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.)

It's the little things

Sure moving across an ocean comes with an obvious gaurentee: life will be different.  Aside from the most obvious of changes (language, buildings older than the U.S. on every corner, and tiny go-kart esque cars to name a few) I have found it is the little, everyday things that are different from my American life that have much more of an added “exclamation point” on them.  For instance- doors are different: when you are walking out of a building you do not pull the door in and walk through, you push it out.  It’s essentially backwards to American doors.  So, even when I am reading “Poussez” (push) or “Tirez” (pull) as marked on doors here I still take a second to make sure my muscle memory doesn’t override the French directions my brain has acknowledged by said markings.  Along with doors is the subject of keys.  When you put a key into a hole here the teeth are on the bottom, not on the top like at home.  (Note: this is for more modern keys as France is much older than the U.S. and has many different kinds of keys.)  My shower is a constant reminder of my new way of life as the showerhead is hand-held and not attached to the wall. (Not uncommon in the least over here).  When I go grocery shopping I bring two large, reusable bags to place my purchases in.  There is only a cashier at the register so I do my own bagging.  Plastic/paper bags are not offered, however reusable bags are sold for 0,99 euros in case your forgot to bring your own.

There is a new social code to follow in public here.  When one enters a store, office, etc it is polite to greet whoever is working with a “Bonjour monsieur/madame” (or whatever variation is necessary depending on who’s there) and when you leave it is important to follow up with a “Au revoir monsieur/madame” or “Bonne journée à vous” (Have a good day).  My first week here I forgot to say “Bonne journée” to my new school secretary, who helped me with paper work, and even though I thanked her before walking out of the office- as I turned out the door she said “Bonne journée mademoiselle” with a slightly miffed tone.  I turned around quickly, said a “Bonne journée à vous” and then sheepishly added a “Désolée” (Sorry).  She gave a forgiving shrug and all was well.  No, this woman is not a mean person, I just forgot to do an everyday thing that she was used to so it seemed rude to her.  From there on I have made sure to say my “hellos” and “goodbyes”.  Furthermore, store hours here are very different from home.  Most places close by 7pm- right in time to be home to help prepare dinner (which usually isn’t til 8 or 9pm) and spend time with family or friends.  Imagine large department stores closing by 7 at home…it just doesn’t happen!  My supermarket closes at 8pm Mon-Fri and 7:30pm on Sat which is considered to be very late by most people here.  As I mentioned before on Sundays everything is closed.  I find it peaceful!  For example, I knew today would be my day to just veg out so I went for a run on the quiet streets and spent most of the day reading my new Harry Potter (in French!) book. (Don’t worry- there will be a post about that later!)

Some things do not change from culture to culture.  For example France is now in the semi finals for the Rugby World Cup.  A group of assistants and I went to an Irish pub playing the quarter final match vs England. (England is a sort of rival for France…similar to New York for us Bay Staters).  Since the matches are being played in New Zealand, the time difference made it so the game was on at 9am France-time.  It was packed and the majority of people were drinking beers.  (I was happy to see day drinking on game days is socially acceptable here!)  However that was where the similarities stopped- there were no team jerseys being worn and alongside the beers people had little coffees.  The bartenders even came around and offered free pastries to everyone.  I couldn’t help but think “Shouldn’t these be $5 jello shots?” and laughed to myself about it. The fans would get just as riled up during intense match moments, but there was a more peaceful atmosphere during the France-England match.  With a good amount of Englishmen (and women!) in the pub I was expecting some fighting or yelling or something but there was nothing!  France won and people started singing the national anthem to briefly celebrate and then simply went about their daily business.  No cars were flipped, no fights broke out….compared to when an American team moves on to the semi finals of something, the Europeans were much more tame.  (Aside- rugby is really bloody, looks extremely difficult, and makes American football look like a baby sport. I cringed a lot during the match…how do the players all not have multiple concussions after every match?! Double aside- I still love American football and hope my Patriots own the Jets tonight.)

