Transportation

Living in Nantes is of course different than living in Rushville because it’s in a different country, but it is also different because it’s HUGE in comparison. I live a half an hour walk from the center. And there’s no way I’m going to walk that long every morning as if I could find my way through the jigsaw they call their streets here. So, I must take the bus every morning. We don’t even have a bus system in Rushville. I cannot even express how terrified I was to ride the bus by myself for the first time. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. I had to be told what to do with my ticket, I was suspicious of everyone and I couldn’t figure out how to open the door to get off the bus (aren’t they just supposed to open??). The easiest way to get anywhere is by bus, tram, or train. It’s also expensive. One euro and fifty cents every time I get on. So, I had to get myself a bus pass—which is a very complicated process involving passports and money and signatures and angry, tired French people who deal with foreigners like me every day. It’s strange being in the minority all the time regarding language. I now consider myself a bus/tram professional and I already know which line or route goes where. I’m morphing into a true city-goer. I even know how to get to the IES center from most places in town without a single wrong turn. Go me!

Also, like I’ve said before, the roads here are tiny. This means tiny cars—lots of them. I’m talking there are cars that make a mini cooper look big. I was not surprised to see many Suzukis like mine wandering around. Try fitting your suitcase in one of those! Coming from a town full of big trucks and bigger trucks, I feel like I’m living in a toy town when I walk around. Traffic acts strangely here as well. There seems to be no regard for which side is the correct side, stop signs, yielding, common courtesy. However, they are very aware of pedestrians. Sometimes I feel like I don’t even have to look before crossing a street. They just stop. Try doing that in an American city and see how long you keep your legs.

Even though it seems chaotic with the way I describe it, everything is pretty laid-back. Everyone pretty much does what he or she wants to do at a pace they’re comfortable with when they want to do it. They know what’s up over here.