April in Paris

… starts tomorrow. But spring started long ago. Cherry blossoms in full bloom, the wind scattering their petals like so much confetti; daffodils, tulips, and crocuses growing wild in patches of grass next to the sidewalk. Aside from a few gloomy days of rain, the last few weeks have been all about blue skies and bright sunshine. The days are getting so long; as I write this, it’s exactly 20:00, but the sun streaming in the window makes it feel like only 16:00.

I discovered a deli nearby selling spatzle and German beer pretzels. Actually, I’ve walked past the small shop nearly every day for the past 6 months; I’ve just never gone inside, because it’s also a butcher shop, and the window displays, while beautiful, featured only a variety of meat. Until today, that is, when I spotted a huge bowl of spatzle in the window. So I walked through the shop’s doors for the first time, and while 99% of their products were indeed meat or meat-based, I did walk out with the noodles and 2 pretzles. Yum.

The spatzle was a little dry but delicious pan fried with some garlic and parmesan cheese. (The pretzel was great.) The pretzels were quite reasonable at 1€ apiece, but the noodles came to almost 8€ for “two servings” (it wasn’t sold by weight!)…

Photo #2: l’Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Sceaux

Not all fun and games!

“This is not an art class, nor is it a study period. You are not here to draw, or to do homework from your other classes. This is an English conversation class. You are here to speak English. Now start talking, and give me the answer to Number 4!” (me, yesterday afternoon, to a class of 15 year-olds)

“I gave you oral pair work. I can make it written individual work. If you want to continue working in groups then you have to actually work, not goof off and do nothing – which is what you’ve been doing all class so far.” (me, Tuesday morning, to a class of 12 year-olds)

Me: What class is this?
Students in unison: English.
Me: And what language are you speaking?
A student, quietly: French.
Me: So?
Students in unison: I’m sorry.
(me a few weeks ago, to a class of 15 year-olds)

“Part of my job is to tell your teacher how you behave while you’re in class with me, and whether or not you do the work that’s assigned. Just because I don’t grade your work doesn’t mean it doesn’t count. Your teacher knows what goes on in our classes, and takes that into account when grading you. Just remember that. (me several weeks ago, to a class of 13 year-olds)

“I personally don’t care if you attend my class or not, or if you show up and refuse to work, as long as you don’t disrupt your classmates. You’re the one who has to take an oral English exam in a couple of months; you’re the one who should care. My job is to help you in whatever way you require; if you won’t allow me to do my job that’s your problem.” (me about 2 weeks ago, to a particularly sullen and stubborn 17 year old)

All of which sometimes leads to…

“Hey, shhh! Get to work! Otherwise she’ll tell Mme. ****** (their regular English teacher) that we’re being silly again!” (an 11 year-old, lecturing his classmates who had become distracted)

“Madame, I’m sorry the schoolboys are very silly and will not behave for you. I promise I will.” (a 12 year-old, distancing himself from his rowdy classmates)

“Madame, do you know Canada is my favourite place? And you have very beautiful hair.” (one of my particularly cheeky 11 year-olds, trying to curry favour after being particularly hyperactive)

Photo: notre-blog.com – though I added the red circle indicating where my apartment is. Click on the image for a larger view.

Saint Larissa

Today is my day. No, really!

On most French calendars, you will find names printed in nearly every square. These Saints Days, or ‘name days’, are widely celebrated here, usually commemorated by cards and wine and sometimes cake. They really are a big deal; almost as much as one’s birthday.

It turns out that March 26th is St. Larissa’s Day. All week I’ve been receiving the good wishes of my students, who at the beginning of each class file into the room and individually come up to my desk to wish me a bonne fête! This morning when I woke up, my email inbox had accumulated several e-cards marking the occasion, and several teachers (some of whom I don’t even know!) have come up to me to wish me well.

Such festivity in the middle of an otherwise uneventful week!

Above photo of the original St. Larissa taken from: antiochian.org