my colocataire, brave the metro, find my school, get in touch with my school, find some friends, open a bank account, find my way around, settle in... the list in endless. Hopefully it will be ok.

First Impressions

To do a year in France is a compulsory part of my degree. Yes, that's right - it's obligatoire. Ever since I thought of doing French at uni I have known that spending a year at a French uni was not for me, no. I wanted to work as an Assistante d'Anglais. So, here I am - about to spend 10 months living and working in Marseille.

I arrived at L'aeroport Marseille Provence which, I might add, is painted an array of colours - lime green, vivid purple and bright orange. I stood waiting for my luggage, praying that it would appear. I mean, my life was in those two suitcases! There were amongst some of the last outs but they came, I was so worried they'd been sent to Alicante or Mauritius or anywhere but Marseille! After I'd been safely reunited with my suitcases I had to find out where to catch the shuttle bus or 'Navette' to La Gare Saint Charles in Marseille. It was quite easy to find, I just followed the signs and when I stumbled across a huge blue bus with 'Marseille Saint Charles' on the side, I guessed I must have found it! 30 minutes later I'm deposited at the station, bags still in tow. I had no idea where to go. I decided a taxi was required. There was no way I was lugging in excess of 20kg blindly across Marseille, even if Google maps had assured me it was only 800m!

Trying to get out of the station was fun. They are knocking it down or rebuilding it, or doing something pretty major anyway. The place was a mess. I asked a man 'comment sortir la gare?' Ok, so he may have thought it was a ridiculous question but I hadn't got a clue! I walked past platform after platform and found a shop. I bought a bottle of water, an a-z of Marseille (I think it will prove invaluable) and some phone credit. I have never had a pay-as-you-go phone before so I didn't have a clue what to do with my 'credit' which looked identical to a till receipt. It turned out to be quite easy though, thank goodness! I started following the 'Taxi' signs and was confronted by a huge flight of stairs. How was I going to get myself and my suitcases down those! I didn't fancy the escalator so I began walking down the stairs one step at a time. After about 3 steps a man yelled over to me from the escalator 'Madame, l'escalator!' He was pointing frantically to the escalator. He came over and took my suitcase and down the escalator we went. I didn't have much say in the matter. Whoever you are - thank you!! I got a taxi really easily to 'devant la vieille charite' where my landlord was ready to meet me. By this time it was like the middle of the afternoon, I felt like I'd travelled from pole to pole, I was hot, thirsty, tired and pretty fed up. Delving into the far corners of my brain I found my french vocabularly and learnt all about my appartment - how to lock the door, ('how to lock the door?' I hear you ask. Yes! It is the most ridiculous lock ever, it took me quite a long time to train my wrist to bend in a most un-natural angle to coax the lock open and closed.) I was told about the electricity, the gas, the water, the shutters, the freebox and wifi, the internet... so much information - I am not a sponge!! Finally my landlord left me to unpack. (I was beginning to think he was moving in with me!) My colocataire wasn't there, she was going to spend the weekend with her parents.

I decided to go and find Le Centre Bourse where, I had been reliably informed, there was a supermarket. After studying my map and planning my route I left, locking the door, not entirely convinced I'd be able to get back in again. Stupid key! I had to ask about 4 or 5 people 'je cherche Le Centre Bourse' and then, when I was in Le Centre Bourse I had to ask 'je cherche le supermarche'. Finally, after walking through the lingerie section of Galeries Lafayette a supermarket appeared. French food! Omg. Where is the fresh milk and the sliced bread?! I didn't buy much, I couldn't find anything I thought I'd like. It seems they don't cater for vegetarians in the slightest! I went back to the appartment and put the shopping away, did a bit more unpacking. I sat in my room thinking how I was going to have to stay here for 10 months, how it would be 14 weeks before I could go home for Christmas. I had only seen a tiny bit of Marseille but already I felt like it was too much. There are roadworks everywhere, the place is in disarray. There are bags of litter with food in lying in the street, empty bottles, cans, newspapers, wood and other building materials dumped in heaps in the middle of the pavement. I just sat and cried. I wanted to go home. I didn't like this old, run down dump of a place. This was going to be hard.

I didn't feel hungry but I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I went back out in search of some food but I couldn't find anything so I bought a baguette. I was walking along la rue de la republique thinking how awful it was and how I could get myself out of this year abroad. Maybe go home and drop the French, just do English Language. I walked along la rue de la republique in tears and turned left to walk through le passage lorette where I saw a rat! Never in my life have I seen a rat on the streets before, never! I can't say as I'm surprised there are rats, I mean, what do you expect if you leave half eaten baguettes and rotting apples on the streets? I went back to my appartment, thankful I wasn't on the ground floor (and yes, amazingly the key worked!) and had cheese and tomato on the baguette I'd just bought. I took a shower and went to bed, praying that the next day would be better.