Le bilan et Lyon.

Lyon- Fête des Lumières 2010

Well 2010 in France is coming to a close. 3 months in France and here are the main things I have learned about the French.

1. They have very strange taste when it comes to hats/weird patchwork coats.
2. They will always try and shift the blame.
3. Red wine at lunchtime is completely and utterly acceptable. (Y)
4. Queues just don't exist.
5. Nor does a decent cuppa.
6. Old French ladies aren't very nice.
7. Toilets in bars are kind of unisex and downright weird.
8. Lorraine and Alsace have amazing Christmas markets.
9. French kids have hilarious sounding names- Alibaba and Ch'iti (pronounced Shitty) being just two examples.
10. French music in clubs is generally very poor.
11. French radio presenters are even more annoying, particularly when trying to sing English songs.
12. The French don't tend to give a shit when it comes to checking train/tram tickets, etc.
13. Paul the baker's is EVERYWHERE. (Think of it like an upmarket Gregg's).
14. Vin chaud rules.
15. The French park their cars like complete idiots (are they blind??).

So my final week here in Nancy has been pretty busy- went to Lyon last weekend for the Fête des Lumières, an annual event that sees Lyon and its surrounding suburbs ''light up''. That is to say there are loads of light installations/fireworks/pretty lights. The Fête des Lumières attracts thousands of people from far and wide, thus the weekend was un peu hectic when it came to queuing/ trying to move anywhere. Nevertheless, it was great to see Lyon lit up- the two rivers and the old town are B-E-A-utiful! Ambled round the old town a ridiculous amount, mind you. Love a bit of ye olde France. Also went out in Villefranche-sur-Saône, a smallish town just to the north of Lyon where my friend (and fellow language assistant/ uni housemate) is living. After cooking a ''fajita extravaganza'' we headed to a small club, which amazingly played the best music I have heard thus far in France. Forget Lyon, Villefranche is clearly where it's at. It's almost as good as my much loved favourite Villefranche-sur-Mer near Nice...

So my last week at school has been hassle-free, except for the sweets argument. The youngest year group is split into 2 classes, and I only gave sweets to one of the classes, as the other class were just horrible. Consequence: loads of 11 year olds coming up to me in the corridors asking me why I didn't give them sweets. Bof! Went out for drinks last night in La Quincaillerie, a rum bar which is a definite favourite. Ended up in a club with a load of engineering students before a snowball fight on the way home at 2:30am. Juvenile maybe, but a lorra lorra fun.

At present I am avoiding packing, beginning to think I may not get home tomorrow- heavy snow is predicted ce soir and I'm leaving around 5:30am tomorrow. Stress. On verra....

What a great few months I've had in Nancy. Can't wait for all the adventures to come between January and April. For now though, home is calling. I can't bloody wait...