A Francophile since high school, Emily Thyberg has her eye on a career in translation so is currently immersing herself in French food, friends and soirées.
The 22-year-old Aucklander studied languages at Auckland University, and moved to south-west France earlier this year on a year-long working visa, teaching English to polytechnic students.
She has been studying the language since high school, and has always wanted to live in the land of camembert, champagne, and haute couture.
Why did you decide to move to France?
When I decided I wanted to continue French at university, it was from then on a goal – to be fluent in a language you have to have immersion and that only really comes with living in the country.
I'm working at a polytechnic-type university, similar to Unitec or AUT. I am working as a lectrice d'anglais at l'IUT d’Angoulême – I am a lesser version of a teacher teaching English.
So to immerse yourself in the language, you have to immerse yourself in the culture. How do your days pan out?
It's really cute, the same family that own the apartment I’m in also own a bakery up the road so I go up there every morning, have a chat with the ladies and get my daily bread. And then I go give the classes and prepare my next courses.
I have a few friends at the university. I don't have to give grades or tests so can be friends with the students and depending on what my friends are doing we may have little soirée in the evening.
So you have made friends from teaching the students?
Some are from there. A really awesome group I just finished teaching are acoustics engineering students all around my age, and quite heavily into music. Most of them are musicians so we get together and have jam sessions – not that I play anything. They are trying to teach me guitar.
The soirées are really fun because everyone feels at ease to try something out, even if they are the exception to the rule and don't play an instrument – like me. They love reggae, lots of guitar-heavy music, a bit of bluegrass, good-old fashioned rock.
They loved Tiki Taane, 'Always On My Mind', and some other stuff I share with them – they have a really broad knowledge of music.
Generally it's at least one guitar, either a portable electronic keyboard or one that you blow into and tap on the keys, and then whatever else we can find for percussion.
What are some of the big differences between your life New Zealand compared to France?
It’s different in the respect you show to people with language – even such things as “tu” and “vous” (both “you” in English: one familiar, one more respectful), and learning which is appropriate to use in which situation. There are differences but at the same time it wasn't too much of a culture shock as I'd studied the culture at university.
Every morning Emily Thyberg visits this same bakery. Photo: Supplied
How about the food – a lot of cheese?
Breakfast for me is baguette with honey, a yoghurt and apple; lunch, a salad-filled baguette with lots of cheese. A typical dinner would be a tuna salad, rice and more cheese.
I love the fact that French people do actually just go buy a baguette and feel free to start eating the top that's poking out of the bag as they're walking along – a habit I have readily adopted too!
My family has sent over two care packages so far and it's been fun sharing some of the New Zealand lollies and chocolate – the musicians loved the Whittaker's L&P white chocolate.
And is it paying off? Are your language skills improving?
They are definitely developing better now I have been here a couple of months. At first it was hard; I definitely had enough to get by, but at times I could tell I wasn't using quite the right word because of the looks on people's faces.
But it's getting better. Having the context of living in the country helps so much to pick up new words ...The other day I learnt a new word, ‘miette’, which means crumb. I learnt it because someone was talking about the miette they were dropping at a lunch; I could see what the miette was they didn't have to tell me the English word. It’s really cool being able to learn like that. You learn so much being in a French-speaking country.
And are you picking up any life lessons?
I definitely have more of a sense of independence as I have never lived away from home before. It’s quite fun but it is teaching me to keep up with bills and paperwork and official stuff. It's a bit different being alone in a little house but it's given me a sense that I can survive on my own and cope with the official side of things as well.
You're on a year-long visa, and the world is a big place. Do you have the travel bug, what's your plans when you finish in France?
There are so many things that interest me and I said before I left Auckland I would use this year to discover what is out there and what is possible for me to do. I like the idea of translation or interpreting.
