I made it to Vitré Saturday evening at 5:30. I read my French Cosmo magazine for the thrity minute train trip and realized that I felt rather comfortable traveling like this. I know what to do now.
I was greeted by the whole Levillain crowd--Pierre-Antoine's sister Nathalie was in town for the holidays with her husband Samuel and their two kids Clémentine (3 years) and Martin (1 year). While shy at first, Clementine eventually asked me to read her a book at PA's prodding. I think my accent was rather confusing, and I found that there a words in French children's books I don't know... :/ We also spent time coloring together--I did a horse and a sheep on request and her abstract Aurora and Prince Charming were very colorful. I also got a goodnight bisous (kiss on the cheek)!
Having the kids around was fun and funny! At PA's basketball game, we got Clémentine to cheer, "Ne piquez pas le ballon de mon Tonton 'Toine!" ("Don't steal the ball from my Uncle 'Toine!") She also screamed "Allez les rouges," which was "Go red!" or the opposing team's color, and "AN-TOINE," which she shrieked during a qiuet moment in the gym, lol!
PA and I returned to Rennes this morning on the train. He's doing some studying, and I'm working on this and things around the apartment. I also added photos of the market in Rennes and some scenes from Vitré: click here to see my photos!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A weekend in Brittany
Friday evening was mellow. I had two small convo groups at school with graphic design kids. Laetitia made sure to give me a good mix of shy/outgoing, good/not-so-good in each group so that we could really keep a conversation going. Basically, I learned that if you bring up movies, music, or shopping, kids will talk!
Laetitia was nice enough to give me a ride home. She also offered her car next week for an Ikea run to get a table, lamp, and clothes rack to furnish my apartment. I said I was considering visiting St. Malo on the beach for a day, and she said that she was going to neighboring Dinard to visit a friend, so she could drive me up there too!
At home, I got some organizing done, hung up a curtain in my bedroom, read, watched ER, and chatted online with some friends. I was supposed to go to a dinner party, so I bought bread, cheese, and wine, but it was cancelled soon after. So I continued my activities into the night—reading Guns, Germs and Steel and French Cosmo, playing online, eating my recently purchased cheese and bread, and making waffles for entertainment. I also watched the people outside my window for awhile; I live on a main meeting square, so there are always tons of people gathering there. At one point, a group of people banging on pots and drums showed up with actual TORCHES!!! I still have no idea what that was about, but I’ll put the photographic proof in my album for you to review. I also skyped with mom and dad and planned a Halloween party at my place. The Monday after Halloween is a holiday here, so people have no excuse not to come!
Then, I had a solid ten hours of sleep. I think it was the best full night of sleep I’ve had since I got to France. Since I actually moved into my apartment, I am always running out to get things for the place. I have been so tired this week, so a night of calm and sleep was probably a good idea.
So this morning I checked out the market in Place des Lices, a three minute walk from my apartment. It is the second largest market in all of France! You can get produce, meat, fish, bread, cheese, flowers, Chinese food, pastries—everything you could want every Saturday. I looked around a bit and ended up buying flowers for Pierre-Antoine’s mom and sisters. I’m heading to Vitré in a few hours to meet the rest of the family and see PA’s basketball game tomorrow morning.
A plus ! Later!
Laetitia was nice enough to give me a ride home. She also offered her car next week for an Ikea run to get a table, lamp, and clothes rack to furnish my apartment. I said I was considering visiting St. Malo on the beach for a day, and she said that she was going to neighboring Dinard to visit a friend, so she could drive me up there too!
At home, I got some organizing done, hung up a curtain in my bedroom, read, watched ER, and chatted online with some friends. I was supposed to go to a dinner party, so I bought bread, cheese, and wine, but it was cancelled soon after. So I continued my activities into the night—reading Guns, Germs and Steel and French Cosmo, playing online, eating my recently purchased cheese and bread, and making waffles for entertainment. I also watched the people outside my window for awhile; I live on a main meeting square, so there are always tons of people gathering there. At one point, a group of people banging on pots and drums showed up with actual TORCHES!!! I still have no idea what that was about, but I’ll put the photographic proof in my album for you to review. I also skyped with mom and dad and planned a Halloween party at my place. The Monday after Halloween is a holiday here, so people have no excuse not to come!
Then, I had a solid ten hours of sleep. I think it was the best full night of sleep I’ve had since I got to France. Since I actually moved into my apartment, I am always running out to get things for the place. I have been so tired this week, so a night of calm and sleep was probably a good idea.
