Okay, so you can’t have your cup of tea with toast in the morning- but realistically, you’re going to get over it. Whilst I have read so many people tell tales of the other side of their Year Abroad, exposing the things that ‘you don’t see on Instagram’ and in blog posts describing the wonderful adventures and travels embarked upon, I have come to the conclusion that we should not be splitting this year into ‘two sides’, because essentially you could say that about everything. University life and it’s hidden side ‘Partying ruined by requirement at University to study’ Dun dun dunnn. That’s life, right? Everything has two sides, one which you love; flowers, ponies, unicorns and vodka. And the one which is a little less fun; Work, deadlines, emotions… I could go on. But surely that’s the beauty of life? Nothing is easy, you have to overcome the hard to enjoy the good. It’s like finishing an essay and rewarding yourself with a cocktail. It tastes all the more incredible.
The Year Abroad is, essentially, a year to explore a country, make friends, travel and master a language. But of course, you’re either at University or you’re teaching, or perhaps even working. You did anticipate this, right? Life is a bundle of laughs; you start to get somewhere, and then you fall down two notches again. Studying Abroad is the same; you have a conversation with a native which goes worryingly smoothly, and then you speak to a lecturer and they can’t understand a word you’re saying. Instead of feeling the need to ‘expose’ the other side of the year abroad, surely the ‘other side’ should be a part of the ‘good side’. They inter-link, you have a bad day and you decide to watch Made in Chelsea for 7 hours straight instead of facing the world- but then the next day you’re raring to go, because in fact, you’re here because you can speak another language and you’re passionate about becoming better every day. The bad emphasises the good. There are slumps, but is it necessary to go to so much length to expose these? Instead of warning people of the ‘side of the Year Abroad that you might not know about from the happy-clappy posts you see on blogs’, we should be saying that of course there will be bad days. How could there not be? But these ‘bad’ days are far and few between, and so what if someone doesn’t understand what you’re saying? Chances are their English is ten times worse than your French.
So forget the fact that you miss home, you miss Topshop, you miss Marmite, your cat, milk, Channel 4. Whatever. Don’t go out of your way to find shops which sell dairy milk, tea bags and walkers crisps. You’re not here to learn a language and stay categorically English otherwise; life is about widening your horizons and taking in as much of each place that you travel as is humanely possible. Drink black coffee, eat pastry for breakfast lunch and dinner, with the odd baguette thrown in. Eat snails. Try goats cheese even though you hate the smell. Don’t eat dinner until 9pm. For this country that you’re studying in has welcomed you into their culture and their language (which is something each nation holds close to their heart) and if you’re moping over the fact you can’t find salt and vinegar crisps anywhere, then you’re not going to fully appreciate the place in which you are living (for a very short space of time in the grand scheme of things). Appreciate what is on your doorstep, instead of longing for what will ALWAYS be on your doorstep at home. This is just one year of your life; enjoy it.
5 reasons to adopt ‘la vie française’ :
1. Fresh and local produce will ALWAYS be better for you, fresher and contains less nasties.
2. There is a reason that the French drink a ‘café’ over a huge milky latte. Whilst I am biased because I really do enjoy a coffee which have been destroyed by American society (Gingerbread latte, I’m talking ‘bout you) The French appreciate a good blend of coffee, and whilst perhaps coffee culture is less important in England, maybe you could learn something from drinking the proper stuff.
3. You might like a Sex on the Beach/WooWoo/Zombie Apocolypse cocktail in England, but let’s face it the French do sophistication a little better than us. So why not try wine? The French are famous for it, and it’s likely the place you’re studying in might even be famous for its produce. You’ll save yourself a lot of money in the meantime too.
4. Instead of panicking on a Sunday that nothing is open, and stropping about how terrible France is sometimes. Rest. Enjoy it- that’s what Sunday’s are for. ‘A Sunday well spent brings a week of content’-and it’s true.
5. Embrace the baguette.
Go on, you might even enjoy it.
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