Wednesday, January 19, 2011
hangover town
Partying hurts. I went out with all of the IMUS students last night, who were celebrating the end of exams and saying goodbye to the (many) people who are leaving to study abroad next semester. It was really fun but painful in so many different ways. Dancing, cartwheels, attempting to ride a bike for the first time in six years (with someone on the seat right behind me), and staying out til 5... ouch. I'm essentially bed-ridden today, so time to turn on a movie or try to watch TV online, because I'm officially useless. And suck at budgeting. Worth it, though!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Geneva, Guacamole, Grenoble, and Grad Schools
Like the alliteration I used in the title? I know you do.
The last couple weeks have been just what I hoped to get out of my experience here! Teaching, of course, is about the same as normal. I waver between confident and completely lost, depending on the day and class. My foyer is still dealing with the same issues as usual --- no heat in my room, my shower is a little messed up (my fault, actually), and still no money from the housing people here in my city. Aside from that, however, I've been spending my time in the best possible way.
I went to Geneva with some other assistants on the 12th, which happens to be very close to my city. Important note to interject here--- we woke up at 5 am. I hate waking up that early, but it wasn't too terrible with someone else getting up at the same time and joining me in my matinal misery. We went to CERN together, which is where you find the Large Hadron Collider --- you know, the thing that once it goes to max power might create a black hole that will suck up the entire universe. The tour was kind of like being thrown into a really advanced physics class about halfway through the semester, but still cool. After that we went to the UN, where the girls went on a tour; I chose instead to wander the city a bit and see what I could find. I went to a cathedral, where I got a great picture of the chandelier (my new hobby and photography focal point), and then went to a free museum. The museum had some decent artworks, and since I'm not too picky, I enjoyed it a lot. I like to do museums alone, so that I can spend time on the pieces I like and ignore the rest. Falafel for dinner, and then back to Chambery...
Friday night I hung out with Jennifer, my future roommate, one of Jennifer's classmates and his friends from home. We started the night watching the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy, with absolutely horrific French subtitles. Honestly, I don't know if they even deserve to be called "French subtitles." They were more like... someone typed all of the dialogue into Google translate and then posted the results. We made homemade guacamole and quesadillas (both delicious) and pounded a few tequila shots, as well as some red wine. The wine was not in shot form; I feel that that bears stating explicitly.
Yesterday, the 15th, was spent in Grenoble hanging out with a few assistant girls that I hadn't seen in months. I love that city, especially my favorite restau, Cafe Bootsy. My friend and I made a trip to the candy store --- excellent idea. I loved being able to casually pull candy out of my bag, like it was no big deal, while walking around the stores looking for a new coat. Hopefully the Grenoblians can come to Chambery soon to celebrate me moving into my new house!
Best news of the week, or at least the most important for me, was getting a response from one of my grad schools. I was shortlisted for Northeastern, which means that I will be interviewing with them in a little less than a month! This is stressing me out a bit, because none of my other schools have given any response whatsoever yet, but since Northeastern (which is in Boston) was my second choice school, I'm understandably excited. Now back to studying JDM materials and the articles written by Northeastern's professors... good thing I actually like the topic or this would suck.
The last couple weeks have been just what I hoped to get out of my experience here! Teaching, of course, is about the same as normal. I waver between confident and completely lost, depending on the day and class. My foyer is still dealing with the same issues as usual --- no heat in my room, my shower is a little messed up (my fault, actually), and still no money from the housing people here in my city. Aside from that, however, I've been spending my time in the best possible way.
I went to Geneva with some other assistants on the 12th, which happens to be very close to my city. Important note to interject here--- we woke up at 5 am. I hate waking up that early, but it wasn't too terrible with someone else getting up at the same time and joining me in my matinal misery. We went to CERN together, which is where you find the Large Hadron Collider --- you know, the thing that once it goes to max power might create a black hole that will suck up the entire universe. The tour was kind of like being thrown into a really advanced physics class about halfway through the semester, but still cool. After that we went to the UN, where the girls went on a tour; I chose instead to wander the city a bit and see what I could find. I went to a cathedral, where I got a great picture of the chandelier (my new hobby and photography focal point), and then went to a free museum. The museum had some decent artworks, and since I'm not too picky, I enjoyed it a lot. I like to do museums alone, so that I can spend time on the pieces I like and ignore the rest. Falafel for dinner, and then back to Chambery...
