Guess Who Gets to Be a Teacher!!!

So before I start in on my title subject, I need to talk about my weekend. So My friends and I got way lost on the way to the play, so we missed it. Sad, I know, but we're going to see another one for class soon- I mean we have to anyway. Saturday was amazing. We went to Mont St. Michel and Saint Malo. Guys, I am ready to move in for life! haha Ok so Mont St. Michel is incredible. First of, let me say there are about a million stairs to the top of this historic monastery and I climbed them all!! Rocky ain't got nothin on me! We saw some some monks carrying a big bucket of water. I took a photo of it. They reminded me of characters from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The view from the top is breathtaking. Mont St. Michel is on an island almost- it depends on when the tide is in and out- surrounded by sand and marshy fields. The horizon goes on forever and its so peaceful. The interior of the monastery was very interesting, but it was the exterior view that made the experience. I took loads of pictures and I'll make sure you all get to see them. There's only one pathway to and from Mont St. Michel with little shops and restaurants (with outrageous prices) lining the pathway. It almost seemed surreal me being there. It was very inspirational, and I want to return in the summer perhaps to do some writing. I wish you all could have been there to see it. Put Mont St. Michel on your to-do list everybody!

Saint Malo is where I'd love to live. It is right on the ocean and the water looks incredible. The town is surrounded by a tall wall- which has many pathways you can walk on to view the ocean. I just sat on the top of the border wall with my friends, soaked in the sun and watched the waves crash against the rocks. I've never seen a more beautiful beach in my entire life. It rivals the Grecian shores you see in all the moves like Mama Mia or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The weather was gorgeous, and my friend Megan and I went exploring among the rocks (not a good idea in uggs guys- just throwing that out there). We collected seashells and watched the tide come in. They have a pool sort of built into the ocean- its just a rectangle wall that kind of sticks out of the ocean near the shore similar to a wave pool with platform diving boards on the far side. By the time we had finished exploring the rocks, the tide had come in and the pool border was virtually non existent. When we went into the town, we discovered cute creperies, cafes and stores all over. We shared a lemon crepe and a small jug of cidre. There was a pretty shnazzy state fair-esque amusement park on the outside of the town wall. One of the guys wanted me to ride Toxic with him- which I almost did, but my search for a free bathroom took precedence. Toxic is a ride with four people on each side of a long, long, long, metal pole(thick enough to support both sides obviously). And it just spins around vertically leaving one group straight up and one group straight down. It looked intense. They had a bunch of other random rides like this Casper haunted house ride and a pirate ride that totally had cardboard cutouts of Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa ( I definitely think it wasn't legal but whatevs- they're the French, they can do what they want). So anyway, long story short, peace out America, I'm movin' to St. Malo cause I can have a beach in my front yard and carnival rides in my back yard! Try beating that!

That evening I had a nice dinner with some girls from IES at one of the girls' houses- her host family is away for the week. We went to the Monoprix first to stock up on food and this french guy came up to me and asked me a very inapropriate question (use your imagination). When I pretended I didn't understand French he said "Not English, French, French.. uhh I love you. I love you." Awkward. My friend came to my rescue. Warning: The produce aisle can be dangerous in France. Men may try to pick you up. haha Its really not a big deal just always remember safety in numbers! Yesterday my entire host family helped me on my grammar homework. It was pretty hilarious. We had duck for lunch and when my host mom explained this to me, me lil bro said "Comme Donald, le meilleur ami de Mickey." Only I didn't understand him with his French accent so he said it like 3 times before I said "Oh Donalad!" In a total American accent. My whole family laughed and imitated my reaction/accent. Good times :)

