Trilingual Day in Bourg-en-Bresse (with 2 versions of English)

Today, Lindsey, Hannah, Caroline, and I went to visit Helen who lives in Bourg-en-Bresse. Bourg, as Helen calls it, is about an hour north-east of Lyon by train. Helen lives and teaches in the Bourg area high school, but comes to visit Lyon most weekends. So we thought it would be nice to go and visit her! And for only 11 euros round-trip, it was a perfect little day trip for our long weekend:)

Once we arrived, we started off by going to see her high school (or lycee), which houses students and language assistants. The students are usually only there during the week (as they may live farther out of town), but Helen and the Spanish language assistant reside there full time in dorm rooms. The high school itself is pretty cool because it's old and has a beautiful courtyard with "whomping willow" like trees (Harry Potter reference-fyi). It also has a ton of plaques to commemorate professors and students who were involved in the French Resistance movement during WWII. Cool, non?

Then, we walked around the very cute old town area (with more wood-framed houses and trompe l'oeil paintings...can you tell which is real and which is a painting?) and went to the huge Saturday market. It was such a pleasant experience in comparison to the hussle and bussle of the large markets around Lyon or Paris. This was much less fast pace, even though it still had tons of vendors, and there were lots of stands giving free samples (which of course we tried). After a good 15-20 minutes of walking around the yummy fruits, cheeses, vegetables, meats, nuts, and flowers, we decided it was lunch time.

We went to a darling (well it was) creperie, probably owned by the man and woman serving us. The restaurant was modern on the inside, but also quaint and very clean, with a moderately priced creperie menu. We had some delicious cider and crepes sales (or real food crepes, as opposed to sugar crepes). These are made with a different type of pancake batter and filled with anything from ham and cheese to chicken and potatoes. I just had the regular old ham and cheese crepe, but it was an excellent choice:) Then for desert, I felt like I couldn't possibly continue eating, so Caroline and I split a caramel crepe. It was basically a crepe with a delicious, buttery caramel puddle on top. I kind of wish I had eaten it with a spoon. It was SO good.

And then, we just talked and talked and sat in this quaint little restaurant for 2 hours. It is amazing how long we can go just talking about the differences between American English and British English. I actually learned quite a lot about different phrases they say... for example, in American English we say to rob or bugglarize, the British say to burgle. In America, we go to the bathroom to pee, in England, they go to the loo to have a wee. In America we have fanny-packs, in England, they have bum-packs (and their fanny is not the same fanny!). In England, to say someone is speaking with a "posh" accent means that they are speaking proper English (and it isn't usually meant in a good way... as in they are Snooty and speak the Queen's English). In American English, you might hear someone say they had a wicked awesome night (well at least maybe my friends up in New England say this) or an amazing time. In British English, you might hear, "I had a dead (or right) proper night." The list goes on and on and that's why we sat and talked for 2 hours... it was a dead hilarious time ;)

We eventually left in search for the main attraction in Bourg- the 16th century monastery. On our way, we met up with the Spanish language assistant, and Helen's friend, Racine (I think that's how it's spelled) who is from Mexico. She obviously speaks Spanish and French, but not so much English (although she seemed to understand a good bit). So we mostly spoke in French from then on out (and I attempted to recall the very little Spanish I once knew... which was super hard to do with French in my head). Anyway, the monastery has a beautiful patterned roof (similar to the ones I saw in Dijon) and more wood framed work in the courtyard of the monastery. There were several modern and classical art exhibits up in the Church and the monastery (we enjoyed interpreting the modern art especially).

On our way back, we had a quick look at the Cathedral Notre-Dame in Bourg, continued comparing languages (now Spain-Spanish to Hispanic-Spanish, French, American English-British English), stopped for a quick drink (I had mango juice, yumz) and got back on the train. Our brains certainly got a work out today!

Enjoy the pictures:)

Reste cool!

A Fun Friday:)

This morning I caught the tram to the Porte des Alpes mall, just to look around.... maybe to shop, maybe to grab a bite to eat before going into Lyon for my movie date with Lindsey and the Brits. Of course... there was a sale at my favorite French clothing store (Camaieu)... and so I got a few things and a birthday present for ma copine who's coming to visit soon:) On my way out, I got a little sandwich and a lemon meringue tartelette. So yummy!

I met the girls at the cinema on Rue de la Republique (where I saw Elle s'appellait Sarah). We saw Date Limite (Due Date in English). The movie was in its VO (original version in English), but had French subtitles... which were sometimes funny to read as they didn't quite make the joke. It was a funny, but ridiculous movie. I enjoyed laughing before most of the French people because I could anticipate the joke or get the joke before they could:) I know that sounds evil... but I always feel a step behind everywhere else, it was nice to have the advantage!

