The terracotta warriors have taken to the waters

The wedding ceremony was being held in the afternoon, so as Friday morning rolled around, Rich and I had plenty of time for exploring. I took Rich to Bregenz; it is a very short train journey from Dornbirn and was where I had spent the latter half of my year abroad.
We visited the Festspielhaus to take a look at the opera set this year and I told him about James Bond. He couldn't recall the scenes in question from the film, so it didn't mean all that much to him.
The current opera for the Chinese-inspired set is Puccini's Turandot, the opera from which the famous Nessum dorma comes. Perhaps one day I will visit the Bregenzer Festspiel. It would probably appeal to my sister.
On a far less touristy note, but to my own amusement, wishbone lake (not an official name) was still present and still surrounded by chairs.
It doesn't look like anybody has tried to rearrange the furniture recently.
From the Festspielhaus we walked towards the harbour along the lakeside. I was pleased to see that Beach Bar had been erected that week, even if we had missed snow by just a few days. It's not summer in Bregenz without the Beach Bar! I enjoyed regaling Rich with many stories of the town.
We perused the town centre, which quite honestly has not changed. At least, not that I noticed. We stopped for an al fresco lunch at San Guiseppe. Here we spotted our first beagle of the trip. After lunch I insisted that we get an ice-cream, because it was warm and sunny, but mostly because ice-cream in Bregenz is amazing and it's so cheap! Austria isn't famed for ice-cream, but it does border Italy, so perhaps they take some gelato tips.
We had no real direction and simply ambled around with our ice-creams. This wandering did however take us past both of the schools, at which I had worked, which naturally led to more reminiscing.
Since it was sunny and warm we had quite a pleasant morning. Bregenz though - still quaint, still picturesque, still really, rather boring!

Sherbrooke, this one's for you.

I made it home in one piece and on time. It's almost impressive. So now that I am home and find myself doing very little most days, I've had plenty of time to reflect upon my time in Canada and things that I've learnt.
For example, I learnt some rather specific phrases, such as
1) faire des ricochets avec des cailloux (to skim stones)
2) les hoquets (hiccups)
3) faire sauter un fusible (to blow a fuse)
They might not even be correct. Not that it matters anymore because I doubt I'll use them all that often, nor the half a billion synonyms for gloomy, dark or darkness.

I have my favourite quotations, most of which come from either Gaston or Hannah. Who can't love what is a douchbag, is it a shower bag? or my ass is soft and that is sharp. It hurt! ?? I think manger, c'est tricher will forever be a way to sum up the whole semester in a single phrase.

I also learnt quite a lot about stereotypes of the British or of the English. I tried to ensure that people understand the difference, but it's tough! I am very British though. Apparently. I discovered a little more about what people think of me, or at least what lasting impressions I make! I guess brownies really are my signature dish :)

And the people. I met people, some wonderful people. I doubt most of the friends I made will know just how fond of them I am, or maybe they do have an idea. In a way, I feel like I ought to thank my Sherbrooke friends. That semester could have been really tough. Yet it wasn't, simply because of the people around me, despite the fact that I broke down and cried a few times. I truly felt like I had the support I needed when I wasn't coping brilliantly.
Getting a bit soppy now. I'll stop.

So, my least favourite things about my stay?

1. the price and quality of the cheese. Rubbish.
2. The tutor's attitude towards us in class. 
3. not seeing more of the nightlife. 

My favourite things?

1. remembering that I do actually like the French language and I'm not hopeless at it
2. forming what I hope might be lasting friendships
3. finally getting to New York, oh and all the places I visited

I had such a good time there and  I simply wasn't ready to leave yet. I really need to update my journal too before I forget all the little things but I'm currently quite content to flick through what I've already stuck in and smile happily to myself.