Ale Ale Ale

After two weeks of intense work, the French (and thereby me) are on vacation for Toussaint, a Catholic holiday.

For the next week and a half, Emily and I will be in Madrid, Spain and then relaxing in Paris for a bit.  Since I won't be taking my computer, I won't be making my usual daily updates, but will do so soon.

Until then, adios amigos!

Take it away, Ricky!!!

It's Like This Sometimes

This is what it's like when the Frenchies are teaching me something or worse when I'm trying to teach my baby Frenchies English...oh the joys of Foreign Languages.

Got to reward yourself for all of that hard work...

(If you're thinking to yourself, "Wow, all she does is eat!" 

You're right. 

And then if your next thought is "She's totally going to pack on those baguette pounds." 

You're wrong.  Obviously calories don't exist in France.)

That's Not My Sock

My washing machine doesn't arrive until next week.  Which means that I have been here a month and only washed one load of clothes (thanks, Fran!).

Needless to say the situation was getting dire...

So I sucked it up and went down the street to the laverie.

I bumped into Jenna, another American assistant who, while I was folding my clothes, found a sock in her load...that wasn't hers.  Yikes!

Nine euros and 72 minutes later, I had some clean and dry clothes and a towel that was still (?!) damp.

The entire expedition proved worthwhile as the sounds of a trumpet sonata escaped through this fenetre and accompanied me as I walked home.

Could my life be more French?

Crossing Bridges

 Walked across the bridge today to get a new perspective.  This is where I live?  Right in the middle is my apartment building.  Pictures coming soon.

Also for your entertainment, some music a la France:

Elle M'a Dit by Mika is number one in France right now.  Seriously what is this video?

Logobitombo by Moussier Tombola might be the most ridiculous thing ever.  Think Cupid Shuffle in the US but on major crack.  People do this dance like it's their job.  Learning in progress.

Speaking of learning to dance, you'll all be so proud to know that I learned the Bachata on Salsa Night.  And no there are no pictures of that.

PARIS

Is electric.

Bored of our petite Blois, Emily, Miyo, Pri and I hopped on a train to Paris to do some boot shopping where we met up with our friend Christopher, another assistant in Dreux.

Man Learning How to Dance by Watching a Couple:

Notre Dame through a Tunnel:

Funky Little Climbing Man:

On the Steps:

Dinner at Cafe Bourbogne [most delicious crepes ever]:

We walked away with tummies filled with crepes and hands filled with bags of sweaters, dresses, hats and an uhm fur vest (when in Europe!).

...No boots in sight...

Guess we'll just have to go back later this week.  Quelle domage.

The Sun'll Come Out

After 10 days of nuages (clouds) the sun finally found a way to break through.

Stopped on the path to Fran's house.

Old Orleans

My academie (school district) held our Orientation in Orleans, France.  THE original, old Orleans.

Known among the French as a more industrial city, Orleans still has much of the architecture and charm of my town and many in the region.

Walking around during a tour...

Beautiful cathedral

Joan of Arc tribute

And Emily introduced me to Christopher.  Bonjour to my newest bff!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust

A tres brief profile of the people in my French life.


Francoise
A 58-year old diva (aka professor at my school who let me live with her!) who will outrun, outbike and outswim you.  I know from experience.  This lady will literally bike up the side of a mountain without a drop of sweat.  How do the French say, "Baller?"

Emily
My fellow curly-haired adventurer.  Soul-sister?  She's a University of Delaware grad from New Jersey and we will be conquering this country together this year.

Miyo
Hawaii-native and Harvard grad.  Running buddy.  Love her go get 'em attitude and food choices.  On her way to being a brilliant legal mind.

Pri
Roomie.  [Are we ever moving in?!]  University of Virginia Psychology and French grad.  Girlfriend has been my savior in this town.  Her speciality is conversation ;-) and official group translator.

Rich
The only boy in the program in our town.  Bless his heart.  University of Nottingham student who is jetting from France to Spain to teach.  We're learning each other's accents.

 And no that's not his purple bike.


Other assistants nearby.

More profiles to follow as soon as I can sneakishly take pictures...

Back to the Beginning

So what am I really doing here?  Most of you reading this know the answer to that question, but for completeness' sake, this post is dedicated to filling you in.

I'm technically here to teach English through the French Ministry of Education, with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (lovingly known as TAPIF).  Check this out for more details.

Through this fantastic little program, I've been placed in Blois.  A cute town between Orleans and Tours, about an hour and a half outside of Paris.

There is a wonderful castle here and it proudly claims the purest spoken form of the French language, woo!

And the real reason that I picked this place:  Joan of Arc.  She used Blois as a base of operations.  I'm kind of obsessed with her. 

I began "observation" this week to prepare for official teaching next week.  I'm teaching at Lycee Francois Philibert Dessaignes, about a 20 minute walk from my (future) apartment.

 My new school.

The students are wonderfully curious.  The girls uber fashionable and chic.  And the boys, well they will be boys.

Two of my 12 classes.

 As I introduced myself this week, I was asked some of the following questions, try to answer them...

• Why are Americans so obese?
• What do Americans think of Sarkozy?
• I replied, they probably have no idea who you're talking about...
• What was the reaction to Michael Jackson's death?
• FYI the French are in LOVE with MJ.
• Does everyone love Lebron James?
• Do you know Chuck Norris?  Do you love him?
• Usually asked following the "I'm from Texas" comment.
• And my personal favorite, do you live in the ghetto?
• Shout out HP and SMU.

Oh, American stereotypes.

Ooo La Lessons

WARNING!  The following post contains (one rather) graphic image.

Thursday marked my one-week anniversary in Blois.  What's been happening in all that time, you're dying to know?

A lot of eating.  Laughing.  Aimless walking.  Trying to get our American minds to understand this French system and our charmante little ville.

Ooo La Lesson:  Sunday in Blois means nothing is open.  Which leaves us playing in Emily's Penthouse for the day.

Above, the view from the Penthouse and below, sunset in Blois.

Ooo La Lesson:  Food is infinitely more delicious (and more expensive, yet worth every centime) here.

Salad with whipped Goat Cheese at Le Clipper.  Delicious, just don't get the Lemony Prawns.

Coconut and Dark Chocolate Crepe at Cafe Chineur.  Tastes like a Bounty!

 Vegeterienne Gallette at Creperie du Blois.  Unreal.

 Speculoos and Almond Ice Cream with homemade whipped cream at Douce Heure.  Divine.  And I don't like ice cream.

 First homemade dinner at the Penthouse.  Fussalini with Ratatouille, baguette with Boursin.

Fruit thing from Alice's Patisserie.


Ooo La Lesson:  Riding a bike fashionably will cause you pain.  And injury.
Trying to be a wonderful Blesoise (that's what you call girls living in Blois), I ride my bike everywhere.  I also try to be fashionable--I mean, it is France.  [Friends back home, that means, no Nike shorts and tennis shoes!]  Ride with caution, mes amis.