So that tiny 6eme child made me a little hangy photo frame thingy and another got me chocs - they gave me these presents with a handmade late birthday card at the end of my last lesson with them. They said I was their favourite teacher. I have been in their lesson thrice I believe. . . I'm not sure, but I think this means I'm the BEST TEACHER EVER. Or, that even 11year olds will do anything for a good grade in France.
My lovely sister and her boyf are coming to stay this weekend =) and I CAN'T WAIT (am trying to find out a quick way to say this in French, as their version translates, rather longwindedly, as I'm waiting impatiently). Apres ca, my petit ami is coming to stay for a week! > always think that is an odd phrase too - makes it sound a bit cheeky and weird, but I'm told the French do actually say this as 'boyfriend', although it essentially just sounds like I'm dating a child. But am mighty excited to show them all the sites of Le Mans - of which there are many! I'm making a little French list/ liste francaise, which differs only slightly from une liste anglaise, in that the language is not the same, and the French one takes significantly longer to write, due to the siestes I will take throughout and mini breaks for CHEESE AND WINE (Oh Alice, how you'd love it here!).
Only a little update aujourd'hui, as I'm sat in the Salle de Profs again, and must get on with something more productive! Like reading French Harry Potter! Oh and by the way - I have just discovered from the aforementioned novel, that a magic wand in French, is a baguette magique. Could life get much better than this?!
I think not.
Much love and whatnot,
H x
Friday, 18 November 2011
10/11/11 The Return.
So, had rather a lovely walk across London on my recent travels to England. With my large, heavy suitcases in tow, after journeying rather smoothly across a bitterly cold France, I endured this trek simply due to my boyfriend's sterling directions from Earl's Court Tube Station. When I had asked what seemed like the sum total of the inhabitants of old London town where on earth I was (but in reality was about 3 Polish people, some fellows in the local Sainsburys and a man with a small dog), I stumbled down the stairs of the TROUBADOUR (small music venue a Londres), where the man of the moment was rehearsing avec son groupe. Had a great night watching all the acts (a line up of Katie Ellesley, Rebecca de Jouvencal, Fiona Culley, and Cara Winter - of which the last two made a lasting impression), and eventually got a ride back to Brighton in the back of a Peugeot squidged under a drum kit (I only travel in style).
Spent some days in Brighton, some back in Bristol. Had some really lovely birthday celebrations which included beautiful jewellery, small mountains of cupcakes, and inevitably, lots of cuddling on the sofa with Molly the Border Terrier.
The actual day of my birthday was a real treat - a day that, in all honesty, just kept on giving. Unfortunately, the only gifts were MISERY and STRIFE, as I hurdled (with my suitcases still in tow) broken ticket machines, missed trains, delayed trains, the slowest passport control I have EVER ENCOUNTERED, broken French metros, cruel cruel Parisian bus folk, and hidden taxi ranks. I felt like Frodo, on his treacherous journey to Mordor to destroy the 'one ring'. I, too, was on a voyage of epic proportion, battling my way across an unknown territory. At the end of that young hobbit's journey, he has a nice sit down and a convenient ride home on a massive sort of bird, whereas my day ended by eating some cold, overpriced chips, which I consumed like a ravenous animal, and by spilling Fanta all down my jeans. Not a good look.
But skyping with my bessie, a young Alice Garrett, for 3 heures on my return, rather lightened my mood :)
Have had a few lovely jours et soirs avec mes amis en France this week, having had a rather delightful birthday meal at a friend's house, followed by a night out, sampling the delights of what Le mans has to offer (a vodka lemonade for 6 beastly euros! and lots of VERY BAD dancing. . .)
Going back to work, I have sampled new realms of pleasure. I am, of course, pulling your leg. . . On Monday, I literally fought with a 15 year old child. I was being totally unreasonable in all honesty - I had asked her to read 2 sentences out loud, from the sheet in front of her, that I had just read aloud myself. . . IMPOSSIBLE?!?!! I did, bien sur, win the battle, as after she refused to read it 6 times, and refused thrice to even leave the room (!), she DID end up reading. Perhaps it was childish of me to slowly applaud her efforts after sardonically, and ask her in a baby voice if it was difficult. .. ah well, it's a learning curve for us all!
I have bored the rest of my classes with Guy Fawkes related fun - thought they'd love it! it's got a bit of everything - attempted murder, the anticipation of huge explosions, torture, suicide, FIREWORKS. But I'm not sure they could have been any less interested. Going to quite literally jazz it up a bit next week, with some Jamie Cullum classics.
Two more bits of fun to share, and then I PROMISE, I'll bugger off:
1. I went to an International Soiree at Le Flore on Tuesday > was rather educational. Just lots of residents talking about travelling and became a heated debate about immigration, foreign policy and national spending. I didn't have a CLUE what was going on!! But people were getting very passionate about it all. The leader woman, then asked us foreign students to share a bit about why we have travelled to France, and I cracked some joke about being stuck in Mamers (stupid tiny town) for work, and about how much paperwork we need to do. . . It got a laugh, but didn't really seem appropriate after the harrowing topic of growing political and civil unrest in different parts of Africa. . . Was just proud I'd spoken vaguely coherently in front of all those Frenchies though!
2. Finally, i want to quickly tell of a little 6eme girl (11 years old). This girl came up to me on Tuesday at the end of the lesson, about 3/4 weeks after my initial question and answer sessions had taken place, where the students were supposed to find out more about me, and she said in French something like, "Harriet, Happy Birthday! I'm so sorry it's so late. I really like horseriding just like you!" and she just scurried away. What a cutie!
