Non, je ne regret rien

Sunday saw me on a ferry to France to go for an interreg EU funded project with two colleagues from Brighton’s Working Together project. I am always a bit hesitant about going on conferences or study visits with colleagues I don’t know well as you have to spend a lot of time together. But Louise and Paul come up trumps and throughout are very good company with whom I have lots in common which is a big relief. Louise shares my interests in running and diving and Paul my interest in obscure music so we rub along well. They are also both good at what they do and have a sense of humour which means a lot in the somehwat worthy world of the VCS. It is a good job too as our trip is not without its adversities as we get a little lost and arrive at the hotel just in time for everything to have closed. A little negotiation using Louise’s impeccable French gets us some trays of salad to eat in our rooms.

The following day is intensive when we find the institute – which is nearest to what we used to call a Polytechnic - and meet our prospective French partners. With the best of intentions it is an exhausting day. There is something about a 6 hour meeting, poorly chairted, translated into 2 languages to be seen to be believed. There are differences of approaches to be managed as well as the fact that some concepts do not have an equivalent in the French language. The UK contingent bang on about 'mentoring' only to find that this word has no direct equivalent in French and so we struggle to find some common ground or a model on which we can conceive a project. Lunch was an indifferent affair consistent of meatballs and chips – clearly Jamie Oliver has not made across the channel. People often wax lyrical about French food, bread and coffee but the reality is not always as good as it is cracked up to be. After lunch and a quick introduction to the Director General of the Institute it is back to thrash out aims, objectives and activities. Somehow whatever ever the culture and language, flipcharts and arguing the toss over priorities are the same wherever you go. I have found that whoever holds the big felt tip pen at the end usually wins the day!!

We are joined by Delphine the programme manager of the EU regional funds who, thankfully has both languages. Finally we arrive at a consensus for a micro-project which is a pilot which, potentially could unlock the doors for much larger EU funding but we shall see. We make the 9.00 ferry to arrive back home at 11.30pm. Sue has waited up which is lovely as she is under the work cosh too at present but falls asleep on the couch shortly after but the thought was there!!

Was it worth it?, well overall it was a really tiring 2 days but interesting to see a different perspective on some of the issues we face and if we can do some joint work together – fine. So in the words of our song lyric No, I regret nothing… http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CzJjbHAlMVI