Me and Betty Draper have Something in Common

Seriously we do.



I'm not tall, blonde, thin or a fictional character, but I feel an affinity towards Betty anyways.

We are both bored and lonely.

I write this as I nurse some sparkling rose wine. Alone. In my room. On my bed. In an old black cardigan and skinny Top Shop jeans. With unwashed hair and only Max Factor mascara and Nars Orgasm blush. At least Betty always puts some effort it. I admire that.

She's sad, bored, and lonely like me but she's never without a full face of makeup and perfectly coiffed hair even as she waits every day for Don Draper to come home and ignore her.

My life would be better had I a Don Draper in it, but I don't even have that.

Perhaps I will pour myself another few glasses and read a book. Or maybe I'll just shoot myself in the head.




Ps: I saw this sparkling Rose wine a the grocery store and couldn't resist. It's a bugetry indulgence, but I need to numb the pain. And it was only 2 Euro 15. Sometimes ya just gotta splurge. And yes, my debt keeps climbing. I think I'm now at negative 72 Euro.

Moving!

At the orientation yesterday I was struck by how vibrant Le Mans is.

I'm sure it only seems that way because I have been stuck in Sable for so long, but still.

I think I want to move there.

First of all, there are young people in Le Mans.
Young people that I now have met, thanks to orientation.

Second of all, there is shopping. HM, Zara, Sephora. When there are stores, it is easy to spend an otherwise boring afternoon browsing.

Thirdly, there are bars. Perfect way to spend an evening.

Fourthy, it is only 20-30 min away by train from Sable, with good connections so it wouldn't be too difficult to commute.

I just realized how unhappy and bored I am in Sable. I am a really social person. I don't ever want to live alone. I need people around me all the time. I get bored easily, if I don't feel stressed and I'm not frantically chugging coffee, I just dont' feel happy or fulfilled. Productivity is very important to me. I'm not French, I'll never be French and I'm happy being a work obsessed North American.

Soooo I want to move to Le Mans!

Its still a small town, in my opinion, there are 148 000 people, which is a nice number. Much more agreeable than 13, 500.

There are several drawbacks, however.

Firstly, it is more expensive. I would live in a Foyer, which I think is kind of like a residence for young, working people. I think it would be around 170 E/M, which really isn't too bad. I would also have to commute 4 times a week, but the government pays you back 50% of public transportation travel costs. (I know, right? Crazy? How does the French government afford that?)

Also, moving is a bitch and a hassle in general, especially since I am pretty settled in my flat right now, have decorated and gotten TV and all that.

But I just think my quality of life would improve immensely. Aka, I would not be ready to be admitted to a mental institution.

What do you guys think about this? Is it worth it? I would be moving either in december or in the New Year depending if the Foyer's have room.

Oh, I could also move to Anger, which has way better 'culture' according to the English Teachers. There is also an international university there, and it is the exact same distance away.

Orientation #2

Yesterday was a second orientation in Le Mans.

Me and BR (British Roommate) woke up at 7 to be there for 9. Lo and behold there were young people! Speaking English! It was wonderful. I was so shocked and overjoyed by hearing my own language spoken by people my age I babbled incessently.

Not the best way to make new friends, but I was overwhelmed, I couldn't control myself!

There were a lot of cool people there including 2 Canadians! (Its extra exciting to meet Canadians, at least for someone patriotic like me)

AND if that isn't exciting enough, here is the real news.

Last orientation took place entirely in French. I had no idea whatsoever what they were talking about. This orientation also tool place entirely in French, but I had some sort of idea what they were talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The words made sense!!

Now, I didn't understand exactly what they were saying, and I certainly didn't catch all the nuances, but I could definitely understand the gist, if not precise directions.

That is definite improvement in a little over 6 weeks.

Day to Day it doesn't seem like I'm really improving, but its nice to know that at least if I'm bored out of my mind and want to kill myself, I'm learning something.

So they made us go around and tell them what lesson plans were working and our experience thus far.

Everyone spoke in French except for me.

I didn't major in French in university like everyone else and I wasn't going to fumble 20 min trying to speak when I could say what I had to say in 10 min. Which was basically that the kids are nice but they can't speak English for shit.


For break they brought in coffee and the head woman poured some for me, which was nice. But she stopped when the tiny plastic cup was half-way full.

"Ummm Madam, I'm going to need more of that. I'm Canadian, we drink full cups of coffee"

"ooo!" And she poured some more. "I was just making sure that there was enough for everyone"

oooops and there is me feeling like a selfish jackass.

Anyways we eventually broke for the 2 hour lunch and a bunch of people went to go get tickets for New Moon. I COULD have joined them if I LIVED in Le Mans, but I DON'T so I COULDN'T. Not feeling bitter about that at all.

I had brought a lunch, in my attempt to budget, and so did one other girl from New Zealand, making me feel like I wasn't the only nerdy one.