Friday night I hung out with Jennifer, my future roommate, one of Jennifer's classmates and his friends from home. We started the night watching the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy, with absolutely horrific French subtitles. Honestly, I don't know if they even deserve to be called "French subtitles." They were more like... someone typed all of the dialogue into Google translate and then posted the results. We made homemade guacamole and quesadillas (both delicious) and pounded a few tequila shots, as well as some red wine. The wine was not in shot form; I feel that that bears stating explicitly.
Yesterday, the 15th, was spent in Grenoble hanging out with a few assistant girls that I hadn't seen in months. I love that city, especially my favorite restau, Cafe Bootsy. My friend and I made a trip to the candy store --- excellent idea. I loved being able to casually pull candy out of my bag, like it was no big deal, while walking around the stores looking for a new coat. Hopefully the Grenoblians can come to Chambery soon to celebrate me moving into my new house!
Best news of the week, or at least the most important for me, was getting a response from one of my grad schools. I was shortlisted for Northeastern, which means that I will be interviewing with them in a little less than a month! This is stressing me out a bit, because none of my other schools have given any response whatsoever yet, but since Northeastern (which is in Boston) was my second choice school, I'm understandably excited. Now back to studying JDM materials and the articles written by Northeastern's professors... good thing I actually like the topic or this would suck.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back Home?
I have been doing a terrible job of updating this blog! I'll make this one lengthy and informative to compensate for that fact.
After the last post, I did a couple really fun things in France before leaving for les vacances.
First, I went to Lyon with some of the other assistants for the Festival of Lights. It was beautiful, and crowded, and freezing cold: but the lights were incredible, I got to see a couple cool light shows, and the hot wine was delicious (as was the Indian dinner we ate on the second night). It was one of those weekends where it's nearly impossible to feel anything but grateful for the experience of living in this country, enjoying my time surrounded by beauty and new friends.
Just a day after returning to my city from Lyon, I went to a gala hosted by my friend and quasi-roommate Jennifer's university. It was a roaring 20's theme (with an open bar) and by a wide margin one of the most unique nights of my life. I found myself in the middle of hundreds of people around my age dressed in their flappers' dresses, feather boas, and top hats, all speaking French and enjoying the kind of party that is so uncommon in French high schools but taken fully for granted in the US. If my high school prom had featured a break-dance crew, a choir, and limitless drinks I would have certainly appreciated the experience much more. I got to spend time with a future roommate and got to know her a bit better, which was amazing. I talked with one of the girls I have met here who has an insatiable thirst for gory, disgusting movies (a shared interest). I also met a couple other people who I hope will become great friends --- and that is the main reason that this party was so incredible. It's very difficult to make new friends in any country: but add the language and cultural barriers and the fact that in a given day I spend the majority of my time with children, it's understandably frustrating to try to meet anyone on a personal level. With any luck I can cultivate these relationships and feel more at ease in France, and with my French speaking abilities.
A few days later (and after much frantic, last-minute packing) I found myself on a train headed to the airport. I had booked a room in a hotel for the night before my flight to try to prevent any chances of missing my flight; but, unfortunately, my hotel was about a 30 euro taxi ride from the airport. Round trip, that made about 75 euro in taxi fare... would have been better off paying twice as much for a hotel closer to the airport, but live and learn, right?
Once I had recovered from my jet lag, I started cooking up a storm. One of the things I most missed about being home was having a kitchen, so I took full advantage of that availability the second I was conscious enough to not kill myself in the process of cooking. Soon after, off to Athens for a typical two days spent with a couple of my best friends. The next day, I babysat my nephew Kaleb and we went to the movies. He is, as it turns out, almost as exhausting as a class full of 10 year old kids. Then Columbus to see Kristina. She's definitely a friend I can turn to when I get bad news, and she knows how to put my mind in a better place. So grateful for that!
Christmas, at home, with the family. Not much to say about that; with so many kids running around in one house, it was nice to leave as soon as we were done eating and opening presents.
My second week home started with Alex at her parents' home near Toledo. The best few consecutive days I've had in months, spent playing the Wii, eating Mexican, and mostly just hanging out with Alex and her mom. They are my new adoptive (adopted? both are true) family. I miss them already!
Skip to New Year's Eve. I love Athens on NYE!!! Getting dressed up, playing drinking games with champagne, and meeting new friends--- nothing better.