So this morning I checked out the market in Place des Lices, a three minute walk from my apartment. It is the second largest market in all of France! You can get produce, meat, fish, bread, cheese, flowers, Chinese food, pastries—everything you could want every Saturday. I looked around a bit and ended up buying flowers for Pierre-Antoine’s mom and sisters. I’m heading to Vitré in a few hours to meet the rest of the family and see PA’s basketball game tomorrow morning.
A plus ! Later!
Friday, October 22, 2010
The strike and its problems...
I just read this article about the strike conditions in Marseilles: Bad air and bobbing oil tankers in Marseille
I think I mentioned that transportation is at a minimum, but maybe I failed to point out that the port of Marseilles is blocked so oil ships cannot land, hence the gas shortages for cars and buses! I'm just glad the Rennes garbagemen have not decided to strike--a trash buildup would be miserable.
I managed to meet the last English prof at my school today, Aline. She is older and speaks the best English of all of them! I would have sworn she was British! Luckily, I came on the day when a student had baked cookies and they were having tea as a treat. I introduced myself and they told me about their work in graphic design and printing. This is a group of post-bac students (the bac is the final high school exam) who range in age from 19 to 25. Their English wasn't that great, but at least they try.
After that, I hung around to see Catherine. She wanted to make sure I was coming in every day since we hadn't crossed paths in a week. She also arranged for me to take some groups of Laetitia's students this afternoon. PA will be heading to Vitre today for basketball, and I have an assistant dinner party at Caely's tonight. Tomorrow I will head to Vitre myself for a change of scene and to see PA's home basketball game--undefeated so far!
After this afternoon, I have a vacation until November 3rd. My friend Deepa and I might travel a bit locally to work around the strikes. I'll keep you posted!
I think I mentioned that transportation is at a minimum, but maybe I failed to point out that the port of Marseilles is blocked so oil ships cannot land, hence the gas shortages for cars and buses! I'm just glad the Rennes garbagemen have not decided to strike--a trash buildup would be miserable.
I managed to meet the last English prof at my school today, Aline. She is older and speaks the best English of all of them! I would have sworn she was British! Luckily, I came on the day when a student had baked cookies and they were having tea as a treat. I introduced myself and they told me about their work in graphic design and printing. This is a group of post-bac students (the bac is the final high school exam) who range in age from 19 to 25. Their English wasn't that great, but at least they try.
After that, I hung around to see Catherine. She wanted to make sure I was coming in every day since we hadn't crossed paths in a week. She also arranged for me to take some groups of Laetitia's students this afternoon. PA will be heading to Vitre today for basketball, and I have an assistant dinner party at Caely's tonight. Tomorrow I will head to Vitre myself for a change of scene and to see PA's home basketball game--undefeated so far!
After this afternoon, I have a vacation until November 3rd. My friend Deepa and I might travel a bit locally to work around the strikes. I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
STRIKE: Neverending!!!
I mananged to get a class with one student this morning--the prof literally just left us to talk. So obviously I didn't really have anything planned, but she was excited about Las Vegas because of the movie The Hangover. We also talked about the Twilight books that she loves and how she wants to be a librarian. Sweet kid.
Despite my frustrations with the strike, at lease I did something today. I'm heading back in a few minutes to see if anyone else is around. Via facebook I got this article, so here's some food for thought: Like France, will US soon move to boost retirement age? - CSMonitor.com
Despite my frustrations with the strike, at lease I did something today. I'm heading back in a few minutes to see if anyone else is around. Via facebook I got this article, so here's some food for thought: Like France, will US soon move to boost retirement age? - CSMonitor.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Problem solved. For now...
As you know, I've had a misearble time trying to get my shower fixed. This included many visits to offices, some phone calls, and a lot of passing the buck.
At 8:30 this morning, the buzzer to my door woke me up. It was the apartment owner's brother asking if he could bring a plumber at 9! Hallelujah! So the plumber came and sucked up the water with a vacuum cleaner thing and told me that the shower drain was loose (design flaw, I suppose), so I should check it from time to time. Thank God for the lady at the bank who called all these people for me! She is the nicest person I've worked with here so far!
So hopefully the shower will remain intact. At least it wasn't a huge problem requiring days of repair work.
For the afternoon, I have to duck into work to see if anyone shows. Then, I have a hot chocolate date with an assistant!
Wish me luck!
At 8:30 this morning, the buzzer to my door woke me up. It was the apartment owner's brother asking if he could bring a plumber at 9! Hallelujah! So the plumber came and sucked up the water with a vacuum cleaner thing and told me that the shower drain was loose (design flaw, I suppose), so I should check it from time to time. Thank God for the lady at the bank who called all these people for me! She is the nicest person I've worked with here so far!
