The Snow Monster

First: Sorry I've been absent for so long. I've just been feeling so quotidienne in my village that I wasn't really thinking anything was blog worthy. I was then informed that this is not true and I'd "better get writing!" So, here we go.
    Its always nice to open with a weather update (everyone feels like they can relate), so, let's start there. In my little corner of western France it doesn't usually snow... and "never this early in the year!" one of my fellow collegues informed me. This being said, it did snow. A whole two inches! Here is how the story goes. One overcast Thursday there was a prediction of snow. Someone from the office announced over the intercom that class would end an hour early because they were afraid it might snow before school was out. Just after that a representitive came to each class and reitterated the fact that school would close at the end of the next period (just incase we didn't hear it on the intercom). Just before the 4:30 bell the flakes started to fall. The students lost all concentration and looked longingly out of the windows. As the bell rang the students left the school excited to experience the white winter wonderland what awaited them. The tiny flakes continued to fall for about another hour and then the whole spectacle was over. The next day, there were about 1/10th of the students present for class. All of the school transport was cancled due to the "snow and ice" on the roads. I of course gauffed at this considering there is usually a least a foot of snow in Washington by this time. Never-the-less 15 teachers were absent (unable to get out of their driveways) and the school was a ghost town. Since then there have been three more days on which half of the school transport was cancled due to icy roads. Free days all around! I just imagine these students in Maine or Washington when there is a meter of snow... it always makes me laugh. Melissa and I have decided that the residents of this part of France treat the snow as if it were a beast or something of which to be very afraid. Now, anytime someone mentions the possibility of snow or how nervous they might be that it might snow we usually comment on it later with a comment about "la monstre de neige!"
    It was great to experience the first real snow with Melissa. She made her first snowball and snowman (very mini version) and commented on how snow is much different than she thought it would be. She always thought it would be heavy like ice and always marveled at the young children making giant snowmen taller than themselves in movies.

Melissa learning to make snowflakes.

Melissa's first snowman.

Winter Storm!!! Les Herbiers Under Atack of the Snow Monster!

    Up until this point I was doing very well on the not-being-homesick front. What changed? Oh, just the fact that people ask me at least three times per day if I get to go home for Christmas...and when I say "No, its too expensive." they look at me like I am a lost puppy or something which makes me feel like I should feel very upset. In all actuality, I'm excited to spend Christmas in Scotland with Arran and the friends I have there. It will be a new experience and great to see people I have missed. I am in no way saying that I would not like to be home for Noel but just that I feel Scotland is a fabulous altrenate. In one of my classes we were playing the game Would You Rather... (where everyone must decide between the two options and then say why they picked said option) and the exchange student from Columbia said she would rather be able to fly than be invisible so then she could fly home for Christmas. I told her she got a gold star for the day for best response.  One thing that has been making the homesickness ebb away is that letters, birthday and Christmas cards have been arriving like crazy this week. I love getting mail and the addition of a suprise birthday package from my family was the clentcher! Its always great to get a small peice of home (mine included candy canes, books, and quilted christmas decorations as the highlights).
    THE END...dun dun dun... just kidding, but I am out of internet time. To be continued...

     
   

I'm Thankful for...

Thanksgiving (November 25th 2010)
   sharing traditions and holidays with strangers who become friends.
   everything pumpkin flavored (pies, cookies, muffins....it was just like home).
   the fact that someone was rowdy drunk at a 'family' holiday event because that happens in a lot of American families.

Friday November 26th 2010
    waking up to eat breakfast burritos with Keri Ann.
   Christmas markets
   Vin Chaud (never let them add more alcohol to your vin chaud. It is a very bad idea and you will be tipsy after one glass, not to mention have dragon breath).

Keri Ann and I with the strongest vin chaud...ever?

   Harry Potter 7- It was great...even if it was in French.

Saturday November 27th 2010
   communal dinners.
   Christmas markets at night.
   music festivals at bars (BarsBars festival in Nantes).
   seeing someone experience snow for the first time!
   extreme dance parties with new friends.

Melissa from Costa Rica experiences snow!

Sunday November 28th 2010
   pick up soccer (football) matches with new friends (even when it's snowing).
   McDonalds for their public WiFi if you buy something.
   tickets to Scotland for Christmas!

It was strange not to be home and with family for the holiday but what coud have been a horrible weekend of homesickness turned into a beautiful weekend with fun people. That being said, I still miss my family and friends like crazy. Here's to you!

   

Let it snow!

   Its begining to feel a lot like Christmas in my little corner of France. Its not snowing yet but each night it gets pretty misty/foggy and there is some tough condensation on all of the cars (not ice because its not quite that cold, yet).  Also, I'm having fun experiencing all of this with Melissa who told me the other day this is the coldest weater she has ever encountered.
   I don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to be over to start embracing all things Christmas while in France so I'm just about in full blown Christmas Mode. What does that mean? Let me show you.

Making a million snowflakes to hang all over the apartment!

Wrapping presents. Yes, I'm done shopping!

