Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Illuminating.

First of all, thanks to the few of you who gave me encouraging words about this “blog” thing. I guess I’ll keep going…

I’ve been here about five days so far and I feel like I’m doing a good job getting my bearings. Though Besançon compared to other French cities might not be as beautiful, or as big, or as quaint, I feel like it’s just as good as any place to get settled and learn. And hell, living in France is living in France. I’ve gotten to see some of the sights, eat some of the food (which I’ll cover in its own proper post later on), and meet some more of the people I’ll be sharing this next year with.

Last Saturday I went with a few other assistants (new friends?) to the Citadelle. It overlooks Besançon and is part of Vauban’s fortifications built during the early 1700s. Just expecting a tour of an old fort or whatever, seeing baboons hanging out in what used to be the moat definitely surprised me! The Citadelle now houses a couple of great museums and even a zoo complete with monkeys climbing around on the old stones (reminded me of the Jungle Book) and a tiger that I like to think of as Mike’s French cousin, Michel. Besançon is big on being “green” so I guess they even found a way to reduce, reuse, recycle their old monuments. Impressive. As were the views… click here to see!

Sunday there was a big flea market. Some of the items being “antiques” they were a bit expensive but I bought a lamp for 1, as in, ONE EURO, so like $1.50? $1.70? AND it works! For some reason, this makes me more excited than anything so far, I’m like, seriously giddy about this lamp. It isn’t that cute, but it administers light! I wonder if this is what the cavemen felt like when they created fire…haha.

Unfortunately, as far as my job goes, I’m still in the dark. It looks like I might be at two schools now and I know a rough idea of the number of classes and students and their ages, but I know nothing of my schedule or my responsibilities or expectations. I meet my contact person tomorrow morning, she’s even picking me up! Hopefully then I’ll get a better idea of my job, you know the reason I’m here and all.

A runner-up to the greatness of the lamp purchase: For 7, I bought the Advantages Jeunes, an ID card and coupon book for young people that got me into the Citadelle free and a 6 coupon to the bookstore that I used to get a “Mini Anglais” dictionary. Not only will it help me save money but I also think that I’ll get out more and do more if I have these motivating coupons.

Last but not least, I am proud to say: I got my French bank account! After all my worrying and procrastinating it was so easy. The lady helping me at Banque Populaire was so sweet and helpful, walked me though everything and even complimented my French (on that part I’m sure she was lying, but still, very nice). In about two weeks I’ll have my debit card and then I’ll be in business. It was also nice to get at some of the money I made this summer that’s been in traveler’s cheques. Now I can buy a hairdryer… and some cheese.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Adventure #1: Getting There and Butterflies

I’m here and, so far, so good. The trip made me nervous, but two planes, one bus, two trains and two cars later, it really couldn’t have gone smoother. But I did end up having to pay 0,50 Euros to use the bathroom at the train station. That was a bummer.

To be honest, I felt a little sad and overwhelmed during the first day and night. I kept asking myself, “why exactly am I here?” because the whole thing just seemed so daunting. But once I got settled into my room, seeing my things in their new places made me feel so much better. And finding the cards my mom hid in my suitcase was sweet too. It’s silly and SO like mom but I remembered when she did that in my trunk when I would leave for camp, back when I could only manage a week away from home.

To keep up my motivation I put a big AAA Europe map on the wall above my desk. I really just put it there to fill up the blank space but then I got the brilliant idea to start marking the places I’ve been. I look at it as a sort of answer to my “what am I doing here?” question. Plus, I have these really cute tiny butterfly stickers that cover the cities perfectly. To get a butterfly I must have an actual experience in the place, so train or plane stopovers don’t count. I think seeing this map will constantly remind me how blessed I am to have an experience like this and I should really make the most of it. Seeing those tiny butterflies may help quell some of the other butterflies in my stomach.

My roommate (another American assistant) didn’t come until Friday night so I had a whole day by myself. I think I did pretty well. I usually hate to “faire les courses,” or go grocery shopping, but it I liked walking around and seeing French products or recognizing the few American imports. Stuff was expensive but I bought the cheapest of everything and only got what I absolutely needed at the moment. I’m holding off on buying the bigger stuff (like a hairdryer) and things that I just really want (like a huge thing of Le Petit Marseillaise lotion) until I get a bank account.

I also got my first real glimpse of Besançon. The walk from my apartment into downtown takes about 30 minutes and doesn’t get very picturesque until it’s closer to Centreville. But the weather was pleasant and beautiful and I enjoyed getting my Besançon bearings. I also got a bus pass, a young person’s discount card, and a real French cell phone. Though I do feel empowered from accomplishing these errands in French, it was very clumsy and stupid French. I guess getting better is another reason I’m here. But I still have to get a bank account…

After my roommate arrived we met some other assistants and I realized that I’m not the only one that feels so unprepared and isn’t confident in their French. Hopefully, this will be a good start to a whole network of assistants who can empathize with me and help me quiet the butterflies in my stomach that come with this adventure.

p.s. With my camera I get an account to post pictures online. You can click here to see some pics of my apartment and a few shots of Besancon!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

One Week.


"...you will essentially be entering the “real world” this year, and this world will be French." -Carolyn Collins, the very kind and helpful French Embassy lady.

In seven days I leave the only place I've ever really lived to go to France for seven months. Though I like to think I have had a small taste of the real world, this move is the real clincher, an ocean away from my family, friends, and anything familiar. I have a place to live and supposedly a job, but everything else is up to me. I feel very much on the unprepared side right now, but I have faith that "everything happens for a reason," it's all part of the experience and this is an experience I can't pass up. Thousands have done this before (and probably 'blogged' about it too) so nothing can be all that scary or orginal, right?

I've had the whole summer to think about this and have come to a few conclusions about my expectations for the next year (beacause "year" sounds more impressive than "seven months"):

What I expect to enjoy the most:
  • Cheese. I just love cheese, and yogurt...most dairy products really.
  • The Weather. Less humidity=less frizzy hair; Rain and Snow=numerous outerwear opportunities.
  • Experiencing another culture and lifestyle, like, for real.
  • Cheese.
  • Being able to travel...alot. I have such plans for travel.
  • Sending mail to people back home. (Send me your address if you want something! I need an outlet for my ever-growing stationery collection.)
What I expect to miss (other than the obvious family, friends, my own bed, etc.):
  • Ice.
  • Television. Especially syndicated sitcoms...in what other country can you ALWAYS find an episode of Golden Girls on?
  • Everything Daddy cooks. Except squirrel.
  • Driving.
  • ALWAYS running into people I know (though I think this will also be something I enjoy...honestly, it's about 50/50).

What I expect to be challenging:

  • The language. You'd think I'd be practically fluent after eight years of classes and two immersion programs...but I'm so not.
  • Making friends. Especially French ones.
  • Paperwork. I'm not sure if the French invented bureaucracy, but they sure mastered making it difficult.
  • Being American. Though I don't put that much stock into the whole French-hate-Americans thing, I do expect some challenges rooted, however deeply, in my nationality.
  • Teaching. You know, the actual job I'm supposed to do over there for which I have no experience. (But I did just go ba-nanas at the Dollar Tree stocking up on flashcards, coloring pages, and stickers...so far teaching=fun.)
Wish me luck! I'm off to start this next part of my life...that will be in French.