As I have mentioned before, I have been gifted eight weeks of vacation during my nine months of teaching by the French government. Two more of those weeks just started this past weekend, so naturally Cecilia and I are going on a little adventure. This time, to Turkey and Greece.
Wooooo! We leave on a jet plane tomorrow at 2pm from Paris and I am so very excited. First, because I love traveling and I love Cecilia. But also because I have been alone in Beauvais for nearly 3 full days without any friends (everyone has already left, mainly meaning my two closest friends Lauren & Freddy) and I am seriously itching to get out of here.
We are spending 4 nights in Istanbul, 5 nights in Athens, and 2 nights in the Greek Island of Paros.
I plan on seeing very old & beautiful places, going to huge markets, learning some history, eating good food, meeting people that speak languages that sound cool, seeing art and wandering around seaside.
Goodbye!
Or as the Turkish say, Hoşçakalın!
Or as the Greek say, αντίο!
...
(Check out those words- this is going to be innnnnteresting).
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Random Facts #5
1. I have gone 2 months without doing laundry, no problem. My outfits have become a little creative but apparently, I overpacked.
2. I babysat the 2 year old baby yesterday and we watched Garfield in French.
3. I painted my nails red two days ago and did an excellent job, I do say.
4. My mom is coming in April and we are going to London and then south of it to visit family we have over there. The other day I found out that my cousin, Deirdre, lives in the same town as my English friend here, Cara- it's a small world after all!
5. I am embarking on a Turkish/Greek adventure in 3 days.
Yes. Yes. Yes!!
Ok, I am off to read, make some dinner, and skype with 4/5 of my best girl friends from home. They are going to New York for a party so I get to see of them all at once, which makes me extremely happy!
Oh! I just finished reading Stephen Clarke's "Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French". It was funny, interesting and just true. I recommend it.
2. I babysat the 2 year old baby yesterday and we watched Garfield in French.
3. I painted my nails red two days ago and did an excellent job, I do say.
4. My mom is coming in April and we are going to London and then south of it to visit family we have over there. The other day I found out that my cousin, Deirdre, lives in the same town as my English friend here, Cara- it's a small world after all!
5. I am embarking on a Turkish/Greek adventure in 3 days.
Yes. Yes. Yes!!
Ok, I am off to read, make some dinner, and skype with 4/5 of my best girl friends from home. They are going to New York for a party so I get to see of them all at once, which makes me extremely happy!
Oh! I just finished reading Stephen Clarke's "Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French". It was funny, interesting and just true. I recommend it.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Valentine's Day with the Munchkins
First of all, whoever said that the French are the most romantic people in the world forgot to mention that they don't give a damn about Valentine's Day.
I wished a couple of the teachers who I work with a Happy Valentine's Day and they were definitely caught off guard, & I think one of them giggled.
Disappointing.
However, I had a really super Valentine's Day themed class on Monday for my six classes. First, we did our Calendar ritual with the weather - where the new thing is to have a little argument about whether it is "warm" or "cold" out- and I end up putting "cold" and teaching them the word "relatively".
After that, I wrote Valentine's Day on the board and told them how much fun we have with the holiday in the states.
Then on the board, I put up some pretty flash cards that I made to do the poem "Roses are Red". We went through the poem and they told me what they understood. Then they took turns reading each line after me and then each line themselves. It was really cute and I think they liked the poem.
Next, we made Valentines. We first cut a heart by folding a piece of paper in half. We colored it red or pink and we wrote Happy Valentine's Day on it. Then, inside- they wrote the date, To:, I love you!, and From:. For the To: spot, they chose Mother, Father, Brother, or Sister. Some of them of course wrote their little girlfriend or boyfriend but I didn't want to make anyone feel bad by saying they should do that.
Then, they each got a doilie to glue down inside the card and write the poem on.
So adorable.
Also, I learned that Maureen and Hugo are boyfriend/girlfriend, as are Anais and Mael, Lila and Arthur & Celeste and Mathis.
