Nantes was unrecognisable to me after my 33-year absence. I was also very nervous about returning to France barely able to speak French.

It didn’t help that I had brought no French cash with me, and that the University sports centre was built for aesthetic reasons only (without steps, nor signage). I was also annoyed to find that the hall of residence was a 40 minute bus ride from campus and the return fare was £8.

I was going to hate this year abroad just as much as the last one.