Blogs from Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe - page 21

Despite a last minute panic getting the insurance documents and tax for the motorbikes, we did get away as planned on Sunday 12th October. After a very calm evening crossing, we drove off the ferry and into a deserted Cite Europe carpark to overnight before stocking up at Carrefour the next day. Driving down to Bologne on Monday afternoon, we stopped at the camperstop on the Quay front overnight and had a look around the old town. Eager to watch Corrie on Monday night, we tried to put the Satellite dish up only to encounter a sparking inverter. Switched it off and then on again, only to find its now on fire. So no Corrie tonight. A debate followed including a discussion to return to the UK to get it fixed. All became clearer the next ... read more

i only have 4 more days left of school before my first vacation! i'm very excited. school here is interesting and everything, but i'd prefer traveling any day. my mom is coming and we're going to florence and milan together. it's going to be absolutely splendid. but enough about the future, what is there to say about my last week or so in lille? hmm...not much actually. i've been taking it very easy, doing some homework, sticking to my running schedule, cooking delicious meals in my room, just enjoying life and trying not to be stressed. i have to write my first real french paper for a class next week.....it's an explication du texte, and i haven't a clue what to do exactly because it's the ONE teacher that i can hardly understand because he mumbles....in ... read more

I believe I have already described my landlord once. To quote myself (if I may) a few blog entries earlier: “A short, stocky man in his upper fifties gentle, smiling eyes and a white ponytail…my landlord is a very nice and helpful man. He offered me a ride home the day I signed the lease, which I thought was nice, and he also brought me a small round table and two chairs (which I put on the right wall right after the bathroom door but before the kitchen nook), a (very crooked but still functional) bookcase, on which I put my folded clothes, and a full-length mirror. He is gentle, friendly, and owns several apartments around the Lille Métropole, which he rents out and cares for with his wife, who is equally sweet and personable.” I ... read more

I had such a great weekend!!!! I went with the Rotex (just the exchange students) kyaking! So much fun! The water was freezing but luckily my boat didn't flip over. People did get pushed in though I could not even imagine how cold they must have been haha. Yeah well let me start with what happened first. I went to the train station right after school on Sat afternoon and was so happy that I made it to the train station on time and remembered where it was and everything (haha it was soo easy to get to.) And once I got on the train I met up with Oana. Oana is originally from Romainia but lives in Canada and like me is in France for the year for the exchange. Oana and I are such ... read more

More happiness: Today I got the things I had left here with my animatrice back. That means I now have my pots, pans, spices, dishes, extra burners, sheets, stuffed animal, hair dryer, hair straightener, Internet cord (for when the time comes), school supplies, Sharpies… I couldn’t be happier! Since I finally had everything in my kitchen, I decided to go shopping. I went to Aldi, which is just up the street from where I live. I took my reusable, sturdy shopping bag and my (very expandable) purse, or sac, as I call it. I filled both to the point where I could barely carry them home and only spent 33 Euros. Dishwashing liquid, sponges, kitchen/bathroom cleaner, heavy-duty thread for some projects I have in mind, makeup remover, two bags of pasta, butter, cream, zucchinis, bell peppers, ... read more