Oh goodness, rather a lot has happened since my last update! Towards the end of last week, I met the other English teacher in the school, who had been off sick when I arrived. She is really lovely and lives just around the corner from me! She told me to come round any time I want :) I spent most of Thursday and Friday with her in classes. She decided to split her quatrième (Year10) classes in half because there are close to 30 pupils in each, and I taught half the class, while she taught the other half. That was my first stint of proper teaching without a teacher there. The kids were mostly very keen and good, aside from a couple who talked a lot! Something I’ve learnt being here is that there is absolutely no point in you shouting at them/telling them off in any language other than their mother tongue because they just don’t listen. So I’m supposedly meant to only speak English to them.. haha well all I can say is I’m so glad that I can speak French, otherwise I couldn’t teach them.. and that says a lot about their level of English! And I always tell them off in French. I’m also starting to remember their names, which helps when trying to get their attention. French names are the most hilarious thing ever.. pretty much all the boys are called Alexis, Clément, Hugo or Louis.. and all the girls are called Sofia, Manon, Cécile or Juliette. Although I’m sure they would think the same if they came to the UK!
I managed to top up my French phone all on my own.. achievement! I listened to the woman on the recorded thingy and pressed all the right buttons.. whoop! I feel this shows a small progression in my French.. it’s definitely getting easier, although it is such hard work. For someone who talks so much normally, it’s difficult as most people here think I’m quite quiet; especially in the staff room. I’m sure it’ll not be too long before I find my French voice though!
I’m really enjoying the joys that are French supermarkets! One of my favourite things to do when I go on holiday is to venture to supermarkets and try the food. (Charlie P is with me here) I know, I’m cool but I love food.. lots, and I love trying new food :) So I’ve been to Carrefour a few too many times already, and I’m determined to try lots of yummy French things. It makes me so happy just having a look at everything. In saying this, I do massively miss home food.. namely bacon, cheddar cheese and digestive biscuits. In fact I’m sitting right now eating some mini chocolate digestives, thanks to my wonderful mummy :) Oh yes, that’s something else exciting; I got a suitcase in the post today from my mum, full of more clothes, books, and some yummy things.. yay! Unfortunately no bacon and cheddar though, I will just have to wait until the holidays.
On Sunday I made it to church.. yay! No more escapades like last week. I listened to a whole French sermon, sang French songs, listened to people pray in French.. it was joyful :) There were between 20 and 30 people there I would say, including kids. Me being me, I was almost instantly befriended by a little girl, who I then sat beside, and I befriended her sister too.. standard Sarah. Everyone was so welcoming and lovely! Lots of different nationalities too.. an American man, and English lady, who I thought was French and then she started chatting away to me in her broad southern English accent, and a couple from Haiti. We had the service, which was led by this lovely man originally from the Congo because the usual pastor (who is American) was speaking at a church in Toulouse. It was so cool singing songs in French; a lot of them were translated from the English, so I knew them :) Afterwards we moved the chairs, put tables out and had an incredible lunch together; like a bring and share type thing. We had a main course, then cheese (the French are literally obsessed), then epic dessert and finally coffee.. needless to say I didn’t eat for the rest of the day! After chatting to people and helping clear up, I ended up going to another service in a different town at 5pm, lead by the same guy, with one of the families. That was really cool too; I met more new people who honestly treated me like I was their own flesh and blood! I am so blessed and I have to say it was an absolute privilege to meet them and be treated like I am part of their family here. I was out from 10.15am until 8.30pm! Such an amazing day. God is in France and has wonderful people here.. just in case you were in doubt :)
So yes, I’m feeling a lot more settled here now, I’m getting into a little routine! I’m getting lots of invites round to teachers houses for dinner and things, which is lovely.. and I started properly teaching this week, which will fill my time. I will fill you in on how I’m finding it next time! Hoping to meet up with Sarah this weekend, either she will come here or I’ll go to Arras.. so looking forward to seeing her :)
Bedtime again! Thank you again for all your prayers, messages, and Skype dates.. you make me happy. I’ll fill you in again soon :)
No comments:
Post a Comment