It's beginning to (feel) a lot like Chris-tmas...

...mostly because of the colder weather we've been having, but also the streets of France are decked out in Christmas lights. It's a wonder to walk along the streets at night with your roommate, demi-bottle of white wine in hand, under the lit-up side streets. I can't think of a better way to pass the time while waiting for a train to come.

Amy and I went to Bordeaux two days ago, for the entire day. I got some Christmas shopping done, and got to take in the city I've been meaning to visit for a long time. It was a long day, but I got some great pictures and was definitely convinced that I need to go back for a second trip soon. We stopped in the museum of Aquitaine, shopped down Rue St. Catherine (the "Champs Elysees" of Bordeaux) and walked along the Garonne river. It was pretty chilly, thankfully the rain had stopped by the time we arrived but it was still a bit wet. We almost went ice skating but after noticing that the rink had about an inch of water lining the ice, we decided we'd pass. You could easily tell who had fallen thanks to the water marks on everyones bums. (I tried not to stare). But there was one guy skating around and he looked like he knew what he was doing, or anyway like he'd been placed there to advertise the rink, because he was singing along to the (American) music that was projecting out and giving the eye to every female mammal that walked by. So...my stare might have lingered a little longer on his bum. And no, there were no water marks.

Aside from those fun-filled activities, I've begun the search for some more interesting lessons to do with my students. I've started working with PostSecret images and discussing them in my classes, having the students make sense of what is written on each card and then following it up with a "how does this secret make you feel" discussion. I'm hesitating to give them the link to the website, because at times the secrets can be a bit risqué. But, I feel like with the way they snog out in front of the school anyway, sex isn't really that taboo for them. Even the younger ones.

I'm getting ready for Paris this coming weekend. My sister and I are going to spend time together, sipping tea in the cafes (coffee in my case) and walking around like two old women, commenting on everything we pass by and just enjoying each others' company. Staying in Mark's (sister's fiancé's) godfather's studio will be a nice change from paying too much for a small hotel where you can't stretch your arms out in the shower. But in any case, shower or no shower, I'm ready to see my sister!

Getting cozy

11/21/09
I’m finally starting to feel at home here.
I’ve been spending the last few days relaxing (no class this past Friday), walking to the library, listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Bublé, and reading some French comic books. Their world is really something different here, not like a typical Marvel comic book back home. These stories are lifelike, the artists using lifelike situations and with real emotion. They’re a pleasure to read (especially “Les Profs”, a lighter-spirited series compared to those I’ve been reading, but all the same they shine a lot of light on the life of a professor in France). The two I’ve just finished are Le Combat Ordinaire and La Memoire Dans Les Poches- both stories that delve into the personal lives of the main characters, in one case an old man who begins caring for an orphan Moroccan infant, and the other a young adult without a job who meets a veterinarian and begins sharing his life with her. They’re touching stories (especially Memoire) and I’ll be heading back to the library for sure to rent the next chapter as soon as the library opens.

I went to Nérac last weekend to visit my friend David, another American assistant. It’s hard for the assistants there to get around (yep, harder than here in Aiguillon) because they stopped having trains run through, and started using a private bus system instead that goes from Agen to Nérac. It’s about 45 minutes one way, and 6 Euro 10. Much more expensive than hopping on the train, but David’s seemed to become used to it already. He’s been to La Reole several times (his friend Regina is the english assistant there) and Bordeaux as well. It is a bit ironic though, that he got placed at the school with the Theatre BAC (which isn’t at every lycée) and that there is no such specialization for the students at my school. I told him it’s too bad we couldn’t have switched, because they seem to have more going on in that realm in Nérac in general. When I visited, we saw a modernized Romeo & Juliet. Later in the week, he saw a second show (can’t remember what it was). But his students seem to adore him (one of his english prof colleagues told him that they’re going to miss him next year! Already!) So he is pretty happy there, but as far as transportation goes he’d prefer otherwise. The city of Nérac is pretty and charming- we went for a long walk through the historic park which had several fountain/monuments, including one dedicated to the lover of King Henry IV, Fleurette (which is where the word flirt came from, thanks for that bit of wisdom David!) The park is lined by the river Garonne (which, on that day, was a bit brown due to several days of rain preceding our walk). David says it’s normally pretty clean-looking, so I suppose I just came on the day Nérac was grève-ing (on strike) and just decided not to charm its visitors for once. If that was the case, the grève was pointless because I enjoyed the city nonetheless, with its beautiful churches and castle (which we didn’t go in due to the small fee we didn’t feel like paying at the time). I am planning on going back to see the castle and probably show Amy around (she was out of town that day).


