Week 12: 12/01-12/08
Welcome to /miel/, a written account of my life and what my days hold here in Noyon, France. Thank you for coming to read today.
Last time I left you, I was on my way to Reims to hang out with some other assistants and see the market. I am happy to report that the market, the town, and the weekend did not disappoint!
Nicole and I arrived on Friday afternoon, and met up with Maru, an Argentinian assistant, to get settled in, as I was staying with Maru for the weekend at her room at the boarding school in town. After getting caught up, we met up with other assistants and went to the Reims Christmas Market. It was raining a bit, so the market wasn’t too full of people, which was great! I was really happy to have a more chill experience, with getting acquainted with the MANY other assistants we met that night. Meeting and talking over cups of hot wine, I met other assistants (either in elementary, middle or high schools around Reims) from England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, USA, and Venezuela. What an experience!
We ended up at a new bar in Reims with everyone, and while I was disheartened that there was no dancing, I was endlessly impressed with the interior decorations, as the place was filled with old, classical paintings! After this bar, some of us split off and then I stuck with the assistants from Argentina, Spain and Venezuela so we could see another bar and play some darts. We found a good spot, and ended up doing a team v team game with some French people we met at the bar. It was a good time, and we ended up shutting down the bar around 2:30 am.
Saturday morning, Maru, Nicole and I went to see the cathedral. It was, as always, INCREDIBLE and blew me away. Possibly one of my favorites so far. The stained glass windows were so large, ornate and precise. I liked the fact as well that the cathedral had some newer stained glass (from 2011) in a more modern style, as well as stained glass that was more muted colors opposed to the bright red and blue. Check out the pictures here if you want to see more.
After this, we went to the market again, and I was happy to see more people there…however, it was so full we looked like a pack of penguins waddling through the sidewalks. It was very tightly packed. But, I did get some chocolate, honey, and earrings out of it, so it was definitely a win. After the market, we did a bit of shopping on the main road, since Reims has a LOT more options than Noyon. We ended up meeting with the assistants again to watch the Argentina soccer game (which they won), which was followed by a celebratory bar outgoing. We went to another new bar in Reims, that was an outside patio that was covered and heated, and it was a perfect night! I got to know the other assistants even better, and I will definitely be going back to visit.
After this bar shut down around 2 am, myself and some other assistants tried to get into a club, but after waiting maybe 10-15 minutes in line outside, the bouncer asked us, “How many of you?”, and he automatically replied to himself, “Nope, not tonight, sorry.” Then I got up to him and he said, “not tonight, sorry” and completely shut us down! As we walked away, the people behind us got in.
You could argue many cases in this situation, but from what I’m learning from my colleagues (older and younger), if you aren’t the picturesque person they want in the club (French, young, dressed to the T, beautiful/handsome, rich), you aren’t getting in. So, oh well.
As Maru and I were walking home, we found a pizza place that was open until 4 am and we got two pizzas that might have been the BEST pizza I have ever tasted. It was chicken, chevre (goat cheese), honey, and white sauce. Maybe it’s the best, maybe it just tasted delicious because I was hungry and it was 3 am…
Sunday morning, I went to church in the Cathedral and it was breathtaking. I got to sit next the organ with the huge pipes and it was such an experience to be in a church service in a church like that. I can’t even imagine what it was like in the 12/13th century.
Then, Nicole, Maru and I went to the Basilica de Saint Remy in Reims. It was extraordinary! We got roped into a live guided tour, and got to learn more about the history behind the architecture, the Saint Remy, the stained glass and all. Unfortunately, Nicole and I had to leave to catch our tram before we could finish the tour, but that means we will have to go back!
This week was a great week of work. I worked my full week again at both collèges, and I am slowly integrating into the professor staffs and getting the know the students more and more as well. They are so curious about the USA and I love to answer all questions about my country, and upon more reflection, I have begun to feel more proud to say I am American and my patriotism may have been increasing a bit these last weeks as well.
Today I taught some 6th and 7th graders the game, “Heads Up, Seven Up”, my favorite game in school to waste time. If you know it you know it, but you can also look it up on Wikipedia to get the instructions if you are so curious. They loved it! I was glad to see that even basic games like this translate well and even French kids get excited to do things like this.
Finally, to sum up some of the French miscommunication of this week. First, I had two classes cancelled at one of my schools, and no one thought it was important to tell me. I had to ask another Spanish teacher if she could tell me if there was class and alas, there was not.
Second, I had heard through another professor (at a school that is not mine) that there was a small event that language assistants could go to this afternoon and I could come if I wanted, but it wasn’t formal. I was on my way to the event, about 10 minutes late(as I had arranged with the prof), and I get a text from my true mentor professor that says, “where are you?” and I panicked! Well, it turns out the event was FOR the language assistants as a welcome (about 2.5 months late), and it was indeed a formal event that started right at 1:00 pm, with speeches from the principals, and they waited for me (face palm). It did make me feel better that my mentor prof was also told about this meeting only about 15 minutes before it happened… What is up with this communication here?!
Anyway, this weekend I am taking a big break and I will be doing absolutely nothing. I am going to a club tomorrow night with some friends, but other than that I plan to lay in bed all day Saturday and Sunday!
TL:DR
High: Seeing a true French Christmas market, and not being disappointed.
High #2: Meeting so many new people and new assistants from countries all over!
Low: Being super tired this week from travelling, and not sleeping very well.
Low #2: It’s been grey and gloomy for days. Where is my sun?
New French Word:
boite – slang word for “club”
Lesson(s) Learned:
1. Hot wine is kind of weird, but it’s worth a try, and it does keep you warm.
2. 3 am pizza might be the best kind of pizza.
3. I am evidently not French-fashion-rich enough to get into a Reims club.
4. (North) France is really cold… like, really cold.
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Until next week, I wish you all well. I miss you all incredibly much. Please send me a message, an email, some snail mail, whatever suits you best.
All the love,
Abigail
Below: Us at the bar on Friday night.
Left to Right -> Me, Nicole (Virginia USA), Lydia (Virginia USA), Maru (Argentina)
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