Just grabbing a few moments before going for a welcome drink with everyone who's recently arrived here, there are quite a few of us who have arrived in the last week or so, including a couple of other assistants, an American and a Spaniard I think, although I haven't met either yet.
It's been another busy week since I last wrote, have been at school for a few hours everyday. Still just observing classes, and answering their questions, as the title to this post suggests, there have been yet more weird ones! I've been asked out of the blue if I'll be teaching them to swim (little do they know I'm probably the most incompetent swimming instructor they'll ever meet!) and if I've ever seen a leprechaun, of all things! That one really threw me, I thought I'd misheard, as I often do, today I misheard Zinedine Zidane for Lady Diana! They do study the strangest cross section of things in the English classes, one group's textbook is 100% focused on Brighton. They also asked me if my sister had a nickname, so I said that I call her Bean, to which they fell about laughing when the teacher told them this is translated to haricot. Apparently they think the English are obsessed with baked beans, something that they find a very odd idea.
The pupils are generally really nice and friendly towards me, although I did have a group jump out on me from behind the lockers as I was walking down the corridor, which gave me a bit of a fright and amused them no end! I have started spotting some when I'm out of school (I generally dart off quickly in the other direction!) and one girl came up to me today and said she'd seen me in Carrefour at the weekend, it's a bit strange to think that I can run into pupils wherever I go.
Another funny thing they've picked up is that the English don't like to swear and generally say "sugar" instead, quite true, but it's very funny to hear them come out with it, they just don't quite have the right intonation and it sounds very odd!
So in brief, other school related news is that I've started working on organising the "Semaine d'Europe" (European week) with the librarian, we're looking at putting displays up down the main corridor, getting the chef to focus his menus on different foods etc, that week is to be at the
October. I have made posters for a lunchtime meeting with interested pupils, it will be interesting to see how many show up! I've also been asked out to supper with a science teacher tomorrow night, who has a son who needs English conversation classes, so we might set something up, it'd be great to be paid to do something as easy as chatting in English! Teachers also keeping mentioning some Comenius project I'm supposed to be doing...I have no idea what this is, as far as I knew I was an English language assistant, but we shall see! I'm doing the inevitable putting off discussing what it is until it's absolutely necessary!
Apart from school I've been busy, on Thursday evening we had a party at another of the hostels owned by the same company as this one. We went there in cars, the journey alone was hilarious, two guys in the front, and Charlotte, Pauline and me crammed in the back. We got very lost, although Pauline and I had seen the sign for the foyer, we went round one roundabout 6 times while they debated where to go, completely ignoring Pauline and me. And all this was taking place to the tune of the Titanic soundtrack which we had blasting out at full volume! Needless to say, I felt very travel sick when we finally arrived! The event itself was a sort of buffet, followed by a really crazy band (see the photo!), who played French modernised nursery rhymes! There was lots of jolly French dancing! For the buffet, everyone brought something typical from their home town. I had no idea what to take, it's very hard to find any vaguely English food here, and don't have a kitchen in which to cook anything. Eventually I found some Scottish Millionaire's Shortbread, so that was ok, thank you for everyone who offered suggestions! It was such an amazing spread, the French really do know how to cook, most people had brought some homemade dish, absolutely delicious. Particularly considering most people are in their teens or early twenties, it was really impressive, I don't think most English young people could (or would) produce such a yummy selection of goods. I'm slowly but surely getting bigger!!! Particularly as I'm currently eating brioche and nutella for breakfast, and then two 3 course meals, with ample bread. I do not know why the French are not all obese and suffering from lung cancer.
For the first few days, people kept mentioning pudding to me, and I couldn't understand what they were so interested in: I explained to them that after lunch, we'll have something sweet, just as they do in France, I didn't see what was so special. Then I realised, it's Christmas pudding that they're on about, the French are absolutely captivated by the thought of it, they find the thought of it really weird and can't believe that it actually tastes nice. I may have to bring some back after Christmas, my excuse for not making my own is that it's too late to make it now, they find the idea that you make it months in advance equally strange. I have also tried what the French believe is custard, what they call creme anglaise, it rather different to my custard, so I'm calling it creme anglaise a la francaise!
On Friday night we stayed in and watched a film on TV and the French equivalent to Popstars (which, despite my dislike of such shows, I will admit it was funny). It's so nice to have no stress of work and to think that by spending an evening watching TV I am actually "working/learning"! The funniest moment of the evening was when the boys came in and poured a saucepan of water over Charlotte and me, for absolutely no reason! They really do play loads of practical jokes here, I'm really watching my back.
