Lundi:
I love Mondays- very little school. Today though wasn't actually that much fun because my math teacher yelled at the class for ages, then was mad at me because I hadn't done the assigned homework because I didn't have the right book... she suggested I call someone. Pray tell, who am I supposed to call? That afternoon I had my first lesson teaching English to the little boy down the street, it was fairly easy. I went for a walk, a run, and then sat and watched as Malika made crepes for dinner with some kind of cheese inside I think. It was very good.
Mardi:
More school today... not too bad. I had a few hours of school in the morning, came home from lunch and charged my camera to which I finally got the memory card. I left the house early to go back to school so I walked the long route to school, picked up a lemon tart from the bakery and ate it in the park. I took pictures of the surrounding area on the way to school after that.
In the afternoon I had 2h of sport at the end of the day (it amuses me that we are studying badminton for the rest of the trimester). Today was full of crazy gossip and drama that I won't even bother posting online, but suffice to say teenagers are equally silly here and it is only more tiring in French. Oh! they have sort of pick-up line that goes something like.. well I could not tell you the french if I wanted to because it has lots of slang words and they had to say it 3 times (kinda looses its effect then, no?) and then break it down bit by bit and translate it to english before I had any idea what they were saying. General idea is excuse me, girl with straight hair, but can I have your number? Except it all ryhmes... Excuse-moi, -(slang word for girl)-, avec de cheveaux glis, -- -- ton "06" (all phone numbers here in Lyon start with 06 apparently). Something like that. I was SOOO confused. Then very glad that I didn't even have a phone number to give which made the whole situation pointless. Malika had to take Rayanne to the doctor/hospital (about his arm) that evening and so I made pasta, which is like the go-to meal in this house, that finished just as Malika and Rayanne got home and so we all had dinner.
Mercredi-
Two. Hours. Of. English. In Euro (advanced English) they are studying a Bruce Springsteen song which is ok if I get to listen to it, and was ok the first day we did that but this is the second day and its getting boring! Regular English is even worse- they are analyzing a Calvin and Hobbes comic which was really funny for me to read the first time, but just as a joke is only funny the first time you say it, humor should never be analyzed. They don't get the joke at all and then make up sentences about it like "Calvin must not be used to cleaning his room" and by now I would love to tear a Calvin and Hobbes book to pieces for ever existing. After that though was SES (economy) which is by far my favorite class because for some reason I understand it just as well or better than the other students in the class, which is fun, and this stuff is interesting. Analyzing how different aspects of the economy fit together? Who needs science anyway? (I had to choose between Lit, economics and science). Now though we have a project which is really hard for me to do because we have to come up with examples for different kinds of taxes. Pray tell, how am I supposed to do that? Wikipedia. That's how. :D
This afternoon I helped Malika peel apples for applesause and a tarte au pommes which is essentially applesause with apple slices on top baked in the oven on a bit of dough. One of my new favorite deserts, for sure.
Thursday:
Teachers were on strike again today. I love it when they do that. I got up for class at 8, but my Italian teacher ended up not being there so I walked back home for a two hour break before having 2h of French at 10. We got a new reading today that I need to start work on, one of Jean de la Fontaine's fables describing the king as a stomach if I understood what the teacher was saying correctly. Not bad. Came home for a 2h lunch then had 1h of Specialty economics which no one in my class really wanted to go to... the feeling is infections and I just did my best not to fall asleep as we were doing rather boring exercises. I came home, did my homework. A good day, but not really exciting.
Friday:
So My SES (economics) class had a field trip (I am suddenly imagining Ms. Frizzle here)to a movie theater in vieux Lyon today. Marina and I had agreed to meet at the bus station at part dieu to take a bus up there together... if only the part dieu station wasn't quite so big. I got there early and was quite glad I did because I spent about 20 min wandering around trying to figure out where I was supposed to be before some nice man told me my bus stop. On the way there I saw Marina walking across the street so all turned out well. It was rainy and cool bordering on cold for an Austinite (in the 60s I think). I had forgotten an umbrella and Marina's had broken so we were slightly damp by the time we got there. The movie was a on a trial that tried to hold wall street accountable for damage caused by foreclosed homes in Chicago, it was in a combination of French and English which is the very hardest thing for me to do. It was good, but not especially informational- more based on the stories of people whose homes had been foreclosed. It managed to make me hate big business more than I already did, but that is about it. (You should have seen the smug lawyer representing the big banks. I hope he rots in hell for all the sympathy he had for people.)
We finished around 11 and no one had class until 3, so most of us went back to our houses. I decided just to walk home as it was only about 3k and I don't really like buses. Or moving vehicles in which there is no air conditioning. Plus it was fun, it was rainy and cold and absolutely beautiful- so I took lots of pictures that you can see on my awful, yet infinitely useful facebook... if you cant see them either friend me on fb or email me and I will send them to you. Walking home I got lost once or twice and by the time I was there I was very hungry, my feet hurt and I was soaking wet. Funny thing is, that sounds like I am complaining but it was one of my favorite things I have done here, or ever. It was wonderful. On the way home a guy asked me for directions to the Moroccan consulate and though I didn't know where that was, I did know the street I needed (near my house) and so I was able to help him get there which made me feel very accomplished.