Anyway, we noticed that the new Audrey Tautou movie is having an advanced premier at this same theater this coming Thursday... and she's actually going to be there! (She's a very famous French actress, and my favorite. She was the French girl in the Da Vinci Code... also very known for her star role in Amelie.) We reserved tickets, and I'm very excited to go and see her in person! The only thing I'm slightly worried about is the showing is at 8:30pm, so it probably won't be over until 10:30/11 after a little q&a. The tram runs until after midnight, so I should be fine getting home, it's just that I've never been out that late by myself... so I'm going to make sure Laurence knows I'm going. I'm sure I'll be fine, but you can never be too safe!

After the movie, we went to the Place des Terreaux to get out of the rain and to get something to drink. It was fun to hang out... even for just a little while. We're all meeting up tomorrow to go visit Helen, who lives in Bourg-en-Bresse, about an hour outside of Lyon by train. We're leaving at 10am, so we'll be there at 11 and leave around 5:30pm... putting me back home around 7. It'll be a busy little Saturday, but fun... just like today:)

Reste cool! Bon week-end!

Armistice Day at the Park and Talking Potties

With much hesitation, I finally got myself to the parc de la tete d'or to go for a run. My first roadblock was missing my bus that would take me there in probably 45 minutes, instead of an hour. Because it's a holiday, the bus schedule was off, and the bus that usually comes by every 6-7 minutes came by about every 30 minutes. I momentarily thought, ugh I'll just go back home, it's too sunny and I forgot my sunglasses, which of course I must have to run (I don't normally run with sunglasses). Fortunately, my legs didn't listen to my head, so they walked themselves over to the tram stop. I got on... with what I'm sure was not THAT much staring, but I felt like all eyes were on me and my workout clothes. (It's not that everyone is always in their most chic attire, but you rarely see people in sweats or tennis shoes.... I'm sure I was just overreacting.)

Then, I thought, ugh, I'll just get off at the park at the Parilly tram stop and run around there because it's going to take me forever to get to the one downtown. But, I missed that stop, I guess I was day dreaming about how I didn't want to run or how I was being stared at for wearing my spandex pants. So I ended up at the park and I was very glad I made it. It was so full of families and runners and bikers. I felt right at home running around in my spandex! And I even got to see the elephants (which I haven't seen before) and the deer. It's not everyday you get to go running around a park with a zoo! And because it was a national holiday, and a beautiful day, it was fun to see all the families out having picnics or riding bikes together:)

Of course my mother doesn't want to know about this bit- but I think you'll find it interesting anyway... I had to potty while running (an hour after super hydrating before I left the house was good and bad). So I kept looking for a porta-potta type thing while I ran and every single one I passed was under construction. I found one, way at the other end of the park that turned out to be a brand new free bathroom that sprays itself down after someone uses it. I wasn't being choosy at this point, so I went in, and immediately, an automated voice came over in French telling me I had 15 minutes, haha. Then she told me when I was finished to wash my hands in the automated sink. Even the toilet paper was automatic (had to push a button for more). It was an interesting experience...

I went home feeling happy to be out and about on this pretty day and proud of myself for running. I spent the rest of the day lesson planning and making myself a paper chain to count down until when Amy comes to visit, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and when my dad and Steph come visit. Hurray paper decorations!

Hope you all had a nice day!

Reste cool:)

oh ps- I forgot to add that on the tram in I saw these huge trucks with cages... one had lions and one had tigers (real, living, breathing, walking cats). The trucks were driving around town to advertise for the circus. How strange! So I actually saw quite a few animals today...

swiss planning and french shopping

Yesterday morning I went over to Lindsey's house (way up on Fourviere hill). I have decided I want my house to look like it does (big French country house on the outside, eclectic art and colors on the inside... and you can't forget the amazing view they have). Anywho, we sat ourselves down at the table in the kitchen (equipped with a very old, but refurbished, wooden refrigerator, a really cool clock, and chalk board covered cabinets (with notes written on them... in chalk). Lindsey and I got out our guide books and started booking trains and hotels/hostels for our 5 day, 4 night trip (we're going to Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, and Zurich from Dec. 18-22). We booked everything but the trains we're taking in Switzerland because we have to do that through the swiss train system (and they don't let you buy tickets until a month before you go, so we still have a few days).

