Today was the day of my first session of Formation Civique. Because I was refused a talent visa the conditions of my one-year work visa is four days of training about life in France.

There were five parts to the day. First up was France. We learnt about the Regions, Departments and Communes of France.

I did learn a few things. About the symbol of my department Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It is made up of a volcano from the Auvergne, the river Rhône and the Alps.

It also has a president – Laurent Wauquiez

The flag of France has meaning – blanc pour la monarchie, bleu pour Paris et rouge pour la revolution

I didn’t know Gaul was the Latin for cockerel and thus why le coq is one of the symbols of France.

I didn’t know the emergency numbers – 15 for le SAMU, the paramedics and 18 for les pompiers – who also help you if you are ill. I learnt about un medecin traitant – a GP. And there are levels of medecins – 1 et 2 – and their prices vary.

I need something called Responabilite civile insurance and need to keep household bills for five years and payslips for life!

I learnt some new words:

Hebergement – accommodation

Par le bouche-à-orielle – word of mouth

Puce electronique – chip

I also learnt that when renting a flat, the higher the floor the more you pay! Unfortunately this session on renting came a bit late for us and our new fifth floor flat.

But I’m not sure I needed the advice about how to write a CV and what to wear to an interview.

Or how to enrol my children in a crèche. If you do however you can go here.

Fortunately, there are only three more days of this training to go.

I had my French lesson today with the wonderful Frederique and we were discussing my plans for the impending visit of my father.

To show off that I had remembered a word I learnt last week I said I wanted to take him for a drink on a barge moored along the Rhône.

The word for barge is la peniche but – and I blame my sister-in-law for this as she told me it as an aide-memoire – instead of peniche I said penis.

J’etais tellement gêné.

Il fait tellement chaud à Lyon et la clime chez nous ne marche pas. Alors la vie est un peu difficile.

Alors, qu’est-ce qu’on peut faire?

On peut nager dans le Rhône comme cet homme

Ou on peut s’asseoir sous un pont au bord du Rhône.

Regardez cette eglise au coeur de Lyon.

C’est toute petite.

Je ne sais pas si elle est jamais ouverte.

This morning I went for another appointment at the OFII – Office Francaise l’immigration et de l’integration. I thought it was my first of four appointments for my formation civique. But no. This was my pre-formation civique appointment.

So I found myself back in Rue de Quivogne, where we had our medicals, at 8 o’clock in the morning for a demi- journée of training along with une douzaine of others.

We had to check in. I heard the woman asking everyone: “Vous comprenez le Francais?” as they were signing in and everyone replied Un peu. Alors, when it was my turn I went for: Je me debrouille.

Then it was into la salle de classe with a 20-minute test of our written French.

It was quite straightforward although I didn’t know what un travail en tension was. It was multiple choice so I worked out it was either an oversubscribed profession or an undersubscribed one. And I went for the wrong one. It means jobs that not many people want to do.

Throughout the test there were two eyes bearing down on us.

Then, papers collected in, it was time to wait for the oral test. One by one we were called out. Was the order best to worst? I hope not because before I knew it there were only four of us left. Then it was my turn.

No need to worry. I was told my French was at level B1.

In order to apply for a residency for 10 years your French must be at A2 level and for nationality at B1 level.

I now have to do FOUR days of formation civique – to learn how to be a good citizen in France. At least I can do the first two online.

It is one more step on the road to being allowed to stay here a bit longer – so I treated myself to a nice coffee afterwards.

Mais Duolingo ça c’est insupportable.

Il fait chaud à Lyon. Alors je peux porter les vetements que Cath m’a offert pour mon anniversaire.

Semi-French gag.