I've been back in Strasbourg for about a week now (10 days to be exact) and I can really say that nowhere else feels more at home than here. It's weird, but I'm just so used to living here in SXB and the city and the places and everything. Post-Erasmus blues is real, and I'm not sure when I will get over it.
Anyway going to post brief updates about my life so far! I really want to remember things because today K was just recounting to me how we ate at Le Tarbouche once but I have absolutely no recollection of that at all. Like at all. It's so weird because he recounted the whole incident and I can imagine myself saying the same stuff but I just can't remember the actual incident happening?? And what's weirder is that normally I keep track of my spendings and take photos of my meals etc but I can't find anything about it. The only time I remember going there to eat was with V and that was back in December 2015 ... so weird. But anyway point is I wanna be able to remember what happens in my life!!
Okay so week 10 of term 1 was quite crazy. I started working at HCo and wasn't scheduled for any shifts that week since I just got registered onto the system on Monday (12/12), but managed to pick up 3 shifts from my colleagues to cover so was pretty cool. I really like working in the store haha. I worked on Monday until closing, then bought stuff with my associate card for K and the housemates for Christmas hehehe. Tuesday had a full day of classes until 6 and went to C and MH's place for curry dinner! Worked again on Wednesday from 12 since I only had classes until 10 - was actually planning to dimsum lunch with S and K but couldn't in the end so I just went to work early and worked until closing again. Was supposed to do until 6 but manager asked me to extend cause they needed people for closing I guess. Super tired. Thursday I had class in the morning, lunched at Farmer's Market with C and XP then went to Westfield to shop / return stuff. Came back in time for Finance tutorial and French, but went to Regent St again after class to buy stuff from HCo lol. Then Friday was quite crazy - had class from 1 to 4, went to work at 4.30, worked until closing, bought a Subway dinner and went to M's place to chill - literally didn't get to see him for the entire term until last day of term LOL. Then I went back about 11 cause P was waiting for me to watch the penultimate episode of The Apprentice together since we both didn't have time to catch it the night before. By the time we finished it was about 1, then I had to pack my luggage for France while P just played Fifa downstairs until like 4 or something. I was organising all my notes and everything and time just passed so quickly - didn't even realise it was already 6am and I had to leave at 7 to catch my bus at Victoria. So quickly shoved the rest of the things into my luggage, ate my last avocado from the fridge and left. Was freezing and foggy when I left the house and I think I missed the bus I was intending to catch by 2 minutes. So had to wait super long for the next bus and I was calculating I would have about 5 min to spare when I reached the coach station. The bus was quite slow and I was literally watching the minutes and dashed off when I reached my stop. Dragged my luggage and ran towards the coach station and actually made it with indeed 5 minutes to spare but what a close shave!! I started to regret not having bought the Eurostar ticket.
Fell asleep when the bus started moving and woke up about an hour later - we had already reached Folkestone but there was a massive jam to get to the Eurotunnel. We were delayed about an hour or so then when we finally reached the check in for Eurotunnel the bus driver told us we were already delayed by an hour. Thank goodness I planned for 3 hours of transit time in Paris, but messaged YM to tell her that I most probably wouldn't be able to meet her for dinner in Paris that night. Wait more on the bus and finally the bus started moving and we got onto the Eurostar shuttle fairly quickly. The bus driver then told us somehow we managed to get onto an earlier shuttle which was great news. Slept on and off after that, arrived in France then realised my bus was taking another route via Lille instead of going directly to Paris. Checked the bus timetable and calculated we were about 1.5 hours behind. Weather was really awful - it was foggy and rainy and cold. Finally arrived in Paris and even then there were a lot of traffic jams. Arrived at Bercy at 6.30pm and there was no way I could make it for dinner. Took the metro for free to Paris Est - they were encouraging people to take public transport because of the air pollution in Paris so public transport had been free for Friday and Saturday, which was great for me as I didn't have cash so didn't have to buy a ticket. Travelling with luggage definitely takes more time than usual, so I only arrived at Paris Est at 7.15 and had to wait an hour for my train. Bought a French Meal Deal from Casino (the supermarket chain lol) then sat and waited. Spoke to a lady who turned out to be going to Strasbourg as well and had quite a nice chat with her. Finally the train arrived and boarded and slept on and off again on the train cause I was so tired. Arrived in Strasbourg at a quarter past 10 and K was already at the tram station waiting for me! So happy to finally be back aha.
