7 Month Update

Update

It's been a great summer so far here in Lyon!  Throughout the week, Will is busy working and I am usually job searching, grocery shopping, visiting the city, practicing French, etc.  On weekends we're enjoying places in the city and even some other cities in France.  We have vacation time in August so we're looking forward to some fun trips around France! {More coming soon}

I recently applied and interviewed with a speaking agency in France where you work with a family throughout the school year and teach your native language to the children.  I've met with one family and am waiting to find the right fit.  I'm really excited not only to have a job again {only part time hours}, but to also meet a French family.  Most likely, the children will not speak English, so it will be a great way for me to practice my French with them and to also use my English and teaching skills to integrate English into their lives.  It will be a challenge but I am really excited for it!   My French has been progressing, but I still have a long way to go!  French is a difficult language, but I continue to learn more every day. My hope is that I will be able to take additional classes in the fall or winter.

Aside from the normal day-to-day struggles, I think one of my biggest challenges here is that I really only have one person I can truly communicate with. (Will) It's a weird thing to not be surrounded with people that understand your language and to not be able to communicate what you want.  I hope to someday be at a point where I can truly be myself while speaking French and communicate my thoughts, wants, needs, etc.  It's a process!

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Bastille Day

July 14th, we celebrated the National Day of France. 

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EURO 2016

Here are a few pictures from the EURO2016 final game.  We were sad France lost, but really enjoyed cheering them on with so many fans! We were there 8 hours in the sun and hot weather, packed with people, but had a lot of fun!

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Parc de la Tete d'Or

I've written about this park before, so I'm just adding a few pictures from our last visit.  It's a beautiful place!

The Garden

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Random Photos

Our apartment is right behind the one on the right.

Discovered this building recently. I love that Lyon has many buildings with beautiful paintings. This one is my new favorite.

Here's a picture for Timmy & Sarah! This is across from our apartment! Come visit and we'll go. :)

Some really great French pizza!

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Fun Facts (Cultural Differences I Have Noticed)

*Protesting - There are a lot of protests that happen throughout the city.  It often leads to Metros being shut down for the day and heavy traffic. (One night Will was not able to get home)  Most often they are complaining about something related to work.  I'm never usually surprised when I see areas heavy with cops and protestors, because it's more of a norm here.

*Vacation Time - The vacation time here is a wonderful thing.  Most people that are fully employed receive 6 weeks of paid vacation for the year. The French place a great importance on giving people time off and feel they are better workers because of it.  (I agree!) 

*Smoking - There are A LOT of smokers in France, especially young people. The legal smoking age is 16 and it seems that the majority of people in France smoke. Most others aren't bothered by second-hand smoking either.  I'm still adjusting to this. 

*It's more common and excusable for people to be late in France.  I remember my first day of French class, my professor showed up 30 minutes late.  A lot of the places I have gone, I seem to experience people being late, but it usually isn't a big deal. I'm not sure where this mindset comes from, but it doesn't help me as I'm trying to not be late to places anymore! 

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