Poitiers

This year I’m studying law in French at the Université de Poitiers with Erasmus. I’ve been in France for nearly two weeks now – though it’s still weird to think that this is going to be my home until next summer!

There has been a LOT of admin stuff to do, first of all. The French love a good form or twelve, which makes things like registering at uni, bank accounts, insurance etc. quite a bit of hassle! I was glad I was warned about this in advance so I knew to bring every possible document or certificate that I’d ever obtained, basically. Fantastique.

Chauvigny

Luckily my parents drove over with me and stayed for a while to help me organise everything and drive me around. This had the extra bonus of not needing to worry about the amount of stuff I was taking to France, but it is a bit cramped in my little room! Or cosy, as I prefer to call it. We also had some time to check out the area – getting to know the city and exploring the pretty nearby towns of Chauvigny, Parthenay and Saint-Savin – and absorb lots of the culture (read: wine). One day we took a trip up to Tours, a city about an hour away, which was a vibrant place set on the Loire with lots going on. We also drove over to Île de Ré, off the coast of La Rochelle for a day of relaxing and sunbathing in the incredible weather we’ve been having over here so far!

Perfect weather in Ile de Re

Sunset on Ile de Re

Back in Poitiers, after moving in it’s just been settling in, deciding what courses to do and rendezvous-ing at bars in the city centre, which are fun but expensive! We anglais from Bristol managed a three-hour introductory lecture this morning. Better get used to it as we found out lectures start at 8am here… It’s hard enough making it to the 9am ones at home… I’ll keep you posted!