I spent my year abroad in France: here's what I learnt

Our writer shares his lessons learnt from teaching in a tiny French town to working in a Parisian office...

Matthew Miers-Jones
29th October 2024
Image Credits: Matthew Miers-Jones
Last year, I spent 7 months teaching English at a private Catholic primary school in a small French town called Macon- after that, I moved on to work in an office in Paris for 3 months. The entire experience was immensely informative of how different walks of life tread the earth, and taught me valuable lessons on what I can do to make sure I’m walking to my own beat and not getting swept away by time’s relentless progression. Here are the three biggest things I learnt. 
  1. Small town life is not for me. 

Living in Macon was many things, but exhilarating wasn’t one of them! With its population of around 30,000 people (including the surrounding villages), Macon was just too small for me. This caused a few problems, such as finding accommodation and things to do in the hours when I wasn’t working. However, my French improved dramatically as it was harder to find someone who spoke English. But the best part? Living in the wine country meant I got a new appreciation for a drink I used to despise. I can now snobbishly tell people what they should and shouldn’t drink. 

The entire experience was immensely informative of how different walks of life tread the Earth...

  1. A job I enjoy is essential. 

I felt that working as a teacher in Macon meant that I was working more than anyone else in the entire town, despite myself and everybody else having Wednesday's off from working. Wednesdays, Fridays, Mondays, strikes. I don’t think I would’ve minded such a leisurely town if I was doing a job I enjoyed, but, truthfully, I wasn’t. I didn’t find teaching the rewarding mission people often say it is; it made me realise that if I’m going work a job 5 days a week until I’m 65, then I have to love what I’m doing. Which brings me to my next point...

  1. Life is what you make it. 

Moving to Paris was just what I needed. A big dose of life that filled my gasping lungs. Going out somewhere different every night became a ritual and Paris delivered on every front; museums, gigs, night clubs, restaurants, wine by the seine, picnics in the park. Everything I could do, I did. I gained a new appreciation for life. It taught me that if I wanted to come back to Newcastle and feel like I never left Paris, I had to start taking advantage of what was on offer in the city- and I have. Trying new things and exploring the culture in Paris brought me just as much joy as being in Paris in general did.

So, my new life hack for returning to Newcastle: if I just live like I am in a different country for a short amount of time and try everything I can, then I will live a much happier life.

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