And Then
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Transition at Annemasse - France/Swiss Border
The problem with flying anywhere from Australia is that it is a bloody long way from EVERY destination. This meant I had a 29-hour journey. 4 hours transit, 25 hours flight time. Leaving Sydney, my flight took me via Tokyo, (and as such, had some real weird arse green noodle salad that was pretty awesome, however they also had these seaweed rice snacks that made me feel quite ill), before heading to Zurich, and then arriving at my destination, Geneva. So I get off the plane at the terminal, wearing my cardy and warm clothes thinking, "Oh yeah, European summer - big deal."
Like a smack in the face, the heat hit me. So I walk out the terminal gate to meet Lena and Jo, two of my team mates (AIESEC), and Fabien, a member of the outgoing team, who had helped me during the visa process. They were so tanned. Wearing shorts and tank tops, there I stood, the ambassador of Australia, my double-plugger thongs, jeans, cardigan, sweating buckets and carrying nearly 40 kilos of luggage.
Soon we were in the car heading across the Swiss/French border to Annemasse, a sleepy village near the mountains. It was such a weird feeling. To have known since February that I was heading to France, and then to have spent the last weeks prior agonising over visa issues - I was finally here. It was taking a real long time to sink in. Even now 6 months in, I have to keep reminding myself, I actually LIVE in France.
My team were all at Fabien's parents' house waiting for my arrival where I was met with a hand drawn sign that said: "Bienvenue Brett". Welcome.
I was in France. And I would spend the next year of my life working with three French, a Maltese and a Ukrainian.
The first month in Paris was a blur of transition and planning. Here I was just waiting to get out and see the sights and live the lifestyle, and instead I was stuck inside for the most of the time working - not fun at all. It wasn't until after a week of being in France that I actually saw central Paris...The Louvre, Pont Neuf, The Eiffel - You know the tourist things! ;)
For our changeover party, we had to go on a scavenger hunt through the city which whilst a good idea, an a well meaning thought on part of the outgoing team, the lack of time to solve the clues and urgency of finding the party meant that I was trailing well behind my team, with a sore neck, trying to take in all the beauty of the city at once! The buildings, the Seine, everything was amazing - and they wanted me to run through it!
After this first quick sticks tour, I was able to go back, take all the happy snaps I wanted and really just take in the magnificence of it all.
