Feeling pretty fortunate!

Today was my first job-related orientation. It was a réunion (meeting) for all the primary language assistants in the Rhone region (about 30 in all, mostly English assistants, but 2 German). Laurence met me and Alexa, the other primary assistant in Saint-Priest for lunch before the orientation. We went to a little brasserie (cafe/bar) for a nice, typical French meal (haha). On the menu, there was steak haché et frites, which I knew to be a hamburger patty and fries. When Laurence was going through the menu to explain what each item was, she specifically said that this dish was very French. I sorta laughed on the inside thinking... it's also very American... but I'll get it anyway because I don't really feel good and according to you it's the most French thing on the menu. It was very good, I think they add a few different spices to the burger patty (no bun or anything) and the fries just tasted like regular fries. About the most French thing on my plate was the salad dressing on the little side of greens...

But anyway, lunch was nice because I finally got to meet Alexa. She's from Vancouver, Canada, but has lived in France off and on for the last 3 years... so she's a very fluent francophone, she has a wealth of knowledge about the French paperwork system (there is a lot, for everything!) and Lyon, so I'm very glad to know her!

After lunch, which Laurence kindly paid for, we headed to the Rectorat (Board of Education). There, we sat in a large meeting room with little microphones on the tables... kind of like how you see on TV at UN meetings or something. We went around the room, clicking our little microphones on and off to introduce ourselves, and then they went into the many particulars of the French system of doing things (what to do to make up days when you get sick, how to attain social security for health coverage, how to get paid, etc.). I also learned that I'm not really making the lessons so much as providing the teacher with oral language and cultural support. I'm sure it will depend on the teacher and how much they trust the assistants to do in their classroom, so on va voir (we shall see)! Laurence also told us that we may be able to work in the before/after school programs or cafeteria for more pay. Cool!

By the time the meeting was over... I was starting to feel more sick than at the beginning (sore throat :( ugh). I guess it was bound to happen... what with the sudden change of temperature and the adjustment to a new sleeping pattern... so instead of touring Lyon with Alexa, I lamely went home (I don't think I have real health insurance until November... so I guess being lame is better than getting more sick!). We did say hello to a few other assistants before I skipped out... and I began to feel very fortunate about my living situation. Many assistants are sleeping on couches of friends of friends and are desperately trying to find a permanent place to

stay. There are different options available, it's just a long process to go through... which is

something I would not want to be doing while I'm getting situated into a new job.

My apartment isn't right in the hussle and bussle of Lyon, but it is very close to where I work, and it will have heat come mid-October when it is turned on for the whole building. The outside of the apartment isn't very chic or pretty, but the inside is perfectly suitable for someone living here 7 months (and I'm practically living here for free, rent is very reasonable). They are supposed to be coming tomorrow with a new oven. And a huge plus, I have room to spare for visitors! So all-in-all, not doing too bad. Laurence and her family have been a huge help with getting me situated... they not only fed me last night, but loaned me some movies to watch!

I keep trying to upload the video I took of my apartment, but the internet connection is too weak or something... so I took some more pictures to show you! It's starting to look pretty cute with the sprucing up I've done!

On the schedule for tomorrow- buying a carte 12-25 (a discount travel card for buying train tickets), putting money on my Lyon transit card, and waiting for the oven to arrive.

Miss everyone! Reste cool:)

How do you say.... uhhh...

Over the past few days... I've begun to realize just how much French I've lost in the last year doing my Master's in Education. My first 4 years of college were centered around my degree in French, with a few education classes on the side. My last year was only and intensely centered around Education... making it difficult for me to keep up with my French. I tried my best... read the newspaper in French, did a project on the French Education system, but that's not really the same as taking at least one French class, if not two, or three.

So... as I'm trying to get directions or get a library card or hold a dinner conversation in French... there are times when I feel so stuck. I can't find a word or think of how to conjugate a verb. If I have time to think about what I want to say and go around a word I can't remember I do just fine. But when I'm in the middle of dinner with Laurence's family going back and forth in slang or just plain fast French, I'm at a loss. I know I'm only going to get better and I will gain back the confidence I've lost... but I feel frustrated. I can't believe I have a degree in French and all I have to show for it is the ability to write mostly grammatically correct emails, to understand 3/4 of what's going on at dinner (or less depending on how many hand gestures or facial expressions accompany the talking), and respond to questions directed at me with difficulty and lots of pausing.

