I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me

I'm currently sitting in my hotel room amazed by how life à Dijon became so normal, so quickly.  I already feel such a strong loyalty for "la ville de moutarde" that it’s quite hard to imagine how I’ll be feeling in May. But I don’t want to think about May just yet…

So, yes, I’m writing this post from my airport hotel but it took a bit to get here!  I had to leave my flat at 11:20am to get on the 11:30am bus so I would beat the lunchtime rush and be able to fit myself and luggage on the bus! Successful but it lead to lots of waiting time at the gare. (I bought some French tabloids to pass the time: funny and good practice!)  My train left Dijon at 1:20pm and arrived at Paris-Gare de Lyon at 3:11pm. Yes, exactly 3:11pm is when the train came to a complete stop.  How do I know this?  Well, when I was looking at my train ticket I thought to myself that 3:11pm is such a random/specific arrival time to put- it can’t be that exact!  Lo and behold there was a clock at Gare de Lyon showing the hour, minute, and SECONDS…so yes, SNCF (national train company) knows what’s up.  (I will never doubt you again, SNCF. Unless you go on strike- then all bets are off!)  I quickly found the Air France airport shuttle stop (thank you to whichever side of the family gave me fabulous memory/sense of direction) and only had to wait about 15 minutes for it to arrive.  (Air France shuttle plug….TAKE IT. I know I said this in one of my first posts but seriously worth every euro: quicker than the RER and you don’t have to drag your luggage up and down metro stairs!)  So, I took the shuttle to Terminale 1 to check out where Lufthansa is and was even able to check in ahead of time so now I just have to check my luggage and I'll be on my way! Yay, efficiency!  From Terminale 1 I took the airport shuttle to Terminale 3 to catch a different shuttle to my hotel for the night. (Lots of shuttles, clearly.)  On the airport shuttle I had this bizarre, existential moment where I caught my reflection and it hit me that this is my real life and I really do live in France, on my own, like other everyday French people. (Ok their French is better but you catch my drift!)  It was weird, but cool.  Finally I arrived at my hotel 6 hours after leaving my flat!  The hotel isn't anything spectacular but for one night it’s just what's needed.  I had to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant because there’s nothing around here…it was strange.  21,50 euros for an awkward, luke-warm buffet and a less than stellar Kir (Clearly I’ve been spoiled by Kir in Dijon!) all by myself.   Oh well, I wasn’t expecting an amazing meal and this just makes me all the more excited for American food! Om nom nom!

Tomorrow morning I’m waking up bright and early at 3:30am to be at breakfast at 4:30am and taking the 5am shuttle to CDG.  My first flight from Paris to Frankfurt leaves at 7:50am so I want to make sure I have plenty of time!  Then, should everything go smoothly, I will land in Frankfurt at 9:20am and my flight from Frankfurt leaves for Boston at 12pm. (These times are all Euro-times...I should land in Boston around 2pm US/EST, though.)  I’m a bit excited for my almost 3 hour layover in Frankfurt tomorrow as it brings back memories of my first international travel experience!

So there you go, a play by play of my voyage home!  But it's now time for bed considering I need to be up in 4 1/2 hours.  America-bound tomorrow- wahoo! J

Word of the Post: la ville de moutarde -- city of mustard (I just typed that for fun....I'm not positive it's an official nickname haha)

Europocalypse?

I had the intention of keeping blog posts to topics about my life and personal experiences but I feel it is important to touch on the subject of the current Euro Zone crisis. (It was only a matter of time- the Inernational Relations major in me has been constantly reading/consumed by the BBC, Le Monde, and CNN trying to keep up with this situation.  I have even taken to watching live broadcast of the UK's House of Commons but that's a different story!)

For the past month or so the media has been intensely reporting on what seems like the impending “end” of the Euro.  Now the BBC and CNN tend to have a more negative outlook and claim the Euro currency, as well as the European Union (EU), may crumble entirely but I think it’s still too soon to tell.

The major issues at hand are the Euro currency crisis and the UK's growing movement to distance itself, and create a path, to potentially leave the European Union.

Here are a few sites to catch you up to speed:

On the Euro crisis' potential outcomes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16098582#TWEET42055

(*the Euro officially hit it’s lowest exchange rate today since this January: 1,00€ = $1.30)

On the most recent EU summit:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16093316

On the European anger towards the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16114902

Q&A on the summit and debit crisis:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16057252

Genral overview:

http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/12/13/as-the-crisis-refuses-to-calm-scenarios-of-euro-collapse-appear/

Now, I know a lot is going on in the States but keep in mind that the EU’s economy does effect our American economy so it’s important to keep up to date with how our neighbors are doing!  It’s a crazy time to be in Europe and a bit unsettling to think the EU currently stands on such shaky ground.  (You can feel the tension rising!)  While these troubles have been continuously growing this year here’s to hoping Europe can come together and work through this in the coming months!  I'll keep you posted, my faithful readers, but really I encourage you to check out the links above!

Me at the EU head quarters in Brussels, Belgium
October 2011

Word of the Post:  la crise – crisis (The economic crisis is simply refered to as “la crise”) 

US of A!

I cannot believe I will be flying home in exactly a week…where did the time go?!  So much has happened in these past three months and as I’m finally feeling settled it’s a bit strange to grasp that I am going on a vacation to the United States.  For me vacations have always consisted of countdowns to various European cities and getting excited to try new foods, see historic sites, visit museums and so on.  Now, living in Europe, I am counting down until I land in Boston, MA and can smell Dunkin’ Donuts, watch my favorite sports teams, eat Mom’s homemade buffalo chicken, and see familiar friends, family, and places. And I know that while I am able to visit these places I will be flying back to France after two weeks.  This is definitely one of the more bizarre moments thus far in my trans-Atlantic life.

As much as I love France and travelling, my time here makes me realize how lucky I am to call America home.  For example, in class this week my students and I were discussing some major differences between Europe and the United States.  I was taken aback by their comments as they see the U.S. as “an open and tolerant” country whereas Europe is so tied down to its past causing its people to hold on to certain passé ideologies. They absolutely love the idea of the American “melting pot” and that our culture has been created on difference, change, and a need to come together.  These are 15 year olds, mind you!  How amazing is that?  While I reminded them that the U.S. faces problems like any country it was a proud moment to hear them speak about my homeland with such admiration. And it, of course, made me all the more excited to visit home!

See you soon, ‘merica!

Word of the Post: à l'aise -- to be comfortable (Essentially how I'll feel when I'm laying on the couch watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!)

Strasbourg: La Capitale de Noël

This past weekend I was able to spend time in Strasbourg, France which is located in the Alsace region.  Alsace has switched between being part of Germany and France over the years due to the wars in Europe so it was so cool to see a part of France with such a cultural identity crisis: the food and drink are a mix between French and German specialties, the signs are in both French and German, and you can hear both languages on spoken in the cafés and on the streets.