I had three hours at the house before I had to go back to school for 1h of math and 2h of science. In math we had a test I wasn't expecting but it was easy. I didn't finish the last problem because we were short on time and it required massive amounts of arithmetic and I was the only one without a calculator... but several other people didn't finish anyway so I guess its ok? I don't really understand this school system yet. I failed an English quiz the other day apparently and I was far from the only one, but I am the American! However its harder than a french quiz because she gives you the word in french and you have to get the word in English. I didn't know the french vocab. Second, and much bigger problem, you have to know the exact word, like a dictionary. In quizzes at home, you know the meaning. Here, you know the word. So there were several where I put a word that meant the same basic thing, but it was wrong because it wasn't the word she was thinking of. And they think supposer is a word in English. In biology they were studying proteins today which gets so boring so quickly because I already know all of this and the teacher doesn't want me to say it. I drew a very pretty swirly tree on my notes. The teacher talked to me though and said she thinks that I should be in the S track because I already know so much science and it would be a shame to loose it all, that and she likes that I am interested in it. I am not sure what I think of this yet... I kinda like the idea of trying to learn some physics before I get back, and I like biology and math. At the same time though, I have really enjoyed my SES economics class so far and don't want to leave that. Maybe I can be in S and just go to one or two SES classes during breaks (or English)? We will see, she is going to talk to the administration to see if that is even possible.
This evening Ilyess got back, from school, Sarah was babysitting and Malika made really yummy pizza for dinner.
Discoveries of the week:
I can not eat a runny (not fully cooked) egg plain. In pasta? that kind of runny egg is less runny and you can mix it in with the pasta till you don't taste it. Plain? I tried, I really did, I even managed 2 bites (miniscule, and only with massive amounts of bread) but I just can't do it. That is a first for me, here I have eaten everything she has given me including honeydew, orange juice, dark chocolate, and meat (I don't even ask what it is because its easier) and found that most of it, to varying degrees of good or tolerable, is not as bad as I thought, but runny eggs I apparently just cant do.
Rain is amazing. Best thing ever. But we already knew that :D
Les mots:
internat- boarding school
le politique/la politique/les politiques- there is a difference. I will tell you as soon as I understand it.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Le 2eme week-end
Saturday:
I was sick this morning. I woke up 3 times in the early morning/night and finally got back to sleep around 10. I woke up at noon with Sara and if I wasn't well, I felt much much better. Which was a huge relief.
Being sick away from home sucks and more than anything else it makes you homesick. You are never homesick when happy- only when you are frustrated, exhausted, scared... that's when you really start missing home.
After lunch today I went with Sara to the library... we walked there and just stayed for a while reading in the kids section. Well.. Sara brought books down from the political section and I read kids books. Artemis Fowl in french guys is slooww. It was fun though... they have a really big multi-story library that is very pretty. That and I was not feeling up to anything more active.
This evening I went to meet someone Sara used to work for- they found me a job teaching English to their son once a week... 18h15-19h15, 10 euros an hour. I love making money... it makes me happy.
We ate dinner this evening and I helped Sara with math and english hwk, I collapsed into bed pretty early.
Sunday:
First one up, which is fairly common. I answered a few emails before Malika got up, and then I watched her fix breakfast. Which is a much longer process than in the US... and very different and very yummy. She made bread... but she flattened it and the cooked it on the skillet. Then you cut it open in the middle, put olive oil in it and boiled eggs which you cut up just a little bit. Iless and Rayanne put olives in it as well but I skipped that. It sounds really bizarre but it was very very good. Then I ate another half of one with some sort of home-made jelly, which was also yummy.
I took a long walk today just to wander around Lyon. I set off looking for le parc de la tete d'or with some vague instructions from Sara, but turned around without having found it. We ate lunch "dans le salon" and it was American Hamburgers. Which, like most food here, maybe looks American if you are lucky and certainly doesn't taste it- its better. Some yummy tart thing that Malika had made for lunch.
This evening I went for a run, and we had pasta for dinner (thats really common). I helped Ilyess with his math homework and went to bed.
Les mots:
arnaquer- swindler. Talking about someone they had worked with before who will apparently really work to get the most possible out of you while paying as little as they can.
I was sick this morning. I woke up 3 times in the early morning/night and finally got back to sleep around 10. I woke up at noon with Sara and if I wasn't well, I felt much much better. Which was a huge relief.
Being sick away from home sucks and more than anything else it makes you homesick. You are never homesick when happy- only when you are frustrated, exhausted, scared... that's when you really start missing home.
After lunch today I went with Sara to the library... we walked there and just stayed for a while reading in the kids section. Well.. Sara brought books down from the political section and I read kids books. Artemis Fowl in french guys is slooww. It was fun though... they have a really big multi-story library that is very pretty. That and I was not feeling up to anything more active.
