I'm not entirely sure why I have entitled this post 'V Day', as really I don't plan on writing anything about Valentine's Day, I just happen to be posting on the 14th.
I am typing this from school, which is something that I never do, but I have some free time on my hands this morning and nothing to really fill it. To set the scene (as if anyone is vaguely interested!)...all this week there is a 'bac blanc' (like mock A levels) for my terminale students. So I have no terminale classes to teach this week. Therefore no 8am start today, yay! So I am working a very light 2-day timetable this week, consisting of 6 hours teaching time.
However this also means my room is required for some sort of exam-ness, so I have replacement rooms. Contrary to my concerns, I did manage to find the 'Salle Video' this morning. Unfortunately my students did not.
Well, quite clearly my students know full-well where the room is, they just didn't come. Unhelpful, some might say. And they can't even blame the faux-pas on being a clue-less foreigner like myself! So...I was here at 9am for a class that didn't show...and I don't have another class until 11am. It pains me to think I could have spent another precious 2 hours in bed! This 11am class had better bloody show up. If I get sent pupils who have already had the lesson I've planned I may scream.
(I would like to point out here, before we get any deeper into this post, that typing on a french keyboard is incredibly difficult. Whyyyy move the letters about? If I wanted a 'q' everytime I type an 'a' then I would request it one!)
I was concerned that, what with today being Valentine's Day and all, there might be some kind of horrendous staffroom protecol involve face-kissing and other formal salutations. Luckily I witnessed no such thing at breaktime. Although students did come round selling single roses, one of which was purchased by a married male teacher and given to a single female teacher. Some might call that quite the sweet gesture, but it's all a bit suspect if you ask me.
I feel like relations with my fellow (non english teaching) colleagues are becoming more awkward. If possible. I always say 'hello', 'have a nice afternoon' etc to the other teachers, but other than that I really have nothing to talk to them about. They are all quite a bit older than me and, in a very french way, rather moany. I just have nothing in common with them to chat about. And I'm sure they feel entirely the same way about me, as they certainly make no effort in return. I just come in, teach my lessons, and then bugger off back home again around lunchtime really. I don't necessarily have an issue with this, I just don't want them to think I'm being rude.
In other news, it is currently house-hunting time at uni in England. I'm sure you can only imagine the fun. Stressful, to say the least.
Well I have struggled on with this bloody keyboard for long enough now, So I'm going to go and maybe coerce some students into actually coming to a scheduled hour with me. Any students will do, I'm not fussy. Just bored. If I have left multiple 'q's in place of 'a's then I can only apologise. At least it kept you on your toes though!
xxx
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day. I'm not personally a partaker in the holiday, but I'm sure some of you are. Not saying I'm adversed to it, just neutral. Unless someone wants to buy me a big gift. In which case it's my new favourite day of the year.
Monday, 14 February 2011
Sunday, 6 February 2011
I'm a bad blogger
I know, I know, I haven't written for ages. I forget and then I don't feel like it and then I think that I have far too much to catch up on...so I put it off again! However, writing a blog post is on my to-do list for the day, therefore it shall be done!
I am not going to recap everything that has happened since my last post, as that would be dull for both you and I. I'm sure nothing monumental has occurred anyhow.
I did have a friend visit me here in nord-pas-de-calais though! Paul (who, for those of you who don't know, does my uni course with me and is currently living in Paris) came to stay for a few days. It was nice to see him and again and to show him the sights of my beloved northern France. We sampled the local delights of 'frites fricadelle' from the friterie, which was surprisingly good! After asking people what a fricadelle contains and everything thinking they're very witty and all answering 'everyone knows but no one will say', I turned to my friend Google and it would appear that it's just a mixture of pork. I think.
We also explored Arras, Lille and, of course, Lillers. Paul dragged me to this god-awful 'attraction' in Lille, to see the PROBABLE birth-place of Charles de Gaulle. Horrendous. But thoroughly amusing when we got stuck between two organised tour groups of old people who smelt like TCP diluted with urine.
The underground tunnels we visited in Arras were very interesting and definitely worth a visit. I'll let Paul have that one. Then after four days I bid farewell to Paul as he returned back to the big city. Hilariously enough he then got to experience french infrastructure and organisation at its best. In typical french style, the already bare sunday train service got cancelled/delayed/replaced and he had to get a (horrendously overpriced) taxi to the station in the hope of reaching his TGV on time. Which he did. Thankfully. I may have killed him had he needed to stay for another night. I am massively looking forward to my return visit to Paris though. I feel I may have the best part of this deal.
Last week was the much-awaited 6 day trip to Essen, Germany with the school. I was excited but a little nervous about the trip but I actually had a brilliant time. I really loved Essen and the woman I was staying in was lovely. Everyone was so welcoming and hospitable and it was a really enjoyable trip, for myself and the students too (they cried when we left their penpals! How sweet!). I think I consumed more food in that 6 days than I normally do in a month here though. Who knew Germans were so big on breakfast eh? I could handle the standard 'bread, meat and cheese' but breakfast invitations were a whole other matter. Smoked salmon, prawns, salmon steak, cured meats, smoked meats, breads, cakes, fruits, champagne, juice, coffee. I could have popped.
