Lost in translation

I am not going to lie to you it's been a tough week this week.

Not in an, 'I hate Paris' kinda way, but more an 'I'm missing my friends that understand me' way. I definitely hit the downhill part of this roller-coaster ride called 'moving to Paris' and the funny this is, I was not expecting it. At all.

I left you last weekend with the frustrations I was having learning this language. Nothing has changed in that department, I don't expect it will for a while yet. Until earlier this week, I was still having heart palpitations going to the supermarket. That was, until I had my first waxing appointment. Now this was going to have to happen sooner or later if I wanted to be able to wear my pretty summer dresses (if this weather ever makes that possible). It was inevitable. So I figured, why not just rip off the band-aid (pardon the pun) not resort to shaving and just get it done.

Making the appointment was easy enough. I found a website that had suggestions of places to go by other English speakers in Paris. I found said beauty parlour, fumbled my way through their French website (with the help of my trusty dictionary and Google translate) and made an appointment. The day the appointment came around I was already having a particularly bad day. I had a 'I can't remember any French I have learned' day in French class and was feeling very discouraged by this whole communication thing. I was too scared to go to the supermarket, in case someone asked me a question and had resorted to only eating what I had in my apartment, which consisted of a bowl of weetbix that morning and a muesli bar. Needless to say, I rocked up to the appointment nervous, hungry and consequently tired. Probably not a good start.

Sparing you the details, I walked out about half an hour later shaking & feeling like I was going to throw up. On a positive note, after having a girl who could only speak French apply hot wax on me I was now rid of the fear of going to the supermarket, so went straight there and proceeded to spend €70 on groceries.

The rest of the week continued on the same as I struggled through my French classes. I met up with my new French friend again, who gave me loads of encouragement and positive feedback, but nothing could seem to shift me out of the funk I found myself in. On Wednesday, I was asked to go into my new work place to participate in the night bike tour. Dragging my feet I arrived, where I was greeted by the many happy faces of my new work mates. Feeling the spirits lift a little, I donned my fluoro council workers vest and went out on tour. Flying down the streets of Paris during peak hour with 20+ tourists was daunting to say the least but I found myself laughing and smiling for the first time in days. We stopped for ice-cream at Berthillon and I made friends with one of the other new guides. I felt alive again and when we all silently rode into the back courtyard of the Louvre a duo playing a cello and violin filled the arches with a magical sound bringing a tear to my eye. Finishing off the night with a cruise on the Seine and the nightly Eiffel Tower light show. Priceless.

Channelling a council worker on the night bike tour.

Eiffel Tower by night.

From there, it slowly got better. Wandering around during The Fête de la Musique I was reminded why I fell in love with this city in the first place. Music of every imaginable genre on every corner filling the air with blissful & at times painful sounds. The Marais was buzzing and although it made me miss some of the most important men in my life, it made me smile and gave me the kick up the ass that I needed.

Bubbles always = a good time in the Marais

I spent the weekend with new friends and had 2 more blind girl dates (I am getting quite good at these!) with people I have met through my blog & twitter. It has been great to get out of my apartment and finally enjoy the city with the company of people who just know how you feel.


So this brings me to today. The start of a new week. The last week of my intensive French lessons. I have decided to try and embrace a positive attitude and forget the woes of the week past. Today I had my first coherent conversation in French with my teacher which was the confidence booster I needed and tonight I am going out to enjoy the music of Vivaldi with a new friend.


Although I didn't particularly enjoy last week & found it really hard to be unable to communicate & away from my closest friends. I am glad that I experienced it as I think it was an important reminder of the huge life change I made when I decided to drop everything and move here. No, it isn't always going to be easy, but sometimes its the hardest things in life that end up being the most worthwhile.