Afternoon

Oh poor dear blog, how I have neglected you so. New definition of insanity: talking to a website. You need something to talk to when you live alone in a quiet French town.

So I've been back in Nogent for just over a week now. The journey back was challenging. There was an excruciatingly embarrassing episode involving Eurostar security and a belt, following which an unusual girl plonked herself down next to me and began muttering "must keep calm" to herself. Excellent! For years now, I have wondered why my face says "ALL WEIRDOS, PLEASE TALK TO ME, OR AT LEAST MAKE ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BY DOING YOUR WEIRD THINGS NEAR ME". Can anyone give me an answer?

Teaching so far this term has been enlightening to say the least. I have been teaching 'stereotypes' and have been told graciously that all English people are insane, ugly and most recently, "all losers" (now what does that say about me, eh?). Pretending not to care, I returned chez moi and made a mental note of the offending children in question and then proceeded to make myself feel better anyway by a nice dose of British comedy (we may be ugly, snobs and insane but damn, do we make good comedy).

I took the blissful liberty last weekend of doing absolutely nothing, bar eating, sleeping and the occasional breathing every now and then. It was nice after a hectic fortnight but I realise I do take it for granted that in Cambridge I can just pop into civilisation. Here it takes around 40 euros and a train ride. 

Yes, it seems that with every term that passes I miss Cambridge more and more, but I also miss Nottingham. I miss the buzz, I miss the youth of it and I miss the comfort zone. A massive plate of Mooch nachos, a British ale in hand or cocktails in a Nottingham bar really wouldn't go amiss. I know there are plenty more lessons I've learnt and lots of opportunities I've had, but the main thing I've actually learnt is how to appreciate where I live more.

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT OVER. I'm off to watch some Jezza K on itvplayer.

Catch ya later folks.