Accommodation is sorted, so I've had a few days chilling. I've also applied for housing benefits, pretty sure I've filled for application in wrong, but at least I've got the ball rolling instead of leaving it until September and still not knowing what to do with it. The landlord guy who isn't actually the landlord anymore went to the post office for me and asked about a bank account. Apparently, I can't set one up from home, but I'm going to try anyway, just in case the bank over there said that just so I'd have to be a customer of theirs. Cynical, I know, blame my father.
This is where I'll be living for about 8 months from September. Part of me is skeptical about the reasonable price considering it includes TV, WIFI and 'unlimited' telephone calls to landlines in Europe. Hum... oh well, I'll have a roof over my head, and for now, that's all that matters (I do not own this photo).
I've also had a reply from my other responsable, who welcomes me 'in' Lannion and tells me that there will be a second assistant in the college with me, they're from Germany. I'll reply to them tomorrow and I have to say, I'm going to be so embarrassed if they turn out to be male. They're name is Yves, and my head turned that into the same as 'Eve', therefore, they've got to be female. Yes...
So many forms. So much French to read. Surrounded by things to fill in, post, numbers for people to call. I've heard for the first few weeks from when I arrive in France, I'll constantly be reaching for painkillers as I'll have many headaches due to sensory overload. French everywhere.
The last few days have been hectic. I've filled in so many forms for university, the British Council, Administration in Rennes, etc. On Saturday, I seriously started my search for accommodation. After seeing an advert for a room in a house (which I've seen appear many-a-time), I emailed the guy and he asked me to ring him because he was having problems with his computer. As it was 7pm his time, I left it until Sunday lunchtime. As soon as I asked if I needed a French guarantor because I'm English, he told me that he filled all the rooms the day before. Liar. I was really disheartened and quite upset about it, but by that evening I was in contact with another landlord.
This contact didn't go exactly smoothly either, because within a few emails being exchanged, I received an email suggesting that he thought I wasn't serious, I was being a joke and that he wanted no further contact. This really set me back, I began to panic that I wouldn't find anything in colocation and that I'd be living in a studio by myself - which in the end would mean I'd probably hide in my room and struggle to socialise.
Monday morning, I sent another email to this landlord with a copy of my contract with the college to try to prove to him that I was genuine. I asked him to reply, even if it was to just tell me to leave him alone. He replied and with various emails being sent back and forth with photos and contracts, I'm now ready to post him the signed contract with a cheque in pounds.
Oh the hassle over that. I don't know whether it's because he's retired (and presumably quite old) that he wants a cheque, but obviously, he required this in euros, despite the fact that he won't be cashing it in, it's just the bond in case I damage something. But anyway, recorded delivery to France tomorrow, and hopefully, I can start to relax a little bit about accommodation.
Oh wait...
He's told me that I need to apply to the CAF (housing benefit) as soon as possible. I'm confused about this as the university have told us that we can't apply until we've received our first month's pay. He is insisting it's possible, and that I'll just have to update them. The form is so confusing. I then also need to open a French bank account, which hopefully, I can do from the sofa in the living room. I've been given the telephone number for the International Banking Centre with HSBC and hopefully that should be relatively easy, I mean, at least it'll be in English...
With all this going on, I've had to put off applying for the Stonewall Talent Programme. I really want to apply because I think it'll be an amazing opportunity, but with the deadline being Friday and I've got to write about 500 words on why I think I should be accepted on to the programme - not sure if I'll have time, or time to do it well and do myself justice.
Take a deep breath and pick up the pen to carry on...
I definitely underestimated the amount of paperwork that there is to be done over the next few weeks in preparation of my Year Abroad. Just when you think you've got it under control, you receive another email from the British Council with more documents to read, print, keep, send back to them, send to uni, or give to your parents. Yes, there was a letter for parents, it made me feel like I was back in primary school again where parents would be given a letter saying that there was an upcoming field trip.