Although I said I wasn't going to do anything today, I did actually clean the apartment and go to the mediatheque (library with dvds, cds, and books). I looked around to see if they had free internet usage, but no... however they do have a million movies I can rent and of course plenty of books. I actually sat in the children's section for a while looking at a "My First English Words"

book so that I could make sure I at least knew those vocabulary words in French. Sad, I know. Besides not using my French for over a year, I also just never needed to know or remember certain words for my advanced courses in French literature... like the word for blocks (les cubes) or the word for kitchen sink (l'evier). But, talking with Laurence tonight made me realize that the little kids aren't going to know much English at all, so I'm going to learn French as I continue to immerse myself into the culture.

Anyway, dinner with Laruence's family was entertaining as always. She made couscous. I thought couscous was just the little grains plus some veggies or whatever else you put in it. Tonight, we had plain couscous grains with a sort of beef stew on top. When I asked what I was eating she called the whole dish couscous. So... who knows? Maybe I just don't know what couscous is? During dinner, I listened to the usual family discussion about how Laura (the middle daughter) doesn't have a job or plan for school, how Margot (the youngest daughter) doesn't eat vegetables, or much at all, and Jeremy (the son) forgot to tell his mom he needs a quiche for tomorrow (yes, this is the 21 year old son who's going to engineering school... however I shouldn't complain too much, I did get some quiche to take home). I also met Jeremy's girlfriend who is a real English teacher at a primary school. But unfortunately, she does not have any assistants to help her teach...

It's so funny talking with them though... we tell each other the stereotypes we have for each others' cultures (pepe le pew, baguettes, han han han, sacre bleu, and wine for the French; Clint Eastwood, Stallone, fat Americans, and fast food for us). Pretty much every reference they have for America or English-speaking cultures comes from films or books. Most of the major American/English films are shown in movie theaters here and many major novels are translated into French (Twilight, Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, etc.) Laurence thinks it's great fun to try to speak in English, but she never studied English...and most of her knowledge comes from a tiny phrase book she bought to visit Laura in Scotland. So she'll say something in "English," Laura will correct her accent and look to me, and then I correct her accent. Some things are

hilarious... they can't say the "th" in "three" and instead say "tree" or "free." Laurence tried to say "tired," but can't really get out the "r" sound, so she says "tuyerd" or something very strange sounding. Of course when we have our little English lessons, I feel sufficient at something, so it's fun... but I kind of wish we could have little French lessons for me... although I guess it's all just one big French lesson isn't it?

I sneaked some pictures of Laurence and Laura. I'll try to get the whole family sometime.

Tomorrow, I'm meeting Laurence and Alexa (the other primary school English assistant in Saint-Priest) before we have our first orientation meeting at 13h30 (1:30pm). I'm excited to finally hear more specifics about what I'll be doing. I see and hear these adorable little French kids and get more and more excited about working with them. Laurence and I did talk a little about what my schedule might look like... work Monday, Tuesday, and half day Thursday or something like that... So sounds like I definitely don't work on Saturday which I was a little concerned about, and I will have plenty of free time for traveling.... And when I'm not traveling... I guess I'll just be planning awesome lessons or giving private English lessons? Je sais pas (I don't know).

More later. Miss you all! Reste cool!

I’m a winner!

I know you’re all waiting to hear how the so called “battle” between France and I went… well, let’s just say I’m a winner!!!! For now anyway. After checking online to make sure my bank location was open, I found out that, oh it is not open on Mondays… that figures. (As a reminder to you, I needed to go to the bank to acquire a RIB form, or a little piece of paper with my account numbers on it to be able to finally get internet and telephone for my apartment.) Although my bank location was closed, I checked to see if there were any others open. Thankfully, there was one open in my region and I copied down the map from the internet to go straight there this morning.

Then it got tricky. This bank was located in the Parc Technologique. It was easily accessible by tram, but once off the tram, this technology park (or industrial park) was not very walker friendly. It was basically a large office complex (and I do mean large). There were only little green signs on the buildings to denote what offices were held where… and of course I didn’t have much to go off of except the little map I drew. After walking to about 10 different buildings and no luck, I decided I was in trouble. Fortunately, I had also copied down the phone number. I called, got lost some more, called again, and the man came outside to meet me. Of course on his way out, he lit a cigarette, which he needed to finish before going back inside. While we stood there talking, he asked if I had an appointment and what I needed. Of course, I had no appointment; I was just waltzing in like any other person in battle might do. I told him what I needed and he said… A what? I said you know… like the thing with all the numbers on it… and he said… oh, well we’re more of like the business behind the bank, not an actual bank location. I’m sure my face went white or I looked like he had just killed my cat because he immediately said, but we’ll see what we can do. So he stamped out his cigarette and we headed upstairs.