So hopefully the shower will remain intact. At least it wasn't a huge problem requiring days of repair work.
For the afternoon, I have to duck into work to see if anyone shows. Then, I have a hot chocolate date with an assistant!
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
STRIKE: Day 5
The strike goes on! Even Pierre-Antoine's university is on strike... And next week is a holiday week for Toussaint, or All Saints, so really everyone is just enjoying a nice long vacation with some demonstrations thrown in. I'm sure you've all heard of flights and trains being cancelled. I'm staying put in Rennes for now...
Still, I had to appear at work this morning so that everyone knew I was not striking myself (though why I could possibly care about French retirement ages, I don't understand). I chatted with English teacher Corinne a bit in the teacher's lounge and then headed back to my place. Pierre-Antoine (also free) and I went shopping for a universal remote for my tv and I also found some new black flats. I apparently scared him and the shopkeepers by how fast I picked them out and paid! I know what I want, I suppose...
So my only activity for the day is going to the bank at 4:30 to figure out insurance and how to fix my shower. It is just annoying because there is no leak or anything up here... so I'm probably going to have to coordinate a plumber visit with the neighbors. We'll see...
PA and I are going to try this restaurant called "Back to the 60s" near Place Sainte Anne. It has burgers and shakes in a 50s diner atmosphere! Just don't ask me why they chose the 60s as the diner era :/
Still, I had to appear at work this morning so that everyone knew I was not striking myself (though why I could possibly care about French retirement ages, I don't understand). I chatted with English teacher Corinne a bit in the teacher's lounge and then headed back to my place. Pierre-Antoine (also free) and I went shopping for a universal remote for my tv and I also found some new black flats. I apparently scared him and the shopkeepers by how fast I picked them out and paid! I know what I want, I suppose...
So my only activity for the day is going to the bank at 4:30 to figure out insurance and how to fix my shower. It is just annoying because there is no leak or anything up here... so I'm probably going to have to coordinate a plumber visit with the neighbors. We'll see...
PA and I are going to try this restaurant called "Back to the 60s" near Place Sainte Anne. It has burgers and shakes in a 50s diner atmosphere! Just don't ask me why they chose the 60s as the diner era :/
Monday, October 18, 2010
A very bad day
Today made me not like being in France. I decided not to omit my frustration from this blog because it is also a legitimate part of my life here, and it deserves some forum of expression too.
So I waited all day for a call from the owner of my building as per the instructions of the agency. Around five something, the brother of the owner calls to ask about the problem and then just asks if he can come over and look at it. I say yes, and he is here in five minutes. He fiddles in the shower, and I try to explain that there is nothing to see here because it is leaking into the other apartment. I ask if he wants to talk to the guys downstairs, and he says no because it is up to my insurance to fix it.
He is gone without giving me any hint as to what I am supposed to do, and it is almost six o’clock when the bank/insurance place closes anyway. I wasted a whole day waiting on people to help me, and I got nothing fixed. I tried to look through my insurance papers, but I understand very little of what it says. I emailed my bank person to call me tomorrow, so I guess that’s all I can do for now. Besides not showering.
I also still don’t have a schedule for work. I cannot plan anything because I never know when I have to go in. This strike is ridiculous!
To sum up, I’m angry that there is no one to help me. I’ve never even dealt with insurance or apartment issues in the US where I can speak English to figure things out. I really hate not being able to understand everything is going on around me. Today was just a very bad day.
So I waited all day for a call from the owner of my building as per the instructions of the agency. Around five something, the brother of the owner calls to ask about the problem and then just asks if he can come over and look at it. I say yes, and he is here in five minutes. He fiddles in the shower, and I try to explain that there is nothing to see here because it is leaking into the other apartment. I ask if he wants to talk to the guys downstairs, and he says no because it is up to my insurance to fix it.
He is gone without giving me any hint as to what I am supposed to do, and it is almost six o’clock when the bank/insurance place closes anyway. I wasted a whole day waiting on people to help me, and I got nothing fixed. I tried to look through my insurance papers, but I understand very little of what it says. I emailed my bank person to call me tomorrow, so I guess that’s all I can do for now. Besides not showering.
I also still don’t have a schedule for work. I cannot plan anything because I never know when I have to go in. This strike is ridiculous!
To sum up, I’m angry that there is no one to help me. I’ve never even dealt with insurance or apartment issues in the US where I can speak English to figure things out. I really hate not being able to understand everything is going on around me. Today was just a very bad day.
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