Good Days

Lately, my Good Days are made of:

• Discovering the ridiculous videos my siblings recorded on my computer before I left home,
• People telling me my French has improved (two in the last three days!),
• Chocolate Mousse for school dessert,
• All my dishes on the clean side of the sink (okay, not yet, but I'm about to wash them...really I am),
• Learning how to edit clips in iMovie (now I want a camcorder!),
• Making plans to hang out with friends, and
• My students learning AND having fun.

What's making your days good lately?

My Triumph lasted till the Drums

{Emily Dickinson: 1212}

{Source}

It was such a great day. An excellent day. I got to really teach today. Really.

Not just help another teacher, not just take a group of students and play a game someone else planned, not just stand in the corner and provide proper pronunciation when asked. Because this is what my "teaching" has been for the most part, so far. It's been good, but far from real teaching. I've been using the time to get a feel for the classrooms here, for the way things are run, and for how much English my twelve classes know.

But now, I'm feeling ready to teach. And today, I got a chance to share a Thanksgiving lesson with six classes. Some went better than others. I had problems with time management, with explaining what stuffing is in French and with games that were a little too difficult.

But some of it went splendidly, and all of it felt fabulous. I'm not sure how to explain the surge of energy and joy I get when I'm in front of a class. It makes me think this is surely what I'm supposed to do with my life. Now to see if the feeling lasts or if it's just a new-experience-high.  I hope it's here to stay.

~

Then, after I was finished with my classes, I went to the school library to plan my lessons for next week and wait for my ride. As I was talking to the librarian, she corrected the pronunciation and gender of my use of the word "color." It was not le, it was la, and I was pronouncing the vowels incorrectly. Then she kindly explained (I think) that the word I had been using was an impolite one. A swear word. I didn't ask for specifics.

To review: Today was great, but I was quite possibly swearing at my classes all day. And that is kind of how life goes.

Back to School

My vacation is over. It was relaxing, but now I'm ready to get back to school. My days need a little purpose, a little work. (Although, if anyone is interested in funding a year or two of my life in a foreign country just writing, sightseeing, photographing, eating and crafting...I wouldn't say no.)

The most exciting part of my vacation was a day in Paris. It was marvelously, deliciously sunny...the kind that made me want to sing about sunbeams turning to lemon drops.

We found ourselves on the Champs-Élysées.

We oogled a few windows. In French, this is called “faire du lèche-vitrines,” or “Window Licking.” This is something I'm much more likely to actually do at a patisserie. I dare you to look at this and not salivate a little.

{flaky, sugary, custardy deliciousness} 

We also made our way to the Eiffel Tower and up to Montmarte to see Sacré Coeur.

Other vacation highlights included two visits to a French version of Goodwill, spending time with friends, receiving my first paycheck and my debit card, and going on photo explorations of Elbeuf. Watch for those photos soon.

But now it's back to school. That is actually why I came to France.

That and the bread...oh the bread...

Where was I?

Ah yes. School.

I'm assisting in three French schools--Monod and Camus (which are actually one building but different schools) and Jules Verne.

I'm incredibly excited. And unsure.

I'm finally figuring out what my actual role will be in my classes. In some, it seems like I will just be a talking head, serving as a live example of good pronunciation for whatever lesson is being taught. But in others I'm going to get to plan lessons.

In most cases, I seem to be somewhat superfluous. Most of the teachers know English well enough to teach it, and I sometimes feel like I'm just getting in their way; I hope this feeling will subside as my schedule gets organized.

Either way, I'm exited about working with the primary students. They're about the same as 1st through 5th graders in the United States, and they seem great. I'm somewhat of a novelty right now, so they all want to play soccer and marbles with me (that's right, French kids play marbles) and try to speak English.

However, most of them just know, "What is your name?" "Vat iz yur nam?" Very cute.

There were some other great moments when I introduced myself to the classes:

Everyone seemed to know about Las Vegas, even the first graders.

A second grader asked if I knew Marilyn Monroe.

Other good questions:

"Is everyone in the United States rich? Everyone has big houses and big cars, yes?"

"Do lots of people live in the United States?"

If I take one more step...

Photo Credit

...it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.

Today, I've been in France for one month. Now, France is not the farthest away from home I've ever been (that's Cambodia), and I'm sure I went more than a month without going home while I lived in Indiana. But home was always a possibility. This feels like the place where distance and time combine to make me feel like Sam as he took that step away from the Shire. 

(Am I a dork for referencing Lord of The Rings on my blog? Yes. Get used to it.)

One month also seems like a good time to finally share this blog with other people.

But I have a lot to catch you up on. So here's the short version:

Housing: I've rented a tiny French studio in a little town, Elbeuf, near my schools. When it's decorated, I'll share pictures.

Schools: I'm assisting with English classes in three French elementary schools. My tasks and responsibilities vary depending on the school and the teacher, but everyone has been helpful. The students think I'm very interesting, which is a nice change.

Language: Living in another language has presented challenges that I didn't expect, like people assuming I'm stupid because I say things like, “I train station go. Where?” But my listening (or guessing) skills are growing exponentially, and my speaking skills are following, just at a much slower rate. I say “oui” a lot, in various tones of voice, depending on how much I understand.

Other:

I've eaten so many pastries...and so much delicious bread. I love grocery shopping.

Flattering, no?

I visited Paris for a day with a few other Americans.

 I got to see the English Channel, I've seen three movies in French without subtitles (Social Network wasn't such a good idea...too much talking, not enough action), I found the library, and I've filled out more paperwork than I could ever imagine...and I'm not done yet.

But I'm excited to share my adventures and misadventures with all of you here.

Bisous! (That means kisses!)