Lindsey's host mom, Sophie, was around and about and ate her lunch while we discussed our pre-christmas trip to Switzerland. She was funny... she had never even heard of Interlaken, and they are so close! She was more familiar with the part of Switzerland that speaks French, of course:) Then, Sophie's husband came home for a bit (not sure why, but he did rake some leaves while he was home) and he said that Switzerland was very very clean.... a little too clean if you asked him haha. (I have a feeling I'm going to like Switzerland a lot!).

After we ate lunch and watched Glee on hulu (the host dad wasn't very pleased that we were watching American tv... guess he thinks we should totally immerse ourselves and only watch things in French hehe...on the other hand, he did enjoy when the boys did a mash-up with a Supreme's song and he sort of sang along in English) we went to the Part-Dieu Centre Commercial, or mall. It is a huge mall, with everything under the sun, including, but not limited to: Bata (where I got a cute pair of shoes), C&A (a store that I want to go back to), H&M, Claire's (of all things lol), Texto (shoes), Levi's, Gap, Sephora, Mango, Lacoste (but of course), Zara, NafNaf, Adidas, Foot Locker, FNAC (kind of like a Border's), and Galeries Lafayette. I only made one purchase (the shoes), but I plan to go back now that I've seen the lay of the land (and maybe after I've been paid again...). It was also packed yesterday, and very hot, which, if you know me, I don't like being hot... so we got out of there after only about an hour of shopping. I guess since everyone has today off for the Commemoration of the Armistice of 1918, or Veteran's Day (the French refer to it simply as the onze novembre), people took work off early to go shopping yesterday afternoon? Anyway... I'll be back!

Now, I'm going to go get ready for a run around the Parc de la Tete d'Or. It's kind of a hike to get up to that part of the city, but it's a beautiful day and I haven't exercised in a while. So... wish me luck that I don't get too many ugly looks on the metro for wearing my work-out clothes:)

Reste Cool:)

bonjour free!

I had an excellent teaching morning at the Signoret school. I got to school and had, what I'm sure is becoming my usual morning chat with Pierre (the director), in English. He enjoys "showing off" his English skills, while correcting my poor, back-of-the-throat French "r" sound. When he gets an English phrase right, he snaps his fingers and sways his arm, as if to say- hot dog, I gottit! And then at about 8:15 he says, "It is time to go to my desk," and I assume that is also my cue to get to my first class.

This is the school that has me working with the Maternelle (preschool). These little ones are especially adorable... While they get settled in, I walk around and talk to the kids in French. I met one little girl who's name is Gayard (or at least I think that's how it's spelled). She told me all about how she likes to eat carrots and watch Winnie (Winnie-the-Poo) on dvd.

Once most children are present, all the kids gather around me on these little benches while we sing songs in English (well, I sing... they sort of mumble along and giggle). It's funny- some kids know all their numbers and can say, "Good morning, my name is...." while others, I'm sure, have absolutely no clue what I'm saying because this is the first time they've ever heard English. I'm only with them for 20 minutes... so we sing for a bit and I'm on my way. (On my way out, this teacher actually asked me if I gave private tutoring in English and gave me her number/email to meet with her 13 year old. Woohoo unexpected job opportunity!)

In my next 2 classes I work with the CPs... who seem older to me than the CPs kids at Les Marendiers (from yesterday), but younger than the CPs at Berliet. I'm not sure why... but anyway... I introduced them to my "number friends" by saying, "This is my friend, number one..." and so on. They would consequently say, "Bonjour one!" and comment on how cute or silly the number friend looked (because I gave all the numbers eyes). (Cute side note: French children, and adults, have a terrible time pronouncing the "th" sound. So, when they said bonjour to the number 3, they would say, "Bonjour free!") After saying hello to all the friends, we played a few games and sang a few number songs... much like yesterday, the kids can say all the numbers really fast in order but have no clue which number is which...

In my last 2 classes, which I've decided I like the best, I work with 2 really sweet teachers (and the kids are in the CE1 level...7 or 8 year olds). Both teachers wrote down everything I did and told me afterwards how much they enjoyed the activities I shared (they wrote down the activities to do with future classes). One even said that I was "top" at timing... because I miraculously finished my lesson at exactly the same time I needed to switch classes. They also told me that they had learned something too... that the saying "Give me five" actually comes from the fact that you are holding up 5 fingers... haha. (Every time I had the kids find me the number 5 or show the number 5 with their fingers, I would find someone to "give me a five" which they just thought was SO cool...and apparently so did the teachers).

