Today was my first day teaching a full class of 29 high schoolers all on my own. And guess what? It was extremely satisfying! I prepared a lesson about stereotypes and I think it went over really well. I had forgotten how much teenagers love anything that resembles gossip. They were able to give me a huge list of (not so nice) characteristics about Americans. Funnily and not surprising at all, their list was a lot shorter and nicer for the French.
It's 11:35 a.m. here and the foggiest I've seen in a long time. My walk to and from school was completely white. You couldn't even see big buildings 50 yards away.
I think I'm also particularly cheery right now because my little fan club spotted me walking home. What I mean is there is a couple 15 year old girls in one of my classes that are completely silly and obsessed with everything American. They love the American accent so much that they get a kick out of everything I say and repeat it back in this crooning imitation. Although it's a bit distracting in class, I have to admit it's also kind of endearing. So yes I was walking home and heard bouts of giggling and then my name. Just goes to show we all want to be loved.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Art of Not Showing Up i.e France on Strike
Let me start off with a little run down of this past work week.
Monday - off. Tuesday- the teachers were on strike so they told me not to come in. Wednesday - one hour of teaching in afternoon. Thursday - the students were on strike so they told me to go home because only one kid showed up to class. In the afternoon we had a rousing six show so I spent the hour learning the best places to vacation in France. Friday - The teachers and students were on strike.
I worked a total of four hours...
This week isn't looking that much more productive as I'm only working Tuesday and Wednesday haha.
The strikes here are actually pretty phenomenal even for France's standards. Usually strikes may last a day or two but the intensity this time seems to be ongoing. I spent the weekend in Beauvais with Petey and on my trip home I got to Paris at 9 a.m. to find that due to the train strikes the next available train to Crépy wasn't until 17.30 (5:30pm for you amuricans). Never fear tho your ever resourceful girl ended up jumping an RER that I hoped was going the right way and finding the only bus traveling to Crépy.
While waiting for the bus and escaping the cold (note to self DO NOT travel with wet hair), I met this really nice french woman in a café. We chatted about (obviously) the strikes and she wanted to know all about my teaching assignment. In some ways it is so refreshing to be out of Paris because people actually speak french to you!!! So yes Martine ended up giving me her email address and inviting me to stay in St Mard, her very little quaint town of around a thousand inhabitants, any time I want :)
She also taught me the name for these beautiful weeping willow-esque trees that are all over Northern France:
Saule Pleureur
I think they are also nicknamed "Sol Pleueur," which translates to "Weeping Sun," which is just beautiful.
The weekend in Beauvais was outstanding. We met british "chaps" on Friday night at a pub that played live concerts of Red Hot Chile Peppers and U2. They amused us with their never ending slew of strange english phrases. Turns out they were passing through France shooting a TV commercial for the french equivalent of John Deere. How perfectly random. Saturday night we discovered an awesome Harry Potter themed pub that had drink specials like "vous savez qui" as in "you know who" as in "lord voldermort." -hahahahah everything is funnier in French. Petey and I also found a beautiful artisan market that only comes to Beauvais twice a year. Sadly we found out that the reason they come so infrequently is because it takes half a year for the customers to forget their OUTRAGEOUS prices. I mean really, we put a couple of pieces of dried fruit into a box and the total came out to 11 EUROS. How indecent.
Phew blogging is tiring! Vacation starts this weekend and we're off to Normandy and Bretagne. More on that soon!
Oh yea and HAPPY HALLOWEEN! My one task for everyone is that they dress up and celebrate for me!! It is really just so sad that France doesn't understand the awesomeness that is planning a costume for months and eating a lot of candy. I know you all won't disappoint me.
Monday - off. Tuesday- the teachers were on strike so they told me not to come in. Wednesday - one hour of teaching in afternoon. Thursday - the students were on strike so they told me to go home because only one kid showed up to class. In the afternoon we had a rousing six show so I spent the hour learning the best places to vacation in France. Friday - The teachers and students were on strike.
I worked a total of four hours...
This week isn't looking that much more productive as I'm only working Tuesday and Wednesday haha.
