BB – Le Petit Nicolas

Ok so this is going to be a Baby Blog (BB). Sorry. I’m exhausted from a long day and have to get up early, so I’m not going to write a ton. This morning I got up, Guillaume went to a patisserie and got breakfast, and about the same time he was walking out the door so was I. It’s kind of funny us leaving together – that never happens. (With me and Monika, sure, but not with G.) So, I headed off to school and had a day full of 6th graders. My first two classes were excellent. My second two however, were horrendous. I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring at 4:30. Yes, school doesn’t end for me till 4:30 on Fridays (but I’m lucky because it actually continues till 5:30.) My later classes were working with time and I had a fake clock made out of a paper plate and we practiced writing down ways to say the time. For the most part they enjoyed the activity, but they were just too chatty.

One boy in particular sat there and did nothing – nothing but chit chat that is – even after I moved his seat, and sent him into the hall. When he came back in, and continued to talk, I had had enough. I let him have it – in English. He kept saying “Mais madame, j’ai rien fait! J’ai rien fait!” (But madam, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything.) And then I said “Yes, you’re right. You didn’t do anything. You haven’t done anything all class. You haven’t listened when I’ve asked you to listen, you haven’t written things down from off the board, you got sent to the hall and didn’t learn your lesson, you haven’t paid attention. All of it. You’re right. You haven’t done anything.” Right about then, my teacher/student line was drawn and now the kids know I can be strict, or mean, or whatever you want to call me. The what had been teetering-line of “because she’s young she’s our friend” has now been abolished. I don’t care though because I’m not their friend, I’m their teacher.

Leaving school at 5ish got me back into the city at 6ish. There was a ton of Friday night/weekend/rush hour traffic. The busses were going super slow. I had originally planned on going home for dinner and then meeting my girlfriends for “Le Petit Nicolas” at the theater, but because it would have taken me another hour to get home, I just decided to stay in the city and eat dinner with them. Since we were eating at 6:30 (super early for French standards) practically nothing was open. However, just as we were approaching the end of the road (literally and metaphorically) we found a cute place with a man standing outside ushering us inside to eat, and to warm ourselves. It was freezing again today.

For dinner I had pasta and almost the rest of the girls had steak frites , although two had mussels. I had a few of their mussels because there were so many, and they were delicious. Our waiter was hysterical and I think though we spoke a mixture of English/French/German (because two German teachers were with us) he really enjoyed us being there. Four of us didn’t order coke, and instead wanted wine, so I ordered the bottle (that we all shared). Because of this, when he brought it out to us, I was the one that got to try the first sip and approve/disapprove of it. The situation in and of itself really made me feel like an adult. haha.

Ramona (German), Anne and Jaime (American), not our waiter - a different guy, Aya (Palestinian), me, and Franzie (German)!

The movie, Le Petit Nicolas, was great. It was so comical and we were all impressed with our level of comprehension when it was over. When we left it was raining. We all agreed that at least if it was snowing we were prepared for the weather with our hats, gloves, scarves, and winter coats – but the rain we weren’t prepared for! My bus ride home was miserable because I was wet. When I got home however, Guillaume cheered me up by giving me his “Petit Nicolas” books from when he was little. Though they’re for 3rd graders and up, I’m excited to read them. (Especially now after seeing the movie and knowing who the characters are.) I told Guillaume about yelling at my first student today and he told me he was proud of me. haha. So yep, that was my day. Bonne nuit!

~ by learninginlyon on October 16, 2009.