On Saturday we went shopping (and no, I haven't yet found myself some red ankle swingers!) and in the evening we went to a electroguitarre type concert, which was quite good. We then went on to what was called an Irish bar (having never been to Ireland I'm not one to judge...but it certainly didn't seem Irish to me!) so we had a dance there, and stayed until nearly 4, French discotheques tend not to open until 12/1 and stay open until at least 5, something I'm going to have to get used to! It was really good fun to have a boogie to some crazy French music, with some English bit thrown into the mix.
Once we'd got up on Sunday we went to the beach again, we have had 10 days of non stop hot sun (except one grey morning) and I'm sorry to day that my nose has taken another battering! The people here have never known me without a red nose, and the current joke is that I am in fact an alcoholic who came to France simply because red wine is cheaper and I have a large supply in my room! Apart from my nose, I'm also still rather bruised from ice skating last week, some bruises came up a real treat!
Yesterday I finally braved doing some washing. As anyone who as ever lived with me will know, I absolutely hate doing the laundry and will do anything at all to put it off. So I headed down to the laundry room to try and work it all out (I'm possibly the first person ever to visit a laundrette equipped with a dictionary in hand!). These things absolutely baffle me, plus I've never used a tumble dryer before, so I really didn't stand a chance! It was almost a success, I only shrank 4 socks and 1 t-shirt, I aim to improve next time otherwise by then end of the year I'll have nothing left. Then again that might not be a bad thing, it'll make transporting things home easier, especially now I've got my bike!
I hope you like the photo of my bike, I'm still besotted with it! The flag has had to be returned (apparently it was "borrowed" from a bank, I'm asking no questions!) but it is still looking pretty fit!
The final observation of this post is that the French tend to leave much less space between themselves, when they're talking or just standing next to each other, I'm finding it really unnerving having someone right in my personal space. Plus you have to kiss everyone, even those you'd rather stay well away from!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Just a quick post for the moment to see if I can put up some photos as promised...
I obviously haven't quite grasped how to lay out the photos nicely with captions underneath, but I'll give you a quick run down of what everything is, you'll have to guess which photo I'm describing!
1) a fit chateau just across the road
2) a boulangerie that sells the yummiest bread near the chateau
3) my accommodation,
4) Marion and Pierre at the beach last weekend
5) Yoshy, Alex, Christophe, Pierre and Sebastian at a restaurant beside the beach this weekend
6) the beach on our visit this weekend, loads and loads of sailing boats around, not sure if you can see them so clearly in this photo
7 and 8) Us at the beach last weekend
9) a crazy band that played at the event on Thursday night
10) Les Sables d'Olonne (the town with the beach), a typically deserted French town at the weekend, and finally...
The best two:
I have quite simply never seen a bike like it! I still laugh at it every morning, as do all my pupils as I ride into school! It's not so easy to get up hills on it, I must admit! We're hopefully going to decorate the white panels on the sides, watch this space!
I obviously haven't quite grasped how to lay out the photos nicely with captions underneath, but I'll give you a quick run down of what everything is, you'll have to guess which photo I'm describing!
1) a fit chateau just across the road
2) a boulangerie that sells the yummiest bread near the chateau
3) my accommodation,
4) Marion and Pierre at the beach last weekend
5) Yoshy, Alex, Christophe, Pierre and Sebastian at a restaurant beside the beach this weekend
6) the beach on our visit this weekend, loads and loads of sailing boats around, not sure if you can see them so clearly in this photo
7 and 8) Us at the beach last weekend
9) a crazy band that played at the event on Thursday night
10) Les Sables d'Olonne (the town with the beach), a typically deserted French town at the weekend, and finally...
The best two:
I have quite simply never seen a bike like it! I still laugh at it every morning, as do all my pupils as I ride into school! It's not so easy to get up hills on it, I must admit! We're hopefully going to decorate the white panels on the sides, watch this space!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
An Eventful Few Days!
So I've now started at school! I turned up on Monday morning and was met by la maitrise, who took me straight to the staff room, where I met who I think is the head of English. She is to help me sort out what I do here, by help I mean that she gave me a large wodge of timetables and told me to decide which lessons I want to observe and left me too it! I can go to anything I like, the only problem being that I have no idea who any of the teachers are, what half of the lessons actually are (they're all abbreviated on the sheets I have), where the classrooms are etc etc! So to say I was rather bewildered by all this is an understatement. Any way I finally made myself a list for the next day, left a few notes in random pidgeon holes (and I have my own!) and that was that...no work on day 1!
Monday nights are sports nights, where we go and do a random sport with the people from the other foyer owned by the same company. And this week's sport was handball, yay! It was such good fun, Charlotte and I were the only girls there and at first they never passed to us, but after I'd made a few netball style interceptions they realised I could actually play and I even scored a goal! I have to say, to those of you who witnessed college handball, it's absolutely nothing like it!!! But good fun...until a fight broke out and we all had to go home, I have absolutely no idea what happened (as usual!) but two of the guys kicked off. Luckily it was towards the end of the session so it didn't really matter that we stopped. Eventful none the less!
