"Are you feeling flirty?!"

Annoyed that I have once again neglected the old blog for a bit too long, be prepared for another massive post lol, apologies to all that may have already read half of this in e-mails etc :P

I've been so busy since the last post! Can't believe how quickly time's going over here too; it's crazy! I'm still absolutely loving it, and along the way have managed to fall in love with this place, have quite a few crazy adventures, and experience France the way I was hoping to.

Last Wednesday (18th November) marked the coming out of le Beaujolais nouveau wine, it's a local wine from the regions around Lyon; typically the people in Lyon don't really like it, but it's a really big deal over here. At midnight on Wednesday the new wine was released and on sale to the public, and there were fireworks and parties everywhere, not just in Lyon but all over France. I couldn't stay out on Wednesday cause I had class the next day, but I went out with some Canadian girls who I met through Sheila who Hannah and I met ages ago, but only just got round to going out with! So it was really nice to spend time with her and her friends, and we met up with Bethan, Steffi and Michael later on in the evening. We started off at Sheila's room, and went down to Vieux Lyon, and it basically turned into this massive street party all along Vieux Lyon, which was immense! There were stalls outside all of the bars and stuff selling the wine in glasses, most were 2 euros but we found one stall for one euro fifty, so we went there, and the guy gave us a BOGOF deal which was pretty cool! I actually quite liked it even though it was red, cause I normally go for white/rose, but I was surprised cause I didn't mind it! So I had one glass of that and a couple of glasses of mulled wine, which was nothing like mulled wine back in England; it was really sugarey and it reminded me of lemon, but it was still really nice; most of the girls didn't like it because it was really sweet but I thought it was lush! The stalls also sold this really nice homemade vegetable soup; I tried some of Michael's and it was really nice! And they also sold some local saussison, but it was in a stew with beans and stuff and it looked a bit wrong lol, so I avoided that one! But I had a really nice evening, Vieux Lyon had an amazing atmosphere, and I'm so glad I got to experience it like that! And I later found out that it was a good job I didn't go out on Wednesday night, but Wednesday was Algerien Independence Day, and all of these Algeriens were waving flags, driving manically around town, starting fires, setting off this gas stuff, and jumping on buses and stuff; I saw some flares from a distance because I popped down to Vieux Lyon on Wednesday evening, it was crazy!

Last night I went out for a meal with people from my French for Erasmus Students class; they're people from all around the world; Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, England, it was pretty crazy lol! We met outside the Cathedral in Vieux Lyon at half 7, and ended up having to wait half an hour for some of the Italien girls to turn up (ALWAYS late, to everything lol) and we went off to a restaurant which they'd booked earlier. Funniest. Meal. Of. My. Life. I honestly have never experienced anything like that ever before lol, there were about 13 of us and we were all speaking French to each other, but it was really surreal! I found it quite hard to understand what most of them were saying because their French was so heavily accented, but we were all in the same boat so I suppose that made it slightly better. The Italien girls tried bartering with the waiters for a reduction lol, it was HILARIOUS if not very embarassing lol, the Chinese guys didn't really know how to eat properly, when my dessert came out everyone CLAPPED (most embarassing moment of my life to date lol) because it looked so big, when I got to the Funiculaire on the way down the hill (mountain :P lol) we saw some of the Chinese/Taiwanese guys they started saying to each other "Are you feeling flirty?!" in English; I almost wet myself it was so funny; they were saying it to each other but Han and I could obviously understand, omg I don't even know where to start lol. Am sure to recount this story many times when I come home for Christmas/for the rest of my life lol, so I'm sure you'll all hear the full story at some point haha.

The other day I went to the Aquarium with some other English girls that I hadn't met before with Bethan and Hannah which was nice, although a massive rip off at 11 euros, it definately wasn't worth that, but it was nice to see the fishes and have a relaxed kind of day :) so that was good.

