Week 4 - Work, Language Barriers, and a Cyclist Marathon
Getting Used to Life in France
I’ve been in France for more than a month now, and the funny part is that even though I still don’t speak French, communication is somehow getting easier. Whether it’s my colleagues chatting with each other or everyday situations like grocery shopping, I can usually pick up a few keywords and rely on body language to understand what’s going on.
That said, I’m still keeping up my Duolingo streak every day, hoping that I’ll actually learn some proper French before heading back to Germany.
Work & Projects
At work, things are still quite busy. Alongside starting a new AI invoice scanning web project, I also had to merge my work with another coworker’s frontend from a previous project. That alone took almost half a day, since we both worked on similar parts and I had to resolve conflicts carefully while making sure everything still worked.
For the current project, even though I’ve already got the frontend running, the full demo still depends on integrating a new AI model that verifies extracted invoice data for accuracy. Meanwhile, other colleagues are working on training the AI model itself — which is actually their specialization in their master’s programs. So everyone kind of has their own role and expertise, which is pretty interesting to see.
Snorkeling Plans
Even though work has been intense, the weather is finally getting better. So I went to Decathlon and picked up some beginner snorkeling gear — hoping to try it out over the weekend.
🚴 Cycling Event Volunteering
On Saturday, the big cycling event finally happened. I arrived quite early and saw that some volunteers were already setting things up. There were several stands — souvenirs, barbecue, coffee, beer, local crafts, and of course the provision stand for the cyclists.
After the Alfmed group arrived, we gathered together, picked up our T-shirts, got changed, and prepared for work.
Food Station Duty
I was assigned to the provision stand, where we prepared food for the cyclists. There were oranges and watermelon for refreshment, sliced baguette with liver paste and brioche for carbs, salted nuts and chips for electrolytes, and of course chocolate and various sweets for quick energy. Most importantly, there was plenty of water and Coca-Cola.
Preparing at the food provision station
My job was to handle the drink station — refilling water and Coke. At first, it didn’t seem too difficult, especially during the quiet morning and around noon.
I even had time to grab a beer and a tuna sandwich and enjoy a short lunch break by the beach.
The Real Rush
But things changed quickly after lunch.
That’s when most of the cyclists started arriving — exhausted and in desperate need of sugar. Suddenly, I turned into a human serving machine:
Pop — open a bottle
Grab — new paper cup
Pssshh — pour Coke
Repeat. Over and over.
I kept saying “cheers” to every merci I received. At first, it was actually kind of fun — like playing one of those diner simulation games where customers keep coming and you just keep serving.
But after about an hour, reality kicked in. My arm started to hurt, and I realized this was no game. I had to constantly restock from the back, carrying more bottles and cups. I was just glad we were working under a large tent — otherwise, I probably would’ve gotten a heatstroke.
Wrapping Up
After pouring what felt like 500 cups of Coke and water, things finally slowed down. I managed to grab some snacks and hydrate myself.
Later, another group of interns showed up after spending half the day at the beach — I guess helping clean up was the least they could do 🙄.
Eventually, I was told my shift was done, and I could finally head home.
Final Thoughts
Everyone in the group was incredibly nice, and even though I don’t speak French or Spanish, I could still feel the friendliness and positive energy.
Normally, I would never sign up for this kind of volunteer event, so I guess this really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The food provision group at the cycling event