If I could have a euro for every time I've tried to explain what netball is to someone here, I think I'd be absolutely minted by the time I get home! I have had my hoodie on and they're all really intrigued! I'd also love count the number of times people have said to me "how do you do" as soon as they've been told/realised that I'm English, it's really funny to have a 20 year guy say it...I don't think anyone has asked me that for a very very long time in England, it gets me everytime!
So that was a really good night, fight apart, and the fact that I broke my bed! I sat down with a thud on it and one of the slats has come out, ooops! Will have to see if someone can help to fix it!
So Tuesday I returned to school, having arranged to go to German, English, PE and European studies. For the first week or so I'm just going to watch lessons then decide what I like, and what I don't. German was first, it was hilarious listening to French children trying to speak German, I couldn't for the life of me work out their accent sometimes, and my own German has got very rusty of the Summer and with all this French, eek for April! Then both English and PE were cancelled, so I just pottered about a bit before going to European studies...where they were studying the American elections....since when was America part of Europe?! I think I learnt as much as the children in that lesson!
I had lunch with the teachers in the cafeteria on Tuesday, which was really good. They were really shocked to hear that I'd had to organise everything myself and know absolutely no-one here except the people I've met at this foyer and them. They were also a little worried to hear where I'm living, it has a bit of a rep with the locals (and I can see why, I had people ringing my room at 2am this morning) and gave me their numbers for emergencies which was kind of them. The funny thing is that they all have wine with their school lunches, got to love the French!
After lunch we had a departmental meeting. I say "we", I actually mean that they had a meeting, and I sat and listened. They were going over the past paper that the students did at the end of the Summer. There was a listening component, I couldn't actually do it! I think they pupils had to say where the stress was in each word, I didn't have a clue! And the people speaking do not speak like we do, a cross between a French person and the Queen! Afterwards I sat in the staff room waiting for my next lesson. The teachers there were generally complaining about the whole French education system, I've met teachers here who obviously hate their work but also those who seem to love it, quite the mix.
Tuesday evening we went to the ice skating rink which is opposite our foyer. Had a really good evening, I think I've only been iceskating twice before, I was soon going fast...much too fast, and I didn't know how to stop! They misread the expressions of terror on my face and have been calling me the fearless anglaise ever since! One of them said that I am the exact image of the stereotypical anglaise, and when I taught them Irish snap (a rather violent card game) they said that it was the epitomy of the "le sauvage anglais" (" the wild English")!
As regards my previous comment about kissing, as I was walking to school yesterday, one of the men pulled over on his scooter, took of his helmet, kissed me good morning and whizzed off, what effort!!" This morning my lessons started at 8:10am, quel horreur! It was still dark when I left, which was really weird, and their lessons go on until 5pm, fortunately I can choose my hours so I won't be doing any days of such length myself, but I do feel sorry for the pupils, especially when I explained to them that a normal school day was 9-3:30, their response was "let's go to England!"!
I went to the low ability English class today, at school they don't have any sets at all (French principle of equality) except one group per year that really struggle. I had probably the most fun of all in their class, for the entire hour they absolutely bombarded me with questions, from the usual "do you speak French?", to the cheeky "can I have your mobile number?", to the bizarre "do you dance to mowtown?" and just down right funny "what does the Queen eat?"! A whole hour of it! To be honest though, the equivalent class of pupils in England could never manage what they manage in French. The problem is that whenever they played up (which happened a lot) I found it funny! And to think that I'm supposed to be the responsible one who tells them off!
I also popped into the library, it was probably the quietest school library that I've ever been in. Even stranger, to me, was that they were almost all reading comic books, there were simply shelves and shelves of them. And it was the same when I went to the public library later, for adults as well, I think. And not just Asterix!
I've been listening to a French radio station this past week (crikey it's already a week since I've been here, time is absolutely flying by!) and was merrily singing along to the Timberland song, The Way I Are, when the woman singer came on...but it wasn't the same, they've got their own French version! It's REALLY funny, the lyrics just don't fit in when translated into French and it's just not the same! That apart the station plays a lot of English music, althought they do play the same 5 or 6 artists again and again. And they have hilarious sounding competitions, I really do not know what they''re doing, but everyone is in hysterics!
One observation I've made here is that the majority of the men carry a handbag! Very French indeed! I also had a discussion with one man today who kept saying he wants to visit the town of Arsenal, however many times I told him, he didn't grasp that the football club Arsenal is not in a town called Arsenal but in fact in London (I think I'm right about that...?!).
