B is for Beauracracy

I've been having some administrative problems lately, and I'm really looking forward to the day when I am no longer sitting on hold with various offices and traveling across the department to do in person what the office was incapable of doing by mail three months ago. And now my visa is about to expire while the people in said offices have done nothing with my file. And, in Bordeaux the medical office has yet to schedule me an appointment so I can get my Titre de Sejour (which is to replace my visa by Dec 16th). ARG! And, I'm glad that my return ticket has been uncancelled afterall (thanks British Airways, you suck). And, I'm a little angry with the exchange rate because after you convert my salary into dollars, the loan people thing I'm making enough money, even though all of my expenses are in EUROS.

On the bright side, the Department of Transportation people were very accomodating in getting an extension on my drivers license renewal (which would have expired on my birthday two weeks ago). Who would have thought the drivers license people would be the easiest to work with?

Today I'm off to the prefecture to try to get a little assistance with my housing with a file full of things I sent them a long time ago. They asked me if I had a particular document to bring, but I only have a copy because THEY have for the ORIGIONAL from first time I sent this in. ARGH!!

Thanksgiving

Yesterday, I went from thinking I was going to have a Thanksgiving dinner in Pau with other assistants to thinking I was not going to Pau at all, to going to Pau with French people in a matter of a few short hours. I got news that the assistants changed the night of the meal to tonight, and I couldn't find a ride back to Aire in time for my class this morning. So, I cancelled my ride to Pau. Then I got invited to a party here, so I accepted. But then, I ran into one of the students from the same class I went bowling with about a month ago who was going to Pau and coming back the same night, so then I cancelled my other invitation and went! Whew!

We ate at a flippin' expensive Chinese buffet- 15€! It included frog legs- it it always interesting to see how the cuisine of the host country influences the visiting cuisine! We went and played pool at the bowling alley, and then we went and found one of the American assistants. One of them is going to teach me how to drive a stick....super excited about that. It's something I have been passively pursuing for quite a few years now. As of next Thursday, I should have my first manual driving experience!

THANKSGIVING

Last night I made 6 dozen knock-off chocolate chip cookies. Whew! What work!

Bordeaux Pics

These are pictures of us playing twister/falling over after losing at twister/being at the establishment we visited after twister!

Daddy's inspiration

So, my nickname among my neighbors in the dorms is "Une petite fleur fanée" (a little faded flower). I am a 'petite fleur' because way back when I moved in, that is how I explained why I can't/won't drink huge volumes of alcohol, i.e. 'I am a delicate flower who wants to be in good health!' Thursday, when I became a seriously old lady, they added the 'fanée.' (Oh, I love my boys!) Upon hearing this, Dad pointed me to this verse, and I thought it was worth mentioning!

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our GOD stands forever." Isaiah 40:7-8

When in France, do as the French.

Last night, this petite fleur fanée (little faded flower, because I'm 23 now) was sulking a little bit in her room. Because of the strike today, the students were all out enjoying themselves as if it were a Friday, but I was all by myself in my room! Twice already I had received two different visits from drunk students who crept up to my door, banged on it, and they ran away giggling. *Sigh.* I watched Goodwill Hunting by myself on TV until about 11PM and then I almost put on my pyjamas and went to bed. However, I wanted to watch the movie following Goodwill Hunting, House on Haunted Hill, but seriously needed company to make it through it this scary film. So, I worked up some courage to go out into the hallway to find someone to watch it with me.

Luckily for me, my neighbor across the hall was just retourning home. He didn't seem too interested in watching the movie, but we did talk for about 20 minutes. Ok, fine, that's better than nothing. But, about five minutes later after I returned to my room, he knocked on my door and told me some of his classmates had come over to watch the movie in his room and that I should join them. Sweet!

After the movie at around 1AM, I was fairly convinced that this would be the end of my night. I got into my pjs and washed my face and brushed my teeth. Mais alors, around 1:30, I got another knock on my door. It was some of my other students from across the courtyard who saw my light and thought that I shouldn't be up all alone. So, I changed back into my clothes and went with them. There, I actually met the two other fabled GIRLS who actually live in the residence!!!! WOW! Pretty soon 2AM turned into 4AM which turned into 6AM. How quickly my crappy, lonely evening turned into a lively all-nighter!