18 Dec Sunday:
Woke up quite late at 11, but K cooked brunch! I washed my hair then went out to meet LJ and friends who were just there for one day. Went to Cafe Atlantico (the boat by the quay!!) for drinks and cheesecake, then Sushido for dinner. The sushi was amazing I'd been craving it for about 3 months now lol. Then we went to take photos at the Christmas Market entrance and somehow my instax wouldn't work and there was this other girl who asked us to help take photos with her instax and her instax also stopped working. So weird but after I went back I realised the counter was actually wrong and I'd in fact finished the films. But still we managed to take 1 instax of all 3 of us together and I gave LJ and W the ones with them. I haven't used my instax ever since and I can't use my Christmas films anymore now that Christmas is over ...
19 Dec Monday:
Woke up at 7am to collect the key from I, then went back to sleep again and only woke up again at like 1pm so only moved in in the afternoon. K helped me with my stuff, then we went out to lunch. Wanted to eat at Franky's but it was closed so we went back to Rivetoile and had Buffalo Burger. Then went to HCo since it was right opposite Buffalo Burger and I discovered the amazing thing that I can use my associate card in France!!! So bought some stuff hehe and now I'm waiting for the new triple A's hopefully coming soon in Jan?? Shopped around a bit but not much to buy, then went to Leclerc to get groceries. Then came back and did work caused had prep to do but nothing much exciting. I ate a really French dinner of baguette and pate that I bought from Leclerc - hadn't had it for ages like maybe since March lol when LJ first introduced me to it but soooooo good.
20 Dec Tuesday:
Woke up quite late again but had a nice French breakfast of croissants and tea hehe I love croissants. Went to Rivetoile again with K but went to other shops this time like Bershka. I saw this super cute pink knit jumper in Bershka so am just waiting for it to go on sale. Also found the Mom Jeans that I tried on in Westfield that day but the queue was too long to try. Then we went to the Christmas Markets!!! Finally!!! I got a new Christmas Market cup without the vin chaud and some tea from Maison Bourgeon - it's called Delice Detox and it smells absolutely amazing, probably because of the melon inside. Apparently they only have a physical store in Provence but they sell their stuff at the Christmas Markets every year. Also bought some Alsatian cookies from Fortwenger and a baguette (so French lol) and we came back to try the tea with mille feuille and cakes that I got the day before. Then K had to go for work and I ate Nongshim for dinner that night lol basically just eating it everyday. Was quite unproductive and didn't do much work but still went to sleep really late argh.
21 Dec Wednesday:
Woke up late (as usual), had some brunch and went out. K and I found the Danish butter cookies in Simply but we couldn't find it in Leclerc strangely. Went to Rivetoile (again because there's not much places to go LOL), went to HCo and I tried on a couple of shirts which turned out not too bad but I think I'll order them online when I go back. Then we had froyo at Smooy which I've always wanted to try!! It's almost exactly like llaollao and I'm pretty sure it's from Spain/Portugal as well ... But it was really filling and basically settled dinner for me lol. Went back and I literally spent the whole night going through the entire HCo playlist trying to find this song which I heard but no success.
22 Dec Thursday:
Woke up late but did some French this time before going out. Went to Rivetoile (again I know) with K and had KFC for lunch lol. Went to Place Kleber but it was raining so we took the tram but it got delayed at Homme de Fer. Managed to get off after about 10 minutes of delay and went to Uniqlo then K went for dinner and I went to explore the Christmas Markets by myself. Took a lot of pictures and found the bracelet shop from last year but they sold out of the nice colours and the owner was just meh about it so was quite disappointed. Also saw Stand La Bonumeur in the same spot as last year and the realisation hit me that these things will always be there but the times have changed ... Like the Christmas Market stalls will be the same but the feelings and memories from last year won't ever come back. Felt really moody and nostalgic plus it was raining. Bought 2 postcards - one for M and one for me to keep. Was tempted to get a vin chaud but I knew I couldn't finish one by myself and didn't want to get too woozy on the way home, so I got a Sushido takeaway for dinner instead. Came back and listened to music and did French so at least I did some work.