The final piece of news in this entry is definitely the best, so well done if you've read this far! Today I bought simply the funniest bicycle I have ever seen in my life! I can't even begin to describe it, I will hopefully take a photo and post it here, even the French find it funny, I had people shouting "beau velo" in the street on my way here! My friends have decorated it with a French flag, and there was a crowd of about 10 round it after supper this evening. There is no way on earth that I'm leaving it here, I'll cycle it back to England if I have to. Then again, it might not make it! It was an absolute bargain at 40 euros :) Can't wait to cycle to school tomorrow!
Monday nights are sports nights, where we go and do a random sport with the people from the other foyer owned by the same company. And this week's sport was handball, yay! It was such good fun, Charlotte and I were the only girls there and at first they never passed to us, but after I'd made a few netball style interceptions they realised I could actually play and I even scored a goal! I have to say, to those of you who witnessed college handball, it's absolutely nothing like it!!! But good fun...until a fight broke out and we all had to go home, I have absolutely no idea what happened (as usual!) but two of the guys kicked off. Luckily it was towards the end of the session so it didn't really matter that we stopped. Eventful none the less!
If I could have a euro for every time I've tried to explain what netball is to someone here, I think I'd be absolutely minted by the time I get home! I have had my hoodie on and they're all really intrigued! I'd also love count the number of times people have said to me "how do you do" as soon as they've been told/realised that I'm English, it's really funny to have a 20 year guy say it...I don't think anyone has asked me that for a very very long time in England, it gets me everytime!
So that was a really good night, fight apart, and the fact that I broke my bed! I sat down with a thud on it and one of the slats has come out, ooops! Will have to see if someone can help to fix it!
So Tuesday I returned to school, having arranged to go to German, English, PE and European studies. For the first week or so I'm just going to watch lessons then decide what I like, and what I don't. German was first, it was hilarious listening to French children trying to speak German, I couldn't for the life of me work out their accent sometimes, and my own German has got very rusty of the Summer and with all this French, eek for April! Then both English and PE were cancelled, so I just pottered about a bit before going to European studies...where they were studying the American elections....since when was America part of Europe?! I think I learnt as much as the children in that lesson!
I had lunch with the teachers in the cafeteria on Tuesday, which was really good. They were really shocked to hear that I'd had to organise everything myself and know absolutely no-one here except the people I've met at this foyer and them. They were also a little worried to hear where I'm living, it has a bit of a rep with the locals (and I can see why, I had people ringing my room at 2am this morning) and gave me their numbers for emergencies which was kind of them. The funny thing is that they all have wine with their school lunches, got to love the French!
After lunch we had a departmental meeting. I say "we", I actually mean that they had a meeting, and I sat and listened. They were going over the past paper that the students did at the end of the Summer. There was a listening component, I couldn't actually do it! I think they pupils had to say where the stress was in each word, I didn't have a clue! And the people speaking do not speak like we do, a cross between a French person and the Queen! Afterwards I sat in the staff room waiting for my next lesson. The teachers there were generally complaining about the whole French education system, I've met teachers here who obviously hate their work but also those who seem to love it, quite the mix.
Tuesday evening we went to the ice skating rink which is opposite our foyer. Had a really good evening, I think I've only been iceskating twice before, I was soon going fast...much too fast, and I didn't know how to stop! They misread the expressions of terror on my face and have been calling me the fearless anglaise ever since! One of them said that I am the exact image of the stereotypical anglaise, and when I taught them Irish snap (a rather violent card game) they said that it was the epitomy of the "le sauvage anglais" (" the wild English")!
As regards my previous comment about kissing, as I was walking to school yesterday, one of the men pulled over on his scooter, took of his helmet, kissed me good morning and whizzed off, what effort!!" This morning my lessons started at 8:10am, quel horreur! It was still dark when I left, which was really weird, and their lessons go on until 5pm, fortunately I can choose my hours so I won't be doing any days of such length myself, but I do feel sorry for the pupils, especially when I explained to them that a normal school day was 9-3:30, their response was "let's go to England!"!
I went to the low ability English class today, at school they don't have any sets at all (French principle of equality) except one group per year that really struggle. I had probably the most fun of all in their class, for the entire hour they absolutely bombarded me with questions, from the usual "do you speak French?", to the cheeky "can I have your mobile number?", to the bizarre "do you dance to mowtown?" and just down right funny "what does the Queen eat?"! A whole hour of it! To be honest though, the equivalent class of pupils in England could never manage what they manage in French. The problem is that whenever they played up (which happened a lot) I found it funny! And to think that I'm supposed to be the responsible one who tells them off!
I also popped into the library, it was probably the quietest school library that I've ever been in. Even stranger, to me, was that they were almost all reading comic books, there were simply shelves and shelves of them. And it was the same when I went to the public library later, for adults as well, I think. And not just Asterix!
