As soon as I was settled into my hotel room, I left to go on an adventure through the maze of streets in Vieux Lille (the old and lively down-town area of Lille, called “old Lille”). My goal was to meet Raul for food and have a chance to catch up and finally speak English to someone. The challenge was that the streets are not consistently labeled and I did not have a functioning phone (meaning no ability to contact Raul or the hotel, or check the maps to see if I was on target). I got to the main square (my goal) just as the sky opened up.
Raul eventually found me and we went to a nearby restaurant. Here, kabobs are common, but are not the same as in the States. A kabob is a sandwich of meat that is carved off of a rotisserie and some veggies. These sandwiches, along with fries, are extremely common cheap food in the area.
We walked around for hours. Raul showed me his residence hall (a beautiful refurbished building in Vieux Lille) and helped me take the metro for the first time. It was terrifying, but it is SO FAST AND SIMPLE!!! Lille has an automated metro system with no drivers (very unique) and the trains come to each station every minute, from early in the morning until 0h30. We took the metro and found my residence hall, so that I would have an easier time finding it the next day for move-in. After Raul and I parted ways, I got horrifically lost on my way back to the hotel and wandered around with bleeding feet for 45 minutes until the found the building. I walked more than five miles that day, not even accounting for traveling with my bags. After getting back, I elected to not eat, because this would mean more walking. That was also my logic in the morning, so I’m glad I had a granola bar with me (thanks, Mom and Dad, for that reminder!). During my check out, I had my first slightly extended conversation in French that involved zero English- the maid was trying to figure out when she needed to clean my room.
I forked up way too much money for a taxi in the morning to my residence hall- I’d realized that I would have had to bring my bags over about a mile of cobblestone streets and it just wasn’t worth it to me to walk. I hauled my bags up the steps (it should not be expected for anything to be handicap accessible here) and awkwardly stood in line with other students (who already seemed to know each other). I payed a deposit and first month’s rent and was shown to my room on the second floor of the building (in Europe, it’s referenced as the first floor, with ground floor being zero and anything below as “-1,” “-2”).
I started to unpack and then realized I needed things (like blankets, and basic food items) and panicked, thinking that I needed to find some of the girls from the lobby immediately before they went shopping before me and left me alone. I wandered out of my room and upstairs to where I could hear music. I knocked on the door, and a French girl appeared. I stammered out somehow that I was a student at Lille 3 and I wanted someone to walk with so I could register with the school and go shopping. She kindly agreed to take me to both places (I will forever feel an immense amount of gratitude for this girl, who helped me so much when I was completely lost). We made it to the school (using the metro again!) and discovered that I had to go to the office the next morning and sign a waiting list (we were only informed after waiting for about 20 minutes with the crowd outside the door). My French friend then took me to Auchan, the French Walmart equivalent. It is in the mall that is one metro stop from my residence hall. I’m grateful that I had to use French through this entire adventure- it felt good to be trying so hard from the very first day. I bought bedding, a pot, pan, plate, cup, one set of cutlery, and some food. Yes, this was a lot to carry back, even with the help of the French girl.
The next day, I went back to the school to register with the international student office as soon as it opened. Then I got lost for 30 minutes after getting off the metro and walked a mile in the opposite direction and awkwardly cried before I asked a local for directions. I may have tired myself out due to all of the walking, but through my time here, I honestly haven’t had a hard time with jet lag. I took a melatonin the first night, slept for 10 hours, and my sleep was regulated after that.
I was contacted later that day by Margret, a girl who is studying here for a year from Alabama. We got lunch at the mall and went back to Auchan for more food (40 cent bread and 30 cent wine? How can you live any other way?! (actually, that wine is disgusting, please don’t live that way)). I was glad to have an American friend at my residence hall and school that shares several of my interests and who is so nice.
The next morning, Thursday, was the French test that would place us in an intensive French class for the next week, intended to help our transition in living in France and refresh our minds on grammar or tenses. Of course, I placed into the lowest level but it was probably better anyway. After the test, there was a réunion (gathering), where I met some Americans and Brazilians who I would become close to.
That night was the first night I went out. We went in a huge group to a meet up of international students at one of the very numerous bars downtown- it was crazy and fun and I like not being carded everywhere (since I don’t look 16).
That recovery day after you overestimate you abilities.
On Saturday, la Braderie was in town. It is the biggest flea market in Europe and takes over the entire city of Lille (100 km of road, if I am not mistaken). It happens once a year and is a HUGE tourist attraction!!! We spent hours wandering the streets, looking at old junk, neat finds, tasty-looking food, and mass produced shoes (combat boots for €15? Of course I bought them). Moulles frites (mussels with a side of fries) are famous at la braderie and they were served at every restaurant that was open. The group i was with went for hours on Saturday morning, again that night, and once more on Sunday morning. It was an exciting way to get to know the city a bit better!
*I will share this post again once I add pictures of my room! Of course, this requires me cleaning it. I completely lack that motivation, for now.
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