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!

Musician Land

So, my friend that I've been staying with is an actual, real life, professional musician. All of his friends are musicians, too. I've been hanging out with the first violin for the National Orchestra in Lorraine, the featured cello soloist for a the Elysée Parisian Concert hall, instructors from the Music Conservatory in Lyon, etc. I feel a little out of my league!!! Meanwhile, my friend (Charles) has been practicing for the opera he plays piano for in Saint Etienne. He memorized his pieces after practicing for two hours....

Last night Charles and I were invited to the home of one of his students for dinner. They are American ex-pats who have been here for 10 years. It was kind of like being in a movie with those ivy league families who wear turtlenecks and offer you scotch, brandy, or cognac in front of their marble fireplace before serving you a 5 course meal. Oh, wait, that's exactly what it was. They were wonderful people with a love for music, and they were so welcoming! After they put the two youngest children to bed, the dad said to me, "If you ever wanted to be a nanny, Clemence (the 7 year old daughter) wants you to be her nanny really badly!" I think he was kidding, but it did kind of make me start thinking about what I'm going to do come May when I'm unemployed...

Tonight I'm meeting up with some English assistants in Lyon as Charles rehearses with the opera, so this will be the first night where I'll have to navigate the bus system...I'm a little nervous!!! If you don't hear from me again, you can assume I'm riding endless circles on the public transportation system in Lyon!

I'm in Lyon

Happy All Saints everybody! For a secular country, they sure do like to take long religious vacations! Right now, I'm in the middle of a 12 day break so I've taken off to my old stomping grounds in Lyon. I'm staying with a friend I've kept in contact with, but I'll probably be meeting up with some other assistants in the area and possibly seeing one of my SAI sisters who is living in SE Germany. Yay!

Thursday night, I went bowling with one of my classes, and it turns out I'm bad at it here, too. I got a 58 I think.....

This is Bordeaux! Isn't it pretty? The guy in the picture is Laurent, his family was nice enough to let me stay with them for free this weekend. No cause for alarm Mom, I'm not finding a French husband, please don't ask. And Sheryl, I promise he is not sinister! The fountain has been tainted pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the other things are a small sampling of how Bordeaux looks EVERYWHERE, and the last picture is of two other language assistants, Shannon and Ciera, who I hung out with for most of the weekend.

Bordeaux again

This weekend I got toted to Bordeaux and I stayed with a French family. It is so nice! the dinner was yummy as usual, and I got to meet up with other assistants in the city. I went around taking pictures yesterday, I'll get them up one of these days. At night, we watched the Rugby World Cup Final. It is a game I really do not understand, but French people sure do love it in the Southwest!

My friend who brought me here has a hockey game today, so I'll go to that today, which is another game I will not understand!