Patrik Jandik

At the beginning of March, I travelled to the south of France for a short-term mobility under the Erasmus+ programme. From Hradec Kralove, I flew to Lyon and then took the TGV train to the historic city of Avignon. I arrived that same evening and spent my first night with Mrs Barbora, a very kind Erasmus coordinator. She introduced me to her daughter Sasha, showed me around the house, and for dinner I tried roasted duck leg with homemade ratatouille. In the evening, we went for a walk with her two dogs.

I was very excited for my first day at school. After breakfast, Barbora drove me to school, part of a complex including a canteen, boarding house, and sports facilities. My first subject was a two-hour French class studying Manon Lescaut, followed by a 120-minute PE class where we played badminton.

In the evening I moved into a lovely boarding house. The school canteen worked differently from home - after scanning my palm, I could choose a starter, dessert, and one main course. The food was genuinely delicious.

On weekends I took the bus to a host family outside the city. Mrs Lega and her son Paul-Antoine helped me discover French culture through food, language, lifestyle, and trips to beautiful Provencal villages.

Although I absorbed a lot from classes, understanding classmates speaking colloquially was sometimes challenging. Every day I tried to make the most of it. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this trip possible.