Why you should learn a new language! (And the difficulties you might face, but will conquer, along the way...)

❝You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.❞

Problem #2456 of being a linguist: Arriving in a country and instantly wishing that you spoke the language. Then ensues the feeling of annoyance and guilt that you don't speak the language. Then deciding 'Actually, when I get home, I'm going to learn this damn language'. 

Part 1: Oh, Barcelona...

Have you ever been somewhere and just immediately realised this was the place for you? I've felt it in London a fair few times, but my god, I'm sorry London but I'm cheating on you with Barcelona. It hasn't been long, but we've kind of fallen in love. 

Almost at the mid-mark...

Something that I learnt in my first two years of University, a mid-first year, mid-essay and mid-'what the hell am I doing here?' type epiphany if you like, was that if you want something done, then you have to do it for yourself. In life no one is going to spoon feed you information or knowledge until the point where you think, ah! that's it... In fact, I've come to realise that if you want something then you have to just get off your behind and do it. You're in it for yourself I'm afraid! The reason behind my brutal revelation, my friends, is because I am well and truly stuck in limbo, and as much as I would like for a handsome bearded man with a face like Ben Dalhaus to come and pull me out and buy me a mojito, I just have this feeling it's not going to happen any time soon.

Am I French yet?

After moving my blog over to a different domain, and the utter nightmare that ensues whenever I try to do anything remotely technical, I am finally ready to get this blog on the road and keep you all informed about the absolute saga which is to be my year abroad. I think this may be a long one....

So, first things first- I'm a 3rd year English Literature student at Southampton. In my first year, maybe just over half way through, I decided that I would regret it for the rest of my life (dramatic by nature) if I gave up studying French. After many a stressful meeting with the French department (who I can guarantee think I am an absolute nutjob now), I decided to not change my degree to joint honors but instead to just take optional modules in French. And well, the rest is history...