I don't have that much food, so my sandwich was 2 slices of brown bread (I finally bought bread), sliced Swiss Cheese and guacamole. Yes, Guacamole. Don't ask me why, I needed something to make the sandwich less dry and guacamole was the only thing I could find in my fridge. Plus, I needed to use it up before it went all moldy like my pesto did. Waste not, Want not!

This New Zealend girl is WAY better at budgeing than me. I need to learn some tips from her. For instance, she only spends 13 euros a week on groceries. That is crazy! I didn't even think that was possible. She is not emanciated or anything..

In Canada I would spend (an embarrassing) 75$ a week on groceries! And I'm not obese. (I don't think...I'm also not a size 00. Or even a size 4. OKAYYYYY, but I'm not sitting all my couch all day eating potato chips.)

After lunch we had to make lessons plans with videos or songs that we were given. That was surprisingly fun. My group got a song by Charlie Winston who "seduced France but is largely unknown in England" and he has really interesting songs and my new favourite artist.

After the orientation a group of people went to see New Moon, and I was left alone to shuffle back to my lonely and cold town.

Okay I actually stayed and did some browsing at HM. I was also really hungry, that Swiss cheese- guacamole sandwich did not hit the spot, so I grabbed a Kebab. For 5 euros. I KNOOOOOOOOWWWW I'M SOOOO WEAKKK.


For a so-called vegetarian on a budget I am doing a shitty job of it. But I was hungry. And my iron levels were low. And I was depressed knowing I had to go back to my town after spending the day with people my own age. So I gave in.

I am officially at -69 euros. Ugh. And when I was at HM I saw such cute things I wanted to buy. I really need a pair of this season leather riding boots. They go with everything.. And I wouldn't mind some converse sneakers as well, for those casual days. And some Uggs for those wintry-casual days.

Must. Stop. Thinking. About. Shopping.

Okaaaay going on www.nordstrums.com to fake-online shop to get rid of this craving.



* I would talk about the people that I met in gossipy detail but they might be reading this blog so I will refrain.

BREAKING NEWS

I have facebook!!!

6 weeks, several phone calls and visits later (okay my roommate made the phone calls and visits) we finally have facebook!

and INTERNET.

INTERNEEEEEEEEEEEET.

That means I can watch tv! Talk to my friends! Update this blog! Read the Newspapers! Date online! (JOKKKES, gosh, as if) Watch porn! (that's more for my male roommates), Book train tickets! Wikipedia everything that pops into my head!

AND it won't be shut off at 2am like the school internet. And hopefully it will be more reliable.

I just explained to my British roommate that in Canada we would go on field trips to museums of like in the 19th century and they would show us the toys that the children had to play with, that consisted of a ball and a cup, or a 2 sticks and the teachers would always say "don't you feel sorry for the kids! They must have been so bored!"

I have been feeling like those 19th century children. But no longer. I have entered the 21st century!

Holy shit I'm poor and bored

But its okay! I found a website that told me how to ENJOY life cheaply. This kills 2 birds with one stone, since a lot of the tips seem good to relieve boredom as well.


I will try to make this the last "I'm poor" post, but I'm sure a lot of you are poor too so we are in this together! This is the first year that my parents haven't given me any money to live, so I am living almost completely off 750 Euros a month that I earn.

I like doing that though, since so many people are in debt it's important how to learn how to live frugally early! I need to have these habits. I'm way too materialistic anyways and I should learn how to be happy without a Marc Jacobs Torquoise wallet. I will just have to learn to live with my Gold broken D&G one. Or maybe I will make one out of duct tape! Or is that going to far?

Anyways, read the site I have enclosed the link. The main tips are just to enjoy the little things and spend time with the people that you love!

This is kinda hard for me since everyone I love is an 8 hour plane ride away, but I get the message.

I will just have picnics in the park by myself. And bake cookies for my classes. And just enjoy being by myself, on a sunny day, listening to Wilco (my band of the moment).

Dammit, I WILL be zen and fulfilled without a high salary and a packed schedule!

Boredom kills

I AM SO FUCKING BORED!!

When I get back from London I am going on a major search to not be bored.



I am going to try to take a French class in Anger or Le Mans.

I am also going to try to make some friends. How? I have no idea. If you see a short girl who is creeping you say hi, because it might be me!

There is a really helpful forum for assistants: so I will post sad, lonely messages on it and hope for replies.

I also plan to put up posters advertising private conversational classes in English.

Also, I was talking to a Swedish exchange student and he says that he plays Tennis 3 times a week with the school Phys. Ed teacher, who also happens to be his host family, so maybe I will ask him if I can join. Not that I play tennis. But I can learn!

Any other ideas to alleviate this crushing boredom would be MOST helpful!

Remember that I came from a city of 3 million people to a town of 13, 500. Heeeelp me!

The only thing saving me is that I will see a city soon...oh so close..yet oh so far..