Midnight and a flaming torch
My second month in France; or how I ended up wandering the streets at midnight with a flaming torch.
Yes, September in France means lots of (free!) exciting events, one of which was a guided tour of my area. Everyone was given a lit torch and during the evening we were serenaded by accordion and clarinet players! September also saw les journées du patrimoine, a weekend when all museums are free and many other organisations open their doors to the public. I visited the headquarters of France 5, one of the TV stations here! And to finish off the cultural activities, on the first Sunday of every month the museums are free, so I went to the Pompidou Centre, a modern-art museum with crazy exhibits and amazing views of the Parisian skyline.
My job at the University is going well; all of the students are studying either biology or computer science and English is compulsory for them. Luckily, they all enjoy it and see it as very useful for their careers. I have found a second job, also teaching English, but in central Paris (next to the famous Opera house!). It seems being a native English speaker opens many doors here- so many people need to learn it for their work!
I've been spending my free time strolling round Paris and Versailles. I've seen the fountains at the Chateau of Versailles, and yesterday met a friend for a monumental walk that took in the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Sorbonne, the Luxembourg Gardens (home of the French Senate) and the Eiffel Tower, which was blue and yellow to commemorate France holding the EU Presidency but is now back to normal.
I'm still finding it hard to meet French people, which sounds ridiculous but can get quite disheartening! That said, I've had letters and phone calls from friends, which has really cheered me up. From the UK I'm mostly missing people, although the ability to check my bank balance at a cashpoint is something I would really like to have out here! I do agree with the French way of spending Sundays, though!! All shops and supermarkets are closed, so people spend the day with family and friends, either eating out, walking and cycling, or going to the cinema. It's taken me a while to get used to, but now I enjoy how relaxing Sundays here are!
The nights are starting to draw in now (and I have checked, our clocks go back the same time as in the UK), and the Christmas lights are already being put up along the Champs Elysées ready to be turned on at the end of November! But before that I have family and friends coming to visit, so I need to prepare for my tour guide duties!