I've been listening to a French radio station this past week (crikey it's already a week since I've been here, time is absolutely flying by!) and was merrily singing along to the Timberland song, The Way I Are, when the woman singer came on...but it wasn't the same, they've got their own French version! It's REALLY funny, the lyrics just don't fit in when translated into French and it's just not the same! That apart the station plays a lot of English music, althought they do play the same 5 or 6 artists again and again. And they have hilarious sounding competitions, I really do not know what they''re doing, but everyone is in hysterics!
One observation I've made here is that the majority of the men carry a handbag! Very French indeed! I also had a discussion with one man today who kept saying he wants to visit the town of Arsenal, however many times I told him, he didn't grasp that the football club Arsenal is not in a town called Arsenal but in fact in London (I think I'm right about that...?!).
The final piece of news in this entry is definitely the best, so well done if you've read this far! Today I bought simply the funniest bicycle I have ever seen in my life! I can't even begin to describe it, I will hopefully take a photo and post it here, even the French find it funny, I had people shouting "beau velo" in the street on my way here! My friends have decorated it with a French flag, and there was a crowd of about 10 round it after supper this evening. There is no way on earth that I'm leaving it here, I'll cycle it back to England if I have to. Then again, it might not make it! It was an absolute bargain at 40 euros :) Can't wait to cycle to school tomorrow!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
"L'anglaise est brule!"
Yup that's right, I'm burnt, very burnt, but only on my face and with beautiful marks from my sunglasses. First day at school tomorrow, I'm sure the students will poke fun out of me, I look truly ridiculous! But on the plus side, the sunburn shows just how nice the weather is! I'm now known as the burnt English girl: everyone here has taken to calling me "l'anglaise" (the English girl), very funny, and at least I know when they're talking about me! It's been a fabtastic weekend, halls style kitchen party on Friday night (complete with Police and Firemen making a visit!), we went into town on Saturday, they showed me the sights and then we hung out in a park all afternoon (the start of my burning!) and today I went on a crazy 13km power walk across some wild countryside with the headmistress (can't describe how bizarre it was!) and then straight to the beach with my friends all afternoon, complete with guitar and red trousers (ah don't I just love the red trousers!)
So by my friends I mean the people who stay here at weekends, there are about 120 residents, but at the weekend there were only about 8 of us left, 3 Frenchmen: Pierre, Christophe and Sebastian, 1 guy from Korea, Yoshi, 2 Afghans (whose names I won't even attempt to spell) and a girl, Charlotte. The only language we all speak is French, so me trying to communicate with the men from Afghanistan is very funny, none of us can understand the other's accent! When we went to the beach we also met Marion, the wearer of the red trousers!
So I'm loving life here, and have made many observations that have amused me, I will share those that I can remember!
CARPET: We have carpet on the wall! Love it, so cosy to lean on!
KISSES: I have probably been kissed about 30 times today, and still haven't got used to it! Almost everyone I've met has kissed me, whether it's the first time ever, or the third time I've bumped into them that day, just as I'm saying bonjour to someone they pounce on me! I will get used to it soon I'm sure!
SMOKE: 99% of the people here smoke, the whole time, be it in the kitchen, while playing the guitar, whatever. One cigarette after the other. It's like being in Britain before the ban, only more extreme, all my clothes already smell. I'm sure I'll get withdrawal symptoms from all the passive smoking when I return to the UK!
"MATCH OF ZE DAY": Yes they really do have a TV programme called this, one of the funniest programmes I've ever watched. It's presented by a man who is supposedly stereotypically English and he carries a photo of the queen! It's a programme that shows the best match from the premier league (which they love).
BUCKING BRONCO: They had one in the town square, of course we all had a go! A crowd appeared when they heard "L'anglaise" was going to have a go, which I did...with limited success!
PRINCE CHARLES: At every possible opportunity they poke fun out of him, principally his ears! We were in a shop this afternoon and they pointed out mickey mouse and said it was like him, they then pointed at Minnie and said it was Camilla, hmmm! I've also been told that they put photos of him on top of scarecrows...not sure if this was a joke or not, I'll have to investigate!
VIVIEN: I now have a male friend called Vivien, if only the real Vivien knew, who knows what she'd think, maybe they'd get on a treat!
MOUSTACHES: Even the women have them...yup I've met two women with serious upper lip hair! Bien jolie!
So it's been a fun weekend with many amusing moments, many of which I'm sure I've forgotten to put up here! Hope all's well at home!
So by my friends I mean the people who stay here at weekends, there are about 120 residents, but at the weekend there were only about 8 of us left, 3 Frenchmen: Pierre, Christophe and Sebastian, 1 guy from Korea, Yoshi, 2 Afghans (whose names I won't even attempt to spell) and a girl, Charlotte. The only language we all speak is French, so me trying to communicate with the men from Afghanistan is very funny, none of us can understand the other's accent! When we went to the beach we also met Marion, the wearer of the red trousers!
So I'm loving life here, and have made many observations that have amused me, I will share those that I can remember!