All in all, a lovely trip. I was, however, repeatedly mistaken for a student. And I was so embarrassed that I couldn't speak any German. Not a word. I felt awful in shops etc. Typical ridiculous Brit on holiday. I can't believe the only sentence I remember from the school German is 'oh no, my camera is broken'. Although the Germans told me I had good pronunciation! I may take up beginners German at uni next year to re-awaken this skill! If it goes half as well as my stint at arabic did then I shall have quit it before the first semester is out haha.
Now I am back in France. And incredibly grateful that I can (sort of) understand things once more! I feel like I haven't been at school in bloody ages though! This shall be rectified with my 8am start tomorrow morning though. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that maybe, just maybe, the mornings are a teeny bit lighter now, non? It is only February and I have already convinced myself that spring is creeping in! I bloody hope so anyway. It was freezing last week!
Yesterday shall be rounded up briefly. I went to Lille with Hannah and Luisaidh and saw 'The King's Speech' which was thoroughly enjoyable. Colin Firth was excellent. Entirely questionable representation of Winston Churchill though.
That's all for now. I'm off to conquer the rest of my to-do list!
xxx
I am not going to recap everything that has happened since my last post, as that would be dull for both you and I. I'm sure nothing monumental has occurred anyhow.
I did have a friend visit me here in nord-pas-de-calais though! Paul (who, for those of you who don't know, does my uni course with me and is currently living in Paris) came to stay for a few days. It was nice to see him and again and to show him the sights of my beloved northern France. We sampled the local delights of 'frites fricadelle' from the friterie, which was surprisingly good! After asking people what a fricadelle contains and everything thinking they're very witty and all answering 'everyone knows but no one will say', I turned to my friend Google and it would appear that it's just a mixture of pork. I think.
We also explored Arras, Lille and, of course, Lillers. Paul dragged me to this god-awful 'attraction' in Lille, to see the PROBABLE birth-place of Charles de Gaulle. Horrendous. But thoroughly amusing when we got stuck between two organised tour groups of old people who smelt like TCP diluted with urine.
The underground tunnels we visited in Arras were very interesting and definitely worth a visit. I'll let Paul have that one. Then after four days I bid farewell to Paul as he returned back to the big city. Hilariously enough he then got to experience french infrastructure and organisation at its best. In typical french style, the already bare sunday train service got cancelled/delayed/replaced and he had to get a (horrendously overpriced) taxi to the station in the hope of reaching his TGV on time. Which he did. Thankfully. I may have killed him had he needed to stay for another night. I am massively looking forward to my return visit to Paris though. I feel I may have the best part of this deal.
Last week was the much-awaited 6 day trip to Essen, Germany with the school. I was excited but a little nervous about the trip but I actually had a brilliant time. I really loved Essen and the woman I was staying in was lovely. Everyone was so welcoming and hospitable and it was a really enjoyable trip, for myself and the students too (they cried when we left their penpals! How sweet!). I think I consumed more food in that 6 days than I normally do in a month here though. Who knew Germans were so big on breakfast eh? I could handle the standard 'bread, meat and cheese' but breakfast invitations were a whole other matter. Smoked salmon, prawns, salmon steak, cured meats, smoked meats, breads, cakes, fruits, champagne, juice, coffee. I could have popped.
All in all, a lovely trip. I was, however, repeatedly mistaken for a student. And I was so embarrassed that I couldn't speak any German. Not a word. I felt awful in shops etc. Typical ridiculous Brit on holiday. I can't believe the only sentence I remember from the school German is 'oh no, my camera is broken'. Although the Germans told me I had good pronunciation! I may take up beginners German at uni next year to re-awaken this skill! If it goes half as well as my stint at arabic did then I shall have quit it before the first semester is out haha.
Now I am back in France. And incredibly grateful that I can (sort of) understand things once more! I feel like I haven't been at school in bloody ages though! This shall be rectified with my 8am start tomorrow morning though. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that maybe, just maybe, the mornings are a teeny bit lighter now, non? It is only February and I have already convinced myself that spring is creeping in! I bloody hope so anyway. It was freezing last week!
Yesterday shall be rounded up briefly. I went to Lille with Hannah and Luisaidh and saw 'The King's Speech' which was thoroughly enjoyable. Colin Firth was excellent. Entirely questionable representation of Winston Churchill though.
That's all for now. I'm off to conquer the rest of my to-do list!
xxx
Monday, 17 January 2011
The good with the bad
Really the only thing that's happened between my last and today is...well, nothing. 'Les soldes' (or the sales) started in France on Wednesday, so I perused a little and bought some things in Sephora because that it a shop we are severely lacking in the UK. But that was all. I am doing pretty well in my mission to spend less money frivolously.
Today started off a bit bleurgh but now I am in a good mood. I didn't sleep well (quel surpris eh?) and woke up with that 'wide awake but as if I haven't been to sleep yet' feeling. Not condusive with an 8AM start. Then the woman who normally drives me to school on a Monday went without me. So I strolled their at a leisurely pace and was actually amazed to have made it on time for my lesson. The class was actually pretty good and surprisingly lively for the first class of the day. They asked me to go to a club with them at the weekend and offered to buy me whisky there! Haha. I pointed out that it woluldn't be appropriate as I am their teacher. To which they replied that I'm only 2 years older. True. But no.
