1. When you wake up, see someone for the first time in the day, return from somewhere or are leaving, you kiss the person on each cheek.
2. Chocolate makes up a HUGE part of the diet.
3. So does mayo.
4. People drive really really fast on country roads...I don't really think there is a speed limit.
5. You don't hug people usually.
6. Smoking is normal.
7. At school the teacher changes classrooms..not you.
8. You stand until the teacher says "Asseoir-vous" when you enter a class room.
9. If a principal or someone you don't know comes in the room you stand up until they say "asseoir-vous"
10. Teachers are called "Profs"
11. Most homes have one bathroom for everyone.
12. Cafeteria food is healthy.
13. Windows open, 24/7.
14. If you order a drink with alcohol in it, they rarely ask for ID.
15. Almost every girl wears heels to school.
16. Their "garden" refers to their yard.
17. If you are nervous, you are excited.
18. I NEVER see people yawn!
19. In my house, there is only one trashcan.
20. People DO shower.
21. AND shave.
22. No stick deodorants, just spray.
23. They eat cookies for breakfast...and cakes.
24. Seriously, not everyone takes the train everywhere.
25. Every car is tiny..including "SUV"s
Saturday, September 11, 2010
New Schedule :(
Key: S: In my normal class, Seconde C.
T: In Terminale, just listening.
C: In the Middle School-which is called College in France.
G: Just Thursdays, a group preparing for Terminale...I was just but in the one with my Supervisor.
Terminale is the last year of high school for people in France. They chose a specialty-like a major in college. It is what their job will relate to when they grow up. They are super advanced classes. That is why I am only listening in them.. hopefully to catch on to french.
MONDAY:
10:10-11:05: Physics S.-so over my head
11:05-12:00: French Literature S.-puts notes on the board...but they have abbreviations and short cut words..I dont even understand the real word when it's written...
12:00-12:55: free time!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math S.- I understand a majority of what's going on and can successfully do my homework.
2:40-3:55: free time!
3:55-4:50: English S.
TUESDAY:
8:00-9:50: TESTING- Don't ask, I have no clue.
9:50-10:10: break!
10:10-11:05: Literature T.
11:05-12:00: History/ Geography S.- extremely hard to follow-notes are oral.
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: History/ Geography S.
2:40-3:35: French Literature C.
3:35-4:50: free time!
4:50-5:45: English Literature T.- YES!!!
WEDNESDAY:
8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: French Literature C.
11:05-12:00: Forum (odd weeks)/Vie de Classe (even weeks) S.
12:00-1:45: free time/Lunch
1:45-2:40: English S.
THURSDAY G:
8:00-8:55: Method CIDD- I have no clue.
8:55-9:50: English
9:50-11:05: free time!
11:05-12:00: French Literature
12:00-12:55: Civics (even weeks)- FRENCH CIVICS?!?!!?!!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math
2:40-5:45: Biology/Physics Lab- THREE HOURSSSS?!!??!?!
FRIDAY:
8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: History/Geography S.
11:05-12:00: free time!
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-2:40: free time!
2:40-4:40: PE S.
T: In Terminale, just listening.
C: In the Middle School-which is called College in France.
G: Just Thursdays, a group preparing for Terminale...I was just but in the one with my Supervisor.
Terminale is the last year of high school for people in France. They chose a specialty-like a major in college. It is what their job will relate to when they grow up. They are super advanced classes. That is why I am only listening in them.. hopefully to catch on to french.
MONDAY:
10:10-11:05: Physics S.-so over my head
11:05-12:00: French Literature S.-puts notes on the board...but they have abbreviations and short cut words..I dont even understand the real word when it's written...
12:00-12:55: free time!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math S.- I understand a majority of what's going on and can successfully do my homework.
2:40-3:55: free time!
3:55-4:50: English S.
TUESDAY:
8:00-9:50: TESTING- Don't ask, I have no clue.
9:50-10:10: break!
10:10-11:05: Literature T.
11:05-12:00: History/ Geography S.- extremely hard to follow-notes are oral.
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: History/ Geography S.
2:40-3:35: French Literature C.
3:35-4:50: free time!
4:50-5:45: English Literature T.- YES!!!
WEDNESDAY:
8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: French Literature C.
11:05-12:00: Forum (odd weeks)/Vie de Classe (even weeks) S.
12:00-1:45: free time/Lunch
1:45-2:40: English S.
THURSDAY G:
8:00-8:55: Method CIDD- I have no clue.
8:55-9:50: English
9:50-11:05: free time!
11:05-12:00: French Literature
12:00-12:55: Civics (even weeks)- FRENCH CIVICS?!?!!?!!
12:55-1:45: Lunch
1:45-2:40: Math
2:40-5:45: Biology/Physics Lab- THREE HOURSSSS?!!??!?!
FRIDAY:
8:00-8:55: Math S.
8:55-10:10: free time!
10:10-11:05: History/Geography S.
11:05-12:00: free time!
12:00-12:55: French Literature S.
12:55-2:40: free time!
2:40-4:40: PE S.
Chaos.
This week was so heck-tic. I'll start it at Wednesday.
Wednesday: Wednesday I only had Math, English and a Discussion. I was totally fine with that day and was like "Yes! Easiest day of the week!" But my host parents disagreed. They did not think it was necessary to go to school for that day. So I stayed home-yes! sleeping in...But what happened next was they wanted my schedule to be changed...Yes I had a very easy schedule..but everything was in French!-It's hard at that. So they called and got my supervisor to get my schedule changed.