 

 

 

 

   I've also been in a baking fury and I'll add some photos later. One slight set back: I can't find candy canes anywhere. I guess I can just buy mint extract and use that for cookie glaze. Who knew cooking in France could be such an adventure?
   Side note. I have searched in both of the huge supermarkets in Les Herbiers and I am unable to find cranberries. The only frozen fruits I've found are strawberries and raspberries. Disapointing because I wanted to make my grandmother's cranberry sauce to share at the Nantes Thanksgiving. Pumpkin Spice bread will have to do.
 

When The Man tries to hold you back...make delicious food out of pumpkins

Ok. Here's the deal. Melissa and I are a banking anomaly. We opened our accounts at the same bank on the same day almost two months ago. Our PINs (in France you have to say 'code secret' or else they get annoyed) have not arrived. The first time, we though, 'thats weird', and they ordered another one. The second time the bank employees thought it was very strange that they hadn't shown up and quickly ordered new PINs for us. When those didn't arrive, we changed the addesss to that of one of the teachers at our school. Two weeks later, still no luck. Needless to say, when we marched to the bank today we were ready to share our thoughts with some gusto. Was anything accomplished? We'll see. They changed our address' to the bank's address and will call us as soon as it comes in. This is breaking the biggest Code Secret rule of security but they have no other options. So, we get to wait another week to see if it shows up.

There are only two reasons this really even matters.
#1 French banks do not have cash on hand. if you want to get cash out you must use the ATM provided. Also, all checks are deposited into your account through a different ATM-type machine. You put the checks into an envelope and drop in through the slot and later it will show up in your account. So, it is impossible to even write a check and cash it at the bank. This fun fact: this makes is very difficult to go to Nantes for the weekend and have fun with my friends (ie. ice skating and house warming parties)! Dang. I guess I'll be sitting this one out.

#2 You can not start using your debit card until it has been activated. To activate your card you must withdrawl money from an ATM which we all know to be an insurmountable task is your don't happen to have a PIN. So, I can't use my card to buy anything online. Good and bad thing all wrapped up together? Yes, indeed. It has made it infeasible for me to by a fabulous birthday dress (good thing, I can buy one in France) but it has also made buying flights to and from Scotland for Christmas out of the question and while I wait those prices just creep higher and higher.

Anyway, I'm a little stressed about it. How does one cure a horribly boring weekend in the country with no money? By baking lots and lots of delicious treats to share with everyone. Thanksgiving is just around the corner you know. I think I'll make pumpkin cookies to share with the students during our lesson on Thanksgiving; then I'll really be the cool teacher.

On the plus side, I got a really cute 'Happy Thanksgiving' card from Janelle's parents today. A great way to start the day. Thanks Lourie and Bob!

Who knew English could be so exciting?

   I am going to keep this short and sweet with the least amount of detail as possible. But, I must document all noteworthy events in case my life as a sitcom ever pans out.

   I once received a card from a student which said, "We're you raised on a chicken Farm? Because you sure know how to raise a cock!" While I know this is is wildly inappropriate (the student was given detention) it is horribly relevant to one of taday's English lessons.

   In a room full only of other 16 year old boys one student had a 'physical reaction' which caused an uproar of rapid fire French slang to be thrown about dramatically interspursed with wild fits of laughter. Luckily for the young man at the center of attention he happens to be one of the popular kids. Incidentally, this turned out to be great for his image. 

    Maybe a degree in elementary education would have been a better choice?  'nuf said. You get the picture. Relate as you will to all parties involved.

Education vs. the Real World

I know I am supposed to be updating about Poland. But, this is my blog and I'll do what I please, thank you very much. Last night will go down as one of the most professionally awkward nights of my life which makes it more than blog-worthy.

Here is a little background on my living situation which should make this all much easier to understand. I live with the other language assistant (Spanish) and three French students. They are out of high school but still attend a pre-university program at the high school. We have a legit five bedroom, two bathroom apartement.

Ok, on with the story. Last night was one of my roommate's birthday party. I wasn't really aware of this before it was happening. I just thought there were some people coming over or something. No big deal. I was very wrong. At about ten the birthday girl came and invited me out to the party (I had been planning lessons, skyping away my Saturday night). I walk with her to the living room and I am told that its everyone from her program at school. At this moment my brain starts to panic a little.

At University I was told over and over and over to never be in a situation that looks even remotely like this. Yes, she is my roommate but her friends are my students. I am not going to drink with my students. I can't. How can I ever imagine to have respect in the classroom if the entire class has played drinking games with me? No. Not an option. Needless to say, I headed back to my room where I stayed for the rest of the night.

Should have been the end of it right? Nope. Through out the night until about 4:30 am while I was sleeping someone would occasionally wander into my room (thinking it was one of the bathrooms), flick on the light and then apologize as they hurriedly left and closed the door.

It really wouldn't have been that bad if the music hadn't still been blaring and if seeing these students at school was not part of the equation. In Washington educatiors are not even allowed to drive home a stranded student in the middle of the night because there are too many possible 'what-if's'. So, to me, this was a cardinal teaching sin. At University we even had a whole class on appropriate student contact. The professors encouraged us all to delete our Facebooks and any other social networking site we are involved with because they could leave us in horrible situations. We had lectures on 'Electronic Touching' meaning that there should be absolutely no interent contact with students while you are a teacher unless it is through your school email.