Ok so today I met with the professor who is going to organize my teaching internship. Luckily I'm with another girl from IES so we can walk to and from there together. She has the 18-20 year olds that are getting ready for the Bac (sort of like the SATs only more intense and life defining) and I have the 16 to 18 year olds- at least that's the plan for now. We were given a tour of the school and the prof explained how things are going to work. I'm so excited!!! I'll be teaching english to high school kids!! Originally I wanted little kids, but I decided I wanted to work with kids who are at a higher level of English. I don't want to be teaching kids how to say cat or dog- no thanks. So the school isn't far from my house, and it is huge!!! Its a specialty school, vocational if you will, and they have these massive shops with loads of intense machinery that I've never seen before in my life. Kids wearing jumpsuits and such work with these machines that are hard core (Rosie the Riveter comes to mind). There are two schools in one and the building is shaped like a big hollow square with 3 basketball nets in the center cement park. I'm so excited to get started!!!! I get to formulate my own daily activities! I work with the kids 4 hours a week on English. Technically I won't really begin for 3 weeks because they get two weeks vacation starting February 6th. On the way home from the school, though, I was shocked. All the kids were smoking! I couldn't believe it. Robin Williams wasn't kidding when he said they give babies cigarettes here! -for those of you who missed that Robin Williams Live on Broadway reference, you're missing out... go watch it! Well, time for some R&R and then some Devoir (homework). Later!!

Classes in French Ahhhh!!!!

SO I just had my first class of Sociologie du Cinema at the University of Nantes and it was an interesting experience. I met these two French girls waiting outside the Ampitheatre for the class to start and we chatted a bit. I sat next to them, and they were really nice. The first hour was cool, the teacher explained the objectives for the class and talked about different genres of film in relationship to sociology. There was this white glob of I don't know what developing on the professor's lower lip, and it was really distracting. I couldn't look at him when he talked because it grossed me out, but I need to read lips to help me understand what the Prof. was saying. It made my life altogether pretty difficult. And he would whisper/mutter things from time to time which made it tough to understand him. I started to get really tired but thankfully he gave us a 5 minute break after an hour and 30 minutes straight of listening him talk about the syllabus. Then he lectured for the rest of the class and I could barely keep up. Thank God I took a sociology class last semester, so I had an idea of what he was talking about even if I didn't understand him word for word. It just made taking notes difficult. Everyone around me was writing stuff down hard core and I would catch a few words I recognized here and there and jot down what I thought he said. Thankfully one of the girls I met let me borrow her notes. She's really cool! Tonight I'm going to see a play with my French Panorama of Theatre class "Les Precieuses Ridicules." I'll give you guys a review of it later. Now that my head has thoroughly exploded, catch ya later!

J.. C. Crystal is my new favorite person ever!!!!

Ok so tonight I went to a Soiree at my university to celebrate the end of finals and it was a crazy/hilarious experience. First of all, they sell beer at the student club area which I thought was interesting. They even have different flavored syrups they put into the beer to make it taste better. Ok so the building was packed and there was this sizable stage at the back of the space where the french singer Jean-Claude Crystal was performing. I have to say this man and his band made my evening. I cursed myself for not bringing a camera. He looked like a wax figure dressed in tacky elvis type clothes with a bad tan. His skin was orange and his teeth were so white and big they looked like those plastic ones you can buy for Halloween to be funny. And his hair looked like a wig but I don't think it was. He was dancing on the stage and getting into the music like nobody's business and he looks like he' in his 50s! It was awesome! He and his band mates all looked like they jumped out of a rejected episode of That 70's Show. I only caught the tail end of his set, and my friends said he was doing French covers of The Beach Boy's music earlier. He played this awesome song called "Je suis Amoureux de Ma Femme." There was this couple dancing in the corner like professionals to the song and singing along so I figured it must be famous. I liked it so much I looked it up! Here's a link to the song by the original singer http://www.wat.tv/audio/richard-anthony-je-suis-amoureux-o0ra_leog_.html. Its kind of catchy I think. Give me your opinions. Here is the website of JC Crystal. Check it out!! http://www.jc-crystal.com/

