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 :)