Revision

Salut!

I have a French exam at 13:30 today and I'm currently doing the whole last minute revising thing. I don't think it should be too bad because everything we have learnt here has been revision for us anyway so in a way I'm quite looking forward to it; crazy as that seems. I'd be interested to compare my results from the initial French test we did to this one to see if I have actually improved my French. I feel like I have whilst writing my Dissertation but I guess we will only really know next year. 

Whilst revising I came across some of the classwork that we did a few weeks ago. We were practicing the conditional tense. Incidentally I've just noticed by looking at the date that it was actually 2 months ago but for some reason I had written the date as being 1990. *Fail* I guess my age was really on my mind since it was a few days after my birthday, ha. 

Anyway, to practice the conditional we were given an example paragraph and then some starter sentences to do our own and one of the sentence starters was "If I had a magic wand" - clearly Chris and I went completely Harry Potter on this paragraph. 

"Si j'avais une baguette magique, j'irais au Hogwarts. 

Si j'allais au Hogwarts, je parlerais avec Harry Potter. 

Si je parlais avec Harry Potter, je serais plus populaire. 

Si j'étais plus populaire, je serais mieux qu'Harry Potter.

Si j'étais mieux qu'Harry Potter, je serais Hermione Granger."

"If I had a magic wand, I would go to Hogwarts. 

If I went to Hogwarts, I would talk to Harry Potter. 

If I talked to Harry Potter, I would be more popular. 

If I were more popular,  I would be better than Harry Potter. 

If I were better than Harry Potter, I would be Hermione Granger."

Clearly I have ideas of grandeur in this paragraph and this was long before I found out that my true Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw. 

Maybe you could use this in future as revision to come up with your own paragraphs :)

Ciao x

The Sectrets of Nicolas Flamel

Hey guys, 

This may sound a little bit weird and given the title you're already feeling a little confused. Well the story here is that I bought a book in the pound shop equivalent here, which is called the 2€ shop. The book is called, as the title suggests, The Secrets of Nicolas Flamel.

It's written in French but I think it will make for an interesting read and also some good practice for my translation skills; so over the next few days or weeks (days if I don't find any Dissertation inspiration) you will be able to follow the secrets of Nicolas Flamel along with me as I translate them. 

I intend to post both the French version and my own translated version since I know that some people who follow this blog do study French and I'm open to queries on my translations and your own interpretations.

Learning is fun, you know? :)

The nerd in me is really excited in this project, and I suppose I have Cazz to think because I felt the need to reintroduce people to my nerdy self after reading her blog tonight. Thanks!

So, I'll see you soon to explore the secrets of Nicolas Flamel!

Kally x

Cravings From Abroad

Hello readers!

Sorry that it's been a while but at this point in my Year Abroad, I doubt that there is a lot I can really tell you. Toulouse is an amazing city and I've come to feel very lucky for having had the chance to live here; even if we discount the mad gunman that you'll have read about in the papers or seen on the news.

Whilst I was in Girona, before Christmas, I experienced quite a lot of cravings for home foods but I have come to find that the cravings are much worse here. I find myself wanting toast, party rings, walkers crisps and Chinese food all of the time.

I think that maybe once you've been home for Christmas in between the two countries and you have the chance to eat and drink all the things you want to at home, it gets much worse.

Anyhow, I've only got about a month left here now because I need to go back and get myself a summer job! There are posts all around the Internet about how much more employable you are once you've completed a year abroad but I doubt this covers summer jobs!

We shall see :)

Ciao. x