To get there we decided to rent a car to and make the 3 hour drive instead of taking the train.  It ended up being only a little bit more expensive than the train but we had so much more flexibility with the car (and the drive was shorter!) so it was totally worth it.  Plus it was fun to see how historical sites are marked on the highways in France with detailed signs. (And we got to drive on the autobahn in Germany but I’ll get to that later.)  We also sang Christmas carols and played silly games to keep us entertained during the drive…typical road trip!

This was our car- it fit SEVEN of us! And is considered to be a large vehicle in Europe.
Did I mention it took DEISEL?! That's how "big" it is! 

We arrived in Strasbourg around 8pm and checked in at the apartment where we were staying for the night and then headed back into the city center.  (Another plus of having the car- no need to deal with bus or tram time limitations!)  We wandered around and took in the beautiful lights and the massive Christmas tree (98 feet tall!).  Since we still hadn’t had dinner we went to a cute place where I ordered Spezi (a German drink) which is Coke and Fanta mixed.  Surprisingly it was delicious!  For dinner I had fried and breaded Camembert on lettuce with tomatoes.  They legit served a wheel of cheese, fried and breaded...where else in the world can you order that for dinner? Only in France.  It was delicious but I could only eat ¼ of the wheel…so filling!  The next day we had an array of breakfast treats from a boulangerie near our apartment and then set out for a day at the world famous markets! (And these markets are France's oldest- dating back to 1570!)  There were 12 different markets in the city and we saw a little over half of them!  My favorites were the French and German themed markets.  I had been to Christmas markets in Paris and Rome in 2009 so I had an idea of what to expect but these topped my expectations! I enjoyed them so much: the atmosphere, all the handmade goods, the ornaments, the pretzels, mulled wine (and hot orange juice in this case!), the yummy chocolates, the street performers...the list could go on and on!  It’s really difficult NOT to feel in a Christmas-y mood while in these markets.  I did a good amount of shopping and a good amount of eating- so many great things I had to try!  One time when I went to get hot chocolate at a stand Papa Noël (Santa Claus) was there to order a coffee and we chatted.  That’s right, I talked to Santa in French. Needless to say I was super pumped about it.  

Papa Noël et moi in Strasbourg!

Aside from the markets I visited Notre-Dame de Strasbourg which is, hands down, one of the most stunning cathedrals I have seen to date.  I was literally awe-struck when I first saw it because it is not only massive but extremely detailed and ornate.  The inside is exactly the same….you just feel so tiny and there is so much rich history it’s overwhelming.  Other than the Vatican I have never felt smaller in a church. (I think façade of Notre-Dame de Strasbourg was more stunning than the Vatican, but St. Peter’s Square is distracting so it’s a tough call.)  While the markets were the main goal for the day (and we saw so many!) I do plan to return to Strasbourg some day.  It offers so much more than Christmas markets so it would be a shame not to see all of its other sites!  (It’s a bike friendly city, too, and has cute canals so I think I’d like to return in the summer and ride a bike around! Someday!!)  Since we were only spending the one day in Alsace once we were done seeing most of the markets we decided we should plan when we would head back to Dijon but then we had the brilliant idea to go to Germany for dinner!  Strasbourg is about 30 minutes from the German border so it wasn’t that out of the way.  We settled on heading to Freiburg, a small city that was on the way back to Dijon.  How fun is that…Germany- just for dinner!  It was a precious little town, with its own Christmas markets so we got to see a bit of authentic, German Christmas markets which is where the whole idea originated!  Not a bad deal!  Also, one of the assistants in our group is from Germany so it was really exciting to have her to show us around her country and give cultural tid bits we would have missed out on had she not been there!  While driving on the autobahn there (yes, there’s really no speed limit!) we practiced German phrases to order food in a restaurant and about restaurant culture. (For example, you have to greet the waiter by saying good evening and when you ask for the check the waiter goes to each person individually with their subtotal and you pay one by one.)  For me, it was especially cool to be back in Germany since it’s the first European country I ever visited and will always have a special spot in my heart!

Me with a Christmas market sign in Freiburg, Germany

It was a whirlwind, jam-packed day and a half that I will cherish forever!  December in Europe is magical- simple as that.


Word(s) of the Post:   Joyeux Noël (French) / Frohe Weihnachten (German)  -- Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving: European style

As I type this post I am eating left over corn bread like any good American should the day after Thanksgiving.  But with my Thanksgiving being in Dijon this year I am happy to be able to eat any sort of left-overs today as they were not a guarantee! Yesterday I celebrated Thanksgiving with eight other people and it was a fabulous night.  But there was a lot of effort put in to create such an “as-American-as-possible” Thanksgiving in France!
Once all of the basic details were figured out (who would attend and where it would be held) three other assistants and I took a trip up to Paris for the day last week in order to go to an American goods store, appropriately named Thanksgiving.  There we purchased pumpkin pie ingredients, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, and any other little American necessities we could find.  It may have been a bit pricy but it was worth it!  When we arrived back in Dijon we made a plan to buy a turkey.  Unfortunately, it was too early to order a quality turkey because it's mainly used for Christmas meals here so they don't really show up in markets until December.  Alas, we settled on having chicken!  I went out and bought the vegetables and other last minute needs earlier this week so we would be completely prepared for our "feast".  

As we planned to properly celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day, we somehow forgot that most of us work long days at school on Thursdays.  So, luckily I got out of school at 2pm and I prepared the corn bread, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and corn.  I didn't realize how much work it is to prepare so much-- especially in such a small place like my flat with its limited cooking pots/plans/burners and tiny counter top oven!  So, as I was preparing all the fixings, another assistant prepared the chicken in-between his classes and three other assistants prepared the space where we held the dinner (a large room in the lycée they work and live in) -- Thanksgiving in France had begun!  Luckily, another teaching assistant came over to my flat to help me carry everything over to the meal.  It was pretty cold out, and the 4 huge bags we had were heavy and fragile since we had to strategically place the gravy and vegetables so they would not spill- tricky but we were successful!  Once we arrived with the food it was a fun, relaxing evening.  (Aside from opening the cranberry sauce...we didn't have a can opener so we had to resort to a tool kit with a hammer and screw driver hahaha)

With 9 of us celebrating (2 Americans, 3 English, 1 Scot, 2 Germans, and 1 Polish), and the majority of them being European, it was really fun to share my holiday and traditions with them!  They asked questions about the history, food, what my Thanksgivings are usually like at home and were just very appreciative of our meal and being able to celebrate together.  We had a big, traditional table and once we all made our dinner plates we sat down and I made a Thanksgiving toast.  (In my family my Dad usually does this so this was a change!)  Although we had plenty of wine for dinner, we specifically purchased Kir Royal (Champagne and crème de cassis- traditional Dijon drink) for our Turkey Day toast!  After the toast we each went around and said something we were thankful for- it was so lovely.  Then we all discussed holidays and traditions in our own countries (did you know Polish Christmas has twelve courses?! TWELVE!) and I of course enjoy anything multi-cultural so I really enjoyed it!  For dessert we had pumpkin pie, brownies, and apple pie!  And then we somehow started reminiscing about growing up in the 90s and started singing and dancing to old school songs from Britney, NSYNC, BSB, S Club 7, Spice Girls, and more.  It was hilarious! :) And even though I wasn't with my family the evening had a very homey-vibe and was so comfortable-- it surpassed all my Thanksgiving-in-Europe expectations!