CARPET: We have carpet on the wall! Love it, so cosy to lean on!
KISSES: I have probably been kissed about 30 times today, and still haven't got used to it! Almost everyone I've met has kissed me, whether it's the first time ever, or the third time I've bumped into them that day, just as I'm saying bonjour to someone they pounce on me! I will get used to it soon I'm sure!
SMOKE: 99% of the people here smoke, the whole time, be it in the kitchen, while playing the guitar, whatever. One cigarette after the other. It's like being in Britain before the ban, only more extreme, all my clothes already smell. I'm sure I'll get withdrawal symptoms from all the passive smoking when I return to the UK!
"MATCH OF ZE DAY": Yes they really do have a TV programme called this, one of the funniest programmes I've ever watched. It's presented by a man who is supposedly stereotypically English and he carries a photo of the queen! It's a programme that shows the best match from the premier league (which they love).
BUCKING BRONCO: They had one in the town square, of course we all had a go! A crowd appeared when they heard "L'anglaise" was going to have a go, which I did...with limited success!
PRINCE CHARLES: At every possible opportunity they poke fun out of him, principally his ears! We were in a shop this afternoon and they pointed out mickey mouse and said it was like him, they then pointed at Minnie and said it was Camilla, hmmm! I've also been told that they put photos of him on top of scarecrows...not sure if this was a joke or not, I'll have to investigate!
VIVIEN: I now have a male friend called Vivien, if only the real Vivien knew, who knows what she'd think, maybe they'd get on a treat!
MOUSTACHES: Even the women have them...yup I've met two women with serious upper lip hair! Bien jolie!
So it's been a fun weekend with many amusing moments, many of which I'm sure I've forgotten to put up here! Hope all's well at home!
Friday, September 19, 2008
A Stranger in the Night
I'm here! En France! And all is great! It's been a busy few days. Packing was extremely difficult, I simply had so much stuff that I "needed" to take, and ended up travelling with 125% of my body weight in luggage, transporting my bags was like dragging a dead body with a small child on my back! Certainly not advisable! But I've made it. Yesterday we left home at 6:30 am and took the train to London. We then crossed to St Pancras on the tube, David was a star, the underground with so much stuff in rush hour might not have been so fun alone...bring on the Parisien metro alone a few hours later! Due to the fire in the channel tunnel I received an email the day before saying that my train had been cancelled, uh oh! But as we arrived so early I was able to check in for a train 2 and a half hours later than my booked one. I had 4 hours to wait, and was unable to move from my seat because of all my bags, thank you to everyone who chatted on the phone to distract me!
Eventually we boarded and the journey across to France was fine, we arrived at Garevdu Nord at 17h05, my train for Nantes left from Gare Montparnasse at18h00, yikes, 55 minutes to cross Paris by metro. I followed the signs and found the right station and bought my ticket, that I needed to put into a machine to open the gates. So I posted in my ticket and started to move through, with my suitcase and handbag going through first, then me, when the gates slammed shut, leaving me trapped, with one arm and one suitcase on each side of the barrier. And I couldn't move, uh oh! There was an assistance telephone on the wall, but not even my long arms could reach it! I eventually got a young man's attention, and he rang for help. I think the instructions must have been for him to put his ticket in, so that the doors would open, freeing me, and letting him through. However this was not to be! The doors opened, so I freed myself then turned to drag through the second suitcase, but then the gates slammed shut again, this time with my suitcase stuck, and he hadn't managed to get through either! We tried and tried to push the gates to free it, but they wouldn't budge. He was not best pleased, and in the end leaped over my suitcase, which was holding the gates open and ran off, leaving me stranded! After a mini panic (time was passing, and I could imagine missing the train to Nantes) I flagged down some more people, and they put their ticket in, so I freed my suitcase, but again they didn't get through! In the end I posted them some money to go and buy another one and legged it down umpteen steps (no such thing as lifts, thump thump thump go my bags!) and hopped onto the metro.
14 stops later I arrived at la Gare, but now needed to climb many many steps to the station. Fortunately some lovely people carried my bags up for me, they were so kind, in fact all the people I've asked for help have been great. I arrived at the station at about 17h50, and sprinted (as fast as possible with the luggage!) and leaped on the train, hoping that they'd accept my ticket, which was in fact for a train about 3 hours earlier. After about an hour the ticket guard came along, wearing a hilarious uniform, something I might wear if I was doing "Fisherman" fancy dress, and all was fine.
We arrived in Nantes on time, but again I needed to sprint for another train, which again I caught with seconds to spare. This time I travelled with no ticket (no time to get one) which was fine! And at about 21h00 I arrived at La Roche Sur Yon, final destination! I caught a taxi to the foyer, everything looked so exciting, I love arriving in strange towns at night, and LRSY was no exception. I was greeted by Cecile and filled out all the paperwork and was shown to my room, which is Goodrickesque but absolutely fine and with an en suite shower room. I then headed down to the "bar" to meet some people, it was actually Cecile's birthday so there was a party in full swing! Everyone there was really friendly and about my age so it looks set to be a fun place to stay, fingers crossed.