After classes, I ate my lunch with 3 of my 5 teachers at this school and felt like one of the gang (almost). They included me in most conversations or at least checked to see if I was understanding most of it. They offered me construction paper, tea, and candy before I left... and I went home feeling very happy:)

When I got home, I checked my mail and found my rent bill (finally) waiting for me. I could either pay by check (which I don't have) or go to the Tresorier (treasurer... or place to pay for government bills?), which is just down the block, to pay for it. I have had a suspicion that I live in government funded housing... I mean, how else could I be living in a 3 bedroom apartment for 50 euros a month... and my suspicion was confirmed upon arrival at the Tresorier... there were 2 lines, one to pay your bills and one to sign up/ask questions about the HLM or habitation a loyer modere (or government reduced housing). I'm very lucky to have housing at this price, regardless of the label, so it certainly doesn't bother me... just interesting to know.

On my way home, I had the sudden inspiration to go to the library and see if they had a travel section. They do and I checked out 6 books (on Italy and Switzerland). I can now fully obsess over my upcoming trips:)

Tomorrow, speaking of obsessing over trips, I'm meeting up with Lindsey to plan our December trip to Switzerland (we figure the best way to get missing Christmas in the States off our minds is to go somewhere really cool).

Hope you're all having a nice week!

Reste cool:) I know I will on my 5 day weekend.... hehe!

French counting kind of hurts my hand

Last night I woke up to a horrible chemical burning smell at 3am. I had my window open because at home my house is an ice box, so I like having the window open to bring in the cool air (my radiant floor heating is radiant!). Either I was dreaming or I actually saw a huge cloud of smoke outside... I went around closing my windows and spraying air freshener until I could fall back to sleep. I woke up to no smell... and walking around later today, I didn't see any signs of where something could have been on fire. Huh.

Anywho... I was none-to-pleased when my alarm went off this morning.. but got up and ready in time to catch the tram at 7:50am. I decided the tram would be just as close to taking a bus and walking and easier to figure out. (No call from Sabine this morning who has taken me the last 2 mornings to this school... she told me later she was running late and forgot her phone). But, it ended up working out just fine and I got to school on time.

I guess because I've only been to this school (Les Marendiers) twice... I'm still not very comfortable with the kids or teachers. Everyone is very nice, but it's just a little more awkward than when I'm at the Berliet school, which I've been to 4 times now. It had been a while since we had talked about what we were doing... and for some reason I haven't really kept in touch with them via email like I do with the other 2 schools. So basically, other than bringing my bag to every class to make sure I had a back-up plan if the teacher didn't have anything (I brought 3 books and some stuff I had done with the Berliet school), I just sort of came in to do what the teacher had planned.

Thankfully I had Funnybones with me and the Halloween coloring worksheet because the first teacher asked if I would do something about Halloween (the one taught by the longterm substitute). This class has the worst behavior of all of my classes.... At first, (in general with all of my classes) I always try to just let things go and see if the classroom teacher will respond to behavior issues before I say/do anything.... I don't want to step on the teacher's toes, especially since I only see these kids for 30 minutes a week. But this class was just ridiculous... even after the teacher would say something, the kids literally would just laugh and continue doing what they were doing. Finally, after being as nice as I could... trying to motivate the class to quiet down so we could finish the activity and move on to something more fun, I just stopped and stared down a kid who was being extremely obnoxious. And then after an awkwardly long amount of staring, I said, you're not being very nice or polite, in French, and continued on. Needless to say, I had very few major problems from then on out. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do- 30 minutes goes by like that!

In the next several classes, I did practically the same lessons I had done the previous Monday (animal sounds with one class, postcards with another, introductions with another). I guess the teachers wanted to make sure their kids didn't forget everything they had learned over the break... But- in my very last lesson with the littlest kids (the CPs), I knew I needed to have something because the teacher doesn't plan for English as it isn't really a top priority in this grade. I brought my number people and we went over numbers from 1-10. They knew them all in order, but when I said a number, they couldn't correspond the English word to the correct numeric amount. So... before doing either the chant or song I had prepared, I would say a number and have them hold up the correct number of fingers. Of course... I got myself into trouble because I started counting with my index finger when I showed an example. In France, you begin counting with your thumb and so forth. I actually find it quite difficult to hold out the number 4 (all fingers out but your pinky). (And as lame as this sounds, my fingers hurt now!) After our little game, we sang "1 little, 2 little, 3 little pumpkins...." etc.

Anyway, they're just adorable... and the teacher loved my lesson. She wants me to do it again next week so that they can really get the hang of the song and the numbers said out of order.

