Cahors was very small and quiet. There were a couple of bars, but no real nightlife to speak of. I met most of my friends through joining the local climbing society, where everyone was really friendly. I travelled every weekend and during the holidays. As a teaching assistant, you have plenty of spare time (and money) to be able to travel easily. The most difficult aspects were finding accommodation, setting up (and closing) a bank account and there was limited public transport, but I had great fun visiting Toulouse, Montpellier, Sete, Bordeaux, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Corsica and Paris.