From Aarhus to Orléans

Third Year Langauges Student, navigating her way in two new cities.

[overtoorleans]

Just a little update (still no photos, I'm SO SORRY)

I'm writing from my new flat in London! I'm living in North London with two masters students - Lona and Trish, who are both absolutely lovely! It's a bus ride from uni and Rory's, which is really handy and also very close to a primark... ooooops! Moving is an increeeedibly stressful experience but I've pretty much unpacked all my stuff, with just one more car load to come which is exciting! I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter here, making myself at home with lovely flatmates!

[overtoorleans]

Long Overdue...

It may not surprise some readers that my year abroad has been over for a good two months. Belgium made my heart melt. A stunning city with so much to see and do. I came back to France and worked for a few more weeks before I had to set off again. Abby and Sophie came to visit for a weekend, which was amazing and such a boost. We went to Disneyland Paris with one of my students and it was a truly magical day. I'll probably have to post some pictures, eh? It was hard to say goodbye, especially with some classes, but it was especially hard to say goodbye to the people I worked with, because I couldn't have asked for more supportive, friendly colleagues. They spoilt me rotten with a meal out in Orleans and even more gifts and cards. Surprisingly, I managed not to cry throughout a week of goodbyes until I had to say goodbye to Redouane, my Moroccan guardian angel and night guard. People come into your life for a season, a reason or a lifetime. It's never easy to say goodbye, to move away and move on. I found it hard to adjust to not having a purpose, but I was lucky enough to be very distracted. The day I got back to England, I went to a concert. 5 days later was my 22nd birthday,which was a beautiful and humbling day with all my favourite people. THEN I whizzed off to Iceland for 4 days with Han (again, I'm really gonna have to pst some photos aren't i?) My family decided to move home, and the following weeks were a haze of valuations, viewings and preparations. And then about 3 weeks ago, I went to Amsterdam with Han and Billie. I fell in love with the city, I've been so lucky with my opportunities for travel this year, and I can't say that my appetite has been quenched. I'm desperate to see even more of our amazing planet. I hope that this legitimises my absence from the blogosphere. This weekend marks a year since I set off on this crazy adventure. I can't tell you where the year has gone. Luckily, I have this blog as something to show for a pretty tough year. It's on markers like these that we reflect on life has changed and what we have learnt from the last year. I'm incredibly proud of myself. This year has been far from a walk in the park. I should know, I spent a lot of time walking in parks. I grew and changed a lot this year. My confidence grew, my language skills improved and I'm so much stronger. I built new friendships, did a job I've never done before and proved to myself yet again I can do so much more than I think I can. And so my year abroad journey has come to an end. What to do with this piece of internet real estate? Perhaps a general - This is how Hanna is doing - blog. Perhaps I'll just leave it as a little reminder to myself that, yes Hanna, you DID do a year abroad, And you survived it. And more than that, you actually had a bloody good time.

[overtoorleans]

We're staying at the Pantone Hotel and it's BEAUTIFUL! The middle photo is the view from the window, the other two show our bedroom's colour scheme - Violet!

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From Orléans to Belgique! I'm on my way to Brussels for the weekend. I've never been before, but I've been wanting to go for ages and the opportunity arose to go with one of Je garderai ma fille chez moi, pres du RER A Val de fontenay, je peux venir vous y remettre le billet le matin si vous y venez et vous pouvez repartir ensuite vers gare du nord qui est a 15-20 min. Reflechissez et tenez moi au courant. Mais ne me lachez pas le matin meme car j'aurais du mal a retrouver un acheteur... Merci.my favourite people! So Belgium, here I come! I can't wait to scratch you off my European Scratch Map 💁😎

[overtoorleans]

These photos are ridiculously overdue...

This is the first set of photos from our day out in Tours! Last month! Oops...

Rachel, Will and I took a day trip to Tours, the other famous city in the Loire region. I don't know why we waited so long to go! 

It can't have hurt that the weather was absolutely stunning. It was so beautiful.

We went through the flower market, which was just ENCHANTING, and from there on to the Basilica.

This church building blew me away. It was gorgeous, not enormous but not tiny. The gold details in the mosaics were so pretty, and once we'd had a nose around, we made our way round and spoke to THE MOST FASCINATING OLD LADY. She worked there and knew all there was to know about the history of the building. She told us we should check out the crypt (which was, as promised, pretty cool) and basically charmed the pants off us. Figuratively, of course. 

We went from there to the cathedral, making a pitstop to eat delicious ice cream - probably one of the best i've ever had (red fruit crumble and a mystery strawberry concoction, which was well worth the risk) and to poke around the centre.

We walked along the Loire, and trekked through the streets until we finally found the Cathedral (nowhere near as well placed as Orleans Cathedral, that's for sure...)

It was worth the wait.

The stained glass windows in the building were beautiful. The building was so full of light, and we were lucky enough to go in whilst the organist was there, so it was filled with music too.

More about the added special features of the Cathedral after the weekend - I'm off to Belgium! - when I'll fill you in on all the things we got up to in Tours, and afterwards!

Mum, you told me to update the blog, and I have to thank you - I've been meaning to do it for ages, and it's just slipped my mind every time, or I've not had the energy to upload and type and basically upkeep this blog, which I already regret.

Thank you all, readers, for sticking around on this journey. I only have 4 weeks left until my return to Blighty *insert 'where did the time go' sentiments and incredulity mixed with a heavy dose of denial*

LOOK AT THE TIME! I'm meant to be getting an early night! Early start tomorrow, but goodness how exciting this all is.

tl;dr (too long; didn't read): Hanna went to Tours with Will and Rachel about ten years ago and it was pretty.