He took the papers I had and returned with 3 copies of the RIB. WOOHOO! I did a little dance as I walked out. Nice job little smoking French man.

Then, it was time to head back to the SFR store (just one tram stop away). Of course they remembered me and very quickly got it all set up. I am to wait for a guy to come install my telephone line from 15h-17h (or 3-5pm) on October 7th. Then, I will receive a text message and an email from SFR when my neufbox comes into the more local shop in Saint-Priest. Once I have this neufbox, I can plug everything up and have internet, phone, and HGtv. Hurray! So hopefully within the next 2 weeks I will finally have it all figured out, which is good because my internet hasn’t worked all day. Hopefully I can log on long enough to post thisJ

After all this hard work, I stopped for a ham and cheese crepe (yumz). Then I did a bit of

grocery shopping so that, although I ate out all day, tomorrow, I can start cooking at home. As soon as I got home, I got a text from another assistant who wanted to meet up in Lyon. Her name is also Lindsey (but with an e), and she will be the high school English assistant in Saint-Priest. It was great to finally meet and to talk to someone about the program, the city, living in France, etc. We got caught in the rain though and it was mighty chilly. So we stopped off at an H&M to find me a hat. It is a very French-y winter hat, but it will keep me and my ears nice and warmJ

We crossed back and forth from Presqu-ile (where she’s looking for housing) to the Vieux Lyon for some early dinner (well it was 5:30, so I was ready for dinner). Apparently, I’ve forgotten that the French don’t eat dinner until after 7pm… and trying to find something open between 5-7 is not easy. So instead of sitting down to eat somewhere, we just went to a boulangerie for

pizza and desert (at least that’s what I ate). The pizza is a little different, but very good. And tonight I tasted a Lyon specialty- the pink pralines brioche. Really it is the pink praline that is the specialty and they add it to different pastries. A brioche is a type of sweet roll, and I’m not sure why the praline is pink. But it is BRIGHT pink. This is the view from the bakery.

I’m back home, ready to rest. I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow and I like it (except a dinner date with Laurence's family). I need to rest my legs and prepare for my orientation on Wednesday (by doing nothing). If anything I’ll go find where the orientation is in Lyon, but otherwise I’ll be tidying up and putting away my laundry that is still trying to dry. This is an interesting tid-bit about my apartment… I don’t think I have heat. So when it is cold, my wet laundry does not dry very fast. I’m wondering if I’m just too stupid to find the heat or if it really doesn’t exist. I’m also wondering how much a space heater costs. Until then, I'll be cranking up the "bunson burners" on my oven.

Miss you all. Reste cool!

Fourviere Basilica, Place des Terreaux, and Mouse friends

After a morning full of lugging laundry back and forth around Saint-Priest (it was thankfully a success), I spent the afternoon and early evening out and about in Lyon. I wanted to revisit a beautiful fountain I saw the last time I was here and see the Basilica on the hill for the first time.

I hopped on the tram and took a different metro route (see I'm getting fancier) to the Funiculaire (a funicular or cable car) to the Fourvière quarter of Lyon. This was a stroke of genius (or luck), because after touring the basilica (which I'll get to in a second), I walked down the stairs (the alternative to the funiculaire) and was grateful that I was not one of the other tourists huffing and puffing up the hundreds of stairs to the top. But, back to the basilica (or the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière). Once you get off the funiculaire, you run right into this humongous church. It has four beautiful towers, it's a bright white color as opposed to the older middle ages looking cathedrals, and it is just enormous. It was windy and cold, so I walked straight into an open door leading to what I now know was just the basement of the basilica. I was pretty impressed, it had high ceilings and a few mosaics on the walls, but it wasn't better than other churches I've seen.

