"Our feet haven't touched the floor since we arrived but we're slowly getting the most important things sorted out, like the French classes. When I can, I've been doing this: sitting in cafés, flicking through L'Equipe. I've been trying to immerse myself in the culture. I've just stopped short of putting a beret on and a string of onions round my neck. This is a beautiful city. I didn't know what to expect but life is good. There's a saying here: 'When you arrive in the north of France, you cry. But when you leave, you cry even more.' People fall in love with the place and its sense of community. It just feels right."
"I can order a coffee, a mineral water, and am picking up silly things."