Still no LiveBox (modem) or home phone yet. I’ve been patiently twiddling my thumbs and checking my casier every day, expecting to see the package there waiting for me....but alas, nothing. I’ve checked on Orange’s website (the company with which I ordered the service) and according to them, everything is installed and working. If I don’t get this package Monday, I’m going to call them and ask what’s up. The only thing that keeps me from calling is how expensive it tends to be when calling from your cell phone- minutes are eaten up like *that* and it’s hard to get quick customer service over the phone...therein lies my problem. If I had my fixed line by now, it’d have been a free phone call....but I wouldn’t need to call if I had my phone in the first place! (augh)



Still working on those grad school applications. There are a few schools I’m looking at that require the GRE, which means if I want to have my application in by the deadline for Fall 2010, I’ll be taking the GRE here in France. The closest test area is Toulouse (about an hour from Aiguillon on the train) so it can be done. I’m a little bothered about having to take the test because I’m not the best test-taker, and I don’t think my test scores reflect the way I learn material. When I’m timed, I’m always under stress, which always seems to affect my performance. But- hopefully, hopefully the grad schools will look at my transcripts from undergrad and high school and see my past work, and my letters of recommendation and such which will balance it all out. In any case, here are the schools I am planning on forwarding my GRE results to:
1) Emerson College- Boston, MA
2) Boston University, MA
3) University of Northern Colorado
4) DePaul University, Chigago IL

There were a few on the bottom of my list in Canada, but a few things are deterring me from applying there (namely, the weather and the whole not-being-a-Canadian-citizen thing). But, I’ve secretly always wanted to own a cozy log cabin somewhere way up north where I can escape when need be, and go skiing and ice fishing when the mood strikes. I don’t think I could live in a wintry place like that year-round, but a once-in-a-while escape sounds quite right.

As far as work goes for the moment, I plan on doing a Thanksgiving lesson with each of my classes this coming week, as the holiday falls this Thursday. The school is going to be serving turkey for dinner, and some of Adeline’s (english prof) students are going to be making posters about Thanksgiving to hang up in the cafeteria to go with the themed dinner. This will be one of those exceptional days where I’ll be eating in the cantine instead of chez moi- they tell me it’s cheaper to eat there but I like cooking for myself, and they don’t always serve food “qui me plait”. So, I’ll be having turkey on Thanksgiving, à la française, and although it won’t be quite like turkey back home with the family, I’ll be with friends and colleagues all the same. And that’s alright with me.

Thoughts on life after the assistantship.