This evening I went to meet someone Sara used to work for- they found me a job teaching English to their son once a week... 18h15-19h15, 10 euros an hour. I love making money... it makes me happy.
We ate dinner this evening and I helped Sara with math and english hwk, I collapsed into bed pretty early.
Sunday:
First one up, which is fairly common. I answered a few emails before Malika got up, and then I watched her fix breakfast. Which is a much longer process than in the US... and very different and very yummy. She made bread... but she flattened it and the cooked it on the skillet. Then you cut it open in the middle, put olive oil in it and boiled eggs which you cut up just a little bit. Iless and Rayanne put olives in it as well but I skipped that. It sounds really bizarre but it was very very good. Then I ate another half of one with some sort of home-made jelly, which was also yummy.
I took a long walk today just to wander around Lyon. I set off looking for le parc de la tete d'or with some vague instructions from Sara, but turned around without having found it. We ate lunch "dans le salon" and it was American Hamburgers. Which, like most food here, maybe looks American if you are lucky and certainly doesn't taste it- its better. Some yummy tart thing that Malika had made for lunch.
This evening I went for a run, and we had pasta for dinner (thats really common). I helped Ilyess with his math homework and went to bed.
Les mots:
arnaquer- swindler. Talking about someone they had worked with before who will apparently really work to get the most possible out of you while paying as little as they can.
Apres le 2eme semaine d'ecole.
Wow... It feels longer than just a week. Monday is AGES ago but le weekend is the best time for me to update so... wow.
Alright- lundi (monday) is by far my favorite day of the week because I have practically no school. 4 hours of it. Granted, Wednesday is the same situation but its somehow gratifying to be the only one that doesnt really have school on Mondays, plus, on Wednesdays I have 2 hours of English- boring! Much prefer Italian.
Speaking of which, I will remain in my 4th year Italian class- my very kind teacher has just decided to give me different work. Which really, I am very excited about. This is one of my favorite classes now, actually the class is boring but I really like learning Italian.
Really there isn't much interesting about this week. I was on time every day, I occasionally see Emily (other American) before school in the mornings and we talk (in French). I tag along with a group of girls including Charlotte, Caroline, Sophie and another exchange student, from Brazil, called Marina. All of them are very sweet. I generally walk half-way home with either Sophie (who is walking to the bus stop) or Marina, and Friday Marina and I stopped by a bakery, picked up pastries, and sat and ate them and talked in a little park.
I got a package from home on Thursday, and I think the jacket has not come too soon as it is starting to get cold here... in the mid-60s the last few days and if averages hold up I may not see another day in the 70's until I get back to Austin. YAYAYAYAYAY! COLD WEATHER IS EXCITING!
I started jogging this week- it feels awesome and there is a little path that runs along the tram that goes to the airport. close, and fairly nice. Unfortunately I may just have to forfeit my search for a swim team... its very difficult.
Realizations of the week:
There is no job more difficult than that of a mother and Malika constantly amazes me- she does that times 10. So to everyone who raised me- thank you.. I am finally seeing how difficult that is.
Yogurt is a desert. Apparently.
Omelets are for lunch.
Everyone smokes something, except, so far, my family for which I am very grateful.
I really got lucky with my family... they are awesome.
Le mot de la semaine:
argot- slang. I keep trying to help with English homework and such but it is more difficult than you would think. Especially when it comes to British slang.
Alright- lundi (monday) is by far my favorite day of the week because I have practically no school. 4 hours of it. Granted, Wednesday is the same situation but its somehow gratifying to be the only one that doesnt really have school on Mondays, plus, on Wednesdays I have 2 hours of English- boring! Much prefer Italian.
Speaking of which, I will remain in my 4th year Italian class- my very kind teacher has just decided to give me different work. Which really, I am very excited about. This is one of my favorite classes now, actually the class is boring but I really like learning Italian.
Really there isn't much interesting about this week. I was on time every day, I occasionally see Emily (other American) before school in the mornings and we talk (in French). I tag along with a group of girls including Charlotte, Caroline, Sophie and another exchange student, from Brazil, called Marina. All of them are very sweet. I generally walk half-way home with either Sophie (who is walking to the bus stop) or Marina, and Friday Marina and I stopped by a bakery, picked up pastries, and sat and ate them and talked in a little park.
I got a package from home on Thursday, and I think the jacket has not come too soon as it is starting to get cold here... in the mid-60s the last few days and if averages hold up I may not see another day in the 70's until I get back to Austin. YAYAYAYAYAY! COLD WEATHER IS EXCITING!
I started jogging this week- it feels awesome and there is a little path that runs along the tram that goes to the airport. close, and fairly nice. Unfortunately I may just have to forfeit my search for a swim team... its very difficult.
Realizations of the week:
There is no job more difficult than that of a mother and Malika constantly amazes me- she does that times 10. So to everyone who raised me- thank you.. I am finally seeing how difficult that is.
Yogurt is a desert. Apparently.
Omelets are for lunch.