Food is a major reminder of how different life is here, but this as this post is more focused on the little differences I'll write about my pizza experience. So, of course, my grocery store offers many different things, café and restaurant menus vary, and even American fast-food chains are different here but, as I was eating a personal pre-made pizza that I bought at the store a little difference popped up! When I grabbed the pizza I read "4 fromages" (4 cheeses) quickly and put it in my basket.  As I bit into it I realized four cheeses here and four cheeses at home are not the same thing.  Sure 2 of the cheeses were mozzarella and parmesan but the other two were roquefort (strong bleu cheese) and goat cheese.  (In retrospect I should have expected the cheeses to be different- I am in country known for it's vast cheese selection) but it was a perfect example of something so simple being so different.  The pizza definitely had a unique taste but it wasn't too bad! (Especially since I'm not roquefort's biggest fan)  It's funny how these differences pop up even when you least expect them!

Sure there are uncomfortable moments (attempting to open doors incorrectly in public, forgetting to say goodbye, not being able to shop on Sundays) but for me it makes the adventure all the more fun.  You really get to learn the ins and outs of a new culture when you do the mundane, everyday activities.  After this experience I will have to enter the so-called “real world” and I am thankful for the everyday differences, the little things, that continue to remind me of how fortunate I am to be here.

Word(s) of the Post: les petites choses -- the little things

Officially a "working" girl

My contract officially started Saturday October 1, 2011 but my first day at the lycée was Monday October 3rd.  I am one of two English assistants placed at my high school; the other is a British girl named Henrietta.  (I am full time at Lycée H. Fontaine (LHF), and she splits her time between LHF and a different high school. Some assistants are placed in three different schools so I’m lucky to only be in one- less paperwork!!) Henrietta and I decided to meet up in the city center before heading to LHF at 2pm.  We first got coffee at a little place off rue de la Liberté and after that got lunch at a different café nearby.  I finally had the croque madame I have been dreaming about since I left Paris in 2009.  A croque madame is essentially a fancy grilled cheese with ham and an egg on top. (A croque monsieur doesn’t have the egg.)  My croque madame came with a little salad (just lettuce in France) and steak fries. It was really cool to get to know Henrietta and we even ran into a few other assistants at the café! Once we finished lunch we went to our school for our official “first day”.

The school (link: Lycée H. Fontaine) is really big (about 1,300 students!) so instead of just one building like a traditional high school there is more of a college campus feel with multiple buildings for different subjects/disciplines.  After asking around as to where we could find la salle des profs (teachers' room) we nervously made our way there and met with two English teachers who then helped us with paperwork in the secretary’s office.  (I had most of it done from when I went last week but it was nice to have a teacher with me to make sure everything was all set.)  After that we sat in on an English class with students in their “terminale” year (aka senior year).  It seems that I’ll be working with smaller groups of students to help them to speak in English as much as possible so they are prepared for a big oral exam at the end of the year.  The students have been learning British English as the teachers have a slight British accent when they speak in English and their oral comprehension recordings are in British English, so for me it will be nice to have Henrietta to compare notes with. (As you saw in a previous post British and American English are quite different.)  The teachers said we won’t get our set schedules until sometime next week but they seem pretty relaxed about everything so that is cool.  I went to the lycée on my own the next day and sat in on two classes with younger students- about “sophomore year aged”.  They were really sweet and asked a lot of questions.  When I told them my name one girl said “comme la princesse!” (like the princess!)….needless to say she got brownie points in my book.  They were really interested in the States and one class was really into sports and asked me about the Celtics when I said I was from Boston.  They told me the Lakers were better….I told them this basketball season we would be rivals and they laughed!  My first two days were really nice so I am pleased about that!  In France, high school is only 3 years so my students will range from 15-18 with a few exceptions.  I’ve found some good teaching sites on my own, through forums, and from other assistants in Dijon.  I can’t wait to be in the classroom and start working more- it seems like it will be a lot of fun!  It is an adjustment to see such a relaxed approach to my schedule- I only had 2 days of work and Orientation this week. (I will comment on Orientation later on in this post!)  My contact prof said not to worry about coming in on Friday and gave me Monday off so I can relax this weekend…meaning I don’t go into school again until 10am on Tuesday the 11th.  What I need to relax from I’m not exactly sure but I will go with it!