Looking forward to my impending visits from various wonderful people now, wahoo! Will fill you in later,
Much love and whatnot, H x
Spent some days in Brighton, some back in Bristol. Had some really lovely birthday celebrations which included beautiful jewellery, small mountains of cupcakes, and inevitably, lots of cuddling on the sofa with Molly the Border Terrier.
But skyping with my bessie, a young Alice Garrett, for 3 heures on my return, rather lightened my mood :)
Have had a few lovely jours et soirs avec mes amis en France this week, having had a rather delightful birthday meal at a friend's house, followed by a night out, sampling the delights of what Le mans has to offer (a vodka lemonade for 6 beastly euros! and lots of VERY BAD dancing. . .)
Going back to work, I have sampled new realms of pleasure. I am, of course, pulling your leg. . . On Monday, I literally fought with a 15 year old child. I was being totally unreasonable in all honesty - I had asked her to read 2 sentences out loud, from the sheet in front of her, that I had just read aloud myself. . . IMPOSSIBLE?!?!! I did, bien sur, win the battle, as after she refused to read it 6 times, and refused thrice to even leave the room (!), she DID end up reading. Perhaps it was childish of me to slowly applaud her efforts after sardonically, and ask her in a baby voice if it was difficult. .. ah well, it's a learning curve for us all!
I have bored the rest of my classes with Guy Fawkes related fun - thought they'd love it! it's got a bit of everything - attempted murder, the anticipation of huge explosions, torture, suicide, FIREWORKS. But I'm not sure they could have been any less interested. Going to quite literally jazz it up a bit next week, with some Jamie Cullum classics.
Two more bits of fun to share, and then I PROMISE, I'll bugger off:
1. I went to an International Soiree at Le Flore on Tuesday > was rather educational. Just lots of residents talking about travelling and became a heated debate about immigration, foreign policy and national spending. I didn't have a CLUE what was going on!! But people were getting very passionate about it all. The leader woman, then asked us foreign students to share a bit about why we have travelled to France, and I cracked some joke about being stuck in Mamers (stupid tiny town) for work, and about how much paperwork we need to do. . . It got a laugh, but didn't really seem appropriate after the harrowing topic of growing political and civil unrest in different parts of Africa. . . Was just proud I'd spoken vaguely coherently in front of all those Frenchies though!
2. Finally, i want to quickly tell of a little 6eme girl (11 years old). This girl came up to me on Tuesday at the end of the lesson, about 3/4 weeks after my initial question and answer sessions had taken place, where the students were supposed to find out more about me, and she said in French something like, "Harriet, Happy Birthday! I'm so sorry it's so late. I really like horseriding just like you!" and she just scurried away. What a cutie!
Looking forward to my impending visits from various wonderful people now, wahoo! Will fill you in later,
Much love and whatnot, H x
18/10/11 -Things are looking up
To be completely honest with you, the title of this update is almost entirely based on the fact that I'm going home in TWO LONG DAYS as it's my birthday next week ( The big TWO ONE) and so I'm train-ing it back for an OVERWHELMING cost. I also get to spend lots of time avec my aforementioned boyfriend, whose name I'm still yet to remember.
As we speak, I'm sat in the Salle de Profs of the college, trying to keep my head down, lest someone should attempt to start a conversation with me. YET, I'm feeling less fear for that nowadays, as I have been getting a few lifts home with teachers, which forces me to actually speak to les francais - something I thought I would be able to avoid for the duration of my time here. . . This little French filled room is, however, the sole place i can seek refuge from the tiny, shouty children, thus rendering it a sort of exotic paradise.
My day yesterday, while being long and hard (. . .) was saved by the fact that, finalement, a 13 year old boy asked for my phone number during a question and answer session! While being an utterly inappropriate request, that I responded to in the negative immediately, I finally felt like my initiation as a language assistant is almost complete. This is enhanced by any children I have taught literally screaming "HELLO HARRIET" down the corridors at me wherever I go, either because they are insanely excitable or cruel and scathing in their open mockery of me. I'm going to embrace the former.
Have taught my first real classes alone this week, and have had some great nights with my new friends. France has evidently made me wild and reckless. I attended a birthday party - thrown for un de mes nouveaux amis called NIK. We had fajitas (a classic French dish...) and I managed to munch on enough nachos to sink a small rig. My friends proceeded to roll me into town, and we went to a few bars, mainly those pour danser.
But forgive me, I must pack for my voyage home. Woop.
Much love and whatnot,
H x
As we speak, I'm sat in the Salle de Profs of the college, trying to keep my head down, lest someone should attempt to start a conversation with me. YET, I'm feeling less fear for that nowadays, as I have been getting a few lifts home with teachers, which forces me to actually speak to les francais - something I thought I would be able to avoid for the duration of my time here. . . This little French filled room is, however, the sole place i can seek refuge from the tiny, shouty children, thus rendering it a sort of exotic paradise.
My day yesterday, while being long and hard (. . .) was saved by the fact that, finalement, a 13 year old boy asked for my phone number during a question and answer session! While being an utterly inappropriate request, that I responded to in the negative immediately, I finally felt like my initiation as a language assistant is almost complete. This is enhanced by any children I have taught literally screaming "HELLO HARRIET" down the corridors at me wherever I go, either because they are insanely excitable or cruel and scathing in their open mockery of me. I'm going to embrace the former.
Have taught my first real classes alone this week, and have had some great nights with my new friends. France has evidently made me wild and reckless. I attended a birthday party - thrown for un de mes nouveaux amis called NIK. We had fajitas (a classic French dish...) and I managed to munch on enough nachos to sink a small rig. My friends proceeded to roll me into town, and we went to a few bars, mainly those pour danser.
But forgive me, I must pack for my voyage home. Woop.
Much love and whatnot,
H x
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