Now I’m going to listen to Christmas music because today is the official start of the Holiday Season! 1 month til Christmas and I can’t wait to shop here! (Christmas markets begin on December 3rd in Dijon-woohoo!)

Everyone before our dinner

Table set and ready to toast and eat! :)

Word of the Post: être reconnaissant – to be thankful

Thankful for Catholic churches and the travel bug

It is no secret that I have an undeniable appreciation for European Catholic cathedrals and churches.  And since arriving in Dijon I’ve already visited Notre-Dame de Dijon and St-Michel multiple times.  Whenever I approach these cathedrals or churches I am constantly taken aback- they always make me stop for a moment to simply stare in awe.  There are so many details to take in: arches, gargoyles, roof tiles, and more!  When I finally walk into the church I am stunned once again.  There is just something about gothic architecture that makes me feel so very small.  That, and the fact that people have been walking in and out of this very same building for centuries upon centuries! (For example Notre Dame de Dijon was built in the 1200s!)  When I visitied Notre Dame de Dijon a few weeks ago it did have a few tourists in it, but it was a lot quieter than Notre Dame de Paris which was a nice change. (Less crowd=more peaceful!)  I visited St-Michel yesterday and it was completely empty….it’s pretty to surreal to have an entire church of St-Michel's size to yourself.  I was able to light a few candles and just sit and think.    While the architecture and history of such churches certainly fascinate me, there is another reason as to why I am so drawn to them: my Grandma. 

My Grandma was an amazing woman who I credit for giving me the gift of the “travel bug”.  I remember being a little girl and going over to her house listening to her and my aunts talk about all the amazing places they've traveled to. They have literally traveled the world and I remember how curious it made me to seek out life outside the United States.  (I was the kid who wore the authentic Chinese rice hat [that my Grandma and aunts brought back from China] to the pool because I thought it was so cool.  That alone solidifies just how much their travels affected me!)  Throughout my life my Grandma was a constant supporter, but especially of my travels in high school and my choice to go to college in Maryland. Aside from her own travels she was also a devout Catholic.  I believe her faith is what pulls me toward these cathedrals and churches here.  When I stop and sit in these churches, the same thing happens: a familiar feeling washes over me, it’s difficult to describe, but it is the same feeling, no matter which church I am in.  My Grandma passed away during my freshman year of college which is the biggest loss I have experienced in my life.  It may sound strange but that feeling I get while in these churches makes me think of my Grandma and makes me feel closer to her.  Whatever the case may be-  I am very blessed to have had such a loving and inspiring Grandma; I think of her all the time and feel comfort in knowing she is with me wherever I go.  

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for a lot of things, but I am especially thankful for my Grandma because without her I would not be the person I am today, and additionally I would not have been able to take on this experience in France.

I am thinking of her, especially today, and the rest of my family as well.

Notre Dame de Dijon

(hard to get a good pic due to the church's façade)

St-Michel

Legal Immigration: Check

In order to complete the immigration process my visa had to be validated through a doctor appointment at the OFII office (Office Immigration and Integration).  The appointment consisted of four parts:

1) x-ray of my lungs
2) examination by a nurse
3) examination by a doctor
4) paperwork

When I arrived to the office today for my 10am appointment I was sent to a waiting room that was full of other language assistants.  After chatting with them for a bit someone called “Mademoiselle Desmond” and my appointment began:
(Note this entire experience was all in French, bien sûr.)

-X-ray:
So in France they don’t give you gowns to change into; instead, the x-ray technician showed me a little place to “change”…aka take my sweater and my bra off.  So as I awkwardly stood there trying to cover up I was waiting for her to hand me a vest to protect from radiation. That did not happen.  She just told me to get in the x-ray machine, then to press face-foreward against the cold wall in it.  Next I had to breathe deeply in order to get a good x-ray of my lungs. So very awkward.   (Did I mention that this x-ray was to make sure I do not have turberculosis…. bizarre!)  Luckily it was quick and I got changed as soon as possible!  After that I had to go back to the waiting room for the nurse.

-Nurse:
About a half an hour later the nurse called my name and I went into her examination room.  There she checked my eyes, height, and weight, while gathering general information about my medical history.  She was really nice and saying the letters with a French accent for the eye test was kind of fun. (I’m a nerd, deal with it.)  After this it was back to the waiting room once more to wait for the doctor.

-Doctor:
The doctor finally called my name and she took my blood pressure, checked my ears, throat, lungs, and glands.  She also reviewed my x-ray and confirmed that I passed all the medical aspects of the appointment. Cue instant relief.  I knew I would pass but it is just nerve racking to have your ability to stay in the country depend on one appointment.  After this I had to wait a bit more to finish up some paperwork.

-Paperwork:
This was the quickest part of the appointment, surprisingly!  I simply had to present my proof of residence (I used a rent receipt), an ID photo for their files, and then they placed an official OFII stamp in my passport making me a legal immigrant. WOO!

The entire process took an hour and forty-five minutes but all in all it wasn't too bad.  One surprise was that they gave everyone the x-ray of their lungs to keep.  So now I have an awkward, unexpected “souvenir” from the experience.  Who knows what I’ll do with it but I plan on doing something…can’t let a random x-ray go to waste! (Never thought I’d say that haha) Ah, the joys of being an immigrant.

(not my lungs but I now own something similar to this)

Word of the Post:  une radiographie – an x-ray

Settled in the City (see what I did there?)

A little less than two months into living in Dijon I am finally starting to feel slightly like a dijonnaise.  So this is the post where I ramble about all the everyday accomplishments that feel so so so much bigger when you are doing them by yourself, in a foreign country, in your second language. (Don’t forget- this is my first time ever living on my own!)

Ok, here we go:

-Apartment

I’ve (slightly) rearranged the flat to my liking, organized all my belongings, know when and where to take my trash out, and so on.  (I’ve even completely (re)adjusted to the European-style shower!)  My flat is really cute and I love my landlady.  She doesn’t treat me as though I am just a source of income and always wants to make sure the flat is okay and that I am okay, too.  We even continue to meet for lunch, coffee, or drinks after work so that is really nice! There was an issue with the kitchen sink and also an electric outlet so I can add successfully dealing with a French electrician as well as a French plumber to my list of “accomplishments”.  I’ve  also successfully paid rent which doesn’t sound like an accomplishment but filling out a French check is different than an American one so I’m counting it!