Orientation was an experience!  It was 6 hours long and very unorganized….which seems to be a common trend in French administration.  We arrived at 9:45am and were welcomed with coffee and breakfast pastries.  Not a bad deal…but after that was tough! Yes, I was a French major in college and yes, I’ve been speaking in French every day since being here but boy oh boy nothing prepares you for 6 straight hours of being talked at (yes, talked at! haha) in French.  (About social security, health care, and various other topics nonetheless!) I knew what was going on and followed along just fine but it got very tiring after a while. By the end, though, there wasn’t even a need to translate so in a way the "French language boot camp", as I like to call Orientation, was kind of good! In all honesty, the whole day could have probably been done in and hour or two but it wouldn’t France if that were the case! (Simple things tend to become complicated here! haha)  I couldn’t help but think how different the scenario would have been if we were in the States….simple things like having an itinerary with the orientations’s schedule, receiving an e-mail preparing us with which documents to bring, and many handouts with resources were not part of the day here.  It was interesting to see how the French operate firsthand…it’s one thing to hear they are a little unorganized when it comes to administrative things but it’s another to experience it!  But that’s what this is all about- experiencing a new way of life!  By the end of the orientation us assistants, as a whole, were tired and in need of a drink- luckily for us cafés are abundant and we settled in at one in Place Zola.  (The café culture may be my favorite things in France as you can’t go anywhere in the States & simply order one drink and then stay and talk for hours.)

While I've only spent a few hours actually in the French classrooms I have a strong inkling I am going to like this job!

Word of the Post: le travail -- work; job

MacDo Creepin'

MacDo is green and yellow in France

Since I exceeded way past the 3 hours allotted on the 3G internet key that came with my flat I became a frequent user of the free WiFi at McDonald’s.  I’m not going to lie, it’s very strange to sit in a McDonald’s with my laptop without ordering food, but other people are doing it so I suppose I don’t look too out of place!

So due to my various trips to MacDo, I thought it’d be fun to post about McDonald’s in France.  Firstly, did you know that France is the 2^nd largest consumer of MacDo (after the U.S., bien sûr)? (Here's a great link about that: TIME world) Yes, ladies and gentlemen, les Français do love the golden arches.

There are some big differences between MacDo en France and aux Etats-Unis:
1) The portion/drink sizes are smaller
2) The French menu offers many different options--too many to list!  Here is the link to the French website: French MacDo menu Check it out! (There are Croque McDos, beer is a beverage option, and so many different desserts! Read the TIME link above for more info!)

3) The colors associated with McDonalds here, and most of Europe, are green and yellow (not red and yellow like in the States)
4) There are screens where you can place and pay for your order without going up to the counter.  You need a European bank card to use this feature, though. (The screens are similar to Wawa for my Mid-Atlantic readers; for my New Englanders I’m afraid we don’t have something comparable.  I did read that these screens should be popping up at Mickey D’s in the States sometime soon)
5) At lunch (12p-2p) and dinner (8-9:30pm) times the lines legitimately go out the door (Maybe it’s due to the lack of drive-thru but still, out the door!!)

6) Most people come with at least one other person and make a real meal out of their MacDo experience.  Many people stay and chat for hours after their meals are finished.  I chalk it up to the café culture!

7) Outside and inside there is a patio section (with little trees , canopies, and café-esque tables) as well as a regular restaurant section in the MacDo by the université.

8) There is a walk-up window especially for to-go orders!  I though that was pretty cool. (They also give you cute bags with handles for to-go orders)
9) When the cashier handed me my meal she said “bon appétit” J