Then I realized there were stairs leading up to the main part of the church. And all I can say is, my jaw dropped and I was in awe. This is the most colorful cathedral I've ever seen (pictures don't do it justice!). There are wall to wall to ceiling mosaics, beautiful stained glass windows, and the ceilings were 4 times higher than the ones in the basement. The church’s focus is on the Virgin Mary’s life (Notre Dame) because she is the Saint of Lyon. I also learned from my guide book that the nickname for this basilica is the "upside-down elephant" because of its four towers and the size of the building. It's not the oldest church in Lyon (built in the late 19^th century), but it is really something. I will be coming back, and it will most

certainly be on the list of things to show my visitors:) Also, from theoutside, it has stellar views of the city. Can you spot Place Bellecour?

After climbing down the stairs, following an adorable little boy and his

grand-mère the whole way, I made my way across a bridge to the center of Lyon (or Presqu’ile as they call it). There are actually 2 rivers that flow through Lyon, which is why there are so many bridges, and which explains the name of the central quarter called Presqu’ile (or almost island). Unlike Paris with one river flowing through the center and actual islands in the middle of the river, Lyon’s almost island is the part of town located between the 2 rivers. Neat, non?

I passed by a little open air book market, a restaurant Leslie and I ate at the last time we were here, and found my way to the Place des Terreaux, or the really cool fountain. Still love it.

On my way back to the metro, I decided I would stop somewhere to eat… and since I didn’t have much lunch, I’d treat myself to a real sit down dinner. By this point I was starving and decided I’d just pick the first place that had something I could afford and was open. Bad choice. I picked the “Hippopotamus” (unfortunately not translated into its much cooler French counterpart, Hippopotame), a chain that might be British because it serves “chips” and burgers and everything you can imagine on a kebab. I knew it was a chain and just went in anyway, hoping it wouldn’t be so bad. But, although my food wasn’t horrible (mozzarella and tomato kebab thingy and crème brulée for desert) it was much too over priced for what it was, and halfway through my meal, I was joined by a cute little sourcil (mouse). I told the manager about the mouse, but he didn’t seem concerned and said that it’s like this everywhere on the Presqu’ile because of the metro. That may be… but I’m still going to look it up online to see if this mouse problem is for real… and then I will be sure to choose a different quarter to eat at in Lyon. (I should also start cooking real food at my apartment).

Anyway, I’m back to my cozy apartment with crappy internet that cuts in and out. Hopefully you haven’t forgotten that the battle between me and France is going down tomorrow, so send me some good vibrations s’il vous plait. And in the evening I’m meeting another English assistant I met online for dinner in Lyon (she’s spent more time in the city, so hopefully she knows of a good, cheap, and mouse-free restaurant).

Miss you all! Reste cool:)

Pictures to accompany last last blog post:)

I thought I looked especially French-y today.

And this is the view from the river. The church closer up is St. Jean, the one further away is the Basilica Notre Dame that I've never seen close up. Maybe tomorrow!

Taking things into my own hands

After a minor melt down last night and a call to my momma, I decided that this whole "kind of having internet" thing isn't going to work for me. And the alternative to stealing the free wifi, is getting a real phone and internet plan, which includes free international calling and HGtv. Currently, I'm using my pay-as-you-go phone to call or text home, which is costing an arm and a leg, so getting a real deal all set up for only 30 euros a month is a win-win all-in-all.

So my plan for today was to go all over Lyon. Well that plan changed to calling Laurence first thing in the morning. Unfortunately for me, Laurence did not answer and her daughter Laura said she would call back in the afternoon. I guess they do have their own lives, but WHAT ABOUT ME? Of course, this morning the internet worked, so I looked up providers and locations to make it easier for when Laura could call me back. After a few hours of waiting around, cleaning my apartment, pouring over a few maps of Lyon, I decided it was time to take this into my own hands. So I texted Laura that I was going to have a go at for myself, and she texted back, I think I'm confused about what you want to do. LOL. So I guess it was a misunderstanding... but either way, I went on my way.

At first I thought there was a SFR store right in St. Priest. Well, there is not. So after walking around in a few circles, I decided to ask someone, and then someone else (because the first woman didn't have a clue about what I was talking about). Thankfully, the second woman (a nice little old woman in a patisserie) told me to hop on the tram (which I now know how to use thanks

to my adventures with Laura yesterday) and go to the Porte des Alpes. I blindly followed these directions in hopes that this SFR store would be very obviously located at the tram stop.