-Bank account/Card/Checks

I officially have a French bank account.  Of course obtaining all of my banking necessities took about a month due to the lovely thing known as “French administration”.  When people say the French are unorganized that is no exaggeration.  I went to my bank agency to open my new account however they needed my landlady to show her ID as well as proof of her living arrangement so that my contract could be accepted.  (I was getting apartment insurance along with the bank account but either way I’d still need my landlady’s “proof”.)  So it took about a week to get her papers in, then another week for the bank to process that.  Finally, I got my actual card and was all excited to use it but I had to wait another week for two separate letters: one containing my pin and the other containing my access codes for online banking.  After this I had to wait another week to get my checkbook.  Needless to say, it took a while but I finally have a real, French bank account! And it’s SO much easier to use my card than have to keep withdrawing Euro notes from an ATM.  I also feel like a quasi-French person because my card has the cool European chip on it and also says “Mlle” (abbreviation for Mademoiselle) in front of my name.  Win.

-Laundry
As there is no washing machine in my flat I have to walk to a laundromat to do my laundry.  Luckily it is only about a 10 minute walk and not too expensive.  I usually use a big machine which is 4 euros per wash but it fits everything and nothing gets ruined if I use cold water.  The only thing that is frustrating is that the dryers do not work.  I tried...twice with no luck.  And I do not have a dry rack to air dry my clothes yet (a trip to Ikea is in order!) so when I do laundry my flat is overtaken with laundry drying.  At least the flat smells nice and clean each time! (Who doesn't like the smell of fresh laundry?)  I'm a little nervous for walking back with wet laundry during the winter months but I'm sure it will be okay.  Needless to say I will never take having a washing machine in my house or building for granted ever again.

-Intermarché/Carte de fidelité

I applied for and received a carte de fidelité (loyalty card) for my Intermarché super market…so far I’ve rakced up a whopping 3,70 euros!  Only a small amount is added with each transaction but I can use the growing balance as a method of payment whenever I want so whatever- euros are euros! (Maybe when I do some shopping for goodies to bring home for Christmas?!)  I finally know my way around the store and love that I can run in really quickly when I just need a few items and I don’t have to wander around searching for things!  I also feel like a local when the cashier asks for my loyalty card.  AND I’ve mastered the self check out registers….yes, that sounds silly and basic but you try weighing bananas as the directions are quickly spit out in French! (Okay it’s not that hard but it was nerve racking at first!)

-Internet

Oh, the internet debacle.  Those first few weeks of MacDo creepin’ felt like they would never end.  Alas, I solved the internet issue by looking online at offers and tapping into my French resources over here. Luckily, I found a fabulous deal through the Orange company (a monthly contract but open ended: “sans engagement” in French) and I even set the wifi box up on my own, French instructions and all!  It’s funny because in the States I would have thought to ask someone else about setting the box up but here it’s just moi so I’m forced to do things on my own constantly.  As frustrating as it can be it is extremely rewarding.

-The bus

Slowly but surely I’m getting used to the bus and figuring out where I can change lines (even though it’s just much simpler/quicker to wait for my bus line) I feel comfortable on Lianes 1 and 5 but I don’t think I will need to use many others unless I am going outside of the city.  While the bus is never on time and still and overall awkward/unpleasant experience it has it’s good moments, too.  For instance, one day a mother was teaching her young son how to say the French “R” sound (my personal favorite!) and it was so cute to hear him repeat the words like “Pierre, voiture, verre, aire, voir”and so on with such a dramatic emphasis on the “R”s.  So while the Parisian metro will always be superior I am coping with the Divia bus.  (Note the word coping because often I still boycott riding it: if the bus is packed when it arrives at the stop, even if I’ve waited 15 minutes, I generally just walk instead.)

-Cell phone

Getting a cell phone was the on-going issue since arriving in September.  It was such a hassle to find a plan that wasn’t ridiculously expensive and that wasn’t a rechargeable/mobile card option.  If I signed up for a contract (which were only offered for 1 year or 2 years) I could cancel the plan but would still owe the company the remainder of the contract. (Aka if I signed a 1 year contract I’d still owe money for the 6 months remaining…non merci!)  Through spending a lot of time researching I found that the Post Office here has a cell phone company (La Poste mobile) [aside: La Poste also has a bank!] and they offer monthly plans that are “sans engagement” (like my Wifi) which is really great! This is good for me because when I need to cancel my line in May it 1) won’t be difficult to do so and 2) I won’t have to pay the remainder of the plan like the other companies offered. (La Poste offered the best deals price-wise so I’m happy about that, too!)  The paperwork for this was a little ridiculous though: I needed proof of residency but my bank card and check book were not acceptable (even though in order to get a bank card and check book you have to have proof of residency!) so I had to get another form signed by my landlady.  I often feel like I am just going in circles when it comes to paperwork here.  The French admin process has made me a lot more flexible and patient though, so I suppose that is a bonus.

-Health care
I am officially able to receive health care/medical services as I now have a French social security number.  I’ve also signed up for a mutelle so should I ever need medical attention here I will be about 90% covered financially.  I have to say…even without the mutelle French health care is pretty awesome.  The U.S. should work on this.

-OFII apt/visa validation

I am also a legal, official immigrant in France (as of today!) as my immigration medical exam was this morning.  It included and lung x-ray, and an examination form a nurse and doctor.  I passed and my visa was validated….hooray!  It’s such a relief to have that over with!  (I am going to post a separate entry on this appointment so look for that!)  Now that my visa is validated I can finally apply for CAF which is government aide for my housing- the last piece of admin work! I will start that next week.

-Teaching timetable

I received a final copy of my timetable….it changed about six times but I now have a set one!  I work with 4 terminale (17-18 yr olds) students and help them prepare for the major exam at the end of the year called Le Bac. (Similar to the SAT's but much more intense.)  It’s really fun to work with them- they are by far my favorite students.  I’m also excited because I will be working with them until the end of my contract so I can form good relationships with them in the classroom and really find methods that work!  I am going to start reading the novel they must read and present on which is “The Other Side of Truth” by Beverly Naidoo.  (I’ll have to do a little review on it after I finish it!)  For my other classes I work with 9 different alternating  seconde (14-15 year olds) groups and that is always a challenge because the English levels greatly vary so activities have to often be adapted on the spot to accommodate each student.  I usually play games with them reinforcing vocab and grammar since I do not see the same students every week.  Finally, I work with one première class (15-16 year olds) and they understand more than they give themselves credit for!  I am going to make it my goal to increase their speaking confidence!  The difficult thing with classes here is that they are not separated by levels like in the States: for example, Honors, level 1, and level 2 students are all mixed within the same class. While it’s a challenge so far I am enjoying my time in the classroom.

-Teaching perks
I’ve received my classroom and bathroom keys (finally!) so I feel slightly powerful as I walk through the halls with the keys jingling in my coat pocket.  Also, it’s nice to be able to use the teacher’s only bathroom!  I have my photo copy machine code as well as my computer code so now I have full access to all that the teacher’s room offers and can prepare lessons while sipping on my cappuccino from the machine. (Yay, European coffee machines!)  I also have a Pass Éducation which always teachers under the French Ministry of Education free entrance to national museums and sites of France.  