Here is my sample Valentine that I used to show them.
...I like to do this because it gives them inspiration.
All the kids kept asking me when I was going to give my mom the card on Monday and I said she actually isn't getting this card! They said, "But WHY!?" and I had to remind them that my mom lives in the United States of America.
I wished a couple of the teachers who I work with a Happy Valentine's Day and they were definitely caught off guard, & I think one of them giggled.
Disappointing.
However, I had a really super Valentine's Day themed class on Monday for my six classes. First, we did our Calendar ritual with the weather - where the new thing is to have a little argument about whether it is "warm" or "cold" out- and I end up putting "cold" and teaching them the word "relatively".
After that, I wrote Valentine's Day on the board and told them how much fun we have with the holiday in the states.
Then on the board, I put up some pretty flash cards that I made to do the poem "Roses are Red". We went through the poem and they told me what they understood. Then they took turns reading each line after me and then each line themselves. It was really cute and I think they liked the poem.
Next, we made Valentines. We first cut a heart by folding a piece of paper in half. We colored it red or pink and we wrote Happy Valentine's Day on it. Then, inside- they wrote the date, To:, I love you!, and From:. For the To: spot, they chose Mother, Father, Brother, or Sister. Some of them of course wrote their little girlfriend or boyfriend but I didn't want to make anyone feel bad by saying they should do that.
Then, they each got a doilie to glue down inside the card and write the poem on.
So adorable.
Also, I learned that Maureen and Hugo are boyfriend/girlfriend, as are Anais and Mael, Lila and Arthur & Celeste and Mathis.
Here is my sample Valentine that I used to show them.
...I like to do this because it gives them inspiration.
All the kids kept asking me when I was going to give my mom the card on Monday and I said she actually isn't getting this card! They said, "But WHY!?" and I had to remind them that my mom lives in the United States of America.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Book Shopping in Paris
Happy Sunday guys & dolls.
so.
Yesterday, I went with Lauren to meet Cecilia in Paris and we spent the day. I was on a hunt for books. Books, books, books. In English that is. Because, quite frankly- I can read in French if I wish (and sometimes I do wish) but it just is not as relaxing. Well. Did we have the most magical day.
First, we went to starbucks because I can't find a normal cup of coffee in Beauvais. Je prends un café de la semaine s'il vous plait, merci. We were in the 6th arrondisement. We ducked into this awesome Indian jewelry store where Cecilia bought a beautiful pendant made from a rupee. Then we went into this bookstore that this French guy named Olivier showed Cecilia. It is called The San Francisco Book Company- 17, rue Monsieur le Prince. It was reasonably priced and pretty packed. Since I am working on reading (rereading if I don't remember all that well) the "classics"- I bought Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies. Then, I also got Kite Runner and Middlesex. Yes!!
Then we mosied around more and the whole time we were going into shoe stores because Cecilia needed new sneakers. Once we were in the right neck of the woods, we started to look for this other English bookshop that looked intriguing online, called The Abbey Bookshop- 29, rue de la parcheminerie. It took a little while but when we found it we were so impressed. The owner, Brian, is from Canada and welcomes you with a cup of Canadian coffee. The way I would describe him is like this- if we were Native Americans- he would have been the chief. He talked very deeply and clearly and you could just tell that he was extremely legitimate. (This was confirmed when he filled us in that he was teaching French at Columbia until he realized that instead of always just being a tourist in Paris, that he wanted to live there. He then found a way to do that...voilà bookshop.)
The place was just cool. Literally packed to the brim, with little trinkets/cubbies/posters/etc. that said that it had been there a long time and that it is frequented by all kinds of interesting folks. Here I found an Istanbul guide and Cecilia bought some Hemingway.
We chatted with Brian for a while and it was great.
I think I love this place.