So, aside from using the free wifi, I have done a fair amount of people-watching and have been observing what people order.  The most frequent item….the Big Mac! (I’ve personally never had one but they must be good if the French are eating them!)  Another big hit is the McFlurry.  During my time I had yet to see someone order chicken nuggets so burgers are definitely more popular. One can only sit and take in the smell of the awfully delicious fries without being tempted to order for so long....so, I finally decided to order a Happy Meal. (This is what I would get in the States so I figured it would make for a good comparison in the blog, as well.) My Happy Meal came with a hamburger, deluxe potatoes (similar to potato wedges), a Diet Coke, and a pineapple slice.  You can have fries and fruit with your Happy Meal here….love! Nutritionally there is a difference of 16 calories between a French and American Happy Meal (yes, the French version is healthier) but what I find more interesting is that the food here tastes more fresh than that at home.  (Study abroad girls, are you with me?)  The happy meal was smaller than in the States which I really like because it satisfies the fast food craving one may have but isn't completely awful for you.  Plus, the deluxe potatoes are delicious! (And have less calories than regular fries!)  They also came with an odd cream sauce that tasted a bit like ranch dressing. (I didn't eat it, though.)  Another day I purchased a McFlurry (they have such an array of mix-in options!) but I wanted to try the Magnum McFlurry being offered. (Picture: YUM!) It also was very small in comparison to an American McFlurry but it was perfect for an indulgence on a hot day: very chocolate-y with these delicious chip mix ins!  While I do not plan on making MacDo meals a common part of my life here, in my humble opinion MacDo > Mickey D’s.

Word of the Post: c’est tout ce que j’aime – i’m lovin’ it (Okay, so it’s a technically a phrase but how could I not include that?!)

Lorry, torch, plaster-stick vs. Truck, flashlight, band-aid: Does anyone have an English-English dictionary?

So it took a little over a week but I finally spent an entire day out and about in the city!  Through the Facebook group for teaching assistants in Dijon a pot luck picnic was organized.  We met at Place Wilson (named after our very own Woodrow!) and walked down to Parc de la Colombière for the picnic.  There was an array of baguettes, wines, desserts, and various other snacks! (My 19 apples came in handy after all!)  The weather was gorgeous and it was so nice to just sit outside and chat with a bunch of people from all over the States and England.  The main organizer of our picnic is actually from Poland and a student at the Université de Bourgogne but she got to know the assistants from previous years and wanted to welcome us newbies to Dijon.  (How nice is that?!)  Once we settled on a place in the parc, we introduced ourselves in French but quickly slipped back into English-- but it was English with a twist as there were both Americans and British people present. It was a lot of fun (or “loads of fun” as the Brits would say) to talk about our different accents, words, and phrases. (Hence the post title)   After finishing up ‘round one’ of the picnic, we walked from Parc de la Colombière all the way up to a small parc in Place Darcy. 

The walk from parc to parc was really great because we got to see the street markets that are only out on Tuesdays and Saturdays as well as get a better feel for the city center lay out.  When we got to Place Darcy a live band was playing a free concert so we found a nice spot to sit, got more wine and snacks, and just hung out again.  Here we really began to discuss cultural differences, similarities, and stereotypes between England and the States. (Hate to break it you but they only have afternoon tea for very special occasions.)  It was also interesting to hear that they don’t have a problem with the Royal Family and think that although they may not have a direct role in politics they do so much for tourism, charity, and other social aspects of life in England.  They do think that after Prince William the monarchy will die out and that Kate will never technically be queen because she is not blue-blooded.  Theories of Prince Charles abdicating were also thrown around. (My mom would have had a field day!) I told them how I got my name and they think it’s cool that so many Americans are interested in the Royal Family, too. They were so intrigued by how large our country is and how as Americans we keep up with three different times zones, numerous regional differences, and so on.  When I said the drive from MA to MD for my “university” was 8-10 hours they exclaimed that you could drive through all of England in 8 hours!  They asked about Obama and wondered if we thought he’d be elected again.  (They were surprised to hear his public approval rating had been going down since he is still very much loved and admired in Europe.)  The conversations were plentiful and there was never a dull moment! Finally, the day ended in a café at Place de la Libération, with, you guessed it, more wine and discussions.  Hey, we’re in the Burgundy region so we have every right to take advantage of its wine production!  It was really great to meet many of the other assistants in the city (and even some placed outside the city came in for the day!) because while we are all very different, we do have a similar kind of adventure-seeking spirit.  One girl is also from MA so it was great to have another Sox fan to commiserate with for a bit.  (We are both sad that Tito is no longer with the team!) 