Today is a gorgeous day, and the view from my window is fantastique, I can see right out towards the centre of town, with a football stadium in the foreground, ideal! It really is beautiful here, and very French! This morning I decided to visit the maitrise as I still had no idea when they were expecting me to show up on Monday and I wanted to suss out where it was etc. I arrived at the gates, and couldn't get through the security barrier, very embarrassing, the secretary had to come out in the end to show me in! She then telephoned the maitrise and I was sent to her office. It was so strange, it felt like I was back at school being sent to see the head for a detention!
She was really lovely and we had a chat and then she showed me down to the staff room as it as break time, so she introduced me to everyone, I didn't catch a single name! They were all so excited to have me and all want me helping in their lessons, from good (sport) to bad (physics!), so I don't think I'll be doing many serious English lessons! The librarian also wants my help, and they have a European week in October so they want me to do lots for that. It was just so strange being back in a school, I haven't even stepped foot in one since I left WSCC and even stranger to be allowed in the staff room! And I nearly jumped out of my skin when the bell rang, it's a long time since I've heard one of them! She then took me to a classroom where all the children who don't have lessons have to sit and do their homework (a system we don't have in England). There were 3 classes in there, about 80 children I reckon, and they all just stared at me! Bizarre! And a few called out random English words! Quite a funny experience! So that was that, I've arranged to return at 9 on Monday, although la Maitrise has invited me on a 12km hike at the weekend with some walking group, I think, I didn't quite understand everything, but I think I have to ring her tomorrow for details!
After lunch in the cafeteria back at the foyer (for 2 euros 30 cents you get a starter, main course and pudding...I think I may be a little larger on my return!) I went and tried to open a bank account, which I think I've done successfully, I really have no idea, I didn't understand much of the technical speak! We shall see!
And so here I am, about to go to Carrefour to get all the many things I came without and then investigate the kitchen, which is only open Friday pm and all weekend, when the cafeteria is shut. I'll keep you updated with all escapades as and when they happen, and please email me your news!
Eventually we boarded and the journey across to France was fine, we arrived at Garevdu Nord at 17h05, my train for Nantes left from Gare Montparnasse at18h00, yikes, 55 minutes to cross Paris by metro. I followed the signs and found the right station and bought my ticket, that I needed to put into a machine to open the gates. So I posted in my ticket and started to move through, with my suitcase and handbag going through first, then me, when the gates slammed shut, leaving me trapped, with one arm and one suitcase on each side of the barrier. And I couldn't move, uh oh! There was an assistance telephone on the wall, but not even my long arms could reach it! I eventually got a young man's attention, and he rang for help. I think the instructions must have been for him to put his ticket in, so that the doors would open, freeing me, and letting him through. However this was not to be! The doors opened, so I freed myself then turned to drag through the second suitcase, but then the gates slammed shut again, this time with my suitcase stuck, and he hadn't managed to get through either! We tried and tried to push the gates to free it, but they wouldn't budge. He was not best pleased, and in the end leaped over my suitcase, which was holding the gates open and ran off, leaving me stranded! After a mini panic (time was passing, and I could imagine missing the train to Nantes) I flagged down some more people, and they put their ticket in, so I freed my suitcase, but again they didn't get through! In the end I posted them some money to go and buy another one and legged it down umpteen steps (no such thing as lifts, thump thump thump go my bags!) and hopped onto the metro.
14 stops later I arrived at la Gare, but now needed to climb many many steps to the station. Fortunately some lovely people carried my bags up for me, they were so kind, in fact all the people I've asked for help have been great. I arrived at the station at about 17h50, and sprinted (as fast as possible with the luggage!) and leaped on the train, hoping that they'd accept my ticket, which was in fact for a train about 3 hours earlier. After about an hour the ticket guard came along, wearing a hilarious uniform, something I might wear if I was doing "Fisherman" fancy dress, and all was fine.
We arrived in Nantes on time, but again I needed to sprint for another train, which again I caught with seconds to spare. This time I travelled with no ticket (no time to get one) which was fine! And at about 21h00 I arrived at La Roche Sur Yon, final destination! I caught a taxi to the foyer, everything looked so exciting, I love arriving in strange towns at night, and LRSY was no exception. I was greeted by Cecile and filled out all the paperwork and was shown to my room, which is Goodrickesque but absolutely fine and with an en suite shower room. I then headed down to the "bar" to meet some people, it was actually Cecile's birthday so there was a party in full swing! Everyone there was really friendly and about my age so it looks set to be a fun place to stay, fingers crossed.
