Le bon, la brute et le truand

Well.... Bonsoir.

The Good, the bad and the ugly is the only way I could describe these last few months.So here it goes...


Birthday celebrations

My parents and I outside Caesers Casino in NYC

I guess I have to say the most important news first. I AGED!!!! I am now a fully fledged adult of 21. I can now adopt, drive a 7.5 ton lorry down a motorway and drink in America. Wow. Who would have thought I would have made it to 21, being as debaucherous as I am? Not me, that's for sure. So, for those who don't know, my birthday ( aka the Royal Queens Jubilation ) was on the 4th of February. And because of my travels, I made my birthday last over a month- why not eh? To celebrate on the actual day, Elena and myself- aka my French countryside bestie- went to Paris and stayed in this super cool hotel that was swish and delightful. We went to a local restaurant to have a bottle of wine, and toasted my birthday with champagne while listening to Avril Lavigne. It was delightful. We then went to the catacombs ( see awkward moment (s) below to find out more ) and wandered around Paris. FANCY.

Then a few weeks later, my parents whisked me off to New York, of course. It was honestly the best present I could have ever got, and despite some light turbulence on the way over, it was perfect. Macy's, snowy Central Park, mountain-loads of food, too many margaritas and delightful company? Who could have asked for more? Not me anyway.

Best Friends

Then in March, my favorite girls came over to celebrate in Lille. We wandered around the city, met my French friends, had many MANY fails, got drenched, got very drunk, had brain hemorrhages, laughed way to much. Definitely a holiday we will never forget. Thanks again, girls, for coming over ( soppy but I DON'T CARE )

Travels galore

I can honestly say I don't think I have ever traveled as much as I have in these past 3 months. My passport ( or lack thereof ( see next paragraph ) ) is totally worn out!
First of all, in February, between my birthday and New York, Gunesh, Marianne, Suzanne and myself went to Dunkirk Carnival, where we saw many strange things, namely men dressed as women, fish being thrown out of the window and many drunk people ( maybe we added to this ). It was such a surreal experience but I am 100% going back next year. Wouldn't miss it, and would recommend to anyone that wants to experience strange French traditions!
Then I went to my old stomping ground of Aschaffenshit ( sorry- Aschaffenburg , old habits die hard ) to see all my old friends from Summer. It was a very drunken and gluttonous weekend, and big up to Thomas ( if you are reading this ) for letting me crash at yours for the weekend. Best German. It was so good to see all my Au Pair friends again, and speak some German- even if I did have a massive German ( or tequila ) induced headache.
Then I went to Paris with Rosie, where despite the Passport troubles, had an amazing time! I ate Vietnamese food and laughed wayyyy to much. I also met my old school friend Verity where we sang too many childhood anthems down the streets of Paris- why not?

Gunesh and I in Versailles

Barcelona next for Easter! ( See I told you I traveled alot ) And I FINALLY saw the sun.....and got burned. Merde. But I had an amazing time with Elena again! We saw the Sagrada Familia, the Cathedral and all of Gaudi's things.... and drank Sangria, walked along the beach and ate wayyy to many Tapas. What a perfect Easter!
I was meant to see Thomas in Marseille last weekend, but DAMN those French strikes. So alas, went to Versailles instead with Gunesh where we wandered around an old graveyard- what? And saw our future home- The Palace. Obvs.

SUNSHINE IN BARCA

This weekend I'm off to Brussels for a fabulously exuberant weekend with Elena and the week after I'm in Edinburgh again

TOLD YOU I TRAVELED ALOT

Paris disaster

I'm honestly such a lucky person. Nothing bad ever happens to me. Honestly, I'm like a walking rabbit foot.

This is a complete lie. I have the worst luck.

Sacre Coeur love

Paris. The city of love- also the city of PASSPORT AND BAG STEALERS. Yup, got my passport stolen didn't I? Looking back now, its not that much of a problem ( insurance pending ) but it was certainly a downer, and such an inconvenience. But 10000000% big up to Rosie who was fabulous and loaned me money and made me feel wonderful. Take her to Paris with you next time, best companion.

This did however mean, that I had to pay a visit to the British Embassy where I got a snazzy Emergency Passport and danced with the security guard when I got it. Is this weird? I don't even know anymore. France has changed my perception of weirdness.

Leaving and farewells


So next week is my final week here in Landrecies. And I have to be the first to admit, that it has not been a perfect stay. I was not in a city centre, nor am I now fluent in French, BUT I have had the BEST time here.

All my loves

The teachers and the students have been lovely, as have the friends I've made here. And I see now, why everyone rants and raves about their Year Abroad- forgive me if I too do this- but it has changed me. Not only have I learned to appreciate the smaller things in life, I also think I've grown as a person CORNY I KNOW, but this experience has been such a good'un and although my school wasn't the most central, I have been so lucky to have worked alongside some of the funniest and best teachers and kids. Lycee Dupleix- you've been gr8

German horizons

So, Mhairi, you're Year Abroad is over now right? LOL NO. I think I might go down in history for having one of the longest Year Abroad's ever.  After I finish in Landrecies- sob sob - I'm off to Bielefeld in North Germany to do a translating internship over the summer. I actually only have 1 week at home before I'm off, basically non stop until Uni starts again in September. Lol at me, but in all seriousness, I need all the help I can get.
On the plus side though, my landlord is hilarious ( see awkward moment (s) ) and I've found there is a BGIFC- Brownies in Germany- group just 15 minutes from where I will be living and working. Woohoo! ( Sorry this post is quickly becoming how geeky can Mhairi Mackay become )

Paris Birthday celebrations

Awkward moment of the month (s)

What would this blog be without it's fair share of awkward moments?? NOTHING that's what.

So in chronological order...

1) On my birthday, Elena and myself went to the catacombs of Paris. Which was so interesting and creepy, right up my street, BUT while we were walking through, this Indian attendant guy started talking to us. Innocent enough right? I thought this too.

I was wrong.

He then started telling us EVERYTHING like, about how the place is ran, and giving us our own personal tour. Then he gave Elena this creepy green skull bracelet and asked us if we wanted to go for a drink with him that night. And was trying to get our numbers, when we left him, he watched us go up the street and waved until we were out of sight. Best birthday present ever to be honest- a creepy Indian man. Lovely.

2) Also in Paris, but with Rosie, we were walking through the side streets, tres romantique, When we spotted this group of lads. Innocently enough we thought they were foreign- I dunno it was something about them. BIG MISTAKE. Obviously, due to our grave error, we started talking about them, saying which would you marry etc... just having a general lol, as you do. When one of them turned around and in a Birmingham accent asked us if there was a good restaurant around here.

No
Cringe
No
Please
No
God
Please

Needless to say, I physically cringed and couldn't move for a good few minutes. Rule number One- ALWAYS assume people speak English

3) Third and final awkward moment is a virtual awkward moment. While applying for flats in Bielefeld, I was emailing this woman, when she revealed to me, that she was an Au Pair in Edinburgh. I responded to her, with a mere few lines. What I recieved back, I was ill prepared for.

I was a 2 page long email about her ex Scottish boyfriend and his views and why they fell in/out of love, and how he thought all women should be silent and virgins ( which she did not agree with, Scandal ) and how she went on a Scottish tour with him and there was "no place at the Inn" so they had to sleep in the car etc etc etc.

I did not need to know this. Nor did I have any response to it. I am most looking forward to meeting this woman next year.

But France, I will miss you.

Merde.

xo