A lady from my university back home (Reading) came out to visit me and the other Reading Erasmus students studying in Lyon the other day which was really nice; we met her outside her hotel and she treated us to tea and cakes (I had a hot chocolate and a banana/chocolate tart which was delicious) and we all had a chat which was really nice; there are 5 of us from Reading and it was the first time we'd all met up together since we've been here which seems crazy, but it was nice to see them all as a group and have a chat. The lady was called Aileen, and Hannah and I thought it was pronounced Eileen, as in the song "COME ON EILEEN" haha, so allll day until we met her we were singing that, until the moment came when she introduced herself and pronounced her name differently to "Eileen" lol; - GUTTED. We still had to resist singing that song even when she was with us which was pretty funny; the temptation when we were walking in front of her to shout back "COME ON EILEEN" was too much lol.

Lessons and things are still going ok... although having said that I had to drop one of my courses the other day, which isn't ideal to be honest because it puts more pressure on me for next semester, but the course was so IMPOSSIBLY difficult that I knew I wasn't going to pass the exam, so I went to my supervisor here in Lyon and changed it so that now I'm just following the course, and I don't have to take the exam in it, which is a relief to say the least! Oh, and on another sour note, in my English to French translation class, we had an exam the week after we came back from half term, and then we missed a class because it was Armistice Day, so the week after that we were meant to get our results back, so me and the other Erasmus students taking the course go to the lesson, worrying about what we're going to get; and the teacher decides to leave giving out marks til the END of class, which is when we find out.... that the Erasmus lot (there are about 5 of us and we're now treated as a collective; instead of reading all of our names off the register she just counts us all,weren't going to get our papers back for another week, basically because our marks were SO LOW that it wouldn't be far to give them to us as they were (basically she felt bad for us I think lol) so she's going to give them back to us this Wednesday; I am ACTUALLY scared lol, bet I've failed even with the different Eramus marking scale!!

I've booked my flight home for Christmas which is very exciting!! I'm coming back on the evening of Saturday 12th December, which is way earlier than I thought it'd be! But turns out my last exam is on Friday 11th, so I can come home on the Saturday; I can't wait! It's not such a late flight as before as well, so I'm hoping to be home by around 9pm that evening, which is good because I plan on hinting to Mum that she should cook a lasagna and we should have it when I come back for dinner... Mmmm lasagna :)... she doesn't know about this plan yet though haha so we shall see! Even better about this is that I get to pick Guy up from HIS uni, because he doens't finish until after I'm back in England haha, so will be nice to go and get him for Christmas, although he might need to help me with my reversing... HAHA jokes, ask him lol. And my flight back to Lyon is on Thursday 14th January in the morning; we were told we had to be back earlier than that, but in fact I could come back to Lyon later than that if I wanted, but at least this way I can sort out things back in Lyon before term starts, which is good. So all in all I get a month off, which is really exciting :) there's so much I want to do back in England, and of course I want to see everyone I've been sending massive emails to/people I saw in half term properly this time, so yeh, really hyped about Christmas :)! In fact, it's 3 weeks today until I fly back, and I think it's going to go really quickly, because there's so much going on until I leave for home!

The other day Han and I went to see that Dr Pernassus film at the cinema, which was really good; we watched it in French but I still got what was going on (most of the time.. :P) so that was fun! And we went shopping too and I accidentally managed to spend loads...bad times lol, everything is so expensive out here though; it's only the Channel that seperates France from England but the cultural and price differences are crazy-different lol, it's not fair!! So yeh, getting through that Erasmus grant/Student Loan pretty sharpish atm, but looking forward to the next loan coming through in January, woo :)!

Absolutely gutted that I missed Children In Need on the TV back home the other day! I've youtubed some clips but it's never as good as seeing the real thing; I've seen John Barrowman's performance, the Hollyoaks one, the Eastenders one, Peter Kays one, and Cheryl Cole's performance of Fight for this love (LOVE that song) all of which look amazing! Am also pretty annoyed that I'm missing out on Top Gear's new series, must remind the parents to record that for me, and I KNOW that they recorded Dr Who and the Dr Who Confidential for me that was on the other day; thank god!! I think I'm going to have to be stuck in front of the TV catching up on things when I come back, I didn't have time to do that last time really!! :P

I've been listening to my friend Suzie's radio show back in Reading recently; she does it with Joey and it's really nice to listen to them on Friday afternoons :) I miss them lots!! Although hopefully will get to see them, as well as the other girls I lived with last year in Reading, when I come home for Christmas, touch wood :)!