New Year's day passed in a blur of packing at the very last minute (notice a pattern there?), and then I was yet again on my to the airport.
Now I'm in my room, which is as usual cold because the heat is, as usual, not working, reflecting on the last few weeks. As with the previous year, my time in the States brought with it some incredible moments and some devastating shocks. It was a great experience, which I wouldn't change in the slightest even if I could, and I look forward to the new year to bring more of the same. To ask for nothing but wonderful experiences and great times would be regrettable; without the hardships it would be impossible to appreciate fully the moments in which I think to myself, "Things couldn't be any better than they are right now."
Another thing I realized coming back to my tiny, dirty room here: this is my home now, at least for the moment. I'm so appreciative of the fact that I have the opportunity to say that, and to finally realize the fact.
After the last post, I did a couple really fun things in France before leaving for les vacances.
First, I went to Lyon with some of the other assistants for the Festival of Lights. It was beautiful, and crowded, and freezing cold: but the lights were incredible, I got to see a couple cool light shows, and the hot wine was delicious (as was the Indian dinner we ate on the second night). It was one of those weekends where it's nearly impossible to feel anything but grateful for the experience of living in this country, enjoying my time surrounded by beauty and new friends.
Just a day after returning to my city from Lyon, I went to a gala hosted by my friend and quasi-roommate Jennifer's university. It was a roaring 20's theme (with an open bar) and by a wide margin one of the most unique nights of my life. I found myself in the middle of hundreds of people around my age dressed in their flappers' dresses, feather boas, and top hats, all speaking French and enjoying the kind of party that is so uncommon in French high schools but taken fully for granted in the US. If my high school prom had featured a break-dance crew, a choir, and limitless drinks I would have certainly appreciated the experience much more. I got to spend time with a future roommate and got to know her a bit better, which was amazing. I talked with one of the girls I have met here who has an insatiable thirst for gory, disgusting movies (a shared interest). I also met a couple other people who I hope will become great friends --- and that is the main reason that this party was so incredible. It's very difficult to make new friends in any country: but add the language and cultural barriers and the fact that in a given day I spend the majority of my time with children, it's understandably frustrating to try to meet anyone on a personal level. With any luck I can cultivate these relationships and feel more at ease in France, and with my French speaking abilities.
A few days later (and after much frantic, last-minute packing) I found myself on a train headed to the airport. I had booked a room in a hotel for the night before my flight to try to prevent any chances of missing my flight; but, unfortunately, my hotel was about a 30 euro taxi ride from the airport. Round trip, that made about 75 euro in taxi fare... would have been better off paying twice as much for a hotel closer to the airport, but live and learn, right?
Once I had recovered from my jet lag, I started cooking up a storm. One of the things I most missed about being home was having a kitchen, so I took full advantage of that availability the second I was conscious enough to not kill myself in the process of cooking. Soon after, off to Athens for a typical two days spent with a couple of my best friends. The next day, I babysat my nephew Kaleb and we went to the movies. He is, as it turns out, almost as exhausting as a class full of 10 year old kids. Then Columbus to see Kristina. She's definitely a friend I can turn to when I get bad news, and she knows how to put my mind in a better place. So grateful for that!
Christmas, at home, with the family. Not much to say about that; with so many kids running around in one house, it was nice to leave as soon as we were done eating and opening presents.
My second week home started with Alex at her parents' home near Toledo. The best few consecutive days I've had in months, spent playing the Wii, eating Mexican, and mostly just hanging out with Alex and her mom. They are my new adoptive (adopted? both are true) family. I miss them already!
Skip to New Year's Eve. I love Athens on NYE!!! Getting dressed up, playing drinking games with champagne, and meeting new friends--- nothing better.
New Year's day passed in a blur of packing at the very last minute (notice a pattern there?), and then I was yet again on my to the airport.
Now I'm in my room, which is as usual cold because the heat is, as usual, not working, reflecting on the last few weeks. As with the previous year, my time in the States brought with it some incredible moments and some devastating shocks. It was a great experience, which I wouldn't change in the slightest even if I could, and I look forward to the new year to bring more of the same. To ask for nothing but wonderful experiences and great times would be regrettable; without the hardships it would be impossible to appreciate fully the moments in which I think to myself, "Things couldn't be any better than they are right now."
