When I got back from England, I went on a weekend away to Bourg-en-Bresse, near Lyon. It was for the national conference of GBUs in France, and I found it really interesting. It hit me afresh as to the stark difference between the number of Christian students in England and in France. The number of people there was the same number we’d expect in the Southampton lecture hall on a Friday night! (Admittedly, there’s a difference between wandering 15 minutes onto campus and being available to come away for a weekend, pay and travel many miles to get there!) If the same weekend had been organised by English people, it would’ve been done very differently too. I’m constantly learning about the French nation!
But anyway… it was very inspirational. The first time I’ve properly heard preaching and other stuff directed at the student context in France. I remember a number of things, but the speaker used the student mobilisation of May ’68 (specifically French context) to encourage us to imagine what’s possible if we take action. We heard of some inspirational stories of Christian students round the world and we were looking at Daniel and his friends from the Bible and the example they show us of people sticking up for God (and doing that whilst not living in their homeland!)
It was a very long car journey down and back, but well worth it. Lille GBU
was represented by five of us – four guys and me! I don’t normally find myself in all male company, but I enjoyed spending time with the boys, they’re a decent group and have some interesting stuff to say (there were still plenty of females at the conference). We spent some time chilling out in the sun which did me a lot of good. Another thing which was really nice was that I saw people again from back in October, when I went to the regional GBU weekend away.I was really encouraged by this weekend and want to see the Christian Unions in France grow.
The beginning of the end in Lille
This week I met up with, and said goodbye to, two of my friends who are both English language assistants like me, who stop teaching in just a week. One will leave straight away and the other leaves a week after. It seems strange to think that that could easily have been me, I’m glad I’m not leaving so soon. Also today I had the last session of my English club. We made greetings cards and ate shortbread, and I gave them an encouragement each. I don’t think it’ll hit me until next week that that one’s over. I hope they’ve appreciated all the effort I’ve put in with them, but I’m not sure. Maybe they’ll look back in years to come and remember?! I’ve really liked seeing the group every week because they’re some of the only kids I’ve really been able to get to know a bit, and it’s nice to have a bit of a constant in all the mayhem of the time table that I’ve got! I’ll enjoy leaving school at half four on Fridays for the last few weeks, that’s for sure, especially with the nice weather.
Fiona x