Apologies for the long post everyone!! The sad thing is that I've missed out on a million and one things lol, so will have to blog again very soon probs :P

Love to everyone reading, hope you're all taking care of yourselves and not working too hard over there in England, although I doubt it very much.. :P

Bisous! Jess xx

Bahhh c'est Toussaint, d'acc?!

At the sudden realisation last night that I have now continued to neglect my blog for at least a couple of weeks, I decided it was probably about time to start it up again :P, so I apologise for the massive post I am about to write!

Life has been pretty mental recently!! I had an amazing time back in England for the part of half term I spent there; saw absolutely everyone that mattered so I was really pleased about that :D. However, I came back to Lyon slightly worse for wear; absolutely exhausted! I've continued to tell everyone that I need another holiday to relax after that one :P and I still stand by that 2 weeks down the line; I need sleep!! Mum came to the airport to pick me up on Friday night (slightly later than planned; stupid lack of staff in Lyon airport meant everything was delayed,) and Guy "surprised" Mum by coming home on Saturday (Guy and I had already pre-arranged it :P) and then spent the day with family, before jetting off pretty sharpish to Reading to go to the Union with the girlies :D, and even though my time there passed way too quickly it was so good to see them. Sunday was spent with family again, before going to see the East Grinstead girls in Pizza Express (all I did all holiday was eat :P.) Monday morning Guy drove us back to drop him off at Canterbury (Uni of Kent) and I stayed there for the best part of the day which was nice :) and I drove back home myself, in ONE HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES (def some sort of record there! From one side of Kent to the other...I was pretty impressed with myself anyway :P) and I saw Dais in the evening which was lush, I miss her!! Tuesday I met up with Fiona in Cafe Nero for a catch up which was nice, and spent the rest of the day trying to sort out a million and one things I had to sort out; paperwork over year abroad etc, which was a bit of a mish but at least I got it done! And I saw Ruari because he was bored haha, good times. Wednesday Sophs and I managed to see each other TWICE....both times in the pub :P we're such alcoholics haha! And then I got a stupidly-early flight back on Thursday morning, and then I was back in Lyon! Et mes amies....c'est ca!

I managed to leave my coat in Reading, and my phone charger and trainers in Edenbridge. Preeeetty annoyed lol, I need those things!! Typical. So, as a result :P, I'm going shopping to buy new ones. They were old anyway............ ;)

J Lo came to visit from Friday to Tuesday when we got back which was lush :) Han and I showed him round all the sights of Lyon, and on Sunday we went to the Parc de la Tête d'Or and went on pedalos on the lake; def a highlight there :P. And then the following weekend (the one just gone) Vicki came up to visit from Toulouse, although it rained pretty heavily on Saturday which ruined our plans in a major way...but still, was good! We went out on Saturday night to the St James' and I managed to fall off one of the really high bar stalls...not impressed. Still about sore about that..in more ways than one lol. I have a bruise extending the full length of my right knee cap. Not impressed. Poor Crys had to put up with me in a taxi on the way back, practically screaming "I'D KNOW IF IT WAS BROKEN WOULDN'T I?!!!!!!" lol. I owe her in a major way!

I went to see the 2nd leg of the Lyon/Liverpool match in Wallaces last week, atmosphere was again fantastic, all of us English girls were screaming when Liverpool scored! STILL pretty annoyed about that last minute fluke by Lyon; to be fair, we would've gotten shouted at in the streets on the way back anyway! Ah well, c'est la vie..

Wednesday I'm planning on going to Grenoble with some of the girls here; it's right at the bottom of the mountains and has amazing views, so that should be good :) I'm going to buy the railcard and tickets tomorrow; railcard is around 50€ and the tickets will hopefully be around 20€. I'm hoping to get the 50€ back in the money I save from travelling around France, so it's not that much really considering that I'll get it back in kind, which is good!

Think I've bored you all enough for now :P so will write again after Grenoble; if anyone knows of anyone with a Canon battery charger in Lyon PLEASE let me know... :P

Bisous! Jess xx