Careering towards the end

Hello everyone!

Hope you're all doing well!

Crikey, now this has indeed been too long hasn't it?  Many apologies for that, I've just been getting on with rather a lot at the moment.  The pace of life here has certainly cranked up a year since the weather took a turn for the spring.


With the heat of Grenoble beginning to indicate a BBQ summer, the shorts and t shirts are generally out in force as the entire of France flocks to the nearest cafe with a cold apero and an excuse to chill in the sun.  I've certainly taken advantage of that a few times.  Really excellent stuff!

My lessons are going really well at the moment - beginning to get towards the exam period now and so some revision probably needs to start soon!

American football has been progressing really well too!  After being out for several weeks with a nasty knee problem, I managed to get back on the field against the Giants, where we rolled out 48-14 winners.  Hopefully I'll be able to play again this weekend against the Warriors!

Overall, I've been having a really great time over the last several weeks here in Grenoble - it's all just dawning on me that soon, it'll all be over.  It's definitely going too quickly for me now.

Talk to you all soon.

Best wishes,

Mike :)

Spring Break is here!

Hello everyone!

Wow, this has certainly been too long - very sorry for that but, as you can imagine it's been a very busy time for me!  Such is the life of Erasmus, eh...

Well, there's been a lot going on personally in my life that has really taken hold over the last several weeks.

• The lessons have been going OK, with lots of different challenges experienced and different things to learn and revise.  Things have been making more and more sense however, which has been great. My experience of learning French and the its practical use has really helped me along and it's made everything a lot easier.
  I had a sales presentation to give which I managed to get through really well in pretty fluent French, which I was rather proud of (and I still am, to be honest!!)  My group were a little surprised but seemed impressed at it, my teacher remarked that it had improved a great deal - definitely no excuse for not getting a 1st in French when I do it next year in Lincoln.
  Speaking of which... I have selected Business Project Management and French for next year to finish off my degree at Lincoln - that's alongside the compulsory modules of International Business and Strategic Management.
•  American Football has definitely been interesting and exciting with the Centaures.  We're getting on with the Senior Elite team, which has been quite the step up from the B team last season.  I managed to injure my knee during the preseason match so I missed two matches.  During that time I officiated in the matches, it was great to take on that and gain some experience.
  Unfortunately, despite getting back to training I'm still confined to this weekend.  No matter, I'm sure I will get my chance on the field again.
• I'm looking forward to seeing Bethany at the end of April - she's been rather busy getting her work finished off so it'll be nice to have the tickets booked!
• The weather here at the moment is definitely something to consider, it's being rather schizophrenic at the best of times.  Sometimes it's lovely and even balmy at times, other times (like now) we're enjoying pouring rain and chilling winds.  Definitely not easy to prepare for!

Well, it's time I be getting off - I am off out for one of my coursemate's birthday so that will be great to go and get out for the first time in... forever.  It looks set to be a great evening as we settle into a week off for Spring Break.

Hope you are all well, and we will all catch up soon!

Best wishes to you!


Mike :) 

Hansford in Grenoble - Video Diary Part 4

A little video to say welcome back to you all!
Mike :)

Christmas, New Year and Getting back to Grenoble!!

Hello everyone!

Firstly, I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year.  It's been an epic time for me...

Christmas and New Year

Christmas was very much a family affair for me.  I got to see several members of my family at different times throughout the short time I had.  I only got back to the UK around the 21st December so I wasn't exactly loaded with time.  Christmas Day saw my Grandparents come round for a traditional British roast dinner of turkey and beef (yes, we fulfill the stereotype well) which was a great occasion for all.
Shortly after I got myself up to Lincoln for a rare return to my university town.  I was lucky enough to spend a fantastic week with my girlfriend Bethany and some other mutual friends.  Highlight of the week was a great New Year's Eve party with some friends who piled Erasmus-style round the house for some banter.  All in all, a great time and it was a real shame to have to leave.  Ultimately, it was always going to happen, I guess.  Good things have to come to an end but I am very excited to be getting back.  In any case, Bethany will be coming to visit soon in Grenoble so that more than makes up for it.





Can't go wrong!




So what happens next?  Well, tomorrow I return to France to continue my Erasmus adventure - very exciting!


To get back to all my friends and coursemates will be a breath of fresh air again and will be a long time coming. 
Next Saturday evening I will be at LondonPub at around 8pm for a birthday 'night out', as my 21st birthday is on the Sunday.  Any of my Erasmus friends out there are more than welcome to join us and celebrate!

For those of you who are new to Grenoble - I certainly hope to see people around.  Many of us lot are old hands around the town so anything you need, just ask!  Besides, it would be great to meet more people from all over the world. (and if there are any English folk out there, do show yourselves!!)

Tomorrow the madness begins again!  I will be in town around 7pm local time - I'll be on the train from Gare de Lyon that pulls in around 1840 :)

Part 2 awaits.

Best wishes to you all!

