Almost right from the moment I set foot in England, things have been go go go in terms of getting set up for my employment and residence in London. Already there have been so many people to thank God for, including my cousin Peter and his wife Angel, for providing accommodation at their place in Slough during my first two weeks.
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| (c) Jeremy Wong, 2015 |
I have been in Lyon for nearly two weeks doing an intensive French language course which, by the way, I will be able to claim back as a work-related expense (WOOHOO!), and it's fair to say I definitely prefer here to Paris. According to my impressions, the people here are more relaxed and friendly, the food of course is fantastic, and the culture is just as rich as anywhere in France. Of special mention are free things such as the beautiful churches, the Parc de la Tête d'Or (which has a zoo with RED PANDAS in it!) and the Roman ruins in Fourvière. I've also enjoyed getting around the city by various means, whether it be by foot, by public bicycle, or by metro.
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| (c) Jeremy Wong, 2015 |
The school I've been studying at (Lyon Bleu International) has been fantastic for meeting and making friends with other people from different backgrounds who are also there to learn French. I also came with the hope of starting at B1 level and exiting at B2 level, which is exactly what I've achieved. In case you don't know, B1 and B2 refer to the European framework for language proficiency, A1 being absolute beginner and C2 being native speaker level. Given that I hadn't studied French in a formal classroom setting before this course, I think that's a pretty decent effort. B2 level should be sufficient to teach French throughout all high school grades in London, and later back in Australia. Of course, having C1 level French would be ideal, but that's something to work towards.
During my time in Lyon, I've been fortunate to be accommodated in a home stay with a local family who have three adorable cats, and I'll miss those cats when I have to leave tomorrow. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow housemate, a Swiss German bloke named Pascal, who was also studying at Lyon Bleu (we were in different classes) and actually spent some time in Australia.
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| (c) Jeremy Wong, 2015 |
I will depart Lyon tomorrow at noon and hopefully arrive in Paris at around 2.30 pm. Then I have to transfer to Gare du Nord station to take the Eurostar back to London. If all goes smoothly, I should arrive back in London before 6 pm UK time. I will stay one more night at my cousin's place before moving to my London accommodation on Sunday. At this stage, I'm not sure if I'll be working on Monday - I'll have to wait and see what my consultant at Smart Teachers says. That evening I'll be attending a discovery rehearsal with the London Philharmonic Choir, and then have my audition afterward. Although I'm quite confident I'll get in, I won't be taking it lightly.
Alright, that's all for now. Cheers and God bless!
