drunk in lyon

My first really drunken moment in France (had to be done really, I am a student after all!)

dearest friends, it has been a while since I last wrote, but I forgot my password because I am special :) and I continued to be even more special when I couldn't understand the password reset email...

The latest news is that I am a little pissed (so much so that it took me 5 minutes to find the massive blue button saying NEW POST right in the centre of the page!) we were making so much noise and drinking far too much that the funiculur driver actually STOPPED the carriage half way down the hill. One of the guys sat behind us told us that they had never stopped it before...us english do like to make an entrance, be that with guns trying to envade countries, or with drunken youths. myself of course being the latter, though i'm sure Gatwick customs would disagree...

but I have to say it was quite pleasant last night, as we went into an irish bar in vieux lyon where drunken oafs are more accepted, well that's what we thought until half the pub disappeared....I spoke to countless people in french, whose names I can in no way recollect, though I did have to ask them each about 3 times their names, after which I felt I would be letting the team down to continue this repetetive conversation topic, so opted for drunken french jibber jabber. I feel my french is better when im pissed, either that or I think it's better because im pissed! I'm probably just repeatung the same thing over and over, so the pronunciation is getting better, not the language!

we then, after much drink, chatting rubbish and a few minor balance issues decided to soak up the alcohol with food from a place that is open 24 hours a day! This is rare thing in france.

next we opted for another pub, whose location I could not tell you, all I know is that it went left and we got told off for being too noisy (the french do not like noise, which is surprisng given it is a massive city with hustle and bustle, but nope. 10pm hits, and bouncers have bouncers to tell you to be quiet. If you're unlucky, they'll tell you in english so you can'e even play the "but I didn't understand" card, which in all honesty is becoming my get out of jail free card for pretty much everything.

Anyway, there was another british speaker at the bar who was taking part in a debate about the rude french, until his (french) girlfriend came over where he mysteriously changed sides...I think I MAY have offended her, but I was trying to say "it's not you, it's me. I don't hate France, i just hate the culture shock, and that's something that I have to deal with" but I don't think I conveyed the messege well. I spoke again with her later, where she decided to tell me she agreed with me and doesn't like France either and that she was indian, I think?? hmmmm, I think she was trying to just get rid of me as I'd spent the majority of the evening following her around trying to appologise...

As you can see, my participation with french culture is going well (irish and scottish bars, stupidly telling french people you don't like france, drinking cider and black...)

I now have to find the energy (or more the cure for drunken stupidity) to go climbing tonight. I am really excited, but am worried I will still be pissed, oh well, sweat it out as they say!

Sunday

On a lighter, more pro-french culture note, there is a little french market outside our halls every sudnay and we go to it and buy a fruit and veg, roast chicken and roast potatoes (ok, so not ENTIRELY french, but more french than telling people you don't like their country whilst inebriated with english concoctions.)

we also went to the cathedral in vieux lyon where they have the oldest clock and the biggest Bible I think I have ever seen. Quite pretty inside, though shame about the drunks who sit on the church steps outside, and not as amazing as Fourviere.

then we saw a film called "500 jours ensemble" which is the american film 500 days of summer but with french subtitles ;)

Monday

the weather is getting wetter now which pleases me, it reminds me of home :)

I'm in the process of joining the uni climbing club, but it's proving difficult as, as is usual with France, I have to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor to say I am fit and healthy to partake in rock climbing, irrespective of the fact that the teacher has seen me climbing for the past 3 weeks without injur or danger. However, I must also have a vaccination certificate, which I do not have, which further causes problems....

Tuesday

climbing class was good, I did a few 6a and 6a+ but the grading here is SOOO easy, I don't reckon they're 6a at all. which is why I want to go to the local climbing wall (not uni). I'm now in contact with an Italian who does it, and said we can go next week together to the wall. but its nearly 200 euros "abonnement"...."subscription, MEMBERSHIP" for 3 months, so I don't know, I think I've accepted I'm going to have to sell a kidney to climb in France, but then I'd probably fail the medical....

Wednesday

The strikes are finally over and this makes me very happy as the 46 "direction perrache" is running! (yes, I am now a public transport geek!)

I read out loud in french translation the other day and got stumped by the number 44,500, but said it in the end. Linguistically I think I'm improving slightly. But its difficult when alot of my classes are in spanish and the french ignore English people.

I went for a jog along the river and really enjoyed it. It's about the closest thing to nature within bus or walking distance!

PS. i've just seen pictures and am remembering lying in the road, having foam on my face and going behind the bar in the pub....im starting to feel hungover now as opposed to just plain pissed.