Everyone smokes something, except, so far, my family for which I am very grateful.
I really got lucky with my family... they are awesome.
Le mot de la semaine:
argot- slang. I keep trying to help with English homework and such but it is more difficult than you would think. Especially when it comes to British slang.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Le week-end
Samedi/Saturday: Mornings around here are pretty mellow. Everyone just kinda gets up when they want and does their own thing, its kinda nice. After we had lunch though, Sarah took me on one or two errands and then we just walked around downtown so that I could see everything. I went in the library which was very nice, and Sarah told me that if I wanted to get anything I could use her card. I went in one of the beautiful churches of which they have many around here which is in itself a religious experience when you think about how many steps have sounded in there, how many problems examined, tears cried, words whispered... it is awe-inspiring like no church that exists in the United States. We also just walked around and lots and lots of shops. Sarah kinda pointed out which shops were the most expensive/cheaper (everything here is expensive, especially brands- Converse are 50-80 euros) and we stopped to watch several people out on the street- a band (they don't have school bands like in America), a group break-dancing, and an artist that had beautiful paintings out of spray-paint. There is so much to see.
Dimanche/Sunday: I spent several hours looking up swim teams and trying to email coaches this morning... I will let you know if it comes to anything. I went with Malika and her friend to le marche (the market) late this morning. It is kind-of amazing, there are many stands selling clothes of all kinds, shoes, kitchen supplies... then of course all the food. I saw a fig for the first time- I never have before, and in general I just love farmer's markets- so much food all together is really pretty. Except for fish with eyes.
Went home for a few hours to eat lunch, and Sara did a little homework before Sara and I took the bus back to vieux lyon where we watched a sort of parade. They called it something like a fashion show, but in reality it looked more like a halloween parade with people dressed in bizarre costumes and floats driving along blasting crazy music which the models danced/walked along to. I liked it, but it was definitely weird.
Then Sara and I walked to a little bakery where we each bought a pastry (lemon tart for me) and walked back across the river and sat on the steps above the Rhone eating french pastries and talking. It really was as fun and picturesque as it sounds :)
All in all... a good day!
Les mots:
Manege: merry go round or carousel, there was one in a small square downtown.
Aubergine: eggplant... there were some at the market today? I don't have much to say about this one.
Dimanche/Sunday: I spent several hours looking up swim teams and trying to email coaches this morning... I will let you know if it comes to anything. I went with Malika and her friend to le marche (the market) late this morning. It is kind-of amazing, there are many stands selling clothes of all kinds, shoes, kitchen supplies... then of course all the food. I saw a fig for the first time- I never have before, and in general I just love farmer's markets- so much food all together is really pretty. Except for fish with eyes.
Went home for a few hours to eat lunch, and Sara did a little homework before Sara and I took the bus back to vieux lyon where we watched a sort of parade. They called it something like a fashion show, but in reality it looked more like a halloween parade with people dressed in bizarre costumes and floats driving along blasting crazy music which the models danced/walked along to. I liked it, but it was definitely weird.
Then Sara and I walked to a little bakery where we each bought a pastry (lemon tart for me) and walked back across the river and sat on the steps above the Rhone eating french pastries and talking. It really was as fun and picturesque as it sounds :)
All in all... a good day!
Les mots:
Manege: merry go round or carousel, there was one in a small square downtown.
Aubergine: eggplant... there were some at the market today? I don't have much to say about this one.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
After 1 Week of School
Wednesday: Classes end at noon today, and it was an easy day today. First class is Euro, which is just an advanced English class where I think that we will talk about world events in English. I say I think because, like most English classes here, at least half of the class is conducted in French. The professor also went on this whole thing about how he learned English from Americans so he has an American accent, but he will try to speak in a British accent because he thinks that is better for them to learn. Its hilarious because he does not have an American OR a British accent- he has a very strong FRENCH accent. We all had to introduce ourselves and said I was an exchange student from America... you should have heard him, and only worse when I had to say I was from Texas, which he associates with big oil, so I don't think he likes me very much. The next class was normal Anglais (English) which was conducted almost exclusively in French except for a few vocab words on the board. The class is all over the place, some have fairly good English while others hardly speak a word of it. Then I had 2h of Economics and Social- which I really like. It is like a social studies class that examines everything in terms of how it applies to government and economics.
I came back to the house for a few hours and ate lunch before leaving with Sarah. I took the bus and the metro for the first time, and feel like a little kid as she keeps having to tell me which way we are going, and how to get on and of the bus and train and everything. Anyways, we mostly just went to see a soccer field where she talked to a coach and then went back home- it was an errand she had to run and I just came along to see everything.
When we got back to the house I called Maggie, who apparently finished work early today, and she came by. I have not been terribly homesick yet, but it was the kind of thing that when I saw her coming up the stairs I almost cried and it was a relief to speak a little bit of English. She met my family and then took me out to see old Lyon. It is so so beautiful, very old, cobblestone streets and big beautiful churches. We went and ate at Nord, which was very good. The whole evening was wonderful.