[dearcharlottealice]

[overtoorleans]

Yesterday I went to Paris with my friends Steph and Nick. We went to Palais de Tokyo, by way of Jardin des Tuileries. We saw the Paris Marathon, went to Starbucks and had Java Chip Frappucinos (WHY DID YOU STOP MAKING THESE, ENGLAND!!!) and explored the gallery. Afterwards we went to Le Marais, the Jewish quarter, and had amaaaazing falafel. I had a wonderful time!

[overtoorleans]

My year abroad is assessed partially by two Year Abroad Projects; each an essay of 3,000 words in the target language.

True to form, I'm very behind on BOTH, so today I'm addressing that IN A LIBRARY! It's such a gorgeous day outside, warm and sunny, but these projects won't write themselves (unfortunately)

Wish me luck!

[overtoorleans]

When I was in Denmark, I thought the lack of 24 hour supermarkets was upsetting, but at least there were 7/11's.

I desperately want some chocolate, or ANYTHING to snack on and I have NO OPTIONS.

As much as I like living here, the longer I live in France, the more determined I become to move back to Denmark...

[overtoorleans]

Sunday brunch in a beautiful wee cafe was one of the highlights of the weekend. We had coffee, orange juice, a BUCKET OF BREAD with various delicious spreads and jams and a pastry.

The cathedral wasn't open when we were finished eating, so I took photos from the outside and we pootled off into town and took a sneaky peek into the converted cinema - it was once a church, and was a-ma-zing. The toilet was eye catching, so I'm afraid I was THAT person and took a photo.

Had a nice drink in a cafe in the sun and then meandered back to the station. 

Bordeaux is beautiful and so is Kirsten and I had a great weekend!

[overtoorleans]

Part 2 of Day 2 in BDX.

After a long day of shopping, the weather turned on us - it was very dramatic. We got cover in front of the Opera House, shown in the second photo. The third photo was an amazing display in the shop, which I thought was very beautiful. 

The sky cleared, and we walked to a Brazilian tapas/cocktail bar, and then went to Becky's for a super cosy night in with junk food and telly and 'Burlesque' the film with Cher and Christina Aguilera, which by the by is better than I thought it would be, especially because Cher has THE MOST GRATUITOUS SOLO PERFORMANCE.

[overtoorleans]

Bordeaux! Bordeaux was beautiful.

Arrived on Friday, we walked along the quais, then went for drinks in a pub and then hit happy hour at Cafe Des Arts, which were delicious. We met Kirsten's friend Becky and went for dinner at the Irish pub where her boyfriend works. WHO KNEW I NEEDED A PIE AS MUCH AS I DEFINITELY DID.

Saturday morning, I met Rambo the neighbour's cat who was super cute. We went to the centre, at a really good lunch at CdA again, and met up with Becky for shopping along THE LONGEST SHOPPING STREET IN EUROPE.

Part 2 coming up.

[overtoorleans]

Tomorrow, I’m going to Bordeaux for the first time! Watch this space for post-weekend updates!

[overtoorleans]

Very aware I haven't posted my pictures yet, I'll upload them tonight :)

[overtoorleans]

This weekend was basically perfect. 

Paris was beautiful and sunny, nothing got stolen. I saw funny faces on the bridge, enjoyed the sun and even sneaked an ice cream in.

Saturday was spent exploring Orleans, which is always especially lovely when you see it through the eyes of someone who has never been there before. I had an AMAZING creme brûlée, in fact the whole weekend was good for food, eating in some restaurants I've never been to, grabbing a MASSIVE box of pain au chocolat, which disappeared disconcertingly fast... WHO KNEW.

I saw 3 films over the weekend: Memento, which had my mind whirring and working long afterwards, The Royal Tenenbaums which is one of my favourites and finally Her, which broke my heart and quickly became one of my favourites too.

One of the surprise highlights was having access to a fridge, which meant fresh milk. FRESH MILK MEANS GOOD TEA. UHT is NOT the same, but is all I can use in my fridgeless accommodation. 

The whole weekend felt like a holiday without really going anywhere.

More weekends like this one, please France.

[overtoorleans]

How not to teach students: The Troisieme Edition

On the 19th April, I will be saying goodbye to my students and status as not-quite-qualified-yet-more-than-experienced-teacher for the very last time. To commemorate one of the more challenging yea...

One of my fellow assistants wrote this and it spoke to me. Also love her url.

[overtoorleans]

Tomorrow, I'm going to Bordeaux for the first time! Watch this space for post-weekend updates!

[overtoorleans]

Part 5: The Bridge with ALL THE LOCKS ON IT

We stumbled upon the bridge that I'd vaguely heard about before: THE LOCK BRIDGE. No really, I have no idea what it's called and I'm too lazy to google it.

Apparently, the bridge is actually starting to cave under the weight of all the padlocks people attach to this bridge. I'm not sure when the tradition started, but couples (or friends I suppose) write their names on the padlock, lock it onto the bridge and throw away the key (into the river) and it's a symbol of their eternal love. WHICH IS ADORABLE, but like I said, the bridge is not coping with the weight of all that responsibility undying love.

Love; beautiful, but ultimately ruins infrastructure.

And no, we didn't put a lock on the bridge.

[overtoorleans]

Part 4: Sitting by the Seine.

It was unbelievably hot on the Sunday, so we sat by the river and pretended it was a beach, but actually it was better than a beach because there wasn't any sand.