Arrival

January 09, 2014

Landed in Germany, connecting to my flight to Lyon proved to be a challenging task.  I had an hour from landing to finding my new gate and boarding the plane.  That is enough, but I had to go through security, and customs, counting the minutes and standing a huge line hoping to make my connecting flight.  Finally I made it through customs, and quickly walked then ran to my gate.  I was instructed to go down the stairs and follow the hallway to pick up a bus.  I then sat on the bus for about ten minutes before leaving to get to the plane. 

A much smaller and empty plane, I sat in my aisle seat, and waited for the rest to board.  When we took off, we were offered a beverage and breakfast of yogurt and a biscuit/cookie.  The flight was quick, and I was finally in France. Met some of my group at the baggage claim, nice not to get lost alone.  Waited around for a couple hours waiting for everyone else to arrive. 

It was finally time to check in, get on the bus and head our home for the next two months.  ENSP treated us to a bag lunch with a baguette prosciutto sandwich, an apple, bottle of water, and chocolate bread, and then we were off to Yssingeaux (yisenjoe is how its pronounced).  An hour and a half later we arrived to our new apartments, got our bags, keys and dragged the bags up the gravel street to our place. 

So cute and roomy, Kristina and I were super lucky, we got a 2-bedroom apartment, each complete with a twin bed, closet and desk with chair.  We have a kitchen that has a microwave, stove and toaster.  We each unpacked, and relaxed before dinner.

Tonight we had dinner, as a group, at the Chateau (Castle), which is where our classes are as well.  Dinner was really tasty, and consisted of lasagna, salad, ciabatta, and entremets for dessert.  The chateau is a twenty-minute walk from our apartment, which consists of many hills.  I can now tell my children “I walked up the hill both ways to school”, and if it snows, I can add that to the story as well. 

After dinner it was finally bed time, much needed after the long day and time change.  Tomorrow is our orientation and tour of the school.  

the bungalow apartments