Settling in??

So I have been in Calais for a week and a half now and I have to say I am settling in quite nicely. My hours at work are much shorter than they are in the UK and as I am mainly on the phone I am having lots of contact with people, probably more than I was at work in the UK which is good.

My French, you will be happy to hear is improving. Although it is still very basic. I am hoping that I can improve it dramatically whilst I am out here - could you imagine being in a different country but not learning even the basics of their language? And the French staff are ever so enthuastic to help develop your French - and they are happy when you do at least try. I was speaking to Katie the other day and was saying how I feel like I am becoming a bit twatty out here. I think the lack of internet and the lack of contact with the home land is getting to me a little. I need a realisation kick I think. I give you all my permission to bring me back to earth cause at the moment I am still up in the air with this whole move.

I think I am impressing my bosses as well which is always nice. Delphine loves my creativity (and that is basic) and is enjoying the little things I have been doing for he store. And Herve - well he is just a French lion. He scared me somewhat at the start but I think I am cracking him and I have got the occasional smile out of him - which apparantly is rare.

The nights are lonely, but Al has got on the case for getting the internet put in the flat so it means you can all start skyping me - please. I miss you all so much, I do hope that some of you do at least come to visit me. It is such an amazing opportunity for us all, I mean come on how often does one of us leave to go and live in another country for a year. At the moment I am storming my way through the Harry Potter series - I am half way through the fourth book and I started reading them from the begining when I got here. Living without the internet really is good for reading - although arguably my books of choice are some what questionable. And to say I am bored of my iPod - I thought I was bored of it back in the UK but even my vast amounts of music are starting to become limited.

I am now becoming very settled - my eating habits are getting back to normal which is always when I know I am becoming comfortable in an environment. So I think I am going to start exploring a little further afield. I wouldn't say I am getting used to drivng in France but I am more comfortable than I was when I first came. And I have done getting lost in Calais on numerous occasions now, and I always seem to find my way out so I think it is time to start going on little day trips down the coast and around the local area. I am going to go and explore the war walls near the Coquelles store on Sunday (I have a Sunday off - this almost never happens in France as the French don't tend to work them) so I feel I need to actually go out and do things. I will take photo's and upload them so you can see what it's like.

That's as long as the weather holds out. It was horrific yesterday - I was all for coming home yesterday - it was horrible. The wind and the rain and the cold - it was like nothing I have experienced before. I literally thought I was going to get blown away. It was slightly scary. I thought that a tree might actually fall on my car at one point. I was not comfortable at all yesterday. But hopefully it will start to look up from now on.
I am also going to go and explore and try and find the laundrette on Friday (my other day off). As I don't have washing facilities in thhe flat for clothes I am going to go and try and use the laundrette - although I am not sure I feel happy about walking my dirty knickers through Calais centre - YES I am aware I am not going to be flaunting them around but still - if it is windy a gust of wind might blow my bag out of my hands and Calais Ville will be strewn with my dirty kecks - oh God please don't be windy. HAHA.

Right, this is me signing off - a very medeochre post - I am aware of this and I apologise, but I am tired and I have to get up early tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to find some wifi tomorrow after work and I can start uploading these. You are going to have a huge amount to read when these all go up. Eeeep. Soz.

Tonight I am mainly drinking - Robinson's Orange Fruit and Barley - I am trying not to drink on school nights
.
Bon Soiree x