Another thing I realized coming back to my tiny, dirty room here: this is my home now, at least for the moment. I'm so appreciative of the fact that I have the opportunity to say that, and to finally realize the fact.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
And then it gets better...
I bought a ticket to go home for Christmas break, and things are going much better overall. I imagine that this comes as a direct result of knowing that I will be back home, if even for a short time, but I'm going to take every positive feeling that I get and just hold on to it.
Classes have been going well, my kids are behaving themselves (even if they're still a bit talkative, or "bavard"), and the lessons are going pretty smoothly. I still miss people at home, but have come to terms with the fact that I can see them later if I don't manage to do so during the break, and that long-distance communication is still a form of communication. Not as nice as face-to-face, but still good.
I also decided to move to a new place, starting late January, and I couldn't be happier! It isn't "ideal," per se, but it is a beautiful little house with a garden and small yard. I will (if I get to live here) be living with two very nice French girls, a little out of the city center, but in a beautiful neighborhood.
This blog post sums up the experience better than my ill-timed posts ever could:
http://www.brookerene.com/2010/11/everyone-take-their-pencils-out-of.html
Classes have been going well, my kids are behaving themselves (even if they're still a bit talkative, or "bavard"), and the lessons are going pretty smoothly. I still miss people at home, but have come to terms with the fact that I can see them later if I don't manage to do so during the break, and that long-distance communication is still a form of communication. Not as nice as face-to-face, but still good.
I also decided to move to a new place, starting late January, and I couldn't be happier! It isn't "ideal," per se, but it is a beautiful little house with a garden and small yard. I will (if I get to live here) be living with two very nice French girls, a little out of the city center, but in a beautiful neighborhood.
This blog post sums up the experience better than my ill-timed posts ever could:
http://www.brookerene.com/2010/11/everyone-take-their-pencils-out-of.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
Life Goes On...
My long weekend in Avignon was AMAZING. I remembered so much of the city, got to meet some of Nicky’s great assistant friends, and ate home-made dinners chez Nicky every night. Seeing the Palais des Papes was something I had always hoped I would get to do again, and it didn’t disappoint. It reminds me of all of the great moments I spent in the city with my friends three years ago, and I think will always serve as the focal point for my memories of Avignon.
But as life tends to go on, bringing with it shocks and disturbances as often as it brings good times with old friends in places we love, I found myself a bit disheartened when I returned to Chambéry. Having spent part of the weekend at Nicky’s using her much more reliable internet reconnecting with people back home, I came to the realization that I managed to make some really terrible life choices before leaving for France. Add this to the stress of needing to actually finish my graduate school applications and my frustration with teaching elementary schoolchildren with whom I don’t really share a common language, and the past week or so has been rough to say the least. I never thought I would be the kind of person to want to leave Europe (or a job right after graduation) but I’m finding myself close to the point of just buying a plane ticket and going home, and ending my contract early. The only reason I really want to stay is because I want to be able to move on to bigger things next year, i.e. grad school, and I know that I wouldn’t be a serious candidate if I left this contract early.
Aside from that angsty mess, things are going as well as could be imagined. I’m getting help with lesson planning and am coming up with new games to play with my kids. I started teaching Thanksgiving this week, so at least a small portion of my lessons is going to drawing handprint turkeys, a welcome relief from the emotional strain that accompanies teaching children (especially those who still can’t read in any language, let alone a foreign language). Things will go on, and get better, and I just want to be able to make it to that point with some sanity intact. Also, I think I am boycotting boxed wine. It makes me an emotional (and belligerent) wreck. Sorry to anyone involved in Friday night’s rambling attempts at serious, emotional conversation.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
AVIGNON!
Tomorrow I get to go back to Avignon, where I did my study abroad as a freshman. I've missed the city so much, and have realized in the past three years just how much I took it for granted. Provence was definitely one of the friendliest, most beautiful places I've ever been and I can't wait to see it again.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Shit, it's been a while
So for anyone who has actually been reading this, I'm REALLY sorry that I have been sucking so terribly at updating it. I didn't realize it had been nearly a month! I'll try to make this post long enough to make up for your time.