23 Dec Friday:
Went to post office and sent out M's postcard! Weather was really foggy again and the cathedral looked like the top half disappeared. Went to Place Kleber with K and it was super crowded since it was the second last day of the Christmas Markets. I finally found a belt that fits me in Mango so bought that. There were a lot of street musicians and generally a lot of people. Went to Galeries Lafayette and found this amazing Topshop Velvet Embroidered Jacket but it was like €98 and apparently sold out on the UK website. Then went to Place Broglie in search of spatzle!! Bought a vin chaud on the way with a very pretty rainbow cup - it's the small one but I didn't mind cause I didn't see that design on a big cup. The vin chaud was amazing haha then went to find the spatzle store and it was in the same spot as last year - I still remember visiting the Christmas Market there with V and O and we all bought food and crepes ... but they changed the spatzle by adding cabbage this year and K didn't like it. Walked to Les Halles afterwards and went to a Persian grocery store. K got some stuff and I found some amazing pastry things (I think they are called swissi or something I need to ask again) then went to Paris Store which actually sells Asian groceries lol. Then went to Simply and took the tram back because it was raining. K cooked the long Persian rice and this Persian veg thing from a can for dinner then we had some nice wine called Monbazillac that we found the other day which is apparently one of the sweetest white wines.
I also found my post from last year on the Christmas Markets here:
24 Dec Saturday:
Christmas Eve! K and I went to Parc du Heyritz because I've been wanting to visit the park ever since seeing it on Instagram lol. It was really quiet and peaceful and I'd never been to that part of SXB before. We found a playground and spent some time just chilling on the seesaws and stuff. I wanted to go see the Christmas Market at Petite France since it was the last day. Bought another cup of vin chaud with the verre to keep and found another stall selling spatzle but without the cabbage so got K to try that which changed his mind about spatzle lol. Took more pictures of the Christmas decorations and lights then came back and K cooked Christmas Eve dinner! Nothing fancy just a simple meal of rice and chicken and the veg from the day before but very nice and satisfying.
25 Dec Sunday:
Christmas Day, plus Sunday so everything is closed and super quiet outside. Watched movies the whole day and didn't study LOL but it's Christmas!! Had noodles for dinner hehe.
26 Dec Monday:
Boxing Day but unlike the rest of France it's still a holiday in Alsace. But unlike the UK there are no sales sadly and I spent the day trying to get into the LUSH website in vain - I was like the 100kth+ person in the queue which is ridiculous. But S managed to get a Snow Fairy shower gel for me in London!! Very thankful. Ordered some stuff from Miss Selfridge including a velvet embroidered jacket but I think it's slightly nicer than the one in Topshop also it was cheaper!!! K and I actually went out but not much was open except a few restaurants in Place Kleber. I bought a baguette on the way back and some Turkish Delight from a Turkish grocery store that was open. K cooked dinner (chicken with veg and rice) then went to work and I spent the night watching Mickey's Christmas Carol and Finding Dory LOL been wanting to watch it since June before I left SXB!!! It was so cute hahaha. Still no work done but I'm consoling myself with the fact that Boxing Day is a holiday ...
27 Dec Tuesday:
Woke up late as usual, went out because nice and sunny weather!! And finally the shops are open and business as usual. Went to Bershka at Rivetoile and I am actually tempted to get the pink knit jumper but I don't actually NEED it and I am almost sure it would go on sale. Wanted to try on trousers from Stradivarius that I saw online but didn't find them in store. K and I went to Place Kleber and it was really crowded. Went to Galeries Lafayette because I got the email that their sales started today and indeed ... and that Topshop velvet jacket went on sale for 50% off!!! But it's still €49 even after the discount and I can't bear to spend like €50 on a jacket I would hardly wear ... plus I already ordered one from Miss Selfridge (no idea if that will fit because they sold out of 6 online so I had to order an 8). Also another Topshop denim jacket was on sale for also 50% off so €26 but I'm pretty sure I already have one in that colour. Also it was a bit small. Ah I need to stop buying stuff!! So I didn't buy anything. We went to 7eme art for dinner then FNAC. Wanted to go to the bookstore but it closed at 7. Craving chocolate after having one after dinner so went to Simply and got a huge bar of Milka and some limonade to make diabolo. K walked me back and went to work and I've been writing this post but finally done!!
Can't believe I've already been here for 10 days and it's already half of my winter break :( :( Time always flies when I'm in SXB and I should really do some work - want to at least finish writing my French notes before the new year lol. Time is passing way too quickly :( I also have some way overdue posts on the 4 Brandy sales I went this year and have no idea when I will ever post them ...
