Being abroad is all about changing your opinions.
Mine just did.
SNCF is the company that runs all the trains in France--and sometimes they can be your bitter enemy (actually, most of the time). I once saw a guy getting slapped with a huge fine because his ticket had "traces of falsification," and even if he applied for a refund, let's face it, this is France, they're super slow about paperwork.
Dum-dah-dee-dum*
Today I purchased some complicated tickets, and let me tell you, the guys at the guichet were super helpful and nice. Even though it took a long time to get the tickets, the guy who was helping me was patient and courteous and even gave me extra sleeves to hold all the tickets :)
France might be disorganized in some areas, but I think they make up for it with gentility. Americans could learn from that.
*Anyone who has ever been in a train station in France knows that little jingle. Here's what I mean.
Life as a Teaching Assistant in France
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Les Misérables
I finally saw Les Mis--not what I expected, but it was a fun outing. Did I love it or hate it? Let's just say that I purchased a few songs from the second half of the film :P The French people I was with were absolutely appalled at the American pronunciation of French names, and I think the constant singing got to us (in addition to the inaccuracies and botched ending). Overall, I still had fun!
Other news: I'm finally on vacation! WOOT! This one is going to be a whirlwind and ridiculously expensive--so stay tuned for some awesomeness.
Things are starting to wrap up over here, which is kind of scary and depressing--and I would totally be in deep depression if the sun hadn't finally decided to show his face this entire week! Believe it or not, we had a sunny/snowy day yesterday... kind of like the scene in Les Mis where Javert gets his report back from Paris. I didn't think snow and sun was a possibility.
Have a marvelous weekend!
Other news: I'm finally on vacation! WOOT! This one is going to be a whirlwind and ridiculously expensive--so stay tuned for some awesomeness.
Things are starting to wrap up over here, which is kind of scary and depressing--and I would totally be in deep depression if the sun hadn't finally decided to show his face this entire week! Believe it or not, we had a sunny/snowy day yesterday... kind of like the scene in Les Mis where Javert gets his report back from Paris. I didn't think snow and sun was a possibility.
Have a marvelous weekend!
Monday, February 18, 2013
A monumental moment
Friends, I have been living in France for five months. And before we start breaking out the champagne and heating up the raclette machines, I just want to document what makes this day so monumental:
5 months is...
- the longest I've ever lived away from home
- the longest I've ever lived entirely by myself
- the longest I've ever lived in a foreign country
- the longest I've ever spent without seeing my parents or my brother (even my roommate noticed this one)
- the longest I've ever been completely self-sufficient (and before you get all high and mighty, remember that I'm only 22)
- the longest I've ever lived speaking another language as a primary means of communication
I could also say it's the longest I've ever gone without sunlight, but that would be ignoring the glorious weather we had today--I was almost dizzy with happiness when Mr. Sunshine finally decided to show his face!
I have friends from all over the world--something I wouldn't trade for all of Dixie. I often surprise myself with how good my French is getting (ok, everyone has their days, even in English...) I sometimes tense up, thinking I have no idea what to say or how to say it and then come out with a new friend and an hour long conversation.
And then there are some things that can't be bought for time nor money...
À bientôt!
~Laura
Sunday, February 17, 2013
People are so nice!
As I was making my way to Verdun this past weekend, so was an ice storm.
The train part of the ride went along quite smoothly, but when it came time for the bus, the driver flatly informed me (and the other passenger--yeah, there were only two of us) that we might not be able to make it to Verdun because of the verglas (black ice) that was all over the hilly country roads.
Getting stuck in Conflans is everyone's idea of a nightmare--there is NOTHING there.
Finally, he decided to make some calls to see if the autoroute was better. Sweet man, he agreed to take us as long as we didn't mind going the long way. At first the road didn't seem too bad, but as we got on the highway, the driver pointed out a truck that had turned over--which freaked us into buckling up.
Because the driver had to get back to Metz that evening (that's where he lived) he asked if he could leave us at the shopping center just outside of town. Of course, this meant that I would be stuck out in the middle of the countryside without a car or any way to get into town.
The other girl who was with me graciously called a friend and asked if he could pick the both of us up--which he did, and they dropped me off even closer than the bus would have normally!
They could tell immediately by my accent that I wasn't French.
"Assistant?" Yeah... everyone here knows about the assistants and they were more than happy to help me out :)
People are so nice!
The train part of the ride went along quite smoothly, but when it came time for the bus, the driver flatly informed me (and the other passenger--yeah, there were only two of us) that we might not be able to make it to Verdun because of the verglas (black ice) that was all over the hilly country roads.
Getting stuck in Conflans is everyone's idea of a nightmare--there is NOTHING there.
Finally, he decided to make some calls to see if the autoroute was better. Sweet man, he agreed to take us as long as we didn't mind going the long way. At first the road didn't seem too bad, but as we got on the highway, the driver pointed out a truck that had turned over--which freaked us into buckling up.
Because the driver had to get back to Metz that evening (that's where he lived) he asked if he could leave us at the shopping center just outside of town. Of course, this meant that I would be stuck out in the middle of the countryside without a car or any way to get into town.
The other girl who was with me graciously called a friend and asked if he could pick the both of us up--which he did, and they dropped me off even closer than the bus would have normally!
They could tell immediately by my accent that I wasn't French.