I got home at 10:30pm, just in time to catch a phone call from Jamie!  It was so nice to hear from her and discuss exciting things going on in our lives.  (Promise to be back in the States before May 9^th (just in case!), Jamie!) After I spoke with Jamie I briefly chatted with my Mom and then got ready for bed.  Being out and about for 10 ½ hours definitely made falling asleep easier, so that was just the cherry on top of a fabulous Saturday!

It’s Sunday and I am happy to see that most shops and businesses still close for the day en France.  I think it’s lovely that the French take a day to spend time at home, with family and/or friends, and actually just relax for a bit.  It made for a tranquil “first run” this morning as I have been “out of commission” for quite some time now (thanks, Mono). I was a little nervous to start up again but I ran an entire mile!  Mind you, I ran it slowly, but it still felt really nice to run again. 1 mile down, 12.1 to go!  If I really pace myself in the beginning I think I’ll be ready for the half-marathon in March.  I’m not so worried about how fast I finish the 13.1 miles (21,1 km) but more focused on simply celebrating a successful completion of the race.

Tomorrow is my first day at work!  I’m meeting up with the other assistant placed in my lycée for lunch and then we are to be at our school at 2pm (14h) to meet with an English professor to find out more about what we will be doing!  I also need to meet with the school secretary to fill out more paperwork and get started on filing for reimbursements from the government for rent and such. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly as I’ve heard the admin process here for these things is long and tedious.

Word of the Post: courir -- to run (153 days til the half marathon!)

Color, patterns, shorts, and FLIP FLOPS?!

(Written on the September 30^th)

I am still getting over this jet lag situation and didn’t fall asleep until sometime after 4am Thursday the 29th, which then caused me to sleep through my 8am alarm and wake up at 11:30am.  I was supposed to meet with some French grad students at 10am so clearly that ship sailed without me.  I hope they won’t be too upset.  I’ve already emailed Carmela so she can let them know that jet lag caused me to oversleep and I didn’t intentionally blow them off! (Fingers crossed they still want to meet up sometime soon!)

So as I missed my Planetarium date I decided to wander around my new neighborhood.   Through this wandering I have two theories: either globalization has kicked in to overdrive or Paris truly is a separate entity from the rest of France. (I’m thinking it’s the latter.)  I would like to note that t-shirts, sandals, flip flops (okay I only saw a few pairs but still!), shorts (without tights!), capris, multi colored dresses, big, colorful patterned tops and bottoms, and so on are all being worn here.  And when I say color I mean oranges, reds, bright blues, greens, purples….we’re talking vibrant colors!  You know the famous “We aren’t in Kansas anymore” quote?  Well let me just say, I’m not in Paris anymore.  I probably stick out like a sore thumb with all my black, white and gray.  (Or maybe they think I’m Parisian?! Haha…probably not but a girl can dream.) Anyway, I am blown away by the array of color here.  Another major difference in Dijon from Paris is that when I speak in French here people respond in French. This is a very nice change because à Paris people would hear a slight accent (or difference in intonation) and switch right to English (or whatever language they thought your accent was from). Another cultural contrast from Paris is that the Dijonnais smile, and they smile often. Gasp! Haha But in all seriousness, there is just more of a friendly vibe here. The people of Dijon have less than amicable feelings toward Paris…. one person even referred to living there as suffering. (I personally don’t believe one could suffer in Paris but it can be a challenge to live there, especially as a foreigner.)  I kind of feel like I am cheating on Paris with Dijon as I fell in love with the City of Light during my first visit there in 2005; however, there is something tremendously endearing about the “city-meets-provincial” aspect of Dijon.  I know that Paris will always be one of my favorites (it’s too beautiful not to be) but I am very happy to have been placed in Dijon for this experience.

Leaving the States a little over a week before my work start date was a fantastic decision.  It has given me ample time to (start) adapting to the time change, explore the city a bit, and get a head start on administrative stuff.  While this first week has definitely had its ups and downs I am thankful for it.  I know I’ve said it before but I really am so very excited to be here for 8 months-it’s a dream come true to spend an extended period of time living in Europe.  I feel like a little sponge and I intend to soak up as much as possible! 

Word of the Post: un éponge -- sponge (that’s what I plan to be here! Told you it wouldn’t be another fruit ;) )