I've filled in a lot of them, not quite finished all of them, but as it's now Friday afternoon, I'm doubting they'll get posted until Monday, unless I suddenly drag myself out of this slow, miserable state and post them tomorrow morning. I'm not actually that miserable, I think it's this awful weather. That's all I shall say on it though because everyone is dwelling on it, and it only makes it seem worse.
I've sent an email to each of my responsables and only one has replied so far; Lannion is a very small town with few good links of transport and it is looking very likely that I'll have to find my own accommodation. Something I should really get my backside into then. I would really like my other responsable to reply soon, because if she offers me accommodation, even if only temporary, it would be a real help. I don't want to sign a contract for a place without seeing it, but in some ways, I may not have much choice.
For this afternoon though, I shall finish these application forms (ERASMUS etc.) and email the principal of the college to introduce myself and accept the post.
I've just got back from an amazing weekend in Paris for the marche et concert des fiertés for Pride 2012. Gay Abandon is the choir that I've been a member of for over a year now, and we were invited to join Podium Paris for this wonderful event. I can definitely say that becoming part of this choir is the best thing I've done in a long time. Whilst being in Leeds for university has made me become more independent for living etc, it is being part of the choir that has given me more confidence and has also been a place where I've met many wonderful people. GA is really something I'm going to miss when on my year abroad, but also, when I graduate, because it will be a good few years before I return to Leeds - if I ever do.
Enough of the cheesy, soppy stuff. I arrived in Paris on Friday afternoon, and after I successfully found my own way to my hostel, we met up in various bars in and around Châtelet and The Marais. Saturday was the march itself and Gay Abandon were alongside Podium either on the first truck or walking in front of it. After walking what seemed to be a fair distance from Montparnasse, we realised that we hadn't even reached Luxembourg, the third-of-the-way marker. The march took 3 hours in total from Boulevard du Montparnasse to the Bastille. We definitely underestimated the amount of press that would be there - I certainly began to feel slightly more nervous when I saw press from Canal+, Europe1 and Le Monde.
Dressed in the new tee-shirts which I designed, and the impressive flat-pack hats and masks, we looked wonderful. The fantastic, rainbow-coloured pop-up umbrellas were a real hit with the crowd, I certainly didn't expect them to become such a fundamental part to the weekend, but after doing some on-the-spot choreography with them, some were offering to buy them for €10! (Sadly, we needed them for the next day). Just before we reached the Bastille, a group of people laid down to signify the start of a three minute silence for victims of HIV and Aids and despite there being an estimated 600,000 people there, the streets went from being really loud and lively in celebration of being proud to deathly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.
Just before this, we marched past a church which was holding its own, very small anti-gay protest. There was probably less than 20 people there, holding one sign which read 'No marriage, no adoption'. This was the perfect time to play the following song which became the song of the weekend; not only because it was played so often, but because Podium sung their own version too, which was great.
Sunday came around and it was time to head to the Parc du Buttes Chaumont for the Pride concert, which went well, with only one, minor technical hitch. As most of us don't speak French, all of our songs were in English, but the soloist for Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' ended with 'né comme ça, Paris' after which all the umbrellas popped up in all directions. In the evening, we were invited to a barbecue which, after lots of singing, dancing and wine, lead to a few members singing their hearts out on the metro on the way back to hotels.
What a wonderful weekend it has been, merci beaucoup to Podium Paris for inviting us, although we can't promise that if you visit us in Leeds, you'll be as amazed and impressed as we were. So that was my last concert with Gay Abandon for 15 months - what a way to end though! I'll be back to see you all soon.
Linking this with my Year Abroad, having survived getting in and around Paris by myself (although with the help of a friend) and not getting too overwhelmed with anxiety, has given me more confidence. Also, being frequently asked for directions, told that I look French and that my French is quite good, I'm not so worried about going to Lannion in September...
Quotes of the weekend: 'Don't worry, they'll probably fancy you...' When referring to the kids I'll be working with *cue me becoming speechless* 'It's because you're a lesbian' in response to me saying that I find it easier to understand female-spoken French 'So how many of you are watching the choir or the gorgeous conductor?'
