What's your name?

Even though I was paid for working the entire month of October, today was my first day of teaching. (Paid vacation in your first month? Crazy, I know!) After nearly two weeks of sleeping in until 8h00, it was difficult to wake up at 6h00 this morning. Not to mention that I work up to the realization that I hadn't planned anything for today! Way to make a good first impression, Kelsey! 

I started class off by asking the students what they did during vacation. When I said, "Moi, je suis allée en Suède avec quelques amis." One student asked where that was en Angleterre... Ummm. Not quite. Then I asked what they'd learned en anglais last year. I'm told they learned about colors, days of the week, weather, animals, members of the family, food, clothes... Now I really wonder how much of this they actually remember. When I said "What's my name?" the crickets answered for me. When I asked the same question in French, they knew the answer. It's cute to hear them try to say my name; it's not easy! (I don't dare ask them to try my last name!) I spent most of my time going over the phrases "my name is..." and "what's your name?" and then read a cute story about a dog named Mudge and a cat named Fluffy. Then we started talking about our pets. Upon mentioning that I had three dogs, four cats, and eight horses (I always include Tracy's in that count), their eyes practically bugged out! 

By the end of the day, I was exhausted. Though I'm there all day, I have three hours worth of breaks. Taking scheduled breaks is tough for me, since I generally HATE taking a lunch or other breaks and would much rather power through and get off early. I'll be more prepared for future classes, but I'd say that my first day went fairly well. I don't want to speak prematurely, but I think I can do this pretty well! It can only get easier, right?

So, now I've got my three-day weekend ahead of me! What am I going to do? Who knows... but I do know that there's a strike for the buses tomorrow and also a metro, tram, and bus strike on Saturday. How lovely. Welcome to France! 

Bisous, 

-kelse

Moi, je suis allée en Suede avec quelques amis. - I went to Sweden with a few friends. 

en Angleterre - in England 

en anglais - in English

Un ange gardien

I must have un ange gardien following me around. Either that, or I just have a lot of luck. (Maybe it's a combination of both? Who knows but I won't complain!) On Monday morning, I arrived at work layered up as well as any real Seattleite; tights, a long-sleeved shirt dress, cardigan, and a coat. Albeit, my "coat" was more or less a light-weight jacket, see below. When packing back at home, I made a stupid executive decision not to pack one of the winter coats I already had. I figured it would take up too much space/weight in my valise. Instead, I brought two light jackets - the second one I accidently left at the sauna in Estonia... So I'm down to one light coat and lots of sweaters. 

The only coat I have from home... Did I mention that I miss these guys?

While sipping coffee in the teacher's lounge, Sylvia asked me if I was too cold and I replied that I wasn't. Clearly, if I'm writing about this conversation, it's because it didn't stop there. I continued to tell her that the coat I was wearing was the only one I brought with me and that I had plans to buy a coat this week. She insisted that I didn't need to buy a coat because she has extras that I can use. So she asked my size and told me she'd bring a coat or two for me to choose the next day. Surely enough, when I saw her yesterday afternoon, she walked me out to her car and gave me a bag full of three coats for me to take home to try on, even making sure that I'd be okay to get the large bag home by myself. 

One of the coats she gave me is a floor-length, black wool coat with a faux-fur collar. It's a little too big and too dress for everyday wear. The second was a khaki winter coat with lots of pockets and a hood - a little too many pockets and zippers for my liking. The third is a cozy brown coat with a hood that fits me perfectly and is quite comfortable. I felt like Goldilocks - the first was too big, the second didn't work, and the third was just right! Honestly, how amazing is she? She also insisted that before I buy anything else, I check with her because she has extras of things and knows that I can't bring 40 suitcases with me. A guardian angel must have definitely sent her my way. She's also the same teacher who has offered to drive me to the bus station. Sylvia is a wonderful person and I'm lucky to work with her! 

Goldilocks' pick

Aside from my newly-acquired winter coat, here are another few noteworthy tidbits...

Cette photo ne la rends pas justice! 

• I'm stranded in Marcq-en-Baroeul today because there aren't any tramways or buses running. For once, this is not due to a strike but rather due to a shooting that happened on a bus last night. No, it's not a route I take.
• Yesterday I only worked a half day because there was another teacher's strike and teachers for two of my classes were on strike.
• I FINALLY got my debit card for my French bank account... I opened the it Sept. 22nd... 
• Sébastien made me a delicious crêpe last night with banana and nutella. Yes, you heard that right, I ate banana. France has really changed me. (Although I am still afraid to touch them...)

Does anyone know what tomorrow is? Guess!

Bisous, 

-kelse

un ange gardien - a guardian angel

une valise - a suitcase

School: Take 2

So getting to school this morning was less stressful than on Friday, since I knew where I was going. Want to know how? Because I could see the North Star. I do believe it was darker when I left for work this morning than when I went to bed. 

The corner right by my appartement

But when I got to school, I was excited to be there and get my schedule. Except for I couldn't read the scribbles and cross-outs very well... And then the director of the beginning level of the school saw it and switched it around because she wasn't happy with it. Now I have her class on Mondays, and I'll be honest that she really intimidates me. : / I think she'll warm up to me... I hope! if not, I only work Monday, Tuesday, Friday and the school is big. I can hide out from her in the other end of the school! (She's not that bad but everyone else has been really kind and she was just a little more harsh.)

École Paul Bert - it's a big school!

In all, school went really well today. A bunch of the kids remembered my name and those who didn't see or meet me on Friday seemed to have heard of me. A girl in the last class I observed today gave me a little note that said "I love you <3<3 English!!" It was really cute! And then when I mentioned I was from Seattle, Washington, she got excited because she'd been there. Adorable. Some kids would, in the middle of their lesson, turn around and just stare at me. And I mean stare... I couldn't figure out what they were thinking. Probably something along the lines of "does she actually speak English? how's she gonna teach me English?" They don't seem to believe me when I say I speak English (even in English!). The fact that I'm speaking French confuses them. 

I ate in la cantine again today, which was quite delicious. On the menu: 

-potage crème de potiron (cream of pumpkin soup)

-le poulet rôti (roasted chicken)

-laitue (lettuce)

-pommes cubes rissolées (fried potato cubes)

-yaourt danones aux fruits (Danon fruit yogurt)

Tomorrow's menu looks good, but I don't know what will happen, since there are two grèves. Half of the teachers will strike and then there's also a transportation strike. I can check at 6h30 tomorrow morning to see if my lines are affected. If I can't make it, then I don't work. If I can make it to work, then I think I go... Key word here is "think". Welcome to France... land of wine, cheese, and strikes.

Notice of a strike on 12 Octobre

Bisous, 

-kelse

la grève - a strike