After I had 5 books in my bag and 2 cups of coffee in my system- we got some lunch at one of my favorite boulangeries. Ate in a pretty park. Shopped some more. Walked a ton. Then came home.
Oh! and I love this song right now...
Sympathique by Pink Martini, a 12 member jazzy orchestra from Portland, Oregon.
check it out if you'd like.
bye bye!
so.
Yesterday, I went with Lauren to meet Cecilia in Paris and we spent the day. I was on a hunt for books. Books, books, books. In English that is. Because, quite frankly- I can read in French if I wish (and sometimes I do wish) but it just is not as relaxing. Well. Did we have the most magical day.
First, we went to starbucks because I can't find a normal cup of coffee in Beauvais. Je prends un café de la semaine s'il vous plait, merci. We were in the 6th arrondisement. We ducked into this awesome Indian jewelry store where Cecilia bought a beautiful pendant made from a rupee. Then we went into this bookstore that this French guy named Olivier showed Cecilia. It is called The San Francisco Book Company- 17, rue Monsieur le Prince. It was reasonably priced and pretty packed. Since I am working on reading (rereading if I don't remember all that well) the "classics"- I bought Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies. Then, I also got Kite Runner and Middlesex. Yes!!
Then we mosied around more and the whole time we were going into shoe stores because Cecilia needed new sneakers. Once we were in the right neck of the woods, we started to look for this other English bookshop that looked intriguing online, called The Abbey Bookshop- 29, rue de la parcheminerie. It took a little while but when we found it we were so impressed. The owner, Brian, is from Canada and welcomes you with a cup of Canadian coffee. The way I would describe him is like this- if we were Native Americans- he would have been the chief. He talked very deeply and clearly and you could just tell that he was extremely legitimate. (This was confirmed when he filled us in that he was teaching French at Columbia until he realized that instead of always just being a tourist in Paris, that he wanted to live there. He then found a way to do that...voilà bookshop.)
The place was just cool. Literally packed to the brim, with little trinkets/cubbies/posters/etc. that said that it had been there a long time and that it is frequented by all kinds of interesting folks. Here I found an Istanbul guide and Cecilia bought some Hemingway.
We chatted with Brian for a while and it was great.
I think I love this place.
After I had 5 books in my bag and 2 cups of coffee in my system- we got some lunch at one of my favorite boulangeries. Ate in a pretty park. Shopped some more. Walked a ton. Then came home.
Oh! and I love this song right now...
Sympathique by Pink Martini, a 12 member jazzy orchestra from Portland, Oregon.
check it out if you'd like.
bye bye!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Yum!
So everyone, I have a bunch of free time here in France.
as a result,
I cook!
It's fun and I like to eat so it works out.
Here is a list of some of the best things I have made since getting here:
Cranberry sauce
Guacamole
Curried chicken & vegetables with rice (extra peas)
Eggplant, ham, mushroom, parmesan, garlic & onion pasta
Teriyaki shrimp stirfry
Three cheese bruschetta on toasted baguette
California burger with a dijonaise sauce
Gala apple, goat cheese, onion & swiss quesadilla (my friend Lauren's idea- yum.)
Sauteed brussels sprouts
Shrimp scampi
Steamed cinnamon sugar carrots
Not all very French but all very tasty! & relatively healthy.
Oh, and I have perfected my go-to classic vinaigrette recipe!
Which in France means you are a real woman.
hahahahahaha.
as a result,
I cook!
It's fun and I like to eat so it works out.
Here is a list of some of the best things I have made since getting here:
Cranberry sauce
Guacamole
Curried chicken & vegetables with rice (extra peas)
Eggplant, ham, mushroom, parmesan, garlic & onion pasta
Teriyaki shrimp stirfry
Three cheese bruschetta on toasted baguette
California burger with a dijonaise sauce
Gala apple, goat cheese, onion & swiss quesadilla (my friend Lauren's idea- yum.)