The next group was called Tropical Punk, and they were ultra weird. It was indie electronic rock music. There was a girl on keyboards who looked russian and this average looking fellow in a wife beater(with a puggy belly) on guitar and bongos. They had music videos of their songs playing behind them on the big screen and they were so weird!! In the first video, there were all these farm animals wandering around, the guy singing in the fields and the woods and the girl was wearing this weird fur thing. At one point she took it off and was totally naked in the video! I could not believe it, the French are so free! All of my friends missed it. haha The next video was of the two singers at the table eating breakfast.... that's it... so so weird. The girl was sort of just talking in a strange language that sounded eastern Europeanish. My friends and I started dancing at some point cause everyone was just standing there, and then more people started to dance. Trendsetters! It was great! Later, a creepy video came on of someone wrapping wire around an egg for an explosion and we peaced out. It was getting way too crowded and our ears were starting to ring. It was raining hard core tonight and I got soaked on my way home. Nantes is really like Seattle. It rains every single night. Well, I'm going to bed, I have my first film class tomorrow! Wish me luck, I'm excited!!!

Three weeks in and I'm already a "Crazy American Girl!"

So last night was the inauguration ceremony. I had phonetiques during the swearing in portion. Everyone in the class was aching to be released. My friend just peaced out after 5 minutes; it was hilarious. I mean it was brutal, we could hear people laughing and clapping in the next room. Finally after everyone started cheering in the big class room next door with the TV, our professor was like "go ahead" only in French, and we all booked it out of their like there was a fire. There's good news and bad news. The good news is that we caught Obama's speech right at the beginning. The bad news is that it was dubbed, so we caught maybe every other sentence if that. I'm definitely going to re watch it online. I was still moved, nonetheless, by what I did catch of his speech. I just wish my grandmother was still alive to see Obama as our new President. She would have been thrilled. After the inauguration, I went to conversation club where we talked for 30 minutes in French and 30 minutes in English with a french student. The French student for my group was a girl named Alice. She's pretty cool and really nice. I never realized how fast we talk in english till we started talking to her. She was a bit overwhelmed I think. We exchanged phone numbers, so we might be going to this cool club this weekend called La Maison where each room is designed like a part of a house. You can sit in a bath tub and be served!! How cool is that! After the conversation club, we all went to dinner at a creperie with the french students to celebrate the inauguration. On the way there I met this really cool French guy. His English is pretty decent. While on his cellphone, he had me talk in English to he friend. It was really random. He asked me if I was mixed! Everyone here thinks I'm mixed because I'm not ultra dark. He also called me a crazy American girl at one point during dinner because I imitated a rapper or something. I don't really remember but it was pretty hilarious. I was wondering when something like that would happen. I'm glad I finally got it over with haha. He changed it to calling all of us girls Crazy Americans so that I wasn't alone in the craziness. Anyway, he asked for my number and he said he wants to hang out which is cool! He's going to try to go to La Maison with us on Saturday. I told him my email address and he cracked up! He texted me today and called me hotchocolate (b/c of my screen name, for those of you who aren't in the know). I'm really glad I've made a new French friend! Who knows what will happen, hopefully only amazing things! I'll keep you guys posted. Tomorrow my art history class is cancelled so I think I'm going to go see a movie with some friends. I don't have class till 5:30 which is super sweet! There's a soiree at the university to celebrate the end of finals. A couple of girls and I are going to make an appearance there, haha. Well, I'm going to watch gossip girl online and chill for the night. Catch up with ya later. Oh and write on my blog guys!! I really want to hear back from all of you!!

Don't Step in the Puddles in France Because They Aren't Water

So I was on my way to the FNAC this morning with my friend Megan, the FNAC is like a Borders and a Best Buy combined, and we saw a guy peeing against the wall in a corner in front of the store!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I knew France was free and all but not THAT free. Later today another friend told me that its a bad idea to step in most puddles in France because chances are they aren't water!!! The FNAC was really cool, but for the most part they have all American films. They even have Splendor in the Grass on dvd. Random! And the translations for the titles are hilariously different. In a later blog post I will discuss the different titles. Well, that's all for now. I'm going to go take a nap before my phonetiques class!

