Of Summer and Tears

Nah, I like opening my post with a photo. It was taken near La Poste (France's post office) when I was waiting for my uncle to pick me up because I lost my way HAHAHA. He came with his friend like, 'so you lost? How can?' I'm sorry I'm terrible at remembering streets and directions (and Montpellier is such a small city!).

This post will tell my epic fail experiences during my stay there. Opinions are mine, not necessarily representative.

I didn't get the chance to blog because unbelievably, I had hectic days! When my housemates went out, most of the time I had to stay in my room, doing HOMEWORK. Are you thinking jeez dude you are in damn France in summer what the heck are you doing with homework yay fun. Now, I'll tell you why!

Long story short, I aimed for DELF B2 certificate. What is DELF? Diplôme d'études en langue française, basically it is like French version of TOEFL and IELTS (wow short explanation). I had morning classes and one-to-one lessons, the one-to one lesson one was the one (what) who gave me bunch of homework! The teacher was very kind and sweet yet had no mercy.

After a hell of (undeniably useful) practices, I finally faced the day of the DELF examination.

Wait. Not yet.

This is going to be a pretty long post, I warn you!

There was a dramatic story behind my test. Completed with tears and ugly crying face. Actually, I was not sure if I wanted to post this--it was embarrassing and upsetting, but nah might as well make it something laughable now, it is in the past anyway. But seriously, being a student who lives in a country where everything feels wallet-draining without scholarship gives you mental pressure. It was not easy for me, at least.

To register for the examination I had to pay 100€ when I had no more cash on me. My aunt kept my money for safety's sake and I never own a credit card or something. In the end, I uncomfortably asked my landlord to lend me some money for the test fee. She agreed to it, but apparently life doesn't want me to be at ease so she received a call from the school, telling her to tell me to borrow it from the school instead. I surely did not have the best feeling at that moment!

The next day, I went to see the school's office person (or whatever you call it) for the said matter. Guess what she said!

'Ask your brother or dad to give me the money now and I will give it to you' (she knows the people in charge of paying in my family).

Are you kidding me. It was because I had no money ON ME so I had to borrow it from someone! The school was just making things more difficult. Not to mention that the last day of registration was very close! I tried talking to her but negotiating with a French is no use. Very stubborn indeed. Frustratedly, I phoned my brother (with my French number expensive credit YES I AM COMPLAINING sorry can't help), told him everything and we came to decide to take the money from my brother's credit card. I managed to go home with the money for the test fee.

'Not so fast,' life said.

The day after, I took the tramway straight from class without lunch to the place where the test would be held. I swear summer in France broke me out, my skin turned incredibly bad, I went crazy with sun lotion and I didn't want to leave home without sunglasses. The place was pretty far, but I managed to find the registration office and--SURPRISE, CLOSED. LUNCH TIME.

And my dear, I skipped my own lunch time.

Damn French very strict with food time, I always forgot. There was this time when I went out with housemate to eat lunch but all the restaurants were already closed, it was still friggin' 2 PM!!

Anyway, I had no choice but went home and at two I was already back in the office again. Only to be told that THEY DID NOT ACCEPT CASH!! Yes, people, when you decide that you will live in France, bring out your cards and checks!

I actually had my one-to-one class, so I rushed to school afterward. Complained to my teacher and the office person, and they even mentioned that it was weird for them to refuse it too! You say oh weird, I say cool not tiring and time-wasting at all going back here and there.

On the last day of the registration, I came with a check the office person made for me after class. I took the exam and--voilà ?

STILL NOT SO FAST. Are you shaking your head now? Dude what kind of sin have you committed, you wonder.

On the day of the test, I left home earlier and I didn't go to class, obviously, because the test started in the morning. I wanted to buy something for lunch later but no store was open that early. So I went ahead, I did the first session of the test rather smoothly, it was pretty easy. As for the second session, speaking test, I got my turn early. I went out to search for food but I couldn't find anything I wanted, I stupidly took the tramway to go back to my place only to buy a bread and I came back fifteen minutes late.

The teacher, the judge, asked me in very unfriendly tone.

What made you come so late?

Why?

How come?

I know it well that it was my mistake but I didn't expect the lady judge to be that angry. Well, being Indonesian, it has become a habit to come to an appointment late, or as my Swedish housemate called, I am 'time-optimist'. But no, in France I tried to get rid of this habit that Europeans detest. Inevitably, I have other habit of eating at my usual place.

Still, I was given the chance to do the test. I had plenty of time to eat and rest. I made sure I left earlier.

For heaven's sake, my stupidity has no cure.

I showed myself up at 4.30 - 4.40 PM when the actual test started at 4.25 PM.

I remembered the time wrong. WONDERFUL, SELF. I came at 4.25 but I thought that I still had time I didn't show up!

To make the situation even better, the same lady showed up. This time she burst with more questions, and even unfriendlier tone.

What did you do. How can this happen. Seriously, what did you do. I cannot believe you. What made you come late for the second time.

I felt terribly guilty, and really, this one judge scared the heck out of me. We walked to the room and went with the test. It didn't go well. Not satisfied, SHE WENT AGAIN WITH HER QUESTIONS. In my head I screamed ENOOOUUUUGH.

....honestly, Europeans didn't leave me good impression. It's like they think everything logically without sympathy involved, don't exactly like sharing with others, and rather selfish. This impression came up to me most probably because our difference in culture, though. I kind of understand it now why my landlord loved asking me what I think about Europeans when Europeans think the Asians are kind and warm.

Now, where is the teary part? Here we go!

As I have told you above, I had money problem. Not only on me, but also on the family. The course fee is ridiculously expensive (spoiler : it could buy you an Hermès necklace), it even used up my dad's saving (this is one part that gives you the 'pressure') and it wasn't enough with Rupiah currency dropping. We discussed this and that, problem here and there, until the office person called me to ask regarding the charges. But that day, there was no any way to pay on the day she asked for. I phoned my dad and we kind of fought. I had panic attack, I cried, she went on angrily

you do know that you have to pay

you do know that we have to pay the teachers

what makes it so complicated

why can't you pay like when you paid for the DELF

we try our best to understand you but we are a company

IN DAMN FRENCH.

And of course I replied in French too. Sobbing. Tears all over my face (in shoujo manga, how could the girls look pretty when they cry? I swear I look like a melting mudman). In the office!

Like, I had panic attack and it wasn't enough, I still had to process moonspeak *cough* French through my throbbing head. In the office.

Okay, that's all for now! I hate remembering that one day, I hope I won't have to experience another. In other side, I also have priceless experience.

I shall excuse myself now *melts*