-Tutoring

I am volunteering to be an English tutor 2 hours a week at the university, so far it's been great!  I've met some cool students- I'm even helping some with a project for one of their classes that requires insight from a native English speaker.  While I may not be getting paid to tutor I know the experiences and people I will meet from this will be well worth it!

I have to say that I’m pretty proud of myself for what I've accomplished in less than 2 months.  Was it easy? No way!  I’ve had my low moments for sure but the high moments always seem to outweigh the low.  (And I've found that some baguette and Camembert cheese is a good cure for when the lows seem too low haha) A HUGE thank you goes out to my family and friends who have been there to support me through this transition time.  I honestly feel that the 'worst' is over and I look forward to the rest of my stay in Dijon!  So, with the majority of the stressful administrative aspects out of the way let the fun begin:
-11/19/11: going to Paris for the day (yes, just for the day….I’ve been waiting forever to be able to just have a Parisian day trip!)
-11/20/11: going to Beaune (wine capital of Burgundy) for a world-famous wine festival (yes, I will compare it to Maryland’s Wine Fest and report back!)
-11/24/11: helping to host Thanksgiving to celebrate with the other assistants (the Europeans are excited!)
-12/2-3/11: going to Strasbourg for the world-famous Christmas markets
-12/31/11-1/1/12: spending New Year’s Eve in Paris with a study abroad friend (after spending 2 weeks at home in MA for Christmas break!)

It is SO nice to finally feel settled.  It’s a dream come true to be living in France and to know I’m actually doing it, and doing it successfully, is a fantastic feeling.

(And congrats to you, the reader, if you made it through this entire post!)

Word of the Post: s'installer - to settle

Aha moments

I will be the first to admit that it can be very easy to quickly take living in France for granted.  When one passes beautiful architecture and historical site after historical site everyday it can start to make a place seem to lose its luster.  When I studied abroad in Paris stopping by Notre Dame on the way home from school became routine as I did it at least once or twice a week.  But during one of those stops it hit me that there I was, in Paris, stopping by Notre Dame because it’s on my way home from school?!  That sort of moment is what I like to call a “Aha moment”. (It could also be filed under the “Is this real life?” category.)  As I’ve gotten pretty accustomed to the lay out of Dijon, I often pass the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), which used to be the Palais des Ducs (Dukes' Palace).  (Burgundy was a Duchy after all and Dijon was the capital!  Dijon continues to be a capital- now of the French Burgundy region.)  This evening as I was walking home and passing the Hôtel de Ville/Palais des Dus I had a “Aha moment”.  I stopped in front of the glorious building and wondered to myself how I could possibly be walking past such a historical place where real dukes and duchesses once lived?!  As I stopped to take in the view, I imagined what life must have been like back then and reveled in the fact that so many people have been walking in this very same place for centuries and centuries. As I continued on my normal walk home I headed toward St-Michel, a Catholic church which was built during the Renaissance.  Literally years and years of history (in the form of buildings) only meters away from each other…amazing!  During these “Aha moments” I often wonder if the French ever stop and stare at the centuries old architecture or if it doesn’t really phase them.  I suppose if I grew up in a country with such a long, rich history I probably wouldn’t think too much of it but who knows?  (Disclaimer: I’m not saying that the U.S. doesn’t have a rich history but in my opinion Old World history vs New World history is barely a competition…and yes, Old World wins in my book.)  The bottom line, and why I decided to post about this, is because I think what I love most about Europe, and these "Aha moments", is the feeling of knowing so much history is and has been here which then gives the sensation of being part of something much bigger than oneself. 

Word of the Post: l'histoire -- history

Palais des Ducs
(click on the image to get a better view!)

Kebab!

It is no secret that there is a high population of Arab immigrants in France.  (That whole colonizing-major-parts-of-the-Middle East-and-North Africa-thing that France pulled is a big reason for this.)  That being said, some Middle Eastern culture has significantly become an everyday part of French life, mainly the kebab stands. (Kebab is similar to gyros, just for reference.)  I feel like everywhere I turn there is a kebab place.  No, really- on the main street in the city center there is a new kebab place being built next to an already existing kebab place.  I remember seeing kebab places in Paris but it doesn’t compare to Dijon.  Maybe it’s because the city is smaller so it appears as though there are more but honestly, how many kebabs can a small city have?  But then I think about Dunkin’ Donuts in Boston and I created this analogy to describe the situation: kebab is to Dijon as Dunkin’ is to Boston. When I google "kebab à dijon" 8 addresses are recommended but when I look at the map I can count at least 4 places not listed just from parts of the city I know.  So that isn’t even close to the actual number of kebabs here!

I decided that I should finally give the kebab a try.  So, since I’m not a big fan of meat (State-side or in France) I ordered falafel and fries. (Pretty much everything at the kebab comes with fries.)  The falafel came in yummy bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and some mayo.  It was pretty good- greasy, but good.  I don’t forsee myself eating many meals from the various kebabs here but who knows—a good amount of kebabs are open on Sundays so maybe it will be the anti-Chick-fil-A (had to put a link for my New Englanders) for me. (Since everyone always wants Chic-fil-A on Sundays because you know they are closed.)  The kebab could be the anti-Chic-fil-A because I know it is one of my few options if I want to buy food out on Sundays since everything else in France is closed.

I should make one note: kebabs here definitely have some authenticity remaining but they have become a bit commercialized (like adding fries) to accommodate to their French location.  It's a bit similar to Chinese food in the States, except maybe not as changed as that!

And yes, I am aware of the fact that kebab was used almost every other word in this post.   Think of it as a writing technique to create a feeling of what it is like in Dijon :)

Word of the Post: un resto-rapide -- fast food

Happy Birthday à moi!

I've had the pleasure of celebrating two birthdays in France:  I turned 21 during my semester in Paris and yesterday I turned 23 here in Dijon.  I now joke that I’ll need to keep up the tradition and turn 25, 27, and 29 in various other French cities but all joking aside I am so grateful to have spent a good part of my early twenties en France.  To celebrate my birthday this year a bunch of assistants that I’ve become friendly with went to the big gastronomic, international food festival that is held in Dijon each year! (It's massive and so interesting!)  The featured country this year is Mauritius which brought unique products like banana rum, monkeys made out of coconuts, wooden dodo birds, and so much more!  Outside of the Mauritius area there were various stations to try samples of products from around France that ranged from meats to cheeses to breads to chocolates/desserts and more! As if that weren’t enough there were mini “restaurants” set up with specialities from all over the world, such as Spain, Italy, Lebanaon, India, to name a few. Of course there were French “restaurants” inside too so we decided to go to a place with specialties from the Normandie region for my birthday dinner.

After dinner my friends surprised me with a personal pastry (with candles!) and sang Happy Birthday to me in the fair!  It was completely unexpected and a memorable moment for sure.  As if that wasn’t enough they all chipped in a bought me one of the coolest presents I have ever received.  In the sidewalks around Dijon there are small golden arrows with little owls (city’s mascot) on them that guide you in the direction of important sites.  Well, I now forever have a little piece of Dijon as they bought me an authentic arrow! It was so unexpected and touching that I started to tear up.  It’s an amazing feeling to have traveled here on my own, not knowing anyone, and yet less than 2 months into the experience I have such caring, thoughtful, and fantastic people to share it with.