Thursday: Longest day of school. Ever. I started at 8, went till noon when I had to walk back to the house for lunch, then walk back again in time for English at 1 and I finished at 17h (5). Throughout the whole thing I was very very tired because I had been up a bit later the night before (and I am just generally exhausted right now) and I very nearly fell asleep in class- a class I liked even. I had Italian first thing, which unlike English IS conducted mostly in Italian, and found that, because the French all have to take 2 and even 3 foreign languages I had been put in a 4th year Italian class. I talked with the teacher and she said she would speak with the administration and try to get me out of taking it, and if not she would just give me other materials. It is funny though, because it didn't feel that different from French class. I don't know italian, but it is similar to French and she used lots of gestures and so I could kind-of understand what she was talking about, less than French, but still more than I expected. Math is easy- they are doing quadrilaterals, which is good because I don't think I could learn calc in French. I am now Economics Specialty and so I have extra economics classes with a very nice older man who talked my ear off when he found I was an exchange student to the extent that I was almost late to my next class.
Friday: I managed to be late to every single one of my morning classes. Everyone was really nice about it though. I had three hours for lunch, then another three hours of class after that, the last two hours of which are my one and only science class. It is biology! Not just biology but genetics and evolution! I am so excited because I thought it was going to be earth science. Now I only have one science, no chemistry, no earth science, only the interesting part of biology (no plants or cell division) and so I won't be bored! When I got home this evening I went with Sarah to deliver cookies/cake to an old couple that lives in an apartment nearby. He is, if I understood correctly he is in his 90s, but he is an amazing artist. He has really really beautiful paintings about which he talked to me at length, it was very very interesting. He and his wife were very kind, and I hope I get the chance to go back.
Le mots:
Les talons: heels, I am getting really good at it (granted they are very small)
Love and miss you all!
I came back to the house for a few hours and ate lunch before leaving with Sarah. I took the bus and the metro for the first time, and feel like a little kid as she keeps having to tell me which way we are going, and how to get on and of the bus and train and everything. Anyways, we mostly just went to see a soccer field where she talked to a coach and then went back home- it was an errand she had to run and I just came along to see everything.
When we got back to the house I called Maggie, who apparently finished work early today, and she came by. I have not been terribly homesick yet, but it was the kind of thing that when I saw her coming up the stairs I almost cried and it was a relief to speak a little bit of English. She met my family and then took me out to see old Lyon. It is so so beautiful, very old, cobblestone streets and big beautiful churches. We went and ate at Nord, which was very good. The whole evening was wonderful.
Thursday: Longest day of school. Ever. I started at 8, went till noon when I had to walk back to the house for lunch, then walk back again in time for English at 1 and I finished at 17h (5). Throughout the whole thing I was very very tired because I had been up a bit later the night before (and I am just generally exhausted right now) and I very nearly fell asleep in class- a class I liked even. I had Italian first thing, which unlike English IS conducted mostly in Italian, and found that, because the French all have to take 2 and even 3 foreign languages I had been put in a 4th year Italian class. I talked with the teacher and she said she would speak with the administration and try to get me out of taking it, and if not she would just give me other materials. It is funny though, because it didn't feel that different from French class. I don't know italian, but it is similar to French and she used lots of gestures and so I could kind-of understand what she was talking about, less than French, but still more than I expected. Math is easy- they are doing quadrilaterals, which is good because I don't think I could learn calc in French. I am now Economics Specialty and so I have extra economics classes with a very nice older man who talked my ear off when he found I was an exchange student to the extent that I was almost late to my next class.
Friday: I managed to be late to every single one of my morning classes. Everyone was really nice about it though. I had three hours for lunch, then another three hours of class after that, the last two hours of which are my one and only science class. It is biology! Not just biology but genetics and evolution! I am so excited because I thought it was going to be earth science. Now I only have one science, no chemistry, no earth science, only the interesting part of biology (no plants or cell division) and so I won't be bored! When I got home this evening I went with Sarah to deliver cookies/cake to an old couple that lives in an apartment nearby. He is, if I understood correctly he is in his 90s, but he is an amazing artist. He has really really beautiful paintings about which he talked to me at length, it was very very interesting. He and his wife were very kind, and I hope I get the chance to go back.
Le mots:
Les talons: heels, I am getting really good at it (granted they are very small)
Love and miss you all!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Au debut: It has come to my attention that my spelling on here is... less than stellar. I apologize but I can't say it is going to get much better. All my mental energy is focused on learning to think in French, and as such English is not very important. I have not been editing my posts at all so please excuse my English.
Ma premier jour du lycee. First day of school. I am entered in Premier (the equivelent to 11th grade) and ES (economics) so I have to take some French, Math, History, English and Italian (I chose that one, maybe Jennifer and Maria can talk with me when I get home?) and lots of economics and social studies. Two dreaded hours of biology (can you imagine all that crazy naming in French?) but...pas de chemie! Yaaay. That was why I chose ES because while I like math, I really really don't want to struggle through science in French.
