The Sweetest Thing!

During one of my fifth grade classes today, I was giving instructions for an activity in French, and I made a mistake. One of the students, whose name is Greg and is ALWAYS a pain in my side started laughing at me, and at the same moment, another student - Fred - started yelling at him, saying "Shut up! Don't laugh at her! I'd like to see you try and say the same thing in English!" It was so sweet!!! I said, "Thank you, Fred! That was very nice!" And then he smiled at me and said, "You're welcome" in his cute French accent!!

I'm ready for it to be the end of the school year!! Je ne supporte plus ces gamins!!

Phrases I could go for the rest of my life without hearing EVER AGAIN:

• "Mais arrête!"
• "Tais-toi!"
• "Il m'a touché (enter body part here)!"
• "Je ne comprends rien!"
• "Mais chut!"
• "Amanda, (enter pointless question here - such as 'Can I use a pen?' or 'Should I underline this?') They are OBSESSED with using their fricking rulers!!! French teachers have them trained like dogs to pull that thing out and underline EVERYTHING!!!
  

Summer vacation in less than a month!!!!!!!!!!!

Un fils!

Hmmm . . . so . . . one of my students (Jennifer - a first grader!) asked me today, "Amanda, est-ce que tu as un fils!?" I was shocked!! For those of you reading this that don't speak French, she asked me, "Amanda, do you have a son!?" HAHA!! I said no, and then she asked me if I had any kids at all, to which I once again responded no! . . . Then she asked me why!!!!!!! Haha!! I told her I was too young and walked away!! It was weird!

1 month 'til Mom, Dad and Josh arrive in Lyon!!!!



Word of the day: un chameau = a camel!

Transportation!

This past weekend, I went with my two friends Kat and Leslie to Strasbourg and then to Baden Baden, Germany for a day! The weekend itself was FABULOUS!! Strasbourg was absolutely beautiful and Baden Baden was. . . well . . . an adventure! (More to come on that in an update email!)



Strasbourg, France!!


At the end of the trip, our original train leaving Strasbourg coming home was scheduled at 10 in the morning and we were to get into Lyon around 4 in the afternoon - so about a 6 hour train ride - I know . . . Yikes!! But guess what!!?? Transportation is on strike this week in France!! Go figure!! So after a few delays and even my connecting train from Lyon to Chambéry being completely CANCELED, I finally got home around midnight!!!


(This is the train station in Strasbourg! It's just a giant bubble of glass!! So modern - such a contrast to the city - but it totally fits!)


I think it's sooo crazy how they can just cancel an entire train!! Luckily it wasn't the last one of the night, so I was able to get the 10 pm train coming home, but still . . . so not cool! It was one of the longest days of my life!

Then what I forgot to even consider was my form of transportation to the schools where I teach - the public bus!! Yes, that's right! They're on strike, too!! So it goes without saying, I was a little late for work today . . . and will be for the rest of the week!!

Also going along with this whole theme of transportation: I was walking through the halls today of one of my schools, and as I looked out, I saw my fifth grade students riding around the playground on their bikes, weaving in and out of orange street cones! They have started their bike classes, so every student has to bring their bike and helmet to school every day, and they go out and learn how to be "defensive" bike riders!!! Haha!!!


Word of the day: un hérisson = a hedgehog!

Le premier!

Here we go! My first blog!!!

Ahh!! This is kind of exciting! I've been looking for a way to update people on some of the smaller more random things that happen while I'm abroad - things that don't make it into my update emails, but are still interesting or funny or whatever!! I figured I'd give this a try, although who knows how often I'll write! Of course I'll try, but I hardly have time to write in my journal, so . . . yeah!

I'm becoming FAR TOO obsessed with oatmeal - eating it practically for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! I put apples, bananas, almonds and yogurt in it, so it's SOOO good and healthy!!

My shin splints are killing me, and I leave for Strasbourg tomorrow, where I'll be doing quite a bit of walking!! Ca m'énerve!!

I just got back from getting a drink with Jean-Luc (which was quite an interesting and informative night), and although I'd like to blog (Haha!! I feel so cool using this verb!) some more, I need to go to bed!