After we finished at the fair (which I have to go back to since it’s so big and there’s still so much to explore!)  we went out to a couple of bars for drinks and converstion.  There is never a dull moment with an international group like us (the countries of England, Scotland, the US, Germany, and Russia are represented) so conversation/cultural comparisons are always fun!  An added perk of the night is that my birthday is the same day as Guy Fawkes Night/Bonfire Night so in between bars we went into a little side street to light sparklers in honor of the British holiday for the assistants from the UK!  While our sparklers were going off three French guys asked who had a birthday (I don't know if sparklers are a birthday thing in France?) so I told them it was mine and then they sang Happy Birthday to me in French!

So for my 23rd I was able to explore other cultures, try new foods, hang out with great people, celebrate a new holiday, and be serenaded to by 3 random Frenchmen....a pretty top notch day if you ask me!  It is without a doubt that I'll treasure this birthday forever.

You can totally tell I was all choked up... haha

The incredibly thoughtful present :)

Word of the Post: un anniversaire -- birthday

Le bonheur

Today while browsing the web I came across this:

Simple? Yes.  Easy to do? Not always.

As I'm in a post-grad but pre-career limbo it's challenging to decide on "what I want to do with the rest of my life".  I am so lucky and grateful that I can use this experience abroad to truly figure out what I want to accomplish in the future both personally and professionally- essentially what will make me happy.

So with this being my birthday weekend, I decided to finally treat myself to my first French pastry since arriving here. (Would you believe I still have yet to eat a crêpe?!)  Anyway, it was called a 'religieuse au chocolat' and it was delicious!  Here's what it looked like:

(similar to an eclair)

Sometimes you just need to do little things, like eating a pastry, to remind yourself that you and your happiness are worth it!


What will you do today that makes you happy? :)


Word of the Post:  le bonheur -- happiness

Pas de pumpkins

A brief cultural tidbit on why Halloween doesn't work en France:

As many of you know I am currently on a 10 day school vacation called Toussaint.  This means “All Saints” in French and is for the Catholic holiday “All Saint’s Day” which is November 1^st.  In most of Europe this weekend is/was set aside for going to church and paying respects for the dead.  Based on this long tradition there was no need for other celebrations...so, the idea of Halloween as Americans know it was only introduced to France in the late 90s.  While the French had heard about Halloween from tourists, expats living in France, and teaching assistants (like moi!) they had never really experienced (or attempted to!) it until 1997.  France Télécom (think AT&T), McDonald's, and Coca Cola incorporated pumpkins and other Halloween images in ads in an attempt to increase French people's knowledge about the holiday.  This attempt however, seemed more like a huge serving of globalization, American-style.  In the late 90s “trick or treating” existed for a bit but it was large groups of children going from store to store, not house to house, asking for candy.  Many French people here didn’t understand what exactly the holiday celebrates which caused it to quickly fizzle out.  I mean, we are talking about a country where you ALWAYS bring something to one’s house when you are invited (no matter who they are!) so the notion of strangers knocking on doors and then demanding candy….doesn’t really jive here.  Sure there are a few signs of Halloween here (Halloween club promotions, pumpkin pictures on a few windows, etc) as the past attempts did have some lingering effects but there will certainly not be any trick or treaters in sight tonight, nor have there been for years now!  It’s funny- the other day on the bus I overheard two girls trying to remember which day of the month Halloween was (the 29^th, 30^th, or 31^st)…it just isn’t a big deal here!  France, while secular, is very attached to its role as “the Catholic church’s eldest daughter” so the holidays and vacations here tend to be around Catholic days.  For example, my teachers at the lycée told me that the time children dress up and have a quasi-similar Halloween experience in France is for Carnevale…which is before or around Mardi Gras to mark the coming of Lent and Easter. (See, all about the religious holidays!)  Just the phrase alone “Happy Halloween” doesn’t work with the French language where H’s are silent and W’s almost non-existent!

So, Happy Halloween to all my Anglophones!  Eat some Butterfingers and Milk Duds for me!

Word(s) of the Post:  Farce ou friandise! -- Trick or treat!

Brussels, Belgium : A Glutton’s Paradise

So, for my first school year vacation I spent a long weekend in Brussels, Belgium! (That's right in France there is a 10 day vacation called Toussaint - it's for All Saints Day)  I had always wanted to go here since my last time being abroad, so needless to say I was excited to finally explore this little city!  Let me just warn you, if you are looking for an in-depth cultural bit on Brussels you will not find it here.  Before leaving France for Belgium (with 6 other assistants) the general consensus was to try as much food and beer as we could.  That was our Brussels mission, and boy did we accomplish it.

Beer:

I tried about 5 or 6 different beers through out the weekend.  The group went to a place called Delirium Café which is this crazy, 3 floor bar with endless types of beer and open til all hours of the night. (I only made it til 1am!) Each time we ordered another beer we tried a different kind!  It was really fun to check out all three levels, however I couldn’t drink too much beer as many of the beers were 9,5% alcohol! (So high compared to the US!)  My favorite was Leffe Blonde which I can still get in France (win!) and apparently is available in the States but very expensive.  I suggest you try it if you can find it in the States! (It kicks Bud Light’s butt!)

Waffles:

A Belgian waffle in Belgium is not the same as a Belgian waffle in the States.  The sit-down, restaurant waffles here are crispy on the outside but then somehow extremely soft and warm on the inside- it was delicious! I topped my first waffle with whipped cream and fresh fruits…amazing!  For my street waffle experience (similar to crêpe stands in France) I topped my waffle with strawberries, dark chocolate, and a little whipped cream!  I could have eaten the whipped cream and chocolate alone!!  The only thing I didn’t care for in the street waffles was that they were a little harder and there were clumps of sugar in them….overall still delicious!

Fries:

First of all, did you know that “French fries” were created in Belgium and not France?  Apparently they were given the name “French fries” after World War I when the delicious snack was introduced to the English-speaking world by the Belgian soldiers who spoke French.  Still, I don’t know if this is 100% true since people from the UK call fries “chips” (and they call chips “crisps”) so I don’t know how only American soldiers got to calling them French fries? Anyway, Belgian fries are superior to all other fries I’ve ever had.  YUM.  We first went to a fry stand and split a small snack of fries and mayo- so good!  Then we went to a famous fry stand (one of the oldest, and locals go there!) called Maison Antoine….oh my gosh- heaven!  I don’t know what they do but the fries are crispy and perfect and the sauce options are endless! (And the fries don’t get soggy from all of the sauce…it’s magic I swear!)  I am  fry queen (ask my family) so trust me when I tell you these were the best fries I’ve ever had.

