Saturday 23 July 2011

Le Tour

Watching Le tour de France makes me feel enlivened. It makes me feel this way for two reasons.

Reason 1: As soon as I see any scenery shots of France with houses I immediately start house hunting. I know that most of the houses that are shown already have people inhabiting them, though I start guesstimating how much they're worth and how many hours I would have to work in order to place a legitimate offer to the current owners to entice them to sell up and move out. Phase two of this day dream includes redecorating the house, including a perfectly scaled garden map of where I would place all of my cherub fountains.

Reason 2: It makes me feel like I should become a pro cyclist and become really fit. It makes me feel this way to the point of online bike shopping. But I quickly nip this idea in the bud as soon as I realise that I'm actually too lazy to do anything about becoming super fit and would prefer to just watch others be fit. I'm a team player like that. If everyone was super, being super fit would be the norm, and then no one would be super fit, everyone would just be normal. Then, those who were originally super fit would feel depressed. So, as agonising as the decision is, I will step aside and keep myself un-super fit, so as to support and sustain those who already are.

Though, that being said, I am currently wishing that I were wearing Cadel Evans' perfectly fitting lyrca ensemble right now. As he prepares for his final time trial of Le tour '11, it would be nice to think that you're in with a chance at winning one of the world's most prestigious competitions.

Then again, lyrca makes me itchy.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

All I could ever need...

I now have all that I will ever need to make sure that I get the most out of my French experience.
I've purchased and have begun reading Harry Potter à l'ecole des sorciers. Although quite slow, my knowledge of the french language is beginning to grow and so is my knowledge of how to cast a spell on someone in french. 
I was in a little bookstore in Balmain when I found my second item, a book entitled 'The Flea Markets of France'. I love flea markets, you always find a treasure trove of collectibles that no one else could ever love but the buyer. It is my intention to visit every flea market that is mentioned in the book, whether it be next door to where I'm staying or 6 hours drive away. Although purchasing this book may have been possibly the most expensive mistake I've ever made, it's an effective and super fun way to ensure that I see all of France and become acquainted with the different dialects all over France.
I'll blog and let you all know how that goes!

Monday 11 July 2011

Testing. 1. 2.

I've started many a blog before, but never kept one up for more than a few months. This one's going to last!
I'm currently at UTS (University of Technology, Sydney) studying a combined degree of a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. Right now, I'm a second year student enjoying my mid-semester break. Though in about a year and a half I will leave to spend one year some where unknown to me yet in France.
As part of my course, I will study the French language for 2 years (though I have been studying for many a year more) and then travel to a University in France where I will complete one year of study at the uni of my choice. There's a list of about 9 that I can choose from, though it seems so far away I haven't even really started considering any yet.
Though I am nervous. I'm nervous about the language. Holidaying in a country where English is not the first language has the potential to be difficult enough, though actually attending university in one of those countries? I'm also a little nervous about finances. Having to support myself for a whole year without parental help and find a job too!
But, all considered, I am super excited and ready to learn!

I'm endeavouring to blog as much as possible whilst I'm there, mainly for the sake of family and friends, so feel free to share my French (and European) cultural experience with me!