All of that is perfectly fine theoretically. But what do I do now when I get out of the shower and there are students in the hall on my way to my room? All of those countless education classes did not prepare me for this. I'm not sure if the rules are different because I'm a language assistant and not an offical full time faculty member or if this is just old hat for the French.

Conclusion? I blame the Pilgrims and their puritan ways for my inability to navagate my way through this very European situation.

Poland: Disneyland for adults.

The Main Square in Krakow (the biggest in Europe)

   Before I just jump into this immense yet very entertaining update I would like to say that I am going to attack this from a new angle. Instead of listing everything in order of their occurence I've decided to make seperate entries about the trip based on content. 

   Secondly, I had the best time in Krakow. If you are into history, architecture, delicious food or the occasional liter glass of beer then I suggest you mosey on over to Krakow on your next vacation.

   October 22nd means the begining of Fall Break in France. So, a few weeks before, a few friends of mine and I decided that Poland would be the destination for our lovely little holiday. I know, I know, it doens't really scream tourist hot spot as much as the beaches in Greece or islands off of the coast of Portugal but we're more of 'off the beaten path' sort of girls anyway. I for one am glad that we chose parkas over bikinis!

   Ok, let's get started, shall we? (We shall) The focus of this post is going to be the Polish hospitality that I was fabulously amazed by. We were expecting to be treated like most foreigners in a new country. To be given directions, helped along in our horrible butchering of the native language while ordering food or some other item and left to our on devices. In Poland (at least for Jennifer, Kristi and I) this was not the case. 

   Our plane landed in Krakow around 11pm on a Monday night. Jennifer G. and the friend she was staying with were not going to be able to meet with us until Wednseday so Anna (Jenn's friend) sent two of her friends to pick us up. So, as we walk out of baggage claim we are happy to see two men walking towards us. Once we established that we were infact the American girls they were looking for we all introduced ourselves. Michael and Chris then showed us to the car and helped us with our backpacks even though we  assured them we could handle it. They then drove us to our hostel in the center of Krakow. 

   When we arrived at the hostle we were greated by a staff member who showed us our room and then proceded to tell us everything we could have ever wanted to know about visiting Krakow (including maps, bars, clubs, places to get the best authentic food, tours etc...). The boys (Chris and Michael) then asked if we would like to go out for a beer or something. We of course said yes, thinking this was a once in a lifetime chance. We walked the five minutes to the Main Square (see above) where there are propably 100 bars in the area. Showtime is the name of the bar we decided on. 'Live music every night' seemed enticing. We headed in and Chris bought us all beers (we deiced on trying a cherry polish beer). We then sat and talked. They tried to teach us some polish phrases and we scribbled them down as best we could using a type of phonetic short hand. Needless to say, we're no where close to being able to communicate in polish. After the beer (which is served in a .5 liter glass) we moved to another bar jus downstairs. The night continued until around 3am when we realized we were still out and one of our hosts, Chris had to work in the morning. Needless to say, it'd be hard to find a stranger who would be willing to pick up three random travelers and take them out for the night when they had to work in the morning. Thanks Chris and Michael for giving us a fantastic first tast of Polish night life/hospitality!

   We also met some very nice (read awesome) tour guides. Being tour guides their english was very great which made communicating easy and fun. We partook in the Free Walking Tours offered by http://freewalkingtour.com/. I'm seriously glad we decided to participate because it gave us the chance to meet some really cool people. Our first guide was named Martin (well, the Polish equivalent) and he showed us all around the Jewish neighborhood and ghetto during the Nazi occupation. 

Martin teacing us about the oldest Synagogue in Poland.

   After the official tour ended we (the group) were invited out for the unofficial part of the tour which included hitting local establishments in search of delicious food and drink. The first thing on the list was mulled wine which was welcomed with open arms (and mouths) considering how cold it had been during the tour. We all setteled in (about 20 of us) in a little pub and enjoyed the company of other travelers while sipping on our beverages. 

   After the mulled wine (and more beer of course) the remaining group moved on to a restaurant for food. After that we moved on to another bar famous for their immense vocabulary of vodka shots. They have 89 different shots to choose from. Luckily for us novices, we had trained professionals ordering. Little did we know that for five zloty each (about $1.50) we would be presented with a tray full of exotic choices. This happend once more without having to pay. Needless to say, the free walking tour turned out to be a fantastic night! My personal favorite quotes from the night: Jennifer, "Alcohol speaks too many languages. It has no vocabulary!" Also, Martin the guide, "Shit and stuff, it's important instructions!"

The Remaining crew at 4am in the Jewish quarter.

Our ever hospitable guide, Martin.

   Again, Anna and her friends Chris and Michael were very nice and took us to dinner after we had visited Auschwitz. Also, Anna invited us to her birthday party the following Friday. It was so nice to be included in events which were not tourist activities. We danced the night away at Anna's party which was a perfect end to a perfect trip to Krakow. There is much more to come so don't stray too far. 

Well, na zdrowie (cheers) to the people of Poland and good night!