So, as I am only working twelve hours a week, I have a lot of extra time to do whatever I choose. Thus, I've found a few things to keep me busy:
1. Apply for grad schools
As this is about the time that I should be getting my stuff together for next fall, I've begun researching graduate schools back in the USA (and a few in Canada) to get my Master's degree in Theatre Education. I'm leaning towards a specialization in Voice & Speech, as knowing extra languages are always a plus, and I just have an overall general interest in this area of theatre. I'm updating my resume, making lists of potential universities, and starting to write motivation letters already, because some of the deadlines are as early as December 1st for entry into the Fall programs. I've thought about getting an MFA in Acting (which doesn't necessarily always require a BFA in Acting in undergrad), but I think I'd feel more secure and there would be more of a need for teachers with specific training in a certain area instead of just a bunch of acting classes. This way, I can get my MA, and still teach (but go from teaching english here to Theatre aux Etats-Unis). I'm looking so far at a few Universities in Boston, California, and Canada.
2. Take tap lessons from an amazing dancer from Switzerland who runs his own company!
This is something I've always wanted to do because this is probably my favorite style of dance to watch. It's super difficult already and I've only been to one lesson (but he's been extremely patient with me and realizes that I haven't been tapping since I was 2.5 like most dancer girls I know.) My teacher (friend)'s name is Laurent, and he's here in Agen studying theatre for a semester until he has to go back to Switzerland to prepare his company for a performance in Russia. I'm his first student here in France and he said he's happy to be teaching again (even though i'm sure he's used to teaching much more experienced dancers). Yesterday we worked for an hour and I was shown just how out of shape I really am. Looks like I'm going to have to start up the jogging routine again to keep up with him!
3. Shop, travel, and eat.
Of course I've been doing a handful of the latter two, which is where most of my money is going at the moment. I'm in the process of discussing Christmas plans with Michelle (sister), and right now we're looking at Paris or the Southeast coast (Nice, Avignon, Marseille, et cetera). Things are still in the works, so if any readers have any input/ideas as to where the ideal place to spend Christmas in Europe would be, your comments are welcome/appreciated!

Plans, plans, plans!

So, I've decided that I want to visit London during one of my week-and-a-half long vacations that France so lovingly has offered me, and during that stay I want to see a show in London's West End. I've lived in the States for 22 years, and still have never even been to a Broadway show. As obsessed with theatre as I can be, it's a little insane that I haven't been to a show yet- and I'm going to make that happen. I will ask Amy if she's interested in going, and she could guide me around the big city (that I believe she's only been to a few times, but still, that's more than me). Plus, I don't know if she's seen a show there before! I'm looking into Wicked, Avenue Q, and Les Miserables. I'd prefer the first two because I haven't seen them before (I've performed in and seen high school versions of Les Mis, and I love it to death, but seeing a new show interests me more.) A few days ago I went and saw The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice Chauve) by Ionesco with Amy in Agen, and we both enjoyed it, for an absurdist piece. She's not much a fan of all the non-sequitirs and it's not my favorite style of theatre either, but we were entertained and had some good laughs. I'm still waiting to see a classic play, hopefully this weekend i'll find something good.

The internet technician came yesterday and installed the phone line at our apartment. Now all we have to do is wait for the modem to be sent to us, and we'll finally be connected! I still don't know if we have to buy our own phone or not, but I suppose it'd come with the modem when it gets mailed. Anyway, it'll be a relief to not have to rely on the school being open in order to use the internet.

Yesterday was also kind of a crazy day, from waking up early and not being able to fall back asleep to having the technician come three hours early to rushing to a meeting with the Proviseur to show him my website I created for the students, nothing seemed to go as planned. But, after only two lessons (my only lessons of the day on Monday) I left class feeling in a better mood than when I had entered. Whether it was laughing with the students or just being around people that brightened my day, i'm not entirely sure. But if teaching is becoming therapeutic, I can't say i'll ever be able to stop.

Some post-worthy pictures of note.

So, some of my posts will be dedicated specifically to significant pictures from my entire France album from this year. This is one of them.


This is in Agen- it is what it looks like: a manmade canal over the river Garonne. Neat, huh? This is a hotspot for bikers and joggers to exercise- despite there being very little room on either side of the canal to move over when there are big groups of people. No wonder why there have been things like bikes, purses, cell phones, even cars found in the canal after it's been emptied. When someone told me about that, I shuddered a bit and now I pretty much hug the very side of the wall so I don't accidentally slip. Who knows, it could happen...

(looking backwards from the canal toward the sunset)



This is Theatre Ducourneau, the theatre in Agen that I haven't been to yet- but will see my first show there this weekend. (La Malade Imaginaire) Will post another update with how it goes.


