Three weeks of Britishness to go...

So I guess I should probably do some sort of blog entry before I go off to France. I've never read a blog before (because I don't really care about other people's opinions that much) but I've read articles like Giles Coren's which are pretty amusing. Reading seems pretty easy stuff, but writing is harder than I thought it would be. More so because other people might be reading it, and I don't mind just writing crap when only I have access to said crap. Since you are reading this I should probably make some sort of effort.

Today is 4th September. I leave my beloved Britain on 26th. If I had a penny for every time someone had asked me if I was looking forward to my year abroad, I reckon I'd have enough money to buy a bar of galaxy or something. Was thinking today whether or not I should take some galaxy with me for stressful moments concerning French bureaucracy. 
But anyway, yes I think I am looking forward to the year. A few reasons come to mind:
1. not having to do (much) academic work for a year
2. having easy access to French food markets and patisseries
3. getting paid and getting an Erasmus grant, enabling me to travel to various places of interest post-30th April 2013 when I am again a free agent. 

But then again there are certain challenges involved:
1. speaking French
2. understanding French
3. putting up with the French

Nonetheless, I feel my OTC days have prepared me well for such an adventurous undertaking - I have survived capsized canoes in Canada, black ski runs in La Thuile and Alpendorf, and many field ex's in England, Wales and Germany. I can take seven (interrupted) months with the frogs!!
I'll just crack out my orders and estimate fabloned cards and adapt and overcome the problems presented. Currently these involve:
1. being told I have accommodation, but not where it is or what is included
2. teachers who don't reply to emails concerning meeting them / arriving at the schools for the very first time
3. rural French public transport

I expect the year to increase my patience threshold, encourage me not to plan the minutest detail of every aspect of life (I currently have a meticulous five year plan) and help me realise that there are other functioning countries in the world other than my beloved Britain.