First off, you may have heard or read about the protests here. They were definitely happening, and in some cases were kind of a huge nuisance. I had to miss work one day and get a ride from my conseiller pedagogique (it's kind of like a manager, I guess) another day. Then I got stranded in Grenoble, about an hour train ride away from home, because the trains apparently stopped two hours earlier than normal. Fortunately I had a floor to sleep on, thanks to some incredible assistant friends, but it was still convenient at the very least. My city was especially bad at having what would be called "les manifestations" in addition to your typical and regularly seen "greves". That would be the difference between a protest and a strike, to translate into English as well as I can. I saw in one day: a bus stop window smashed in, two older ladies running away from the riot police's tear gas, and something burning in front of one of our only landmarks here in the city. These were all due to younger people who almost definitely did it just for the fuck of it, and not out of a sense of concern over the issue at hand, the extension of the retirement age by two years.
I taught my classes for two weeks and then had a two week vacation. It was ROUGH getting accustomed to teaching, but I finally got into something resembling a rhythm. Now that I'm back after the long break, though, I'm finding that the experience really didn't help all that much! I'm still running out of material early, but I imagine that this is all a part of teaching. No one ever goes into teaching already good at it. Lesson planning is HARD. That said, I already have students that I can tell are really good at English, and in some of my classes the kids are all kinds of good at it already. I have one particular class that it really is fun to go in every day, even though they're the ones who make me finish way before I'm supposed to (they're super smart).
During the break I went to Paris. It was incredible! I didn't really dig it too much the last time I went, but this time I had zero time conflicts and I was there for longer, so it was much better. I also got to visit several gay bars and clubs, which was awesome. By the way, if you're freaked out by any of the following, don't go to gay bars and clubs in Paris: having a creepy old guy watch you pee, creepily, and then follow you out of the bar, where you have to walk very quickly to lose his drunk ass in the street; watching a guy shower IN a bar; getting your ass and junk grabbed by strangers as you walk past; and seeing two shirtless dudes dance in a cage. I got to be a super tourist and take a shit-ton of pictures, which was perfect. Next time I go I don't need to take a camera at all, which is super convenient because mine is really big. I took just over 300 pics... which although that seems excessive, it really isn't too bad. I saw the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, Pere Lachaise, Tuileries, the outside of the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, and the Notre Dame. Not
First off, you may have heard or read about the protests here. They were definitely happening, and in some cases were kind of a huge nuisance. I had to miss work one day and get a ride from my conseiller pedagogique (it's kind of like a manager, I guess) another day. Then I got stranded in Grenoble, about an hour train ride away from home, because the trains apparently stopped two hours earlier than normal. Fortunately I had a floor to sleep on, thanks to some incredible assistant friends, but it was still convenient at the very least. My city was especially bad at having what would be called "les manifestations" in addition to your typical and regularly seen "greves". That would be the difference between a protest and a strike, to translate into English as well as I can. I saw in one day: a bus stop window smashed in, two older ladies running away from the riot police's tear gas, and something burning in front of one of our only landmarks here in the city. These were all due to younger people who almost definitely did it just for the fuck of it, and not out of a sense of concern over the issue at hand, the extension of the retirement age by two years.
I taught my classes for two weeks and then had a two week vacation. It was ROUGH getting accustomed to teaching, but I finally got into something resembling a rhythm. Now that I'm back after the long break, though, I'm finding that the experience really didn't help all that much! I'm still running out of material early, but I imagine that this is all a part of teaching. No one ever goes into teaching already good at it. Lesson planning is HARD. That said, I already have students that I can tell are really good at English, and in some of my classes the kids are all kinds of good at it already. I have one particular class that it really is fun to go in every day, even though they're the ones who make me finish way before I'm supposed to (they're super smart).
During the break I went to Paris. It was incredible! I didn't really dig it too much the last time I went, but this time I had zero time conflicts and I was there for longer, so it was much better. I also got to visit several gay bars and clubs, which was awesome. By the way, if you're freaked out by any of the following, don't go to gay bars and clubs in Paris: having a creepy old guy watch you pee, creepily, and then follow you out of the bar, where you have to walk very quickly to lose his drunk ass in the street; watching a guy shower IN a bar; getting your ass and junk grabbed by strangers as you walk past; and seeing two shirtless dudes dance in a cage. I got to be a super tourist and take a shit-ton of pictures, which was perfect. Next time I go I don't need to take a camera at all, which is super convenient because mine is really big. I took just over 300 pics... which although that seems excessive, it really isn't too bad. I saw the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, Pere Lachaise, Tuileries, the outside of the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, and the Notre Dame. Not
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)