Do squatters rights exist in France?
Today to further complicate the housing crisis I am experiencing (yes I do equate my housing issues with the global housing crisis) I moved from my Responsable's house (quite far from Bordeaux) to another teacher's house in the village where I am teaching (a bit less far from Bordeaux). Not going to lie, although I felt as awkward as a salmon swimming in a goldfish bowl there I was not looking forward to the move, better the devil you know and all that! I mean I was so worried I even lost a fingernail in the process (very bad habit I have of biting my nails right down whenever I am worried and a habit which I vehemently deny whenever my mother asks what is wrong mid nashing).
As my pal Baz Lurnham says 'worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum'. However he also says to floss, I lasted about three days trying to do this daily before realising it was just too much effort (well isn't everyone just learning lots of great details about me today). Back to what I was saying, there was absolutely no need to worry. I feel like Annie when she gets into Mr Warbucks house, not only do I have a double bed but also my own bathroom and just wait for it...an actual gym. Suddenly lost all incentive to look for any sort of other apartment.
The family themselves are also so welcoming, its such a nice feeling to feel at home! I am staying with another teacher and her husband who have two children (a boy and girl) who are both lovely. I also realised how bad my pronunciation is when the daughter asked me to read her a bedtime story and she spent most of the time either correcting me or giggling at me but I suppose at least I am learning pronunciation now, albeit from a ten year old child.
I decided to not go with the other house in the end, something didn't feel right about it, think it was a combination of a sketchy owner and the fact it had been available for three months and he didn't want a deposit (something required by law). Instead I am going to search with other language assistants but who knows if we will actually find anywhere, if worse comes to worse I am claiming squatters rights for sure.
ALSO IT IS SO HOT MY GINGER SKIN CAN NOT COPE and it is nearly the end of October, thank god I am not teaching in the summer.