It turns out, Porte des Alpes is a mall, with an IKEA, a few restaurants with free wifi (yay backup plans), tons of cute shops, and the SFR! I got in line, said I'm sorry if my French is bad, but I'm American, and the woman said, Oh no problem, I have someone who speaks English. This man, did speak some English, but translating phone and internet service terms is no easy task. We went back and forth and for a while I thought- YES, it's going to happen! But, after

figuring out that I did not yet have a French credit card, I would not be able to attain the service after all. I did just open my account, so he said that there was a chance I had been given the RIB (some sort of identification code) and if I could go back home to get it, or stop by the bank to ask for it, I'd would be all set. Well- of course, I didn't have it in my documents, and the bank is closed during the weekend (I only know, because I walked across town to see). So, bringing what I did have with me, I went back to the SFR store just to see... but no luck. Alas, FRANCE-1, LINDSAY-0. But as Victor says, it's who wins the war, not each battle. So bring it on France. Bring it on. Come Monday, I shall have this so called RIB thingy I need, and Monday afternoon I will have completed the beginning of the 2 week process to achieve reliable internet. Until then, let's hope this free wifi plays nice.

So after my grueling defeat of battle #1 by myself, without a French person to hold my hand (Laura), I sat a cafe and ate a nice, warm crêpe au nutella and a coca-cola light (as they call diet coke). With my tummy full and my spirits a little higher, I decided since I was a few stop closer to Lyon, I might as well go into the city for an hour or so until my little legs could travel no more.

At first, I thought I'd just ride the tram all the way in and walk. After stepping foot off the tram, I decided I would immediately hop on the metro because my little legs weren't doing so well. New words to live by: If ye are not familiar with where ye are headed, thou shalt not wear cute

shoes, nay, ye shall wear sensible tennis shoes. Anyway, I got off the metro right into the heart of Lyon at the Place Bellecour. Although I have only been in Lyon once, for about a total of 5 hours with Leslie, I knew where I was. The statue of Louis XIV on a horse, churches in the distance, and a huge square in the middle of Lyon, covered in reddish pebbles. This time was different, yes, it's colder and the ferris wheel was gone, but for the first time I didn't feel the overwhelming feeling of having to figure out where I was because I had been here before.

Then my little legs started to feel a little perkier and I adventurously went off in search of the big, beautiful church, St. Jean. I could see it in the distance and headed in the right direction. I passed an interesting roller blade competition (guys weaving in and out of little cones to blasting American music). I passed chic little boutiques and remembered that Lyon is full of chic little boutiques- hurray! I went in one, looked at a price tag and walked right back out. I passed an adorable baby clothes shop, and took a picture to show you. I passed chic candy shops and cafes. And arrived at the church with the little fountain in front. After a few pictures, I decided I'd better start back since, although I had some sense of direction, I didn't bring my giant map with me to help if I got lost.

Ironically enough, on my way back to the Place Bellecour, I passed a book store and went in to see if they had any small detailed map books (I have one for Paris that was very discrete and handy on a daily basis). Sure enough, I found one. I also found copies of the French version of Twilight. No, I know what you're thinking, I didn't buy them (yet), but I did take pictures of them because they have different titles.

Anyway, I wound my way back to the metro, hopped on and felt like I could eat a cow. I guess this is why the French eat so much, with all the walking, a crepe for dinner isn't going to cut it. On the way home (about a 30 min. tram ride) I passed a McDo (McDonald's, pronounced MacDoe), and momentarily thought about hopping off for a nice juicy hamburger royale. But, I decided I better just hold off until I got home where I have a jar of nutella and grapes waiting for me in the fridge. Buff. (At least I think that now is an appropriate time to use this sound).

So, for now, I am content. I have internet back up plans until I get it all situated, a long-term plan in the making, and a tummy full of de-seeded grapes (I can only find grapes with seeds at my grocery store) and nutella, and a better understanding of the transportation system. Since I have a whole day to go before my plan of attack can being on Monday, I guess I'll have another go at touring Lyon, but this time I'll be wearing my chic, yet sensible puma trainers.

Reste cool mes amis! Tu me manques beaucoup!!! (I miss you guys!)

Pictures to accompany last blog post:)

My ham quiche, yumz! And an interesting flower display.

My "stove top" and old oven. The fountain and further proof of the cute village town. The school of music. And the the pretty church near the Chateau.