Au revoir...

Well, here we are. I can't believe it has finally come to the end tomorrow I have two classes and that's it. I feels like yesterday that I had arrived in Fauville-en-Caux, feeling bewildered but excited for a new adventure... and now it's all over. The walls that were once covered in magazine cut outs, photos, postcards and posters are now bare, my personal things are being tided away into bags and boxes and the emptiness in the apartment makes it all feel so final. So now I've taken some time to reflect back on what my year abroad has meant to me.

I filmed a short vlog on the weekend summing up my year abroad:

Despite any whining about things here, I stand by what I said months ago when I had just settled in: this year abroad is truly one of the best things I have ever done with my life. My French skills have improved so much - my confidence, my accent, my vocabulary - and I've grown so much as a person too. After teaching classes I'm more confident as a speaker, as a helper with the school choir and as the assistant who teaches the kids I've become a better leader. I've bettered myself in coming here; I know I've changed and become a more confident person.

I've met some of the most wonderful people here and I am going to miss them all. Soon, we will all be scattered across the globe. From members of staff to other assistants, I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to meet them all. It's amazing to think that all these people I've met from the US, Canada, Spain, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have all converged onto the same place at the same time which has let me meet and befriend some of the best people I've ever met. To all of you, thank you. I love you guys x

Today I had a little farewell party in the staff room at school where my teachers presented me with a pretty book of watercolour pictures of Normandy as a parting gift. I was so touched that when I tried to explain how I appreciated it and them that I burst into tears! Awkward. I've had lots invites to stay and have dinner when I come back and I was a little tearful when I had to say goodbye for the last time so some teachers as I won't see them tomorrow.

I was also quite sad to say goodbye to Galatée and her family who have welcomed me into their home and treated me as one of their own. So for our last afternoon together, Galatée and I made macarons according to the recipe of Pierre Hermé. It turned out to be a lot more work and effort than I had first anticipated but I'd say we did pretty well, although they're not all perfect circles....

My experience in France has changed my life. I've developed as a person here and I've had a wonder year abroad. I'll never forget my time here and I will always look back with fond memories. I'm sure I will keep in touch with my many new friends and I hope I'll see them again.

Goodbye seems too final, I like the way the French say it, 'au revoir'. Translated literally I guess it means 'until we meet again' which seems much more apt. I know this won't be the last time I come to Haute-Normandie, and it certainly wont be the last time I'll ever go to France. So I suppose, all that's left to say now is...

Au revoir x

Change.

Some people love change. These people hate staying still and need to have constant change in their lives to keep it exciting. Others prefer keeping things the same and seeking comfort in the familiar.

Me, I'm a little bit of both. As I only have a few working days left I'm beginning to feel a rather sad about leaving. Partly because I kinda like my job and partly because I'm so settled here. I've started to pack away my life here ready to drive home and I'm finding myself rather reluctant to leave. On the other hand, however, I've been yearning for a change from the slow yet tranquil lifestyle of the French countryside.

Despite everything I know that I am going to miss my apartment, the gorgeous scenery, my friends and my colleagues... but probably most of all I'll miss the food. I have resolved to throw all thoughts of dieting out of the window so I can enjoy the time I have left here to eat yummy baguette and cheese and drink some more wine... I'm actually nibbling on some Comté cheese as I type!

Anyway, over the long weekend my family came to visit me. We stayed in a cute little gite nearby (the same one from September) and we visited Etrétat, Rouen and Fécamp. I even took them to Holy Cow in Rouen - they agreed that they were awesome burgers there. It felt like a proper little holiday so I was pretty gutted when they left on Tuesday morning and I had to teach a few hours later. Oh reality.

This time next week I will have finished my teaching hours and everything in my apartment will be packed away ready to drive back home. Though it is a little sad I'm excited for the future too.

I am excited to announce that I have been successful in gaining an internship in PR for two months in London. I'll be living back on the Green and working hard until I go away on holiday to Hong Kong (I am going to DIE in the heat). I'm extremely excited to work in the big city, though I'm not looking forward to the commuting.

Sadly in the coming days will be seeing friends and colleagues for the last time for a while. I'd like to think that it's not just a 'goodbye' but a 'goodbye for now' or 'see you soon'. You never know where life may take you. My many new friends will soon be scattered across the globe but I hope our paths will cross again in the future.

For now, I'll focus on making my last few classes the best they can be and making macarons with Galatée on Wednesday.

ttfn x