Toothache and Homesick

Almost a month that I have been here in France. I am starting to feel really really homesick, especially when I go shopping. In Jakarta I always had my best mates with me choosing this and that at the shopping centre, asking them which one suits me better or them begging me to buy a new jacket. And eating out together, buying my "Quickly" drink or simply sit at a coffee shop and talk for hours. Then we would wait another hour for a taxi and another hour for the traffic jam while we take Christa to her house and then back to the flat. Oh! How I miss those days!


Then back at home I would always have my mum and my sister with me...I miss them both as they're always fighting about my "taste" lol. They're always cooking me all this delicious stuff and I can't have that here, the kitchen is miles away from my room and it's always bread for everything. Excuse my complaints.

And well, homesick is not the only thing I'm dealing. Apart from the "interesting" courses, I have this stupid toothache at the back of my mouth, which I should've done the operation while I was still in Jakarta. I hate going to the dentist.

Oh, sorry for this batch of post, I really don't usually do this kind of post :S I'm trying to figure out a way to bring a bit of the atmosphere back home into my 9 squared metre room (in a very noisy building where people like to skype with their dog while shouting and singing loudly in the middle of the night.....just saying)

But on the other hand, Nantes has been very good to me, not adding my pain of homesick and toothache. It has been sunny for the past 2 weeks, a trip to the sea this weekend (hopefully) will cure everything.

Drizzle in Nantes

Nantes is what they say a town of drizzle. No it's not rain, it's drizzle. In Nantes, it's a speciality apparently. We will get this drizzle from time to time and we'll just have to get used to it. And well, what they say is right as I was welcomed with the famous Nantes drizzle as I dragged my suprisingly not-so-heavy luggage trying to find my way to my 9 squared metres residence.

And as I entered my building, I found my room was isolated from the others. Next to an exit (which has been proved noisy at night), in the corner (far from the kitchen which is in the other corner) and no neighbour. The room is small, well that's what you get for 9 squared metres I guess, and cold, my theory is because of its position. Brr...and it's still summer, which means the heater is off. Pfft! Boo to me coming from a tropical country.

Started my course this week and I was shocked. Lots of mathematics which means I need to dig deep and remember my maths courses from what it seems forever ago. This going back to school thing is definitely harder than I thought. Who knew the transformation from an employee to a student could be this complicated.

Though it seems I'm complaining (which I'm not btw *rolls eyes*), I am enjoying this moment. New friends and new country, a very tasty (tasty?! I must be hungry!) experience. And my life right now, wouldn't want to change it!

And let me introduce you to the famous elephant of Nantes:

...aaaanndd did you know that crepes were originally from Nantes? We have the best ones in France! I love this fact! :)

So Europe?

Arrived at Lyon two days ago and my first thought was "Wow, I'm really in Europe, but it doesn't feel like Europe". The long flight and and the many transits were okay, not really blown away by the experience though. Had a headache for half of the flight and was squeezed sitting in the middle at the back row and was fed too much food. Bleuh. But hey! I managed to arrive safely here.

I didn't think I would make the journey smoothly, but I surprisingly did. An Indonesian lady who has lived in France for 12 years showed me the way to the immigration at Schiphol Airport. I was accompanied by another Indonesian lady (well, I accompanied her) who was visiting her daughter during 1 hour while waiting for my next plane. Then before jetting off to Lyon, I was greeted by another Indonesian woman, whose friend was picking her up at the airport. The airport was really quiet and so calm. They both helped me to take Rhone Express and showed me the bus. I got on the wrong bus, and a French lady helped me out (in English!). And finally I saw CISL.

There was a time when I thought "What the heck am I doing here?!" and here I am two days later: a lot less homesick, made great new friends, went round Lyon's city centre, and eating leftover pasta from lunch. At this point I can't say that I'm loving it, but I'm sure one day I will. So Europe? OUI!