Beacoup des profs font la grève maintenant. (Many of the teachers are on strike right now) and so even though we had finnished enrolling me by... somewhere between 9 and 10 (in the US there are clocks everywhere, here, there is one in the house and I am yet to find one in the school) my teachers were not there and so I didn't have to go to school before 2 because here there are no substitutes, if the teacher is not there you don't have to go to class. I am in P3, so I have all my classes with another group of ES students. Here, you have all your classes with the same group of students which is really really helpful for getting around and I have found several people who will help me with my school work. There is another exchange student from Brazil in P3 who speaks English well but can not speak any French. Two girls, Iness and Juliette I think, found me just before French class started and introduced me to their friend Sophien (sp?) and they all helped me throughout French class. When I was totally lost on my way to gym (they were talking to friends) I met Sophie, Charlotte and the other exchange student, they helped me figure out what was going on. I love friendly helpful people. We didn't really do much in PE and it ended an hour early and I walked home in the lovely weather (lots and lots of rain).
Love you all!
Mots de le Jour:
Roman- a story or novel, my French class was very hard to understand before I asked someone what it meant.
Mouille- wet, like the bottoms of my jeans when I walked in the house today and my laundry that Malika did for me (I keep trying to do things and she refuses to let me). I have had to ask her the word 3 times already.
Un eclair- a flash of lighting and Tonnerre- thunder, both of which I have seen in the last few minutes and looked up, but it is not nearly as beautiful or loud as a summer storm in Texas.
Ma premier jour du lycee. First day of school. I am entered in Premier (the equivelent to 11th grade) and ES (economics) so I have to take some French, Math, History, English and Italian (I chose that one, maybe Jennifer and Maria can talk with me when I get home?) and lots of economics and social studies. Two dreaded hours of biology (can you imagine all that crazy naming in French?) but...pas de chemie! Yaaay. That was why I chose ES because while I like math, I really really don't want to struggle through science in French.
Beacoup des profs font la grève maintenant. (Many of the teachers are on strike right now) and so even though we had finnished enrolling me by... somewhere between 9 and 10 (in the US there are clocks everywhere, here, there is one in the house and I am yet to find one in the school) my teachers were not there and so I didn't have to go to school before 2 because here there are no substitutes, if the teacher is not there you don't have to go to class. I am in P3, so I have all my classes with another group of ES students. Here, you have all your classes with the same group of students which is really really helpful for getting around and I have found several people who will help me with my school work. There is another exchange student from Brazil in P3 who speaks English well but can not speak any French. Two girls, Iness and Juliette I think, found me just before French class started and introduced me to their friend Sophien (sp?) and they all helped me throughout French class. When I was totally lost on my way to gym (they were talking to friends) I met Sophie, Charlotte and the other exchange student, they helped me figure out what was going on. I love friendly helpful people. We didn't really do much in PE and it ended an hour early and I walked home in the lovely weather (lots and lots of rain).
Love you all!
Mots de le Jour:
Roman- a story or novel, my French class was very hard to understand before I asked someone what it meant.
Mouille- wet, like the bottoms of my jeans when I walked in the house today and my laundry that Malika did for me (I keep trying to do things and she refuses to let me). I have had to ask her the word 3 times already.
Un eclair- a flash of lighting and Tonnerre- thunder, both of which I have seen in the last few minutes and looked up, but it is not nearly as beautiful or loud as a summer storm in Texas.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
So yesterday was my first full day here, and a very crazy day for everyone but me. It was the first day of school, although I did not go. Mostly I followed Malika around all day.
She cares for children, think motherhood times 5. I don't know how she does it, she almost always has 2 babies in the house, the toddlers and young children come and go. In the morning two young children whose names I have already forgotten (he wore a shirt with the cowboy guy from Toy Story on it and she had short hair) were dropped off by their parents and we walked them to school. Millie (I think) is 11mo. and was dropped off by her parents, as was a little boy of 9 months who cries more than any child I have ever met. She put both in a stroller and we walked to my school where she tried to enroll me only to find we did not have the right documents. We returned to the apartment and later went to pick Thomas (4) up from his school around noon. Teachers are on strike right now, so Rayanne and Sara were hanging around the house when we got back. Another woman, a friend of Malika's I think, came by the house to care for the children while she took Ilyess to school. When she got back, several hours later, we went to pick up Oceane (sp?) (7) from school. While we were waiting for her Thomas talked to me for the first time (he is normally shy) and I talked with Malika. Earlier I had told her that everything she had cooked for me was delicious, but she gave me too much food, and now she said something to me about how French have this idea that Americans eat more food. I told her some do, but not so much where we live, and that part of it is the quality of food. It amused me a little though. Oceane was fun to have around the house because she speaks loudly, clearly, and simply. I can understand her! So I colored pictures with her for a while and she taught me clapping games.
This week I am in Ilyess' room because he is away at school.
I went to bed around 9 because despite doing nothing, I am so tired. Speaking and hearing and understanding French all day takes much more mental energy than I was really prepared for.