Thursday: I didn't have any classes on this day so I had no idea where I was going. I, like the week before, followed Emmanuelle around to her classes.-Which my supervisor told me to do.
I get to class the teacher takes roll. My name isn't called and he's counting the students and obviously thought there were too many. He said something in French then Emmanuelle kindly told him I was american and that I was just listening today. He didn't like that (even though I had done it the week before in his class) and said I had to go to another group...
So I got my stuff and walked out with Emmanuelle. We both knew I wouldn't know anyone in the other group-so I wouldn't know where to go.. And my supervisor told me to be with Emmanuelle. So we went to the office. She wrote us a note to give to the teacher saying I had to stay with Emmanuelle because I didn't have a schedule for Thursdays. We got back and gave it to the teacher-he rolled his eyes and continued with class. Then I realized my host parents didn't know when I was done with school. Heloise ended at 545 and I ended at 450. I was okay with waiting but they wanted to take me to get a cell phone (thank god) in the time Heloise was at school! So during break I had to go with my supervisor to the office and she had to get their phone numbers and call them. We got that all sorted out.
After school we go to get the cell phone! We waited in line for about 20 minutes, once called we told them what phone I wanted, of course they were sold out. My host parents were outraged we waited and there wasn't a sign or anything that said that phone was gone. SO we walked around to 5 other stores (even though I already had looked everywhere we went) and ended up at the place I had my second choice for my phone. FINALLYYYYY we got it! All I know is it is prepaid, and was 119 Euros for the phone and the prepaid card with money on it.
Friday: I had math first period. I luckily understand the math that were doing! I love going to math, it's the only class I can take my own notes and ask questions in. And my teacher laughs at me because I don't know what she is saying, but I know what she is doing. At the end of the day I had PE. I have it once a week for two hours on Fridays. The week before our PE class was choising what you wanted to do for the whole year. The "menus" were in French and abreviated...So I had not a clue what anything meant. My friends chose one menu and told me to do it with them so we were in the same class-so I did! WELL Friday I found out I chose RUNNING. Really? REALLY? If you know me, you know I HATE running. Of course thats what I ended up with..Anyways we ran sprints and around a little mini track. It wasn't too bad. Then after school I found out that my host sister was going with friends so I awkwardly waited for the dad by myself..coooool!
Today I am sore..I am so out of shape. For the first time in a long time I just want to go swimming!! I'm attempting my Physics homework..have not a clue how to do it either. I got my new Schedule... :( :(
Those days don't sound half as chaotic as they were..I know this is the best decision I had made! But it is also one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
Wednesday: Wednesday I only had Math, English and a Discussion. I was totally fine with that day and was like "Yes! Easiest day of the week!" But my host parents disagreed. They did not think it was necessary to go to school for that day. So I stayed home-yes! sleeping in...But what happened next was they wanted my schedule to be changed...Yes I had a very easy schedule..but everything was in French!-It's hard at that. So they called and got my supervisor to get my schedule changed.
Thursday: I didn't have any classes on this day so I had no idea where I was going. I, like the week before, followed Emmanuelle around to her classes.-Which my supervisor told me to do.
I get to class the teacher takes roll. My name isn't called and he's counting the students and obviously thought there were too many. He said something in French then Emmanuelle kindly told him I was american and that I was just listening today. He didn't like that (even though I had done it the week before in his class) and said I had to go to another group...
So I got my stuff and walked out with Emmanuelle. We both knew I wouldn't know anyone in the other group-so I wouldn't know where to go.. And my supervisor told me to be with Emmanuelle. So we went to the office. She wrote us a note to give to the teacher saying I had to stay with Emmanuelle because I didn't have a schedule for Thursdays. We got back and gave it to the teacher-he rolled his eyes and continued with class. Then I realized my host parents didn't know when I was done with school. Heloise ended at 545 and I ended at 450. I was okay with waiting but they wanted to take me to get a cell phone (thank god) in the time Heloise was at school! So during break I had to go with my supervisor to the office and she had to get their phone numbers and call them. We got that all sorted out.
After school we go to get the cell phone! We waited in line for about 20 minutes, once called we told them what phone I wanted, of course they were sold out. My host parents were outraged we waited and there wasn't a sign or anything that said that phone was gone. SO we walked around to 5 other stores (even though I already had looked everywhere we went) and ended up at the place I had my second choice for my phone. FINALLYYYYY we got it! All I know is it is prepaid, and was 119 Euros for the phone and the prepaid card with money on it.
Friday: I had math first period. I luckily understand the math that were doing! I love going to math, it's the only class I can take my own notes and ask questions in. And my teacher laughs at me because I don't know what she is saying, but I know what she is doing. At the end of the day I had PE. I have it once a week for two hours on Fridays. The week before our PE class was choising what you wanted to do for the whole year. The "menus" were in French and abreviated...So I had not a clue what anything meant. My friends chose one menu and told me to do it with them so we were in the same class-so I did! WELL Friday I found out I chose RUNNING. Really? REALLY? If you know me, you know I HATE running. Of course thats what I ended up with..Anyways we ran sprints and around a little mini track. It wasn't too bad. Then after school I found out that my host sister was going with friends so I awkwardly waited for the dad by myself..coooool!
Today I am sore..I am so out of shape. For the first time in a long time I just want to go swimming!! I'm attempting my Physics homework..have not a clue how to do it either. I got my new Schedule... :( :(
Those days don't sound half as chaotic as they were..I know this is the best decision I had made! But it is also one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
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