Essex girl in Paris continues...

6 months!!! I have been living in Paris for 6 months! It seems so unreal, but the good sort of unreal. I am starting to realise how much I have done, and what I have achieved since I've been here and also how difficult it has been. 

I've managed to find an apartment, 2 jobs and many friends. I've visited a variety of places. Eaten and drunk alot! Had a shitty time and an incredible time. Begun to learn a language which six months ago I could say nothing and now I can have conversations. I'm probably more confident but definitely none the wiser!

Here are some pictures to show you some of my life in the past few months...

Difficult to see but this is me and 2 girls in the Galerie des Glaces  at the Chateau de Versaille. It is beautiful there and I really recommend going! It is the room used when the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end WW1 and also in the J'adore Dior advert with Charlize Theron.

Outside view from the Pompidou Centre. Interesting art and a back drop of the city!

The Eiffel Tower by Delaunay at the Pompidou

Me as 'art' at the Pompidou

Another Delaunay at the Pompidou

Eiffel Tower from Pompidou

Sculpture outside the Pompidou

From Pont Bir Hakeim

A street carnival near Nation in July - lots of noise, music, dancing and people!

Fun fair in the tuileries!

Me and my friend outside Odeon for Fete de la Musique - It's a free musical event all over the city where people fill the streets play music and drink! It is packed and I recommend attending one year. A city full of partying!

Cocktails were needed at Fete de la Musique!

Relaxing in the Luxembourg Gardens

An almost beautiful view... If only I could see where I work!

Luxembourg

Me and my friend in the Luxembourg

Sunbathing at Paris Plage!

Many people at Paris Plage and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Great idea but not so good for relaxing!

Work aka Montparnasse Tower - The tallest and ugliest building in Paris!

Me at Paris Plage

The Arc de Triomphe on my way to work!

Night out with work colleagues!

Dancing and drinking at Tino Rossi by the Seine - Perfect

I had been drinking!

Crazy dancing man!

 So... there you go. A few pictures of the many things I have done so far in my little adventure. Who knows what the next 6 months will bring...?

Parisians - observations on a different culture!

I've been thinking about writing this for a while now and I'm sure I'll add more to it in the future. Making observations, listening to conversations and having conversations with the Parisians. I've noticed a few things that the Parisians have in common and seem to be considerably different to England. Here we go...

• Scooters - To be more precise adults on scooters. Not the motorized ones, the push style ones. They seriously consider it to be a useful transportation method. Serious business men in suits, mothers and children, young, not so young. So many people use them! Anyone above the age of 9 should reconsider unless severely drunk or playing with children!

• Black - so much black!! The clothes are so safe here with lots of neutral tones and black, classic dressing in black, summer clothes in black. I may be over exaggerating a little but it is definitely common to be neutrally dressed. Many French have commented that my clothes are very colourful and different. However in England I would consider myself a 'safe' dresser. But then it's also often commented that Londoners are ... Eclectic with their clothes. For me eclectic is ok. Parisian chic is ok. But I think some colour and patterns are good. Too many, not so good!

• Imaginary spitting. This sounds gross but I can't come up with another way to describe this. Whenever the French don't know something they shrug their shoulders and pretend to spit/make a popping sound with their lips. It is so common I've started to do it!!

What happens next?

Hi, this post is all about what is currently going on with me and my life. As in jobs, houses etc. On Friday it was my last day in my job. For the past 4 1/2 years I have been a primary school teacher in Kent and London. However, I had to move back in with my Mum and Dad in September after having not lived with them since I was 18. I'm 25 now. So 7 years of independence was amazing and I was not looking forward to going back. Because of this I have done a short term job and like I said I recently left.

The reason for leaving the job is because I'm also moving again. I took some time to think about where I wanted to live and what I wanted to do with my life. Living and working abroad has always been something I have dreamt of, put on new years resolutions, and planned. I never thought I'd be brave enough to do it though until now!

I have decided to do a TEFL course then look for a job as a TEFL teacher. (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). This way I can travel/live abroad and still work as I'm in no way a position to fund an undefined amount of time travelling.

The country I have decided to train and teach in is France and I'm heading straight for Paris! I can't wait!!! I have been a few times and have fallen in love with it through these visits and in films (what's not to love about Funny Face?). Working there will be so surreal and, for me, the bravest thing I have ever done. I have a few weeks before I go and will be busy seeing all my friends and family, packing and doing a little work. The hardest bit is that I have no idea how long I'll be away. Could be as little as 4/5 months, could be as long as forever. That's the bit that's the scariest! (That and the Del-Boy amount of French that I can speak - mange tout mange tout)

Anyway, I'll still be carrying on the blog, the lifestyle part might takeover for a while. But I am looking forward to new adventures, new beauty and new fashions! Paris!!!! Argh!!