A lesson that I had in the middle of the day was rubbish. No one spoke or contributed and I got the distinct feeling that I was being talked about. Obviously immensely fun!
After this lesson I enquired about the trip to Germany that I'm going on. A it is in less than 2 weeks I felt I should probably know some of the details. It would turn out I was right in suspecting I am one of only 2 teachers escorting these 17 kids on a 6 day trip to Germany. I imagine the coach journey there will be nothing less than horrific. I am staying with a young German teacher who lives alone. This is fine. However, I shall apparently be spending all weekend just with her. This is where I see the communication issues becoming a real problem. If in doubt I shall have to resort to standard British behaviour of shouting in over-pronounced english. That ought to do the trick. Topped of with the occasional 'ja' for good measure.
I came home to an email from the kids summer camp I had applied to as an 'activity assistant'. Their email said 'We currently have no positions available suitable for your qualifications so we cannot continue with your application'. It's not like I teach children english or anything. I had half a mind to reply with 'I am interested in what qualifications would be required in order to supervise children doing colouring-in.' It may have come off as slightly bitter though. A simple email saying they had too many applications or something would have sufficed. Especially seeing as the position requires no actual qualifications! It just irritates me that this period of teaching seems to count as nothing. No qualification, no certificate, nothing. Grrr nevermind, I shall apply elsewhere. Just thought the nature of the response was a bit annoying!
I never look forward to this 4.35pm lesson that I have to return to school for. Last lesson of the day is never fun, it's starting to get dark by this point, I've been at home for a couple of hours and frankly, some of the kids in that class are rude.
However, the class cheered me up today! It was a group of 6 and they are all fairly well-mannered. I don't mind the kids being lively, I just don't want them being rude to me! It always helps when they at least pretend like they want to be here. They were fairly hilarious today though. In answer telling me what their partner had described as their perfect holiday, one girl answered 'She would go to Brazil. And she would go with Damon from The Vampire Diaries'. Me: 'What what she do?'. Student: 'So that she could fuck him all the time'. The whole class, including me, was in hysterics. I was shocked! Then, after a while she added 'or make love, if you prefer'. I am not questioning her taste, merely her judgement on what is appropriate! She then told me that she herself would go away with Jacke Chan so she could touch his bum. Definitely an odd choice. I did question that his age may be a bit much. She said 'not for my heart'. All in all, thoroughly amusing. Odd, but amusing. I was also told by a student last week that he wants to be a dustbin man when he finishes school. A noble profession, I am sure, but I don't know that it should be any 17 year old's primary ambition! And no, he was not joking. When I looked a bit puzzled he clarified with 'you know, with big bins?'.
That is all really. I thought that they were fairly amusing anecdotes but I don't really feel like writing much else. This evening I am feeling a bit rubbish about what I'm getting out of this all at the moment if I'm honest. For various reasons/influenced by various things really. I'm reall yenjoying being here but my year abroad is flying past and I just feel like I want to clutch some of it back and rewind time a little! There's so much stuff that I haven't done yet! Truly I probably just need some sleep!.
On that note, talk later!
xxx
Today started off a bit bleurgh but now I am in a good mood. I didn't sleep well (quel surpris eh?) and woke up with that 'wide awake but as if I haven't been to sleep yet' feeling. Not condusive with an 8AM start. Then the woman who normally drives me to school on a Monday went without me. So I strolled their at a leisurely pace and was actually amazed to have made it on time for my lesson. The class was actually pretty good and surprisingly lively for the first class of the day. They asked me to go to a club with them at the weekend and offered to buy me whisky there! Haha. I pointed out that it woluldn't be appropriate as I am their teacher. To which they replied that I'm only 2 years older. True. But no.
A lesson that I had in the middle of the day was rubbish. No one spoke or contributed and I got the distinct feeling that I was being talked about. Obviously immensely fun!
After this lesson I enquired about the trip to Germany that I'm going on. A it is in less than 2 weeks I felt I should probably know some of the details. It would turn out I was right in suspecting I am one of only 2 teachers escorting these 17 kids on a 6 day trip to Germany. I imagine the coach journey there will be nothing less than horrific. I am staying with a young German teacher who lives alone. This is fine. However, I shall apparently be spending all weekend just with her. This is where I see the communication issues becoming a real problem. If in doubt I shall have to resort to standard British behaviour of shouting in over-pronounced english. That ought to do the trick. Topped of with the occasional 'ja' for good measure.
I came home to an email from the kids summer camp I had applied to as an 'activity assistant'. Their email said 'We currently have no positions available suitable for your qualifications so we cannot continue with your application'. It's not like I teach children english or anything. I had half a mind to reply with 'I am interested in what qualifications would be required in order to supervise children doing colouring-in.' It may have come off as slightly bitter though. A simple email saying they had too many applications or something would have sufficed. Especially seeing as the position requires no actual qualifications! It just irritates me that this period of teaching seems to count as nothing. No qualification, no certificate, nothing. Grrr nevermind, I shall apply elsewhere. Just thought the nature of the response was a bit annoying!
I never look forward to this 4.35pm lesson that I have to return to school for. Last lesson of the day is never fun, it's starting to get dark by this point, I've been at home for a couple of hours and frankly, some of the kids in that class are rude.