"Assistant?" Yeah... everyone here knows about the assistants and they were more than happy to help me out :)
People are so nice!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Marco the Melancholic
Personalities fascinate me. Before I left the good ol' US of A I was halfway through reading The Temperament God Gave You (a fabulous book about the four temperaments: choleric, sanguine, melancholic and phlegmatic). Knowing the temperaments can help you understand other people--and keep you from getting frustrated at why people do things they way they do them.
I have a story to share.
Melancholics are introverted, thoughtful people who are usually concerned with rules, justice, and doing things correctly--no matter how long it takes. They are often thought of as sad--though that's not quite part of the temperament--and deeply focused individuals.
Meet Marco--The. Cutest. Kid. Ever.
He is eight years old and a strong melancholic--when I ask feelings questions, he's apt to reply that he's sad (until the other kids laugh at him).
He also is the same kid who dared to contradict my point giving system when two kids answered a question at the same time and I gave both teams a point-- "c'est pas juste!" Half the time I can't tell if he's participating because he sits in the corner staring at his desk (not wildly raising his hand like the other kids when we play games)--but he usually knows the answer.
One day we were all walking up to class together:
"Laura, can I ask you a question?" he said carefully. Mind you, most kids just come right out and ask the question.
"Bien sûr!"
"As-tu un mari?" (do you have a husband?)
What a question! This was cuteness incarnate. I melted.
I feel like this conversation ranks highest, followed closely by: how many kids do you have? and how many of your friends have asked to be your "petit ami?"
Bon week end!
À bientôt!
I have a story to share.
Melancholics are introverted, thoughtful people who are usually concerned with rules, justice, and doing things correctly--no matter how long it takes. They are often thought of as sad--though that's not quite part of the temperament--and deeply focused individuals.
Meet Marco--The. Cutest. Kid. Ever.
He is eight years old and a strong melancholic--when I ask feelings questions, he's apt to reply that he's sad (until the other kids laugh at him).
He also is the same kid who dared to contradict my point giving system when two kids answered a question at the same time and I gave both teams a point-- "c'est pas juste!" Half the time I can't tell if he's participating because he sits in the corner staring at his desk (not wildly raising his hand like the other kids when we play games)--but he usually knows the answer.
One day we were all walking up to class together:
"Laura, can I ask you a question?" he said carefully. Mind you, most kids just come right out and ask the question.
"Bien sûr!"
"As-tu un mari?" (do you have a husband?)
What a question! This was cuteness incarnate. I melted.
I feel like this conversation ranks highest, followed closely by: how many kids do you have? and how many of your friends have asked to be your "petit ami?"
Bon week end!
À bientôt!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Internet problems
Once again, hailing from Macdo.
After spending a lovely weekend with my sister, I returned to find the apartment once again void of internet access.
This has happened so many times, I think I'm over it...done, just done.
On the positive side, I have another job interview on Tuesday (prayers appreciated) and it is actually sunny today!
À bientôt!
After spending a lovely weekend with my sister, I returned to find the apartment once again void of internet access.
This has happened so many times, I think I'm over it...done, just done.
On the positive side, I have another job interview on Tuesday (prayers appreciated) and it is actually sunny today!
À bientôt!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
A Night at the Opera!
Last night I went to the Opera National de Lorraine in Nancy to see Verdi's Macbeth!
It was quite an elegant affair--first we stopped at one of the lovely cafes around the Place Stanislas for some drinks (and desserts!) I had pêche kir and profiteroles:
We were able to purchase tickets for the opera for only 5 euros a piece--what a deal! That is what we thought until we got to our seats:
This was the view from my seat--with a big light fixture and balcony blocking the entire view--BUT we had an amazing view of the projected titles :) My roommate, who is always trying to improve her French, wrote down all the words that she didn't understand :)
I spent the entirety of the opera kneeling beside the balcony and laying on my chest, craning my neck over the edge to catch a glimpse of the actors as they passed by my small window of vision. I did get to see a couple of the murders, so it wasn't a total loss.
At the beginning, I consoled myself with the fact that I had an absolutely gorgeous view of the orchestra pit and the harpist:
But, I soon realized that the harpist didn't have a big part at all--only one easy-ish exposed section and a bunch of stuff that we couldn't hear anyway How disappointing! Though I now know an easy opera gig without having to know too much :) To be fair, there was another section that reminded me of the overture to La Forza del Destino which is hard--but still, not a bad gig!
À bientôt!
It was quite an elegant affair--first we stopped at one of the lovely cafes around the Place Stanislas for some drinks (and desserts!) I had pêche kir and profiteroles:
We were able to purchase tickets for the opera for only 5 euros a piece--what a deal! That is what we thought until we got to our seats:
This was the view from my seat--with a big light fixture and balcony blocking the entire view--BUT we had an amazing view of the projected titles :) My roommate, who is always trying to improve her French, wrote down all the words that she didn't understand :)
I spent the entirety of the opera kneeling beside the balcony and laying on my chest, craning my neck over the edge to catch a glimpse of the actors as they passed by my small window of vision. I did get to see a couple of the murders, so it wasn't a total loss.
At the beginning, I consoled myself with the fact that I had an absolutely gorgeous view of the orchestra pit and the harpist:
But, I soon realized that the harpist didn't have a big part at all--only one easy-ish exposed section and a bunch of stuff that we couldn't hear anyway How disappointing! Though I now know an easy opera gig without having to know too much :) To be fair, there was another section that reminded me of the overture to La Forza del Destino which is hard--but still, not a bad gig!
À bientôt!
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