Chocolate:

Aside from the chocolate on one of my waffles, one night a bunch of us went into a chocolate shop and filled up little bags of various chocolates and truffles and goodies galore!  I felt like a little kid!  It, of course, was delicious!  I will say though I think I prefer the bitter, dark chocolate in France to the more milky flavors I had in Belgium.  But chocolate is chocolate so it’s hard to complain!

Moules-frites:

Moules-frites is a typical Belgian meal….it’s simply mussels and French fries.  And I loved it. LOVED it.  I loved it so much that I ate it twice for dinner during my 3 nights there. (No, I’m not ashamed!)  I’m going to try and bring back moules-frites to the states…or at least implement at some sort of holiday function because it’s just too yummy not to eat at least once a year!  Luckily as a New Englander this shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish. (And I’ve already found a recipe for Belgian mayo to dip the fries in!)

Do you now see why it’s a glutton’s paradise?  It’s just so much food, and it’s all so delicious and rich!  Everyone needs to spend some time in Brussels, just to enjoy the food and drink!

Okay, I suppose I can get into some cultural tid bits….

-In Brussels people only faire la bise (cheek-kiss greeting) on one cheek instead of two cheeks like in Dijon (or 4 in Paris!)

-People said “s’il vous plait” for “you’re welcome” in stead of “de rein”

-It has two official languages: French and Dutch
-The architecture was clearly influence by both East and Western Europe which was really cool to see
-Belgium currently has no government (see this link) and there is a high probability it will split into two countries as there is already a French speaking section and Dutch speaking section (Brussels is in the middle of the two sections!)
-There is a royal family/monarchy and the king (currently Albert II) is head of state and formally addressed as “King of the Belgians”
-It is the capital city of Europe and home to the European Union headquarters

Grand Place at night!

                                                                    

Aside from eating we wandered around the city a good amount of the day and took in the sites!  We saw the EU headquarters, mini Europe, the Atomium, the royal palace, Grand Place, cathedrals, and so much more!  I had a fabulous weekend in Brussels and it was nice to get a chance to see what some of my fellow McDaniel friends have experienced during their semesters abroad there.  Although it is quite lovely by visiting it solidified my decision to study in Paris for a semester rather than Brussels. (What can I say Paris will always have part of my heart!)  That being said- I wouldn’t mind visiting again, or perhaps visiting the French and Dutch parts of Belgium to compare the two!

I'm happy to have traveled to another Francophone country during this vacation because I told myself for this experience I would mainly focus on exploring different parts of France, so I feel like I can let visiting Brussels slide!  Next on the big travel to-do list will be Strasbourg, France for the Christmas Markets in December!  I'm also going to try and take a day trip to Lyon, France sometime soon.

Word of the Post: un glouton – a glutton

My American flag "tattoo”

After a few weeks en France I am slowly starting to get used to always being introduced as “C’est Diana, elle est américaine” (This is Diana, she’s American).  It’s funny because everywhere I go, whether I’m at a campus event with my landlady, introducing myself to other assistants, or participating in high school class observations I feel as thought there is an American flag on my forehead that gets bigger and bigger every time I have to state my nationality; obviously I know I’m an American but it is  just so weird to be constantly reminded of it.  This is especially true when my landlady introduces me…she gets very excited and really emphasizes the “she’s American” part of the introduction, which in turn, makes me feel a little embarrassed. (Not because I’m American, just because it makes me feel extra-foreign.)

Aside from generic introductions, simply meeting the other English language assistants from the United Kingdom has also pointed out my “American-ness”.  It sounds silly but I never realized just how different British and American English are…it’s more than the difference in accents, or adding a “u” to words (colour, favour) or changing a “z” to an “s” (organise, realise) but sentences have completely different structures and so many words/phrases are vary between the two.  Of course this is highlighted when I’m speaking with my fellow Anglophones from the UK but it also become quite obvious during classes at my lycée.  The students are straight up learning British English-  their books give reading scenarios about England,  the recordings (as well as the teachers) have British accents, and so when I speak my American accent sticks out like a sore thumb. There was a lesson on school rules where students had to list the rules they did not like…. Can you imagine anyone in the States saying “I musn’t use my mobile phone” or “Shouting in the corridiors is forbidden”?  Sure at first they seem simple but I feel that I’m at a slight disadvantage because my accent makes it more difficult for the students to understand what I’m saying and in return it makes it a bit more difficult to understand what they are saying.  After school rules we moved on to chores at home: try figuring out “I must tidy up my room” but imagine it is said in a quickly, mumbled, fashion, with a heavy French accent to boot!  As an American I am used to hearing “I have to clean my room” (again I’m at a disadvantage as I’m used to American phrases/structures) …I joked that I needed an English-English dictionary in a previous post but it may actually be beneficial to brush up on some British English phrases.  I’m not about to start attempting a British accent or dropping British words in my everyday life but it could make life in the classroom slightly easier. 

My biggest “American moment” to date here was when 9/11 came up in a class.  The teacher wrote “The USA” on the blackboard and students had to say things that came to their mind (stereotypes, music artists, cities, dates, etc.)  Well, one student said Ground Zero and another said 9/11.  Of course they then asked me questions about it to get an American perspective.  I have never experienced being the only American in a room and discussing that awful day.  It was also bizarre to be in a room of 14 and 15 year olds who were only 4 or 5 when it happened…so 9/11 is really only a date in history to them, they didn’t experience it the way others did.  As soon as 9/11 was mentioned I instantly went back to where I was that day in 2001- 7^th grade study hall, my teacher turned on the TV and we saw the awful images on the news but nothing was explained and utter confusion consumed my classmates and I.  I attempted to explain in simple English to the students how sad and hard that day, and the months, and now years after have been.  How do you explain something that changed so much about American life, politics, views of the world, and the world in general in simple phrases and in a way that really expresses how much of an impact that day still has…?  It was tough, but in all honesty I think the change in the tone of my voice paired with my stiffened body language conveyed much more to the students than any words I said.

It’s interesting- before leaving I mentally prepared for the culture shock that comes along with moving to a different country, yet, the exclamation point on my "American-ness" has been more shocking than anything else.  I can start to feel my imaginary American flag "forehead tattoo" appear when I pronounce “can’t” the American way, or I do a double take and have to ask what a pigeon hole (a cubby) is, or by simply stating I’m an American for what feels like the umpteenth time.  I know I am here to not only share my language but also my culture, I just wasn’t prepared for how strange it would feel!


This is what I feel like sometimes:

(although I'm pretty certain my profile doesn't take on Obama's hahaha)

Word of the Post: le drapeau -- the flag

On class observations and not being Spanish

I’ve spent the first few weeks of October observing various English classes with different teachers and grade levels.

It has been really fun getting to know the students asking them questions about life here as well as hearing about how they view the world.  I have come across many NHL and NBA fans, students have recommended that I try frog legs for dinner (they say they are good so maybe I will?!), and I have found out the majority of students do not like Lady Gaga.  While it's been great to go back and forth exchanging questions and answers to get to know each other, one thing I cannot escape from is the “but where are you from?” question even after I say I’m from the States.

