Favorite French Moment of the Week, #2

This week we learned a new French phrase from a new French friend:

"J'ai la patate." (I hope I've got it right.)

Literally, it means "I have the potatoe." Figuratively, it means to be energetic and maybe a little bit powerful. Felix explained it by saying "It's like after you have a red bull and you're..." and then he flexed his muscles and made a face. You can also say "J'ai le frite." "I have the french fry."

Back in La France

I'm back after two wonderful weeks in Richmond. I must admit that Laon has lost some of it's charm. It's less beautiful covered in brown, melting snow, and the students are less energetic. I've been warned by experienced teachers that the next 6 weeks are the hardest time to teach. "The kids are bored and tired." Additionally, speaking French has gotten harder. It's not exactly that I've forgotten the French I learned, although that is the simple way of explaining it. Instead, I've relaxed. Before leaving I was in the habit of translating all of my thoughts into French, even when I was alone. It was good practice and helped to keep that part of my mind alert. Around 5 days after returning to the states I stopped doing that. Now, French is harder. It feels as if a part of my brain has turned off. What's more, my attention span is shorter. After focusing on listening to a French conversation for about 10 minutes I zone out; before break it had been more like half an hour. Then, of course, there's jet-lag. I've been ploughing through books because I can't fall asleep.

In spite of all the small downers, it's been great to see all of the other assistants again. It's incredible how much they can make this sleepy, little town feel like a home.

Holy Crap

We just saw santa clause repel himself down the facade of an 11th century cathedral!!!!!

Armed with 4 brown ropes and a weird little harness, a rather skinny santa made a GRAND (slooow and clumsy) entrance into the christmas market last night. Getting stuck at the top, flailing about and kicking bits of the ancient facade into the crowd on his way down, and landing squarely on top of some decorative Christmas trees at the bottom...It was the most amazing hilarious highlight of the month. Dead serious. I've never seen something quite so funny. Megan..pictures..stat! :) (I think you can just edit this entry and add in whatever you want, right?)

 

Favorite French Moment of the Week, #1

While teaching my youngest students colors, one of the bounced up excitedly and started saying something to me about Chinese people. After an embarrassingly long time I realized he was asking me if I knew how to write like a Chinese person. Confused, I said no, and then showed him how I write. At which point all of the kids jumped up and started laughing and saying "That's how a Chinese person writes!" French kids are only taught to write in cursive. When copying phrases from the board my older students take forever, trying unsuccessfully to mimic my script. Evidently it's gotten around the school that I write like a weirdo, and the 5 year olds decided that meant I knew how to write Chinese. I should have lied to them.

Lesson on Stereotypes

So I taught a lesson on symbols vs stereotypes the other week...to my seconde level class...15ish years old... It involved a 5 miinute drawing or sketch...and describing, comparing, contrasting, and discussing...and well... I present you: what they think of you...

...and a few of my favorite french ones as well..although you can see they were much more interested in drawing and discussing americans...

love always,

Brielle

Peer Pressure

A limerick for my fellow assistants who so effectively chastised me for not contributing to this collective journal until now:

There once were some girls named Brie,
Megan and Kate and me
Sitting around
Drinking wine down
And so here this blog je l'ai écrit

I do not know quite what to write
Tonight we all did share a bite
I made some soup
Fed it to the group
France Friends, let's no longer fight.

Now that I've posted this poem
Y'all can now leave me alone
I promise to post
(not as often as most)
'Cause I'm glad we call Laon our home.

Thanksgiving in Soissons

Assistants in Soissons, a town about 30 minutes from Laon, generously invited us to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving celebrating with them. Though we all missed loved ones at home, it was as warm and definitely as tasty as any Thanksgiving as I've had back in the states. In total there were about 20 of us; American assistants from Laon, Soisson, Hirsonand Crapy-en-Valois, French friends, a Bolivian, Canadian, Brit, Korean, and an Irish girl. We introduced those who were new to the holiday to hand-turkeys.

Of course, we also went around to say what we were thankful for. Cliches about home, food, and friends pack more of a punch when you are working to make a new one, when traditional food is hard to come by, and your friends are the people you are depending the most on. It doesn't hurt that everything sounds more elegant in French.              

Traditional, hand-made Thanksgiving pinata