Twist and shout!

One of my classes knew it was my birthday on Thursday, so they sang for me a little bit, helping to make the day special even though I'm far from home! That night, there was a student in my hallway celebrating his 21st birthday. We got together in his dorm with five or six of his friends for a little celebration. It was quite nice to have people to be with! To really celebrate my birthday (that is, with English speakers), I caught a ride to Bordeaux where I stayed one night with Laurent's family and one night in Bordeaux center with the assistants. During the day, I went shopping where I aquired two pairs of boots and a free 'string.' I couldn't quite understand what this free string was supposed to be until the merchant pointed to a huge bin of thong underwear and told me that I could have a pair. French men are so sweet! That night several assistants and I stayed up playing games - twister and cards mostly. The twister board was makeshift out of telephone book pages folded into different shapes. You've got to give us points for creativity! There are some grand pictures that I will have to borrow from Facebook as I have lost my camera. Oops, I think it's maybe in Lyon...

Oh, Hear My Grievences

I am on strike.

I am not well enough paid.
I study five years in school
To work for mere centimes.
What do you think I am, a fool?

I am on strike.

My collegues in Paris,
they work more with police
than their students.
The state, it does nothing!

I am on strike.

The age of retirement
gets later and later.
In fifty years time,
I'll be the age of their great grandmothers.

I am on strike.

My classes are too big,
and I have no supplies.
With my piddly payment,
how do I buy markers?

I am on strike.

Only 1 of 2 teachers
will be replaced when they retire.
Young teachers will not
find a place to be hired!

I am on strike.

It's a little too damp for the rally.
The coffee's on,
I think I'll stay in
and read La Liberation.

I am on strike.

This is France, et alors!

Once in a lifetime experience

Something happened today that I never thought would ever happen in my life. Let me set up the scene. On Tuesdays I assist a particular class of BTS (20-year-old future papermakers or computer programmers, I forget which field) which has two hours of English per week with Professor Batina. For the first hour of their session, I have half the class. Today, as usual, the bell rang signaling the five minute break after which they would return to their regular class. Here's the stunning part: Not only were they not packing up early, my students opted, nay, REQUESTED, to forgo their smoke break and finish the lesson with me. HUH???? What educator has ever experienced a class of students ASKING to stay past the bell? (OK, probably Jo Anne.) I feel a little sorry for the Professor Batina as I think some of them might get a little testy towards the end of the session without their nicotine fix. Sorry!

I'm going on strike again

Last night as I was watching the news, the strike schedule for the coming week appeared. This week, it's students in Paris. Thursday, public transportation workers. Tuesday, teachers (that's me) and public works empoyees. What sort of place has a strike schedule that reads like a 'Who's bringing treats to soccer practice?' schedule??? At least I don't have to face 8AM next week.

Not a lot shaking otherwise, I think I'll go to Bordeaux this weekend, depending on if I can get a ride. However, one of my classes told me there will be a white power rally there this Saturday afternoon. Kinda makes me want to not be there. But then I asked another class about it and they hadn't heard a thing about it, so then I asked a teacher and she said that these rallies typically aren't permitted in France. It is sort of looking like the first class was possibly just messing with me, but what a strange to make up! We'll see...

There and back again

I've finally made it back to Aire! After 13 days of squatting on other people's couches I can finally take a shower without first asking permission! Lyon was great, if a little long. I ended up meeting some assistants who are very fun, so I think I might go back there for the Festival of Lights in December.

I took the night train on Monday back to Pau where there was a screaming baby. I could tell that I have majorly improved in the patience category as I was dealing with it better than many of the other passengers. A big thank you to my students for teaching me this new found skill.

Today I was actually very excited to return to class after about two weeks of not working. We played 20 Questions which is actually a very useful game for making them construct full sentences, and it turned the tables; normally it's them who only give 'yes' or 'no' responses! My class had 3 native English speakers in it, which makes for interesting dynamics. It's like half of what the French students say is an inside joke for the rest of us. However, I did have to ask the English girls not to laugh at some the errors or put on fake French accents to mimic the other students. It may be funny in private, but in class it stifles the others' confidence, which is not something I need!