When you first see me, my mocha/olive/mediteranean/whatever-cute-way-you-want-to-say-brown complexion is no secret.  Many people are intrigued to know “what I am” and a “fun” little guessing game commences….Spanish? No. Italian? No. Greek? No. Then what?! (As if those are the only 3 options??? Haha)  While this has happened from time to time at home in the States it has been taken to a whole new level here. When I first when to my lycée’s secretary I introduced myself as an English teaching assistant and proceeded to ask about paperwork.  Five minutes later she introduced me to one of her collegues and told them I was the Spanish assistant and so they then asked me what part of Spain I was from.  I looked at the secretary extremely confused and restated that I am an American and speak English. The secretary caught her mistake and replied “Oh yes yes anyway….”  I thought okay, I guess I look kind of like a Spaniard so this isn’t a huge deal….? Well, I’ve been back in her office three times and every time she has referred to me as the Spanish assistant.  It’s comical at this point.  Fast forward to observing English classes... one teacher did not take the time to ask about my background before the class and just assumed I was a member of the Latino American community.  She must have thought it was her lucky day because the class had an oral comprehension piece they needed to listen to and fill out information on….the piece was about Latino American culture!  The students listened, discussed what they could understand and then the teacher turned to me and asked for my opinion on the culture and what my life is like.  I stuttered a bit starting with “Um, well, I’m not Latina but the culture has greatly affected the States.”  (I wasn’t prepared to be the Latina ambassador!) The teacher was taken a back and said “Oh, really?! Then where are you from??”  That is the golden question here....it is not a simple enough answer for me to say I am an American but in every class I have observed I’ve also had to also explain my heritage….and then after that they don’t believe I’m 50% Irish (story of my life!).

All in all it has been nice simply getting to know the layout of the school and see how English classes are conducted here.  I still have yet to get a set “timetable” (British English for schedule) but my contact professor said she should have it done this week.  My contact prof is in charge of all the assistants in the Dijon region and when I told my landlady how I still didn’t have a timetable yet she said there is an expression in French saying something along the lines of “The cobbler’s sons have the worst shoes” so I suppose that is fitting for my lack of a schedule!

This will be my last week observing and then I go on vacation! I have 10 days off from October 22^nd to November 2^nd for All Saints Day…not a bad deal :) I brought over tons of candy corn so my students can have a little taste of American Halloween before vacation starts….I hope they like it!

Word of the Post: L'Espagne -- Spain (not my homeland haha)

Divia de Dijon vs. le métro parisien

Here’s the deal- public transportation and I are good friends.  I love how efficient, economicly-friendly, and well thought out it is.  Europe really owns the U.S. in this category.  However, that being said, most of my previous public transportation experience has been in subway systems, my favorite being the Parisian métro. (Shocker, I know.)  So, as soon as I learned I was placed in Dijon proper the first thing I did was check out the public transportation situation.  (It lead me to this site: Divia) I remember looking at the map and stops and thinking 'Okay, I can handle a bus.'  After a few weeks I’ve realized yes, I can handle the bus, but I definitely don’t like the bus. 

Here are my issues:

1) They are outside. I know that is obvious and sounds silly but when it was pouring out you could at least seek refuge in a metro stop.  And it gave you ample time to put away/pull out your umbrella.  Here you have to wait outside, in all the elements, and then as soon as you get to your stop you are forced right back out into them.

2) My flat is a little outside the city center (10-15 min ride depending on traffic) so my bus stop is pretty quiet.  Especially at night.  This makes me so much more uncomfortable than I ever was while waiting at a metro stop alone at night.  Maybe it is the false sense of security of being “inside” (err…underground haha) but there is just something a tad bit creepy about waiting alone, in the dark, under a little light.

3) Going off of waiting alone….my main issue with the bus is that you never know when one is coming.  Some of the main stops in the city center have cool digital signs telling you when the next bus will be (10, 15, 20 minutes) but not all of them.  (My stop is without one.)  When you get to a stop you could have just missed the bus or it could be 20 minutes away….you can check the pre-printed time tables that show when the buses should arrive but that doesn’t mean they always do.  I long for the days of the blinking “00 min” on the Parisian metro signs telling you a train was approaching.  The sign would quickly change to a “02 min”, “05 min”, etc to let you know when the next one would be coming. (And I miss how quickly the next train came!)

4) Whether you are lost in Paris, or simply in a new area, the metro is a constant beacon of hope.  You know that no matter where you are in the city you will find a way home.  Sure it may take you 7 line changes or 45 extra minutes or some ludicrous variation (I just made those up) but you know there is always a way back to your stop.  The buses do not really intersect here.  There are a few places to get off and change lines but it just isn’t the same.  The stops aren’t highlighted and it is hard to read where to change on the map.  The metro is a guarantee, the bus feels iffy.  

5) In Paris you had the metro during the morning, day, and late into the night, and then when it closed at 1230am you had the night buses.  In Dijon buses run the most frequently during the afternoon and stop at 12am.  Before 9am and after 9pm only a couple buses run every hour so if you miss one you are going to wait a good 20 minutes. And if you’ve missed the last bus then there is one night bus (legit, just one) that runs every hour and only stops in certain places.  Not very into it.  Come on Dijon, you’re a “college city/town”, don’t you know the university kiddos are out ‘til at least 2?

6) In order for the bus to stop at the stop you need to get off you have to push a button.  It can get a little awkward if you happen to be sitting or standing far from one of the blue square buttons that will demand a stop.  It’s just awkward.  I didn’t have to reach over people on the metro and I knew my train would stop whether or not other people were going to be getting on and off.

7) And on a completely superficial note my bus stop name here is “Prison”.  How ugly is that? (Yes, it has the same meaning in French)  I researched why the stop is named Prison and it’s because the Maison d'arrêt de Dijon (main department prison) is right near the stop… great? haha I read online it’s just for people serving short sentences or who are in transit...so I guess that’s okay? Oh well! In Paris I used two different stops Bastille (lines 1,5,8) or Voltaire (line 9). Compared to my two metro stop options in Paris, Prison is a lame name. (Although the Bastille was a prison at one point but at least it was historic and not real anymore…!)

I do realize that Dijon and Paris are quite different so a bus system completely works here and a metro would be a bit unnecessary but I just miss the sea foam green metro trains and racing to get on before the obnoxious beep rang out letting passengers know the doors were closing.  The metro became a game but the bus just makes me feel awkward.

Dijon is currently building a tram system that is supposed to open in 2013.  Maybe I’d like that a little better?  Or perhaps in a few months, once I’m used to life via the bus, I’ll be whistling a different tune? I think it’s pretty safe to say that the Parisian metro wins the bus vs metro battle, though.

(Although the monthly unlimited bus pass in Dijon is 24,75 euros vs the 57,80 euros I paid in Paris for a monthly pass.  Get what you pay for? Paris still wins in my book.)


Divia Bus:

(womp womp)

vs.


le métro:

(true love)

Word of the Post: un arrêt – stop (for buses and metros, etc.  - Traffic stop signs here say “STOP” like in the States.)