Plus Tard

France, France, how I love you so, you'll never know.....but..

Ok So I've decided that I am going to try to make a biweekly list of all the major differences between France and the US that I discover throughout my daily adventures. Get excited!!!!

1. The bathroom and the toilet are in separate rooms, not always but for the most part. And you have to pay to use certain public restrooms.
2. People don't pick up their dog crap-Its everywhere!!!
3. Everything is closed on Sunday. Let me repeat EVERYTHING-except for the churches obviously
4. Restaurants are closed in the afternoon at specific hours, and eating places at the university are only open at the general lunch time. So ya better eat when its feeding time or you're screwed!
5. People don't smile at you if they don't know you- or at least that is what everyone in the IES program has been saying. French people have been smiling at me so I dunno what's up with everyone else.
6. The drinking age is 16 and it is not illegal to drink in the streets or drink and drive.
7. Universities are FREE, no tuition, no room and board- totally FREE -for people in France obviously, not Americans
8. In the French universities, at least the one I attend, the students don't have much respect for the professor and they talk the entire time. I could barely hear what the professor was saying today let alone understand him!
9. By law they only have two month long periods where stores can have sales- in January and June. I lucked out by being here now. They call them Soldes. And they have a store almost every two steps in the centre ville. I went shopping this Saturday and got some nice things including 3 French films: Jaquou le Croquant, Belle Maman, and Déjà mort.
10. There is no such thing as leftovers here. Everything has got to be gone off your plate and out of all the dishes. And the family all eats together every night, at least mine does.

That does it for today! I'll give you 10 more in the next week or so. I started classes today and I've got a bit of homework due for next week. I know everyone in the States is off for MLK day so enjoy it!!! I have to read Les Femmes Savante by Molière. And I'll be watching the inagurqtion ceramony tomorrow!!! I hope everyone has a good week!!

The End of the Beginning

So I've reached Friday, and the weekend is open to many opportunities. Today I pick my classes for the semester. To my luck, I found a film class at the university which I got approved for my major, so hopefully I can get into that. I also want to take a theatre class and an art history class which will also count for core and my major. Tonight after dinner, my friends and I plan on going to see the French film Et Aprés (Romain Duris, Evangeline Lily-from Lost-, and John Malcovich). Tomorrow we are going to explore the city and maybe do a bit of shopping ( All of France is in their soldes-sale- period) and then tomorrow night we are going to search for a discoteque (dance club).

Yesterday was hilarious! I went looking around in this comic book store and found the Where's Waldo books ( Ou est Charlie in French) and they also had Where's Bin Laden books. I had to leave the magasin so I could laugh out loud haha not really but I did laugh a bunch and show my friends. After all of our class sessions, the all of the students went to L'Hotel des Trois Marchands to eat the "Galette des rois" or kings cake. It was really good. There were two different cakes on each table with a crown on top. We each got a piece from the two cakes. Both cakes had a prize hidden in them. Whoever had the piece with the prize was the king or queen (roi ou rienne) for the day and got to wear the crown. They also had white wine and cider with alcohol in it. They were both really, really good- another thing that made the evening hilarious. At dinner, I talked a lot with my family. I forgot to mention this earlier but on Tuesday we had a hilarious conversation about Bush, Sarah Palin, and Obama. The boys think Michelle Obama is sexy and Sarah Palin is ugly- a nice change, I'd say, from the majority of American men who fancy Sarah Palin -yuck! Haha. My host family loves Obama and thinks Bush is stupid. They told me a story about the time Bush used binoculars without taking off they caps. My host dad saw the film W. and he thought it made Bush look even worse. I haven't seen it yet. No one in my host family knows what The Sound of Music is!!!! Isn't that crazy!! In the newspaper today the cover read "George Bush: The last weekend in the White House" with a big photo of Bush waving haha. Yay for days. I wish I could go to the induction ceremony, but I love Nantes, so it is okay! Well, I'm going to go finish my hw. Later!!