However, the class cheered me up today! It was a group of 6 and they are all fairly well-mannered. I don't mind the kids being lively, I just don't want them being rude to me! It always helps when they at least pretend like they want to be here. They were fairly hilarious today though. In answer telling me what their partner had described as their perfect holiday, one girl answered 'She would go to Brazil. And she would go with Damon from The Vampire Diaries'. Me: 'What what she do?'. Student: 'So that she could fuck him all the time'. The whole class, including me, was in hysterics. I was shocked! Then, after a while she added 'or make love, if you prefer'. I am not questioning her taste, merely her judgement on what is appropriate! She then told me that she herself would go away with Jacke Chan so she could touch his bum. Definitely an odd choice. I did question that his age may be a bit much. She said 'not for my heart'. All in all, thoroughly amusing. Odd, but amusing. I was also told by a student last week that he wants to be a dustbin man when he finishes school. A noble profession, I am sure, but I don't know that it should be any 17 year old's primary ambition! And no, he was not joking. When I looked a bit puzzled he clarified with 'you know, with big bins?'.
That is all really. I thought that they were fairly amusing anecdotes but I don't really feel like writing much else. This evening I am feeling a bit rubbish about what I'm getting out of this all at the moment if I'm honest. For various reasons/influenced by various things really. I'm reall yenjoying being here but my year abroad is flying past and I just feel like I want to clutch some of it back and rewind time a little! There's so much stuff that I haven't done yet! Truly I probably just need some sleep!.
On that note, talk later!
xxx
Monday, 3 January 2011
A bit bored of saying 'bonne annee' now
I haven't posted in quite some time. Sorry about that (especially to you Maddy, as I had been providing your at-work entertainment up until my hiatus! You will, no doubt, be ecstatic to see something new to read, rather than re-reading old posts in your times of desperation!)
I'm not going to bother bringing you all up to speed. If I'm honest I probably wouldn't remember what's been going on anyway. I also risk boring myself to tears.
The long and short of it is that it has been the Christmas holidays. Now it is not. And I am back in France again.
I managed to miss my first lesson of the new term this morning. Keeping up professional teaching standards as ever. I often wonder why they let me be in charge of a class (I stumbled over a chair earlier and swore at the chalk. Case in point).
To be fair, it wasn't my fault that I missed the lesson. I was up and everything (quite an achievement being as the lesson was at 8am). However I can only assume that the teacher who offered to give me a lift completely forgot about me. So by the time I'd resolved to walk instead, I was late. So instead sat in my classroom reading Heat for half an hour until my next lot of kids turned up.
At the morning break I was somewhat overwhelmed by the 'seeing people again for the first time in the new year' process. Lots of kissing. Too much if you ask me. I was double-kissed by many people who I've never even spoken to before. Particularly uncomfortable as the double-kiss thing (aka 'bisous') is not something I've ever settled into. A good reason for this discomfort was displayed earlier, when I nearly kissed someone on the mouth mid cheek-change. Horrendousness. Well it was all very jolly. I have never seen my colleagues in such good moods.
This leads me on the nicely to another odd new year related ritual I have been told I must attend tomorrow at 5.30pm. Cake eating. Apparently the headteacher will buy a 'new year' cake and we must all have a piece. And this is something that families, colleagues etc will all do tomorrow on January 4th to mark 'Epiphany'. All sounds a bit bizarre to me. But I'm not one to oppose a bit of cake-eating. (Having just carried out a brief bit of google-based research, it would appear this is all supposed to happen on the 6th. I don't really know, I just believe what the frenchies tell me! For anyone whose interest goes beyond my butchering of this cultural tradition, the cake is in fact called 'la galette de rois'. Having googled it, it looks somewhat dry to me. All shall be revealed tomorrow. Or on the 6th).
My final notable moment of the day was being asked the explain the word 'milf' to half the staffroom. Apparently one of the teachers heard the boys talking about milfs, and wanted to know the exact meaning. They all seemed to have agreed on the general meaning of the word, which I clarified for them, but I came a bit unstuck when they wanted to know what the letters actually stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to say 'mum I'd like to fuck' to my colleagues! I told them it was 'un peu vulgaire' but this did not seem to deter them. It was subsequently googled though, putting everyone's minds to rest. And then one of my colleagues asked me if they were a suitable age to be a milf. I feel the British Council has not trained me adequately to deal with such situations if I'm honest.
That is all for now. Many other things on the agenda this evening. None of which are exciting but all are necessary.
Ta for now.
I'm not going to bother bringing you all up to speed. If I'm honest I probably wouldn't remember what's been going on anyway. I also risk boring myself to tears.
The long and short of it is that it has been the Christmas holidays. Now it is not. And I am back in France again.
I managed to miss my first lesson of the new term this morning. Keeping up professional teaching standards as ever. I often wonder why they let me be in charge of a class (I stumbled over a chair earlier and swore at the chalk. Case in point).
To be fair, it wasn't my fault that I missed the lesson. I was up and everything (quite an achievement being as the lesson was at 8am). However I can only assume that the teacher who offered to give me a lift completely forgot about me. So by the time I'd resolved to walk instead, I was late. So instead sat in my classroom reading Heat for half an hour until my next lot of kids turned up.