Le mot de jour:
trottinette: scooter. In the United States, it is a child's toy, here, a method of transportation. Many little kids ride them to and from school each day and I even saw a grown man in a business suit proudly pushing himself along the street sur un trottinette!
She cares for children, think motherhood times 5. I don't know how she does it, she almost always has 2 babies in the house, the toddlers and young children come and go. In the morning two young children whose names I have already forgotten (he wore a shirt with the cowboy guy from Toy Story on it and she had short hair) were dropped off by their parents and we walked them to school. Millie (I think) is 11mo. and was dropped off by her parents, as was a little boy of 9 months who cries more than any child I have ever met. She put both in a stroller and we walked to my school where she tried to enroll me only to find we did not have the right documents. We returned to the apartment and later went to pick Thomas (4) up from his school around noon. Teachers are on strike right now, so Rayanne and Sara were hanging around the house when we got back. Another woman, a friend of Malika's I think, came by the house to care for the children while she took Ilyess to school. When she got back, several hours later, we went to pick up Oceane (sp?) (7) from school. While we were waiting for her Thomas talked to me for the first time (he is normally shy) and I talked with Malika. Earlier I had told her that everything she had cooked for me was delicious, but she gave me too much food, and now she said something to me about how French have this idea that Americans eat more food. I told her some do, but not so much where we live, and that part of it is the quality of food. It amused me a little though. Oceane was fun to have around the house because she speaks loudly, clearly, and simply. I can understand her! So I colored pictures with her for a while and she taught me clapping games.
This week I am in Ilyess' room because he is away at school.
I went to bed around 9 because despite doing nothing, I am so tired. Speaking and hearing and understanding French all day takes much more mental energy than I was really prepared for.
Le mot de jour:
trottinette: scooter. In the United States, it is a child's toy, here, a method of transportation. Many little kids ride them to and from school each day and I even saw a grown man in a business suit proudly pushing himself along the street sur un trottinette!
I am sorry, yet again, for the lack of updates, I have both been very busy and not had internet. To summarize my orientation:
Orientation in NY was very very boring. It took forever and they told us nothing useful, we played lots of silly games and watched several movies all basically telling us that "things will be different there, just try and you can do it and at the end of it all you will finally understand." Thanks, I kinda got that the first time you said it, but you know, no harm.
We took, I think, the biggest plane in the world to Paris. It was very very cool. There were about a 150 of us on the plane, and we had all been laughing that the plane would be dominated by yellow. Not the case! If I remember correctly, it held something like 1,200 people, maybe more. They had TVs on the back of each seat from which we could watch the plane take off and land from cameras in the nose and tail of the plane, and during the flight we could watch TV, a large assortment of movies, or listen to music from the TV (thank god for Pink Floyd, oh and Kira? They also had Mika) I slept for a few hours, but not much and many of my friends didn't sleep at all. It was 8 o'clock in the morning when we got to Paris.
We stayed in a hostel (I think) with the 150 Americans, the Australians, the groups from New Zealand and Germany, and a few people from Latvia, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic (I tested out my very limited Czech on them Anna).
Everyone smokes. People from English-speaking countries (America, New Zealand and Australia) don't, but everyone else does as far as I can tell. It seems a little bizare for me, but my friend Krista said it was just a part of the culture in Latvia. Also, drinking age is very different- here the legal age is 18 now (though nobody cares) and some girls from Switzerland were complaining because they were very happy that they had been able to legally walk into a store and buy beer back home (at age 16) so all the rules are much more lax for that. However, I was talking with an AFS volunteer and he says that they think it is better this way because everyone learns to drink in moderation and to control themselves whereas in America people get wasted and then still try to drive. Interesting conversation- he talked alot about the differences between our culture and theirs, for instance, here you can go to college for no more than 400 Euros.
I said good-bye to many of my friends Tuesday night, and the rest Wednesday morning. Everyone was very excited to see their families. My group left just after 10, and I never really saw a clock but I think, stops included, it took us 6 hours by bus to get to Anjou, a beautiful town that is very typical of what you think of for Provincial French towns. Sarah and her mother Malika were there to greet me with Rayanne in the car, and we all left very quickly. We got a little lost on the way home, but made it.
They/we live in an apartment in the middle of Lyon. It is very different from what I have seen in America, but very nice- I love it here. I don't think they have air conditioning, and I am yet to see fans, but you don't need it. They leave the windows open (they don't have screens either) and I find it more comfortable even than my house. It isn't as cold but I am rarely uncomfortable and I love to be able to lean out the window, here the cars pass by and look out over the rooftops.
I am slow to understand things, Sarah is the easiest for me to understand so far, and often when I don't understand something they will gesture to Sara who will explain it to me slower than they had said it. Everyone though is very kind.
I am no longer vegetarian, by the way, but it doesn't bother me here so much. I don't especially like it but Malika fixes everything herself and everything is very good although she gives me too much food.
Love and miss you all.
