Je suis arrivée!

I made it alive everyone! Few metaphorical bruises, but I got there. The flight was fine, excepting the fact that we were delayed by 20 minutes because the workers were striking at Charles de Gaulle Airport...I know, right, I was evidently on my way to embracing French culture. I also got a free breakfast on the plane,which I knew nothing about so that was pretty nice. Shame my first croissant of the Year Abroad was on a plane, but whatever.

Lugging a giant 23kg suitcase on the RER B train wasn't fun though. I stood on the platform staring at the screen for a while, totally bewildered by Paris Nord. Did you know that's the same as Gare du Nord. Idiot.  It's especially rubbish when you get off the train thinking you have to change and then after you've dragged the bastard case into the lift, you realise you actually just could stay on that train....Cue a lot of huffing and puffing and excusez-mois as I ferociously u-turned. I arrived at Arcueil Cachan and got the case stuck in the barrier. I was seconds away from climbing over the turnstile when a kind woman helped me. Cue lots of 'mercis'.

And so I knew the address of my accommodation but I got confused (I'm blaming miniscule street signs) and ended up walking around for like, an hour. I was getting so hot and bothered, my hands were red raw from dragging the case and my feet were sore. On the upside, I now already know Cachan quite well and half an hour ago, navigated my way to the supermarket successfully. Lesson One has been learnt; man the hell up and ask for directions! In my defence, I did eventually ask but the guy had no idea where it was. I just ended up finding it.

 The woman at reception was really sweet though, but I couldn't understand her accent so we ended up speaking in English (I know, slap me on the wrist). She thought I was German anyway, so we're all in the wrong. My room is SO nice and definitely worth the rent I'm paying. She took me to my room and showed me my en-suite. I didn't even know I had one! And I have a fridge.

Voici my very flat and bedding-less bed

So far, I've been to two supermarkets. I've bought some basic stuff, as well as a mug. Because I'll need a cuppa soon, obviously. Though I couldn't find anywhere to buy a duvet...or a sheet...or a pillow. That's tomorrow's job I think.

I also have a mail box, with my NAME on it, which makes me feel quite important. Hopefully, it will see some action! I've acknowledged other people here, but they seem quite aloof and very French and all in their own groups already. Not too fussed, as I'm a smoker and I'm bound to gain some companionship fairly soon. You get dinner and breakfast here as well, if you pay, I'm thinking about doing that, but I'm worried it'll be like Mean Girls and I'll end up eating in the toilet. Well, at least mine is an en-suite....