Je suis une Savinienne

Today I have officially been living in Savigny-sur-Orge, France for two months! So much has happened in these last two months and yet it still feels surreal. When I first heard that I would be going to France for 8 months, I didn't believe that the day would actually come when I packed my bags, boarded a plane and flew into a new chapter of my life. Every now and then I still expect the alarm clock to start ringing and then to realise that it was all a dream.

Autumn leaves

The people living in Savigny-sur-Orge are sometimes referred to as Saviniens (for the guys) and Saviniennes (for the girls). The phrase "Je suis une Savinienne" means: I am a Savinienne, and it is this phrase that has made it all so very real. I came to this conclusion on the same day that somebody asked me where they could find a bank in Savigny-sur-Orge.

A street in Savigny-sur-Orge

Now to most people this is an uninteresting question, but to me it meant that I did not have the word "Tourist" or "Foreigner" scribbled in a confused frown on my forehead. This meant that I looked like one of the people that I walked past every day in the streets of this little, unknown suburb of Paris. It meant that, for now, Savigny-sur-Orge is where I belong!

So, this blog is to share some of the beautiful, strange, embarrassing and unique experiences that I have had and will have during my stay in Europe (Oh, and of course... the photos!). I have been given this amazing opportunity to learn about the French culture and language, to get to know new people from across the globe and most importantly to get to know myself and the plan God has for me.

I must admit that I am excited, and a little scared, but it's outside our comfort zones that the adventure of life awaits! So, here goes!

View from Arc de Triomphe, Paris

From the top of one of the tallest buildings in Paris, the Tour Montparnasse