The start of a new adventure - my Year Abroad!

¡Hola a todos!

Today I come back to you with a new section on the blog. As most of you potentially know, I am starting my Year Abroad next week and so I think this new adventure deserves a whole new section on the blog. If you look for the tag #YearAbroad or click on the banner on the side, you will find all the posts relating to my adventures in France and Italy.

Why – you may ask- am I on a Year Abroad? Well, you see, as part of my Modern Languages degree in Bath, I am required to take a year abroad coinciding with the third year of my degree in order to improve my language skills and cultural awareness in preparation for my final year. The options ranged from Erasmus study, to English Assistantships, to all sorts of work placements. We were given more or less total freedom to organize the year as we wanted, so long as we met the requirements of three months minimum in a country where the language we study is spoken – three for each language that is, and I do two, Italian and French. I spent most of my second year trying to figure out what I was going to do and how to split my year. After I’d made my decision and secured my places, my time was spent sorting out the paperwork needed to make it come to life. It was a long process and you definitely have to work hard to get what you want, but thankfully we got a lot of help and guidance from the University. Thus, what will I be up to this year?

First, I am going to France. I will be teaching English in a local language school in a coastal town named Fécamp, in Normandy (north-west France). I am leaving next Tuesday and will be staying there until December. I am fortunate enough to have a short holiday while I'm there, so I will have to figure out where I will go during that time – I want to explore the area, as I’ve never been to Normandy before. In fact, it is the first time I go anywhere in France that isn’t Paris or its surrounding cities. I must admit I find it somewhat daunting, as the journey to get there involves a 4hr-long flight, three different trains and a car ride. It’s going to be a long trip.  After Christmas break back home I will be heading to Siena, a medieval town in Tuscany, Italy. There I will be doing an Erasmus study exchange for the second semester and I’m pretty stoked about it; the place looks amazing, the food must be great, the weather will be getting better and, in general, I like most things Italian. So far, I’ve decided to study French, history of cinema and history of women during the Modern Age – we’ll see if I stick to that last one. Of course, once in Italy, I want to travel about as much as possible - you know, make the most of it! The plans for the year are looking pretty sweet in my opinion.

As I’m leaving next week, I’m sorting out the clothes I’m going to pack, doing last minute paperwork, meeting with friends and trying to enjoy my last few days at home while I leave everything prepped. Moving to another country is a nerve-racking experience and I’m fortunate enough to have lived through it once already – two years ago when I decided to move to the UK to study- so I have an experience to look back on. New language, new place, new people, new customs. Everything is different and so I want to be as prepared as I can, which translates into a lot of research done prior to departure. I know the main things and I think I’m pretty ready but I will certainly be learning things along the way – that is the whole point of the year, learning to adapt to new situations and solve problems as they arise (also, you can’t learn everything from books!).

Just like it was two years ago, my mind is buzzing with questions and fears. What will it be like? Will I like the place? What will be people be like? Am I going to survive the cold weather? Will I have trouble with the language? And, as I learned two years ago, it will all be a matter of being open-minded and adjusting to what life throws in your path. I am sure at the start it will be hard, especially this time that I am going on my own, and homesickness will strike with full force. But, little by little, I will learn to deal with the issues that may arise and make myself a small home-away-from-home wherever I end up.

I will try to keep you updated on my journey as often as I can. For now, wish me luck!

Zoe