And so it begins

So far I have survived a 11 days in this city.  How?  Well I'll tell you...
When I first got here I was pretty homesick and really lonely having not made any friends yet and not having a full schedule to keep my days busy.  I did venture out to find a grocery store and took the metro to find my two schools.  One school is in a rough part of town where a lot of North African immigrants live and the other school is in the really quaint part of town and in my mind ideal for a future apartment.
Luckily more assistants began to arrive and I started to make friends.  I've mostly met british teaching assistants, which we have been using english as a crutch to talk with each other but made a promise to start speaking only in French come Monday morning and only reverting back to english 9pm at night when our brains no longer want to work.  I've met a really nice girl named Emily, she's from the middle part of England and currently living in the center of the city in an ideal location, but that means I have to take public transit to visit with her.  Some more english assistants moved onto my floor and are just a couple doors down the hall.  The day they moved in I was in my room working on my computer and heard english being spoken out in the hallway and felt such a relief to know that I wouldn't be entirely alone anymore!  Janine is from England as well and somewhere in the middle part of England (sorry I don't know my Great Britain geography very well).  Jack is from the northern part of England and Yasmin is from somewhere just outside London in the south.  Another english speaker on our floor, Deliece is from Trinidad and Tabgo (so cool!).  We all have very different accents and have been spending hours comparing and differing out cultures and use of the same language.  Even though we aren't speaking in french at this point it's till been an amazing cultural experience.
At the moment, Janine Jack Deliece and I are looking for somewhere to live together.  The apartment hunt is proving to be unfruitful and a lot more difficult than it ever should be.  In my mind, if a landlord wants to rent out an apartment wouldn't it be ideal to respond to pleading emails and so many phone messages one might consider it harassment?  But no, the french aren't bother apparently... they just want to drink their coffee and smoke their cigarettes.
The residence hall where I'm staying for the moment is working out decently so far.  The internet has a rather poor connection and the director of the place has blocked a lot of websites like youtube so we even have limited access when we actually have internet connection.  Here's a side story to explain just how unbothered the french are by rather important things.  For days my internet connection in my room (which I had paid for) was not working and I pleaded and begged the front desk staff to help, to which they replied, "Oh but I am not a internet technician  wait till tomorrow".  As if a new day would clear up all the problems.  So I finally a nice lady at the front desk who offered to actually call a internet technician to come help me.  (Why golly gee that's ingenious!)  So when she called him at 9am he was out golfing and said we'd need to call back when he was done in 3 hours.  So I sat and waited for 3 wholes hours.  We called him again and while he was indeed done with playing a round of golf he thought 1pm was too late in the day for him to come help me.  So I was told to try again Monday morning at 8am when the director would be in.  Ok... I'll play this little game... So Monday morning 8am I show up at the front desk and ask the director to help, to which he responds: Oh, I'm busy, I need to go outside for a smoke, I'll look at it later.  I was done, completely done at this point and didn't want to waste another whole day.  So I packed up my purse and went into town to open a bank account and set up a french cell phone.  Of course french banks are closed on Mondays, it only makes sense to not do business on the first business day of the week (right?!).  But alas, I did get a cell phone set up and explored the mega shopping mall in town.  As my british friends might say: To hell with the bloody french!
In addition to poor internet connection and unhelpful staff at this residence hall there is also a gypsy camp just down the rode and on my walk to the metro.  Not sure if it's made apparent to many Americans but Europe is battling a mega problem with Romanian gypsies who are infiltrating other European countries and living on the streets begging for food and money.   While France is also battling it's one "fight" with North African immigrants and citizens, there is a growing concern over the number of gypsies that inhabit the streets of France.  And the one city in the whole country that just so happens to have it the worst is Lille.  The week before I left I read a French news article detailing the growing numbers of Romanian gypsies crossing the borders to live in Lille, France because of its close proximity to England, who freely gives away social aid to such immigrants and refugees.  Normally this wouldn't bother.  I've seen poverty in my own country and in other countries around the world.  In my mind it's one thing to beg on the streets for money and food, but it's another to steal right out of someone's hand.  That's exactly what happened to my friend Deliece.  Janine, Deliece and I were taking the metro into town to meet up with other teaching assistants at a local bar to mingle and make more friends.  Janine and I had day passes we could use on the metro, but Deliece needed to buy a one-way ticket.  It was about 8pm and no police in the metro station at this point in the day.  Two Romanian gypsy boys (maybe 5 or 6) were standing right next to the ticket machine (as they all do to beg for your left over change after buying a ticket) and begged her for money.  She graciously gave them each a euro thinking they would then leave us a lone.  Ha ha nope!  They continued to whine and beg and push closer to her.  She tried to shield the screen from them to insert her money in the machine.  Of course the machine malfunctioned and wouldn't take the 2 euro piece she inserted and one of the two boys if not both of them, shoved her out of the way and grabbed the 2 euro piece that was deposited into the return change slot.  We all yelled at them to give them money back and go away and a random french lady even witnessed it and yelled at them, but they refused to give her back the money.  So we moved to another machine and they followed us again.  So Janine and I formed a wall blocking the boys till she could finally buy her ticket.  I've never experienced anything like that before in my life.  It was rather frightening and really hit home that I need to find another apartment in a better part of town, and very soon.  Needless to say after that happened I now walk an extra 5-10 minutes in the opposite direction to a safer metro stop.