At the morning break I was somewhat overwhelmed by the 'seeing people again for the first time in the new year' process. Lots of kissing. Too much if you ask me. I was double-kissed by many people who I've never even spoken to before. Particularly uncomfortable as the double-kiss thing (aka 'bisous') is not something I've ever settled into. A good reason for this discomfort was displayed earlier, when I nearly kissed someone on the mouth mid cheek-change. Horrendousness. Well it was all very jolly. I have never seen my colleagues in such good moods.
This leads me on the nicely to another odd new year related ritual I have been told I must attend tomorrow at 5.30pm. Cake eating. Apparently the headteacher will buy a 'new year' cake and we must all have a piece. And this is something that families, colleagues etc will all do tomorrow on January 4th to mark 'Epiphany'. All sounds a bit bizarre to me. But I'm not one to oppose a bit of cake-eating. (Having just carried out a brief bit of google-based research, it would appear this is all supposed to happen on the 6th. I don't really know, I just believe what the frenchies tell me! For anyone whose interest goes beyond my butchering of this cultural tradition, the cake is in fact called 'la galette de rois'. Having googled it, it looks somewhat dry to me. All shall be revealed tomorrow. Or on the 6th).
My final notable moment of the day was being asked the explain the word 'milf' to half the staffroom. Apparently one of the teachers heard the boys talking about milfs, and wanted to know the exact meaning. They all seemed to have agreed on the general meaning of the word, which I clarified for them, but I came a bit unstuck when they wanted to know what the letters actually stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to say 'mum I'd like to fuck' to my colleagues! I told them it was 'un peu vulgaire' but this did not seem to deter them. It was subsequently googled though, putting everyone's minds to rest. And then one of my colleagues asked me if they were a suitable age to be a milf. I feel the British Council has not trained me adequately to deal with such situations if I'm honest.
That is all for now. Many other things on the agenda this evening. None of which are exciting but all are necessary.
Ta for now.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Maximum temperature -4 degrees? Bah oui.
Yes, the title to this post does not lie. According to BBC weather, the maximum temperature where I am today has been -4 degress celcius. In other words...very bloody cold! Bugt apparently the maximum tomorrow will be 0 degrees, so things are looking up right?
I woke up to considerably more snow this morning. But it would appear that snow days don't exist in french schools. Britain would have shut up shops days ago, merely at the threat of the fluffy white stuff. But not the french. We struggle on. I haven't fallen over again though since my first slip incident, thank god.
I only had to go into school for one lesson today, which only 3 students turned up for. All of whom had already experienced the lesson I had planned. This is becoming somewhat of a pattern! So I kept them for only half an hour, and they insisted they wanted to do the same lesson again. Very bizarre children!
I have only ventured out once since this. I went to the commonwealth war cemetery which is literally about 2 mins away from my road. I wanted to lay my poppy cross (which for one reason or another I didn't have a chance to do during the commeration) and also though it might make for some snowy photos. I realise that's a bit morbid and not exactly a 'pretty snow scene' but I thought it would be interesting. Well...it was even colder than it was this afternoon!
I have decided this weekend I am going to buy a new coat. I also think coats are horrendously expensive and always seem very thin for the money you're paying for them (unless you buy one of these seemingly popular ugly shiney padded things that french woman favour). However, I need a coat which buttons up all the way and I have my eye on a paddington-esque design in Lille, so I think I may bite the bullet and part with some cash! I also need proper gloves, as mine don't have any fingers.
You will all be ecstatic to learn that I managed to buy a replacement bulb for my lamp yesterday. It was even cheap. As opposed to the 10 euro price tag for which I have been choosign to live in semi-darkness instead! Aaaand in even more exciting news...my landlady turned on the central heating yesterday! Woohoo I may perhaps no longer freeze in my appartment. (I'm still not sure why it took until december, with snow and -5 temperatures for her to make this decision!).
Tomorrow (Friday = no teaching) we are probably going to check out Bethune's Christmas market. They even have an outdoor ice skating rink to offer. Tres exciting! Hopefully it won't be actively snowing. I also need to write an article (in english, thank god) this wekend for my school's newletter about my time/experience in France. I can only assume they would like me to censor my honesty to some extent?
That's all for now.
A demain!
xxx
I woke up to considerably more snow this morning. But it would appear that snow days don't exist in french schools. Britain would have shut up shops days ago, merely at the threat of the fluffy white stuff. But not the french. We struggle on. I haven't fallen over again though since my first slip incident, thank god.
I only had to go into school for one lesson today, which only 3 students turned up for. All of whom had already experienced the lesson I had planned. This is becoming somewhat of a pattern! So I kept them for only half an hour, and they insisted they wanted to do the same lesson again. Very bizarre children!
I have only ventured out once since this. I went to the commonwealth war cemetery which is literally about 2 mins away from my road. I wanted to lay my poppy cross (which for one reason or another I didn't have a chance to do during the commeration) and also though it might make for some snowy photos. I realise that's a bit morbid and not exactly a 'pretty snow scene' but I thought it would be interesting. Well...it was even colder than it was this afternoon!
