A Sting in a tale

by Freda Ohene-Yeboah (France)

I didn't expect to find France

Good morning! Have a nice day! Goes the alarm on my phone. I was so tired but still had to go to work. I reluctantly got out of my bed, dashed to the bathroom to have my bath. After that, I dressed up and faced the day with joy and smiles as it was the beginning of a new day. As I got to the office, the pressure from my bosses did not deter me from smiling and feeling happy. My colleagues asked, why such joy, happy-go-child? And I answered with a smile, “I have Jesus and He gives me joy everyday”. As if I knew something good was coming my way that very day. After some hours of work, I got a mail saying, “You have gained admissions into the Masters of Science program-International Business in Montpellier Business School”. That was my happiest day ever, because I have always dreamed of going to France and being part of the “La culture Française”. I said to myself I am going to the Grande école of France and could not wait for the day to end so I share this joy with my boyfriend. This was a great opportunity for me as I will be killing two birds with one stone- that is, bettering my French perfectly and having a Master’s degree as well. Month passed, days followed and I just could not wait to go to France. I planned a lot of fun filled activities, packed my belongings in anticipation and waited anxiously for September. I called my journey, “a dream called September”. September was here and I bided my family farewell, kissed my boyfriend goodbye with the hope of inviting him for my graduation after completing school. First time in Europe, I had a lot of expectations and there I got to aéroport Lyon-Saint Exupéry. It was in the evening so I managed to ask people about where to get a train to Montpellier. At the time I was asking the question was when the last train was moving and it will take thirty minutes to get to the train station so I would definitely miss it no matter what I do. I found a place to sleep in Lyon- Hotel de Simplon in order to begin my “voyager” the next morning. The next day came and I was already tired. I had to rush to the train station-Part Dieu, as I did not want to miss my train. So confused on how to begin my journey I had to ask a lot of questions from people. Some helped, some ignored, still-others did not bother to listen as they did not understand my French accent. I finally got to Montpellier and was hosted by a friend because the room I paid for was not ready says my landlord while he knows very well about my arrival time and all. Three days passed, and yet not a word from my landlord. I called my landlord to find out whether the room was ready, because I have paid five hundred euros and deserved better. After several argument on the phone, we finally agreed to sign on a contract because I needed to get the “contrat de bail” in order to open a French account. Without hesitating, I signed this lease contract only to realize that my landlord left the apartment without giving me a copy. I chased him for this document for weeks yet he decided not to give me a copy. One day, I returned from school only to find the apartment locked. I stood in the cold close to three hours calling my landlord but he was unreachable. He came to the apartment after an hour and said he cannot have me living in his house so I should go. Such a painful thing, I did not get my money and the “contrat de bail” and I felt so remorseful for coming into France, I did not know who to turn to and that night I drag my bags in the cold, nowhere to lodge. With tears running down my cheeks this journey I said to myself “I did not expect to find such an inhuman act”