On a lighter note!  I did get to meet with both of my schools this week and get a tour of the school and meet other teachers, some I'll be working with and others I'll just see around the school on occasion.
First I went to College St. Exupery in Hellemmes, Lille (it's an associated community to Lille and just a 20 minute metro ride from my residence hall.  I got there early and had to wait in the principals office.  (When I told me mom that she said, "That's the first time you've ever had to say that!).  The principal is very nice, fluent in english since he had spent two years in England as a french teaching assistant.  He filled me in on all the facts about the school and what I would be doing in the classrooms.  My contact teacher (Jerome) and another teacher (Elliette) finally arrived and took my on a quick tour of the school.  It's pretty much what I expected and nothing like the schools we have here in the states.  By the end of the year I'm hoping I can sweet talk the staff into letting me take pictures of the rooms and students.  I ate lunch with Jerome in the cafeteria and was told I could eat there everyday of the week if I wanted to, even when I'm not teaching.  It only costs 3,80 for a lunch of a salad, bread, entree, two sides and dessert.  Yup, I'll be eating there a lot!  The faculty has a seperate dining room from the main cafeteria but I can eat with the students if I feel like it sometimes.  The faculty and the students go through the same lunch line, but the faculty always gets to cut line in front of the students.  It was so weird to 1. be back in a school cafeteria and 2. be the educator not the student and get all kinds of superiority benefits.  I figure it will also be a good way to try some local food prepared by actual french chefs rather than me trying to make it on my own and inevitably making something I'd typically eat at home in the states.  I couldn't stay long cause the faculty had a meeting after lunch, but I'm excited to go back on Monday.  I'll have two weeks of observing classes (not just english classes) so I get a feel for how they teach and work with the students.  So far my schedule to work at that school is on Mondays and Friday afternoons.

Later in the week I went to visit my other school, College Boris Vian, located in Fives, Lille (also an associated community just a 15 minute metro ride from where my residence hall is).  This school is in a rougher part of town, and I say that just because the buildings are a little more down and the french aren't fond of it because of all the arabs that live that, but I see it as a great place to work cause I can try to practice my Arabic with the locals and maybe find a conversation partner to pressure up on what I've learned so far.  When I got to the school I was told to sit in the teacher lounge and my contact teacher (Matthieu) would come find me.  So I walked into the teacher lounge, also a weird experience since it was always "forbidden" to go in a teacher lounge as a student.  I didn't have to wait for long and Matthieu and another english teacher, whose name I've forgotten.  They were both incredibly nice and spoke to me in english the whole time, whereas the teachers at my other school switched back and forth between french and english.  We talked over my schedule and found out that St. Exupery (my other school) miscommunicated when they needed me to teach cause now both my schools want me at the same times on the same days.  I'm letting them duke that one out.  They aren't giving me a two observation period so come Monday I'll jump right into working with the classes.  It'll only be a little interview period where the students can ask me random questions and then in turn I can ask them questions, just so I can assess their level of english.  Both my schools have told me I need to try to carry on the lie that I don't speak french for as long as possible.  All the teachers know it won't last all year, and maybe not even a week, but the longer the better so the students don't try to use french as a crutch to communicate with me.  I've been practicing my really bad american accent to say, "Je ne parle pas francais- I don't speak english" and try to fool them for as long as possible.  They also gave me a tour of the school, which is super confusing cause they have one-way halls that loop in and outside of the building and meant for only the students to use cause the faculty has their own hallways but we can use the student hallways and go in the wrong direction and not get in trouble.  I felt like I was in a bad Dr. Seuss book walking through one of the characters homes that has hallways going in all different directions and each with its own set of rules.

