Most of the time I’ve been abroad, I haven’t had any kind of serious homesickness. Since 13/09/2008 I haven’t been back home. Sometimes, this place here feels actually more like home than.. back home!
BUT, there are moments. Places. Memories. Things, I think about, and daydream:
Since the beginning of my job research I understood it would be better for me to focus on another region or country. Many factors. My non-french-fluency for starters, which changed as months went by.
And so it happened, I got an offer at very European Brussels ! But, things don’t happen exactly as we want them, that’s where tough decisions come. The offer was for a job I wasn’t that FOND of to begin with. Wasn’t what I’d like to do.
This created this whole side-effect in my motivation to move (take care of everything, bureaucracy, apartments, blabla).
I remember something K said back in May 2008.. When you’re leaving a place and you have a fixed date in front of you, everything reminds you of that. Like expiration dates in products or whatnot !
I realized how much I like this city. Even if I’m a natural complainer as all my friends would say, I like this god damn city! The rythm of life, the fact that you go grocery shopping and bump into all kinds of people, friends, people you met last night, (awkwaaard!) etc.. I like that. I spent 25 years NOT having that back home. Take my local supermarket around the corner. I know almost all the people working there, I go there at good times and at bad times, the morning after a long night or an intense discussion. This city feels like… Home
And when I got this deal in nearby city MARSEILLE, which seemed much more interesting, job-mission-wise, I said what the heck!
…but I change
Even though I’m currently in a “Erasmus” mindset, I think that’s not going to last for long! I’ve had my share of partying last year. Enough. It’s not like I plan to suddenly stop everything, but the 9:00 to 18:00 working hours will inevitably create different needs & habits. I’m not the type that would party all night long and then head for a straight working day, sorry. Yeeep… I’m getting old. (next crisis 31/03/2010)
I should settle now! (j/k!) (or not?) (ok that was TED speaking)
. . . . . . . . .
Will get back to posting later or within the week, after last nights “new-job” party I’m really a useless piece of meat and all I want is water, orange juice and a fried stake. WHICH I WILL HAVE TO COOK, AFTER I DO THE DISHES. DAMMIT.
I spent lot’s of time writing, editing, rewriting this one. In my last draft I decided to keep it as short as possible, in order for people to actually read it. I often complain about stuff, here, there, everywhere, that’s my thing. But this last year was a good year. Ups, downs, moments, people, experiences. Thank god things turned out they way they did and I took the decision to come. About that, there’s only one person reponsible, and that’s K. In the end everything was my decision, but leaving Athens needed a good push, and she gave it.
Concerning stuff I may say about the country, or the people (France), have in mind that it’s impossible for me to be 100% objective. I form opinions through personal experiences and by talking the more I can with people. I like to cross-and-double-check, but maybe at times I’m just wrong. It happens. I’m open for discussion, so feel free to contact me in case something rings a bell.
In the beginning…
It will be 365 days in Aix tonight around 22:30. I remember every single detail about the decision, the departure, the arrival…
The first semester was average for several reasons:
I arrived too late.
I spent too much time to find the apartment,
while living somewhere far away from the city center.
The Masters took much of my time and power for no practical reason at all.
Me still being in recovery mode from my personal past.
I needed some time in order to adapt to things here (social life, daily habits, language)
the local people are not so easy-going if at all
Considering this is a students city, the students themselves don’t try so much to meet new people further from their closest circle of friends. Classic example, my building: Until today, I know practically nobody here. Luckily, things were soon about to change.
Then!
Around January I met several (many) foreign students, and happily, they were all easy-going and kind, ready to meet people, connect, and have fun. My accomodation, language, or other issues were solved, so I was happy. My good streak of fun was briefly interrupted when my poor judgement, and maybe unconscious effort to recover emotionally, brought me into familiar territories I wanted to avoid since day 1. Luckily, that didn’t last long.
Recently
And as I was about to pack my stuff and head far away where the sun shines briefly and the umbrella is a natural extension of the arm all-year-long, after a nice (but stressful at times) summer, hell broke loose: The beginning of the Academic year, brought a bunch of new super people in town, foreigners or not. This gave birth to questions about leaving, but you’ll learn all about this to the next blog spot, not far from today, I hope.
France
I was asked around 5.345 times if I like France or not. This is such a hard question to ask with a yes or no, but YES!
This Last period
Since May that my job research officially started, it seemed it wasn’t going to be an easy ride. Being one of the few students with the intention to work in a country other than France, and having no contacts (at that moment), wasn’t so promising as a situation.
The pressure became bigger as time went by, and my new job became finding a job. During the days, I was editing CV’s, browsing ad’s , writing motivation letters, updating my personal website, calling people in something like 5 or 6 different countries. People were (and still are) pushing me to take decisions they felt were the best. But, as many of you know, If I’d do what people suggest me to do, I wouldn’t be here at the moment. (and we don’t want that, do we?)
Add to that the fact that most of the people I used to hang out here left in July.
Happily, things finally turned out to be a whole lot better than I initially thought they would be!
Since at the moment I’m writing this I don’t have a signed deal, I can’t give you details on what and how, but I am pretty close to find something, and I think I will have to choose between two offers the least. It was worth the wait. And again, I was right to “do my thing”.
After the previous post about Dating differences between different cultures, which seemed you liked a lot, visitors-wise, I came out with this one, being slightly relative, and I hope useful.
I bet there is not a SINGLE reader amongst you that hasn’t being advised/heard the epic:
“Don’t call today! Let him/her wait.”
Back in February, I got to talking with some Americans, and they explained me the “Three Day Rule”: Read Full Story » »
I don’t know if it was luck, personal choice or something in between, but it happens the majority of my dating background has been with non-greek people.
One can’t help to make comparisons!
You would think, dating is an international language. “It’s all the same”. “Body language” and the like.
Guess again! The differences in habits, daily life, views and mentalities can range from big to really big ones, always depending on the country of origin of the persons involved. This can lead to major headaches and problems. I’ll try to give you some hints about the “Greek way” of doing things in relationships, just in case you were wondering, or you find yourselves into a Greek bf/gf: Read Full Story » »
The other thing before that is: Find out who you are.
As time goes by, I think I am finally getting a clear picture of who I am. It helps in order avoids mistakes of the past and make wiser choices for the future.
And who might that be? I noticed that in the last posts I described myself as “Ted” from How I Met Your Mother, “Sworn Bachelor” – in the previous post – , and the list goes on (I don’t even remember).
I’d say that despite the massive panic attack this conclusion brings me, I’m definitely a Ted. This TV persona describes SO ACCURATELY so many aspects of my character:
I build romances out of nothing and I get completely passionate about them
I make jokes about long-term commitment in relationships which haven’t even started
I am always searching for “the one”. Everything else is useless, waste of time, depressing.
I am making lists in my head about stupid pro’s and con’s of my potential girlfriend.
I try to go crazy after breakups only soon realizing it’s not really my style.
