I was reading some blog yesterday, which made me realised, with all the time I had these past few months, why didn't I even try to go back to blogging. Short answer, because that's just me, only good with starting something.

 

Anyway, time really flies, no? It has been 7 months since I moved into Lyon. Whenever I meet new people (mostly friends of Max's family), they always ask me how has it been going for me in France, do I like it? "Ça te plait France?" "Comment était à Lyon?" And I'm always caught off guard by this question. So I often just say, "Oui, ça me plat bien sûr!" Voila, my short, non-conversational response. Hence, once and for all, let me tackle this question, for my own sanity, and for the next person who'll probably ask me.

I'm not lying when I say, "Yes, of course, I like it!" but probably, I was not convincing enough. To help me better articulate my thoughts ('cause I had a lot that I don't even know where to start), let me break down them into some obvious categories. 

Most obviously, this is the toughest part. For the record, I started learning French when I was still in Singapore, around January 2021 at Alliance Française Singapore. From the get go, it was difficult, but I loved it! I liked picking my brain and learning a new language. My classes every Monday and Wednesday were almost always the highlights of my week.

I was on an elementary level (A2) of French when I arrived last January 2022. Sure, having the basic French had helped me a lot. But man, it is an entirely different story when the locals speak. They converse fast, in slang, and most often times they shorten the phrases/words. It is nothing like what I learned in school. It was certainly overwhelming. 

Although, I was doing good in my French classes, the real-world application still gives me anxiety. I remember the first time I ordered a pain au chocolat at the boulangerie. The lady asked me if I wanted the receipt and I answered "Ha?" Lol. But hey, that gave me a sense of achievement. There's always a first! 

I still cannot hold a whole conversation in French without a pause, or thinking of my next word. 7 months in, and it's getting a bit easier I guess. Still difficult, but getting there. Just fake it, 'till you make it!