After school, I ate lunch with the teachers, feeling a lot more competent in my French skills... I once again was able to actually be a part of conversation... so I'm making progress! On my way home, I stopped by Laurence's office to chat and ask about finding something to do for money on the side. She said she would send an email out to teachers to see if they wanted extra English lessons for their own children or needed babysitting. She also suggested actually getting a part time job and showed me websites similar to craig's list. I'm not thaaat desperate... so hopefully something will come about with the email before I have to start going through want-ads.

It was fun to see and talk to Laurence after going all vacation without seeing her. She's always so helpful:) I told her about my friend Amy coming to visit and she can't help me pick her up, but she can take her to the airport (with me of course) at the end of her stay. She did help me figure out what train or bus to take to go pick her up... so Amy- not to worry, I will find you at the airport!

It is a very very windy day... so I'm hoping there are no fires in the middle of the night and that the wind quiets down so I can sleep!

Reste cool:)

Boots on the brain...

This morning started out as a dark, dreary, pouring-down-rain kind of morning. But... thankfully I had a lunch date, so I got my butt up and ready to go into Lyon. I met Lindsey and her dad, who's visiting, in Vieux Lyon. She suggested either going to a fondue restaurant they had passed by or to a boulangerie... and I basically said "you had me at the mention of cheese." It ended up being a very cute little restaurant with yummy savoyard fondue. It was also very wooden (the restaurant, not the fondue). Everything from the paneling on the walls to the menus were made of wood. And while we ate in our little wooden restaurant, we caught up on all of our respective trip news. It was nice:)

Then, because obviously you can't show your dad around without showing him the desserts, we stopped for atarte aux pralines. The place we went to has Lindsey's favorite type of tarte... I had never had it before. Instead of being more of a liquidy filling with pieces of pink praline, it was the opposite with lots of pieces of praline with a very sweet sugary glaze. It was delicious, but sadly, because it was kind of sharp, it cut up the roof of my mouth... So I guess I'll have to stick with the more liquidy pie filling type of praline tart. I know, how sad that I should need to cut myself off from even one type of pastry.

After our meal and dessert stop, I said goodbye to Lindsey and her dad and went on my way. I had hoped to stop by the mall on my way back to pick up a few things from the grocery store and maybe look at a pair of boots. So I took the metro to the tram (the tram goes to the mall). But of course when I got to the tram stop, the announcement thingy came on saying that there had been an accident between 2 of the stops and that the tram would be out of service between Grange Blanche (where I was, and where the metro meets the tram) and Bron (a stop 5 tram stops away). I had the option of either getting back on the metro, foregoing my mall stop, and taking a bus home... or walking to the nearest tram stop that was in service. Of course, I opted to walk because I had boots on the brain. Thankfully, it was a much nicer afternoon... sunny and crisp with pretty yellow leaves everywhere... so not a bad time for a walk!

I walked and walked, passing the accident that had caused all the trouble (a motorcycle hit the tram or vice versa), got on the tram 4 stops later and got off at the mall. I had kind of wondered if I should just stay on the tram and go home, but again, boots were on the brain. As I walked through the empty parking lot.... I began to curse my decision to walk instead of just going home on the metro and bus, and then my decision to get off of the tram at all. The mall was closed, as I'm sure it is every other Sunday (at least after 1:30pm). By this point, I was thirsty and needed a potty break, so I stopped at the one restaurant that was open (Flunch, which is kind of like a Ryan's buffet for French people).

After my orangina (type of fizzy orange drink), I went back to the tram stop... saying to myself, oh well, now I know... don't come here on Sundays. I ran to catch the oncoming tram, which stopped and let everyone off. This tram was out of service, starting right then. The next tram wouldn't be arriving for 14 minutes. I decided I'd rather walk to the next stop than stand around and smell cigarette smoke (obviously, at the first sign of extra time, many French people pull out their cigs and light up).

I got to the next stop and the time said 11 minutes to wait. I thought, meh, I might as well walk to the next stop. On my walk to the next stop, I watched the tram go by... and I said oh well, I'll just walk home from here. There's only 3 stops left... I've gone this far. In total, I walked 8 full stops out of the 15 tram stops between Grange Blanche and St. Priest-Hotel de Ville... which means I actually walked more than halfway home from the outskirts of Lyon. Hah! At least it was good exercise (even though, had I not had boots on the brain, I might have decided to "read the signs" that said the tram is not the way to go today).

I got home and decided I needed to wind down with some American Kraft Mac and Cheese. It was yummy in my tummy. And now I need to get ready for my 2 days of work this week. I realized that I don't just have a 4 day weekend, but a 5 day weekend... I don't work Wed/Fri, so if I have Thursday off, I only work Mon/Tues this week! Haha! This is the best job....

Reste cool:)