At the end of my visit I met the german teacher who told me she may have found a two person apartment she'd like me and the other german language assistant to take a look at this weekend.  Having never met this assistant I wasn't too sure, but she seemed excited about the option and was kind enough to include me in the plan, so I told her I'd go.
I met the german teaching assistant (who is male keep in mind) and the german teacher Saturday morning in front of a student residence hall.  Immediate I knew this wasn't gonna work for two very distinct reasons 1. the german assistant is male, which I'm not ok with and I know Chad will not be ok with either, 2. I can't live in a residence hall cause they have guest restrictions and I will be having visitors throughout the year fly from another country very far away (I'm not about to make them pay for a hotel).  But I went along with it.  So the guy showing us the apartment didn't even have the appointment down on the schedule (so typical) but he had an open 2 person apartment for us to look at.   When we walked in there was a tiny bathroom, a tiny closet he and I would have to share, a tiny kitchen and a tiny study desk.  Then there was a set of stairs leading up to a mezzanine floor where there was ONE bed big enough for TWO people.  Not gonna work AT ALL.  The german teacher asked where the other bedroom is located and the guy giving us the tour said, well it's not two bedrooms it's just big enough for two people.  The look of mortification and embarrassment on her face was priceless.  So the guy giving us the tour looks at the german teaching assistant and I and asks if we're married?  BAHAHAHA!! I told the tour guide, no we had just met 3 minutes ago out on the sidewalk.  So once we had left the german assistant and I exchanged phone numbers and email addresses to keep each other in touch in case we found another option and the german teacher kept repeating she was so sorry and would help us find something else.
This morning I went to the markets with Emily, but didn't stay more than maybe an hour.  The market is nothing compared to what you'd find in Aix.  Oh how I miss those markets.... It still a good substitute with lots of food and clothes and trinkets to buy.  There's even a little pet market where a husband and wife were selling gold fish, hamsters and puppies.  The puppies looked malnourished and while I wanted to adopt them all, I don't want to adopt all the problems that would come with them...
So far it's been a roller coaster of an experience and it goes without saying I'm very ready for a routine and a schedule working with my schools.  Thanks for sticking around till the end of this novela and I hope you enjoy hearing all about my adventures and escapades in France!  

I have arrived

I have arrived!!! Finally!!!  Last time I traveled to France I was able to coordinate my flight/travel plans with 4 other friends.  This time I was all on my own and what an experience that was...  I almost titled this blog post "A trip to HELL" cause that's what it felt like.  None the less I must detail this experience in full for you to grasp just what all has happened in the past (uh...) 48 hours.