Orientation in NY was very very boring. It took forever and they told us nothing useful, we played lots of silly games and watched several movies all basically telling us that "things will be different there, just try and you can do it and at the end of it all you will finally understand." Thanks, I kinda got that the first time you said it, but you know, no harm.
We took, I think, the biggest plane in the world to Paris. It was very very cool. There were about a 150 of us on the plane, and we had all been laughing that the plane would be dominated by yellow. Not the case! If I remember correctly, it held something like 1,200 people, maybe more. They had TVs on the back of each seat from which we could watch the plane take off and land from cameras in the nose and tail of the plane, and during the flight we could watch TV, a large assortment of movies, or listen to music from the TV (thank god for Pink Floyd, oh and Kira? They also had Mika) I slept for a few hours, but not much and many of my friends didn't sleep at all. It was 8 o'clock in the morning when we got to Paris.
We stayed in a hostel (I think) with the 150 Americans, the Australians, the groups from New Zealand and Germany, and a few people from Latvia, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic (I tested out my very limited Czech on them Anna).
Everyone smokes. People from English-speaking countries (America, New Zealand and Australia) don't, but everyone else does as far as I can tell. It seems a little bizare for me, but my friend Krista said it was just a part of the culture in Latvia. Also, drinking age is very different- here the legal age is 18 now (though nobody cares) and some girls from Switzerland were complaining because they were very happy that they had been able to legally walk into a store and buy beer back home (at age 16) so all the rules are much more lax for that. However, I was talking with an AFS volunteer and he says that they think it is better this way because everyone learns to drink in moderation and to control themselves whereas in America people get wasted and then still try to drive. Interesting conversation- he talked alot about the differences between our culture and theirs, for instance, here you can go to college for no more than 400 Euros.
I said good-bye to many of my friends Tuesday night, and the rest Wednesday morning. Everyone was very excited to see their families. My group left just after 10, and I never really saw a clock but I think, stops included, it took us 6 hours by bus to get to Anjou, a beautiful town that is very typical of what you think of for Provincial French towns. Sarah and her mother Malika were there to greet me with Rayanne in the car, and we all left very quickly. We got a little lost on the way home, but made it.
They/we live in an apartment in the middle of Lyon. It is very different from what I have seen in America, but very nice- I love it here. I don't think they have air conditioning, and I am yet to see fans, but you don't need it. They leave the windows open (they don't have screens either) and I find it more comfortable even than my house. It isn't as cold but I am rarely uncomfortable and I love to be able to lean out the window, here the cars pass by and look out over the rooftops.
I am slow to understand things, Sarah is the easiest for me to understand so far, and often when I don't understand something they will gesture to Sara who will explain it to me slower than they had said it. Everyone though is very kind.
I am no longer vegetarian, by the way, but it doesn't bother me here so much. I don't especially like it but Malika fixes everything herself and everything is very good although she gives me too much food.
Love and miss you all.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Last Day in NY
Sorry this is late again... I finally get free internet. So here was yesterday's:
I am exhausted. We woke up, late again, but at a more reasonable hour than before. I went down to the gym for a while and mum got breakfast (Whole Foods again). We got a day pass for the subway and took it down all the way to Wall Street, then walked to the ticket booth where we bought tickets for an off Broadway (I think?) play called the perfect murder. Ate lunch on the docks, walked back (I saw the bull statue from the Sorcerers Apprentice) and eventually made our way over to the World Trade Center... nothing to see. We went to NYU's campus, if they actually had one. It is more a splattered group of buildings in lower Manhattan than an actual campus. It did not make a favorable impression as the website was not easily understandable so we did not even get a tour. Ehh... oh well. We had to buy me a pair of pajama pants (they are lovely... old ones were a torn disaster.)
We got to go back to the hotel for about an hour before we left for the play, this one was in a very small theater and we had front row so we were within a few feet of the actors. Very different from Mary Poppins it had little tech (in comparison) and only 5 actors but still was very good, I enjoyed it.
Off to bed with me. Love you all, and hope all is well.
I am exhausted. We woke up, late again, but at a more reasonable hour than before. I went down to the gym for a while and mum got breakfast (Whole Foods again). We got a day pass for the subway and took it down all the way to Wall Street, then walked to the ticket booth where we bought tickets for an off Broadway (I think?) play called the perfect murder. Ate lunch on the docks, walked back (I saw the bull statue from the Sorcerers Apprentice) and eventually made our way over to the World Trade Center... nothing to see. We went to NYU's campus, if they actually had one. It is more a splattered group of buildings in lower Manhattan than an actual campus. It did not make a favorable impression as the website was not easily understandable so we did not even get a tour. Ehh... oh well. We had to buy me a pair of pajama pants (they are lovely... old ones were a torn disaster.)
We got to go back to the hotel for about an hour before we left for the play, this one was in a very small theater and we had front row so we were within a few feet of the actors. Very different from Mary Poppins it had little tech (in comparison) and only 5 actors but still was very good, I enjoyed it.
Off to bed with me. Love you all, and hope all is well.
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