Today is a gorgeous day, and the view from my window is fantastique, I can see right out towards the centre of town, with a football stadium in the foreground, ideal! It really is beautiful here, and very French! This morning I decided to visit the maitrise as I still had no idea when they were expecting me to show up on Monday and I wanted to suss out where it was etc. I arrived at the gates, and couldn't get through the security barrier, very embarrassing, the secretary had to come out in the end to show me in! She then telephoned the maitrise and I was sent to her office. It was so strange, it felt like I was back at school being sent to see the head for a detention!
She was really lovely and we had a chat and then she showed me down to the staff room as it as break time, so she introduced me to everyone, I didn't catch a single name! They were all so excited to have me and all want me helping in their lessons, from good (sport) to bad (physics!), so I don't think I'll be doing many serious English lessons! The librarian also wants my help, and they have a European week in October so they want me to do lots for that. It was just so strange being back in a school, I haven't even stepped foot in one since I left WSCC and even stranger to be allowed in the staff room! And I nearly jumped out of my skin when the bell rang, it's a long time since I've heard one of them! She then took me to a classroom where all the children who don't have lessons have to sit and do their homework (a system we don't have in England). There were 3 classes in there, about 80 children I reckon, and they all just stared at me! Bizarre! And a few called out random English words! Quite a funny experience! So that was that, I've arranged to return at 9 on Monday, although la Maitrise has invited me on a 12km hike at the weekend with some walking group, I think, I didn't quite understand everything, but I think I have to ring her tomorrow for details!
After lunch in the cafeteria back at the foyer (for 2 euros 30 cents you get a starter, main course and pudding...I think I may be a little larger on my return!) I went and tried to open a bank account, which I think I've done successfully, I really have no idea, I didn't understand much of the technical speak! We shall see!
And so here I am, about to go to Carrefour to get all the many things I came without and then investigate the kitchen, which is only open Friday pm and all weekend, when the cafeteria is shut. I'll keep you updated with all escapades as and when they happen, and please email me your news!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Too much to do, too little time
Having spent a wicked few days in the Isle of Wight and then York, reality is dawning on me. A week today I should (but probably won't) be all packed and ready to go...yet I have so much more to organise, aaaargh! Still struggling with bank accounts and mobile phones among other things, principally la maitrise, who still hasn't replied: 7 weeks after my original email and a week after my angry "why haven't you replied" email. I had difficulties expressing my annoyance without sounding rude! Think I will leave it until next week and then ring her. I suppose French disorganisation as regards admin is just something I'll have to get used to, not going to be easy considering how hyper-organised I am.
People keep asking me about how I feel regards leaving. It's a toughie. On the one hand I'm outrageously excited, think of me on a hyper day and multiply the excitement by 3 and I'm skipping. Jolly good thing I only have a couple more shifts at work else plates will be flying everywhere (not that that's anything out of the ordinary!). On the other hand I'm quite overwhelmed, I can deal with all the challenges, such as speaking French 24/7, individually but on the rare occasion that I remember that I will be confronted by all of them at once I'm scared! The thought of teaching 30 French 16 years old with no previous experience whatsoever is so ridiculous that it's funny, nervous laugh! Leaving home shouldn't be so bad (although I will miss the cushtiness of a 3 month holiday!), I'm used to being in York for 10 weeks on end. But I know that I will crave York , "facebook Thursday" is going to be a challenge. If I was going without leaving that would be fine, but that's not the case and it's going to be difficult.
I'm currently trying to work out how people can subscribe to this blog (if they so wish!), and get an alert whenever I update it, but I am yet to work it out, not being so technologically advanced myself...any ideas please comment! I think it may have something to do with RSS, but this means nothing to me!
People keep asking me about how I feel regards leaving. It's a toughie. On the one hand I'm outrageously excited, think of me on a hyper day and multiply the excitement by 3 and I'm skipping. Jolly good thing I only have a couple more shifts at work else plates will be flying everywhere (not that that's anything out of the ordinary!). On the other hand I'm quite overwhelmed, I can deal with all the challenges, such as speaking French 24/7, individually but on the rare occasion that I remember that I will be confronted by all of them at once I'm scared! The thought of teaching 30 French 16 years old with no previous experience whatsoever is so ridiculous that it's funny, nervous laugh! Leaving home shouldn't be so bad (although I will miss the cushtiness of a 3 month holiday!), I'm used to being in York for 10 weeks on end. But I know that I will crave York , "facebook Thursday" is going to be a challenge. If I was going without leaving that would be fine, but that's not the case and it's going to be difficult.
I'm currently trying to work out how people can subscribe to this blog (if they so wish!), and get an alert whenever I update it, but I am yet to work it out, not being so technologically advanced myself...any ideas please comment! I think it may have something to do with RSS, but this means nothing to me!
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