I woke up the morning of my departure with my bags packed (an oversized suitcase, a backpack and my laptop bag- all packed to the brim, and I'm wearing 2 winter coats on the plane).  The plan was for me to ride with my boy friend Chad and my mom, dad, and grandma would drive separately to Louisville International Airport.  After loading the cars right in schedule, Chad's car wouldn't start but after jumping his car a couple of times in the drive way we finally got it started- afraid to turn it off.  Obstacle one out of the way.  The drive to Louisville was uneventful (thank god!), but when we got close to the exit for the airport we took the off ramp that I'm sure most everyone accidentally takes leading us to the cargo area of the airport.  We had to back track several miles up the highway to get back on the right track to get to the airport.  When I tried to check in my oversized suitcase I learned that it was about 7 lbs over the legal limit to fly.  In my mind I'm wanting to tell the airline attendant "You try to pack 8 months of stuff in one suitcase!".  Luckily I had though ahead to bring an extra empty suitcase, which I used to unpack exactly 8 lbs of clothing, shoes, and school supplies to clear the legal limit to fly.  Luckily this airline didn't charge me an over weight fee.  I then had to say good-bye to my entourage, which proved to by much harder than I expected.  On my first flight from Louisville to Atlanta there was a little boy, maybe 2 years old, who would not stop screaming and crying.  For the entire hour flight...  I had a quick layover in Atlanta and then boarded the mega flight for Brussels.  The flight was roughly 7 hours and 15 minutes.  Some may think that flying internationally is fun and adventurous, which is all true, but try sitting in an airplane seat for 7-8 hours and tell me what an excitement that is!  If you have survived an international flight you'll sympathize with how uncomfortable it becomes and how hard it is to sleep and how you just know the man 8 rows back who is coughing and hacking will inevitably get the whole plane sick from breathing communal air for so long.  I sat next to a very nice gentleman from Lome, Africa.  He had a 33 hour travel day from Omaha, Nebraska to his hometown in Africa.  And here I am complaining about traveling about half that time.  He was visiting family in the states, but had to return home to Africa until his temporary visa is approved for him to apply to be a US citizen so he can live with his family.  Upon arriving in Brussels, Belgium I had to locate the train station, which was on the lowest level for the entire airport.  Luckily the man at the ticket booth spoke english because dutch is not in my language range.  I had a little trouble locating the correct platform to take a short train ride to another station, which I had to switch trains to take the TGV into Lille.  One might think, 'oh no problem!', but try it with a 69 lb. suitcase, a backpack, a laptop bag, and wearing 2 winter coats.  At this particular train station the elevators weren't working, so I played the dumb american card and convinced some lady to help me carry my suitcase down a long flight of stairs.  I then had to ask at least 2 train personel, which train I was supposed to catch to Lille cause none of the times posted matched my ticket.  (moment of panic? oh ya!)   I finally figured out that I was in the wrong part of the train station and after running to the correct platform, which luckily had an operating escalator, I figured out that my platform had two parts- A and B.  Why does this all have to be so incredibly confusing?!  After tricking several people with the dumb american card and convincing them to help me lug my suitcase up and down stairs, I had run out of opportunities and had to carry it on and off each train from here on out.  When I got off the train in Lille I figured it best to buy another train ticket to the part of town where my residence hall is located.  As I past the signs directing people to other trains, the metro, and taxis I considered just handing over the money for a taxi, but then thought 'no I can do this!'.  When I asked the lady at the ticket booth for another train ticket to my next stop she told me it would be better to take the metro- faster and cheaper.  So I did just that.  When I got off the train of course I had no clue where I was, not even which way was north south east and west.  So I asked one police officer for directions.  He told me to get back on the metro and go one more stop down the track.  Oh ok.  So when I got off there I found another police officer who told me I had gone one stop too far and I should go back to the stop I had just come from.  At this point I get the impression that the people of Lille don't know their city.  At this point I am exhausted, past the point of hunger, sore from lugging all this weight around and about ready to buy another plane ticket home out of frustration.  (Wish I had taken that taxi.)  Then a middle aged couple noticed my distress and tried to help me locate where I was going on a large map in the metro station.  They were also confused and directed me to a tourist/travel center near by.  After walking 10 minutes and asking several people along the way I finally located the tourist office and asked the lady for a map and directions.  She told me I had to walk about 10 minutes south and cross a bridge to get there.  So I turn myself around, all the while looking for a taxi to come rescue me.  I had to muster up literally the last ounce of strength and courage to keep walking.  After crossing this incredibly dangerous bridge, which does allow foot traffic I figured out I had to be close because I found the correct street sign for my residence hall.  After walking another 10 minutes down this street, which of course was under construction so I had to dodge man holes and barricades I found my residence hall.  I've never seen a pretty building in my life, not because of the architecture or outward design, but because I had finally made it!!!  When I walked into the lobby the girl at the front desk asked me to wait a while till she was done eating lunch.  As my mother's good friend Jodi might say in this moment, "Are you shitting me?!".  But no, I held my words and collapsed into a chair and waited.  Finally she was able to check me in and show me to my room.  Another very nice resident offered to take my suitcase to my room for me.  After filling out an obnoxious amount of paper work I could finally go to my room and sleep.  

