La Greve
Ahhhh so aujourd'hui was crazy. We had the big national strike today, which I am only semi sure that I understand (its has been explained so many times and everytime someone explains it they say something different). The first part of the day went fine, I had to look up bus stuff because I had my teaching internship today et I did not want to be late, and the buses were running on their holiday schedule. I ended up being thirty minutes early though. I forget that cities are so much smaller here and to get to the center only takes 15 minutes from my house as opposed to hour it would take to get into Houston from the outskirts. It was sympa though because I found a park by the school so I wandered through the park. I didn't see flowers or anything but the garden were fragrant as if flowers were in bloom, it was weird (I am hoping it means that spring is coming soon)
My internship was interesting. I am working with two kindergarden classes, two first grade classes and a second grade class. I now understand why people in Europe know multiple languages. The kids are so cute though and they are so excited to learn English, I am their prof d'anglais. Though it is difficult because the extent of their English is Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes and hi and goood bye. I think it will be alot of fun, once my french improves. Its interesting though b/c teachers have so much more freedom here. One teacher grabbed a student and dragged him to the corner b/c he was talking. The teachers know a little bit of English so that is helpful for when I get stuck and they are all really nice. I just need to come up with ideas for games and songs and books to read them. I am really excited though!
Today was also a big day in France though because it was the national Greve or strike. It was crazy b/c the tram and bus services were disrupted. It was cool though to see what groups of people are actually capable of doing (like interrupting or in some cases preventing transportation service). Dr. Castro always tells us that we need to take more severe measures and us being Americans who like rules just stare at him blankly. I am not sure though if causing all the chaos is the most effective way to cause change, but you definitely get attention. It was really funny though, because coming back from my internship at the school the bus driver had to let us all out b/c her route was blocked by the march. I immediately snapped a few pics though and then follwed them for a while (while more joined in b/c I could not see a beginning or an end to the parade), but they had signs, music, noise makes, and it was essentially pure chaos but really cool to witness. I mentioned earlier that French are not known for following rules and today we even notices that b/c someone had decided to carve some message into the window of the tram, and I have learned lines are pointless b/c here you just have to push your way to the front to get what you want, and there is grafitti all over the place. Also they have signs everywhere saying no dogs, but people flat out ignore the signs and I have even seen dogs on the tram.
Well I think that is all for now, I am going to Bordeaux this weekend and then in two weeks I am off to London, Dublin, Manchester, and Nottingham! At the moment I am so exhausted and need to be well rested before my travels : ) Its really weird but my mouth and tongue are sore from phonetics, French is so exhausting and I don't feel like I am getting better. I really hope that taking conversation and phonetics pays off and my spoken French gets better, b/c right now its rough and so is my English (I said tennis sneakers today).
My internship was interesting. I am working with two kindergarden classes, two first grade classes and a second grade class. I now understand why people in Europe know multiple languages. The kids are so cute though and they are so excited to learn English, I am their prof d'anglais. Though it is difficult because the extent of their English is Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes and hi and goood bye. I think it will be alot of fun, once my french improves. Its interesting though b/c teachers have so much more freedom here. One teacher grabbed a student and dragged him to the corner b/c he was talking. The teachers know a little bit of English so that is helpful for when I get stuck and they are all really nice. I just need to come up with ideas for games and songs and books to read them. I am really excited though!
Today was also a big day in France though because it was the national Greve or strike. It was crazy b/c the tram and bus services were disrupted. It was cool though to see what groups of people are actually capable of doing (like interrupting or in some cases preventing transportation service). Dr. Castro always tells us that we need to take more severe measures and us being Americans who like rules just stare at him blankly. I am not sure though if causing all the chaos is the most effective way to cause change, but you definitely get attention. It was really funny though, because coming back from my internship at the school the bus driver had to let us all out b/c her route was blocked by the march. I immediately snapped a few pics though and then follwed them for a while (while more joined in b/c I could not see a beginning or an end to the parade), but they had signs, music, noise makes, and it was essentially pure chaos but really cool to witness. I mentioned earlier that French are not known for following rules and today we even notices that b/c someone had decided to carve some message into the window of the tram, and I have learned lines are pointless b/c here you just have to push your way to the front to get what you want, and there is grafitti all over the place. Also they have signs everywhere saying no dogs, but people flat out ignore the signs and I have even seen dogs on the tram.
Well I think that is all for now, I am going to Bordeaux this weekend and then in two weeks I am off to London, Dublin, Manchester, and Nottingham! At the moment I am so exhausted and need to be well rested before my travels : ) Its really weird but my mouth and tongue are sore from phonetics, French is so exhausting and I don't feel like I am getting better. I really hope that taking conversation and phonetics pays off and my spoken French gets better, b/c right now its rough and so is my English (I said tennis sneakers today).
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