Mike :) 

Winter is here!

Hey everyone!

Wow, it has indeed been a while, hasn't it?  Apologies for that, things have taken up so much time that you occasionally forget.

So what's going on in my life at the moment?

• Well Christmas is very much approaching and the Grenoble Christmas Market is in full swing at Place Victor Hugo near Grenette.  I recommend it highly.  Whilst it is not very big, there is plenty for people to enjoy (including some fantastic beer, mulled wine and hot chocolate laced with Chartreuse) and some outstanding food.  There is a great stand there that does Tartiflette and I must say it is an utter delight, even if a bit dear (EUR7 for a portion!)
  Yesterday I went to pick up my girlfriend's present there and also got myself a bottle of 'Brasserie du Mont Blanc - La Rousse' from the stand.  A lovely amber beer (it was voted the best of its kind in the world back in 2011) I have to say it was one of the finer beers I've ever had in my life.  Well worth a try.  I'm sure me and some of the lads will have to buy some for an evening of fine alpine beer tasting!
  
• American Football is going well, especially on the refereeing front.  Last week's match against the Diables Bleus was postponed thanks to the weather so I went to Thonon near Switzerland to officiate a junior tournament.
  One thing I can take from it is that I am firm in my belief that every UK team in the BAFANL should have a youth set-up of some description.  My experiences as an official have shown me that the future of the sport in Europe rests on these guys being developed.
  Tomorrow should be a match at home against Les Avalanches.  Hopefully it will go ahead, though last night it...
  
• SNOW!  Finally, a proper taste of alpine weather.  This morning the snow came and nicely blanketed the city.  It's bitingly cold but for me it's lovely.  At least the town is prepared and the whole country hasn't come to a standstill over it (I'm looking at you, England...)
  
• Recently I have started part-time work as an English teacher in the IUT2 college. I have six groups of people who visit me once a week to have conversations about different topics and improve their grammar.  They are a great group of people who are enthusiastic about the language.
  In some ways it's a bit depressing - we struggle to get kids into mandatory lessons in foreign languages in England, let alone them do that and see an optional language assistant to help.  No wonder some people here think there are sections of British society who are out of touch with the European community.
  
• Not long now until I head off back to England - really excited to be spending a couple of weeks back home to see my family and friends and girlfriend! 

Anyhow, I think I will head out into the market again I think, the prospect of a fine beer or mulled wine would be a good way to spend an afternoon!

See you all soon!

Best wishes to you all!

Mike :)

The winter is drawing closer!

Hi everyone!

Well, the last couple of weeks have certainly flown by... I've got back into lessons again after the October break and I have been back training and refereeing for American Football... Here's the latest load of news for you in my world!

• I spent the vast majority of the week-long holiday writing articles for the Tutorhub blog - found it a productive week but a slightly lonely one!  No-one was about really in town so I had to make the most of the time I had and had to accept I was going to be a little antisocial!
• After the holiday ended the class got back into lessons again as we push towards Christmas - my French is coming on nicely which is good.  I think every day a little more experience and confidence goes a long way!
• American Football.... The other week I served as an official for the first time, being the Line Judge for the game between my team, the Centaurs, and the Thonon Black Panthers.  The Black would eventually win 22-6.
  Ultimately I loved my first experience... so much that this weekend I served as the Chain Judge for a junior tournament hosted in the Grenoble area.  I have another couple of tournaments lined up this side of Christmas too!
  This weekend I also got to play for the Centaurs B team against the Condors from St-Etienne, a great, if soggy, experience!  We ended up winning 6-0 in a great defensive slog.
• For Christmas I have got my train tickets sorted back to the UK - very exciting!  It will be great to see my family again after a long time away for the festive period.
  What I am looking forward to even more is staying with Bethany over the New Year time in Lincoln.  It's been in the planning for several weeks now, but we are very happy to be seeing each other then! 

Well, I have to say that is the majority of the news caught up with!  I will update you in a couple of weeks as December approaches!

Mike :) 

End of October holidays!

Hello everyone!

Well, the end of October is here. And no, I take no interest in your Halloween costumes! 

The end of October can only mean a nice week-long holiday and break from the stresses of college life.

Life in IUT2 is good, really getting into lessons now and understanding the content better. My group work for economics got handed in too, which is all sorted. 

Small word of caution for you out there: the CROUS restaurants appear to be closed this week - definitely caught me by surprise. Suddenly having to make alternative plans was certainly not on the cards!

Most of my classmates and friends appear to have gone to all four corners of the continent this week, making me startlingly alone in this big old city. Got a couple of friends dotted about though.

The Centaurs sit 1-1 after a tough loss the other week to the Falcons. Hopefully this weekend will bring about a victory!

There is also a chance to get some refereeing done this weekend with some of the junior matches in the area. Should be great fun!

I must keep remembering to post these. If you see me in town, prod me to write another one!

Ill let you all know how I'm doing soon!

Best wishes

Mike :)