This is the theatre in Marmande that gives classes every Tuesday night. I'm going to check it out next week- cool painting, eh?

Happy Halloween!

10-31-09
So, I’ve been reflecting the past two days about what might be the best solution to take care of my restlessness problem. After going over two different lists of pros and cons of staying in this apartment, i’ve decided to stay here in Aiguillon, save some money and just make the apartment a bit more livable. Today I called France Telecom to have them come and install a fixed line here with internet, and we’ll be able to cut the contract at 7 months, when I leave. I am also opting to decorate the apartment a bit with a rug here and a lamp there, but I don’t want to spend too much on decor only to have to give it all away in the end.
I called and canceled the apartment visits that I had planned in Agen. I don’t think with the work they’re doing on the rail system right now that there’s even a train to get there on Saturdays- as far as I know, it’s only running through the main stops during the weekend up until November 20th- but Amy and I are going to walk down to the station later to check the schedule.


The other day, as I was coming back from a shopping trip in Marmande, there was a bit of a disruption with the trains that led me stuck in Agen without a ride back to Aiguillon. Here’s what happened: I was on the last train back to Aiguillon, which kept getting delayed 20 minutes, then 25, then 40, then an hour...and so on. Everyone on the train was getting restless and all the conductor could tell us over the loudspeaker was “we’ll give you information as it comes up”. So we sat for maybe 1 hour-1 hour ½ waiting to leave, and then the conductor says (from what I could discern), something about the gendarmerie (police) being dispatched and us having to switch trains....so I asked another passenger, an older woman, what was going on (for a bit of clarity) and she told me that one of the trains had been “attaqué”, or hijacked I guess. Wtf? So I change trains, only to find that the one I got on passed aiguillon and went straight to Agen. I (fretting a little inside but remaining what I thought was calm and collected on the outside). After disembarking at the Agen station, I found the SNCF worker closest to me and explained my situation. She told me, with the biggest French shrug possible, that there wasn’t a train going back to Aiguillon for the rest of the night (it was only 8:30 or 9!!) and that I should call someone for a ride back home. I called the three professors that I knew that lived in or near Agen- each one was out of town, of course, and one didn’t respond his cell or his home phone. That was my “contact” that is essentially supposed to be the one I call when I need something. Go figure. Anyway, Marie José (One of the profs who took me under her wing as soon as I arrived and already invited me over to her house twice for dinner) was in Bayonne at the time and called her friends from where she was to see if they could take me in for the night. I told her I’d just look for a hotel because I didn’t want to bother anyone- so I walked not far down the main road from the Agen station and came across Hotel Regina, a two-star hotel that seemed to be open but whose doors were already locked. The concierge saw me trying to get in and came to tell me the hotel already stopped taking reservations. I told here I was willing to go elsewhere, but I just needed one room for the night and that was it. She brought me over to her desk and showed me that she had one room available, for 36 Euro (an extra 7 for petit dejeuner) and I said i’ll take it. I was just happy to get a room for the night and not have to sleep in someone’s house I didn’t really know. Plus, it was essentially the first hotel I got to stay in during vacation. For two stars, it was just what I needed- the only minor thing being the toilet was a shared one in the hallway. But that was nothing- the public toilets on the streets however, are crawling with all sorts of diseases and black plagues and such. I think the one in the hotel was typhoid free.
I may be returning to the same hotel a few times a month in order to take theatre classes in Agen. I’ve already gone and met the teacher of one of the classes there, but it doesn’t get out until 9 p.m. (and as we all know by know, there is most certainly no way to get back to Aiguillon at that point in time). Amy suggested instead of finding an apartment to be around classes and such in Agen that get out late, to just stay in a hotel for the time I’ll need to be there. This would be during the week however, and I do have an 8:15 class in Aiguillon the following morning, but thanks to the early trains it shouldn’t be a problem.