I have decided this weekend I am going to buy a new coat. I also think coats are horrendously expensive and always seem very thin for the money you're paying for them (unless you buy one of these seemingly popular ugly shiney padded things that french woman favour). However, I need a coat which buttons up all the way and I have my eye on a paddington-esque design in Lille, so I think I may bite the bullet and part with some cash! I also need proper gloves, as mine don't have any fingers.
You will all be ecstatic to learn that I managed to buy a replacement bulb for my lamp yesterday. It was even cheap. As opposed to the 10 euro price tag for which I have been choosign to live in semi-darkness instead! Aaaand in even more exciting news...my landlady turned on the central heating yesterday! Woohoo I may perhaps no longer freeze in my appartment. (I'm still not sure why it took until december, with snow and -5 temperatures for her to make this decision!).
Tomorrow (Friday = no teaching) we are probably going to check out Bethune's Christmas market. They even have an outdoor ice skating rink to offer. Tres exciting! Hopefully it won't be actively snowing. I also need to write an article (in english, thank god) this wekend for my school's newletter about my time/experience in France. I can only assume they would like me to censor my honesty to some extent?
That's all for now.
A demain!
xxx
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Un weekend fantastique!
As you can guess by the title, I had a very good weekend!
For a start, Harry Potter was really good! Well...if you hadn't read the books then actually I can imagine it's a bit boring and confusing. But, being an avid HP reader I suffered from none of this confusion! I was surprised at just how busy the screen was as it was the english version. But clearly the frenchies are more up for 'sous-titre' reading than we had first thought! I LOVED some of the subtitles. Wand is 'la baguette' in french...who's have thought eh?! 'Hermione, give me your baguette'. Was just a bit too chilidishly funny for me to cope.
Hannah and I also indulged in a little retail therapy which was rather good. Lille was actually pretty quiet in the morning. The same could not be said from the afternoon onwards. It was absoultey manic! We were also surrounded by many british people. Whilst I was slightly comforted with that 'I am amongst friends' feeling, I also didn't want to be mistaken for an obnoxious british tourist! I'll have you know I am an employee of the state!
Due to this horrendous busy-ness we couldn't actually find the Christmas Market. Ridiculous, I know. We were drawn to a massive ferris wheel that we'd seen earlier though. It was all very pretty and lit up. So we queued for the ferris wheel. It was a lovely christmassy atmosphere, with festive songs playing and appropriate street decorations. I shall insert a photo of the aforementioned ferris wheel now. It was dreadful.
For a start, Harry Potter was really good! Well...if you hadn't read the books then actually I can imagine it's a bit boring and confusing. But, being an avid HP reader I suffered from none of this confusion! I was surprised at just how busy the screen was as it was the english version. But clearly the frenchies are more up for 'sous-titre' reading than we had first thought! I LOVED some of the subtitles. Wand is 'la baguette' in french...who's have thought eh?! 'Hermione, give me your baguette'. Was just a bit too chilidishly funny for me to cope.
Hannah and I also indulged in a little retail therapy which was rather good. Lille was actually pretty quiet in the morning. The same could not be said from the afternoon onwards. It was absoultey manic! We were also surrounded by many british people. Whilst I was slightly comforted with that 'I am amongst friends' feeling, I also didn't want to be mistaken for an obnoxious british tourist! I'll have you know I am an employee of the state!
Due to this horrendous busy-ness we couldn't actually find the Christmas Market. Ridiculous, I know. We were drawn to a massive ferris wheel that we'd seen earlier though. It was all very pretty and lit up. So we queued for the ferris wheel. It was a lovely christmassy atmosphere, with festive songs playing and appropriate street decorations. I shall insert a photo of the aforementioned ferris wheel now. It was dreadful.
As you see, it's huge. 50 metres high apparently. I was assured, from a distance, that it wouldn't possibly be open-air due to its height and the fact that it spins quite fast! I was mistaken. No british health and safety standards here. Well, I think it's safe to say we were fairly terrified by the height. The spinning was fine it was the continuous stopping which we did not enjoy. And we were very much shown up by a young child who was loving life. How embarrassing for us. HOWEVER, one good thing did come of this wheel... we spotted the market from up high! It looked lovely, but unfortunately we had to go and get our train home so didn't have time to investigate...so perhaps next weekend!
As for my working week so far...I still have not managed to get hold of my 'responsable' to inform her just how dreaful her class was last week. These students requested to join my class yesterday too. I politely declined. Yesterday's lessons went quite well though. And a very sweet girl waited behind at the end of her class to come up to me and say (in english) 'I love your clothes. Where do you go shopping?'. She is now my favourite student.
No 8am lesson today! Always a good thing. However I left my house to discover that a considerable amount more of snow had appeared overnight. I then promptly slipped over in the snow about a minute later. Tres embarrassing. Luckily I don't think anyone saw. How horrendous. I then continued my walk to school very carefully and very slowly. How mortifying would it be to fall over in front of the students? I might actually cry from shame.
I must return to school at 2pm. Although the teacher I spoke to is unsure if I will have classes or not. Brilliant. I bloody well hope I am not trekking there again for no reason! I also have a class I haven't had before at all. Hmmm. I sort of hope they don't turn up, as I am unsure of what to actually do with them!
Well this is all. Au revoir for now. xxx
Friday, 26 November 2010
Welcome to my 4 day weekend!