The strikes here are actually pretty phenomenal even for France's standards. Usually strikes may last a day or two but the intensity this time seems to be ongoing. I spent the weekend in Beauvais with Petey and on my trip home I got to Paris at 9 a.m. to find that due to the train strikes the next available train to Crépy wasn't until 17.30 (5:30pm for you amuricans). Never fear tho your ever resourceful girl ended up jumping an RER that I hoped was going the right way and finding the only bus traveling to Crépy.
While waiting for the bus and escaping the cold (note to self DO NOT travel with wet hair), I met this really nice french woman in a café. We chatted about (obviously) the strikes and she wanted to know all about my teaching assignment. In some ways it is so refreshing to be out of Paris because people actually speak french to you!!! So yes Martine ended up giving me her email address and inviting me to stay in St Mard, her very little quaint town of around a thousand inhabitants, any time I want :)
She also taught me the name for these beautiful weeping willow-esque trees that are all over Northern France:
Saule Pleureur
I think they are also nicknamed "Sol Pleueur," which translates to "Weeping Sun," which is just beautiful.
The weekend in Beauvais was outstanding. We met british "chaps" on Friday night at a pub that played live concerts of Red Hot Chile Peppers and U2. They amused us with their never ending slew of strange english phrases. Turns out they were passing through France shooting a TV commercial for the french equivalent of John Deere. How perfectly random. Saturday night we discovered an awesome Harry Potter themed pub that had drink specials like "vous savez qui" as in "you know who" as in "lord voldermort." -hahahahah everything is funnier in French. Petey and I also found a beautiful artisan market that only comes to Beauvais twice a year. Sadly we found out that the reason they come so infrequently is because it takes half a year for the customers to forget their OUTRAGEOUS prices. I mean really, we put a couple of pieces of dried fruit into a box and the total came out to 11 EUROS. How indecent.
Phew blogging is tiring! Vacation starts this weekend and we're off to Normandy and Bretagne. More on that soon!
Oh yea and HAPPY HALLOWEEN! My one task for everyone is that they dress up and celebrate for me!! It is really just so sad that France doesn't understand the awesomeness that is planning a costume for months and eating a lot of candy. I know you all won't disappoint me.
Monday, October 11, 2010
New Beginnings
Well here I am writing my very first post on my very first blog. But that's not all that's new with my life. I now live in a small town in Northern France. Lovingly known only by its inhabitants and perhaps those in living in the Picardie region, as Crépy en Valois.
For this introduction I had planned to post pictures of my new room and surroundings but unfortunately in the mad rush that was moving to France I forgot a couple of things including my camera cable, which allows me to upload photos. So instead I am turning to a beloved artist to portray my current predicament. Alphonse Mucha.
Although telling by the leaves on the ground it is not spring (printemps) in either the States or France, I find this picture sums up my own quest for personal growth. What with her being porcelain skinned and determined.
But enough about that. This weekend Petey and I visited Paris! It was amazingly warm and sunny and all around lovely. We ate on Rue Mouffetarde in a tiny (as in literally closet sized) tarte restaurant and met an American couple. They we're very friendly and it was great to all share our love of Paris! Taking their advice, Petey and I decided to forgo the metro and take a bus around Paris which allowed us to have a (cheap) personal tour all over the city streets!
Now its Monday night and I'm back in C.E.V. ready to start the work week which is Tuesday through Friday for me. But more on that later. Right now cette jeune fille needs her beauty rest.
For this introduction I had planned to post pictures of my new room and surroundings but unfortunately in the mad rush that was moving to France I forgot a couple of things including my camera cable, which allows me to upload photos. So instead I am turning to a beloved artist to portray my current predicament. Alphonse Mucha.
Although telling by the leaves on the ground it is not spring (printemps) in either the States or France, I find this picture sums up my own quest for personal growth. What with her being porcelain skinned and determined.
But enough about that. This weekend Petey and I visited Paris! It was amazingly warm and sunny and all around lovely. We ate on Rue Mouffetarde in a tiny (as in literally closet sized) tarte restaurant and met an American couple. They we're very friendly and it was great to all share our love of Paris! Taking their advice, Petey and I decided to forgo the metro and take a bus around Paris which allowed us to have a (cheap) personal tour all over the city streets!
Now its Monday night and I'm back in C.E.V. ready to start the work week which is Tuesday through Friday for me. But more on that later. Right now cette jeune fille needs her beauty rest.
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