A Stranger in the Night

I'm here! En France! And all is great! It's been a busy few days. Packing was extremely difficult, I simply had so much stuff that I "needed" to take, and ended up travelling with 125% of my body weight in luggage, transporting my bags was like dragging a dead body with a small child on my back! Certainly not advisable! But I've made it. Yesterday we left home at 6:30 am and took the train to London. We then crossed to St Pancras on the tube, David was a star, the underground with so much stuff in rush hour might not have been so fun alone...bring on the Parisien metro alone a few hours later! Due to the fire in the channel tunnel I received an email the day before saying that my train had been cancelled, uh oh! But as we arrived so early I was able to check in for a train 2 and a half hours later than my booked one. I had 4 hours to wait, and was unable to move from my seat because of all my bags, thank you to everyone who chatted on the phone to distract me!

Eventually we boarded and the journey across to France was fine, we arrived at Garevdu Nord at 17h05, my train for Nantes left from Gare Montparnasse at18h00, yikes, 55 minutes to cross Paris by metro. I followed the signs and found the right station and bought my ticket, that I needed to put into a machine to open the gates. So I posted in my ticket and started to move through, with my suitcase and handbag going through first, then me, when the gates slammed shut, leaving me trapped, with one arm and one suitcase on each side of the barrier. And I couldn't move, uh oh! There was an assistance telephone on the wall, but not even my long arms could reach it! I eventually got a young man's attention, and he rang for help. I think the instructions must have been for him to put his ticket in, so that the doors would open, freeing me, and letting him through. However this was not to be! The doors opened, so I freed myself then turned to drag through the second suitcase, but then the gates slammed shut again, this time with my suitcase stuck, and he hadn't managed to get through either! We tried and tried to push the gates to free it, but they wouldn't budge. He was not best pleased, and in the end leaped over my suitcase, which was holding the gates open and ran off, leaving me stranded! After a mini panic (time was passing, and I could imagine missing the train to Nantes) I flagged down some more people, and they put their ticket in, so I freed my suitcase, but again they didn't get through! In the end I posted them some money to go and buy another one and legged it down umpteen steps (no such thing as lifts, thump thump thump go my bags!) and hopped onto the metro.

14 stops later I arrived at la Gare, but now needed to climb many many steps to the station. Fortunately some lovely people carried my bags up for me, they were so kind, in fact all the people I've asked for help have been great. I arrived at the station at about 17h50, and sprinted (as fast as possible with the luggage!) and leaped on the train, hoping that they'd accept my ticket, which was in fact for a train about 3 hours earlier. After about an hour the ticket guard came along, wearing a hilarious uniform, something I might wear if I was doing "Fisherman" fancy dress, and all was fine.

We arrived in Nantes on time, but again I needed to sprint for another train, which again I caught with seconds to spare. This time I travelled with no ticket (no time to get one) which was fine! And at about 21h00 I arrived at La Roche Sur Yon, final destination! I caught a taxi to the foyer, everything looked so exciting, I love arriving in strange towns at night, and LRSY was no exception. I was greeted by Cecile and filled out all the paperwork and was shown to my room, which is Goodrickesque but absolutely fine and with an en suite shower room. I then headed down to the "bar" to meet some people, it was actually Cecile's birthday so there was a party in full swing! Everyone there was really friendly and about my age so it looks set to be a fun place to stay, fingers crossed.

Today is a gorgeous day, and the view from my window is fantastique, I can see right out towards the centre of town, with a football stadium in the foreground, ideal! It really is beautiful here, and very French! This morning I decided to visit the maitrise as I still had no idea when they were expecting me to show up on Monday and I wanted to suss out where it was etc. I arrived at the gates, and couldn't get through the security barrier, very embarrassing, the secretary had to come out in the end to show me in! She then telephoned the maitrise and I was sent to her office. It was so strange, it felt like I was back at school being sent to see the head for a detention!

She was really lovely and we had a chat and then she showed me down to the staff room as it as break time, so she introduced me to everyone, I didn't catch a single name! They were all so excited to have me and all want me helping in their lessons, from good (sport) to bad (physics!), so I don't think I'll be doing many serious English lessons! The librarian also wants my help, and they have a European week in October so they want me to do lots for that. It was just so strange being back in a school, I haven't even stepped foot in one since I left WSCC and even stranger to be allowed in the staff room! And I nearly jumped out of my skin when the bell rang, it's a long time since I've heard one of them! She then took me to a classroom where all the children who don't have lessons have to sit and do their homework (a system we don't have in England). There were 3 classes in there, about 80 children I reckon, and they all just stared at me! Bizarre! And a few called out random English words! Quite a funny experience! So that was that, I've arranged to return at 9 on Monday, although la Maitrise has invited me on a 12km hike at the weekend with some walking group, I think, I didn't quite understand everything, but I think I have to ring her tomorrow for details!

After lunch in the cafeteria back at the foyer (for 2 euros 30 cents you get a starter, main course and pudding...I think I may be a little larger on my return!) I went and tried to open a bank account, which I think I've done successfully, I really have no idea, I didn't understand much of the technical speak! We shall see!

And so here I am, about to go to Carrefour to get all the many things I came without and then investigate the kitchen, which is only open Friday pm and all weekend, when the cafeteria is shut. I'll keep you updated with all escapades as and when they happen, and please email me your news!