Once again it's the end of the working week for me. It's only Friday afternoon as I write this, but it already feels like the weekend's come and gone for me! I finished work at 1pm on Wednesday this week, which means 4 days off. My weekend is actually longer than my working week!
Don't get me wrong, 4 days off is definitely a good thing...but possibly a little boring when you live in a small place and only know 2 other people! My friends were both otherwise engaged yesterday and today which leaves me to occupy myself. So far I have managed to watch the 5th and 6th Harry Potter films (essential preparation for HP 7, I'm sure you'll understand) and also Snow White. There are definitely more important things that I should be doing!
For example, I promised Nathalie (one of the english teachers) that I would speak only french with her as of next week. You may read this and think (quite understandably) 'oh but you live in France and you are doing a degree in french, surely this is simple?'. In theory yes. In practice no. Therefore my intention was to revise verb conjugations during my weeked. Wild plans, I know! I obviously need to lesson-plan this weekend too, for my busy Monday and Tuesdau. 'Winging it' doesn't quite cut it. And my bedroom is rather a mess at the moment (for those who have seen it, I am aware it is quite a small space to become so disorganised!).
An absolutely ESSENTIAL task for the day is to change my duvet. When I moved in the landlady showed me the spare blankets in my apartment and also handed me a second duvet. I exchanged puzzled looks with my parents and pondered as to why I would need a second duvet. Well...I now know why! The duvet currently on my bed is definitely a summer duvet. I'm no tog expert...but I would hazard a guess of around 7! Seeing as snow set in yesterday, it is now definitely too cold for a tog 7! The spare duvet looks around the same thickness, but I'm hoping that if I combine them then I will be as snug as a bug. Might actually put my own duvet cover on whilst I'm at it. The one provided for me is...a bit weird. Whilst I talking about warmth and all that... My radiator in my bedroom still does not work. It is connected to the main house's heating. Therefore this means that my landlady is yet to turn on her central heating. It's snowing! How are they functioning?!
Teaching this week has been...interesting. Generally okay, but I think the students are becoming used to me and are definitely less well behaved than they were before! I am going to have to start getting strict!
My classes on Wednesday definitely provided anecdotal material. I knew that the half of the terminale class I had first thing were the less well behaved half of the class. Nathalie wanrs me of this and always tells them they must behave or I won't have them back. They are always very sweet to me though and well-behaved in class. I fear this may perhaps not be for the right reasons though. When I asked if they like english the boys joked that they do now. Not necessarily appropriate. I was given a list of questions to discuss with them, and I was warned that the last one might have some slightly odd answers, but I thought nothing of it. However, when I asked 'what do you do at the weekend?' one boy replied 'I drink alcohol and I play sex'. Quite frankly, I was taken aback! The class laughed and I had to laugh. I did also have to point out to him that we cannot say that we 'play' sex. But I left it at that.
Then later the terminale euro class I had was also rather unruly! I do enjoy them as a class, because their english is very good and they actually want to be in the lesson and take part in a discussion. However, they just would not shut up! I feel like I can't be too strict with them because they're never rude to me or anything and they do speak in english but they also argue with each other and go off-topic an awful lot. This time I had to move 2 of the boys...they're 17 for goodness sake! When I asked one if he could move his response was 'yes of course, for you, of course'. This is the same boy who told me I look like an actress. And also this lesson said I was 'so cute' when I was getting angry with them. Again, not entirely appropriate. I had to tell them off several time for saying 'fuck you' to each other in jest and calling each other assholes! Their response...'but it is english', like therefore it's fine. They also find the fact that I say 'shhh' and 'shush' to them A LOT incredibly hilarious. (It would appear that they say 'chut' in french when they want a class to shut up). Aaaand obviously on top of that the find the way I pronounce their names funny and kept trying to make me say them! But still...for some reason I like the class! Despite all the laughing at me, I never feel like they're actually making fun of me or being mean. They just get carried away and over-excited. I only have them every 2 weeks though, thank god. I don't know if I could cope with more! Next lesson I am determined to have more structure! I don't want to be boring and strict with them, but I need them to realise I am there to teach them something.
I have discovered there is a student teacher at my school. I have seen him several times before and thought that, like me, he could also easily pass for a student! I didn't realise that he was a student teacher though. I get the impression that he speaks at least some english, as he was participating in the conversation I was having in english with Nathalie on wednesday. I left school thinking he was quite good looking (albeit a bit short), but in reflection I feel I should reassess this. I think being in France changes one's perceptions, and standards definitely slip! As Hannah so perfectly put it, in a text which actually made me laugh out loud, 'if they're not spitting on the floor or they don't have a fag behind their ear they seem acceptable'. This is very true. In northern France anyway. I'm really not sure where this romantic vision that British women have of French men comes from! It certainly isn't from Nord-pas-de-Calais, that's for sure! (Sorry to break this devastating news to you mother. Perhaps they exist in Paris?!)
