One year ago I was finishing my second year of university and feeling more stressed than excited about the prospect of moving abroad. I wasn’t looking forward to the dreaded visa application process and I had only a vague idea of where I was going to be in France. 12 months later, I feel entirely different. I’ve had one of best years of my life and I only wish I could have been less nervous to go abroad in the first place.
For my year abroad I chose to teach English in a French secondary school rather than study. I felt like I was stepping into a big unknown, and I couldn’t have predicted much about my experience until I was there. Having returned to the UK, I’ve been reflecting on everything I learnt during my time in France, and the things I would have told myself before I went.
Firstly, enjoy the unexpected
I was placed in a town in the middle of the Champagne region that I’d never heard of. As I’d been hoping to be given a bigger city like Strasbourg, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed when I received the news. In the end, I wouldn’t have changed it! I could still easily visit other places, and it was great to be living somewhere where it felt like I could experience French life without being spoken to in English the whole time. After a lot of wandering around in my first couple of weeks, finding all the green spaces and photographing the beautiful architecture, I really started to love where I was living.
Even if you’re not ecstatic about where you’ve been placed, know that you’re not stuck there. France’s train system is a lot more reliable than what we’re used to here, and I managed to get away somewhere new almost every weekend. Travel within the country, even if it’s just to the next town on the line.
Go to the cinema
My favourite thing to do on a quiet evening was visit my local cinema with a friend – watching French films is the best way to soak up the language and culture. I was of course nervous about speaking French 24/7 for the first time, and regular cinema visits were an easy a great way to keep up my listening comprehension. Even if it’s an English-language film badly dubbed into French, it can be a funny way to get your ear in.
Fake it till you make it
As a language assistant, the idea of teaching teenagers was daunting, but it ended up being incredible for my confidence and actually pretty fun. The first few lessons were nerve-wracking, especially as my teachers asked me to start by just talking about myself for the whole hour in front of the class. However, after a couple of weeks we all got to know each other well and it felt really easy.
In terms of speaking French, know that a lot of people will speak back to you in English, but try to keep responding in French where you can.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, embrace the uncertainty, and fake it till you make it!
Make the most of the cuisine
If you’re going to France then wherever you are, you’re going to be blessed with some of the best food and wine in the world. I was in the North East, where the cuisine seemed to be largely cheese and potato-based. This was no problem for me, and I tried to buy local foods and eat out as much as the budget allowed. If you’re in the Grand Est region, definitely try the Flammekueche!
I didn’t arrive with the most refined palate but the French obviously take their wine very seriously and I tried a lot of it. Living in the Champagne region meant that I could visit my local Champagne cave and try tastings directed by the experts. I’ve broadened my wine knowledge and will think twice before buying Tesco’s ‘Juicy’ or ‘Zesty’ range again.
Also, try and make the most of other cuisines popular in France which are a little harder to find in the UK. The Lebanese and Moroccan food I tried were some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.
Visit all the museums
France boasts some of the world’s best museums and art galleries, and visiting them was my favourite touristy thing to do throughout the year. If you’re teaching you’ll receive something called a Pass Éducation which literally opens up the whole country. You’ll get discounted or free access to loads of museums and cultural sites across France. In every city I visited I would try and go to the Musée des Beaux-Arts if there was one, and it was an interesting way to experience the country’s rich art history, and see some of the work I’d studied in uni.
Collect something from everywhere you go
As everyone says, your year abroad will be over in the blink of an eye, and I’m glad I’ve kept lots of things to remember the year. I’ve got a whole box of postcards, tickets, and souvenirs that I’m going to scrapbook. I would also recommend buying a diary and writing down all the parts of your daily life which are new and exciting. It might seem mundane at the time, but life will be very different when you get home and I’m already reminiscing on my time abroad!
If your degree offers you the chance to move abroad, I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll get to experience a new culture, language, and meet people from around the world. There will undoubtedly be challenges and it’s totally normal to feel apprehensive, but the experience has taught me so much and has left me feeling energised and excited for my final year in Manchester.