Sauteed brussels sprouts
Shrimp scampi
Steamed cinnamon sugar carrots
Not all very French but all very tasty! & relatively healthy.
Oh, and I have perfected my go-to classic vinaigrette recipe!
Which in France means you are a real woman.
hahahahahaha.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Pretty Cathedral
This was quite a nice weekend here in Beauvais. Met some new people, ate some good food, and took part in a cultural event.
Said cultural event was last night, when my friend Lauren and I went to this light show at the cathedral in town. It was really beautiful. Look!
There was a bunch of people playing horns on a balcony of the cathedral and someone telling a lot about its history. Very cool. (Very crowded).
PS-
I just got done babysitting the munchkins for three hours. I had all three today- 10 year old, 5 year old, & 2 year old. We played hide and seek "cache-cache" for around two hours. I was tucking myself into some pretty impressively tiny spots- non walk-in closets, under beds, etc. Although the time it took them longest to find me I was literally just standing in a corner of a room.
Said cultural event was last night, when my friend Lauren and I went to this light show at the cathedral in town. It was really beautiful. Look!
There was a bunch of people playing horns on a balcony of the cathedral and someone telling a lot about its history. Very cool. (Very crowded).
PS-
I just got done babysitting the munchkins for three hours. I had all three today- 10 year old, 5 year old, & 2 year old. We played hide and seek "cache-cache" for around two hours. I was tucking myself into some pretty impressively tiny spots- non walk-in closets, under beds, etc. Although the time it took them longest to find me I was literally just standing in a corner of a room.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Today's Happenings
Today I taught three classes.
I played tic tac toe to review vocabulary with my really young ones. We flipped a quarter for heads or tails to see which team started. A QUARTER. How authentic am I! It turns out they didn't remember "purple" because they don't even know that color in French yet. Woops.
I read an odd but well illustrated story called, "The Clever Tortoise" to my older kids. It is about a turtle who wants to convince an elephant that it is strong by playing tug of war. So, it runs to the other side of the jungle with the rope and while the elephant thinks it is getting ready to pull- the tortoise finds a hippo and does the same "I'm strong, let me prove it!" thing. It tells the hippo to pull and runs into the jungle where neither one can see it. Then it tells the hippo and the elephant how strong it is when both lose when the rope breaks (because it was actually the hippo vs. the elephant if you didn't catch that). A little out there but the library doesn't have a ton of choices in English.
In fact, they liked it. I did voices.
At the end of the day, as I was leaving. I took part in my very first French bake sale run by authentic mamans françaises. I had une gaufre (waffle meets pancake) with chocolate and whipped cream for 50 centimes. So good.
Now I am off to celebrate with everyone for our friend Dustin's 25th birthday. He is my only friend from Kansas, so he is very special!
I played tic tac toe to review vocabulary with my really young ones. We flipped a quarter for heads or tails to see which team started. A QUARTER. How authentic am I! It turns out they didn't remember "purple" because they don't even know that color in French yet. Woops.
I read an odd but well illustrated story called, "The Clever Tortoise" to my older kids. It is about a turtle who wants to convince an elephant that it is strong by playing tug of war. So, it runs to the other side of the jungle with the rope and while the elephant thinks it is getting ready to pull- the tortoise finds a hippo and does the same "I'm strong, let me prove it!" thing. It tells the hippo to pull and runs into the jungle where neither one can see it. Then it tells the hippo and the elephant how strong it is when both lose when the rope breaks (because it was actually the hippo vs. the elephant if you didn't catch that). A little out there but the library doesn't have a ton of choices in English.
In fact, they liked it. I did voices.
At the end of the day, as I was leaving. I took part in my very first French bake sale run by authentic mamans françaises. I had une gaufre (waffle meets pancake) with chocolate and whipped cream for 50 centimes. So good.
Now I am off to celebrate with everyone for our friend Dustin's 25th birthday. He is my only friend from Kansas, so he is very special!
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