Well, I am going to go and (at least pretend to) do something productive! I had considered venturing to Arras to sample the delights of their Christmas market. Buuuut the snow, the coldness and the fact that I would be doing so alone makes me want to stay in my nice artificially heated apartment instead. I have food and the internet, what more could I need! Plus I shall be braving the elements for my fun-filled day in Lille tomorrow with Hannah anyway, so I shall get out at some point!
xxxx
Don't get me wrong, 4 days off is definitely a good thing...but possibly a little boring when you live in a small place and only know 2 other people! My friends were both otherwise engaged yesterday and today which leaves me to occupy myself. So far I have managed to watch the 5th and 6th Harry Potter films (essential preparation for HP 7, I'm sure you'll understand) and also Snow White. There are definitely more important things that I should be doing!
For example, I promised Nathalie (one of the english teachers) that I would speak only french with her as of next week. You may read this and think (quite understandably) 'oh but you live in France and you are doing a degree in french, surely this is simple?'. In theory yes. In practice no. Therefore my intention was to revise verb conjugations during my weeked. Wild plans, I know! I obviously need to lesson-plan this weekend too, for my busy Monday and Tuesdau. 'Winging it' doesn't quite cut it. And my bedroom is rather a mess at the moment (for those who have seen it, I am aware it is quite a small space to become so disorganised!).
An absolutely ESSENTIAL task for the day is to change my duvet. When I moved in the landlady showed me the spare blankets in my apartment and also handed me a second duvet. I exchanged puzzled looks with my parents and pondered as to why I would need a second duvet. Well...I now know why! The duvet currently on my bed is definitely a summer duvet. I'm no tog expert...but I would hazard a guess of around 7! Seeing as snow set in yesterday, it is now definitely too cold for a tog 7! The spare duvet looks around the same thickness, but I'm hoping that if I combine them then I will be as snug as a bug. Might actually put my own duvet cover on whilst I'm at it. The one provided for me is...a bit weird. Whilst I talking about warmth and all that... My radiator in my bedroom still does not work. It is connected to the main house's heating. Therefore this means that my landlady is yet to turn on her central heating. It's snowing! How are they functioning?!
Teaching this week has been...interesting. Generally okay, but I think the students are becoming used to me and are definitely less well behaved than they were before! I am going to have to start getting strict!
My classes on Wednesday definitely provided anecdotal material. I knew that the half of the terminale class I had first thing were the less well behaved half of the class. Nathalie wanrs me of this and always tells them they must behave or I won't have them back. They are always very sweet to me though and well-behaved in class. I fear this may perhaps not be for the right reasons though. When I asked if they like english the boys joked that they do now. Not necessarily appropriate. I was given a list of questions to discuss with them, and I was warned that the last one might have some slightly odd answers, but I thought nothing of it. However, when I asked 'what do you do at the weekend?' one boy replied 'I drink alcohol and I play sex'. Quite frankly, I was taken aback! The class laughed and I had to laugh. I did also have to point out to him that we cannot say that we 'play' sex. But I left it at that.
Then later the terminale euro class I had was also rather unruly! I do enjoy them as a class, because their english is very good and they actually want to be in the lesson and take part in a discussion. However, they just would not shut up! I feel like I can't be too strict with them because they're never rude to me or anything and they do speak in english but they also argue with each other and go off-topic an awful lot. This time I had to move 2 of the boys...they're 17 for goodness sake! When I asked one if he could move his response was 'yes of course, for you, of course'. This is the same boy who told me I look like an actress. And also this lesson said I was 'so cute' when I was getting angry with them. Again, not entirely appropriate. I had to tell them off several time for saying 'fuck you' to each other in jest and calling each other assholes! Their response...'but it is english', like therefore it's fine. They also find the fact that I say 'shhh' and 'shush' to them A LOT incredibly hilarious. (It would appear that they say 'chut' in french when they want a class to shut up). Aaaand obviously on top of that the find the way I pronounce their names funny and kept trying to make me say them! But still...for some reason I like the class! Despite all the laughing at me, I never feel like they're actually making fun of me or being mean. They just get carried away and over-excited. I only have them every 2 weeks though, thank god. I don't know if I could cope with more! Next lesson I am determined to have more structure! I don't want to be boring and strict with them, but I need them to realise I am there to teach them something.
I have discovered there is a student teacher at my school. I have seen him several times before and thought that, like me, he could also easily pass for a student! I didn't realise that he was a student teacher though. I get the impression that he speaks at least some english, as he was participating in the conversation I was having in english with Nathalie on wednesday. I left school thinking he was quite good looking (albeit a bit short), but in reflection I feel I should reassess this. I think being in France changes one's perceptions, and standards definitely slip! As Hannah so perfectly put it, in a text which actually made me laugh out loud, 'if they're not spitting on the floor or they don't have a fag behind their ear they seem acceptable'. This is very true. In northern France anyway. I'm really not sure where this romantic vision that British women have of French men comes from! It certainly isn't from Nord-pas-de-Calais, that's for sure! (Sorry to break this devastating news to you mother. Perhaps they exist in Paris?!)
Well, I am going to go and (at least pretend to) do something productive! I had considered venturing to Arras to sample the delights of their Christmas market. Buuuut the snow, the coldness and the fact that I would be doing so alone makes me want to stay in my nice artificially heated apartment instead. I have food and the internet, what more could I need! Plus I shall be braving the elements for my fun-filled day in Lille tomorrow with Hannah anyway, so I shall get out at some point!
xxxx
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