Strasbourg: The Christmas Capital

Two weekends ago, I took a trip to beautiful Strasbourg! It lies on the border of France and Germany, in the Alsace region of France. In its long history, Strasbourg has exchanged French and German hands many times, which explains why you kind of feel like you're in Germany but speaking French. The mixture of the two can be seen in everything from the food to the architecture. 

Despite the beauty of the city, Strasbourg is most well known for being the Christmas capital. Every December, the city transforms into a Christmas wonderland filled with markets, food, lights and toys. The markets are set up in different sections of the city centre, mostly in the main squares and streets, which makes it easy to see everything. Strasbourg's puzzle of cobbled laneways are beautiful, but not in a way where you'll get lost. Ditch the map- you really don't need it.

Strasbourg is also home to one of the most amazing cathedrals I've ever seen. It is just so... I don't really have the words to describe it, because using words like 'big' and 'beautiful' just don't cut it. It's a must see, and you can't spend any amount of time in Strasbourg without eventually stumbling upon it. It's a cornerstone of the city.

The must-not-miss street for me was Rue Mercière. You look up and see the street lined with timber-framed houses and the gold lights purposefully hung leading the eye down the street, to the Cathedral. It's the perfect backdrop, in all its majesty. Other favourites were Rue des Serruriers, Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes, Place du Marché aux Cochons, Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint Thomas.

You can't leave the Strasbourg christmas markets without trying some of the regions specialties. Try the mulled wine (french: vin chaud), choucroute (a dish of sauerkraut and sausages) and bredle (little Alsacian biscuits). Eating at the markets is half the fun of going, so definitely go on a empty stomach because you'll come out of the Christmas market haze with a belly as big as Santa Claus'.

I had a great couple of days in Strasbourg and really recommend it to anyone who wants to see a really great Christmas market. Are there any other christmas markets you have visited that we should all see? Let me know in the comments below!

Merry Christmas everyone!

A week in Londontown!

A hop, a skip and a couple of weeks ago I went to London! Now, anyone I've ever heard talk about London has either loved it or hated it. So, I went in having no expectations... and I have to say that I'm definitely in the 'loved it' camp!

My first hours were spent looking around the nearby Westfield shopping centre while I was waiting to check-in into my hostel. I wandered into a supermarket looking for shampoo, and found this instead...

Mmmm soup... and advent calendars for cats? Seriously?!


I spent hours walking on Oxford St and checking out Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, as well as Carnaby St, which you can tell is, well... maybe used to be, really hip. If you're ever in the area, make sure to visit Selfridges and Harrods and pop into the pandemonium that is Primark. It's a massive store that sells every clothing item under the sun at cheap prices. Just go to watch people stampede though the store, leaving a trail of clothing in their wake. Craziness!

I got that WOW moment when I was walking up the stairs from the tube station and looked up to suddenly see the Big Ben... just right there! It was so wonderful to see in person. I then looked to my left to see the London Eye fill the skyline. And just around the corner was Westminster Abbey. Tip: be sure to go as it gets dark. London is an amazing city to see at night.

I posed with a lion in Trafalgar Square, sipped on a peppermint hot chocolate while crossing the Tower Bridge and bumped into Taylor Swift. Give a polite miss to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and the Globe Theatre, you won't be sorry.

Get a chocolate brownie or red velvet cupcake from the Hummingbird bakery, grab a pint and some pie and mash. And wake up early enough to grab an English breakfast. I was there a week and felt like I'd done loads and at the same time, not enough. I'm definitely going back!

It's TAPIF application season!

I know a lot of you are preparing your applications for TAPIF right now and I just wanted to write a quick post to answer a few questions I've been getting and just to let you all know how it was for me this exact time last year!

First, please look at these posts if you haven't already seen them. I wrote these quite a few months ago, but I think a lot of you will find them super useful when it comes to your applications, or just to ease some of your concerns or fears.

1. How do I choose my academie/region for TAPIF?
2. Advice for those applying to TAPIF

And now a few quick words from me!

All I can really add is that you should just be yourself and write honestly why you think you would make a good assistant. I know this might sound stupid and obvious, but I know that there are quite a few of you who think you don't have a chance because you don't have lots of experience and don't have a high level of French. I really believe there's so much more to it and you have more to offer than you think!

Yes, experience is important, but what is also important is that your passion and enthusiasm for teaching and France come through. Remember that half of your time is spent teaching or preparing lessons (you do more hours at home, outside of the 12 hours at the school) so being able to show that teaching is something you take at least a bit seriously is crucial. If not that, at least be really interested in different cultures, and be happy (and prepared) to share yours.

It's important, at least in my experience and where I teach, to understand and not take for granted that you (as the assistant) will probably be the only person they will meet who speaks fluent English. I feel like we're in a position, especially in smaller, poorer towns to really get them to see the world as bigger than just their town and hopefully inspire them to want to go out and see it, even if they think there's no hope.

I hope that the posts above and this little spiel has helped you all at least a little bit!

Bonne chance tout le monde!