It all makes for quite the saga, but in a couple of weeks from now I can look back at all of this and laugh, I hope.  I am of course having problems connecting to the internet and can only access wifi in the commons area of the residence hall, where another french resident is blaring the little mermaid sound track in french.  I'll never understand these people...

Thank you for listening to my rant about my qualms with international travel.  I know have internet access in my room!  I am slowly able to upload photos of my room and residence hall.  I couldn't get them all up at once, but I hope this holds you over for now.  It's actually really nice and this building is only a couple of years old.  I have a private room with a private bathroom and kitchenette.  There is a laundry facility on the main floor I can use whenever I like and a commons space with chairs, a tv and vending machines (and wifi!).  I'm supposed to be able to connect to the internet via ethernet cord in my room, but of course it doesn't work at the moment.  The residence hall houses many other young workers and travelers who are in need of temporary housing.  It's on the south side of the city, which isn't the best neighborhood, so I've been advised to not go out at night.  Also any guests who spend the night in my room have to pay a 15 euro fee/night.  Knowing that I will have at least 3 people come and visit me, this just isn't going to work.  So come mid october (hopefully with the help of my fellow teachers) I can locate a more permanent housing situation closer to my two schools.  

 




Well that is all for now, I am exhausted and should get more rest because there is a lot ahead of me.

Bon Voyage

T minus 38 hours and counting.  Yes you read correctly, I will be leaving the good ole US of A again for an 8 month assistant teaching position in France.  This time on the opposite coast.  I've been accepted by the TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France) operated by the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. to assistant teach in two middle schools in Lille, France.  My contract is set out for 7 months (October to April), but I will be staying an extra month.  So instead of attending classes to learn I'll be on the other side of the desk teaching.  Well assistant teaching.  Unfortunately I don't know too much about my assignment at this point to fill you all in with more details.  I have been in contact with both of my schools and have received emails from just a couple of teachers in both schools welcoming me and telling me how excited everyone is to meet me.  (I don't know whether to be relieved or overwhelmed.)

                         

I'll depart Wednesday morning from Louisville International Airport (with entourage en toe), fly to Brussels in Belgium and then travel via train to Lille where I will transfer to a metro and arrive at my temporary housing.  I've rented a room at a local residence hall, which will provide me a private room and bathroom on a floor with other temporary workers and travelers in my age range.  I wish the US had a similar type temporary housing option for young travelers or people looking for work in cities across the country.  Unfortunately this type of housing doesn't allow me to have guests of the opposite sex stay in my room while they are visiting, and for those guests who are of the same sex have to pay 15 euro/night.  (so far my boy friend Chad, my mother, and my father will be visiting and this just ain't gonna fly.)  So... I will be in search for a more permanent apartment come mid to end of October.  Both my main contacts from my schools have offered to help me locate housing, and I'm praying they stick to their word.

If you have made it this far in my very first blog of many to come, then I hope I have you hooked to stick around for the next 8 months with me.  It will be a whirlwind of a journey and if it's anything like the last time I was in France/Europe it'll be an experience that I'll never forget.  At this time you can just go ahead and click that "subscribe by email" button to stay up to date on my newest postings, stories and photos.

Of course I couldn't end this first blog without extending a huge thank you to my parents, thanks mom and dad!  My grandparents, thanks grandparents!  and of course my loving and encouraging boyfriend Chad, thanks Chad!!  It's cause of all of your love and support that I have come upon such an amazing journey and that I know with your strength and guidance I will succeed in this newest endeavor in life.  Well, next time you hear from my should be after an 8 flight around the world and I'll be settled into life on another continent, TTFN!